Chapter 26
Mother must have devised a plan overnight with Algernon, because at the crack of dawn she threw open my curtains and sang out, far too brightly for morning, “Up you get! We’re spending the whole day with Algernon and Cynthia.”
I groaned into my pillow. “Do we have to?”
Her smile didn’t waver. “I think we all just got off on the wrong foot yesterday. What we need is some family fun.”
Family. The word hit my chest like a stone dropped in a well. Algernon and Cynthia were going to be family. After my behavior yesterday, Mother deserved for me to have a better attitude.
“What sort of fun?” I asked nervously, then tugged anxiously at the short locks of hair, trying to cover my face out of force of habit. “Will we be here?”
“No, we’re going on a walk around town then will have a picnic.
Algernon has a tradition with Cynthia he would like to share with you and Comfort as well.
” She tucked my wayward strands of hair behind my ear so my face was on full display.
“Then we’ll come back here and play some of your favorite games.
We won’t be out in public all day, and most of it will be walks in the country.
You like walks.” She didn’t say it outright, but I read the plea in her eyes. Please, Truly. Please try.
I hung my head. “I want to be there for you, but…I’m not sure I can do that after yesterday.”
“You were so brave last night. I know that took a lot of courage for you, and I’m so proud of you.”
I wanted to curl up in shame. I didn’t deserve her forgiveness. “I’m so sorry about what I said yesterday,” I whispered miserably. “I shouldn’t have said that. I really do want you to be happy.”
Mother wrapped her arms around me. “Oh, sweetheart, don’t give it a second thought.
We all sometimes say things we don’t mean.
” She held me at arm’s length. “And I hope you know that goes for Cynthia too. Can you try to forgive her? She really is a sweet girl most of the time. I think you two will like each other.”
I forced a smile, determined to at least pretend to be positive. “Well, we have the whole day to start fresh, don’t we?”
Relief flooded Mother’s face. “Thank you, Truly. Your father was right about you—you really are a treasure. I know he’d be so proud of you.”
“Can you help me with…” I gestured at my face.
She beamed and quickly gathered up my brushes and powders. “I’m always happy to help you. I want you to feel as confident as possible.”
I sat obediently on the bed while she worked. She smoothed powders across my scars, dabbed creams with practiced fingers, turning my head gently from side to side as though she were painting a portrait instead of patching me together.
At last, she leaned back with satisfaction. “There. Perfect. Do you want to see?” Her eyes flicked toward the shattered mirror shards still glittering across the floor like dangerous stars. “I could fetch a hand mirror.”
I shook my head. “That’s alright. I trust you.”
Her whole face beamed and she leaned forward to kiss my forehead. For a moment, just a moment, she seemed happy. And I realized how much I wanted to keep that look there.
As she pulled away, her gaze snagged on the glass shards. “Careful now. Don’t cut your feet. I’ll have the housekeeper tidy this up.”
I nodded, stepping gingerly past the wreckage to pick out one of my wigs and get dressed. If only broken hearts were as easy to sweep away as broken glass.