“Perfect. Is Molly pregnant?” Sarah asked. The stone began to swing in a clear clockwise motion. “That’s my positive. When the pendulum swings in a counterclockwise motion, that’s my negative.”

Molly stared in fascination. “You said my positive and my negative. What does that mean?”

“A pendulum doesn’t respond the same way to everybody. Your positive might be when it swings back and forth in a north/south direction, with the negative at east/west. My teacher’s positive was when her pendulum always angled toward her heart. It’s also possible your positive might be my negative.”

“So counterclockwise isn’t necessarily bad?” She rubbed her dry, tired eyes.

“Not at all. Historically, several cultures considered widdershins to be going against the sun, which was unlucky or unfortunate, but other cultures see widdershins as a very mystical and positive thing. In Judaism, circles are often walked counterclockwise in affirming rituals. It all depends on social context and flow of energy.” Sarah withdrew her lower hand, and the pendulum stilled. “I wasn’t going to suggest this until later, but I think you should walk the labyrinth today.”

Surprised, Molly said, “The one in the yard?” When Sarah nodded, she shrugged. “Okay. What am I supposed to be looking for?”

“Just walk through it sometime today.” Sarah handed the amethyst back to Molly and stood. “Then come tell me what you discover. For now I think you could use a break, and I’m going to do some gardening before it gets too hot.”

“But I don’t need a break…” Her voice died away. She was tired.

“You’ve set quite an agenda for yourself, but you need to learn how to walk before you can run.” Sarah tapped her gently on the shoulder as she walked past. “And you need to look after that miraculous body of yours, not just for your sake, but for your baby’s as well.”

After Sarah had left, Molly sat thinking in the empty kitchen. Sarah was right. Her pregnancy was so new she didn’t even feel it yet, but that was no excuse to put her body under unnecessary strain.

She fixed herself a proper breakfast and did some quick prep work on what she would make for supper. When she was through, she showered and took a nap, then woke sometime later to a fresh ocean breeze moving in from an open window.

She lay for some time, soaking in the peace. Thinking of Josiah. Alexei. His eyes, his hands. The way his cold demeanor covered an intense, passionate nature. In that moment, she didn’t miss him in the slightest.

God, she was such a liar.

After dressing in clean capris and a T-shirt, she went outside. Some distance away, Sarah knelt, weeding rows of baby vegetables. She wore a wide-brimmed hat that protected her vulnerable head and shoulders.

In the opposite direction, the labyrinth waited. Not wishing to disturb Sarah, Molly strode toward it.