Page 10 of Hilarina and the Ogre

Annette was flustered too, like how Hilary had felt in the car. Maybe that was just the effect Trenton had on people—being too strange to classify.

Trenton released her hand and bowed again. “I’ll have it fixed as quickly as I can. I’m sorry you have to go without it for now.”

Again, like her son, Annette didn’t seem to know what to say—and that never happened to her. After a few moments, she rallied. “Accidents happen. I’m just glad you’re both alright.”

“Can I stay here tonight?” Trenton was giving neither of them any time to recover. “It would be bad for Hilary to drive again when it’s already this late.”

“It’s alright,” Hilary tried to say, finally putting his mouth to use. “I can—”

“It’s not a problem.” Annette said, her expression changing. “We have spare toothbrushes, though no guest room, I’m afraid. Are you alright with an air mattress? We also have the couch if you prefer that.”

Trenton didn’t care. “Whatever’s easiest.”

Annette waved her hand, a more normal mood already returning. “Don’t say that. This is the first time Hilary’s had a friend over. Do you boys want a snack?”

“I want a snack.” Albert had appeared from nowhere and was somehow behind Hilary, in the bathrobe with the ducks on it. “Hilary, you smell like smoke again.”

“Take it up with my ex-girlfriend, the chimney.”

Annette froze. “Ex?”

Albert didn’t bother to hide his relief. “Good riddance,” was the cheery judgement. “And who’s this? Her replacement?”

Trenton stuck out his hand. “Trenton, sir.”

“Annette’s the ‘sir’ in this house,” Albert corrected. “Call me Al.”

The exchange earned the man a smack to the back of his head from Sir Annette. “Where’s your sensitivity?” she demanded.

“What sensitivity? Hilary didn’t even like her.”

“You don’t know that!”

It had Hilary thinking he ought to have saved the bombshell for the morning. He wasn’t ready to go into things now. Thankfully, he didn’t have to. Trenton released Albert’s hand, and said with more of that gravity, “Hilary’s tired. We should get to bed.”

Albert ignored that to sniff at the air again. “It’s not just smoke. Were you digging through the garbage all night?”

Trenton was right. It was definitely time for bed. “I’ll be in the shower if you need me.”

When Hilary came out, the three stooges were sitting around the kitchen table drinking chrysanthemum tea. It was what his mother served to important guests. Why Trenton fell into that category, Hilary didn’t know, but if they wanted to have a tea party, good on them. He was going to sleep. Though when he got to his room, he found Trenton was behind him.

“Christ.” The boy moved too quietly, and Hilary’s soul had all but left his body to discover him there. “We should put a bell on you.”

“Your father said he’ll drive me in the morning,” Trenton said. “So you should sleep in.”

“Why would you—”

“I need to be up early anyway for work.”

“You work?”

“At the bookstore on Clement.”

Was there a bookstore on Clement? The town wasn’t large, but Hilary still didn’t know it well. “It’s my responsibility to drive you, so I will. What time do you need to be there? I’ll set an alarm.”

Trenton’s mouth squashed down into a line—the first show of defiance he’d seen. “Forget it. I’ll just get a cab.”

“You’re not getting a cab. You’re only here because I insisted on driving. You’d be home already if I’d let you take your bike.”