After taking the rest of the tour, signing in the children and taking care of legal paperwork, the group flew back home.
Grandma Byra was waiting for them with refreshments and snacks. Like a typical fussy grandmother, she hovered over the children, asking if they had a hard day at school, even though they had not taken any classes!
But the children indulged her, whining about this and that.
Sienna took Ali away before the little girl could munch on anything. She carried her to the private study upstairs. The room had no desk, just a soft furry red rag and cushions. She sat her daughter down on a cushion and sat across from the little one.
To sell the image of sternness, Sienna crossed her arms on her chest and narrowed her eyes. In response, Ali sprawled on the rug in a dramatic posture, one hand pressed to her forehead and the other thrown upwards. She sighed tiredly, like a dramatic heroine in a beast-world movie.
