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“That’s just going to transform into eating dessert in the kitchen again,” Anthony said.

Isabeau laughed. “I have nothing against that.”

“Then come on, clan. Let’s all move to the kitchen.”

Bella had been pretty quiet the whole day before she suddenly came up to me. She, Grace, and I were at the very back of the group as we headed to the kitchen.

“Uncle Zachary?” she asked, looking at Grace shyly. “Can I ask you something?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Would you like me to give you privacy?” Grace asked her.

Bella hesitated for a brief second before saying, “No. Maybe it’s better to have someone else’s opinion who’s not part of the family too.”

I blinked rapidly. Jesus, she truly sounded like an adult when she spoke like that. Well, at least a teenager, which she was on her way to becoming.

“Do you want to give me your opinion, Grace?” she asked.

“Sure.” Grace sounded completely taken aback.

“Okay. So, I asked Uncle Zachary a while ago if I have to be friends with the popular girls in school even though I don’t really like them and they want me to drop my friends. And he told me that I don’t have to, that I can stick with my friends.”

“Your uncle is right. No one can pressure you into not spending time with your friends.”

“Well, now I have another issue. The mean girls are spreading lies aboutmebehind my back. And I’m not sure what to do.”

Fuck.

“Oh, I do know, actually,” Grace said. “Whenever someone comes up to you with those lies, you just stand your ground and tell them the truth. You don’t even have to tell them who spread the lies. You can just tell them that it’s not true.”

“And that will work?” Bella asked skeptically.

“For some it will. For those that it doesn’t, they’re not worth your time anyway.”

I nodded. “I quite agree with her.”

She grinned. “Thanks, Grace. Thanks, Uncle Zachary. You two are the best. Now I’m going to ask everyone else in the family what their opinion is too.”

“Why?” I inquired.

“So I can see which one is the most popular.”

I started to laugh as Bella darted away, and then Grace said, “Oh God, she’s so adorable. And you’re adorable with her.”

“I love her. We all do. Do you like kids?” I asked. Then I remembered what she’d told me what felt like months ago, that she and her husband had been trying to have children.

“Yes, I do,” she said, beaming from ear to ear. “Growing up, I always dreamed of having a girl and a boy. Or two girls. I always felt a bit like the odd one out having two brothers, you know?”

“I have five, so I don’t even know how to answer that.”

Grace laughed. “I really like your family.”

“Small secret—they like you too. And another piece of advice: don’t say you have a favorite dessert.”

“Why not?” she asked, looking at me strangely.

“Because my grandmothers are testing new recipes, and although they say they want feedback, they actually want praise. To their credit, though, their desserts are very good.”