“What did you eat?”
“Did you see anyone famous?”
“Did you bring anything home for me?”
“Were there any good-looking women interested in an eligible silver fox?”
The last from my father, the self-proclaimed ladies’ man. His ego knew no bounds, but he was rarely without female companionship when he wanted it, so it was rightfully earned.
I laughed, the overlapping voices and little hands tugging somewhat overwhelming. They were usually good about giving me a few minutes to decompress. Today wasn’t usual, so all bets were off.
“Uncle Sally!” Lacey slammed herself into my legs. “I missed you today. Let’s not do this again, okay?”
Crouching down, I smoothed my niece’s hair off her face. Normally, Scarlet did her hair since my father and I were pretty incompetent in that department, but she’d been busy with her new job this morning.
“I agree. I had absolutely no fun. Though”—I dug into my jacket pocket and brought out the little packet I’d tucked there—“I did bring you something.”
My nephew, Talon, crowded my other side. “Did you bring me something too?”
“Do you think I’d forget about you?”
He gave me a serious look. “You wouldn’t. I’m just making sure. Just in case.”
I opened the carefully folded napkin, revealing the four macarons I’d swiped from the dessert table.
“These are called macarons. I tried one for the first time today, and you know what I thought?” Both kids shook their heads, eyes locked on my palm. “I thought, ‘Tally and Lace would love these too,’ and smuggled two out for each of you.”
“What doessmuggledmean?” Lacey asked.
I turned to Talon. “Do you know, Tally?”
He puffed his chest. “It means Uncle Sally snuck them out.”
Lacey gasped. “Oh my goodness. Did anyone see?”
I nodded, turning solemn. “Sam caught me. I had to offer to wash his socks for three weeks to keep him quiet.”
She recoiled. “Oh my goodness, oh my goodness—that’s so gross!”
Talon crossed his arms. “These better be worth it. Three weeks is alotof socks.”
“Try them and tell me.”
They each plucked a strawberry macaron from my hand, nibbling carefully, then shoved them in their mouths like wild animals.
I’d known Lacey would like them—she loved pretty much everything in the entire world, but if it was pink? She became euphoric. Talon was more like me. He liked what he liked and didn’t often venture out to try new things. It made me incredibly happy to see him enjoying the macaron the way I had.
Two years ago, Talon hadn’t enjoyedanything. We’d done a lot of work since then. When Tia first died, it had seemed impossible, but the five of us were a solid family unit now.
My father snagged Lacey’s hand, giving it a gentle tug. “Do you think we could let your uncle have some breathing room?”
She beamed up at him. “Sure we can. I just missed him.”
Straightening, I patted her cheek. “I missed you too, Lace. I’m yours the rest of the day.”
I’d been disappointed Bea had rejected my offer for dinner or a drive, but it was hard to hang onto that feeling when these kids were so happy to have me home.
Eventually, they gave me a minute so I could change out of my suit and into sweats and a T-shirt—my weekend uniform if I could help it. Once dressed, I trailed down the hall, pausing at Scarlet’s open door. I peered in, finding her at her desk, iPad propped in front of her, stylus in hand.
