“Thank you,” Maeve said, smiling and squinting at him, as if trying to be friendly while still taking his measure. “Have you known my granddaughter long?”

“Since a few days before your great-granddaughter was born.”

Maeve blinked, taking that in. She seemed to be resting in the knowledge that she was really awake, her family was really with her. She suddenly looked so old and tired, as if the weight of the last nine years had just caught up with her. Lily watched the way she held Liam's gaze. She felt safe with him, Lily could see.

“You've known them a long time,” Maeve said.

“Known and loved them,” Liam said, smiling.

“Granny,” Lily said, “we don't want to tire you out. You need lots of rest.”

“Darling, I feel I could dance right now,” Maeve said. Lily knew what she meant—she felt the same way. But her grandmother looked frail, her cheeks sunken and pale. The nurses seemed to be edging into the room, giving the signal that it was time to go.

Lily held her grandmother's hand. It seemed almost impossible to leave, even though she knew she could come back in the morning. Being apart for so long made their time together seem rare, precious, and fragile. If Lily let go, who could guarantee that she would ever have a moment like this again? She felt her hand start to tremble, and her grandmother felt it too.

“It will be all right, darling,” her grandmother said.

“How do you know?” Lily asked.

“I just know. Please tell her, Liam.”

“She's right, Lily,” he said, putting his hand on her shoulder.

“There's a prayer,” her grandmother said. “By Julian of Norwich. She was a wonderful saint, a mystic. All my favorite saints are mystics, because they have so much faith. They can see the most impossible things, because they see with the eyes of the heart. I prayed Julian's prayer every day, while you were away. It goes, ‘All will be well, and all will be well, and all manner of things will be well.'”

“I like that prayer,” Rose said.

“So do I,” Liam said.

“It's a very good one,” Maeve said. “Will you try it, darling?”

“I'll try,” Lily said doubtfully. She still couldn't let go of Maeve's hand.

“When can I go home?” Maeve asked the only doctor still remaining, making notes on her chart.

“We'll have to see,” he said. “We'll send you down to neuro tomorrow for some tests, and we'll know better after that.”

“Don't worry, Granny,” Lily said, kissing her. “We'll get you home as soon as possible. Your house is waiting for you.”

“I can't wait,” Maeve said. Then, smiling at Liam: “Take care of her till I get back there, okay?”

“You can count on it,” he said.