Page 29 of Partnering with the Artist

I don’t know how Zakery does it.

Taking nothing but inspiration for his art, he makes me feel more important than I have in six years.

“Maelin.”

Jumping awake, I rake in a breath, wince as a soreness spreads through my neck, and take in my surroundings.

I’m…at my desk, in front of my sewing machine. The light is on. The thread has pulled out a yard, connecting to the fabric I was working on, which is now in a heap on the floor.

As my eyes adjust to the brightness of being awake, Morana’s face clears in my vision—expression incredulous.

I yawn.

She throws her arms out. “Maelin. Where did you getall of this? Did you blow your entire paycheck onfabric?” Her finger juts toward the perfect little section of dark shades, which I have meticulously organized beside the rainbow of pinks and whites I love so much. “Also, are those a clue that you’re gonna make me something?”

I rub sleep from my eyes and try to figure out what is going on. “What…day is it?” I startle, halfway to my feet. “The laundry. I had a load in.”

“I took care of it. Don’t worry.”

I settle back down in my chair, staring up at my sister.

She says, “It’s Sunday. Afternoon. I’ve put two loads through for you. You should be caught up once this last one is dried and folded. I implore you, once again, to drop these clients. It’s not healthy for you to be up all night like this, and we don’t need the spare change now that we’re working for the Bachelors.”

How quickly her tune has changed. I wish I knew what Kaleb did to her that put her at such immaculate ease. I mean, sure, he does radiate peace without any underlying pretense of harsh lines like Zakery, butstill. Morana has had relationship trustissues ever since that stuff happened with Talira—which, for the record, is a stupid name outshone only by the stupidity of the person who owns it. Stifling another yawn, I say, “It’s our fallback.”

“Fifty dollars a week doing just over twenty loads of laundry in the evenings and through the night is barely a fallback. Also, we don’t need a fallback.” Her arms fold. “I’m staying at the Bachelors’ forever, and seventy K a year covers us comfortably.”

“It is…very weird for you to trust anyone this fast.”

She grins. “Kaleb lets me yell at his brothers. I went to Kyran’s room to get his laundry, and it wason the floor, not in the designated basket. Kaleb said laundry must be in thelaundry baskets at the very least. Since I’ll already be checking pockets and sorting colors and folding and putting away, it isnotmy job to search the nooks and crannies for his brother’s underwear. It’s in the basket, or it is not washed.Basket, or beatings. That’s what he said.”

She’sglowing. And chuckling lowly, maniacally,wickedly.

“Basket orbeatings,” she repeats. “I hunted Kyran down, pointed at his clothing, and said,What is this? Are you five? No. Where’s the basket? That’s right. Two feet over. You missed. Fix it.” A full evil laugh flutters from her. “Then I watched this grumpy rich boy mutter an apology, bend down, andfoldhis shirt before setting it lightly on his laundry basket. Hefoldedit, Mae. I love my job.”

I am so glad to hear that.

Um.

Did she say it was Sunday afternoon?

Weary, I blink down at the dress I was making. It’s a simple pink sundress. Cotton. Lined. Sheer, billowing sleeves to help save me from the sun’s deadly cancer ray.

I want it finished so I can wear it to work Monday. Which is tomorrow.

Yawning yet again, I retrieve the fabric and cut the threads before I roll the excess back into my machine.

“Maelin.”

I startle, look back at my sister.

“Wheredid you get all this?”

“Zakery bought it for me. You were already asleep when we got back last night. I told you he wanted to draw me in public settings…right?”

“Yes, you told me he was taking you out to lunch at the tea place that you’ve been dying to go to ever since we realized what the little cottage off Main was.”

“Well, after, he took me to Make-It, the craft and fabric store off…whatever road it’s off of.” Good with road names, I am not. “By the big tree I like.”

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