Jasmine already had the kids dressed and ready by the time Corvine got back from the meeting. He'd scrubbed off the day in a quick shower, hair still damp, and was set to head out for New York.
Jasmine stepped out of her room with Bryan and Espe right on her heels, and the second those two spotted Athaliah, they tore across the floor, faces lit up bright as Christmas lights, sneakers squeaking on the hardwood.
"Aunty Liah, what's it feel like being a princess?" Espe asked, bouncing on her toes so hard her curls bounced with her, eyes wide and sparkling like she'd just been handed the best secret in the world.
Athaliah froze for half a second, completely thrown. She didn't know whether to laugh or just stare. Most people probably pictured crowns and fancy dresses and a life full of glitter, but for her it had never been that simple. The weight of it sat heavy in her chest, warm and complicated all at once.
