Rex gave a helpless laugh, patting Arabella's back as if to calm her down. "Careful, little one. If you keep this up, your grandpa might challenge me to a duel."
Henry chuckled, shaking his head. "Relax, son. I'm far too old to compete with a boy who can catch a missile disguised as my granddaughter." His eyes twinkled as he added, "But for her to hold on this tight… well, that tells me enough about the kind of person you are."
It wasn't just flattery… it was Henry's way of saying thank you, restrained yet heartfelt. The kind of gratitude a man like him couldn't easily express in flowery words, so he tucked it inside a simple observation.
Eleanor finally spoke, her voice soft but clear. "She doesn't warm up to people this quickly. You've given her something she needed."
Next came the uncles and aunts, each with their own flavor of authority.
