“Of course.” Kellen tucks the list in his pocket and departs, and I watch as his car rolls away.
It’s time to start planning.
I have asked Ms. Austin to please take tomorrow off. She will receive her paycheck in the morning, and I have advised Kellen to push her to go shopping. She needs clothes, shoes, a mobile—and I’ve ensured she’s receiving a hiring bonus to help take the weight off the cost.
While she is out, I will do my work in the kitchen. It’s been a long while since I made this, and I may have to practice a few times before I get it just right.
I want to get it just right for her.
All night, I think about what I’m going to make, envisioning the look on Ms. Austin’s face as she tastes it. I can’t stop repeating the steps in my mind, so eventually, I drag myself up to my feet to work off some of my nervous energy.
That is one thing this body can do well, and it’smove. Out behind the manor, I drop down onto all four legs and hurtle into the woods, the branches slapping me as I weave around tree trunks and leap over creeks. My stamina feels infinite, all my nerves and excitement about tomorrow fueling me on.
The following morning, Kellen informs me that, as I requested, Ms. Austin has made herself scarce. Kellen eventold her to take his car into town, much to my satisfaction. He is a good man.
When I’m certain she’s gone, I make my way down to the kitchen. Kellen has purchased everything I requested, and now it’s time to begin my preparation.
It’s difficult, though, trying to do such minute detail work with these awkward, clawed hands. I did cook for a time after I was changed, and that is why the kitchen is stocked the way it is now. But as I became less inclined to leave my rooms, so was I less inclined to cook, and our dinners morphed into whatever Kellen could throw together, or takeaway. That is, until Peony arrived.
I let out a snarl when I accidentally nick myself with a peeler, and my blood comes out dark blue. I’ve always thought it such a strange thing to change about me—the color of my blood—but I think it’s simply to make me feel even more alien, even more like I don’t belong.
I’ll have to relearn everything from scratch. And yet, though it’s frustrating when my claws get in the way, I come back to Ms. Austin and how I’m doing this to please her, and that centers me once more.
She still wants to see me, despite knowing what I look like. That in itself is incredibly encouraging. Now, I’ll get to actually hold a conversation with her, get to know her, and perhaps, truly discover who she is.
peony
I stand at the entrance to the mall, clutching my purse tight in one hand. Some part of me is worried that with this much money on me, I’ll be robbed. I can’t have that happen.
Kellen sent me away for the day, being frank that Mr. Edgewood needed the house to prepare dinner and he didn’t want me to see him before that. I agreed, and then Kellen cut me the biggest check I’ve ever seen in my life.
Unfortunately, I had to tell him I didn’t have a bank account in which to deposit it, and he stiffened all over, mouth gaping.
“No bank account? You must fix that at once! I can’t have you carrying around cash whenever you go out.”
Once again, it reminded me of my dad, and my heart gave a weak thump.
“Okay, okay. I’ll get one.”
He’s right, of course. I need to establish that kind of independence separate from Andy.
So Kellen fished out enough cash to cover the check, and now I’m heading into the mall looking for a whole new wardrobe. Well, part of one. At least a few pairs of pants, jeans, and long-sleeve shirts. It’s too bad I had to leave all my other clothes behind at Andy’s, but now I get to start over. Then any cash I have left I can take to the bank and put in my new checking account to save up for an apartment.
The first thing I do, though, is head to the mobile phone store. I pick out the cheapest thing, a flip phone, and buy a prepaid plan. I can figure something else out once I get a credit card.
Then it’s off to the discount department store, where I grab a bulk bag of underwear, a few new bras, four shirts, three pants, a skirt, and a dress with some matching leggings. I also pick up a pair of tall boots for the colder, snowier months, and as a last-minute purchase, I get a matching set of hat, scarf, and gloves. They’re green plaid, which should go perfectly with my new coat.
I’ve been trying not to think about what awaits me backat the manor. Mr. Edgewood is preparing something grand, that much is obvious. I didn’t intend for him to go all out this way, but I’m also… thrilled. What can he do in a kitchen? What does he have planned for me?
It reminds me of family dinners back in the restaurant, when you didn’t always know what was going to come out. The pastry chef might surprise you with some cake that was out of this world.
I keep my excitement in check as I finish up at the store, and I even snag eyeliner and a cheap lipstick on my way out. Why not spoil myself a little?
And it feels good. Oh, it feels so good to put everything on the counter and have the woman behind the register scan it all, and then I pull out the cash to pay for it.
Now, it’s all mine.
I’m like a goblin hoarding treasure as I carry my bags out to the car. Kellen’s car, really, which is ridiculously ostentatious in this average town. Packing everything into the trunk, I hop in, push the start button, and head to the bank.
