Remember—every breath you take
Is proof you can still sing.”
My breath hitched.
“They’re using your lyrics for some of the cards,” Rachel said softly.“People love them.”
I stared at the card for a moment before going back to setting up the table with more cards, doing my best to keep my emotions in check.Someone approached the booth, brushing her windblown hair out of her eyes.The woman looked to be in her thirties, wearing a Hope’s Embrace T-shirt layered beneath a cardigan that looked like it needed to be run through the dryer to get the wrinkles out of it.
“Cadence Wiles, right?”she asked in a kind voice.
I blinked, surprised she knew my name.“Uh, yeah.”
She offered a tired but warm smile and extended her hand.“I’m Mara.I run the Hope’s Embrace branch here in Higginham.”
Oh.I’d seen her before at events, but she was always busy, moving quickly, juggling volunteers, running off to meetings, always looking like she was in three conversations at once.We’d never talked, though.She was always too busy, and I was always too...me.
“It’s nice to actually meet you,” I said.
“You too.”She exhaled, shifting awkwardly, her eyes moving over the booth as if checking for a dozen things at once.Up close, I could see the faint shadows under her eyes.Worried.Exhausted.Distracted by something she wasn’t saying.
“We really appreciate your help today,” she said.“And your songs...they mean a lot to a lot of people.”
I swallowed, unsure what to do with that.
Mara hesitated, chewing the inside of her cheek before adding, “I’m also sorry about the musical.About everything with Ardens.”The name landed like a stone in my stomach.“I know since we canceled that project you lost out on a lot of money.I know how much time you put into those drafts.”
So that was why she looked like she’d been carrying fifty pounds of stress on her back.
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” I said quickly.“It’s okay.”
“It’s not,” Rachel muttered under her breath, not even trying to hide that she was eavesdropping.
Mara winced.“She’s right.It isn’t.”She blew out a breath, rubbing her forehead briefly before meeting my eyes again.“Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that.I’d like to make you an offer to buy the songs you’ve already written.They’re good, Cadence.Really good.And it’s not fair that you’re taking the financial hit for something that wasn’t your fault.”
My heart made a strange little flip.“You...want to buy them?”
“Yes.”Her expression softened despite the exhaustion in her shoulders.“Hope’s Embrace can still use them.If you’re willing, I’ll reach out later this week with a contract and official terms.No pressure today, I just wanted you to know the option is there.”
“I—” My throat tightened.“Thank you.Really.”
She smiled faintly.“You deserve to be compensated for your work.And it’s the least we can do after everything that’s happened.”
There was something else beneath her words and it felt heavier.Like what happened with Ardens wasn’t just about a canceled musical.Like the fallout was bigger than I understood.
But she turned away and busied herself by straightening a stack of cards.
“All things considered,” Mara said softly, “thank you for being here.It means more than you know.”
I nodded, unsure what to say.My heart felt both swollen with warmth by her offer but also achy, anxious because I could feel there was something behind her words.
Something was wrong, I just didn’t know what it was.
I went back to running the booth, settling into a rhythm with Mara and Rachel.We moved around each other easily, refilling baskets with bracelets, straightening displays, handing out cards with smiles.Rachel took over the bracelet table, chatting brightly with anyone who wandered too close, while Mara organized the donation jars with efficiency despite the fatigue still clinging to her features.
I had just finished helping a little girl pick out a card for her mom when a quiet voice said behind me, “Didn’t realize you’d be here.”
My pulse tripped.
