“I…oh,” sputters Mama, trading a glance with her new husband. “May I ask why she’s going to stay somewhere else?”
“The press watches your home closely, as well as mine. I don’t want them speculating on Cate or hounding her.” Tristan’s jaw ticks as he discusses me. “Not until she’s better prepared.”
“Prepared for what?” I ask.
Tristan’s father, Elton…who I guess is my new stepdaddy, answers. “The press can be a little relentless, especially when it comes to Tristan. He’s right to put you somewhere neutral until you know how to deal with aggressive reporters. They’ll no doubt be quite interested in you.”
That seems to annoy Tristan, his eyes darkening another degree. “Exactly how much schooling do you have, Cate?”
My face heats with embarrassment and I can’t help but squirm on the seat. I’ve never been humiliated by my lack of education. I know how to read and count money and fend for myself. Aren’t those the most important skills one can have? But with my gorgeous, sophisticated stepbrother questioning me, I suddenly wish I could curl into a ball. “Um…just about up through the middle of high school, sir. That’s when Daddy got to feeling bad.”
To my relief, Tristan only nods once, no pity or judgment in his expression.
He’s merely taking in information, thoughts taking wing in his mind. Solutions, too, I bet. Lord, he’s so smart. I wish I could be just like him.
I’m distracted from mooning over my stepbrother—which I shouldn’t be doing anyway—when my mother sniffles into a tissue, tears brimming in eyes the same color as mine. “I’m so sorry, Cate. I had no idea your father was ill. I just…I just assumed you two didn’t want to speak to me, after the way I left, and that’s why I never heard from you. I tried calling, but it said the number was unavailable. I thought you’d changed it.”
“Phone died about two months after Daddy,” I say quietly, patting her shoulder. “It’s okay, Mama. You didn’t know.”
“My poor girl. You were all alone,” she hiccups.
“No. I had the fireflies.”
A few silent beats pass until Tristan clears his throat hard. “We’ll hire tutors.” His voice sounds like gravel, his brow knitted. “Someone who can work with her speech and etiquette. Another instructor for academics.”
“I can make an appointment for a house call with my stylist,” suggests my mother.
“Yes,” Tristan says slowly, his eyes traveling down to my crossed legs and back up slowly. “You will give the stylist my number, though. I don’t want a single change made to Cate without my permission.”
My head is starting to spin. “Changes? What do you mean?”
Mama smiles at me gently. “A new haircut, clothes. Things like that. Won’t it be nice?”
I finger the frayed hem of my best dress, feeling another hot flash of embarrassment. Compared to the finery my mother is wearing, it’s a cleaning rag. These people are bringing me into their fold and helping me better myself. And even though I had the fireflies to keep me company in the evenings, there’s no denying how lonely I’ve been. Now I get to have a real family again. Like I used to have, before Mama left. I have people who care enough about me to swoop in on their fancy plane and make plans for my future—and I’m going to be grateful. I’m going to try really hard to be whatever they reckon I should be.
Even if I think the current me is just fine as is. Because maybe I’m wrong.
Maybe I haven’t learned enough to be sure.
“Yes,” I whisper, smiling at the three of them. “That’ll be real nice.”
* * *
It’s still dark outside when we land. There is another limousine waiting for us on the tarmac and everyone just climbs inside, like it’s no big deal to fly around in jets and ride around in the backs of limousines all the time. We stop outside a house that makes my jaw drop into my lap, it’s so enormous. Manicured and pristine beneath the stars.
My mother leans over and kisses my cheek. “Good night, Cate. I’ll see you soon, okay?”
“You live here?” I whisper, still staring out the window, dumbstruck.
“Yes.” She laughs quietly, but it turns into a yawn. “And I’m definitely overdue in my bed. Tristan is going to bring you to your new place, okay? I’ll be over as soon as I can to see you. You’re not alone anymore. We just have to be careful about this…transition.”
Because they’re not ready to present me to the public.
I nod, hoping she can’t see the pink staining my cheeks. “I know. Good night, Mama.”
“Good night.”
My mother and stepfather climb out of the limousine, but not before Tristan and Elton spend a few moments staring at each other, hard, as if daring the other to back down. I wonder what that’s about.