Prologue

I remember one summer day that stands out most to me in my memories. It was the Fourth of July, and a few of the family members were over from England. Richard set up a tent outside, and we waited for fireworks as twilight rose.

"It's a nice evening, isn't it?" I turned around to see Matthew, handsome as ever. His blonde hair was neatly pressed and his blue ayes seemed to reflect the sky.

"Yes, it is," I said, smiling. He smiled back, a goofy grin. How many times had I seen him smile that smile?

"I'm so happy to see that you're doing well," He said suddenly.

"Yes," I said again and then hesitantly added, "I'm happy to see you're doing well too, after..." I trailed off, and silently cursed myself.

"Yes, well..." He trailed off too. I kept silent. None of us ever mentioned The Subject, as I had started calling it in my head. "Is Lavinia...coping well?"

Matthew turned around to look at Lavinia. She looked beautiful, laughing at something Mother had said.

"Yes, she's doing fine. Much better than...before." Another uncomfortable silence hung in the air.

"Mama! Mama!" Roberts voice broke the silence. My sweet, darling, seven-year old boy came running up to me, dragging his six-year old sister, my daughter Esther, behind him. "Esther found the first star! Esther found the first star!"

"She did?" I gasped, breaking into a smile for Robert's benefit. I knelt down so I was eye-level with Esther. "Where did you find it?" I signed.

Esther pointed up, and I looked. Right above us was the first star of the evening, twinkling innocently.

"You know what this means, don't you?" I asked.

"It means we get to make a wish!" exclaimed Robert. He frantically signed this to Esther, who nodded excitedly.

"Well, then, make a wish," I said. "Remember, 'star light, star bright...' "

" 'Star light, star bright..." said Robert solemnly, reciting the rhyme I taught him. Esther did the same, signing it with her hands. I gazed up at the star with them, watching it twinkle away.

" '...have the wish I wish tonight," finished Robert. Esther's hands stopped moving.

"Did you wish for something good? And remember, you can't tell anyone, or it won't come true," I said. I signed along as I said it, for Esther.

"Oh yes, I wished for something good!" said Robert earnestly. "And don't worry, I won't tell anyone. An Esther won't, either," He said with a nod.

"Well, good," I said. I turned back to Matthew. He had a look on his face I couldn't quite place-wistfulness, maybe?

"Mama," Robert's voice interrupted me again. I turned around to face him. "Did you wish for anything?"

I looked up at Matthew, and for a moment out eyes met. It seemed like eternity that we gazed at each other, but it must have only been for a few seconds. Finally, I tore my gaze away form him and looked at Robert, a smile on face.

"What do I need to wish for? I have everything I want," I said. Robert's face broke out in a grin, and he hugged me, tightly. Then, just as quickly, he pulled away and yelled "Tag!", slapping Esther lightly on the shoulder. Her face broke into a grin and she chased after him. I watched them as they both ran around, lost in their own childish world. I tilted my head back to the star, where it sat twinkling, unaware of the lives it had just influenced. Then I turned around and headed off in the opposite direction to join the other family members, leaving Matthew standing alone. As I walked away, I could hear Robert's shouts and Esther's shrieks resounding in the night air as I walked away.

I just hope they never find out I lied.