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Adam, Ava, and Elliot stood together, surveying the scene in front of them. The Sunset Hills Senior Home's rec room wasn't exactly dangerous, but it had pitfalls if you weren't familiar with the territory.
Elliot looked up at Adam. "You're the expert here," he said. "Break it down for us."
Adam's lips quirked as he delivered his report. He still couldn't quite believe that the kids had wanted to come along to one of his monthly visits – and that Morgan had been so annoyed that she couldn't – but he was prepared to take full advantage of the experience.
"The group over there playing rummy has a complex betting system, and unless you have a bag full of cookies to use as collateral they won't let you play. The dominos group is more welcoming, but I think Elliot might have better luck with Mr. Taylor." He pointed to an old man at a table by the window, sitting in front of a chess board. "The man is very good at chess, enough that he won't let me play with him anymore. Says beating me is like taking candy from a baby."
Elliot looked excited at that, rubbing his hands together. "I like a challenge." He took so much joy in his intelligence, even more than Morgan ever did. From what he'd heard of Morgan's dad, he knew that joy was because she and Ludo were much better parents.
He was honored to contribute in any way he could.
"And I'm guessing that's your Scrabble group," Ava said from his other side, looking amused at a group of women sitting at another table. They were all watching Adam and the kids with expressions that made it clear they thought they were adorable, and when she saw him looking Mrs. Gunderson gave him a little wave. He'd definitely mentioned Morgan to them before now – she was at the heart of most of his stories, these days – and after seeing him with the kids Adam was sure he was going to get a full interrogation.
Adam was looking forward to it. When you had people this wonderful in your life, you wanted to talk about them as often as you could.
Ava grinned as she snapped a picture on her phone. "Oh, Mom's gonna love that one." She shot Adam a teasing look. "And don't even think about trying to bribe me into keeping it quiet. Mom is compensating me well for fully reporting on just how adorable both of you get."
Morgan had given Adam similar instructions about getting pictures of the kids being adorable, though his own payment had been implied by the delightfully familiar glint of heat in her eyes. He decided not to mention it. "Any idea where you want to go?"
Ava surveyed the room with a calculated look, pointing to a gray-haired woman slumped in front of the television in the corner. "Tell me more about her."
Adam's smile flickered again. He could picture Morgan saying exactly the same thing. "Ms. Potter. She's got enough of a reputation that three staff members warned me about her when I first started coming here. The only thing I've ever heard her say is yelling at whoever gets between her and the TV."
Ava watched the woman for a moment, thoughtful, then opened her makeup bag and rifled through it. Pulling out a pink nail polish with a pearly sheen, she held it up in Ms. Potter's direction and did some evaluating. After a moment, she gave a decisive nod. "Definitely her."
Ava was enough like Morgan that he didn't even think about dissuading her. "If you're sure."
"I'm sure." She grinned up at him, the same look in her eyes her mom got when she was about to do something clever. "You just have to know how to talk to people."
He couldn't help but smile back. "I'll leave it to the master, then."
He and Elliot watched her go, a deliberately annoyed expression on her face as she asked Mrs. Potter a question they couldn't make out. After a brief exchange the annoyance turned conspiratorial, and exactly four minutes and 37 seconds later Ava was doing her nails while the two chatted like old friends.
Adam pulled his phone out to take a picture, noting with amusement that Eliot was already recording video. "I wish I could do that," Elliot said wistfully.
Adam gave his shoulder an affectionate squeeze. "Me, too."
Elliot smiled up at him. "Lucky for us we have other talents."
Adam's smile widened. It was impossible not to love these kids. "I'll try to remind myself of that."