I turn back to Henrietta. “I think you’re mistaken.”
“I’m not,” she insists.
“I’m not even from here. I’m going back to Kansas. Back to my aunt and uncle and… and I’m going home.”
She tilts her head. “Are you?”
“Yes? And I have someone there.”
“Do you?”
“Yes,” I say again, more forcefully. But even as I say it, it doesn’t feel true. I was going to accept Edward’s marriage proposal before the cyclone blew through the farm, but a part of me is relieved that I didn’t get the chance.
“Dismiss it all you want,” Henrietta says, but I can read between the lines.Dismiss it at your own peril.
“I’ll be careful,” I say just to appease her. Maybe to appease me. I can’t stay in this strange land and fall in love with a strange man who has no memories. Even if he is ridiculously handsome and charming.
Henrietta lets me go.
I hurry to the door, but before I can escape, Henrietta issues one more warning.
“And be careful of the Tinman too.”
“I hope I’m not destined to fall in love with him as well,” I say with a laugh.
The old woman says nothing.
We stare at each other for several long, silent seconds and then she disappears through the curtain, the fabric swallowing her up with aswishof air.
“So?” Rook falls into step beside me. I’m walking fast with no direction. I just need to escape.
Rook’s pace is unhurried. He doesn’t have to exert much effort to keep up with me.
“I’m sorry, but I think she might be a hack.”
“Why?”
“Because.”
How do I explain all the things Henrietta told me without sounding absolutely crazy? Or maybe he’ll think I’m lying to justify my actions last night when I kissed him.
Or worse, what if he believes her?
“Kansas.” His tone is prodding and slightly disappointed.
I stop walking. We’re in the park now with the Wizard of Oz looming over us. Candlelight from the altar flickers around us. The man selling wands is gone, replaced by a cart offering kettle corn.
I decide I’m not going to tell him the warning about us. There is nous. It’s a ridiculous notion.
“She just reiterated her warning about the Tinman. Did you catch her saying he’s close?”
“I did.”
“Aren’t you worried?”
“Not really.”
“Why not?”
