Chapter Ten
The window was open. The curtains fluttered in the breeze. Her mother slept in the chair facing her desk. Everything was in its place, with the exception of Kate's favorite T-shirt, a concert T-shirt from the Beatles. This her mother held clutched to her chest, as though by holding her favorite article of clothing close to her, this would cause her daughter to suddenly materialize.
"She looks old," Kate whispered, fearing to step into the room. During the flight she had been excited about this moment, had imagined the wonderful reunion, had planned out what she would say. But now she couldn't even will herself to step over the windowsill.
Her mother woke up suddenly, and blinked several times. She rubbed her eyes wearily and stood up, stretching, working the kinks out of her back. She looked so tired, so worn. Kate's heart ached as she looked at her. She wondered if her mother would ever notice her standing there, watching.
Her mother noticed finally. She stared for what seemed like an eternity, as though trying to decide if this was real or if she were still asleep.
"I'm home, Mother," Kate said quietly, tears in her eyes, finally deciding to speed the reunion up a little. Her mother screamed and they ran into each other's arms, her mother covering her with kisses. Never had Kate experienced a hug so tight, so welcoming, so full of love. She wished her mother would never let go, but she finally pulled away, looking her daughter up and down with a critical eye.
"I was so worried about you," she said, crying but trying not to. "Don't you ever do that to me again, do you hear?"
Kate nodded mutely, wondering how she should drop the bombshell. Her mother was smiling down at her, taking her in, soaking in the beauty of the moment. But something in the window caught her gaze, and Kate turned to see what. She smiled and ran over to him, taking his hand and pulling him into the room.
"Mother, this is Peter Pan," she announced. Peter looked extremely uncomfortable, and Kate feared that he would fly suddenly out the window and back to Neverland. But he did no such thing, preferring to stand rooted to the spot, staring up into the kind but very confused face of Kate's mother. "Can he stay with us?"
"I don't see how it's a problem," she managed finally, collecting herself. "I should make the guest bedroom."
She started towards the door, busying herself. Kate shook her head slowly.
"He wants to stay, Mother," she said quietly. "Forever."
Her mother turned slowly, not sure she had heard correctly. She was frowning when she turned around, and never had Kate seen anyone more confused than in that instant. She almost laughed at the odd look on her mother's face, but she restrained herself, especially as Peter's grip on her hand became tighter as the suspense of the moment grew.
"I suppose so," she whispered. Then she turned to leave, leaving the question of how the Boy Who Never Grows Old decided to grow up unanswered.
"You've seen my room already," Kate began, deciding to give Peter the tour of the whole house in an effort to keep herself busy, so that she wouldn't think about the Lost Boys and the Indians, and all the friends she had left behind. "But I have to show you the guest bedroom- it's so big, you'll absolutely love it!"
The false joy in her voice was very obvious. Peter didn't comment though. He simply turned his sad gaze on her.
"How did Robin Hood end, Katie?" he asked quietly, reminding her once again of a forlorn little boy.
"King Richard came home and took his throne back from Prince John, who got thrown into the dungeon with the Sheriff of Nottingham and all of his men. Robin killed Sir Guy of Gisborne. And once Richard got home and thanked Robin for his good deeds, he performed the wedding ceremony that finally united Robin and Marian."
"So everyone ended up happy?" Peter asked. Kate nodded. "Will we end up happy?"
Kate didn't know how to answer. But finally she smiled and kissed him.
"Of course we will," she whispered. "I'll make sure we will."
He smiled, reassured by the certainty in her voice, as well as by her embrace. Her kisses always filled him with a renewed sense of self-confidence and of the beauty in life.
"Can I go see my bedroom now?" he asked. She nodded.
"It's the room that my mother is in right now," she whispered. "I'll be there in a minute."
Peter ran out of the room. She could hear his footsteps as he ran down the hall, the pitter patter of tiny feet. Slowly, she turned back to face the window. She stood in the windowsill, looking out at the stars. She wanted to cry, but she held the tears back in case Peter should come back. Above all, she didn't want him to see her like that.
"Good-bye, Neverland," she whispered. And it seemed at that moment as if all the stars were waving good-bye to her, wishing her good luck on her greatest adventure of all. And the star which shone the brightest was, off course, the second star to the right.