Fancy's Not My Name

You Deserve To Be Happy

There was a pause after Dottie made her declaration. She worried for a moment that they didn't want to go through with it anymore. Her fears were completely swept aside as a large smile took over Clarisse's face.

She jumped up from the couch to wrap Dottie in her arms.

"Oh, Dottie, of course it's still standing. The offer would've been open to you even after we'd left." The woman stated.

Dottie smiled up at her. She would have a family again; not a replacement—a second chance. Clarisse pulled her over to the couch and made her sit down beside her. Dottie looked over at Mr. Cutler, seeing a pleased smile on his face. These people truly cared about her. She returned his smile and turned back to his wife as she started talking.

"We'll need to go shopping. You'll need stuff for your room, you'll also need dresses. The daughter of a successful business man does not go around in these types of clothes." She said, gesturing to Dottie's current dress.

She'd expected this of course, but that didn't mean she dreaded it any less. Clarisse demanded everything be started immediately—which meant she wouldn't have a break before being dragged around the expensive dress boutiques of New Orleans. Reginald—as he ordered Dottie to call him until she was comfortable calling him something else—said he would call their lawyer immediately. It would take him a day or two to get to the house (if there were no delays), and Clarisse said that would be the perfect amount of time to get Dottie everything she needed.

The three of them walked to the main hall together. Albert was called to fetch Mrs. Cutler her jacket and arrange a meeting with New Orleans Child Services. Upon hearing the request, Albert smiled happily at Dottie.

He hastily retrieved the jacket and helped the lady of the house into it.

"When will this meeting be scheduled for, sir?" The Butler asked. Reginald hummed for a moment.

"Better make it three days from now. Mister Abel should be here by Tuesday I should think. The extra day should give him time to arrange the papers." He said.

"If he doesn't do it on the way here." Clarisse joked.

Reginald nodded and mumbled to himself at her words. The other three present laughed lightly at the old man. Clarisse declared it was time for her and Dottie to leave, so the two bid the men farewell and exited the house.

"She accepted then, did she?" Albert asked rhetorically.

"That she did. She might have to take your seat on the way back." The Master joked.

"I wouldn't have a problem with that. She's become a very dear friend." Albert stated seriously.

"Yes, she does have that effect on people, doesn't she?" Reginald said.

Albert only nodded before taking his leave of the other man to do what he was asked.

Dottie found it strange—being in a car. She'd only ever ridden in one once. Twice if she counted when Harriett and Micheal had found her, but she'd been unconscious at the time. The Cutler's car however, was much different from the one she did remember being in. Where Adrien's car has been warm and slightly worn down, this one seemed to be brand new.

It smelled of expensive leather—as that's what the seats were made out of—and the interior was impeccably clean. Dottie didn't know why she'd been surprised when she'd stepped into the backseat to see a chauffeur behind the wheel.

Clarisse had called him Mister Jackson, and stiffly instructed him on where they wanted to go. They first stopped at a dressmaker's shop. It smelled of sweet perfume, and Dottie's eyes had been assaulted by the many different coloured fabrics in the room.