“No, not Robin Hood either.”

Hudson picked up the last of the gold items, a pair of booties, and headed toward my father’s room with everybody else. He motioned for me to come with them. “We can talk later; we need to go over our story before the police get here.” Loudly enough for everybody to hear, he said, “Okay, last night while your parents made dinner, Nick and I were sitting at the table doing homework. The doorbell rang and you went and opened the door without looking through the peephole first.”

“Oh, I get to be an idiot.”

“No, you’re just the trusting sort. The medieval bandits pushed their way inside with their swords drawn. They made us change clothes, then held us at sword-point in the kitchen while they robbed your house. We already know what Robin Hood and the Merry Men look like, so we shouldn’t have any problems giving descriptions.” 337/356

We had reached the closet. While my dad tried to make everything fit into the safe, Hudson went on describing details of our night. He ended with, “Stetson will be Sandra’s nephew that she’s babysitting. We have to hope he doesn’t vanish during the investiga-tion, because, yeah, there’s no good way to explain that.” I looked at Hudson impatiently. “Now can we talk for a minute?”

“Sure.”

The two of us headed back to the family room while Nick and Sandra stayed behind to help Dad. I stroked Stetson’s back and tried to think of the best way to break the news to Hudson. “Well …,” I said, and didn’t say anything else for a moment.

He tilted his head, trying to read my expression. “Is this about you moving to some luxury apartment in New York?”

“No, it’s about your wish.”

“What wish?”

“The wish you would have made.” It was the wrong place to start.

He looked at me like he had no idea what I was talking about. I tried again. “You see, after the rest of you left, I made a deal with Chrissy—” He didn’t let me finish. “You what? ”

“It worked out well,” I said. “At least I think it did. I’m not really sure yet.”

He let out a groan and put his hand over his eyes. “Tansy, Chrissy made a mess of your wishes. Haven’t you had enough near-death experiences?”

I didn’t answer. We were in the family room, and I could see a police car pulling up in front of the house.

“What deal did you make?” he asked.

I still didn’t answer. How could I tell him what I’d done and why I did it when he was glaring at me?

338/356

“You said it was my wish,” he said. “How am I involved? What’s going to happen?”

The doorbell rang. The police were here. Hudson turned to me, waiting for my answer.

This might be it, I realized—the reason Hudson and I didn’t get together in the future. He was mad at me for interfering in his life, for making changes without consulting him.

“I changed the past,” I said.

“Right. You gave Robin Hood The Change Enchantment.”

“No, I mean, your past.”

He gave me a puzzled look. “What? My past in the Middle Ages?” There was a knock at the door, and then a man’s voice called,

“Hudson?”

Hudson turned away from me. “That’s my dad. I’ve got to let him in.”

He walked to the door and as soon as he opened it, his father stepped inside. He was tall, like Hudson, with streaks of gray coloring his hair. His features were sharp, imposing even, but his eyes softened when he saw his son. “Hudson,” he called with relief and gave him a hug. “You’re all right? Everyone is okay?” Hudson nodded.

His father kept his hand on Hudson’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, son.

We’ll get the men that did this.”

Well, the police chief was probably going to be disappointed in that regard.

Hudson’s father kept patting his shoulder as though he didn’t want to let go. “I’ve never seen your mom so worried. We were calling people half the night looking for you.”

“Mom?” Hudson repeated.

“I already called her. She’s on her way.” 339/356

Hudson turned to me, but he didn’t speak.

“That past,” I said.

Hudson paled and then flushed. He turned back to his dad. “Mom is coming?” He didn’t sound like he believed it.

Mr. Gardner smiled wearily. “I know, I know. Neither of us will get a word in edgewise about the robbery until she’s had her say, but I couldn’t let her keep worrying about you.” Hudson gazed through the living room window, where a car had screeched to a stop in front of the house.

“There she is now,” the police chief said.

Hudson walked to the door slower than I expected. I think he was in shock. He opened the door as she reached the front step. Without a word, he threw his arms around her.

She had plenty to say, but I didn’t hear what. It was all murmured into his chest. After a minute, the two walked back into the house. She held on to his arm with one hand and brushed tears from her face with her other. “I just knew something bad had happened to you. I was so afraid I’d never see you again. You can’t imagine.” His eyes didn’t leave her. “Yes, I can.”

“Oh, of course you can.” She turned and hugged him again. “I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through.” He blinked and hugged her back, burying his face into her hair.

He was trembling. When he looked up, I saw the gratitude in his eyes.

I smiled. He was happy, for now at least. I hoped he remembered this moment when he found out he had no real memories of the last year.

Sandra, Nick, and my dad came into the room. “Are the police here?” Dad asked.

Mrs. Gardner stepped toward them. “Are you folks all right?” 340/356

“Yes,” Sandra said, and then stopped suddenly when she saw who was speaking. Sandra drew in a gasp, her head tilted back in astonishment, and she fainted. She would have hit the floor if Nick hadn’t caught her. He eased her down to the ground and fanned her face with his hand.

Mrs. Gardner pressed her lips together and motioned to her husband. “Dear, you’d better call the paramedics.”

“No, no, we’re fine,” Dad stuttered, but he was looking strangely at Mrs. Gardner too. I had forgotten that Dad and Sandra knew Mrs.

Gardner and knew she had died a year ago. Still staring at her, Dad said, “We’re all fine … I think.” He strode over to the window and looked out as though checking to see if the rest of the world was the same.

“Hmmm,” Mrs. Gardner said, watching him. To her husband she mouthed, “Make the call.”

While he did, the rest of us congregated around Sandra. Dad came over, although he kept a good distance away from Mrs. Gardner.

She knelt down by Sandra, took her hand, and tapped it gently. “Can you hear me?”

“It’s probably delayed shock,” Nick said. “I’m sure she’ll be fine.” Sandra blinked open her eyes, took in Mrs. Gardner, and let out a startled scream.

“It’s okay,” I told Sandra. “I can explain everything”—I glanced at Mrs. Gardner—“at a later time.”

Sandra’s gaze ricocheted between Mrs. Gardner and me, and at last she seemed to understand. She let out several quick breaths. “You traded …,” she gasped out, “… for Hudson.”

“Right,” I said.

When Mrs. Gardner looked at me questioningly, I shrugged and whispered, “It’s the shock. I’m humoring her.” 341/356

My dad’s eyes widened and he said, “Oh—ooooh!” And I knew he understood too.

Sandra took a few more deep breaths and pulled herself to a sitting position. She put her free hand on her chest. “I’m fine now,” she said weakly.

“Good.” Mrs. Gardner looked Sandra over carefully before she let go of her hand. “Don’t try to get up yet. If you need anything, have one of your children …” Her gaze narrowed in on my face. Then her mouth opened in surprise. “You’re Tansy, aren’t you?” To Sandra she said, “I didn’t know Tansy was your daughter.”

“You’ve met?” Sandra asked.

“Yes, last year …” And then, as though she just realized it, she added, “I think you were wearing that same dress.” I forced a smile. “Weird coincidence.” Her gaze fell to Stetson. “And who is this darling baby?”