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"If everyone comes here from time to time, why does no one speak of it?"
Mother picks dandelion fluff from her skirt. It floats up, sparkling like crushed jewels in the sun. "They don't remember it, except as fragments of a dream that they can't seem to gather into a whole no matter how they try. Only the women of the Order could walk through that door. And now you."
" I brought my friends with me."
Her eyes widen. "You were able to bring them over by yourself?"
"Yes," I say, uncertain. I'm afraid I've done something wrong, but Mother breaks into a slow, rapturous grin.
"Your power is even greater than the Order had hoped, then." She frowns suddenly. "Do you trust them?"
"Yes," I say. For some reason, her doubt irritates me, makes me feel like a small child again. "Of course I trust them. They're my friends."
"Sarah and Mary were friends. And they betrayed each other."
Far off in the distance, I can hear Felicity's shouts of joy, Ann's following after. They're calling my name.
"What happened to Sarah and Mary? I see other spirits. Why am I not able to contact them?"
A caterpillar crawls over my knuckles. I jump. Mother gently removes it and it becomes a ruby-breasted robin, hopping about on frail legs.
"They no longer exist." "What do you mean? What happened to them?"
"Let's not waste time discussing the past," Mother says dismissively. She gives me a smile. "I just want to look at you. My goodness, you're already becoming a lady."
"I'm learning to waltz. I'm not terribly good at it, but I am trying, and I think I should have it down fairly well by our first tea dance." I want to tell her everything. It's all coming out in a rush. She's listening to me with such attention that I never want this day to end.
A cluster of blackberries, plump and inviting, lies nestled in the ground. Before I can bring one to my mouth, Mother takes it from my hand. "You mustn't eat those, Gemma. They're not for the living." Mother sees the confusion on my face. "Those who eat the berries become part of this world. They can't go back."
She gives them a toss and they land in front of the deer, which gobbles them down greedily. Mother glances at the little girlthe one from my visions. She's hiding behind a tree.
"Who is that?" I ask.
"My helper," Mother says.
"What is her name?"
"I don't know." Mother closes her eyes tightly, as if she's fighting off pain.
"Mother, what is it?"
She opens them again, but seems pale. "Nothing. I'm a bit tired from all the excitement. It's time for you to go now."
I'm on my feet. "But there's so much I still need, to know."
Mother rises, places her arms around my shoulders. "Your time has ended for today, love. The power of this place is very strong. It must be taken in small doses. Even the Order came here only when they needed to. Remember that your place is back there."
My throat aches. "I don't want to leave you."
Her fingers give the lightest of touches on my cheeks, and I can't stop the tears from coming. She kisses my forehead and bends to look me square in the face.
"I'll never leave you, Gemma."
She turns and walks up the hill, the child's hand in hers. They walk toward the sunset till they merge with it and there's nothing left but the deer and me and the lingering scent of roses on the wind.
When I find my friends again, they're frolicking like happy lunatics. "Watch this!" Felicity says. She blows gently on a tree and its bark changes from brown to blue to red and back again.
"Look!" Ann scoops water from the river and it turns to golden dust in her hands. "Did you see that?"
