"you're going to make her fat!" my mother says, staring at the cupcakes he's brought. white cupcakes with white frosting and lots of little rainbow sprinkles, all arranged in what we jokingly call "the cupcake transport".

he glances at me and makes a tiny grin, just enough to make me giggle, and then looks back at my mother innocently.

"oh, she'll be okay," he tries to tell her. "we can always work out later."

we try not to burst into all-out laughter until she leaves the room.