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Though,I reflected again on how much bigger Pepper was than I was right now.I can’t very well leave like this.
No sooner had the thought crossed my mind than an unwelcome grumble sounded from behind me.
“I thought I might find you out here.”
I turned to see Rumplestiltskin standing with a corked glass bottle in his hand.
“If you’re looking for another romantic hedgehog-back ride through the valley, I am sorry to disappoint.” It was easier to joke with him now that my father’s life wasn’t hanging in the balance of every interaction we had.
Even if he is a scary little bastard.
Rumple’s golden eyes crinkled in amusement before he laughed.
“No. I’m afraid I have other plans.”
I nodded, stroking the feathers on Pepper’s neck.
“The queen asked me to give this to you.” He continued, before handing over the container full of ordinary-looking liquid. “If you want to get back to your regular size, that is.”
The small vial felt like lead in my hand.
Hadn’t I just been wanting this?
“Of course, I do,” I said, automatically. “I have my family and my life to get back to. Why wouldn’t I?”
“You tell me,” he said.
“There’s nothing to tell,” I shot back, ignoring the slightly defensive note in my voice.
Therewasnothing to tell. Lina was making plans for a life here, a life I could never come close to giving her. Whatever happened last night was… nothing.A goodbye… that’s all.
The little green man fixed me with a look that said I was unconscionably stupid to him, and I glared right back.
“Then off you go,” he finally said. “No need to wait for the ball.”
“I could hardly stand up my date,” I said, with forced nonchalance. “Aster asked me to stay.”
Rumple just shook his head, turning around, but not before I heard him mumble “both a couple of idiots”under his breath. Somehow, I knew the ‘both’wasn’t referring to me and Aster.
He’s talking about me and Lina.
I climbed atop Pepper and urged her to take off.
We had hours until the ball began, and I needed that time to collect my thoughts. I would say goodbye to Lina this time.Even if it’s for the last time.
51
Lina
When I reached the study, my eyes roved over the endless shelves of books. Leather-bound tomes and novels lined every surface. Books filled with stories that I could devour in no time at all. I thought back to the books Mama and I had read together, at how much effort it took to read the pages so close up before turning to the next one, and the way she did it with such ease.
An unexpected pang darted through me at the memory. What I wouldn’t give to have her read me a story one last time, to have her here to talk through some of this mess with.
I thought I would be angry when I faced Uncle again, but it was hard to hold on to that resentment as soon as I saw him.
He was sitting casually in an armchair next to a table, leafing through a book like it was the most natural thing in the world to him. And I didn’t see the trickster or the man who had probably filled a lifetime with regrets. I just saw the man who had shown me nothing but love and acceptance and protection… even if he took that last one a little too far.
“Is Maggie all right?” It seemed like the safest subject to start with.
