“I’m here to do a play,” I say, so stunned by her presence here that my voice sounds strange to my own ears. “Sorry, what’s your name?”

“Kiera,” she says, solidifying my feeling of relief and joy.

I look past her and see that Nelle and the others are still there, at a round table nestled in the bow window. I glance at my phone and see that it’s still mine. My life is still my own.

“Sorry, I’m sure you’re very busy and—” she says, seeing me look at my phone.

“No! No, I’m not! I’m—did—would you like to join my table?”

She smiles. “You gotta be kidding me. Can I tell you something?”

“Yes, what?” I ask, urgently. The bartender comes over with the beers and I say to him, “Get her anything she wants.”

“I’ll take one of those.” She points at the Guinness I’ve ordered. “Actually, could you make it two? I’ve got a friend here, I’m happy to pay for it—”

“No.” My heart is going to literally explode. Who is her friend? Could it be someone else from Avalon? Could the universe really be that kind? “On my tab, please.”

Could it be Aimee?

I wish it for a second, and then know in my heart that it won’t be.

“Truth is that my pal is never going to believe it’s bloody you. He made me fetch the drinks, says I owe him, which of course I do, as I’m the one who made him come out with me and he does me favors all the time, but when he sees that I’ve met the Lana Lord, his eyes are going to fall out of his skull. He didn’t mention you were in a show here, he’s going to be shocked.”

The bartender puts the beers on a tray and sets it on the bar. I hand over the cash.

“I’ve known him since I was a kid, and I got him into watching Brilliance with me, and I swear to you, he’s your biggest fan. Not that he’ll admit to liking anything all that much. And of course he hates the show, but that’s how you know he loves you.”

I am actually unable to speak as I hang on to her every quickly spoken, heavily accented word. I don’t dare get my hopes up as I take the beers over to our table and she goes off to get her friend.

“You look like you swallowed a blowfish. Are you okay?” asks Nelle.

I nod quickly. “I’ll explain later.”

I have actually told Nelle about the whole Avalon thing. As a believer in psychics, reiki, tarot, past lives, and just about everything else, she completely bought it.

I rise to my feet without meaning to when Kiera comes back with him in tow.