“It’s actually the Queen’s shilling now,” I pointed out.
“Don’t vex me with your feminism on today of all days!” Lydia spun around, revealing the tailored scarlet military jacket with gold braid and epaulets she’d purchased from Mrs. Maitland. “Don’t I look absolutely stunning? Don’t you think I shall land myself a wonderful soldier to marry?”
I didn’t have the heart to tell her that she’d be in fatigues as soon as she arrived on the base. Some problems were not mine to solve. “Sure, Lydia. You look amazing.”
“Well, won’t you all see me off, then?” She thrust her hands on her hips.
“Goodbye,” Heathcliff muttered, without looking up from his book. From his perch on top of the chandelier, Quoth shook his head vehemently.
Excellent self-preservation skills,I said inside my head.You’re much safer up there.
Morrie slumped over and wrapped his arms around her. “Good luck, Lydia,” he said. “We’re going to miss your annoying face around here.”
“Does that mean you wish I could stay?” Lydia batted her eyelashes at Morrie.
“No!” yelled Heathcliff, Morrie, and I in unison.
“Croak!” seconded Quoth.
“Meow!” added Grimalkin, for good measure.
Lydia laughed. She threw her arms around me. “I shall miss you most of all, Mina. You remind me a little of my older sister Lizzie, although not as bossy or plain. I still can’t believe she marries that Mr. Darcy.”
I laughed. “I’ll miss you too, Lydia. You come visit if you’re ever back in Argleton.”
“I shan't think so. Not for a very long time!” She blew kisses as she hurried into the street to place her bags in the back of a waiting rideshare. I watched her go, half of me terrified she wouldn’t last an hour, the other half certain she’d be a general in no time.
As soon as her car backed away from the curb and took off down the street, Morrie slumped into a chair. “Thank the gods.”
I smiled. “Hey, we all liked Lydia in the end.”
“I’ve run the most successful criminal empire in the developed world, but that woman tries my every nerve.” He lifted a limp hand to me. “Fetch me a cup of tea, would you?”
“Fetch it yourself.” I punched him in the arm. “I have some boxes to unpack.”
“How can you have more stuff for Jo’s apartment?” Morrie had helped me move into the spare room at Jo’s house last night. It was a tiny room, barely big enough for the single bed I’d found on Gumtree and a rack of clothing. But it was a palace compared to my last room, which wasn’t a room at all, but a conservatory with the windows taped over with cardboard. Jo’s place was amazing – she had a rain shower and heating and an espresso machine in the kitchen (and an anatomical skeleton in the bathroom, but we won’t talk aboutthat), and absolutely no mother in sight.
“I told her, she should have just moved in here,” Heathcliff muttered, turning the page.
I’d been sorely tempted when he made the offer, but in my heart, I knew I wasn’t ready to accept. We may have all said the three scary words, but everything with me and the guys was still so complicated. I needed time to be on my own in the world before I took that step. But at least Jo lived nearby, so I could come and see them any time I wanted, without forking out a fortune for rideshares or walking through my old, scary neighborhood.
“Nope, not more clothes.” I dragged a box from behind the desk. “Christmas decorations.”
“No.” Heathcliff’s book clattered to the floor.
“Yes!” I threw open the box, revealing strings of bright, glittering tinsel. Instantly, my eyes were drawn to the iridescent colors, and the rest of the room fell into shadow. “It’s my mum’s newest scheme. Apparently, Sylvia’s shop’s been shut down by a hazmat team after one of their make-your-own-soap kits exploded. So now she’s selling these ‘designer’ Christmas decorations at a two hundred percent markup.” I held up a string of tinsel hung with miniature books. “Take the other end of this. We’re going to hang it along the front of Heathcliff’s desk.”
“No, we’re not.” Heathcliff folded his arms.
“Yes. We are. No arguments. No more Ms. Nice Mina. If I’m going to stay working here, you’re going to let me try my creative ideas. I need this shop to turn a profit so I can earn some more money, because I’m in need of adaptive equipment and a guide dog. And also a new pair of Docs.”
“Meow?” Grimalkin’s head popped up from behind the armadillo, her whiskers twitching with concern.
“Don’t worry, kitty,” I patted Grimalkin’s head. “I promise my doggo won’t chase you.”
“Meow!” Grimalkin swiped at the tinsel, attacking one of the tiny books with her teeth, as if trying to demonstrate what would happen to any guide dog that dared cross the threshold of the shop.
“Where’s all this sass coming from?” Morrie asked as he shoved Heathcliff aside to hold up the tinsel. “Don’t get me wrong, it excites me. It’s just not like you to lay down the law.”
