“No, let’s use my mom’s advice,” he said. “Luna, my love,” he sang to the beat of “Fight Song,” “Let’s get this shirt on, socks and shoes. Socks and shoes. Can you get your shirt on? Shirt on, Let’s get this shirt on! Socks and shoes, we can do it.” Luna sang “socks and shoes” too and cooperated.

“Let’s get jackets on! Jackets on!” He roared as if it was rock and roll, and strummed an imaginary guitar. Audrey could see Jake as a rock star; he just needed to unbutton a few more buttons, not that she didn’t appreciate the view of the two already unbuttoned.

Audrey handed Thomas a drum that was in the toy bin by the dining room table, and he banged on it. Audrey grabbed a toy broom from that basket and, using it as a microphone, crooned, as best she could, “Jackets on!”

“Jackets on!” Luna yelled back, also strumming a pretend guitar and putting on her jacket.

“Knapsack on!” he sang.

“Knapsack on!” Luna yelled back.

“Stroller ready!” Audrey sang.

“Way to go!” Jake chorused as he shut the door behind them.

“I’ve got to remember to call my mom to tell her that the advice is brilliant,” Jake said as he wheeled the stroller out the door down the block back towards Columbus Avenue, Luna skipping alongside him.

“Super brilliant. Who knew?” Audrey said.

“Thanks for all your help.”

“It was fun.”

Their glances met. They’d been a good team. And he looked even hotter wheeling a stroller loaded with bags and holding Luna’s hand. The streets were crowded now, with parents rushing their children to school and single adults walking with purpose towards the subway. Luna started telling Jake about her school project.

As they reached the green subway entrance in the traffic island in the middle of 72nd Street, Jake asked, “This is your subway, right? The daycare is over on West End Avenue a few blocks down, so we’ll make it in time.”

She nodded reluctantly.

“Say goodbye to Audrey,” he said to Luna.

Luna hugged her. Audrey loved those little arms holding onto her.

Then Luna said, “You should marry this one. Mommy says that if you marry, I might get cousins I can play with.”

Audrey blushed bright red.

“Fiona is determined to marry me off,” Jake said. “Sometimes I feel like I’m in Pride and Prejudice, with Fiona playing the role of Mrs. Bennett.”

“Your sister is not remotely like Mrs. Bennett.”

“You have no idea. She invites me over to dinner, and half the time, she’s also invited a single girlfriend. It’s fu…n and awkward.”

Audrey laughed. “At least she thinks you’re a good catch.”