“Gravy,” Daphne said just before she bit down on her palm.
Sabrina should have been happy for Geppetto, but an odd bitterness stabbed at her heart. Instead of joy she was filled with envy. It was hard for her to see this family reunion and know that her own experience just that morning had been less than sweet. She looked to her father, hoping the scene wouldn’t be lost on him, but he was busy talking to King Arthur about possible ways out of the forest. Suddenly she knew the moment she had imagined for two years would never come to pass. Her family had chosen to argue. That was their reunion.
“My little pine nut, where have you been?” Geppetto asked his son. “Why didn’t you get on the boat with me? I’ve been a mess for so long worrying about you.”
“I’ll explain it all in good time, Papa,” Pinocchio said. “Just let me embrace you one more time!”
“He talks funny,” Puck said.
“You smell funny,” Sabrina grumbled.
Puck raised an arm and sniffed his armpit. “Can’t argue with you there.”
“I thought Pinocchio was a puppet,” Daphne said to her grandmother.
“He was,” Granny Relda said. “But after he proved he could be good, the Blue Fairy granted his greatest wish—to be a real boy.”
“Where has he been all this time?” Sabrina asked.
“It’s none of our business,” Henry said. “Arthur has given me directions to a path that will take us out of the woods. Girls, say your good-byes. We’re leaving.”
“But, Dad! We can’t leave. Uncle Jake is hurt!” Daphne said. “Besides, that’s Pinocchio. I want to get an autograph.”
“Daphne, I’ve had enough of your attitude,” Henry snapped. “Now, be a big girl and get your suitcases.”
Daphne stomped off to do as she was told.
“Relda, are you sure you won’t come with us?” Veronica begged.
“Veronica, you know I can’t go,” Granny said. “Look around you. The Everafters need us more than ever. If the family abandons Ferryport Landing, the barrier will fall and the chaos will spill out into the surrounding towns. It wouldn’t be long before war spreads all over the world. It’s this kind of thing that the barrier was created to prevent, so I have to stay.”
“Jacob is still here,” Henry said. “When he feels better he can take over the responsibility.”
“Jacob is a free spirit,” Granny said. “I’m surprised he’s stayed here as long as he has.”
Henry shook his head. “If you won’t come with us then you should go back to the house. The protection spells we’ve put on it will prevent anyone from getting inside. A hurricane could hit that house and you’d be safe. Don’t come out until this blows over and don’t get involved! I don’t want you to end up like Dad.”
Granny Relda’s face fell with disappointment, but Henry either didn’t notice or chose to ignore it.
“I’ll keep you informed of where we land,” he continued. “C’mon, Daphne, don’t dilly-dally. We’ve got a train to catch.”
Daphne slammed Sabrina’s suitcase to the ground. “Carry your own bag, traitor.”
“What did I do?” Sabrina cried.
Daphne ignored her and hugged Granny and Mr. Canis, then said good-bye to Puck, Red, and Goldilocks. Then she stormed off to wait by the gate.
“So, you finally got your wish, frog face,” Puck said. “You’re getting out of Ferryport Landing.”
“Yeah, I guess,” Sabrina said, eyeing her grandmother. As much as she had wanted to leave the town, it didn’t feel right to do it now. Not with a war brewing. Some of the Everafters might be hurt. Granny might need them. “But this isn’t how I wanted to go.”
“C’mon, Sabrina,” her father said, grabbing her suitcase and leading his wife to the main gates. They stepped through as the latest Everafter refugees entered.
Sabrina turned to look back one more time as the guards closed the gates. Puck stood in the entrance, hands on hips, his wooden sword by his side. His wings popped out and flapped in the summer sun. Granny was next to him, smiling through tears. Red stood next to her, looking afraid. Goldilocks handed Granny a handkerchief and Momma Bear wrapped a furry arm around her shoulders. Mr. Canis leaned against his cane. Sabrina stared at them intensely, hoping her mind could take a photograph that she could return to from time to time. She wondered if she should say something to these people who had been part of her life for nearly a year. She knew she had been difficult—a downright pain most of the time. Her reluctance, distrust, and general nasty mood had not been easy to tolerate, and yet, they had all in their own way been by her side at her worst moments. I should thank them, she thought. I should express some sort of gratitude. I should tell them that I love them. But the doors of the fort closed before she could get out a single word. A heavy lock turned. A bar came down across the doors and she was outside. Exactly where she had always wanted to be, with her parents and sister by her side, safe and sound. And yet …