"You know you can talk to me, right?" Nina said finally. "If something's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong." Annabelle's smile was automatic now. "Everything's wonderful. We saved the library."
"Annabelle…"
"Can you make sure Thomas is wearing his coat, it’s cold outside."
Nina opened her mouth, closed it, then nodded reluctantly. "Of course."
Lily caught her in the corridor between classes and just squeezed her hand, a silent question:are you okay?
Annabelle nodded. Smiled. Kept moving.
She was fine. Everything was wonderful. They'd saved the library, hadn't they? That was what mattered.
That was what had to matter.
Because if she let herself think about anything else, about Raven's face when she'd saidI don't think that would work,about the way she'd turned and walked away like it didn't rip her apart too, Annabelle would fall to pieces right here in the school corridor, and she couldn't do that.
Not here. Not when everyone was counting on her to be steady and cheerful and fine.
"Ms. Swift?"
Annabelle looked down to find Jamie standing beside her desk, his guitar case in hand. Right. Thursday afternoons. Guitar lessons with Raven. She’d taken to coming in on Tuesdays andThursdays right as school finished, rather than subjecting Jamie to the empty bottles in her cottage.
Oh God.
"Yes, Jamie?"
"Is Ms. Raven coming today?" His expression was hopeful, eager. "She said she'd teach me the chords to that song. The one from the fundraiser."
Annabelle's smile faltered. Just for a second. But she caught it, pulled it back into place even as her chest constricted painfully.
"I don't know, sweetheart."
"Can we call her?"
"I… I'm not sure she's available today."
Jamie's face fell. "Oh. Okay." He hesitated, then: "Is she sick? Mum said someone at the shop said Ms. Raven might be leaving. But that's not true, right? She wouldn't leave without saying goodbye."
Annabelle felt something crack inside her chest. She kneeled down to Jamie's level, still smiling even though it felt like her face might shatter.
"Sometimes grown-ups have to make difficult choices," she said gently. "Ms. Raven has important work to do in London. She might have to go back sooner than we thought."
"But she'll come back?"
"I don't know."
Jamie's lower lip trembled. "But she promised to teach me the bridge. The hard part."
"I know." Annabelle wanted to cry again. Wanted to scream. But she kept her voice steady, kept her smile in place. "Maybe we can practice together instead? I'm not as good as Ms. Raven, but I can try."
"It's not the same."
No. It wasn't.
Nothing would be the same.
