Page 32 of Desolation

My daughter is so smart. “Right. And that is way too much for Grandma’s yard. Not to mention, it’s against the law.”

“Then why does the zoo have them?”

I smile into the phone. “Because the zoo has special laws so pretty princesses like yourself can see the elephants.”

“I heard in India, princesses ride the elephants.”

I roll my eyes. “Oh really? Have you been reading books on India?” This child will read any book she finds. It’s why I have to keep my romance novels on my e-reader and keep the e-reader hidden.

“Mom, you’ve seen Aladdin,” she deadpans.

“I thought Prince Ali was on the elephant.”

“And it’s the 21stcentury, Mom. Women can be more powerful than men. So they ride the elephants too.”

I laugh at her words. This kid is going to grow up to be a CEO. “Is that right?”

She groans into the phone. “Don’t even get me started on women’s rights, Mom. I was reading this book last week…”

I listen as she lectures me on the MeToo movement and women’s suffrage. I don’t know what the hell she read that spanned a hundred years but knowing her she found one book and read ten.

“You are going to rule the world one day, Mak.”

“And Mars.”

Oh boy, if I don’t end this soon she will start talking about space exploration and her chance to rule the galaxy. “Where’s your sister?”

“Watching TV.”

“Can you get her?”

“Ugh, you just don’t want to hear about my plans for world domination.”

I laugh into the phone. My daughter giving me the breath of fresh air I desperately needed. “Write me a report.”

“Will I get out of cleaning my room?”

“Sure.”

“Deal.”

“Can you please get your sister now?”

“Fine,” she huffs into the phone before yelling for Olivia so loud I have to pull the phone from my ear.

I hear Olivia talking to Makayla before Makayla tells me she loves me and hands off the phone.

“Hi Mommy,” Olivia’s soft voice whispers.

My heart clenches at her tone. “What’s wrong, bumble bee?”

“When are you coming home?”

I sigh into the phone. I’ve only left the girls for this long once before but Olivia was only two and doesn’t remember. And I always go and see them when they stay at Eleanor’s estate. Hell, even my mom drove out there to take them to the zoo. “Soon.”

“How soon?”

“As soon as I finish up this project for work, sweet girl.”

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