“You think so?”
I glance over, and she’s got that joking smile. I shake my head.
“This is fun, girls, right? Do you have anything to say?” She changes topics, and I wonder if it’s because she’s scared by this dynamic between us.
“Thank you,” they say in unison except Wren adds Daddy, and Leia doesn’t.
As much as I want her to think of me as her dad, I know I can’t push this. I tell myself it will come in time.
“You’re welcome.”
Leia takes off her blanket, picks up her skewer, and walks over to me. “Can you help me make another one?”
I swallow back tears, and I swear Delaney makes a noise.
“Of course. Let’s go.”
She puts the marshmallow on the stick, and she stands in front of me, both my arms around her, adjusting how she holds it over the fire.
Wren says something to Delaney about her grandpa and how he uses peanut butter cups and how Uncle Brooks does three-stack ones.
“I wanna see,” Leia says.
I look at Delaney, and she’s not smiling, but she does nod as if she’s suggesting that’s the next step. Leia needs to get to know my family.
After a half hour, Wren has to go to the bathroom, and Leia goes inside with her.
“Are you really okay with me bringing her around the family?” I ask.
“They’re her family too. She should get to know them and vice versa.”
I nod. “Okay.”
Later, when the s’mores are done and the girls are sticky-faced and half asleep in their chairs, I get up to leave. “I can help you get them to bed.”
“Nah, they’ll wake up and pass out in Leia’s room. But I’ll warn you, there won’t be any brushing of teeth or baths before bed. But I promise to return her clean tomorrow.” She smiles wide with an expression as if to say, I do what I want when it’s my sleepover.
“Not even a change of clothes?”
She shakes her head. “Lighten up, Owens.”
I take one last look at the girls before turning toward the house.
“Thanks again,” she says, walking me to the corner of the house.
“For barging into your night? You’re welcome.”
She leans along the side of the house. “You’re lucky I know you mean well. I’ll drop her off in the morning or text you if they try to swindle more time together.”
“Daddy!” Wren shouts, clearly having woken up.
Both girls barrel across the dark lawn, and I force myself not to tell them to slow down so they don’t twist an ankle in the dark. They run up to me and wrap themselves around my legs.
“Bye. Thanks for the fire,” Wren says. “Love you.”
I squat down and hug them both. My eyes sting with tears that are on the cusp of slipping. Delaney covers her mouth with her hand, unable to strip her attention away from us.
“Bye, girls, love you.”
