Page 4 of The Curse of McMillan Castle
“How in the world do you know about seventeenth century astronomy stuff?”
“I…” I fumbled and knew I’d officially screwed up. “I don’t. Umm…Baodan told me.”
She shook her head and pushed herself up from the floor. “Nope. Baodan didn’t tell you anything. What is going on? Why is there so much noise going on outside? I’m going to go…”
The door to our room flew open, interrupting her speech. Cooper stood in the doorway, grinning widely.
“It’s ready. Come on, Rosie. We have a surprise for you.”
As per usual, Rosie was suspicious of just about any scheme Cooper came up with. Despite the fact that she usually ended up enjoying whatever the young boy planned for them, Rosie seemed determined to resist the friendship.
She crossed her arms once again and furrowed her brows at him. “What sort of surprise? It’s too late for surprises.”
Cooper reached for her arm, pulling on it, until she uncrossed her arms as he began to tug her from the room. “It’s not too late for this surprise. Come on. Come on.”
I smiled as I followed them, laughing as Cooper determinedly dragged my daughter along behind him.
When we finally reached the staircase to the attic, Rosie stopped short. “I have absolutely no desire to see what is up there.”
Cooper let loose of his grip on her arm and stepped up two steps before facing her so that they stood at eye level.
“Tough. You’re going to see what’s up there if I have to throw you over my shoulder and carry you up there myself.”
I had to swallow hard to keep from laughing. Rosie was twice Cooper’s size. There was no way he could carry her, but the seriousness of his tone was enough to keep Rosie from giving him any more hassle. Without another word, she followed him up to the tower room.
When I reached the doorway and looked inside, my eyes filled with tears, and although I couldn’t see my daughter’s face, I was almost certain hers were doing the same.
The room was perfect. Large and creepy—Rosie would adore it. And the thought put in to each and every space blew my mind.
“Is this…is this for me, Cooper?”
I stepped around her, needing to see her face. Looking at her wide eyes and flushed face made me start blubbering.
Cooper nodded and smiled. “Yes. You’re going to be thirteen tomorrow. I thought you should wake up on your birthday in your very own room.”
Silently, she threw her arms around him and hugged him tight—something I’d never seen her do before.
“Thank you, Cooper. This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.”
When she released him, Cooper’s cheeks were as red as Rosie’s hair.
“So, you like it?”
“I love it.”
Cooper yawned, and his yawn quickly spread to everyone else in the room.
“Good. That’s all I wanted. Now, let’s go to bed. Happy Birthday, Rosie.”
One by one we filed out of Rosie’s new room. After everyone was gone, I lingered just past the doorway to watch her. Unaware that I could see her, Rosie smiled and began to spin around the room in delight.
I cried happy tears all the way back to what was now my own private room.
Perhaps moving here hadn’t completely ruined my daughter’s life. If I could find solace in nothing else, at least there was that.
Chapter 3
Duncan
