"Mom?" I asked hesitantly. Her mother turned and saw me.
"Oh, sweetie," she said, her face softening.
"Mom!" I choked out, and I buried my face in her arms. Then I grew afraid, and stepped back a little, but my mom just pulled me in. At last, when we were getting in the way of dancers, my mom led me outside the ballroom where we could talk in peace.
"Oh, honey, I'm so sorry!" cried my mom. "I'm sorry for neglecting you, and pushing you away, and everything I did wrong after getting that job. I'm sorry."
"Mom, it's okay," I said. "In fact, it taught me something. That I shouldn't take you for granted. I can't. You do so much for me, and I never really realized it until it wasn't there. I'm sorry for that."
"No, no, Evanna. You shouldn't be sorry. It was all my fault. And you probably won't know this, because they told me you were sleeping, but there were five long years before you saved us. And during those years I missed you so much, I couldn't stand it. That's when I knew what I did wrong. Do you know the last words I said to you? They were about me. And you could have died on that trip, and those could have been my last ever words to you. I knew I would never make that mistake again," said her mom.
"Oh, mom," I said. "I love you so much."
"Aw, sweetie," said my mom, and enveloped me in a hug. After a few minutes, I said,"You know, there's a ball going on out there. One of a kind."
"Let's go," said my mom, smiling down at me. We headed out into the ballroom.
"Hey, Evanna!" said a voice I knew very well. Kae came running up to me.
"Uh, hi, are you Evanna's mom?" he said to my mother.
She smiled. "Yes, yes I am. And who might you be?"
"He's a friend. He came with me on the quest. His name is Kae," I said.
"Nice to meet you, Kae," said my mom, extending a hand. He shook it and smiled, and then turned to me.
"Um, I was just wondering, I mean if you want to-" he stammered. My mom winked at me.
"If you need me, I'll be right over there," she said pointing to the rest chairs, and left. Kae scratched his head.
"So, if you want to, I mean, will you, um, you know..." Kae trailed off. I smiled.
"Yes, Kae, I will dance with you," I laughed, taking his arm.
Kae smiled sheepishly and led me out on the dance floor. And as we whirled away, we saw Holly and Eli dancing together. And then the music carried us off, and we danced all night, laughing and talking. As as the last notes drifted away, and the enchantment lifted, I stepped into my very own world and knew that everything was going to be fine.
Spinners Page 10