“Ian, you need to slow down!” I call after him, shaking my head as he bursts through Victor’s back door like a tornado. Alvin isn’t far behind him. “Boys –“
I step into the kitchen moments later and see that they’ve left chaos on their wake. Their backpacks are thrown on the floor and four little shoes dot their path up the stairs. The greatest casualty yet, Amelia stands with her mouth still open in a gasp, looking after them with tea splashed all over the island and her white sweater.
“Oh, god,” I say, quickly moving to the paper towels. “I’m so sorry Amelia, did they startle you?” Ripping one free, I quickly work to mop up the mess on the kitchen island where she was sitting. Then, on mom instinct, I reach to dab at her sweater
“I’ve got it,” she says, twisting away from me with
