Alicia holds Mariana's hands as she toddles around, blinking up at her mom as they make their slowly from the play area to the couch.
"Well, look at you," Ricardo says with a soft smile, reaching out for his daughter. "Between you and Clara, we're all going to be exhausted by the end of the day chasing you both around the house. Aren't we?"
She giggles and grips Ricardo's pantleg as she tries to crawl up the couch.
Alicia clearly itches to help her but Ricardo smiles and shakes his head, motioning for them to wait and see. The little girl's curious nature works out in her favor, and she figures it out as she makes it high enough to get a leg up and over, scooting the rest of the way up until she's sitting next to Ricardo, looking pleased with herself. "Mary good!" she cheers, waving her pudgy little fists around.
Ricardo laughs, enjoying the startled happiness on Alicia's face. "Mary is very good," he agrees, peppering kisses over his daughter's hands as he scoops her up into his lap, smiling down at her. "I'm very proud of you."
She beams and laughs, lunging up to hug him. "Daddy!"
He smiles and kisses the side of her face, overwhelmed with love for her. For her siblings. For this life he finds that he's somehow made for himself. "I love you," he murmurs to her. "All of you."
She giggles and kisses Ricardo's cheek noisily.