The last thing I saw as the tunnel closed were tears spilling down his little face. My heart broke. NO. I leapt forward, pushing the opening wide open again. I could give Rae a few more minutes. Surely that wouldn’t be the end of the world.

The moment my feet hit the ground I knew something was off. That I’d messed up again. There was snow on the ground. The air was cold and the sky was gray. As beautiful as the snow looked on the wisteria and cherry blossom trees it meant I’d failed. I wrapped my arms around myself and realized I still held my phone, so I quickly took a video of the oasis since I hadn’t gotten one of outside before. And it really did look breathtaking in snow.

I shivered and cursed. I hurried up the steps and into the cottage. A boy looked up from where he sat at the hearth. A strangled whimper left my lips before I clamped them down. The boy was Rae except he wasn’t five anymore.

He jumped up with wide, color changing eyes. “Meemaw! You’re back!”

“Rae. My, my, look at you!” I hurried over to the hearth because I was freezing.

“I missed you.” He hugged me. “I’m ten now, Meemaw.”

“Ten?” I squeezed my eyes shut as I rocked him side to side. “I can’t believe how big you got.”

The front door flew open and slammed into the wall.

“Mother,” Auryn said with an exhale, like she’d been running. “You’re back.”

I grimaced. “I’m sorry, I know this has to be painful for you. I don’t know why⁠—”

“Father isn’t here.” Auryn grabbed the door and started to back out of it. “Do not leave, let me get him. Please.”

“I will wait⁠—”

She bolted.

I chuckled. “Because I cannot leave without him.”

“Your magic painting tool!” Rae grabbed my phone and started tapping on the screen. “Can we make more paintings?”

I grinned and sat down on the stone ledge beside him, with the fire of the hearth warming our backs. We snapped probably ten selfies with us making goofy faces. I’d just finished printing them all out when he grabbed my hand and started inspecting my rings.

“You like those?”

“Grandfather and Mamman have rings like these.” He cocked his head to the side and his eyes flashed pink. “Were they yours?”

“I gave them as a gift, so whenever they missed me all they had to do was look at their ring.” I reached up and kissed his forehead. “Would you like one?”

His eyes brightened and changed to match Everest’s. “May I?”

“Of course. What about this one?” I pointed to the gold band on my pinky with a small rose quartz on it. “This one might fit you right now and later you can wear it on a necklace.”

“Is that a rose quartz?”