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When you waited for an important phone call, ninety o froore to so Luckily for me, my sisters had mobilized to help The moment I stepped out of the shower and wrapped the towel around myself, Arabella attacked ht her last Christ about her nonexistent acne and told me to sit down and not move my face I was dried, styled, and had a liquid mist ofIf I gave them free rein, I’d come out of s on my eyes But because of thean had to show up

The word of his previous failure to appear must’ve spread, because the entire family found their way to the kitchen one by one Bern was reading a textbook in the corner Grand that was probably a scarf but looked like a brilliant atteed the tea drahich she’s never done since we’ve had one Arabella sat across frolued to her cell phone Catalina sat on ed under the table bytea across the table Even Leon wandered in and leaned against the wall, waiting

Nobody was talking

"Just out of curiosity," Cornelius said, "if Rogan doesn’t arrive, will all of you skin him alive?"

"Yes," everyone except

I clicked the key on my laptop The view from the front ca a dark pantsuit, her silvery-blond hair caught in a ponytail A little girl with dark hair stood next to her holding a large white cat A large Doberuarded both of them Diana, Matilda, her cat, and Bunny

"Matilda is here," I said

"Oh good" Catalina got up and went to open the door A few hter made their way to our kitchen

"Daddy" Matilda held out her hands Cornelius got up off his chair, crouched, and hugged her Arabella discreetly took a pic with her phone I couldn’t blame her Matilda was too cute for words

Matilda blinked She looked a lot like her late mother, Nari Harrison, but her expression, serious and somber, was pure Cornelius

Behind her, Diana frowned "What is that?"

Matilda’s eyes widened "A kitty"

"I have a surprise for you" Cornelius smiled

Oh He hadn’t told them

Zeus shifted under the table, a e head poked out half a foot from Matilda’s face

Matilda opened her mouth, her eyes wide

"Oh my God," Diana said

Bunny froze in place, clearly unsure what to do

Matilda held out her hand Zeus nudged it with his nose She backed up, and the huge beast squeezed all of hiasped

The blue beast lowered his head, and Matilda hugged his furry neck "He’s so soft"

My sisters snapped simultaneous pictures

"He is beautiful" Diana crouched and scratched under Zeus’ chin "The eyes, Cornell Like jewels How did you even e this? This isn’t possible"