in front of the fireplace. I know that. So why am I still standing here? Mrs. Hansel said this was where she came through. And I know it’s where she left the world. I saw her in the bed. Right here.
I whirl around, dragging my feet, drawing overlapping circles, moving out farther into the room. Maybe the bed wasn’t directly in front of the fireplace. Maybe it was off more to the side? Is the space smaller than what I’ve been imagining?
I’m still here.
“You should sit down.” Fingers brush my arm. “You look like you’re going to pass out.”
Why the hell am I still here?
Maddie’s face hovers over me. Somehow I am on the couch, leaned back, blinking up at her. “Marsh?” she says. “Are you sick?”
I close my eyes. What if Mrs. Hansel was wrong? What if her soul didn’t come through in front of the fireplace? How could she even know something like that?
Or worse. What if she was wrong about everything? What if she really was crazy? What if there are no thin spaces? What if I can’t go—
“You’re scaring me.” The voice is soft.
I realize I’m shivering. My stomach tightens. Jeez, am I crying? Somehow there’s a blanket over me. A warm hand flutters over my forehead.
“Walking around barefoot,” she says, “you’ll catch your death of cold.”
What a joke. Death. If it were only that easy.
“What’s so funny?”
I open my eyes. Maddie’s face is very pale. Even her cheeks. “Nothing’s funny,” I tell her. And isn’t that the truth? I claw the blanket away. Heave out a sigh. Even though I just told her nothing was funny, I laugh. The alternative is to sob. Rip this long hair out of my skull by the roots. Because here’s what I’m thinking: What if I’m stuck here?
Forever?
“Is there anything I can do?” she says. “To help you?”
“I don’t think so.”
“What?” she says, because I’m laughing again.
“Not unless you know something about ancient Celtic beliefs.”
“Celtic beliefs?” she repeats.
“Right. Didn’t think so.”
“Are you making fun of me?”
“Nope.” I grip the edge of the couch. Oh God. Now what? What do I do here? Am I back to shuffling around barefoot? Back to hoping I’ll stumble into some random—
“Mom,” Maddie says. She springs up from the couch. A tall woman strides into the room, her high heels clicking across the floor.
“Oh,” the woman says in a singsong voice. “I didn’t see you had company.”
Maddie’s face fires up. “Why’re you home so early? It’s only four o’clock.”
“I have to meet the maintenance man. I told you that. He should be here any minute.” She starts to shake off her long coat, and then changes her mind. “This is ridiculous. It’s freezing in here. Sweetie, aren’t you going to introduce me to your new friend?”
“This is Marsh,” Maddie says.
“Well, how nice to meet you. Madison, is that my good hand towel?”
“Oh,” Maddie says. “I was—” Her eyes flicker at me. “The floor was wet by the door and I—”
“That’s not the towel for that,” her mother says.
“But I couldn’t find—”
“Well, never mind. I hope you remembered your manners.” She flips her head so her blond hair swings over one shoulder. It’s the same color as Maddie’s. “Have you offered your friend something to drink?”
I clear my throat. “Uh, thanks, no. I need to be going. Nice to meet you too.” I stand, stare at the floor in front of the fireplace. My stomach’s still churning just thinking about it.
I did what I was supposed to do. I slid over the whole area. Why didn’t it work? I can’t let myself think what the implications are of—
“Are you sure, sweetie? Because it’s no trouble. Madison, why don’t you go on and—”
“Mom.” Maddie tugs my sleeve. “Marsh said he had to go.”
I’m surprised when she follows me out, closing the door behind us. “Sorry,” she says.
I don’t know what she’s talking about.
She rolls her eyes. “My