1Epilogue
Irenya awoke to the real world to find a pretty woman with red curls taking her vitals. The woman had sparkling green eyes and wore a nurse's uniform.
"I see you've come round again. Dr. Netcam said you come back from time to time. Is it wonderful in your world?" The nurse asked as Irenya felt disoriented at first.
"Rosette?" She asked picking up a cup of water from beside her bed.
"Yes. Do you know what I represent to you? Do you remember?" Rosette asked looking anxious as Irenya puzzled over it.
"Of course I do. You and Jack are together." She said smiling as Rinol walked in hopeful.
"Hi, you." He said kissing her cheek.
"Hi, yourself." She said as Rosette exited the room.
"You were talking to Rosette. How are you feeling?" He asked wearing a trenchcoat over his yellow suit.
"Why do you wear such clothes?" She asked sipping more water.
"I belong to the FBI. Have you forgotten that?" He asked taking her hand.
"I guess I have forgotten. There must be a reason."
"It might be your father." He said as she thought of a time he told her father killed mother and frowned.
"Is my father still a suspect?" She asked as he winced.
"Your memory does work. Yes. He fixed the car. The car stalled on the tracks." Rinol stated as Irenya creased her brow in thought. "Do I wear diapers?" She asked changing the subject.
"You do when you leave here, yes. Why?"
"Who changes me?"
"Rosette. She's your private nurse. Irenya, do you know what we mean to each other?"
"We're friends aren't we?" She asked before a yawn escaped her.
"We're married. We met the day your mother died. Do you remember that?"
"You look so full of hope. You poor man. Don't worry. I think I can help." She said patting his cheek.
"How?"
"In my mind, our neighbor is Alice. Our daughter is Maralice. Correct?"
"Yes. She misses you."
"She has you, Father, and Rosette though. Is she ok?"
"Yes, but a girl needs her mother. You should know that."
"My father cared for me after mother died. He read to me. How did you and I meet?" She asked accepting more water from him.
"I talked to you when your mother died. I asked you questions. I still think your father fixed the car to stall. Did he?"
"No. Mother is me, and I'm her. I hope Maralice is not like me."
"What do you mean?"
"Mother watched father fix the car. I watched her tamper with it."
"Why didn't you say something?"
"I don't know. I guess I didn't understand what she'd done. She was sick. I am sick. What about my beautiful Maralice?" She worried as Rinol took her in his arms.
"Don't worry about Maralice. She's fine."
"Is there no pumpkin in the basement? Was that in my mind?" She asked resting her head on his shoulder.
"Oh, there is a pumpkin in the basement. Your father built it."
"When can I go home to you, Father, Rosette, and Maralice?"
"Are you feeling better?"
"Yes. I know now that Mother Goose Town is in my mind."
"Not all of it is in your mind, Darling."
"What part of it is real? I know I've drawn everything in my mind." She said as Dr. Netcam chose that moment to join them.
"I'm real. Your father and Rinol are real."
"I know Rinol is no witch. It was in my mind."
"What about Alice and the rabbit?"
"Alice is my daughter Maralice and the rabbit isn't real." She said as Jathe smiled.
"Where did Mother Goose Town come from then?"
"Father reads me stories. I created my town from them."
"Good. You can go home, but I will be coming to see how you are doing. Ok?"
"I'd like that. Thank you. I'd like to take a shower before I go." She said leaving Jathe and Rinol alone to chat.
"Does she suspect anything?"
"I don't think so. She doesn't seem to think anything's amiss." Rinol said as they heard water streaming in the nearby bathroom.
"Good. It won't do if she remembers that the white rabbit is an operative of yours."
"He should be more careful about who he shows himself to. It's his fault Irenya was almost killed."
"How?" Jathe asked keeping an ear out for Irenya's return.
"Her mother saw him talking to Peter Piper about Pickle Peppers." Rinol said as Jathe winced.
"Don't speak in code to me. Just keep it to yourself." Jathe said as Irenya appeared wearing an orange dress with matching hair ties.
"This is one of my realities. Can we go?" She asked hugging Jathe goodbye.
"Of course. Shall we return to the house that Jack built?" Rinol asked escorting her out to his red Krenlin.
"Yes, let's. I miss our town." She said smiling as they kissed as Jathe watched them drive away.
Jack's House
Irenya and Rinol arrived at Jack's house by noon. Maralice was with Rosette and Jack. Irenya entered the house after Rinol who approached a smiling Maralice.
"Remember how I said I'd bring you a surprise?"
"UH-huh." The young girl said sipping milk.
"I kept my promise." He said as Irenya entered the familiar kitchen as Maralice's eyes lit up.
"Hello, Baby." She said hugging her tight.
"Mama. Thanks, Daddy." She said kissing Irenya's cheek as tears spilled onto her face.
"You're welcome." He said as Irenya put Maralice down and faced her father.
"How are you feeling?" He asked after she'd hugged him fierce.
"I'm ok now. I just needed a rest."
"I'm sure you got it there." He said as she rested against his sturdy frame.
"Uh-huh." She said smiling as her daughter took her hand.
"Story?" She asked gazing up at Irenya with hopeful eyes.
"You bet. Stories make us smile." She said leading Maralice upstairs.
"Mama, I saw the rabbit in the garden today. Why does he have a watch?" She asked as Irenya smiled to herself.
"Maralice, it's so he won't be late for tea."
The End.