Sofia yawned and looked around the game room. She squinted at the nearby clock, but she was still half asleep and it was impossible to see the numbers. Instead, she looked out the window. It was barely sunrise.
"Couldn't we have just met in the throne room?" Amber sighed, running a brush through her tangled hair as James pulled her along.
"Aw, c'mon, Amber! Where's your curiosity?"
"Asleep, like I should be."
"Your parents would like to talk about something very important," Baileywick explained, "and we need to have a calm conversation."
"Oh, I doubt that's possible," Cedric chuckled.
"Baileywick is right," Roland said. "We have something to ask you."
Miranda nodded. "Ivy's been here for a while, and we've noticed that she gets along well here."
"She obviously doesn't want to leave. Your mother and I have been talking, and we've realized that we don't want her to leave either. So, we wanted to ask you..."
"Would you mind having another sister?"
There was a long silence.
"Oh my gosh!" Amber laughed. "I knew it! I told you, James! I told you they would do it this week!"
"Aw, c'mon." James looked at the adults, giving a joking look of disappointment. "You couldn't have waited till Monday?"
"We wanted to ask you as soon as possible," their father explained.
"And to ask you for help with getting everything ready for tonight," their mother added. "After all, this is about bringing her into the family. Any ideas?"
James raised his hand. "Ooh! We should have a party!"
"What if we have it in my secret garden?" Sofia asked. "She's never seen it, and there are a lot of exotic flowers she might like."
"I could work on decorations with Baileywick," Amber suggested, "and I'll also get Madam Colette to make her a ballgown! James and Sofia could-"
Roland chuckled. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. There are a lot of things to consider."
"Like how we'll keep Ivy busy," Miranda pointed out.
"But then one of us won't be able to help!"
"If we all do a part in keeping her occupied, I don't see why someone would need to be excluded," Baileywick suggested. "After all, there doesn't need to be just one person assigned to keep her busy."
"I could take the first round for a bit," James offered. "She usually just goes back to her room after lunch, so maybe I could slip away after that."
"That sounds like a good idea," Sofia agreed. "And I could take her to the village to meet Ruby and Jade and get some ice cream. That way, you guys don't have to hide all the preparations."
"And I'll take her to do her hair until dinner!" Amber added.
"Are we all agreed?" Roland asked.
Everyone nodded.
"Great. Now let's all get some breakfast!"
