They had not walked long when Henry stopped to consult the crude map King Arthur had drawn for him. When Veronica asked if they were lost, he held up his hand for silence but said nothing. After more scrutiny he climbed atop a rocky cliff and peered over the horizon. Sabrina thought she’d seen most of the woods around Ferryport Landing—after all, she had been chased through them by enough monsters—but she had no idea where they were. If Ferryport Landing had anything in great supply, it was creepy forests. She hoped they weren’t lost.
“He’s like this in the car, too,” Veronica said as she watched her husband turn the map one way and then the other.
Sabrina giggled but Daphne said nothing. She sat on a stump sulking, her head tilted downward as if the most intriguing thing she had ever seen were the ants at her feet.
“Well, that’s new,” Veronica said quietly, as if she had just come upon some exotic animal in the woods. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen your sister angry.”
“Stick around,” Sabrina replied. “It’s a regular event these days.”
“You two have changed so much.” Veronica sighed.
“We’ve been through a lot,” Sabrina said. “We had to adapt.”
Henry scrambled back down the cliff toward the family and tucked his map into his pocket. “OK, I know where we are. It’ll take about two hours to get to the train station if we hurry. We should be able to catch the 6:17 to Grand Central.”
“So, Henry, what are we going to do when we get to the city?” Veronica asked.
“I haven’t figured it out yet,” Henry said, urging everyone to their feet. He walked on, leading them along Arthur’s trail.
“Oh, so we’re just going to stumble into New York City with no money and no place to sleep? That’s your plan?”
Henry shook his head. “I have some money—enough to get us a hotel for a night. Tomorrow we’ll need to tackle our bank accounts.”
“Tomorrow is Sunday,” Veronica said. “The banks will be closed.”
Henry’s steps faltered for a moment but he soon continued onward. “I’ll figure something out.”
“Daphne and I slept in plenty of homeless shelters when we ran away from foster families,” Sabrina said. “I know places that will take us.”
“Oh good!” Veronica cried. “We can sleep in a homeless shelter. Our problems have been solved.”
“Sarcasm is not necessary,” Henry said.
Veronica laughed. “Oh yes it is! It’s the only way to get you to react to what is going on around you. Henry, we can’t leave. I’d love to go back to the city, but not this way—with your brother wounded and the entire town in jeopardy. On top of that we’re broke and homeless.”
“I would rather have us sleeping in a gutter in the Bronx before we spent a night in this forsaken town!” Henry said. “I know you don’t agree with what I’m doing or how I’m doing it but I’m going to protect this family. I can’t do that in this town; there’s too much Everafter craziness. I don’t want my family around it. And to be very, very clear, I mean I don’t want anyone in my family around Everafters. Not even the ones that live in New York City!”
Veronica’s face fell. “You were eavesdropping?”
“Imagine my surprise when I learned my own wife was working with Everafters in Manhattan behind my back!”
“I had to! I knew you wouldn’t approve. I was trying to be helpful. Isn’t that what Grimms do?”
“Don’t throw that silly catchphrase at me,” Henry said.
“So now that the secret’s out, you must know there are at least two hundred Everafters running around New York City, so if you’re trying to get away from them—”
“Not a problem. We’re moving,” Henry said.
“Moving!” Sabrina gasped. Moving away from the Big Apple was not part of the dream reunion she had imagined when her parents woke up. They couldn’t move!
“Yes, we’ll move to somewhere no Everafter would want to live!”
“Like where?”
“I don’t know. Canton, maybe.”
“Canton, Ohio!” Veronica groaned. “Human beings don’t want to live in Canton, Ohio!”
“It doesn’t matter where we move as long as it’s boring,” Henry shouted. “We’ll find someplace where the mayor isn’t a prince and the local police aren’t magical transforming pigs!”
“Actually, the Sheriff of Nottingham is running the police department now,” Sabrina corrected.
“I didn’t say good-bye to Elvis,” Daphne whimpered.
“So, you’re laying down the law, huh? Do I get a say in any of this?” Veronica asked. “Or am I supposed to play the dutiful wife? Perhaps you’d like me to put on an apron and make you a pot roast, too?”
Henry scowled. “Veronica, that’s a bit dramatic.”
“I didn’t say good-bye to Elvis,” Daphne repeated.