By the time it came, Ella had settled in at her mother's house, and she'd already failed miserably at one badger con, having left the mark before even getting a kiss from him. Time, it seemed, had sapped her of any previously acquired skills as a con woman. Her mother hadn't gotten angry; she'd just moved onto the next mark on the list. Being home made Ella remember how young she was, but it also made her realize how much she'd changed. Her father was in the guest room, and she was sleeping on the couch (or pretending to sleep, while trying to come up with a way out of the day's planned activity), and the delivery of the book had woken her.
She'd curled up on the couch with it (after laughing at the title), and she rubbed the dried rose against her cheek as she read. When she finished, she picked up the phone and she dictated a telegram to be delivered to Daniel's door that morning.
Received book.
Am thankful for advice on connecting meaningfully with all squirrels I will be inviting to R1.