In the Shadows

back into the world!”

Cora looked up sharply, surprising Charles. She usually dis-

missed Minnie’s stories, but this one seemed to spook her.

“Or maybe he climbs on top of the roof and sits up there all

night, every night,” Thom said, raising an eyebrow (another rea-

son Charles was sure to catch a kiss before him, as smiles sang to

other lips in a way annoyed eyebrows never could).

“You’ve seen him?” Minnie glared at Thom, then at Arthur.

Secrets! A sense of triumph flooded Charles as he found the key to

Minnie. He’d go out of his way to tell her things he had never told

anyone, wrap her in confidences until she was his. Doubtless

before long he would run out of honest secrets and have to start

inventing them, but when it came to Minnie, he didn’t think she

would mind.

“He’s been up there every night since we went out. Question

is, why?”

“None of your concern,” Arthur said, startling everyone. He

hadn’t so much as twitched in an hour, and his eyes were still

closed.

Cora abandoned the basket and walked over to kneel next to

him. Her hand flitted over his forehead, not quite touching him,

then went to her skirt pocket. “Are you having trouble sleeping?”

Arthur cracked open one eye and smiled at her. “Usually.”

“Why the roof, though?” Thom asked.

“Why not?”

Minnie stood with a scowl, brushing away the leaves and dirt

clinging to her skirt. She had refused to sit on the blanket, making

tiny homes for fairies out of rocks and leaves instead. “The top of

the roof? And you haven’t invited me?”

“That’s not safe,” Cora said.