Artemis sat straight up in bed, eyes wide. Despite having been asleep only moments before, she was now completely awake. She smiled a little to herself and thought, I had that dream again.

That dream referred to the calm, comforting dream that seemed to come more frequently these days. In it, the pretty lady who looked kind of like Artemis’s mother, but not quite, spoke to Artemis and told her stories. It was like being with an old friend, and Artemis often hated waking from this dream. In this most recent dream, she’d said to the woman, “Don’t leave. Stay here. At least tell me your name.” The woman had simply smiled at this and replied, “Don’t worry; someday soon, I’ll be around constantly. When that day comes, you‘ll know what to call me.”


This puzzled Artemis, but she did not let this trouble her in the slightest. She’ll be around all the time, she thought to herself. Oh boy! I hope she and Mom get along!

At this, she frowned, remembering the last time she’d had this dream. That time I got sick, she recalled. Aunt Lia acted really weird. Maybe she can tell me what this is about. She’s really smart, even if Mom does say she got all weird after something happened to her in high school.


Ophelia stared across the desk at the young woman with reddish-brown hair, who smiled awkwardly in response.

“Ms. Foley-Cloud,” the young woman said, “I’ve received your many offers to join your team, but I’m afraid I must decline. I… It’s not that the offer is tempting; it is, believe me, especially given what a nutso my boss is sometimes. But I simply can’t leave my husband there.” She smiled, embarrassed. “We… we got married recently,” she explained, then lightly touched her own stomach, which Ophelia noticed, for the first time, was slightly rounded; the beginning stages of pregnancy clear. “I’m going to be blunt. My boss is trying to seduce my husband. I simply don’t feel safe leaving him there; God only knows what she’ll try to do.”


Ophelia smiled and nodded patiently. “Well, Ms.--”

“--Delilah. Please. No one calls me by my last name, maiden or married.”

“Delilah. I can understand and sympathize with your dilemma; I myself work closely with my long-time partner,” Ophelia said. She tapped a pen on her desk, thinking. “How about this? I’m sure we can find somewhere for your husband to work. He’s a designer?”

“No, more along the lines of managerial work. I’m sure you heard in the tabloids about… you know…”

“Which thing, the rooftop or the designer who…?”

“Both.”

“Yes, I’m quite familiar with all of the happenings of your company. Unfortunately, if you’ll allow me to be perfectly blunt, your talents are going to waste there.”

“Talents? I’m a secretary.”

Ophelia smiled a little. “I understand you’ve also designed a few things.”

Delilah laughed, embarrassed. “Oh, those things I sent in, years ago. I was broke and trying to get employed anywhere. Those were just scribbles, pretty much.”

“Well, they were quite impressive, which is why I’ve spent so long trying to track you down. That, and I’ve noticed some of your modeling experience. My brother is sort of a fan of your work.”

Delilah blushed and laughed. “Broke and needed money. I told you. I don’t, you know, do that kind of stuff for a living.”

“Of course not. I’ll tell you what, Delilah. I’ll fill out the paperwork and look into getting you and your husband working here by the end of the month. Do you think you can survive at that other place until then?”

“Yes, I suppose so. Thank you, Ms. Foley-Cloud,” Delilah replied gratefully. She began to rise, then paused. “By the way, my doctor knows you. I mentioned your offers to him, and apparently, he’s a friend of yours.”

“Oh, is that so? What’s his name?”

“Dr. Aiden Desjardin.”