"Yes. I believe you. But why...?"

"I'll see you soon. Sleep well, pretty girl."

I hung up, dropping the phone to the floor, feeling the energetic cord between us fade.

I lifted a pillow, exposing the case. It could wait another night.

Tonight, all my dreams belonged to Shane.

EIGHT.

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow I stood in the midst of a lush meadow, so vividly green I knew that I was dreaming.

Whoever said that dreams were always in black and white had never been privy to one of Shane's creations. There were trees all around me, but not the pines and maples of Dark Root. These were smaller and fuller, bearing fruit of every variety: apples, oranges, even cherries.

In the distance there were mountains, jagged gray triangles with white peaks. And in the foreground, a river, gently winding its way through the meadow towards an unknown destination.

I looked at my attire, amused as always by Shane's fashion choices. This time it was a long white gown that flowed easily along my curves, capped by bell sleeves and a long, elegant train. I touched my hair. A ring of small flowers crowned my head.

Shane materialized before me, wearing dark tights and a billowy white shirt. A sword was tucked into his sash.

"My lady," he said, bowing as I wandered down a cobblestone path to greet him.

"Very beautiful," I remarked, taking in the scene. "Possibly your best work yet." My eyes ambled to the deep V of his shirt cut nearly to his navel. "You've been reading too many of Ruth Anne's novels. Or Merry's."

"Just the covers," he admitted. "I almost went with a pirate scene but I get seasick." He raised his arms in a shrug. "I hope this will do."

"You forgot my shoes." I drew up my gown to reveal my bare feet. He waved a hand and soft golden slippers appeared. "Much prettier than Ruth Anne's combat boots," I said. "But not nearly as comfortable."

"Sorry. I haven't mastered comfort yet. I'm still working on aesthetics." He waved his hand towards a wide expanse of gra.s.s near the river. "I can create a castle too...if you like."

I laughed, shaking my head. "No. This is perfect. I can even smell the scent of impending rain in the air. You've thought of everything. Except..."

Shane stepped forward, taking my hands. "Except?"

"A bed or a hammock or even a picnic blanket would be nice."

"I see." He looked at the toes of his polished black boots, blushing. "I thought we'd wait until after the baby comes."

"You already make us wait in real life. We should at least be able to enjoy each other in our dreams."

A picnic blanket appeared near our feet. "Much better." Using his hands for support, I lowered myself to the ground. "Take your shirt off, Shane. I've never seen your body in the sunlight."

"Might I remind you that this isn't real?" he said, even as his fingers untucked the shirt from his belt. "Since I can take any form I choose here, you'll never be sure that this isn't false advertising."

"Oh, trust me, I'll know."

He pulled the shirt over his head and dropped it to the ground, revealing his slim muscular torso and chest. His hands moved to his sash and I stopped him, undoing it myself.

"Much better," I said, lying down on the blanket. He joined me.

"G.o.d, I missed you." His warm breath caressed my neck as his fingers sought my b.r.e.a.s.t.s. He tugged at my sleeves, wresting them down my shoulders, leaving me bare-chested and exposed. I arched my back involuntarily, my nipples hardening under the warmth of the sun and the touch of his hands.

"I missed you, too. Let's stay here forever," I moaned, as his lips drifted across my neck.

"This will be our life soon enough, Maggie Mae. No dreams required." He kissed the tips of my fingers, his gray eyes never leaving mine. "Marry me."

I blinked. "Shane..."

"Marry me, Maggie."

"Is this a dream proposal?"

"It's a real proposal. I'm tired of waiting. I want to spend my life with you, and not just in our dreams." He raised my hand to the sun and I was momentarily blinded by a gold flash of light. "A promise ring," he explained, showing me a band that now graced my finger. "I'll get you a real engagement ring soon, if you accept."

I examined the ring. It was just a band of yellow metal, forged from Shane's imagination, but the symbolism was real. I couldn't believe that after everything I'd been through, I would get my happily ever after.

"Yes, Shane Doler," I said, looking at the ring once again. "I will marry you."

"You have no idea how happy that makes me, Maggie."

"I just wish I could keep the ring. I mean, after the dream ends."

"You can do anything you set your mind to, Maggie." He pulled me close, close enough to hear his heartbeat. He kissed me, sweetly at first, our lips barely touching. But as we explored one another's mouths our desire grew and soon our bodies writhed in unison.

"I need you," I whispered, digging my nails into his shoulders.

"Soon, Maggie. When the baby comes I'm going to do things to you so unmentionable that you'll forget every other man but me."

"Is that a threat?" I asked.

"No, Maggie." He grabbed me roughly by the shoulders and kissed me again. "That's a promise. And I'm a man of my word."

The sound of laughter, streaming in through my bedroom window, whisked me from my dreams. Squinting against the bright morning light, I saw that it was nearly ten o'clock. How had I slept so late?

A shiny round object winked at me from my perspiration-soaked pillow. A ring.

A ring?

I picked it up and studied it. Sure enough, it was a simple gold band, an exact replica of the one Shane had given me in our dream world.

Had I somehow brought the ring back with me?

My bedroom door was open, evidence that someone had visited my room. I drew up an image of Michael, watching over me while I slept before dropping the ring onto my pillow. I grumbled and tossed the covers from my body.

But how would Michael know about the dream?

Removing an old chain from my dresser drawer, I looped it through the ring and fastened it around my neck, tucking it beneath my long t-shirt. If it was Michael's doing, I didn't want him to think he had gotten to me. And if it wasn't...

I smiled at the memory of Shane's dream proposal.

"Stop it!"

It was Merry's voice, followed by a man's laughter. Both were coming from outside. I wrestled with the window until it was open enough to poke my nose through. Down below, near the garden, Michael and Merry stood facing one another, arms raised and fists clenched.

"I'm trying," Merry said. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail and she was dressed in yoga pants and a curve-accentuating t-shirt. Keeping her arms high, she stepped back with her right foot into a ready pose.

"You're doing fine," Michael encouraged her. He was dressed in white from head to toe. It took me a moment to realize he was wearing a karate uniform with a purple belt tied around his waist. His legs were bent and his arms were drawn up protectively near his face. "One more time, Merry. Watch closely."

He performed a series of chops, kicks, and thrusts, moving from one side of their garden arena to the other, eventually ending up in his original position. Merry watched, clapped, then copied his motions. She performed her chops and even her kicks well, but stumbled on a spin and fell on her b.u.t.t.

"Darn," she said, wiping the dirt from her knees. "Thought I had it that time."

Michael pulled Merry to her feet and brushed the dirt from her backside, his hands working towards the lower curve of her back, stopping shy of her bottom. "A few more times and you'll be an expert. Just keep at it."

She laughed and finished grooming herself. "You'd never know I once dreamed of being a dancer."

"I can believe that, Merry. You're a natural. What stopped you?"

She looped her ponytail into a bun and secured it on the top of her head. "I don't know. Marriage. A kid. Adult responsibilities." She shrugged, her eyes looking past him. "I gained a family but I lost a piece of myself, I suppose."

Michael chuckled and resumed his fighting stance. "Well, you're back. And don't sell yourself short. Mastering a kata takes time and you've only been at it two weeks. You'll get there."

Two weeks?

While I was hovering near death they had been playing Rock'em Sock'em Robots on the back lawn. I would have slammed the window shut, had the desire to spy not been stronger than my desire to look away. Michael continued to demonstrate his Ninja skills and Merry continued to emulate him. At one point, he got behind her to adjust her form, causing my stomach to hurt in a way that had nothing to do with the pregnancy or a curse.

My voyeurism was cut short by a soft knock on the door. Ruth Anne pushed her way inside, balancing a breakfast tray in one hand and a mug of pungent-smelling tea in the other. She set the tray down on my dresser and joined me at the window.

"Can you believe them?" I asked Ruth Anne.

"You should have been around for morning meditation. They sat for nearly two straight hours on the front porch, staring at each other. I almost took a spray bottle to them."

"I wish you had." I pulled the curtains shut but left the window open, then took my breakfast to the rocking chair. "I thought Merry hated him."

Ruth Anne shrugged. "I guess she changed her mind."

I pressed the mug to my lips, afraid my stomach would rebel if the tea tasted as terrible as it smelled. It was surprisingly sweet and I drank it down, dividing my attention between Ruth Anne and the conversation outside.

"I don't get it," I said. "He's still the same old Michael but everyone's acting like he's a saint. Does this family have no collective memory?"

Ruth Anne reached for a slice of my unb.u.t.tered toast. "If it's any consolation, I still think he's a loser."

"It is, and thank you." I studied my tray. It seemed spa.r.s.e for something Aunt Dora had prepared, and there was an extra dish shoved under the toast plate. I eyed Ruth Anne. "You ate my eggs, didn't you?"

"In my defense, they were cold an hour ago. I can't help it if you like to sleep in."

I picked at my oatmeal, which was devoid of both milk and sugar. "You could have at least brought me some honey."

"Hey, you get what you pay for."

I finished the tasteless meal, hoping that lunch would be better. Ruth Anne peeked out through the curtains. "There's something about his energy," she said, nodding to herself. "It makes people act funny. Except for me, that is."

It was true. Michael could turn on the magnetism when it suited him. I had fallen for it myself once upon a time and I wasn't about to let my family get caught in the same trap, especially when his motives were suspect.

Ruth Anne took my tray. "Hey listen, Mags, I thought I'd warn you of something..."

"Like Merry and Michael getting chummy? You're a little late."

"No..."

Before she could continue, the bedroom door swung fully open and a raven-haired beauty with a lingerie model's figure burst into the room, dropping two enormous pink suitcases onto the floor before her. Our youngest sister had returned.

"What's up, Witches! Miss me?"

"Evie!" I disentangled myself from the rocking chair and grabbed her, hugging her so tightly I was afraid I'd break her. She allowed my affection for a moment before pulling away, her dark eyes traveling up and down the length of my body.

"Someone's been eating well."

I looked to Ruth Anne. "Is this what you wanted to warn me about?"

"No. This is a surprise to me, too." Ruth Anne gave Eve a firm pat on the back before turning to me. "I'll fill you in later. I'll go clean up Eve's room now. I may have left a candy bar wrapper or three in there last night."

Eve and I stared speechlessly at one another. It seemed like years, rather than months, since we had last seen each other.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner," Eve said, blowing her wispy bangs from her eyes. "I couldn't leave with Nova's mother still in the hospital." She reached into her expensive purse and produced an expensive wallet of the same brand.

"This is Nova," she said, showing me a photo of Paul hugging a little girl in pigtails and overalls. "Disregard the outfit. She's an amazing kid."

"She looks like it. Why is her mom in the hospital?"

Eve returned the photo to its slot in the wallet and sighed. "One gander at me sent her off the wagon, I guess."

"I bet."

With her delicate features, porcelain complexion and shapely figure, it was easy to fade into Eve's shadow. I had wrestled with my own self-doubts growing up. Nova's poor mother didn't stand a chance.

"I'm glad you're here now," I said. "And I'm proud of you for stepping up. It can't be easy becoming an instant mother like that."

"I had to, Maggie. Someone has to teach that child how to shop! You should see the things her mom puts her in. Baseball hats, spandex, jeggings." Eve shivered. "And if it were up to Paul, she'd dress like a boy."

"Hey! There's nothing wrong with dressing like a boy," Ruth Anne said, trudging by with a full hefty sack in one hand and a stack of dirty laundry in the other.