Chapter 40

Years later

Alanna woke up to the morning buzz and the smell of coffee in the house. She went to the bathroom for a quick shower and came downstairs in her sweatshirt and T-shirt. She found Sofia and Arthur sitting at the counter drinking coffee, while Mary ran around the house trying to find her history book. Matheus was at the stove making pancakes in shorts. Alanna went straight to the coffee maker.

“Good morning, family! What did you miss this time, Mary?”

“Good morning, Mom,” Arthur said, getting up to kiss her.

“Good morning, love.”

“Good morning, Mom,” Mary said. “My history book, I left it somewhere.”

“Good morning, Mom,” Sofia replied, fiddling with her phone.

“Sofia, no cell phone at the table,” Matheus said.

“Bollocks! You can’t do anything.”

“Watch your mouth, young lady,” Alanna said, taking the phone from the girl’s hand.

“Mom!”

“I’ll give it back after coffee.”

“Where was the book the last time yo