Page 59 of Morally Black Betrothal

“There’s another way,” I mumbled before I could stop myself.

Selena’s eyes brightened. Excited, but not entirely unsurprised.

I hated that I was such a foregone conclusion. She knew I’d always bail her out.

“I have to visit someone,” I said, already reaching into my pocket for the wad of the folded-up contract. “But I can have the money by tonight. Don’t go to Dad.”

Her grin was instantaneous. “I knew you’d come through for me, Simmy. Iknew it. You’re the best. You really are.”

“Wait, Sel,” I said, pushing back the hug she was already foisting on me. “I have a condition too.”

She backed up, instantly suspicious. “What’s that?”

I looked at Kylie again, then back at her. “If I do this, er, job, I’ll have to leave for a few months. But I can pay off your loan and give you enough money to live on until I get back.”

Selena’s eyes practically doubled in size. “That’s amazing! What kind of job is it? Can I do it too?”

“Absolutely not,” I said, maybe a bit more sharply than was necessary. “Just promise to stay at the apartment with Kylie until I get back. I’ll even have a nanny come and help you with Ky, but you can’t disappear on me until then. And there will be one more condition.”

She held up her hands in surrender, though she was plainly curious. “Fine, fine. Don’t ask, don’t tell, got it. What’s the condition then?”

I took a deep breath. “When I do come back, I want you to sign legal guardianship of Kylie over to me so I can take her back to Woodstock.”

It was the bravest thing I’d ever done. And I almost took it back as I watched mood after mood pass over my sister’s face.

Shock. Anger. Indignation.

And finally…resignation.

“Fine,” Selena’s voice was quiet and surprisingly solemn. “You pay this off…she’s yours. Can see her on holidays and stuff? Sheismy daughter, after all.”

“Of course you can.” Honestly, I wished I were more shocked she was capitulating so quickly. “That’s all? No argument?”

Selena looked at Kylie again, and something like sorrow colored her face. Maybe regret. And then weariness. “I was nevercut out to be a mom. You and I both know it.” She shook her head. “I don’t remember running this much as a kid. Did we?”

“Probably. We used to spend half our summers playing tag in the meadow until it was dark. But we had a farm to run around, so our parents didn’t have to watch us like a hawk like you do in the city.”

“God. I wish I could just let her go in the pasture until she wears herself out.”

“Maybe I can do that for her. And you can do…whatever you need to figure things out for yourself.”

To my surprise, something like warmth crossed my sister’s face. “I hope you do,” she said quietly. “Thanks, Simmy. Really.”

Before I could stop her, she wrapped me in the biggest hug she’d given me in years. It was like we were kids again. Before Mom had died. Before Dad had disappeared into himself. Back when my sister had been my best friend, and I had been hers, and I would have sworn nothing in the world could tear us apart.

“I have to go run an errand, but I’ll be back this evening with the money,” I said once she released me. “Can you bring my stuff home and wait for me there?”

Eagerly, Selena gathered my bags and the shelf as I waved for Kylie to come out and join us.

“See you on the other side,” Selena called as I headed for the nearest T stop.

I waved, unable to speak as I contemplated what I was about to do.

The other side, she’d called it.

She had no idea.

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