Katherine Nicolai

Chef let out a satisfying gasp and jumped to their feet. Is this really happening? Yep, I said, as I grasped the key with both hands and turned it forcefully. A panel in the wall beside the bookcase moved back and slid away, revealing the bottom step of the hidden stair. The first time I'd gone up those stairs, I'll admit, the hair on the back of my neck had stood up.

Chef let out a satisfying gasp and jumped to their feet. Is this really happening? Yep, I said, as I grasped the key with both hands and turned it forcefully. A panel in the wall beside the bookcase moved back and slid away, revealing the bottom step of the hidden stair. The first time I'd gone up those stairs, I'll admit, the hair on the back of my neck had stood up.

Chef let out a satisfying gasp and jumped to their feet. Is this really happening? Yep, I said, as I grasped the key with both hands and turned it forcefully. A panel in the wall beside the bookcase moved back and slid away, revealing the bottom step of the hidden stair. The first time I'd gone up those stairs, I'll admit, the hair on the back of my neck had stood up.

But I'd quickly learned that this wasn't an eerie place, but a protected one. It felt now, as I led the way, chef behind me and sycamore at the rear, like showing your childhood bedroom to your best friend for the first time. I was excited. The stairway itself curved as it climbed.

But I'd quickly learned that this wasn't an eerie place, but a protected one. It felt now, as I led the way, chef behind me and sycamore at the rear, like showing your childhood bedroom to your best friend for the first time. I was excited. The stairway itself curved as it climbed.

But I'd quickly learned that this wasn't an eerie place, but a protected one. It felt now, as I led the way, chef behind me and sycamore at the rear, like showing your childhood bedroom to your best friend for the first time. I was excited. The stairway itself curved as it climbed.

At the top, it opened into a small room about the size of one of our guest rooms. But instead of a chest of drawers and a bed, there was a large desk and a straight-backed chair. Along the walls, there were shelves lined with books and several large trunks.

At the top, it opened into a small room about the size of one of our guest rooms. But instead of a chest of drawers and a bed, there was a large desk and a straight-backed chair. Along the walls, there were shelves lined with books and several large trunks.

At the top, it opened into a small room about the size of one of our guest rooms. But instead of a chest of drawers and a bed, there was a large desk and a straight-backed chair. Along the walls, there were shelves lined with books and several large trunks.

jumped up onto the ledge in front of the single window and looked out. What is all of this? Chef asked with wonder in their voice. Well, it took me a while to understand, but I think the first innkeeper was a kind of archivist. All these books, I trailed my fingers across their spines. They're full of local people's stories, and the trunks have pictures and family trees. maps and histories.

jumped up onto the ledge in front of the single window and looked out. What is all of this? Chef asked with wonder in their voice. Well, it took me a while to understand, but I think the first innkeeper was a kind of archivist. All these books, I trailed my fingers across their spines. They're full of local people's stories, and the trunks have pictures and family trees. maps and histories.

jumped up onto the ledge in front of the single window and looked out. What is all of this? Chef asked with wonder in their voice. Well, it took me a while to understand, but I think the first innkeeper was a kind of archivist. All these books, I trailed my fingers across their spines. They're full of local people's stories, and the trunks have pictures and family trees. maps and histories.

We stared at each other for a second. Stories.

We stared at each other for a second. Stories.

We stared at each other for a second. Stories.

This whole book is about people's birthdays. How everyone celebrated. Their cake of choice. What kind of punch was served. the gifts and decorations.

This whole book is about people's birthdays. How everyone celebrated. Their cake of choice. What kind of punch was served. the gifts and decorations.

This whole book is about people's birthdays. How everyone celebrated. Their cake of choice. What kind of punch was served. the gifts and decorations.

And there are pictures. We looked through a few.

And there are pictures. We looked through a few.