Page 65 of Textbook Defense

Emma answered for both of them. “Feed us, Jordy.”

There would always be tonight and tomorrow. Kaira went to bed early. Jordy and Rowan would have time.

When Rowan returned, Kaira and Emma—well, mostly Kaira, with Emma occasionally chiming in—were regaling Jordy with stories of their adventures.

“Rowan! Rowan! Guess what?” Kaira launched herself at him when he entered the kitchen.

“Um,” Rowan pondered as he scooped her up. “You bought a pet elephant?”

Jordy’s heart thudded. Rowan loved to indulge her, and it did terrible, painful things in Jordy’s chest.

“No!” she shrieked.

“You went to the moon?”

“No!”

“You… ate broccoli for breakfast?”

“No! Rowan! We went swimming!”

“Swimming?” Her hair was still damp. Rowan could not have missed it. “I never would have guessed.”

“We did! There was a waterslide, and Aunt Emma said I couldn’t go on the big one alone, but I got to go on the little one by myself, but then Auntie Emma took me to the big one and we went down it so fast!”

“That sounds amazing. You had a good time with Auntie Emma, then?”

“Yes. Rowan, why do you say her name funny?”

“What? Auntie Emma’s?”

“Yes, you say it funny.” Kaira giggled.

“No,yousay it funny,” Rowan countered.

“No!”

“Yes. Where I grew up, everyone saysawnt. No one saysantunless they’re talking about bugs.”

“But why?”

That was one nice thing about having another adult around, Jordy decided. He didn’t always have to answer the difficult questions. But he felt like he had to intervene or he’d just sit here all day watching them go back and forth and Emma would take one look at him and see he was completely besotted. “Because Rowan grew up in another country, peanut. I know we talked about this already. Sayingawnt”—Jordy’s accent was adorablyatrocious—“is just like how he saysbootinstead oftrunk, orbininstead oftrash.”

Kaira considered this, then shrugged, apparently satisfied.

“We’re just finishing up lunch,” Jordy told Rowan. “Plenty more on the counter if you want some.”

“Ooh, yes, please. I’m famished.” He found the pan of lasagna and plated up a healthy portion.

“How was the visit to campus?”

“Good. It turned into a tour and tech visit, though, so it lasted longer than anticipated. But at least I won’t get lost first thing Monday morning.”

“Campus?” Emma asked.

Damn. Jordy had thought maybe their little domestic play could go unnoticed or at least unremarked upon, but judging by her smile, it was a futile hope.

Jordy cleared his throat. “Yeah. Rowan’s starting work at U of T on Monday.”

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