Free Momentum by Imogen Rose Page B

arm around my shoulder. “We’ll hopefully see you tomorrow.”
    “Come here.” Dad pulled me in for a hug. “I have a lot of questions for you, but they’ll have to wait. As long as you’re okay?”
    I nodded.
    “All right, come with me,” Gramadea said. “This is Morten.” She pointed at the man who’d come in with her.
    I kissed Mom’s forehead and then followed them out with Kellan beside me. We walked down the corridor to a quiet enclave, and then Gramadea put her hands on my shoulders. I felt the same sensations as when I had been transported to Raj. My eyes were forced shut, but I could feel a glow through my lids. After what seemed like ages, my feet finally touched a solid surface again. I gingerly found my balance and let go of Gramadea.
    “Arizona!” Ella shrieked and threw herself at me.
    I caught her and started to twirl her–well… I tried. Boy, she was heavy! I put her down and couldn’t believe my eyes. “Wow. You’ve really grown! I didn’t notice that before.”
    “You silly! I haven’t grown any. I just look taller with this tiara on.”
    Magnificent as the tiara was, it didn’t account for her growth. A year of growth . I had missed a year of her life. What had she been up to?
    “Arizona!”   Harry lifted me up into a bear hug. He looked a bit different, too. He hadn’t grown bigger or anything, but his hair was different, and there was something else, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.
    “Arizona, will you come swimming with me and Alexa?” Ella pointed to a gothic-looking girl.
    “Hi, Alexa. I am Arizona, Ella’s big sis.”
    Alexa smiled. “Nice to meet you. I’m Ella’s babysi–”
    “Alexa is my friend .” Ella’s mouth was set in a determined line.
    I had to smile; she’d always had a thing about being babysat . I needed answers, but I decided that Ella needed my attention. The questions could wait a while longer. “You coming, Harry? You, too, Kellan,” I added.
    “They will in a while,” Gramadea said. “I need them to help me with something first. You and Ella go ahead. Have fun. Ella, shall I keep the tiara safe while you swim?”
    She took it off and handed it to Gramadea before taking my hand and leading me outside.
     
    ~
     
    “She doesn’t even remember!” Kellan paced the floor, shaking his head from side to side.
    They–Kellan, Harry, and Amadea–were assembled in Spencer’s study.
    “Kellan, I know how difficult this must be for you, but you’ll just have to give her time. I’m bringing Gertrude back for a visit. I’m hoping that it might spur her on to recall some of what’s happened.”
    “What if she just goes back to being Arizona Stevens again? And then when Gertrude leaves, she transforms back again? We can’t be messing with her life like that,” Harry interjected.
    Gramadea sighed. “I can’t predict what will happen. I don’t know what to do.”
    “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with her being back to her normal self,” Harry said. “Yeah, she lost a year, and a lot’s happened. Maybe she’ll remember stuff eventually, or maybe not. In that case, she’s back to being herself and, even though it’ll be tough, we can help her.”
    “But I’ll have lost my Arizona,” Kellan protested.
    “Maybe, but remember she’s the same person. She’s the girl you fell in love with, the girl who played hockey. Some of that stuff might come back again when we tell her what’s happened.”
    “I don’t want you to tell her about us,” Kellan muttered.
    “Why not?”
    “I want her to find her own way back to me.”
     
    ~
     
    “So, Gramadea told me that you can’t remember anything that’s happened since last October.” Ella handed me a swimsuit.
    “Apparently.” I took the green bikini from her.
    “Nothing at all?”
    “Looks that way. Where are we?”
    “Oh, at Gramadea and Granddad’s house in London.”
    “London? Granddad?”
    “Wow, you really don’t remember, do you?”
    I shook my