“Alaric asked us to come,” Maisie says. “He said you and your mum might need some help moving into your new homes.”
“Maisie, shhhh!” Dora hisses.
“I wish,” I laugh. “We’ll be living here for a while. Mum’s insurance hasn’t come through yet, and I can’t afford a place on my own until she’s all settled?—”
Isis glares at Alaric. “You haven’t told her yet? What are you waiting for? Unlike you, we don’t have all of eternity.”
Alaric taps the box that’s still clutched in my hand. “Open it.”
“There better not be a ring in this box.” I glare at them all. “This isn’t a smutty romance novel. Over-the-top gestures don’t work in real life when thereare issues that?—”
“Just open it, Winnie!” Komal laughs.
I lift the lid. Inside the box, nestled on a bed of gold velvet, are two sets of keys – each one attached to a small, hand-carved wooden charm.
“I met a wood carver years ago in Vienna and he taught me his trade. I’m afraid I’m still an amateur. I cut the wood from the forest at Black Crag,” Alaric says. “I made the sunflower for your mother, and the butterfly wings for you, because you are Wing Commander Winifred. The keys are for your new homes.”
“New …” I stare at the gift in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
“Quoth sold all my pots,” Alaric says. “He came to the castle and took away a bunch of my paintings and tapestries to sell, too. I ended up with all this modern money and no clue what to do with it. Reginald has been managing my accounts as well as he could, but since Arabella demanded to take over, she’s made it quite clear that I have enough money to last several eternities, and I should probably start spending some of it on things that make me happy. And the only thing that makes me happy is you, Winnie. So I have bought your mother a new house. It’s a little two-bedroom unit in a small gated community in Reading for people who struggle with different mental health issues. They offer a range of support services for residents, including an on-site therapist and a weekly cleaning service. The house has a small garden and a room for hobbies?—”
“I have ahouse?” Mum emerges from the kitchen to snatch the sunflower key out of my hand. “I mean, I don’t know that I need this weekly cleaning service, but I can’t wait to see my new home!”
I notice that the centre of the sunflower is a googly eye. I can’t stop the laugh that bursts out of me.
He bought my mother a house?!
But then what’s the second keyring for?
A tiny, hopeful corner of a smile tugs at Alaric’s lips. He nods to the second keyring, which contains two keys. “The girls helped me choose a place for you. It’s in Highgate, overlooking the ancient cemetery. It includes a generous second bedroom that I thoughtyou could use as an office for when you open your own organising business.” Alaric’s eyes burn into mine. “Which you absolutely should do. Viviana has been blowing up my annoying rectangle with praise for you ever since you left her. She says she has at least five friends who desperately need your services.”
“Wait, Viviana told you?—”
“There are people who need you, Winifred the Magnificent.” Alaric’s lip tugs closer to a full smile. “You don’t need the Winnie Wins System to work your magic. And it’s time you realised that.”
I touch the beautiful carved wing, the butterflies inside me flapping like hummingbirds. “A house? I don’t know if I can accept this?—”
“Speak for yourself.” Mum grins, fisting her key. “Komal, was it? You’d better start that van of yours. I’m going to look at my new pad!”
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
WINNIE
In no time at all, the girls have shoved Mum’s newly accumulated possessions into the back of Komal’s van. I notice Dora dumping the paperbacks into the recycling bin and flash her a grateful smile.
We pile into the van. “Where are we going, boss?” Komal asks Alaric. He takes out his phone and pinches the screen to zoom into the map to show her.
“You … you’re using a map? On yourphone?” I can’t believe it.
“I have changed my opinion about the annoying rectangle.” Alaric shrugs.
“Who are you and what have you done with Alaric Valerian?”
His grin could melt the polar ice.
Komal tears off down the road, angry rock music that would be right at home on my Get Shit Done playlist blaring from the tinny speakers. The girls sing along while Isis tells my mother’s fortune and Alaric …
… Alaric smiles and laughs and jokes with them. He even sings along with a couple of songs he recognises from my playlist, his deep, rumbling tenor giving me a serious lady boner. He’s learning to let down his guard around other people and havefun. I’m not the only one who’s changed.
