Starlight On Willow Lake

Mom nodded. “All right.”

“The compensation package includes parking, room and board for one person. I hadn’t anticipated two extra children.”

“I did bring it up in my reply,” Mom said. “Obviously, it’s nonnegotiable.”

Cara’s mother had this thing she did. She usually seemed all meek and mild because she was quiet and small. But when something came up involving the family or people she cared about, there was a subtle shift, and Mom became a rock. She was doing it now, regarding Mrs. Bellamy with a perfectly pleasant expression on her face, but anyone in the room could see that the balance of power had shifted.

Which was funny, Cara reflected, seeing how Mom didn’t have any bargaining power, none at all. She was out of options. Then again, she had nothing to lose, because they had already lost everything. If old lady Bellamy said no deal, Mom would be scrambling for a place in line at the county housing office.

This was not a new situation for the McCallum family. This was the norm, thought Cara, slumping back on the sofa and tucking her chin into her chest.

“You’re slumping.” Suddenly Mrs. Bellamy was talking to Cara. “Sit up straight.”

Cara shot her a look.

“Don’t give me that look. I’m your elder.”

“You sure are,” Cara murmured, then sat up as instructed, all innocence. “Just agreeing with you.”

Then Mrs. Bellamy turned to Ruby. “You’re a beautiful child, but too scrawny. You need to eat something. Now that I realize you can’t have sugar, I’m going to have to consult with the kitchen staff. We’ll make sure there are plenty of sugar-free options for you.”

Holy crap, thought Cara. The woman was schizoid, barking like a mad dog one moment and then catering to everybody the next.

“What’s that disreputable-looking thing you’re dragging around with you?” the woman asked Ruby.

“My Gruffalo.”

“What is a Gruffalo?”

“It’s from a book called The Gruffalo,” Ruby patiently explained. “When I was younger, it was my favorite. My mom made me my very own. She sewed it herself out of a sock and some yarn and buttons. He’s one of a kind. Did you ever make stuff for your kids when they were little?”

“I made trips to FAO Schwarz, but that’s about it.”

“What’s FAO Schwarz?”

“It’s a very large toy store in New York City. You should visit there sometime.”

“Will you take me?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not capable of taking you anywhere.” She swiveled the chair to face Mom. “Where’s their father? He’s not going to come barging in uninvited, is he?”

Mom regarded her steadily. “I can guarantee he will not.”

“Are they noisy?” asked Mrs. Bellamy.

“They’re kids. They make noise.”

“I imagine they’re messy, as well.”

Ruby walked over to their mother and looked Mrs. Bellamy in the eye. She was still acting scared, but intensely determined as she faced the old woman. “Last year at the end of first grade, I got the Neat as a Pin award.”

The old lady returned the steady gaze. “What about this year?”

“I’m working on it. But Shelley Romano is in my class, and she’s giving me a run for my money.”

Mrs. Bellamy glared at the kid with dragon eyes. Yet buried beneath the fierce glare was something Cara recognized—a glimmer of humor.

“I suppose you’ll be wanting your own room.”

“That would be nice, thank you.”

“And your own bathroom?”

Ruby relented. “We could share.”

“Why don’t you finish telling us about your expectations,” Mom suggested gently.

“I expect each day to be no different from the last. My schedule is quite simple.” She rattled everything off in a brusque, bitter tone. “I wake up at nine each morning and have coffee. Then I’m bathed and dressed for a late breakfast. Lunch is at one o’clock and dinner at seven-thirty. I’m in bed by ten. Any questions?” She seemed to be daring them.

No one spoke. Then, to Cara’s surprise, Ruby raised a tentative hand.

“Yes?” demanded Mrs. Bellamy. “What is it?”

“You asked if there were any questions,” Ruby said. “I have a question.”

“You have a question. And what might that be?”

“I was wondering... What do you do?”

Aw, jeez, thought Cara, watching the old lady’s face.

“I beg your pardon,” the old lady fired back. “What do you mean, what do I do?”

“I mean like, do you go to a job, or have meetings, or run errands? Stuff like that.”

It was a good thing Ruby was tiny and supercute, because it made people more tolerant of her.

But maybe not Mrs. Bellamy. She had the look of a fire-breathing dragon again. “Child, can’t you see I’m confined to this chair?”

“Yes, ma’am. I can see that.”

“Then you must understand that I can’t do anything. I can sit, and on a good day, I might have the tiniest bit of function in my arms. But I don’t actually have any good days, because I can’t do anything.”

“Oh.” Ruby simply stared at her, unperturbed. After the initial scare, the kid was showing some backbone.

“I’m open to suggestions, if you happen to have any.”

“You could sing,” Ruby said without missing a beat. “Or if you don’t like singing—”