She took her hand, threaded their fingers together, and squeezed reassuringly. Her other hand rose to brush her knuckles across the flushed red of Meryl's cheeks as she leaned forward to press their foreheads together.

"Hey." More serious and pointed this time. "You're okay, sweetheart." She said nothing more for a few moments, letting Meryl inhale those steadying breaths. "I'll ease up a little. I don't want you to stress while we're supposed to be having fun."