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“That’s silly. Immy is a big girl.”

“Immy is our baby girl,” he countered. “And she’s adorable.”

She grinned at him. “Thanks, Daddy.”

He loved how carefree she was when she was Little. The rest of the time, she seemed a bit anxious, constantly worried about the man who’d killed Lauren. And about Isaiah.

They’d only heard from Isaiah once and that was when he’d sent them an email about Lauren. Seemed he’d done some research into her. He must have listened to their multitude of voicemails, explaining what had happened and begging him to come back or get in touch.

Jenner was kind of mad at Isaiah and extremely worried. Isaiah had found some very interesting information on Lauren, though. Apparently, that wasn’t actually her real name. It was Marissa Steele. She’d had to create a new identity for herself because Marissa Steele was wanted in Alaska for the suspected murder of her estranged husband.

Her husband had met someone else and wanted a divorce. Marissa hadn’t been onboard with that and shot him.

Kind of explained a lot. That woman had been nuts.

Tobias walked in carrying their lunch on a tray. He set it down on the small table as Jenner got up to help Immy wash her hands. When they returned, he noted that the tray was filled with fruit and sandwiches and that the sippy cup held water.

Good.

“Papa!” Immy said with a groan as she sat and let Tobias put a bib on her. “This lunch has none of the good stuff. I’ve never eaten so much fruit in my life.”

“It’s good for you while you’re healing,” Jenner told her. “Plus it helps you poop.”

He said that last bit to rile her up. “Daddy! Don’t say poop. And are you sure I can’t have choccy milk instead of this stuff?” She held up her sippy cup.

“That stuff is called water and it’s good for you,” Tobias said.

She heaved a sigh, but ate the food on her plate. Of course, she got a bit messy, which Jenner thought was adorable and he ended up getting a cloth to clean up her hands and mouth. Then he kissed the tip of her nose. “Adorable.”

“You are, Daddy!”

“Nuh-uh, not as adorable as my girl. She’s the sweetest, prettiest girl in the world.”

“And the sassiest,” Tobias added with a grin.

“Papa! You’re sassy.” She pointed at him. “I’m finished. I’m gonna go practice my spells.”

“I think you said that wrong, baby girl,” Tobias said to her. “You’re supposed to ask if you can be excused.”

“You can be excused, Daddy,” she told him with a grin.

“Haha,” he replied. “Use your manners.”

“Papa, you’re obsessed with manners. I think you need to get that looked at.”

“Immy, speak nicely to Papa,” Jenner said sternly. He found it harder to be stern with her, but he was learning that she wouldn’t break, or stop loving him if he scolded her. They hadn’t had to punish her yet, but he got the feeling that was because she’d been holding back. And now, she was going to start pushing them.

“Can Immy be excused?” she asked.

“You can,” Jenner replied. “But before you move on to practicing your spells, you have to clean up your slime station.”

“Nooo, Daddy!” she cried.

“Uh, yes, baby girl. Clean it up while I help Papa with the dishes.”

He grabbed the tray and gave her a stern look as Tobias followed him out of the playroom and into the kitchen.

“You prepared to punish her if she doesn’t do as you told her?” Tobias asked him.