Page 51 of Manors & Mischief

“Ember’s really upset. Who is this guy, Mom? Does he have the authority to do that?”

“It was probably Pierce Nichols. He was just voted in as the code guy after Jim Parsons passed away.”

Pierce Nichols.

There are few families in Harvest Falls that I have issues with, but the Nicholses are one of them. One of the clan almost always runs against my mother for mayor, and now here, Pierce, the youngest, has got his hooks into the town someway. I knew I recognized him from somewhere.

“Well, is it true? Can she be fined?”

“I’d have to look at the code myself. I’m sure we can do something. Just tell Ember to hang on tight. I’ll have a talk with Pierce myself and we’ll get this straightened out.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

I hang up and go upstairs, knocking on the wall when I reach the top. It’s been forever since I’ve set foot up here, and I’ve probably only been up here once in my life. The grandness is the same as downstairs, but this part of the house looks a little more rundown. “Ember?”

“In here,” she calls out.

I follow her voice, peering in disheveled and dusty bedrooms until I find one that’s clean. The furniture is all dusted, the floors are cleared, and Ember is lying on the bed, curled up with a tissue wiping her nose.

“My mom is going to talk to him.”

“He showed me the paperwork. It’s true. He had the code printed out. He even gave me a copy and highlighted that section in front of me. I mean, your mom knew what I was doing, what we were doing!”

Awkwardness runs through me as I stay in the doorway as if the bedroom is some intimate part of her I haven’t been granted access to yet. “She’s looking to see what she can do. She⁠—.”

“I didn’t mean to make it sound like it’s her fault. Of course she doesn’t know everything at the drop of a hat. I didn’t even know that this house was considered a historic landmark, but of course it is. I should have been more careful.”

“I should’ve known too,” I tell her. “I guess Parsons didn’t do a lot by the book, which suited everybody.”

“This guy just said that had I asked, I probably would’ve been approved, but since I didn’t ask, he’s going to fine me. Devon, I can’t afford $6,000.”

“$6,000?”

“The floorboards and the trim in the ballroom, and then the paint and the floorboards on the porch.”

“But those are just restorative.”

Ember shrugs, and her shoulders seem so slight, so helpless.

Even though I probably shouldn’t, I walk forward and sit on the edge of the bed. “Hey, my mom is going to talk to him, and if that doesn’t work, I’ll have a talk with him. We can figure this out. I promise.”

Even as the words come out of my mouth, I’m hoping beyond hope that someone can talk some sense into Pierce even though the Nicholses are hard-headed.

“You think so?” she asks, peering up at me with watery eyes.

I don’t have the heart to tell her that I hope so, so I say, “I promise” again, and vow that I’ll fix this for her no matter what. She will not be burdened by this, and I’m sure as heck not going to let her fail. Or worse, have to sell Sleepy Hollow Manor.

How things have changed because the idea that she might have to sell the manor would’ve been welcome news to me before. Now, though, I’m sure that Sleepy Hollow has found its savior.

But maybe I can be Ember’s.

19

EMBER

Ipeer at myself in the mirror. It seems stupid to be going to the hayride now after everything that happened today and the worry that has stayed inside me, even after Devon’s assurances and a positive phone call from the mayor to try to cheer me up.

I get the Civil War era dress off me and wash the makeup off my face. The last tour group was late, so Devon asked if he could clean himself up in the downstairs bathroom so he wouldn’t be delayed in picking me up for our non-date.