She twirled into the kitchen, flipping on the light. She put on the kettle for tea before beginning to fill a big wicker basket with her goody bags.

“I hope we get a lot of kids. It’s been years since I’ve done trick or treat. I can’t wait.” She opened a cupboard. “Oh, for heaven’s sake! I left my car at the bookstore. What was I thinking?”

“You always were absentminded.”

The mug she reached for slipped like water out of her hand, smashed on the counter, shattered on the floor. A roaring filled her ears as she turned.

“Hello, Helen.” Evan walked slowly toward her. “It’s so good to see you.”

She couldn’t say his name, could make no sound at all. She prayed it was another vision, a hallucination. But he reached out, and those slender fingers brushed her cheek.

She went cold to the marrow.

“I’ve missed you. Did you think I wouldn’t come?” Those fingers slid around the back of her neck now and brought on a hideous wave of nausea. “Wouldn’t find you? Haven’t I told you, Helen, so many times, that nothing would ever keep us apart?”

She only closed her eyes when he bent, brushed his mouth over hers. “What have you done to your hair?” His hand fisted it, tugged viciously. “You know how I love your hair. Did you cut it off to displease me?”

A tear slithered down her cheek as she shook her head. His voice, his touch, seemed to drain everything she was away and leave her as she’d been.

She felt Nell fading away.

“It does displease me, Helen. You’ve caused me a great deal of trouble. A great deal. You’ve stolen a year of our lives.”

His fingers tightened, went biting cruel as he jerked her chin up. “Look at me, you stupid little bitch. Look at me when I speak to you.”

Her eyes opened and all she could see were his, those clear, empty pools.

“You’ll have to pay for it, you know that. More than a year erased. And all the while you’ve been living in this miserable little shack, laughing at me, working as a waitress, serving people. Trying to start your pitiful little business, kitchen business. Humiliating me.”

His hand slid from her cheek to her throat, squeezed. “I’m going to forgive you after a time, Helen. After a time, because I know you’re slow, and just a bit stupid. Have you nothing to say to me, my love? Nothing to say after this long separation?”

Her lips were cold, felt as if they might crack. “How did you find me?”