THE NEXT AFTERNOON at his and Paul’s house Alex is trying to convince Claudia to take her nap. Vic, in her own crib in the same room, seems ready to sleep but fusses every time Claudia does, which isn’t making things easier. And then Alex’s phone rings, which upsets the whole process. He needs to remember to start silencing it when he’s trying to get the girls to sleep. L.A. crises are important, but naptime is a vital necessity.
He gives up on trying to settle Claudia and picks her up, holding her on one hip and using his other hand to clumsily answer the phone. Behind him, Vic grumbles with discontent.
“Hello, stranger,” Gemma says when Alex answers.
“Hey.”
“How was Iceland?”
“Cold.” To be honest, Alex is more interested in Claudia, who is now fussing more loudly, than in putting to
