Annalissa HaleHania is already reading when I wake up.I blink groggily, turning to find her sitting cross-legged at the foot of my bed, hair a mess and holding Matilda like she’s a college literature professor preparing a lecture.Kian, on the other hand, is half under my duvet, half on top of my pillows, building a fort using:two of my sweaters,a throw blanket,and what I suspect used to be my favorite purse.“Good morning, Mummy,” Hania says without looking up.Something inside me melts. “Good morning, sweetheart. Why are you awake so early?”“It’s the parent-teacher meeting,” she says matter-of-factly, turning a page. “I have to prepare.”“Kian?” I ask. “What are you preparing for?”“My empire,” he says, attaching a pillow with dramatic flair. “Nobody can invade my fortress.”Of course.I rub my eyes and stretch. “Okay, both of you, bath time. Now.”Kian groans. “Five more minutes. My fortress needs reinforcement.”“Your fortress will not protect you from smelling like yest
Last Updated : 2025-12-07 Read more