Chapter 40

“She’s excited because it’s a party, and she gets carried away and runs into places she shouldn’t. Yeah, she did wrong, but that’s not how to deal with her, Anna. If you have to tell her off, do it with kindness, so her mom at least won’t maim you. Kids don’t need anger to learn a lesson. She shouldn’t be scared of the wrath of the adults in her world.”

“So let her get burned or hurt, let me get covered in scolding stew, and yet… don’t yell at the kid. Got it. Understood.” I snark, avoiding her eye, and flinch when she puts her hand on my arm to soothe my ruffled feathers. A gentle squeeze to cool my temper. I hate that she has already learned how to handle me in such a short time.

“You want to learn to live with everyone here; you must be more relaxed and forgiving. Adopt their way of living and doing things. Try to be more considerate of the bigger picture. Hell, if it were my kid, I would yell at her. She’s not. She’s not yours either, and it’s not our place to embarr