When Roxanne returned home from the Queen residence, Archie and Benny were already waiting. Uncharacteristically, they weren't at the door to greet her. Instead, they sat on the couch, their spirits low. Roxanne exchanged a questioning look with Lysa, who shrugged helplessly. "They've been like this since I picked them up," she explained.
Earlier, Archie and Benny had been playing happily with Estella, but their cheerful demeanor had vanished the moment they saw Lysa approaching. Their unhappiness persisted throughout the journey home. Roxanne, initially elated at the prospect of the Damaris family's medical consultation, was now consumed by worry at the sight of their dejected faces.
"What happened today? Did you guys have a fight with your friends?" she asked gently, sitting beside them.
Only at the sound of her voice did the boys look up, their disappointment evident. Roxanne's heart ached. "What happened? Tell me," she urged softly.
After a moment, Benny whispered, "Mommy, why didn't you pick us up tonight?" Archie simply stared at her, his lips pursed.
Roxanne was taken aback. "I… I had something to do. I had to thank someone who helped resolve the issue with the research institute." She hesitated, then asked, "Are you unhappy because I didn't pick you up?"
The boys nodded. Roxanne rarely sent them to kindergarten; this morning had been an exception. Both boys, and Estella, had expected her to collect them. Estella had been overjoyed all day at the prospect, only to be met with Lysa's arrival. Seeing Estella's disappointment upset Archie and Benny. They knew Estella adored Roxanne, who had been less available lately. Even though Estella still played with them, her unhappiness was plain to see. Her reluctance to leave Roxanne that morning hadn't gone unnoticed. Their disappointment mirrored Estella's when Roxanne failed to pick them up.
Roxanne hadn't realized the depth of their feelings. Lysa and Madilyn had previously handled their kindergarten pick-ups due to her busy schedule, but the boys had never seemed so despondent.
"Mommy," Benny asked carefully, "now that the research institute issue is settled, does that mean we're leaving the country soon?" He remembered Roxanne saying they would leave Chanaea once her work was finished. The thought of no longer seeing Estella, and Estella no longer seeing Roxanne, weighed heavily on them. They lowered their heads miserably.
Understanding dawned on Roxanne. Patting their heads, she smiled reassuringly. "Not yet. We might not be leaving so soon."
Their eyes lit up. "Really? Why?"
Roxanne's smile widened. "There's still something I need to do, so we'll be staying in Chanaea. You two need to take good care of Estella at kindergarten."
The boys nodded vigorously, their disappointment instantly replaced with relief. As long as they remained in Chanaea, Estella would still have the chance to see Roxanne.