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“Can you not bring us down?” Abena questioned. “We would surely make it unboring.”
“Mama said if she saw you that you would sleep with the dogs,” Hector told her.
“But we do not have dogs,” she argued.
“We had a dog, and he died. He is buried in the yard,” he lied to her, and her eyes widened.
“We had a dog?”
Not wishing to spoil Hector’s fun, I nodded. “And it seems Mama wishes to bury you with it if you come down.”
“That is unreasonable,” she said.
“Papa says Mama is not reasonable,” Devana replied gently, and I truly wished to laugh at the three of them.
“Aphrodite, do not linger!”
At the sound of our mother’s voice, they all ran back up the stairs quickly. I descended, and when I reached her level, she stepped back to appraise me. She adjusted bits of the gown’s neckline, pushed my shoulders back, and then nodded to herself.
“Where is your sister?” she questioned.
“Waiting to make a grand entrance.”
“The girl can be sharp.” My mother grinned. “Why are you not waiting with her?”
“Because my presence is so grand that whether I entered first or last, I would gain attention,” I said in jest.
“Very right.”
“Mama”—I laughed, taking her arm as we walked toward the ball—“I was not serious.”
“Well, you ought to be. Tonight is very important.”
“How so?”
“You shall publicly choose whom you wish to dance with.”
I sighed heavily. “Do you not get tired?”
“Of?”
“Everything, especially trying to arrange a wedding based on the slightest of interactions.”
“One day, when you become a mother, you will tell me of all the things you’d rather do, and you will do them. Until such day, I shall plan. Now, whom shall you choose?”
I said nothing as we had reached the hall. I released her arm as the butlers opened the door for us, and upon entering, I found myself wondering exactly how many more people Hathor was waiting for, as the hall was already near full.
“This is more than I expected.” I laughed, looking at the wonder of our transformed hall. It was decorated in the finest vinery, which even hung from above, there were also the richest foods, and even a sculpture made from desserts in the shape of a bird. Farthest from the door was a stage on which singers were preparing to perform.
“Do not stare in wonder, my dear. It is our home,” my mother said. As we walked through, the guests nodded to us, to which my mother offered a polite nod in return.
“It is hard not to, Mama, when you do the wondrous.” I smiled as we reached my father, who was glancing up at the garden above our heads.
“Would it not have been less trouble to have us host this in the garden, my love?” my father asked.
“And risk rain ruining my event? I think not.”
“I see.” He nodded and then paused. “Where is Hathor? Still preparing?”
