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Leesh wrinkles her nose. “Really?”

“Of course! I’d be happy to. It’s the least I could do.” I reach out to tickle Charlotte’s chin. “We can play dress-up and have tea parties!”

Charlotte snaps her head around to her mom. “I want Uncle Weth to play dweth-up and tea parteeth!”

Whatever, demon girl. I’ll make you love me, just wait.

“Or! Alternate plan!” Leesh says excitedly. “We have a girls’ night out and Daddy and Uncle Weth can look after the kids!”

I stand up and shrug. “That works too. I can take you to dinner, and we can really talk.”

“Screw talking! Let’s go dancing! Let’s get hammered!”

I laugh. “That also works.” I place my unopened yogurt snack in front Charlotte. I will buy her love, one snack at a time, if I have to. “Bye, Charlotte. You can have this if you want it.”

She smiles up at me sweetly.

“Say thank you to Aunt Lily,” Alecia says.

“Thank you. Wait…” Charlotte turns to Alecia again and attempts to whisper. “Is that Lily B-fathe?”

Alecia presses her lips together and then smacks them when she looks up at me. “I mean.Youknow you’re a b-face.”

“Better than anyone. Thank you for lunch.”

She starts to pull Spencer out from his high chair.

“No, don’t get up. I can see myself out.” I kiss her on the cheek. “Love you. Text me when you want to go out.” I kiss Spencer on top of his wavy blond hair, which smells so good I just sniff his head for a few seconds.

“Uhh, immediately if not sooner. Not kidding. Love you!”

“Bye, Lily B-fathe!”

I walk out with a smile on my face and more melted butter and grape juice on my clothes than I came here with.

Despite the controlled chaos, when I’m out the door, I’m aware of a certain ache in my heart and sadness in my lungs for something that I refuse to name and still can’t picture myself ever having.