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“Who's the plane?” Tyler picked Mary up, and she stretched out her little arms, making noises as my brother spun her from side to side, as if she were flying.
“I want some too!” Anne pulled down his pants.
“Come here to Grandpa's,” called my father.
He picked up the other little girl and played with her until her old arms could no longer support her weight.
Everyone went into the living room, and Tyler put Mary down on the sofa.
“My granddaughters are the cutest thing in the world.” My mother sighed as she stopped next to me, watching the two of them.
“Yes, they are,” I agreed, even though it wasn't a question.
“How are you, son?” He put his hand on my shoulder, drawing my attention to himself.
“Great.”
“Are you sure?”
“Why wouldn't I be?”
“I know it's hard for you to look after both of them on your own. You've been fighting an uphill battle since Daphne left us.”
“I have more resources than many single parents around the country.”
“Life isn't just about money.”
“But it solves all the problems.”
“Not all of them, my son.”
“Most of them, and that's enough for now.”
“You know we're here, don't you?”
“I know.” I smiled at her. “Deborah won't let me forget.”
“She's a good sister.”
“Only sometimes...” I stopped talking when I saw my sister kneel next to my daughters and put her finger to her lips, signaling for them to keep it a secret.
They nodded in agreement, and I came closer to analyze what was going on.
“What was that all about?” I looked at the three of them with a serious expression.
“I gave them each a candy.”
“Deborah!”
“But we agreed that they wouldn't eat until after lunch, didn't we, girls?”
They nodded.
“You're terrible.”
“I'm just trying to be the nice aunt.” She shrugged as she stood up.
“You won't succeed by spoiling my daughters.”