Nina pouted her little lips, complaining, "Dad, why do you have to bring a stranger lady along with us?"
"It's a way to get to know each other, right?" Fredric pinched her chubby cheek. "Be good, or daddy will be upset."
Nina eyed Jelena from head to toe. The lady did look like a siren, just like her mom had warned her that those pretty women out there were all sirens, trying to lure her dad away.
"Lady Jelena, if you don't want to marry my dad, why are you hanging out with him?"
Jelena could tell this little one wasn't a fan of hers, offering a faint smile, "I'm here to spend time with my cousin and her kiddos."
Fredric glared at Nina, "Go play by yourself and stop worrying about grown-up stuff."
Lilith flopped onto a beach chair, "I don't wanna play right now. I want some fruit."
Aurelia handed her a plate of fruit, "Nina, whether or not Jelena ends up with your dad, it's not going to change things for you, okay?"
Nina looked down, her thick lashes casting sorrowful shadows on her fair eyelids.
"Our life's already changed. Dad and mom are divorced. I haven't seen mom in ages."
Aurelia tried to comfort her, "Mom's just on a trip to clear her mind. She'll be back before you know it."
Skyler scratched his head, "Adults are so complicated. Marrying, then divorcing like it's all a game. Kids are way simpler."
Mira made a face, "Ugh, kids can be a hassle too, always playing with different friends. It's maddening. My classmates are just like that, which drives me nuts."
Kane handed her a peeled tangerine, "That's why family is the best. We don't fight, and if we do, we make up quickly, right?"
"Right," Mira nodded.
Nina stuck out her tongue, "Why can't adults make up when they fight? Why can't dad make up with mom?"
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