“Auntie Naya?” I heard a small giggle behind me.

I turned around and beheld the most adorable creature. Maizy wore a vintage powder-blue dress made from delicate silk, and the front had what looked like a white apron. She clicked her black shoes together and simpered. It wasn’t customary for children to be masked at these events.

We walked toward the stairs so guests could help themselves at the snack tables. “You look absolutely darling. How are you feeling, baby?”

“Better. My mom said I could come down for a little while.” Maizy sat on the stairstep and looked through the banisters at the guests in the living room. “I think I might just sit here and watch.”

“Good idea,” I agreed. “The last time Alice in Wonderland went running off, she fell down a rabbit hole. Stay here and I’ll make you something to eat.”

I filled up a plate with fruit and cheese and handed her a punch glass.

She nibbled on a small cube of watermelon, her gaze traveling around the room. “Where’s Denny?”

“Good question,” I said. “He’s in charge of cleaning up trash and empty bottles.”

“Yeah, and having a blast,” Denver said peevishly from behind. “Thanks for giving me a job where I can parade around in this ridiculous costume.”

I turned around slowly and laughed so hard I had to cover my mouth. After Lexi had chosen the Alice costume for Maizy, she suggested keeping the theme and also making Denver as a character from the story. So she ordered the Mad Hatter. He had a tall, lopsided hat atop his orange hair. Rusty blades and spearheads were affixed to the hat along with a ribbon tied at the base. His long black coat and pants might have looked nice had they not been accented with garish scarves and multicolored socks.

“I’m not serving Lexi’s cupcakes,” he said. “A man’s gotta draw the line somewhere.”

“Denver, no one is going to make the connection. I doubt anyone here knows who you are.”

“The fuck they don’t. How come I don’t get a mask?”

“Because you get face paint.”

He rubbed at his eye, smudging some of the white makeup. “I smell bullshit. Someone didn’t want me to get laid.”

“Could have been worse. You could be wearing what Lexi picked out for Reno.”

He snorted. “True that. I’m outta here.” Denver strolled out the front door and into the safety of darkness.

Maizy looked on sullenly. “He always leaves me alone at the parties to talk to those women. I’m his best friend.”

I touched her silky hair and gave her a serious look. “He loves you in his own way, but he’s also a grown man, and grown-ups like to spend time with people their own age.”

She gave it some consideration. “He’s closer to my age than he is with some of those women who are three hundred.”

I chuckled and lifted her chin. “Someday you’ll outgrow Denver. He won’t be your watchdog forever, so don’t be down in the mouth on a night like tonight. Sit here for as long as you like, and be sure to save a cupcake for me.”