"Yeah?"
He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "You're not going to be able to scare me away," he murmured. "Tell me whatever you need, and we'll work on it together."
She didn't respond. But she let him hold her for a bit longer before stepping out of his embrace and making her way back inside.
He noticed she didn't meet his gaze.
Tristan pushed away the worry and tried to concentrate on the rest of the party. The second round of desserts came out, including pink cake pops and princess cookies. The girls dove in, and he managed to snatch one for himself without his brothers seeing. He had a weakness for sugar cookies, pink or not.
"Okay, girls, how about some actual fruit?" Morgan asked with a smile. She passed around a tray of strawberries, and Sydney's friends scooped a few up like they were candy.
Becca raised her hands in the air. "Not me," she said.
"Not me," he said at the same exact time.
They shared a glance. "Jinx!" she yelled out.
"Darn, you were too fast for me." He grinned at her. "Don't like them?"
She shook her head. "No, I'm allergic."
"Me too. I blow up like a balloon."
"Me too! I look like the clown fish from Finding Nemo!" Her face was delighted, as if sharing a terrible allergy bonded them. He remembered being rushed to the hospital with his mom freaking out the first time he'd gotten a hold of a strawberry.
"Do you have an EpiPen?" he asked, finishing his sugar cookie.
"Yep, do you?"
"Nah, when I got bigger, I just knew how to avoid them. Want some coffee? You're seven now."
"I'm still too young!" Her friends burst into silly laughter with her. He'd had no idea how easy it was to get on with a young girl. Maybe he wasn't as terrible with children as he thought.
With a wink, he headed for the coffeepot. He'd been less exhausted after a twelve-hour workday than this kids' party. How did Sydney manage?
When the first of the parents began picking up the girls, he breathed a sigh of relief. Becca's friends left, and the grown-ups all began to clean up while she kept up a stream of nonstop chatter, showing them all of her gifts and twirling in her bright blue gown. They were halfway through the dishes when he noticed the quiet. He looked around, trying to find out why the talking had stopped.
And found Becca sprawled out on the living room couch, asleep.
Sydney smiled at her daughter, tucking a knitted afghan over her gown and slipping off her plastic high-heeled princess shoes. She tiptoed out, and they stepped back into the kitchen.
"She plays hard and sleeps harder," Sydney said with a laugh. "It'll be impossible to wake her up."
"You were smart to stay here tonight," Morgan said. "You'll have the place to yourselves. Cal and I are sleeping at the new house tonight."
"You close Tuesday, right?" Tristan asked.
"Yep, it's finally official. We should get back soon, though. We left the dynamic goofball duo there alone. It'll take them a while to get used to the new place, and I'm afraid they've been left alone too long."
"Should've brought them over," Tristan said with a laugh.
Morgan shook her head. "One of Becca's friends is afraid of dogs, and I didn't want her first introduction to be with Cujos, even though they're the sweetest dogs alive."
"Dalton and I are heading back, too," Raven said, wiping her hands on a dish towel. She'd ditched the horns and the headdress but still wore those wicked black boots. "Sydney, I'm madly in love with your daughter. Thank you for letting me be a part of this."
Sydney hugged her hard, and Morgan stepped into the circle until it was like three powerful princess/witches who were about to rule the world. He cut a glance over to his brothers, registering the tenderness on their faces while they looked upon the women they loved. For so many years, after their mother died, there was an emptiness and pain that filled up all the empty spaces. They'd lost one another for a long time. Somehow, beginning when Morgan came into their life, there was joy again in this house, and among them. He'd not only rediscovered his brothers but a whole new life of possibilities.
Finally they all left and Tristan shut the door behind them, then turned to Sydney. "How about I carry her up for you? Get her settled and then we can have that talk?"
Her skin turned vampire pale. "Thanks."
He lifted Becca into his arms. Her warm body cuddled automatically against him, and she mumbled in her sleep, frowning fiercely. He climbed the spiral staircase to the first room on the right-decorated in feminine lemon yellow with a floral bedspread. He smiled when she muttered and smooshed her face into the pillow, just like her mother did. He walked back downstairs, poured them both a glass of wine, and went into the living room.