Back inside the party was carrying on much as it had when they had left. The room was tightly packed with people, voices and laughter mixing with the occasional squeal of delight from a passing child and bark of a dog.

Emma was greatly relieved to see that they didn't appear to have been missed. Carl gave her a squeeze and a smile, as if to say, "See, Ems, no one even noticed."

"Shall I go and get us more drinks then?" he asked.

She nodded , although her hand still holding his said otherwise.

He kissed her cheek and she reluctantly let go of his hand, letting her fingertips trail across his palm.

"I'm coming straight back you know", he said with a slight laugh.

"I know", she said," but I'm going to miss you anyway."

Standing alone in the crowded room, Emma looked around, watching the various groupings that had formed. Grandparents fussing over babies, siblings engaged in playful teasing. She was fascinated by the details of their interaction - an arm around a shoulder, a concerned glance, laughter and storytelling. Everywhere though there was real affection and good humor to be seen. She could tell just from looking that these people enjoyed each other's company, valued having their family play a large part in their lives.

As her eyes moved around the room, she caught sight of a small girl, who was intently watching her with big round eyes, much like Emma's own, and a shy smile.

Emma smiled back but under this returned attention, the little girl moved to hide behind the nearest adult, peeking out now and then to catch Emma's gaze and return a smile.

The girl was obviously entranced and Emma herself found the child quite bewitching, dressed as she was in a polka dotted party dress tied with a sash, her big eyes in a small face surrounded by a cloud of dark hair held back with a bow and a pair of shiny mary janes.

And Emma let out a short burst of laughter as she realised what the child was so very taken with. It was her outfit. Looking from the little girl's outfit to her own, she could instantly see the similarities and she guessed this child had too. Emma's dress was bright and polka dotted and with the bow at her waist, her cardigan and gold mary janes, the two had far more in common than with anyone else in the room. This little girl clearly had good taste.

Fortunately she seemed to be overcoming her shyness, drawn as she was by lure of pretty things. She weaved her way between the adults, using them as cover as she made her way towards Emma, finally standing in front of her twisting and turning and looking shyly up and down.

"I like what you're wearing," said the little girl, twisting a lock of her hair around her fingers.

"Well I like what you're wearing too," said Emma in return. "It's a very pretty dress you have on. You look very pretty in it."

For this she got another shy smile and a squirm of pleasure, just as Carl came up to join them.

Putting an arm around Emma's waist, he handed her her drink and simultaneously managed to wrap an arm around the little girl who had thrown herself at him with a ecstatic cry of "Uncle Carl".

"Well, I'm so pleased to see that my two favorite girls have finally met," he said beaming.

"Emma, this is Lucie. Lucie, this is your new Aunt Emma," he said looking quite delighted.

"But I thought I was your favorite girl," said Lucie looking up at her uncle seriously.

"Well, sweetie, you still are. It's just that now I have Emma too so you're just going to have to share okay?"

Lucie nodded solemnly and suddenly letting go of her uncle, she grasped Emma's hand.

"Will you come and play with me?" she asked so sweetly that Emma couldn't say no.

Carl laughed and waved as she was dragged away.

"I think she just fell in love with you too," he said chuckling.

Emma found herself being led into the coat cupboard and somewhat imperiously being instructed to sit cross-legged on the floor. Under normal circumstances she would have resisted but there was something about this child's insistence and the magical spell she was under that led her to comply.

Sitting opposite her in a mirror image of her pose, Lucie was staring with wonder at her shiny gold shoes. "Can I try them on?" she asked hopefully.

"Um," Emma mumbled, trying to think what she should do. "I guess so," she answered, carefully unbuckling the shoes, all the while wondering if Carl's family were wondering where his crazy new wife had disappeared to this time or if one of them would come to retrieve a coat only to find her playing dress up in a cupboard. She simply had no experience of the unpredictable nature of young children.

Lucie kicked off her own shoes and stepped into Emma's, looking down at them in awe.

"Be careful now," said Emma.

But no sooner had the words left her mouth was Lucie reaching for the door handle and shuffling down the hall, calling behind her "Let's go show my mommy."

Emma hesitated a moment. She didn't know whether it would be better to stay in the cupboard hoping her shoes would return or to go back to the party barefoot.

After a moment, she padded down the hallway in pursuit of her shoes, reasoning that it would be better than being discovered hiding in a cupboard.

"Hey, there you are," said Carl, from his perch on the sofa next to his mother and aunt.

Emma looked down at her feet, her cheeks flushing slightly as she imagined what they must be thinking.

No one else seemed to notice though and Carl got up, moving aside and said "Ems, take my seat. I'll stand."

So she sat down tucking her feet neatly out of sight.

"Did you guys have fun?" he asked, smiling down at her.

"Um, well ... yes. I mean ... I don't know."

"What is it?" he asked, leaning down close to her so that he could speak quietly in her ear.

Turning her head away from the people close to them, Emma whispered in his ear "Lucie has my shoes."

"Oh," he said laughing ",is that all?"

"Don't laugh," said Emma, giving him a playful swipe.

"But it's funny, Ems," he exclaimed.

"Not for me!" she protested, glaring at him.

"Oh but it is," he said laughing again. "But I'll go and get them for you."

And he kissed her on the cheek, before disappearing in search of a small girl in gold shoes.

It wasn't long before he returned with a shuffling child in tow.

"So what do you say then, Lucie?" said her uncle, looking down at her mock sternly.

"I'm sorry for leaving with your shoes on, Auntie Emma," said Lucie with an endearing lisp. "And I only did it because they're so pretty but I won't do it again. I promise."

And then Emma was taken by surprise to have two little arms go around her in a quick hug and a soft kiss placed on her cheek. Her heart gave a little flutter at this unexpected display of affection.

"She's so sweet," said Emma watching the little girl's disappearing back.

"So all's forgiven?"

"I ... I was just embarrassed," said Emma, now laughing at herself.

"She really likes you."

"I really like her," said Emma smiling.

"And I really like you," Carl replied grinning.

"I know you do," said Emma laughing.

"Oh okay then," said Carl pretending to be annoyed ", well I was going to tell you that you are in fact my favourite girl but,"

Emma interrupted him with a kiss on the lips. "But I am," she said.

"Yes, you are," he agreed, kissing her back. "Just don't tell Lucie okay?"