I was still for a moment, then finally asked,
"What if I don't want to work there?"
His reaction was immediate—surprise, confusion, and then a forced composure. He coughed into his hand and leaned back in his chair, and his voice came out more carefully measured than before.
"Well, that would leave us in a bit of a tight spot," he said. "Since we don't have a place for you here anymore… this would be your last week. Unless, of course, you're willing to work for free."
"You mean volunteer?" I asked, half-joking—but also half-considering it.
Volunteer work didn't sound so bad compared to walking into Blackwell again. After all, like Mom said, I had money now. I could afford to stay somewhere safe, somewhere that didn't dig into old wounds.
He gave me a tight-lipped smile. "We'll give you the day to think it through. We need to get back to them by tomorrow. Please think about this carefully before you make a decision."
I nodded, about to turn and leave when he stopped me again.
