Singing Without a Script
“Then you have to sing with us,” Miles announced suddenly. “You have to sing loud, or the wish won’t work.”
Aaron nodded, though his throat tightened painfully.
When the singing began, his voice cracked midway through the song. He didn’t stop. He pushed the words out anyway, singing louder until the very last note.
The candles went out in a messy burst of laughter. Crumbs flew everywhere. The air filled with a kind of joy the mansion had never known.
Maya passed Aaron a small plate holding a slice of cake.
That was when he noticed tears dripping onto it.
She leaned in and spoke quietly.
“They need you here,” she said. “Not your money.”
