Beautiful Redemption Read Free

to her, Ethan. You can’t send a letter from this world, and you can’t get to hers. And even if you could, you wouldn’t be able to write one. You don’t know how many times I wished it was possible.”
    There had to be a way. “I know. If it was, I would’ve heard from you more.”
    She looked up toward the stars. Her eyes shone with reflected light as she spoke. “Every day, my sweet boy. Every single day.”
    “But you found a way to talk to me. You used the books in the study, and the songs. And I saw you that night I was at the cemetery. And in my room, remember?”
    “The songs were the Greats’ idea. I suppose because I had been singing to you since you were a baby. But everyone’s different. I don’t think you can send anything like a Shadowing Song to Lena.”
    “Even if I knew how to write one.” My songwriting skills made Link look like one of the Beatles.
    “It wasn’t easy for me, and I’d been kicking around here a whole lot longer than you have. And I had help from Amma, Twyla, and Arelia.” She squinted up at the twin skies. “You have to remember, Amma and the Greats have powers that I know nothing about.”
    “But you were a Keeper.” There had to be things she knew that they didn’t.
    “Exactly. I was a Keeper. I did what the Far Keep asked me to do, and I didn’t do what the Far Keep didn’t want me to do. You don’t mess with them, and you don’t mess with their record of things.”
    “
The Caster Chronicles
?”
    She picked a cherry from the bowl, examining it for spots. She took so long to answer, I was starting to think she hadn’t heard me. “What do you know about
The Caster Chronicles
?”
    “Before Aunt Marian’s trial, the Council of the Far Keep came to the library, and they brought the book with them.”
    She put the old metal colander down on the step beneath us. “Forget about
The Caster Chronicles
. All of that doesn’t matter anymore.”
    “Why not?”
    “I’m serious, Ethan. We’re not out of danger, you and I.”
    “Danger? What are you talking about? We’re already—you know.”
    She shook her head. “We’re only partway home. We’ve got to find out what’s keeping us here, and move on.”
    “What if I don’t want to move on?” I wasn’t ready to give up. Not as long as Lena was waiting for me.
    Once again, she didn’t answer for a long time. When she did, my mom sounded about as dark as I’d ever heard her. “I don’t think you have a choice.”
    “You did,” I said.
    “It wasn’t a choice. You needed me. That’s why I’m here—for you. But even I can’t change what happened.”
    “Yeah? You could try.” I found myself crushing a cherry in my hand. The juice ran red between my fingers.
    “There’s nothing to try, Ethan. It’s over. It’s too late.” She barely whispered, but it felt like she was shouting.
    Anger welled up inside me. I hurled a cherry across the yard, then another, then the whole bowlful. “Well, Lena and Amma and Dad need me, and I’m not just going to give up. I feel like I shouldn’t be here—like this is all a huge mistake.” Ilooked at the empty bowl in my hands. “And it’s not cherry season. It’s winter.” I looked up at her, my eyes blurring with tears, though all I could feel was anger. “It’s supposed to be winter.”
    My mom put her hand on mine. “Ethan.”
    I pulled away. “Don’t try to make me feel better. I missed you, Mom. I did. More than anything. But as happy as I am to see you, I want to wake up and have this not be happening. I understand why I had to do it. I get it. Fine. But I don’t want to be stuck here forever.”
    “What did you think was going to happen?”
    “I don’t know. Not this.” Was that the truth? Had I really thought I could get out of sacrificing my own good for the good of the world? Did I think the One-Who-Is-Two thing was a joke?
    I guess it was easier to play the hero. But now that it was real—now that I had to own up to an eternity of