"This room''s not out of style yet, is it?"


    Calliope nced around her bedroom. It wasn''t huge, but everything in it was top- notch. From the plush mattress to the softest throw nkets and thetest gadgetsptop, TV, you name it-she always had the best.


    Ever since she was little, Kermit had spoiled her rotten. He''d bought her every kind of stuffed animal imaginable, and whenever there was a new video game console or fancy headphones on the market, they''d magically appear in her room. When Calliope was a kid, Kermit used to take her everywhere with him. Whether he was heading into the city-Capitalton, of course to collect rent or handle some business, he''d bring her along. He never brought her older brothers, but with her, it was different. He''d say the boys needed to learn to be strong and look after her, but as for her?


    "You don''t need to worry about a thing, Callie. I''ve set aside more than enough for you-you can live your life however you want, sweetheart."


    Still, Kermit had always warned her to be careful. "Don''t let the folks from the Jewell family, or anyone else, know what you''ve got. Unless you''re sure you can protect it, you keep it quiet."


    The money was just part of what he left her-he''d also given her a web of connections that most people could only dream of.


    Thinking about Kermit made Calliope''s eyes sting. She missed him—missed him every day since he''d gone. When he was around, she''d felt like the luckiest girl in the world.


    After showing Ss her room, Calliope led him up the hill behind the house. Kermit''s grave was there, under a big old maple tree. He''d picked the spot himself, saying it had the best view and the best luck for the family. When he''d known his time was running out, he''d made them promise to bury him right there.


    Calliope brought a bottle of whiskey


    and a pic basket-some


    homemade bread, apple pie, and roast chicken-setting it all by Kermit''s headstone. She and Ss tidied up the grave, though there wasn''t much to do; the townsfolk clearly visited often, and everything was neat as a pin.


    "Grandpa, brought Ss to see you!" Calliope said, smiling through tears. "Bet you didn''t see thising didn''t marry Gideon Baker after all. Ended up with Ss instead."


    She shot Ss a teasing look. "You were right, Grandpa. Gideon was a dud. Ss


    is a thousand times better. He treats me so well, really looks after me. So you don''t have to worry!"


    "Just look at him—-tall, handsome, and rich. I totally hit the jackpot!" Sheughed and shook her head. "You old fox, are you up there watching over me?"


    Calliope thought of her second chance at life, at how things had turned out so differently this time. Maybe, just maybe, it was Kermit''s doing. Maybe he really was watching over her.


    "Grandpa, you picked the perfect spot. Feels like you''re still looking out for us," she murmured, chatting away to the gravestone like she always used to.


    When she finished, Ss stepped forward. He knelt by the grave and bowed his head, then took Calliope''s hand in his. "Kermit, you have my word. Callie means everything to me. ? take care of her for the rest of my life."


    "And if I ever let her down, you''re wee toe haunt me and knock some sense into me!"


    Calliope nced at him, raising an eyebrow. "You serious?"


    "Of course," Ss said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.