I ignore her and inspect the branches of pastel-pink apple blossoms that are almost fully bloomed, inhaling their delicately sweet scent. Why these flowers meanbewareis lost on me. They didn’t warn me about dropping my scissors.
“I tried.”
“Maybe you should take one of Creon’s sleeping potions.”
“They don’t work on me.”
“I’ve told you to drink lavender tea too, but no, all my advice goes in one ear and out the other.”
Mum scratches a number in the accounting book. She’s not holding back her judgment, as usual, and unfortunately for her, I’m cranky enough to poke at a wound. To bring up a topic I’d been keeping secret to spare her any sadness. It’s past time we aired this out.
“Perhaps Ruth has a remedy,” I say.
It takes a few seconds for my words to sink in.
When they do, her mouth drops open. The pen in her hand clatters to the tabletop. All the while, I don’t drop her gaze.
“H-How…?” Mum struggles, then composes herself with a roll of her shoulders. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Liar.
“Oh, really? She seemed to know youquitewell.”
“Felicity, you shouldn’t be going that far into the forest.”
“Ha! So, you do know each other,” I say, and march to the table. I slam the scissors down and scowl at her over the boxes of ribbons and paperwork. “Another secret you didn’t tell your daughter.”
“Ruth and I haven’t spoken in a very long time,” Mum says, a wobble in her lip.
“Why?”
“It’s all in the past now. There’s no reason to bring it up—”
“I know there’s something you’re not telling me.”
“I’m your mother. I’m allowed.”
I narrow my eyes. She’s normally good at brushing off my questions, but something about this topic rattles her. Her fingers shake as she picks up the pen again.
“What did she say about me?” Mum asks, too quietly.
“Why should I tell you? You don’t tell me things.”
“Fliss.” Mum sighs. “Please.”
“I know that you were friends with the queen too. And Morgana.”
Mum slaps her hand on the open book.
“Do not mention those women in this house.”
“If you just told me—”
“No!” she snaps, her eyes ablaze. “You don’t understand. Everything I’ve done, every decision I’ve made, has been to keep you safe. From the moment I knew you existed, I loved you. I didn’t care that I lost my friends and your father. I didn’t care because I hadyou.”
I falter.
Shenevermentions my father.
