The Nexus Ring (14 page)

Maddy turned to me. “What’s so funny?”

“Construction delay,” I said. “They’ll be here soon.”

We sat leaning against each other, watching the tourists file back onto their bus. Slowly it backed up and drove away. And then Mom and Dad pulled up to the curb. Maddy and I ducked out of sight and scooted over to the van. Just as Keeper had promised, as we neared the van the Shadows ­vanished.

“Wow, did you guys ever get out fast! I thought you were asleep.” Those were Dad’s first words to his missing kids. “I wish you were always this quiet. We made great time, except for that delay for highway construction near Golden. Just a bit behind schedule.”

Then Mom said, “You two are filthy! How did you get so dirty at the Boardwalk? Baths for both of you as soon as we get back.” She shook her head at us. Then she said, “Now that you’ve woken up, why don’t we look for some magic to get us through the final veil of mist?”

Maddy and I looked at each other and ­grinned.

“No,” I said, “we’ve had enough magic for now.”

As we headed back to the van Maddy asked me, quietly, “We’ll be home soon, won’t we?”

“Yes,” I said, “we’re almost home.”

Acknowledgments

M
any thanks to everyone who
helped me become a better writer, and this a better story, especially Mr. Gayle, Terry Gilbert, Eileen Coughlan, Valerie
Compton, Maggie de Vries, Richard Scrimger
and Cathy Beveridge; to all my friends and family who read the manuscript and encouraged me; to Brenda Rudd who said, “Of course you’re creative,” and started it all; and to Barbara Sapergia at Coteau Books who rescued my story from the slush ­pile.

And more thanks to Laura Peetoom, for her careful editing, always aware of what the story needed; and to everyone at Coteau Books, who are a joy to work ­with.

About the Author

M
aureen Bush
has a Post-graduate
Certificate of Creative Writing from
Humber
College. She also obtained a
Bachelor’s degree
in History and a Masters in
Environmental Design (Environmental
Science),
both from the University of Calgary. She is a trained mediator and public involvement consultant, and has written and edited in this field.

Born in Edmonton, Maureen Bush now lives in Calgary with her husband and two daughters.