My Marionette Lover novel · Chapter 21 of 24

Chapter 21: The Night Before

The board adjourned without a vote.

Augusta said the question of fitness would be settled at the gala, in front of everyone, and she let us walk out.

She could afford to.

On Saturday afternoon, hours before the gala, the Annex was empty except for the two of us.

Birdie, Brad and Imogen were across the river at Redfern Hall, hanging thirty puppets from the stage rig under the eyes of Augusta's staff.

They called it setting up my showcase.

I sat on the daybed with the contract open on my knees, reading it for the sixth time.

My grandmother's signature was at the bottom of every page.

The first page was dated thirty years ago, the winter my mother was nine and ill.

Arlen came and sat beside me with two mugs.

"Don't read it again," he said.

"I need to understand it."

"You understand it. You've understood it since the table."

"Look at the last page."

He took it from me.

Under the last clause, a line had been added in Augusta's narrow hand.

A thirty-first figure, to be carved when the carver's granddaughter comes of age.

Across it, a single black line had been drawn.

Beside the line stood two initials, shaky and small.

"She crossed it out," Arlen said.

"She wouldn't carve me."

"She refused you to Augusta."

"She carved thirty people into cages," I said.

"Then she wouldn't carve one for me."

"And she hid the shears in the only puppet Augusta wouldn't want."

My voice cracked.

"She spent her whole life building a lock and then trying to make me the key."

"My family's name was going on a theater," I said. "I would have taken her money and called it a gift."

Arlen put down the mugs.

"Hazel."

"I tied you without asking, and I made you walk, and talk, and say sorry, and I told myself it was justice. I'm sorry."

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