Free Web NovelChapter 218: Cadelaria’s first wise decision.
Elias was just elevating the chair back to its standard upright position when the door creaked open an. Sienna, still hovering near her husband, stood with a suspiciously triumphant smile. But she froze in place, while Elias’s ears twitched nervously when they heard Ali’s chuckle. They both looked guilty, like children caught sneaking sweets before dinner.
Ali burst in first, pan clutched in her small hands like the perfect warrior’s weapon. She narrowed her eyes at her parents. "What are you two doing?" she demanded, brandishing the pan as though ready to strike. "Papa, did you try to bully mama again when I was not looking?" She raised her hand. "Wait...mama, why do you look like you are hiding something?"
Elias coughed, ears twitching in embarrassment. "You are not a detective. Put the pan down and stop questioning us."
Ali stomped her foot. "Yes I am. I am Inspector Mochi Paws. I can sniff for clues and arrest bad guys with my magic tail. Confess your crimes before you taste my Mochi paws."
Sienna rolled her eyes. During her sick days, whenever she was awake, Ali was watching the adventures of Inspector Mochi Paws, a ginger fox beast woman in a magical beast world, who solved crimes, handled her brood of six fox cubs and saved the world daily. "You are not Mochi Paws, and we are changing your name to Alison Mochi or Paws."
Before the argument, or interrogation could escalate, Timothy and Eli entered quietly. Timothy was balancing a platter of fruits. He placed them on the table with the solemnity of a believer offering sacrifices. "My Lord, the fruits, as requested," he said, bowing once.
The fruits were the distraction needed for Ali to move on from her interrogation.
Sienna seized the opportunity. "Look, Aliboo, fruits. Mama’s freshly harvested blueberries. Let’s enjoy them together."
Timothy left just as the family gathered around the table for a rare private moment. As they enjoyed the fruits, Ali, never one to waste an audience, launched into a dramatic retelling of the brawl at the beach.
"There were many people papa..like thousands. They wanted to steal our bee. But I, Ali Mochi Veythar Paws swung my magic pan, I trampled over them and sent them fleeing into the sea."
Elias turned to his wife, "What is this Mochi Paws?"
She shoved a blueberry into his mouth. "I will explain later, or ask Timothy to download it for you. Just know things did not happen as she claims." They exchanged amused glances.
Eli, sitting calmly with a piece of fruit on a fork, rolled his eyes. "There is no such thing as magic. Also, it was not a thousand people. It was a scuffle, not a war. And she didn’t trample anyone, in fact, she tripped over a shell."
Ali gasped in outrage. "Lies! I was magnificent. The waves clapped for me!"
Sienna laughed, nearly choking on a slice of apple. "Next you will be telling us that you summoned lightning with your paws."
Ali grinned mischievously. "Mama how did you know? I summoned it with my Mochi paws." She raised one hand in the air, and put another on her waist. "If Eli says I am lying, I can do it right now."
Elias, trying to maintain dignity, chewed his fruit slowly. "No need, I like my office the way it is. Regardless of the details, you should not be sneaking out without your guards or engaging in public fights. It is unbecoming of a Veythar."
"But papa," Ali protested. "I am a heroine. Heroines must fight evil. Otherwise, how will the world be saved?"
"So, did you save the world on that day?" He asked.
The skepticism in his voice was so loud that Ali heard it clearly. She crossed her arms on her chest. "You weren’t there. You can’t say otherwise."
Sienna patted her head. "We all believe you. Your father just thinks that you should wait until you are an adult to save the world. Mochi Paws is a grown up."
"But in every episode, one of her cubs says something smart and it helps Mochi save the world." Ali argued.
"Eh," Sienna shrugged. It wasn’t something smart but something silly. Most times, the cubs created trouble that would give Mochi an idea and a magical fix to her problem. Frankly, Sienna found the plot unbearable, but she could see why children loved the show.
Eli cleared his throat, "Speaking of grown up business, I have news mama. Grandpa and grandma are moving back to the city. To the estate."
Sienna froze, fruit halfway to her mouth.You don’t say! They are moving back? Truly?" freewebnøvel.coɱ
He nodded. "Grandma sent us new clothes and shoes, with a letter. She said the sea side was too noisy and she misses our uncles, aunts and all her friends. But they will be making weekend trips sometimes to see us."
Sienna tried to hide her smile, but she could not contain the joy in her voice as she said, "Oh, how sad. I will miss her so much. I can’t believe she is moving away. The air will not be the same without her."
"What does air around grandma smell like?" Ali asked curiously. freeweɓnovel.cøm
Sienna almost blurted out something along the line of rotten boiled eggs. But she turned her face, clearing her throat to hide the bubbling laughter in her throat. "Like durian." None of them had ever eaten a durian anyway. How would they know that it smelled foul?
Someday, if the fruit was discovered, she would use the sweetness an excuse to off put her current comment. That was if they ever remembered it.
Elias raised an eyebrow. "Why doesn’t that sound like a good thing? I can hear the joy in your voice Sienna. Are you sure you want to go around claiming that you will miss her? It might convince her to stay."
Sienna shuddered. "The only way she will know is if you tell her. Then, I will send you back to the estate as well. So, when you take the children to say goodbye to their grandparents, make sure their grandmother knows how to time her future visits. Absence is a great way to make a lasting impression."
He rolled his eyes. Of course he got the message, she was reminding him to tell his mother to visit a little less. If Sienna was simply causing trouble, he would not follow her instructions. But, his mother was the one antagonizing his wife.
Her move to follow Sienna to the sea side had been a wrong decision, considering that Sienna had moved to get away from her. His mother’s decision to move away from the seaside was the first correct choice she had made in a while.
Hopefully, their family would find peace going forward.
