“Papa!” Evie coos. She leaps off her barstool and runs headlong into my arms.
I snatch her up in one smooth motion and twirl her around as she lets out a little shriek of excitement.
“Can we go for a swim after breakfast?” she pleads.
I laugh. “How about in the evening?” I say. “After you get back from school.”
“School?” Charlotte repeats with surprise.
I look past Evie to where Charlotte’s standing by the kitchen island. She’s already soaking her breadfor the French toast.
“She’s missed enough,” I explain. “She needs to pick it back up again today.”
“Will you take me, Papa?” Evie inquires.
I pretend to think about it. “Well…”
Evie’s eyes bulge. “Papa, please!”
I break into a smile. “Oh, alright then, I suppose. Twist my arm about it, why don’t you?”
My daughter cackles in my ar
