A moment later, he was stalking back for the palace, as if he had nothing more to say to them.
“Daddy is mad,” Pia said softly.
“Not at you,” Yasmine said. “And not really at me either. His job is very stressful. It’s hard for him to keep his patience when he has to look out for the whole world.”
“He sounded mad at us,” Pia said doubtfully.
“I’ll bet you another ice cream that everything will be right as rain in the morning,” Yasmine told her. “And in the meantime, I’m wondering if you like bedtime stories.”
“Yes,” Pia squeaked happily.
Yasmine took Pia’s little hand in hers and led her back across the lawn toward the palace.
She wasn’t exactly sure how to handle it, but she was determined to make things right all around.