Page 18 of The Starling and the Hatter

I did my best to focus on singing and earning money, because no matter what happened, the undeniable truth was that I needed money.

But when Kat showed up, giving me a smile and a wave before climbing onto the lowest branch of a tree to watch me, all my uncertainty and nervousness came back.

I was in the middle of a song when a duel between Bear the Brave and the White Tiger was announced for the nearby arena and all of my audience left.

My voice faded as I didn’t see the point in putting in the effort when there was no one to listen.

Overdone applause came from the tree.

Well, not no one. Kat sat there, grinning and clapping.

I tried to roll my eyes, but I couldn’t help smiling and even went so far as to give her a lavish curtsey, after which she stopped clapping and her face morphed into seriousness. “Did we scare you off?” she asked.

“What?” I asked, feigning ignorance as I wandered closer. “No. Of course not.”

“Yes, we did. You practically ran, and then you avoided Maddox all day yesterday.” She leaned her back against the trunk and had one leg perched on the branch, while the other dangled down.

My gaze dropped to the ground as I wondered how to explain it. “It was just..a very surprising offer, that’s all. And very kind,” I added.

“It’s not selfless,” she said. “What we’re offering, I mean. It’s not a one-sided deal. We use the winter months to make the majority of the items that we sell the rest of the year. We all work. My father, Maddox, me, and Dorothy when she’s not keeping the girls out of trouble. But Dorothy is going to have her baby. That means she won’t have time to help with the sewing, and if this baby is as fussy as Didi was, then I’ll likely need to step in to help with the girls and Mouse.”

“You make them sound like a lot of trouble.”

“When it’s too cold for them to run around outside, they are plenty of trouble,” she proclaimed, rather dramatically.

I knew she was exaggerating. Mothers with a full bushel of young children worked and cared for their children every day.

“Would it really be so bad to stay with us?” Kat suddenly asked, and as I looked at her frown, I considered for the first time that I might be insulting them by refusing. Did they think I didn’t like them? I did. They were lovely. Did I trust them entirely? No, but I knew enough of myself to realize that likely wasn’t their fault.

“Come on,” she cajoled. “Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone else making your meals once in a while?”

I felt my stomach turn over on itself. I hadn’t eaten today, and the idea of regular meals was…almost too much to hope for.

“Dorothy seems nice,” I commented to avoid the question. “Do the two of you get along?”

“We do. She married my father when I was nine. I was desperate for a mother but ready to hate anyone who tried to mother me. So instead she was just a friend. And before I knew it, my friend was tucking me in at night and holding me when I cried.” Her smile was soft as she admitted, “She’s very much a mother to me now.”

I marveled at her easy honesty. “But you still call her Dorothy?” I asked, shading my eyes as I looked up at her.

Kat nodded. “Calling her Stepmother seems silly. And I remember my own mother too well to give the title to anyone else.” She looked me over, her eyes curious. “Do you remember your mother?”

I supposed that question was only fair. “Yes, but she’s been gone since I was eleven.”

“All the more reason to spend a season with us. Dorothy is always telling me that women need women.”

“I’m sure she’s right,” I conceded, even though it sounded like a luxury instead of a need.

She jumped down from the tree. “So then why won’t you just stay with us?” she asked, putting her hands on her hips.

I sighed. “I can’t. Not yet, at least. I have to go to Stormbrook. I have to get more experience and practice and exposure. I have to earn more money. I have to…” I trailed off.

She studied me for several moments and I did my best not to squirm. Finally she huffed. “Fine. Just make sure you tell Maddox that you’re still considering it. Please?” She pinned me with a demanding stare.

“I will,” I said.

She gave a stiff nod and left, leaving me standing there, frowning. She was right. I needed to accept their offer. It was what I wanted, and yes, I needed it. But how exactly did someone accept such a huge gift after they’d practically rejected it outright?

I supposed I would find out.