"My mom needs help in the shop." Theodore shifted his bag strap, eyes dropping to the cobblestones. "And my little sister's starting at Magilea in two months. Someone has to help get her things ready, and Mom's already stretched thin with the market season. So I might not be available to accompany you. Though I want to, but—"
"It's fine, Theodore." Arthur kept his voice even, even though something sank a little in his chest.
Theodore's shoulders dropped slightly. He glanced at the strawberry basket like it had personally inconvenienced him.
"You can go, Theo." His mother set the rabbit basket down on her hip and looked at him directly, her expression patient in the way mothers got when they'd already decided something before their children finished arguing about it. "I'll be fine. Your father's already making good progress with the carpentry work. We'll manage."
Theodore's head came up fast. "Really, Mom? But the shop, and Mira's enrollment paperwork, and—"
