Amelia had found it difficult to pay attention to Meredith’s outlandish story because she felt absolutely giddy with relief that her daughter was found and unharmed. As Meredith and Eleanor traded off talking, Amelia’s eyes stayed focused on her little girl, her hand absently stroking her back.
“So after we learned everything from Eleanor,” Meredith was saying, “we had to go to the other hospital to save that other patient from having the surgery.”
Eleanor frowned disapprovingly, but said nothing.
“Once we were there, I was able to use my spidey sense to find the right room, and it just happened to be that the other patient was Miguel.”
Eleanor sat up straight. “Spidey sense?”
“Yeah. You know, our magical sense or whatever.”
“You were able to sense that Miguel was a magician?” Eleanor asked carefully.
“Yeah. Like with you, too. It’s like I can feel a vibration coming off of you or something.” Meredith read the caution in Eleanor’s face and asked, “Isn’t that normal?”
“Well, not really, no,” Eleanor said guardedly.
“Miguel was able to sense me, too,” Meredith added. “That’s how I was able to convince him to leave the hospital.”
Miguel cleared his throat. “I don’t feel anything right now. Maybe I could only feel you before because you were trying to make me feel you.”
“I don’t need you feeling my daughter, thank you,” Rob cut in with a wry smile.
Eleanor smiled obligingly at his attempt at humor before returning to the topic at hand. “Meredith, being able to sense whether someone is a magician is a very unique skill. Actually, I’ve never even heard of a magician being able to do it. It would make you especially valuable. You mustn’t ever let anyone know that you have this ability, otherwise…” She didn’t need to finish her warning, as the threat to Meredith was obvious to all those in the room.
Amelia pinched her nose and closed her eyes, which was a habit she had whenever she thought about something too hard. “Forgive me… I mean, I know what I saw Meredith do in the front yard, but I am really having trouble wrapping my head around all this.” She opened her eyes and looked at Eleanor. “Can you show me again what it is you can do?”
“Well, there are a number of things I can do,” Eleanor said. “That doesn’t necessarily mean that Meredith will ever be able to do the same things. It all depends on whether she applies herself.” Eleanor waved a hand nonchalantly, and a cool breeze swirled through the room, tousling all of their hair and tugging gently at their clothing. Just as abruptly as it had begun, the breeze stopped.
“Damn,” Miguel said appreciatively, voicing what they were all thinking.
“Why didn’t you glow afterward like Meredith did?” Amelia asked, curious.
“Meredith doesn’t yet know how to focus her energy to a specific task, so when she uses it, it is sloppy and inefficient. The glow is akin to water slopping over the sides of a glass. With study and practice, the glow would go away.” Eleanor rested her gaze on Meredith and Miguel’s faces in turn. “I would like to teach both of you how to use your abilities, if you will allow me to.”
“I just want to stay alive,” Meredith muttered, looking at her hands.
Amelia looked at her daughter and realized for the first time how much strain Meredith was under. It grieved her to see Meredith filled with so much fear and uncertainty. Her face looked pale, and deep bags rested underneath her eyes. Amelia wanted to scoop her up and tell her that everything would be okay, but she wasn’t sure that it would be.
Eleanor nodded to herself. "Yesterday I told you that we should separate in case one of us is found, but after losing you this morning, I have decided that perhaps staying in close contact, until you have learned more, would be better.”
“Okay,” Meredith said slowly.
“Going home is still not an option. Is there somewhere else you might stay?”
“We can’t stay here?” Miguel asked.
Eleanor smiled. “Look around, kids. Aside from my bedroom, this is all there is to the place. As much as I’d love to have you, I don’t think it’s a long-term solution.”
Rob leaned forward in his seat. “Long-term? Are you saying that Meredith should never come home?”
“People--the wrong people--will be looking for her there. So, no--I think she should be as discreet with her movements as she can. I also think that you and Amelia should go home and pretend to continue to look for Meredith. If anyone knows that you know where she is, then Meredith is compromised.”
Rob took his cell phone out of his pocket and tossed it into Meredith’s lap. “Take that, kiddo. I don’t want you running off again without me being able to contact you.”
Meredith cradled the phone in her hands as if it were a lifeline. “Got it, Dad.”
“Well, what do you say we order a pizza before Rob and I head home?” Amelia plastered a bright smile onto her face, determined to make the best of their situation. Her daughter was alive and safe, after all. All their other worries could wait until after pizza.