The day after Mrs. Castor asked for my aunt's services, she dropped off a check. My aunt ran into town and bought herself a brand new, double-decker, conventional oven, the oven of her dreams—one where she could make multiple desserts at once.

Saturday rolls around, and Alice is hard at work with the baking. I'm in the kitchen with her, preparing the crust. We are both covered in flour.

"You really should make this into a business, Auntie. There isn't a bakery in town, and I think it would be very successful," I say, looking up from cutting the strawberries. Alice is putting the next batch of pies into the oven.

Alice contemplates my words as she finishes putting the next batch of pies in. "I was thinking about that. Now that you have all the help you need, I may open one up." She closes the oven door and begins opening a new bag of flour. "I am scared, though. I've never been my boss. Working for someone isn't as scary as hiring and firing. It would all be on me." Her brows furrow as she turns to me, wiping her hands on her brand new blue "Kiss the Baker" apron. I can tell she was thinking a lot about this.

"Don't worry," I say to her. "You are smart and talented. If you need anything, I will help." I went to the sink and washed my hands. I turn to look for a towel to dry my hands.

My aunt walks around the island and puts her arm around my shoulders. She looks at the twenty-two pies she's created in awe. They sit all over the kitchen and dining room tables. She sighs. A worrying expression spreads throughout her face. "Okay, we're almost done. Now how do we get all these pies to the..."

The doorbell rings.

I continue slicing as she goes and opens the door. I am so proud of my aunt! She has given up so much to take care of us, and I think it's time for her to venture out on her own. A bakery, with her name as the logo, is just what her soul needs right now.

If I save up enough to help her, I definitely will.

I finish cutting an entire bowl of strawberries and place the knife into the sink. Two older gentlemen step into the kitchen carrying medium size, flat, pink boxes.

"These are the pies I've made so far. If you want, you can pack them up and take them now," Alice says with a huge grin.

The men nod. They start folding the boxes and place one pie in each box. I look over at Alice, confused. "What's going on?"

She beams. "Well, they work for me. For the time being," she says, giggling. "Mrs. Castor sent over the boxes, and they will take the pies over to the Castor Estate."

That is surprising. Estate?

I wait around patiently as the men start to load some boxes onto a cart. Once they push the first set out of the kitchen, I run towards my aunt. "Estate? Isn't the old miller home tiny?"

The Millers used to babysit me when I was younger. I knew their property sufficiently. It is pretty vast. The home itself is tiny, but it sits on almost a thousand acres. They practically owned their forest.

Alice mulls over my words. "These people are rich, Em. I wouldn't be surprised if that hut us now a castle."

The sun is going down when daddy, Alice, and I head over to the Castors. I am interested and anxious. My aunt keeps talking about the estate, but I don't believe it. I saw the property a month ago. It's still a horrid landfill. The deteriorating wooden roof had fallen, piles of trash collecting for years, the vines and grass that stands taller than me. Not enough money could change the outcome of that mess in less than a month, let alone two weeks.

We are almost at the property when I start to notice trees. It's a barrage of Leyland cypress trees. They are lined up on the grass, tightly packed—one after another as we continue up the road. I can't see anything past them.

My mouth drops. I know this road like the back of my hand, and I have never seen these trees here before.

"We're here!" Alice sings excitedly. We continue to pass the cypress trees until I see an opening. My aunt slows the truck down and makes a left into a narrow path. There stands an open iron gate.

I look up. Above the black, iron gates reads Castor Estate. It had angel wings on either side.

As we continue up the path, I'm in awe. Different plants and trees lined the entire driveway up to the house.

When we are close to seeing the house, my mouth drops again. I slide over in the backseat, toward the middle, leaning between my father and my aunt. I want to get a good view of the house and man did it not disappoint. The house looks like a mini castle.

"Seriously? They did all of this in less than two weeks?"

The outside of the house is breathtaking. It's an Elizabethan-era-style mansion—both enchanting and elegant. For a second, I feel like Cinderella. I am being taken to the ball while Alice and my father are driving the carriage. The pumpkin is our old, green ford truck. A nosy truck too. I'm sure everyone hears us pulling up.

The driveway has a small, rectangular garden where a fountain would've been. There stood what looked like a Christmas tree at the center, white lights adorning it. Plants and flowers all around it.

The Castors come out to greet us. As I get out of the truck, my eyes go straight to Mrs. Castor. She is dressed casually but looks beautiful in a flowy, pink skirt with a white button-up shirt. Her husband is wearing an all-white suit.

Rick didn't button the top buttons to the shirt all the way. Is he trying to go for the sexy look?

Alice looks at his shirt and uncomfortably looks away.

I stifle a giggle.

I watch as Mrs. Castor hugs Alice and shakes Daddy's hand. Mr. Castor follows.

"Emery, dear, you look beautiful," Mrs. Castor says as I look back at what looks like a Christmas tree.

I turn around and blush. "Oh, thank you! I think I've had this sundress forever. Nothing special about it." I grin at her and tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.

"She's so modest. I love it! Come on, dear!" Mrs. Castor grabs my hand. "Everyone else is waiting." We turn and begin walking into the house.

"Trevor!" Mr. Castor yells to what looks like the valet. The valet asks Alice for the keys to the truck. She happily gives it to him.

"Is everyone else here?" Alice asks as Mr. Castor runs around us to open the front door.

"Oh, yes! They've been here for more than two hours. You and your family were kind enough to listen to the time given," Mr. Castor says, and he opens the door. "I guess this town is full of curious and ill-mannered minds."

"Rick!" Mrs. Castor elbows him in the stomach. He coughs. "I'm sorry, he can be a little too..."

"Honest?" Daddy finishes her sentence with a grin. "I agree with Rick."

That is the reason why daddy hates the townspeople. No one knows how to mind their own business.

We all laugh as we step inside.

I can't believe where I am right now! The double staircase foyer is stunning. It is so graceful and stylish in appearance. I look into the sitting room, and it mirrors the hall in every way.

It also has a fireplace, Gracie silk-screened and handpainted wallpaper, black granite, and marble floors stained and lead glass windows. I can go on and on, but I feel a hand on my shoulder.

"Don't you just love it, Emery?" Mrs. Castor asks proudly. She then smiles warmly at me.

"Oh my gosh!" I look at her; my eyes glaze over. Her home is beyond beautiful! This place should be a museum. "I'm speechless, Mrs. Castor! I've never seen anything like this." I continue to look around.

"Call me Sandy, sweetie. And I'm glad you like it! You guys are the only people we allowed inside." She laughs as she looks at the three of us. "Ushers escorted everyone else around the ground to the back, where our little soirée is being held."

I look at my dad. He seems very out of place, towering over everyone, his hair slicked back and wearing a suit in the middle of the summer.

I grab his hand as we follow the Castors to the party.

On this property, it is one surprise after another. My mouth opens wide at how vast the backyard is. The Castors utilize a lot of the property. To the left is an open field. It sort of dips down, so I can't see towards the end.

To the right of me, all the trees twinkle with bright white lights. There are a ton of tables. There were also flowers hanging from above and tables—cream-colored clothes and candles and tall lilies inside clear jars as centerpieces. Guests are eating or on the checkered dance floor. Mrs. Castor went all out! I feel like I've walked into a wedding reception.

"So we set up a buffet station over there." Mrs. Castor points to the edge of the party, closest to the house. There are tables lined across with tons of food on them. Servers are standing by readily. It all smells so good!

Sandy then grabs flutes of champagne and hands them to Alice and my dad.

"Okay, Summers! I'm going to give a speech in a little while. Relax, eat, and mingle! I'll find you three a little later." Sandy and Rick smile at us as they turn and walk away. "Rick, where is Levi hiding now?" Sandy asks in annoyance.

I follow Alice and Daddy to the buffet. There is such an assortment of food—three different types of rice, meats, potatoes, fruit, vegetables, and sushi. There is also a candy and ice cream bar for the kids. I'm not hungry, so I go straight to the cotton candy machine.

"What flavor would you like, Miss?" The server asks politely.

I look at the menu above the server's head. Are there ten different types of flavors? Chocolate, strawberry, and lime are some of the flavors. It's one surprise after another at this party. "Hmm. May I have the mango, please?"

I've never heard of mango cotton candy, but I gravitate towards it. The server hands me a gigantic orange ball that sits on a pink paper cone. As I walk away, I pull on the cotton candy and hesitate to taste it. If it's nasty, I can throw it away. No biggie.

I lick the piece that I pull away and freeze where I stand. That's how good it is! I suddenly become hungry and slowly try to devour the entire thing. Becoming aware that some of the townspeople are looking at me, I smile and walk away. So good!

I spend half of the night greeting the residents of my town. All everyone does is give backhanded compliments.

"Don't get me wrong, the place is lovely. However, why Ackley? Why move from a big city to a farming country? Are they murderers—"

"No, I heard they are part of the mafia," old Penny Sampson whispers cheerfully after cutting her sister Paige off.

Another couple of people guessed trust fund babies, while others guessed bank robbers.

Old Paige Sampson tries and asks me what I think the Castors do for a living. I want no part of that. I'm not going to judge friendly people. They are kind and gracious to my family. How they obtain their money is no one's business. I quickly turn and walk away.

I will say hello to Miss Diane, my old kindergarten teacher when something in the sky catches my attention. It's that golden light again. It's back! I look around and notice no one else is seeing this.

The townspeople are eating or chatting away merrily. A small group has gathered onto the dance floor as the DJ turns on some Carrie Underwood. I grab the person closest to me.

"Mrs. Carmichael! Hey!" I grab her hand and turn her towards the direction of the light.

"Yes, Emery?" She looks at me with a smile. The sun is setting, so this light is visible and so close. You'd have to be blind not to see it.

I point towards it. "Tell me that isn't a UFO. Do you see it? That light. What is it?"

Mrs. Carmichael squints and then puts her glasses on that were dangling around her neck. "Where? I don't see anything, sweetheart." She looks at me confused and walks away.

I look around again. Is no one seeing this thing in the sky? I squint my eyes and see the golden light stop climbing and start to fall. It then begins to catch on fire as it falls.

"A meteor?" I breathe out loud. Is it going to land on this property? Panic starts to sink in. Are we in danger of being hit?!

I look around one last time. None of the guests have bothered to look up while the fireball is steadily growing closer. A golden shadow has fallen on the party, and no one cares. All the teenagers are on their phones texting or taking pictures of themselves. No one is paying any attention, which infuriates me!

Such technology!

Do I see things? I have to be. I place the cotton candy on the closest table and walk towards the other side of the property.

I keep walking until I approach a hill. I look down and notice tall shrubbery with an opening in the middle. The dip is a tad steep, so I carefully walk down. As I get closer to the start of shrubs, soft lighting flickers on above my head. They are attached to the trees.

I hesitate to walk in but do so. The lights come on above my head again as I turn right. After left and right, I know where I am. "This is a maze, " I say out loud and impressively.

One I can get lost in, so I have to be careful. It's so beautiful, though. My heart suddenly begins racing fast. Did I dare venture in further just to see if my suspicions about the UFO are true? And if they are, then what?

Am I prepared to fight it? What if I surrender to it?

What if I'm experimented like an animal!

Maybe I should go back and get daddy and the Castors. After all, they will want to know there may be aliens in their backyard.

I decide to keep going when I hear a microphone turn on. Sandy introduces herself and starts thanking everyone for coming. She continues her speech as I make a left. I don't know where the hell I am going, but I continue to walk.

At one point, I hit a dead-end and turned back. I smile. Going through this maze is fun!

Another two turns, and I hit another dead end. I backtrack and continue when I hear what sounds like enormous bird wings fly by above me. I scream and duck, covering my ears as my hair and dress go flying upwards.

"What was that?!" I ask myself in terror. I look around, standing against the shrub, holding my chest.

I think this would be a perfect time to head back; I knew where the exit was.

I am trying to find my bearings when I see a huge flash of golden light above me. I turn back and freeze. I should leave, but I want to see what that light is. What will be the harm in just peeking? It's not like monsters existed.

Right?

I continue forward cautiously. The sky is already at its darkest, and I am completely insane!

After making a left and a right, I come to an opening. The light coming from it is brighter than the maze lights.

I am suddenly filled with courage and walk through holding my breath. My eyes close tightly, terrified of what lays in front of me.

I'm crazy, I know.

I slowly open my eyes when I don't hear or feel anything. Disappointment washes over me when I see my prize for successfully walking through the maze and being courageous.

No UFO.

Instead, a big, circular, white water fountain stands in front of me. In the center stands a tall statue of a golden angel, standing at about eight feet tall and is illuminated.

Oddly, I can't pinpoint the light source.

Weird.

There are golden benches on either side of the fountain. I look down and see I am standing in the greenest grass. I am also boxed in, with shrubbery all around. I look towards the shrubbery and see white lilies growing out of it.

"Odd," I say to myself. "Lilies grow in the dirt. Not bushes."

Looking around, I smile—I'm in a garden—a beautiful one.

I sigh as I walk toward the fountain. I look around and see the other side of the garden. There is another opening. I guess the maze continues through there.

I sit on the edge of the fountain, passing my hand through the cool water—the water ripples around my finger. I smile and sigh as I look at my rippling reflection.

My thoughts start to drift to my mom and my brothers. They would've loved this place and the Castors.

I can't help but wonder if Mom is disappointed in me for staying in this town. She had enormous dreams for me to leave this place. I was to become something of myself. Someone significant.

I'm so deep in my thoughts that I don't see the image standing behind me. Its reflection is evident in the water. I scream and turn but fall back into the water fountain.

As hot as it is out here, the freezing water isn't welcoming at all. I stand immediately and look down at myself.

"Who are you?!" An angry voice growls at me. "How did you enter here?!"

"Are you kidding me?!" I stomp in the water. Furious doesn't even begin to touch how I feel. My fists start to shake at my sides. My white dress is soaked and see-thru. Oh no! I cover myself almost immediately.

"I nearly drowned, and you are worried about me straying?! You have no manners!" I continue to cover myself the best way I can.

I climb out of the fountain and waltz by him. He grabs me by my arm.

I turn to him, appalled. "How dare you?! Don't touch me!" I seethe as I look up.

My anger disappears as I see his face. It's like time stands still as my mouth opens, but no words come out.

I hate to admit it, but he is gorgeous. His anger stands evident on his face, but it doesn't matter. He's the most beautiful man I had have ever seen! Jet black hair, pale skin, and he towers over me. My eyes went immediately to his red lips and the tiny mole to the left of them.

I can't see his eyes because of the shadow made by the angel statue behind him.

His anger melts, and he looks at me confused. He then begins to smell my face.

Is this normal? My eyes look around. Am I allowed to move?

When he is satisfied, he scowls. "Go back to the party! You don't belong over here. No one does," he seethes again. "Follow the lights in the maze! It'll lead you back. Don't let me catch you here again."

I am about to argue back, but I could have sworn his eyes look fiery red. I instantly get scared and nod. I pull away from him and run through the maze. I never look back.