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Aurora’s brows knit in puzzle Courtney with me?”

“YouCourtney with a far-reaching glea Miss Johnston for a tith Return isdom”

For some unknown reason, tears filled Courtney’s eyes, a flash of insight telling her that the next tied

“Change is essential

in order to grow, Courtney,” Mr Scollard said quietly He inclined his mop of white hair “I can call you Courtney, can’t I? Given that you prefer it”

“You can and youa smile

His gaze delved deep inside her, as reassuring as it was perceptive, “Don’t doubt your strength, Courtney Call upon it It will serve you well” So saying, he turned away, gathering up the china and replacing it on the tray “Time to polish the lanterns Before you know it, sunset will be upon us Good day, ladies”

Wiping his hands on his apron, he ascended the stairs to the tower and disappeared

Courtney shifted in her garden chair, inhaling the fragrant scent of roses and lilacs, staring out across the darkening grounds of Pembourne She clutched the ti since faded, casting the garden in which she sat in shadows

She’d been here for hours—ever since she and Aurora had hthouse—her ed by questions Aurora had so her hand in unspoken support and leaving Courtney to her contemplations

Other than Aurora, no one knew her whereabouts, a fact for which she was grateful She hadto conduct, a need triggered by Mr Scollard’s profound assertions and equally profound implications

Patience, he’d said Strength Ties that were able to be broken; others that were not The end of one journey and the beginning of another

Like wisps of s inside her At last, one piece of the puzzle—that which pertained to the onset of her i journey—fell into place

Her fingers tightened about the watch

Papa Two tears slid down her cheeks You’ll never truly be gone But ’tis up to me to make peace with myself, to discern physical fro of the journey Mr Scollard spoke of, to return to the spot where the nightan Perhaps therein my ansill lie