Sherry ran for her bedroom and pulled on a pair of jeans. Helen would know, wouldn’t she? She’d had visions. Dear God, what are you doing to me?

Only when she pulled her Mustang into that old familiar driveway in front of Helen’s two-story home did she think of calling first.

She walked to the front door and rang the bell.

No one answered. She rang again. Sherry was about to pound when the door swung open. Helen stood leaning on a cane, yellow dress swaying at her knees.

“Well, well, speak of the devil,” Helen said.

“Hello, Grandma.”

“You’ve finally decided to come.”

Sherry smiled, suddenly off balance. “I’m sorry. I know it’s been a while. But—”

“Nonsense. Timing is everything.”

Sherry blinked. “I have to talk to you.”

“Of course you do. Come, come.” She shuffled back and Sherry entered. The house smelled of gardenias and the white roses Helen claimed came from Bosnia.

Sherry followed the older woman into the living room. Helen had taken her in and loved her like a daughter. But she hadn’t been ready for love at first.

“Tea?”

“No, thank you.”

“Do you know why I frighten you at times, Tanya?”

“Frighten me? You don’t frighten me.” Sherry sat and watched Helen settle into her overstuffed rocker. “And it’s Sherry, remember? It was hard enough changing my name once; I have no intention of doing it again.”

“Yes. Sherry. Forgive me.” Helen picked up her own glass of iced tea and sipped. She set it down and looked into Sherry’s eyes. A knot rose slowly up her throat. It was like that with Helen. She hadn’t even said what she’d come to say, and already Sherry was feeling the significance of her presence.

“Let’s not kid each other. I do frighten you at times. But then if I were in your place, I might be frightened as well.”

“What place is that?”

“You’re running. I ran once, you know. When I was about your age. It was a terrifying experience.”

“I don’t think that I’m running. I may not be as spiritual as you, Grandma, but I love God and I understand that he has his ways.”

“No, you’re running,” Helen said. “You’ve been running ever since your mother and father died. But now something has happened and you’re thinking twice about running.”

Sherry looked at her. It was like speaking to a mirror—there was no fooling the woman. She smiled, suddenly unsure of what to say.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” Helen said. “It’s not often that God gives us visions, and when he does, they mean something.”

“You know about my dream?” Sherry asked, surprised.

“So you have had a vision.”

Sherry sat forward, excited now. “I always dream. I guess you’d call them nightmares. But now in the last two nights—”

“Tell me your vision,” Helen said.

Sherry blinked. “Tell you what I saw?”

“Yes, dear. Tell me. I’ve been waiting a long time for this moment—I really don’t want to wait any longer. You’ve been chosen for this and I’ve been chosen to hear this. So please, tell me.”