“Hello, Noel,” the woman said.
A man climbed out of the square box too. Sasha needed to learn the correct name for the transportation, so she didn’t appear stupid. This human was equally well-groomed and wore black trousers and a pale blue shirt, but he possessed better manners since he nodded a polite greeting at Sasha.
The woman hugged Noel, but he didn’t enjoy the physical contact. He wriggled from the woman’s embrace and returned to Sasha.
“Who is this?” The woman’s gaze flickered up and down, her expression showing open disapproval of Sasha’s black trews and plain shirt.
“Shasha,” Noel said, taking Sasha’s hand in his.
Sasha smiled at him before stepping forward to greet the woman and man. “Hello, I’m Sasha Mountholden.”
“I thought Sheryl looked after Noel. At least she did until Max fired her,” the woman said in a snooty tone. “That is unacceptable, which is why I’ve come to take Noel with me.”
Sasha maintained a pleasant, non-confrontational smile while she and her dragon came up with a plan.
“We can’t allow the woman to remove Noel,”her dragon said.“The woman is rude. She didn’t even introduce herself to us. Mother would not approve of this human.”
“Exactly,”Sasha agreed.
“Go and pack a bag for Noel,” the woman ordered Sasha.
“I don’t think so,”her dragon said.“This woman requires a set-down. Let’s do it.”
Sasha didn’t reply but held out her hand to the man who was frowning at the garden she’d started to weed and at Noel’s butterfly drawing.
“Hello, I’m Sasha. Your name is…”
“Frank Cranshaw,” he said. “This is my wife, Julia. We’re Max’s and Noel’s grandparents.”
“Ah,” Sasha said. “Max has mentioned you. Why don’t you come inside? We can have refreshments.”
“We’ll make that tea stuff and serve cookies,”her dragon suggested.
“Perfect idea. We’ll channel Mother when she has unwelcome guests.”
Sasha ushered them inside. “Let me wash my hands, and then we’ll have a chat.”
“I don’t think so,” Julia said. “It’s unacceptable to leave Noel with a stranger. Max doesn’t spend enough time with the child. It’s the reason we’re petitioning the court for custody. It’s not right, leaving Noel with Max. My grandson is never here.”
“That’s not true,”her dragon said.“Max loves Noel. He was most upset with that Sheryl woman.”
Sasha growled under her breath.“It’s obvious the Sheryl person has contacted the grandmother and told tales.”
“We must stop them,”her dragon said.
“Don’t worry. We will,”Sasha said, a plan taking form.“Thank goodness I placed Max’s notes in my pocket. It wouldn’t do for the grandmother to get hold of them.”
Sasha washed her hands in the bathroom and turned to see Noel loitering in the doorway behind her.
“I want to stay with you,” Noel said.
Sasha ruffled his hair. “Don’t fear, Noel. We’ll have tea and cookies with your grandparents.” She held out her hand, and Noel took it, but his expression remained worried. “Let’s wash your hands first, then we’ll have tea. Would you like to help me?”
“Yes,” Noel said, confirming this with an emphatic nod.
Sasha dried his hands before they returned to the kitchen. She found Frank sitting at the kitchen table, his shoulders slumped.
“Easy to tell who wears the trews in this relationship,”her dragon commented.“He looks as if he’s lost a tournament match, and everyone has jeered because of his defeat.”
