“We have a few more minutes,” Curt said calmly. “Jenna, I want you to answer me, now.”
The firmness of his voice caught her attention. Her eyes widened. “It was Jonty the Jerk.”
“Jonty the Jerk?” he queried.
“Yeah, he lives next door. We go to school together. He told everyone about Sergeant Teddy.”
“It’s about time you stopped sleeping with that silly bear. Honestly, aren’t you, like, ten now?” Amelia flicked her long, blonde hair over her shoulder.
“She’s five,” Curt told her.
“And there’s nothing wrong with sleeping with a teddy bear. I did until I was twelve.” He winked at Jenna, and she giggled.
“Twelve? You did not!”
“Of course, he didn’t,” Amelia snapped impatiently. “He’s just being nice. But we have better things to do than babysit you. So run along.” She flicked her fingers out.
“Amelia, perhaps you should return to the party. I’ll be there as soon as I take Jenna back to bed.”
Amelia made an impatient noise, but she stood. Then she pointed her finger at Jenna. “I know it was you who put that frog in my handbag, by the way. Brat.” Then she smiled at Curt and leaned down to kiss him. “Don’t take too long.”
Jenna made another gagging noise.
“Hey, what’s that noise about.” He tickled her, and she giggled.
“Stop! Stop!”
He pulled his hands away.
“Kissing is yucky,” she told him.
“Really?”
“Yep. Jonty the Jerk tried to kiss me. I told him it was gross. Then he told everyone I sleep with Sergeant Teddy. So I told his friends he still sucks his thumb. Then he jumped me.”
“He jumped you? Maybe I need to have a few words with Jonty the Jerk.”
She hunched her shoulders happily. “He’d be scared of you.” She bit her lip. “But his dad is real important. I heard Momma say so. She said we wouldn’t be invited to their Christmas party this year. But I don’t care, ’cause now I won’t have to wear the stupid Christmas dress Momma bought me.”
He tapped her nose and stood with her on his hip. “You know you shouldn’t be out here on your own, right?”
“I know. But I wanted to see you. I h
aven’t seen you in ages.”
“Sorry about that, little bit.”
“It’s okay. Daddy said you’ve been real busy. You smell funny. All spicy.”
“You don’t like it?”
“No. I thought you smelled nice before. All earthy.”
“Earthy, huh?”
“Yeah, like trees and grass and mud.”
He laughed.