Athena felt a smile touch her lips when she heard Cairo calling a countdown, one that allowed the children—the twins and Kendra—to hide before the older child came after them.
She hadn't been there when Cairo had cracked her first smile since that night, since her mother's death, but she had known that her grandmother's hunch had been right again.
That the little girl only needed some loving, not some labeling because she was a criminal's daughter.
Athena would admit that she had been a giver of the latter, until Florence had set her right. Let the sins of the parents perish with them.
Holding a recent copy of Collen's latest book, signed, gifted to her by Ewan a few days ago, she raised her legs, placed them on a stool, and let herself sink into the pages of the book.
It was Sunday, the only day she had in the week for true rest.
