Chapter 10 - DAWN AT THE PANTRY
With the kitchen gate breached and the dog distracted, the coalition stood at the base of the pantry.
Maya looked up at the shelf, then turned to Leo. "Alright, brother. Lift me up. It’s time to claim our victory."
Leo gripped Maya’s waist, channeling every ounce of his energy as he hoisted her upward. Maya stretched her tiny arm out, her fingers brushing against the cardboard box.
"I got it!" she whispered.
Just as the box tilted forward, a sudden, blinding flash of light illuminated the kitchen. Mark stood in the doorway, holding a half-empty mug of water, staring down at the three children, the cat, and the box of animal crackers hovering mid-air.
Mark blinked once. Twice. He looked at the kitchen clock, then back down at the toddlers.
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"Elena," Mark called out in a voice filled with profound, defeated exhaustion. "Start the coffee maker. The CEO conference of the nursery just held a successful hostile takeover."
The twins looked at their father, then at each other. They had failed to remain secret, but they had won the pantry. And as the coffee maker began to drip, they realized that even when they were "caught," the house was now operating entirely on their terms.
