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If we had decided to run, we could have been halfway back to Boston by the time Gwen had found a place to park; asserabbed the hand of Zack, her six-year-old; and storht, but her chin quivered I dropped my arm across her shoulders and pulled her close to ed face looked at each of us in turn, including all three in her question

"Hello, Gwen," said Mab quietly "It’s been a long ti it that way! I told you to stay away frohter And Maria, you know perfectly well you’re not supposed to talk to that worasp "What wos to see Mab "Oh Not Aunt Vicky Who are you?"

Gripping Zack by his shoulder, Gwen pushed hiaze burned holes in me "I never expected you to betray " I keptanyone Let et in the van and co attention; a group of kids stopped their soccer game to stare The two led them closer Gwen didn’t see into , and the first thing you do is drag her off behind et it, Vicky I can’t trust you Mom’s here now We don’t need you"

"Yes, we do! I do!" Maria threw both aret in the van"

"I won’t! You can’t run my life You think you can, but I won’t let you! Do you hear

"What’s going on here?" Morass I scanned the sky but didn’t see Dad anywhere "Ghat’s got you and Maria so upset?"

"Upset? Who says I’m upset? I’ for Maria to learn that she’d snuck off tolike a Puritan at a seventeenth-century witch trial, Gwen pointed an accusing finger at Mab

"That’s not what happened" Mom’s voice was calm, and Gwen let her arm fall to her side "Vicky called to let reed to meet here We chose the park specifically because we didn’t want to upset you"

Gwen’sopen, but her eyes narrowed in disbelief

"It’s true, Gwen," I added "Moo to the park alone Maria followed her"

"Gwendolyn" Mab’s voice was quiet "Although I was hurt by your refusal to introduce me to your children, I always respected it We rowled At least she wasn’t shouting anyed into Maria’s drea on"

"She helped save Vicky’s life," Mab said "As did you not long after, when I entered your dreamscape to ask for your help" When my sister didn’t answer, Mab pressed on "It may be too much to expect that we’ll ever be friends But surely you know I’m not your enemy"

Justin bounced up and down in his stroller "Birdie!" he shouted

A white falcon perched on the next bench

"Nice birdie!" Justin waved his arled to escape the stroller "Want birdie!"

"Hush, Justin Here, have so attached to the stroller and handed it to the boy

"We’ve seen that bird a lot," Zack explained "Mostly at the park, but sometimes at our house Justin talks to it"

Justin threw his apple juice on the ground "Birdie talk! Birdie talk!"

"Enough about the bird," Gwen said "The point is, I’m Maria’slady--to respectdecisions"

"Funny," said a voice from the next bench "That sounds a lot like what I used to say whenhohted

"Hi there, Justin," continued the voice "How’s Grandpa’s big boy?"

"Birdie Grandpa!"

"Holy cow," said Zack, giving hiht!"

All the color drained from Gwen’s face She turned slowly On the next bench sat the white falcon, no one else

Mom stepped forward and took Gwen’s arrandpa is a bird?" Zack ss in this fah trying to wake herself up "Dad--?" She cut herself off as she looked around, taking in our growing audience