She thinks for a minute. ‘So he can have all my toys,’ she says triumphantly.
Shane shakes his head. ‘He’s a boy. He doesn’t want your dolls and cookery set.’
She appears to lose interest in Tommy’s motive. ‘Is there an egg on my head?’ she asks anxiously, instead.
‘Maybe a very small one,’ Shane agrees.
‘I’m never sleeping with him again. Don’t make me, Uncle Shane,’ she pleads.
I have to turn my head to hide my smile. How Shane is keeping a straight face is beyond me.
‘Why did you bang her with your train while she was sleeping, Tommy?’ Shane asks the little boy, who has so far said nothing.
He scrunches his shoulders up to his ears. ‘It was an accident. I wanted to kiss her, but the train fell from my hand, and … and … banged her head.’
Shane turns to Liliana. ‘See? It was an accident. He just wanted to kiss you.’
‘I don’t believe him. He’s a’—she frowns to think of the right expression—‘juvenile delinquent.’
Shane’s lips twitch. ‘Do you know what? I kind of believe him. You’re very, very kissable.’ And he kisses her on her cheek, twice, loudly. ‘Don’t you sometimes look at your new baby sister and want to kiss her too?’
She looks at Tommy from the sides of her eyes. ‘Yes, Laura’s cute,’ she admits.
‘Can you forgive him?’ Shane asks.
She stares mutinously at Shane. ‘I’ll have to think about it.’
‘All right then. Think about it while you have lunch.’ He turns his gaze to his nephew. ‘Tommy, what do you say when you accidentally hurt someone?’
‘Sorry,’ he pipes up immediately.
‘Good boy. Now, why don’t we all go into the kitchen and have some lunch?’
Tommy, relieved that he is not going to be punished, nods eagerly.
‘Who’s that?’ Liliana asks, noticing me for the first time.
‘That’s Snow. Say hello.’
‘Hello, Snow,’ she says, wiping her tears, her rage forgotten.
‘Hi, what’s your name?’ I ask with a smile, simply because I want to hear her tell me her new name.
‘Margarite Hum Loo,’ she replies solemnly.
‘That’s a pretty name. What does it mean?’ I ask equally solemnly.
‘It doesn’t mean anything. I just like it because it reminds me of a seahorse, or a mermaid, I’m not sure which yet.’
I smile at the purity of her innocence. It’s been a long time since I was in the presence of children. It is like bathing my soul in clear, pure spring water. It makes this morning’s news even sweeter.
I turn to Tommy. ‘Hello, Tommy.’
‘Hello,’ Tommy says shyly.
‘He’s a cry-baby. He cries all the time,’ Liliana denounces scornfully.
‘Excuse me,’ Shane interrupts, ‘but you used to cry when you were his age too.’