Camping and tree-climbing and Clio laughing freely and Ella all but glowing with excitement. It couldn't possibly be so easy, so perfectly, gloriously simple. Maybe it was just the magic of Elaine's fairytale land that made it feel so. But right here, right now, perched in an old oak with the child who'd just called him Dad for the first time, all three of them dappled golden by the light of the sinking sun— Will couldn't bring himself to worry. Here and now, if only for a bit, he could believe in happily ever afters.
He tapped his chin as though giving Clio's question real consideration. "Mm, not the comfiest place for a kip. We might wake up with bugs crawling on our faces. Or a squirrel might make a nest of this hair." He reached down and gave Ella's head a ruffle.