Franz parked the car and cut the engine. The twins were already unbuckling their seatbelts before he could tell them to sit still.
"Sit still," he said.
They didn't sit still.
Lily was out first, her shoes hitting the pavement before Franz had even opened his door. She was wearing her star pajamas under her coat. Leo followed slower, the whale tucked under his arm, his tablet in his other hand. His shoes were on the wrong feet. Franz noticed but didn't say anything.
The building was tall and modern, all glass and steel, reflecting the dark water of the river below. City lights blinked on the surface. The cold bit through Franz's jacket. His ears hurt.
He herded the twins toward the entrance. Lily pressed the elevator button twice before he could stop her.
"We're going to see Kyle," she announced. "I brought my new crayons. The sparkly ones. The ones Aunt Aria got me before she left."
Leo held up his tablet. I HAVE THE WHALE.
"I see that."
