Bonnie shook her curly red head. "Joe's worried. He's afraid you may go."

She looked at the indented pillow next to her. "Where is Joe?"

"He's on the porch trying to call Soldono again. He waited until you were asleep. He doesn't want you to know. He doesn't like it when things scare you."

"I'm not scared."

"You should be. You will be."

"Okay, Miss Know-It-All. You'll forgive me if I take your predictions with a grain of salt. Your crystal ball doesn't always work."

"I don't know it all. Sometimes I just get a feeling. Usually when it concerns you." She leaned back in the chair and tucked her leg beneath her. "Joe's not the only one who worries about you, Mama."

Eve cleared her throat to ease it of the tightness. "No, Jane does too."

Bonnie chuckled. "You never give up. Me, Mama."

"Which probably means that I'm worrying about myself, since you're undoubtedly a figment of my imagination."

"Not 'undoubtedly.' You have plenty of doubts and we both know it. You're just afraid to admit it."

"That you're a ghost? You're damn right I'm afraid to admit it. I told Joe that I was a wacko, but that would put me beyond the pale. "She stopped, frowning. "Why are you laughing?"

"Because you're worried because you said 'damn' in front of a kid."

"I am not." But she'd had a fleeting moment when that thought had crossed her mind. "It's all part of the fantasy. They could probably write a textbook on me."

"It shouldn't bother you," Bonnie said gently. "I'm not a kid anymore, Mama. Not really. I couldn't stay seven forever. It doesn't happen like that."

She had told Eve that before but to Eve she looked exactly the same: curly red hair, bright eyes, luminous smile.