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Taylor's eyes went wide and her mouth opened to begin her denial of fault. "I didn't do anything."
"That's not what I asked," Cormac said patiently.
Maddie was wailing, her sobs nearly forming the word "Mommy," which was heartbreaking to hear. I gripped April's hand tightly as we exchanged a worried glance. My mind raced, trying to figure out what I should be doing, how I could help.
Taylor began explaining everything that had happened since they'd arrived at my house, and April and I ventured nearer the door. I knocked lightly. "Mads, honey, it's your uncle. Can I help?"
The sobbing halted for a second, and then began again more quietly. Taylor was still giving Cormac a blow by blow of the activities that had led up to this crisis. "And then I told her that purple looks nicer with yellow."
"Right," Cormac said, his voice thinning in impatience. "And she went in the bathroom?"
"No," Taylor said. "Then we had a skipping contest."
Maddie's crying had grown softer inside the bathroom, and a loud hiccup came through the door, followed by an inquisitive, "Ape-will?"
I felt April stiffen at his side in surprise. "Yes, Maddie? I'm here," April said, shaking her head lightly.
"Can you come in?" Maddie asked.
April turned wide eyes on me and I released her hand, nodding that she should go in. April cracked the door and asked, "Okay. What's up, honey?" and disappeared inside.
Cormac turned to stare at the closed door and then met my eyes. We exchanged a confused look as murmuring could be heard from inside the bathroom. I didn’t know what to think—was I pushing April too far into my family by expecting her to help my niece in the bathroom? A few minutes later, there was a flush, the sink running, and then both girls emerged. Maddie held April's hand, and her little face was streaked with tears.
"Is everything okay?" Cormac asked, half to April, half to Maddie.
Maddie nodded, and April said, "Everything is fine. Just a bit of girl stuff is all."
Cormac's mouth dropped open slightly and he sighed. "I'm gonna just go finish that drink," he said, standing and heading back to the kitchen.
"That was phenomenal," I said to April as we followed him to the kitchen, little girls in tow. "What was going on?" I couldn’t pull his eyes from her face, which was flushed and glowing. I was impressed, and maybe just a little bit in awe at the easy way she’d handled whatever had just happened. A fleeting thought flew through his mind—April would be an amazing mother. I pushed it down as soon as I thought it. Too soon. Way too soon.
"Later," April promised.
A few minutes later, we all sat around the table in the dining room, spaghetti steaming on our plates as the smells of garlic and warm bread wafted through the house. The girls ate happily and Cormac did too, quietly interspersing bites with sips of the red wine I had opened.
"So," I said, wishing the atmosphere was just a little more relaxed. My brother did not seem to be in the mood for conversation, but I felt like I owed April a nice time. "Plans for the weekend, girls?"
"Ballet practice," Taylor informed me. "And Daddy's taking us to the ice castle."
I glanced at Cormac. "They have an ice castle here?" I had visited an ice hotel in Sweden—it had been over the top, with the reception desk, the bar, the beds, all carved from ice.
Cormac lifted a shoulder. "That's how it's advertised. I guess we'll see."
Maddie beamed at April across the table. "Ape-will will come."
"I will?" April had clearly not been informed of this agenda item.
"Tomow-woh." Maddie stuffed a big piece of garlic bread into her mouth then, defying any further clarification.
I glanced at April, feeling an anticipation I almost wished I didn't and also feeling simultaneously jealous that Maddie could so simply say what she wanted. I wanted April to say yes too. I wanted to spend time with her—as much as she'd allow. I wanted to tell her how much better I felt when she was nearby, laughing and smiling and exercising her intense hatred of the holidays in a way that was almost comical. I wanted to reach my hand toward her, capture her soft cool skin in my own and never let go.
But I didn't do any of that. I just watched her, smiling encouragingly, and celebrated inside when she shrugged and asked, "What's an ice castle?"
The evening wound down, both girls ending up tucked in with blankets in front ofFrozenin the small den off the parlor while April, Cormac, and I sat in front of the fire in the living room.
"What was going on there in the bathroom?" Cormac asked April, and I looked at her, equally curious.
She sighed, and her eyes flitted from one of us to the other. "She was upset because Taylor had told her something." April paused, and then dropped her eyes, and I was suddenly worried. April didn't look eager to share. But it was far too early for real girl problems, wasn't it?
