“The spell is still active, so watch for signs. You’ll see them.” The woman sighed. “I’m too tired to hold this dream together for long. Good journey to you.”

“Wait—what kind of signs?” Even as she asked, the dream faded, and she slipped back into darkness.

She woke just after five. After trying unsuccessfully to get back to sleep, she stripped the sheets off the bed to wash them along with her single outfit. There wasn’t anything she could do about needing one of his T-shirts, so she shrugged and picked her favorite, a black one so old the aged cotton felt soft as silk against her skin.

Then she showered and laundered the towels and washcloths, made the bed, cleaned the bathroom, washed the coffee maker, and tucked the rest of the uneaten chocolate bars in her purse, until finally there wasn’t anything left to do but read upstairs in one of the armchairs, bathed in the quiet morning light.

Just after lunch, her phone chimed, making her pulse leap.

Meet me at one thirty sharp. He added directions for how to get from the safe house back to the city.

I’ll be there.

If I don’t show by one forty, leave but don’t panic. It means something came up. I’ll contact you with another meet time.

God, she hoped that didn’t happen. She was wound up enough as it was. I won’t linger.

She had remained on task and hadn’t fretted, but he still texted, It should be fine, Molly.

Understood. Everything will work out. See you soon.

After time had slowed down excruciatingly for the entire morning, suddenly it sped up. She gathered up her purse and looked around. She wouldn’t miss the outdated, empty house, but she had grown sensitive enough to Josiah’s magic to recognize his signature in the protection spells in the basement. Those she would miss, perhaps badly.

While the afternoon was sunny, there was a sharpness to the air that made her glad to run the heat as she drove. At 1:29, she pulled into the parking lot beside the pavilion and waited with the engine running while her gaze roamed restlessly over the scene.

The next few minutes trickled by. Her phone remained silent.

Then a tall, powerful man strode into sight along one of the park paths. He wore a dark suit and sunglasses and carried a bag. Josiah had made it.

She turned off the engine, climbed out and walked toward him. He saw her and picked up his pace. After a few steps, she started running.

As she drew close, he reached into the bag and pulled out the baseball cap. It was plain blue with no identifying markers.

He slipped it on her head as he looked around. “Keep your sunglasses on.”

“You’re such a mother hen.”