“The real world?” I repeated.
“Therealreal world,” Maxine said.
“But how? How do I get from here to there?” I gazed at the world on the other side of the mirrors, the so-calledrealreal world.
“Magic, of course.”
“Okay,” I said, taking a deep breath. “How do I get back after I finish the job?”
I had a feeling chanting “Our revels now are ended” wouldn’t work quite as well in the real world.
“Once your new writer starts writing you, you’ll be back in your book,” Maxine said.
“But while I’m out there…I’ll be alive?”
“So alive that if you fail in your mission, well…I hope you like Santa Barbara, California, as much as I did, because you’ll be living there.”
“I’m not opposed, but I’d rather be home with Duke and Koshka—” I looked around. “Wait, where is Koshka? He was right here.”
“Oh, damn.” Maxine shook her fist in frustration. “Why did I ever give you a cat? Do you know how hard it is to keep up with a non-speaking character in a scene? He’s back home at Pilcrow House. Or will be if you complete your mission.”
“And you’re sure a new writer will know how to solve my mystery?Find the real March Hare? Get Pops back? Figure out what my mother was trying to tell me?”
“Absolutely. Especially that one,” Maxine said, pointing to the mirror containing the redheaded writer. “She’ll find every clue I laid out.”
“That’s a relief. Glad someone knows what the heck’s going on.”
“She will. She’s already angry at herself because she knows how it’s supposed to end but can’t bring herself to write it. But once you have a word with her, she’ll change her mind.”
I was barely listening by this point. My heart raced at the thought of my heart racing. Real body. Real life. Real beating heart in a real world. One thing kept repeating over and over in my head:I’m going to be alive. I’m going to be alive. I’m going to be—
“I’m going to be alive,” I said aloud. “Happy birthday to me.” I looked to Maxine. “How do I get there?”
“Pick a mirror,” she said. She walked from mirror to mirror. “That one leads to my living room. And that one there will take you to the changing room at the public beach near my house if you want to get your bearings first. Lots of options. Pick one and go.”
“I can pick any mirror?”
“They all lead to somewhere I know and love.”
I went to the wall and walked along the ones close by. One looked into Maxine’s bathroom, another into her hallway, another her office…then I found one that seemed familiar. Not that I’d been there, but I’d been to places like it before.
“I just go?” I asked her, glancing over my shoulder. “Just like that. Just…whoosh.”
“Whoosh,” she repeated, then snapped her fingers and pointed.
“And after I whoosh? Then what?”
“Find my husband, Anthony. You’ll need his help.”
I took another breath. “Okay,” I said. Go to the Real World. Find Anthony. Talk a recalcitrant redhead into finishing my book. I can do that. Should I run? Like a running start?”
“I won’t stop you. But before you go…a parting gift.” She reached behind her and pulled out a familiar black umbrella. “In case it rains.”
“My umbrella,” I said, taking it from her hand. “Thank you.”
I felt more like myself again.
“Remember…once you’re through the mirror, that umbrella is just an umbrella. You won’t be able to work any of your usual storycraft. There is magic in the real world. It’s not as flashy or showy, and it’s easy to miss if you aren’t looking for it, so I’d suggest looking for it.”
