I felt my heart rate quicken. “Is it me?” I asked in a quiet voice.

The dog stared at me with worried eyes.

I backed away, bunching my scarf at my throat. Suddenly I felt the urge to get away, to just turn around and go back home. But I couldn’t. I needed to do something. What was it again?

I stood on the sidewalk, looking around without really seeing anything.

Why was I here? Where was I going?

Theo’s!

Of course, I was going to the bookshop to ask Theo about Constance.

I resumed my walk, my heart thudding.

I only made it a few steps, when a loud snap! sent me stumbling. A chain had broken from a flower basket suspended from one of the lampposts lining the streets.

Stars above, what was going on?

I watched the plant sway in the air, still hanging by its other chains.

I was not having the best of luck today. But suddenly I wasn’t so sure if luck had anything to do with it.

I closed my eyes and willed steel into my frazzled nerves. No, one thing I knew for certain was that magic required intention and focus. It didn’t just pop up out of nowhere. That had not been me. The thought was ridiculous. Buster may have been picking up on my feelings, but the chain breaking had been a coincidence. Nothing more. It was all the attention on my feelings and how I would handle going into town. It was putting me on edge. I couldn’t let it get to me. Besides, I was almost at the bookstore, just a few more steps.

The gold letters above the storefront windows glinted in the sunlight.

Lovely Leaves.

I hurried to close the distance, reaching out for the old-fashioned handle on the dark blue door. I pressed down hard on the brass latch. It didn’t budge.

My breath caught. No, this couldn’t be happening. Not now. The shop should be open at this time of day, shouldn’t it? Except, all of the sudden, I didn’t know what time it was, or what day.

I almost turned around but stopped myself.

The entrance to the park stood behind me.

On some level I had felt it the entire time I had been walking. Almost like it was watching me. Waiting to see if I would look over. But I hadn’t. I couldn’t look over. That was where I was supposed to meet Adam that day. That was where he had . . .

I pressed down on the thumb latch again. Maybe it was jammed. I rattled the handle.

My throat tightened. I needed to get inside.

I shook the handle again.

Please open.

Please.

Suddenly a face appeared on the other side of the glass. I looked into the warm eyes behind the large round lens staring back at me. Theo.

She clicked open the door, and a rush of warmth washed over me.

“Brynn! It’s so lovely to see you. Come in. Come in.”