“No, Emi, those are bellflowers. They won’t harm us.” She glanced over at Frieda, who was peering through the trees, curious to see if the terror of the forest was gone. “It’s changed, hasn’t it?”
Frieda nodded silently. After a while, they came to the brick pathway that Hannah’s neighbor had conjured years ago as the only safe passage through the forest.
“Mama, there!” Leon cried and ran ahead.
“I can’t believe the idea that my red shoes would take me home didn’t occur to me the minute I saw this brick path.” Hannah shook her head.
Frieda chuckled. “That was one of my best spells!”
Hannah pondered for a moment. “Would the shoes work again? Could they act as a portal so I...” She stopped short and gave her neighbor a questioning look.
“No, dear Hannah, I’m afraid I must disappoint you. The slippers have served their purpose. But they’re still comfortable. You’re welcome to keep them.”
Hannah smiled halfheartedly, though she felt a pang in her heart. But as she watched her three children running ahead, she was grateful that she was with them again. Even without Maximilian, she felt happy and relieved. She knew now that it could work with another man. Maybe she would meet someone someday—and knowing that Marco had given his okay made her certain that, somewhere out there, another love was waiting. Who knew what amazing man would be standing by her side in a few years, even if he couldn’t possibly be as wonderful as Maximilian.
But right now, she wanted to look for the box of treasure. She wouldn’t believe her money problems were over until she had seen the contents and an expert had confirmed they were real. Not that she didn’t trust Maximilian. But she had been through a time in her life that had taught her to wait until something had actually happened before she could breathe and let go. Hope could help you through hard times, but as a single mother, she couldn’t afford to breathe and relax until she knew the facts or they were staring her in the face.
Marco removed the backpack where he had stashed the two spades they used for their three little balcony planters. “Who wants to help me?” he yelled.
“Me!” Emi cried.
“No, you always get to! I want to!” Leon protested.
Marco decided to settle the matter: “First Emi, then Leon—and whoever whines doesn’t get to do anything!”
The two of them bit their tongues as Emi solemnly took the rusty spade. Together with Marco, she eagerly started to dig in the ground closest to the brick path. Emi dug to the left and Marco farther to the right. It wasn’t long before the little girl started to sweat, so Leon relieved her while Marco kept on digging without interruption.
Even if we find nothing, this outing has been a blessing,Hannah thought to herself as she watched her kids. Frieda winked at her. Hannah walked over to her and gave her a hug. “Thank you, Frieda, for this very special time!”
“My pleasure, Hannah! It’s been good for all of us.”
They smiled at each other, and Hannah knew she would never again be alone with her kids. “I do have one question, though, dear Frieda.”
“Hm?” Her elderly neighbor gave her a questioning look over her half-moon glasses.
“How long have you been watching us?”
Frieda raised her forefinger and chided her. “Now you’re not going to hold any grudges, after all, are you, dear Hannah?”
Hannah smiled and shook her head. “I’m just curious.”
Frieda chuckled. “It wasn’t that long at all. What did take a very long time was the search for you, for someone related to Mirabelle. After I found out what had happened back then with Mirabelle and her mother’s soul, I knew that only a blood relative would be able to save the innocent soul.”
“Did you know that Mirabelle would try to trick us with the potion?”
“I had my suspicions. But I wasn’t sure. To be honest, I hadn’t expected that stupid thing to have the guts to tangle with me. But I was far away, and she felt safe. Ultimately, I knewfrom her self-recriminations that her vengefulness was the only reason her mother had been robbed of her final peace—which stoked her wrath against the royal family even more.”
Hannah gazed into the forest as she listened to Frieda.
“I knew that only a blood relative could free the soul. And it was not at all easy to find you, Hannah. At the time, your great-grandfather took Mirabelle’s sister and simply disappeared without the least bit of fanfare. Practically overnight, they’d gone off and boarded a ship, and they even changed their names. I can honestly say that years had passed before I discovered who of that family was still living and before I found you.”
“And when you found me, was Andrew still alive?” A disturbing thought had flashed through Hannah’s mind. “Did you have something to do with his death...”
Frieda gasped indignantly. “My dear Hannah, I may not have always told you the truth, but I do not have your husband on my conscience—I promise you that!”
Hannah breathed a sigh of relief.
“By the time I found you, you were already living in that tiny apartment with your three sweet little angels. The only thing you could hold me responsible for is that your neighbor moved out. But I’m sure you’re not angry with me for that.” She chuckled.
