here?” Aron joined them. “You girls are cooking up a scheme, aren’t you?” “No, we’re not.” Dayna turned to rest her hand on his shoulder. “We’re just telling the girls about the hundred differences between men and women.” Aron shook his head. He could see the amusement on Mellie’s cherubic face. Just six, but already wise beyond her years. He enjoyed spending time with them. It always felt like a quick trip back to his childhood. When Brett joined them and picked Aubree up, depositing her into his lap, Aron tapped a finger on the counter. “Brett, as your new friend, I find it my duty to warn you that you’re being outnumbered right inside your own home.” “You don’t say?” Brett tickled his daughter. “I was just telling Aunt Dayna that daddy leaves his shoes outside his door and trips on them. One time, he sprawled on the floor and hurt his knees.” “It was a deliberate jump,” Brett defended. “I was showing your mom a complicated Tai Chi move. It’s a dangerous and deadly defense art, like karate.” “Yeah! You stick to that story,” Jamie muttered as she finished peeling the apple and put it into a bowl. “Daddy went, Owww !” Aubree exclaimed as she pulled her father’s cheek. “He got a bump!” “Daddy didn’t get a bump. I was showing your mom this amazing move.” Aron laughed as he pulled Dayna closer. “Brett, my man, what you need is a son to bring some balance in this house. When he goes bump with you, at least you won’t feel as alone and vulnerable with these three ladies.” He glanced at his watch. “Hey! We’re late.” He turned to Dayna in mock anger. After all, she’d been reminding him about the time all along. “Why didn’t you tell me? Graham will be waiting.” He turned to the family of four. “ A diós , guys. See you later.” He linked fingers with Dayna’s and they both strode out. It was only when they were safely ensconced in the elevator that he got a close look at her face. It looked set in stone. “What happened? We’re not that late.” “No, it isn’t that.” She shook her head. “It’s nothing.” “What? Tell me.” “It’s just—never mind.” Aron marched out of the elevator and held the main door open for her. “That way…” He pointed towards his car. “What did I say?” He assisted her into the front passenger seat, and then jogged to the other side. “Don’t you think that it was a little insensitive of you to mention the fact that they didn’t have son? What if Jamie and Brett didn’t like that statement?” Aron put the car in gear and pulled out. “I didn’t mean it like that. It was a joke. They have a lovely family and they both know it.” “Some people are sensitive about the gender of their children.” “True, but I doubt Brett and Jamie are like those people. I’m sure they cherish their daughters as much as they would have cherished any sons, if they had any.” “Having a son isn’t all that important.” “I didn’t say it was important.” “You implied it.” Aron stopped at an intersection. “I didn’t imply it. Like I said before, it was a joke and I’m sure they took it as such. I didn’t mean anything by it.” “Having a son is not important for every father…or mother, for that matter.” He gazed at her face. Her jaw looked clenched and he could see a muscle moving in her cheek. This was about something else entirely. Aron didn’t understand how an offhand comment could’ve made her so angry. “ Mi Dios ! Having a healthy child is important. Gender of the child isn’t important. And I never said or implied that it was.” Aron drove into the parking lot of Graham’s building. “And I don’t understand why we’re fighting over it.” Dayna shook her head, collected her bag and stepped out. Aron took a moment to calm down. What the hell had gotten into her? She’d turned his simple statement into something more complicated. He’d certainly