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“Sophie, if you want to be big and strong like Ryan, you’ll have to eat your greens,” Kirsten politely informs her three-year-old daughter.
Kirsten glances across the dinner table and catches her son hiding a shy smile behind his glass of water. She loves that smile, it reminds her of a morning years ago when she was grumbling about yogalates.
Sandy chimes in next to her, “Your mother’s right. Plus those brussel sprouts go great with my brisket.”
A grumpy little Sophie frowns at her plate, her fussy attitude undermined by cute chubby cheeks and blonde curly hair. She peers up at Ryan sitting next to her, his expression unreadable as always. She pokes a tiny finger into his large bicep a few times and hums.
“Hmm that is strong... Okay!”
The child resumes eating her vegetables.
Sandy whispers to his wife with a smile, “Nicely done, honey.”
“Thank you,” Kirsten replies quietly, matching her husband’s smile.
“This brisket’s really good, Sandy,” Ryan says through a mouthful.
Sophie blinks up at her brother in confusion. The grown-ups are too engrossed in their food to notice this.
Sandy grins, “The Nana recipe never fails!”
“We should make it again next time Seth flies in,” Kirsten notes.
Ryan nods, “Perfect for Chrismukkah.”
Sophie turns her attention to the other side of the table. She sits up in her chair and leans forward to carefully inspect her father. Everyone looks up from their plates at the sound of her voice.
“But Dad didn’t go surfing today. How is he sandy?”
The baffled look on Sandy's face almost perfectly matches hers. His wife catches on right away, stifling a laugh.
“Sandy is his name, sweetie,” Kirsten says warmly.
Sandy chuckles lightly and then nods at his daughter, his eyes filled with adoration.
“Oh!” squeaks Sophie.
Her blue eyes stare into space at this new information, completely perplexed. She then shrugs and silently returns to her food as if nothing happened.
The family goes back to their plates but only three seconds pass before Sophie interrupts again.
“Wait! What's Mommy's name?"
"Kirsten," Sandy replies.
“WHAT?!” Sophie nearly screams.
Ryan winces next to her and rubs his ear. Kirsten giggles at the shocked expression on her daughter’s face.
“Kirsten…” Sophie repeats slowly, gazing in awe at her mother. She smiles suddenly, “That’s pretty!”
“She is!” Sandy agrees. “But as our kid, you call us Mom and Dad. Okay?”
Sophie doesn't look convinced but she nods anyways, “Okay, Dad.”
She goes back to reluctantly munching brussel sprouts while Sandy, Kirsten and Ryan all exchange a look. Problem solved?
A few quiet moments pass while everyone eats, with Sandy and Kirsten having their own conversation about Kirsten’s new art gallery opening. This time Ryan can sense his sister’s tiny but expressive eyes on him.
He doesn't look up as he speaks, “What is it, Soph’?”
“But you’re my brother!” Sophie pouts.
“I am,” Ryan nods, still fixated on his food.
“So they’re your mommy and daddy too!” She whines. “You have to call them Mom and Dad.”
Ryan turns to meet her eyes. Most people would have cowered under his broody stare but Sophie inherited her father's stubbornness. She holds Ryan's gaze easily with a determined pout of her own, her blue eyes reminding him of Kirsten. He hadn’t told Sophie about his past yet, she was far too young to hear such a story. He had agreed with the Cohens to tell her when she gets older but sometimes Ryan dreaded the day he’d have to burden her with it all.
Sophie’s raised voice pulls Sandy and Kirsten out of their conversation.
Kirsten jumps in before Ryan can say anything, shaking her head, “Sophie-”
“Ryan doesn’t need to do that,” Sandy says sternly.
“Why?” asks Sophie.
Ryan watches Sandy and Kirsten straighten up in their seats as they’re about to speak. The protective look in their eyes helps him find his words.
“You’re right, Sophie,” Ryan interrupts, staring down at her.
His parents’ gaze shifts from Sophie to him.
“They’re my mom and dad," Ryan glances at them before continuing to Sophie. "Our Mom and Dad. So I’ll call them that. Sound good?”
Sandy’s grin is brighter than the sun and Kirsten is close to tears.
“Mm-hmm,” Sophie nods happily at her brother. She leans close to him to whisper loudly, “Now you won’t get in trouble!”
Ryan can’t stop the smile growing on his face.
"Yeah imagine that. Me in trouble."
Sandy wraps an arm around Kirsten’s shoulder and kisses her sweetly on the cheek. He stands up to take his empty plate to the kitchen and she squeezes his arm and hand on his way up.
Ryan clears his throat and looks up at Kirsten.
“You want me to help wash up, Mom?”
Kirsten beams at her son, unable to hide her delight, “That would be great.”
He gets up and starts collecting dishes, eyes darting to the kitchen and then to Sophie.
“Hey,” Ryan says to her with a sly smile. “Did you know Dad’s full name is Sanford?”
Sophie giggles loudly, “Sanford? That’s silly!”
“I heard that!” Sandy yells from the kitchen.