While Danny occupied himself, Adalynn would sneak away with Merrick to his study or his bedroom—which looked as good as new after his repairs—to satisfy their mutual desire for one another, often for hours at a time. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other once they were close. Unfortunately, her illness always loomed in the backs of their minds; it was something neither of them spoke about, seemingly both unwilling to shatter the happiness they’d found.
When Adalynn wasn’t spending her free time with Merrick—the occasions upon which he reluctantly isolated himself in his study for research—she danced or played the piano.
Today, Adalynn and Danny decided to change things up while Merrick was shut away with his old books. They explored parts of the house they’d not had access to when they first arrived. So much had changed since that night; this was their home now, and Merrick had opened every door to them to make it true in every possible way.
After some wandering, they found themselves in a surprisingly clean attic—which shouldn’t have been all that surprising considering how Merrick kept the giant house magically dust free. Adalynn couldn’t help a bit of disappointment, however, after the expectations set by dozens of horror movies featuring musty attics full of cobwebs and ghosts.
Instead of restless supernatural entities, they found boxes upon boxes of books, some dating back hundreds of years. Any bibliophile would’ve gone crazy over the hidden collection. All the books were in perfect condition, their pages as crisp as though they’d just been printed. Adalynn knew magic had a hand in it. There were also old toys and trinkets—an entire nursery all packed away—antique furniture, stores of candles, and mounds of like-new, Victorian-era clothing.
“Where’d Merrick get all this stuff?” Danny picked up a black disc and pushed on the middle; it opened into a top hat with a pop.
Adalynn stood before a tall, antique floor mirror, holding an elegant, royal blue ballgown against her body. It had a square neckline, long sleeves that flared at the elbows, bows on the bodice, and delicate lace trim. It was absolutely gorgeous, and she could just imagine wearing it as she spun around the ballroom downstairs.
“I don’t think any of this was his. I think it came with the house, left here by whoever owned it before him,” Adalynn said, running her hands over the satiny dress.
“Huh. Probably. How old do you think he is?”
Adalynn glanced at Danny’s reflection in the mirror as he picked up a cane and attempted to twirl it. It promptly slipped out of his hand and clattered loudly on the floor. He winced and bent to pick it up, peeking at Adalynn with a sheepish grin.
She smiled and shrugged, shifting her gaze back to the dress. “I don’t know. Old.”
“And you don’t mind doing it with an old guy?”
Adalynn twisted to look at her brother, mouth agape. “Danny!”
He laughed. “What?”
She jabbed a finger at him. “That is none of your business.”
Danny laughed and set the cane down. He lifted his chin toward her. “You should try it on.”
Adalynn looked back down at the dress. It really was pretty. What could it hurt playing dress up for a little while?
“Why not?” She grinned and gestured to the suit hanging in the armoire. “Are you going to dress up, too?”
“Nah.”
“Oh, come on. Please? For me?”
He pointed at her. “That isn’t fair.”
“It’s not every day that I get to see my little brother in a fancy top hat and suit.”
Danny’s lip curled. “Fine. But you owe me.”
“You can have my share of peanut butter.”
“Deal!”
Adalynn laughed and glanced around the attic, her gaze falling on the folded-up privacy screen leaning against the angled ceiling. Laying the dress over her arm, she picked up the matching slippers, walked to the screen, and opened it up. She stepped behind it and bent down to remove her boots. When she straightened, she was hit by a wave of dizziness. She stumbled, catching herself before she fell over, and closed her eyes until it passed.
A flash of fear followed the brief episode, and Adalynn waited with bated breath for something more to happen, for a twinge of pain, a flaring headache, a hint of nausea, but nothing came.
Only vertigo. Slow down, Addy.
She was okay. She felt fine. Better than fine. It was nothing like before, and she wouldn’t let fear ruin her day.
She removed her shirt and pants, leaving on her bra and panties, and stepped into the dress, carefully pulling it up her body. The slippers came next. The bodice sagged, so she held it to her chest to keep from giving her brother a heart attack as she stepped out from behind the screen.
“Come help me with the laces,” she said.
Danny, who was buttoning up the double-breasted vest of his suit, looked up at her. “Wow. You look great, Addy.”
“You’re looking pretty handsome yourself.”
A dark blush stained his cheeks. He moved toward her, and Adalynn turned, facing the screen. She swayed slightly as he pulled the laces tight and tied them off.
“So…do you think there’ll be others?” he asked.
“Others?”
“People.”
“There are still a lot of people, Danny.”
“No. I mean, like…people like us. Good people. Do you think they’ll come here? Do you…do you think Merrick would let them stay?”
A pang of regret filled her chest. She could understand how he’d feel lonely here, even with her and Merrick; he probably craved the company of someone closer to his age. And once she was gone…
Adalynn turned to face her brother, placed her hands on his shoulders, and gave them a gentle squeeze. “I can’t say what Merrick would do. But he took us in, didn’t he?”
Danny nodded.
“The supplies here are abundant, but they’re not unlimited. So long as the crops continue to produce, and so long as there’s game in the woods, you’ll never be hungry. But the more people there are, the faster those resources will be used up. Merrick couldn’t open his doors to every person who might come here, but I believe, in time, he’d allow some people to stay. But we are his priority—our safety is his priority.”
“I know.” He inhaled deeply and released the breath in a rush. “I just…”
“You’re thinking about the future.”
“Yeah.”
Adalynn leaned closer, and her lips stretched wide into a smile. “And about getting a girlfriend?”
Danny’s face turned bright red. “No! I’m just…no! It’s not that.”
“Mmhmm.”
“Shut up and let me finish tying your stupid dress.”
Adalynn laughed, but gave him her back once more.
Once he’d finished, she helped him don the suit jacket and a pair of white gloves, then pulled on a long pair of lady’s gloves herself. They stood side-by-side before the mirror.
“Check us out!” Danny said. “It’s like we went back in time.” He curled a finger beneath his nose like a moustache and pursed his lips, deepening his voice. “Hello, m’lady.”
Adalynn curtsied. “Hello, kind sir.”
Peals of laughter flowed freely from Adalynn and Danny as they posed and acted out the parts of fancy, well-to-do people from some vague, bygone era.