Avery and Layla returned home more than an hour later.

They bought a lot of saplings and flowers from the market.

The bodyguard opened the trunk and carried everything out of the car.

Mrs. Cooper came out with Robert in her arms and glanced at their haul. "That's a lot of flowers you bought! They're so beautiful."

"I chose them, and Mommy chose the saplings!" Layla seemed to have forgotten her unhappiness and had a bright smile in her eyes. "Mommy bought fruit saplings!"

"What kind?" Mrs. Cooper asked.

"She brought grapefruit, cherry, and... uh…what other saplings do we have?" Layla looked up at Avery.

"Peach and pear," Avery added.

"Yes! A peach tree and a pear tree! I like to eat peaches! So, Mommy bought a peach tree!" Layla lifted the bag of flowers excitedly. "I'm going to put them in a vase."

"I've readied a couple of clean vases on the table. You'll see them when you enter the house," Mrs. Cooper said to Layla. "Be careful not to prick yourself on the thorns when you ta