Jeff frowned the polite frown of a worried friend. "I don't... know if it's my place, but come on, Gloria. The kids just got here. Let them have a cookie, watch a little of the movie. No need to take them away from the fun, right?' He watched at Ava led Braedan away over to the coloring table, showing off her drawing of what he assumed was supposed to be a Christmas tree. Or Flubber. It was hard to tell from a distance.
"C'mon. If you leave now, what are Lisa and Debbie going to say? They worked so hard to put this all together..." He was laying it on a little thick, he knew, but he owed it to Tristan to at least try.