Staas had collapsed onto the other end of the couch, sweating and grinning, his feet entangled with Ira's on the floor, and his thighs covered with little Alida legs. Alida was lying on the couch (and Staas), giggling into her dad's hat, which covered her face. "Right?" he said through his smile, totally agreeing with Ori. "Though he does go sometimes. Some hipster place? I haven't had a chance to join him yet," he said with a shrug.
He fanned himself with his hand, and considered getting up for some water, but dismissed it as too much effort. The kids, of course, recovered much more quickly, and Theo pushed himself away from Ori to sit up and ask, "Daddy, is it time for the swans now?"
Staas chuckled. "I think we've worked up our appetites enough. Just give me a minute, okay, jongen?"
"Okay." Theo promptly collapsed on top of Ori again, reaching for Ira's hat to fan her in return. Or smack her in the face with it.
"Careful, buddy," Staas mildly cautioned. Eventually he pushed himself up, disentangling himself from various limbs, and grinned at the sight of his family sprawled out in his livingroom. He made his way to the kitchen, started the kettle again, and grabbed a glass of water for himself to drain real quick.
Seven minutes later he was back in the livingroom, with a tray full of tea, one cup of coffee, two glasses of milk, two pastry swans, and a three-piece assortment of other selections from Candi's. The kids scrambled round to the other side of the coffee table, Alida sitting primly and Theo bouncing on his butt as they awaited the whippy cream masterpieces.
"Ori, your pick," Staas said after he'd carefully set his tray down, indicating the three odd pastries.