Instead of traditional “rounds,” Marla Archer had set up the event with several long tables, like a Tuscan dinner. Green garland vines and chandeliers hung over each table. The chartreuse tablecloths featured bunches of hydrangeas in blue, green, and cream with cream roses. Other groupings were accented by tall gold candelabras or tall vases with gold cane chairs and chargers. With votives lighting every few inches, the event shimmered. In the last year, Marla had become the go-to photographer for Virginia wineries, so each course this year was paired with a local wine that had been donated for the cause.

“She was nice to me today,” said Lara, recalling how Marla inserted herself so Lara could flee Kim Landau.

“Not always nice to me, though.” He finished his champagne in a single gulp.

Lara found their place cards: Audrey and Ben were seated across from each other with Lara to Ben’s right and Inez Favre, the wife of Rivoli Circus director Louie Favre, to his left. On the opposite side of the table, Audrey sat between Gaston and Louie.

Watching Audrey and Gaston clearly flirt with each other was charming. Lara couldn’t figure out when this relationship had blossomed between them, but now, seeing them together, they were clearly a couple. During the salad course, Gaston leaned in frequently, whispering something to her mother, and Lara saw Audrey light up. She hadn’t seen this much joy on her mother’s face, ever. Lara had a pang of sadness for her father, who had always seemed to hold a soft spot for his ex-wife. Jason had taken the night shift at the station tonight. He’d avoided her all day after the song yesterday and she felt guilty. While Jason wasn’t much for events like this anyway, Lara wondered if he knew about Audrey and Gaston and had decided to stay away. Or was he just avoiding her? She recalled the way he looked at her last night, like he’d seen a ghost.

And what if the man from the field was nothing but an apparition? What if she had manifested both him and Margot tonight, just as she’d done with Todd? While the man had assured her he was “as real as her,” it would be exactly the kind of thing a figment of your imagination would say to you. Recalling the look of horror on Cecile’s face when she’d first told her about the man’s visit, she wondered if her great-grandmother had just been afraid that Lara was going mad like Margot. Is this what her mother meant by warning her to hide her magic? Did using it cause madness? Hallucinations? She was deep in thought when she felt her mother kick her back to attention from under the table. Lara hadn’t realized it, but she’d been rubbing her neck and staring off into space.