The day they were leaving, William made me a little grasshopper out of dried grass.


    Back when things were still good between us, whenever I got mad, he’d make these to cheer me up.


    I used to treasure them, kept a whole box full.


    But this time, I didn’t reach for it.


    William gave this casualugh.


    “We’re leaving today, and you’re still giving me the silent treatment?”


    I used to fight with him about Emma all the time.


    He’d be deep in conversation with her, and when I asked what they were talking about, he’d always say, “You wouldn’t understand.”


    ‘d get defensive. “I don’t understand because you won’t teach me!”


    But William wouldn’t bother.


    I do enough teaching at school. Do I have to work when Ie home too?”


    o I saved every penny to buy the books they discussed.


    roust’s In Search of Lost Time.


    fell asleep after three pages.


    couldn’t figure out how they enjoyed reading that stuff.


    Villiam wouldugh and ruffle my hair, hand me a grass grasshopper. “Here, go y.”


    ike I was some kid.


    thought that was love.


    earster, I realized he really didn’t love me.


    o he wouldn’t waste his energy.


    grasshopper takes one minute to weave. Teaching me to read a book would take days.


    lutter, when I was alone, I read tons of books and discovered it really wasn’t that hard.


    o this time around, I’m not going to treasure his stupid grasshoppers.


    Whatever I want to learn, I’ll teach myself.


    When I still didn’t take it, William looked surprised.


    In the silence, a car horn honked outside.


    The Winchester family had arrived.


    William sighed.


    “Bring them over.”


    I blinked.


    “What?”


    “The sachets.” William said.


    “The pillows are too bulky to pack, but we can take a couple of sachets.”


    “I know you made extras. Little Anne can’t possibly use them all.”


    It hit me then.


    He thought I was just being stubborn.


    I actuallyughed and shook my head.


    “There aren’t any left. Not a single one.”


    “I sold all the extras.”


    My needlework was really, really good.


    My mom’s family had famous embroiderers going back generations, and she taught me everything before she died.


    My sachets were actually in high demand.


    t’s just that between the farm work, I never had time to make them.


    The few I did manage to finish all went to my husband and son.


    William was still staring at me, clearly not believing a word.


    Intil Henry came bouncing in with Emma.


    Dad, let’s go already!”


    imma pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat.


    Look at you, so excited you’re all sweaty.”


    Villiam scooped Henry up.


    Say goodbye to Mom.”


    Henry was still pouting, wouldn’t even look at me.


    stared at that handkerchief and suddenly spoke up,


    ‘Give it back.”


    Emma blinked.


    ‘What?”


    “The handkerchief I embroidered. Give it back.”


    Emma’s smile turned nasty.


    “This would just embarrass us in the city anyway. If Lucy’s so attached to it, fine.”


    When she saved Henry, I didn’t have anything nice to give her as a thank you gift, so I embroidered this handkerchief.


    Double-sided embroidery.


    The butterfly on it was so lifelike everyone said it looked ready to fly away.


    The wings shimmered when the light hit them.


    I sold a precious old ginseng root I’d been saving and bought the finest silk thread.


    Henry’s face twisted with disgust.


    I’d seen that expression so many times, in this life and thest.


    I knew he was ashamed of me.


    He and his father were always so generous-today they were too embarrassed to ask for a borrowed item back.


    Henry would treat his friends to candy, William would pay tuition for students who couldn’t afford it. <fn0c1e> The rightful source is fin?novel</fn0c1e>


    Only me, counting every penny, haggling over every transaction.


    I’d turn red arguing with vendors over an extra dime for an egg.


    Emma was different.


    She was all soft voices and sweet smiles, never raised her voice to anyone.


    he could spend her whole paycheck spoiling Henry, buying him things I’d never buy.


    Over time, Henry naturally grew closer to her.


    And when I got short with Emma, William started taking her side.


    Henry had a sensitive stomach-I wouldn’t let him have popsicles.


    ‘mma would sneak them to him.


    ure enough, he’d get diarrhea so bad he nearly got dehydrated.


    mma would cry these guilty tears.


    It’s all my fault.”


    ust as I was about to lose it, William would say, “Emma meant well.”


    Don’t me her.”


    ooking at it that way, they really were cut from the same cloth.


    All my penny-pinching didn’t mean shit.


    William was born rich-so he didn’t need to worry about money.


    No wonder he didn’t want to take me along.