The twins' bedroom smelled like lavender. Arianne had started using the diffuser three weeks ago, after Lily complained that the room felt "too quiet" at night. Franz didn't know if lavender actually helped children sleep, but Lily had stopped complaining, so he counted it as a win.
Arianne was kneeling beside Lily's bed, tucking the blanket around her shoulders. Lily's hair was spread across the pillow, dark against the white case. She was watching Arianne with the particular intensity she reserved for moments she wanted to remember.
"Did Lexx say any new words today?" Lily asked.
"He said 'ba' seven times."
"That's not a word."
"It's a syllable. Syllables become words."
Lily considered this. "How many syllables does it take to make a word?"
"Depends on the word."
"Two."
"Two what?"
"Lily." Lily said it plainly. "Lil-y. Two syllables."
"Yes. Two syllables."
"Does Lexx know how to say 'Lily' yet?"
"Not yet."
