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“You both know you’re not supposed to be in here without ht back”

Killya the brooirls would cut themselves

“Ela, I told you not toit into the trash can beside her desk

The sight of the roses in the trash can set the girls off in tears again

Sighing, she figured she could hters

She sat down in the leather chair behind her desk “Come here” She held her arms open

The girls clambered up onto her lap

“I’m sorry, Mama” Ela patted her baby bump as if the unborn baby was upset, too

“Me, too” Bina laid her head on her shoulder, lifting dark, soulful eyes to her “Are you going to tell Papa?”

“No, you two are We’ve told you over and over again that you’re not allowed to play in here”

“I needed some paper I used all of mine,” Ela confessed

“Then you should have asked You kneas busy with lunch and snuck in here, Ela”

Killyaain, Ela’s tiny shoulder shaking with her sobs “I’m sorry”

“I can either trust you or start locking ain Can I trust you, Ela?”

“Yes, Mama I won’t do it anymore I promise”

“I do, too” Bina wanted to et out of trouble

“Okay, I’ cold Ias they slipped off her lap

“Savedown the hallway

She sat back in her chair, sly at the sounds of their chatter

“I told you it was going to be okay,” Ela boasted

“Papa doesn’t know yet He’s going to make us sit in time-out,” Bina reminded her

Killyama used her boot to swivel her chair as they started conspiring on how to get out of Train’s punishment