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"God, ar Can ye even make it to the stairs?"

Casper stumbled into the kitchen and put one bare hand on the table, nearly knocking over a spoon "Didn’t even knoas gone, did you?"

"I didn’t," Frannie said softly

"Ran out of ood for the rest of the night Or however long it takes a man to drink himself to death Or worse"

"Have some self-respect, Maestro," Thoht to keep the so much will rot your hed as he staggered up the stairs "S’gonna do a lot worse than that" He turned around and erated bow Wine sloshed out of one bottle to puddle, thick and dark, on the floor as he staggered up the first few steps

Frannie and Thom shared a loaded look that reminded her more than a little of her parents’ wordless conversations over Bertram’s head When Casper yelped and fell down the stairs, Thom shook his head and went to pick up the fallenthat Tho quite a workout this week, ith carrying people up and down staircases Then again, that had to be part of his job, saving Londoners fro about the first time she had seen hiht when she needed help the o of his bottles, and they clanked against the walls as Thom carried him over one shoulder and into Bertram’s roo to have a wee chat, lass," Thoo downstairs and have a bite, eh?"

Frannie watched Casper trying to kick off his tall boots without letting go of his bottles It hurt her heart, how far away this h that nothing she could do or say would help his, but she couldn’t always save the downstairs and hoping that Thoreatest er

She closed and locked the shop door, the birds still shrieking after Casper’s dramatic entrance Back at the table, she poked at her pie and sighed She’d never liked it cold, and she wished the birds would calm down so she could relax After some more salad and a bit of bread with butter, she took a sip of wine and pulled the plate of cakes closer Each one was the size of her hand, round and beautifully iced in pastel sugar frosting With a lance at the stairs, she selected a lavender cake and nibbled the edge, savoring the way the sugar ue When she was little, her ht her one cake, just one, on her birthday She had always shared it with Bertram, but the first bite had been her own

"Cheers, brother," she said, taking an indulgently deep bite

She chewed slowly, eyes closed, considering that the only thing sweeter than this cake was thecame over her Frannie’s eyes closed, and she sluround

"Go on Go back to her I don’t want your pity" Casper pulled the cork out of the bottle with his teeth and swigged, a trickle of red slipping past his lips and staining his shirt

Thom made a swipe for the bottle Despite his extreot ht now, too"

Casper’s face twisted up in an ugly sneer that he’d never shown Frannie "I suppose you think I should buck up and be a good little tame musician?"

Thom snorted "I think you should buck up and be a man"

"I pay my bills I do my work What else is a man supposed to be around here?"

"Sober, for one" Tho the unopened bottle and put it on the floor When Casper grabbed for it, a fir him back on the bed "Sober Helpful Useful Sacrificial, if sacrifice is needed Without a heart, you’re not even hu in his bed Ye look just like the boy, from what I understand She took you in when you needed it Try bein’ a little kinder, aye? Try giving her soin’ up bad ones"

"She wants nothing to do with ainst the headboard "And why should she? I’e that You just have to want to be good Here" A thick finger poked hard against Casper’s chest "You’ve got a hole in your heart I kno that feels Just find so his head, wagging it back and forth "You want to know about loss?" His voice was harsh and ragged "Letabout loss"

Before Thom could respond, there was a crash downstairs, and he leaped to his feet "Frannie? Who’s there?"

There was no answer but the continual din of the birds, their cages rattling and their voices shrill and panicked Thom rocketed down the stairs to find Frannie fallen on the floor, the white bludkitten inches away and sniffing her, its ust A lavender cake was broken in pieces on the stones beside her hand, and her eyes were bugged out, their pupils pinpricks that rolled back and forth He leaned close to listen for breathing, but all he could hear was the birds One persisted in screeching, "A cracker, miss! I do say!" while a familiar voice called, "She’s a pretty lass, a pretty lass"

Casper slid down the last three steps and leaned bonelessly in the kitchen door "What’s up, buttercup?" he asked, eyes closed

"Lass, what’s happened?" Tho thick with fear as he tried to sit her up She had a pulse, but her body was rigid, theOf course, she couldn’t answer Her teeth gnashed together, lavender foa from her lips

"She okay?"

Casper’s voice slurred low, and Thoritted his teeth It was fruitless to wish theon the stones so that Thom could turn his back and walk away But it was Frannie, his Frannie, so he took her stiff hand in his and leaned close