As the seasons changed, Pleasant once again found herself alone with Polaris and Florence as Addison Geiger was away on business once more, this time to Michigan. The two women had taken up knitting, creating scarves and hats and gloves. Florence had even made a cream colored infant sacque.

"I'm still amazed that one state can be made up of two parts," Pleasant said.

"Most people never give much thought to Michigan," Florence said. "In the winter when the lakes freeze they have to carve trough the ice. There are a lot of immigrants there and that means good business for a low cost doctor like Addison."

Pleasant set her needles aside and looked to the autumn leaves blowing. It felt like an eternity since she left Natt Fristad.

Florence stood and set the makings of baby booties aside. "I'm going to put the kettle on, do you want anything?"

"I'm fine, thank you," Pleasant said getting up herself. "I think I'll take a break and ride Polaris."

"Then you'll want something warm when you return," Florence said. "Don't stay gone too long; it will be dark before you know it."

"I won't," Pleasant said. She retrieved her hat and coat from by the door then set out to the stables. As usual Polaris greeted her with a hearty neigh. "Ready to take a walk?" Pleasant asked as she put on her gloves. She quickly saddled Polaris then climbed up on his back. Inside the stables she almost felt transported back to Natt Fristad and the quiet country hillside.

The sharp winds made Pleasant wish for a scarf as Polaris carried her up the streets. Many people were out and offered greetings as she passed them. She took a street known to be shorter than the rest but long enough for Polaris to get a good stretch. She wanted to be home before sunset so not to worry Florence. The poor woman was worried enough about her brother so far away.

As they walked up the street they came upon a cluster of people outside a house. Letting her curiosity draw her in Pleasant dismounted Polaris and approached the sign that had been erected outside it. She knew the house to sometimes be used to host social or political events though she had never been to any of them

Mr. Forbes' art gala, free admission. She had started to pass up the opportunity when a man and woman stepped out carrying a large oil painting of a prairie. She watched them climb into their carriage with the purchase before riding away. Leading Polaris over to a tree she tied him. "I will only be a minute," she said only for the horse to give a protesting pull. "Calm yourself," she laughed. "We still have a couple of hours of day light. I'll be quick." Kissing his star she hurried into the building.

The floor plan was that of an ordinary house only all the furniture had been moved in order to make way for easels to stand freely with paintings on them. Some paintings hung on the walls and other very large ones were propped up on the floor. Aside from herself only two other people remained in the building. She passed among the paintings which were mostly of landscapes in various seasons.

A painting above the fireplace depicted women with prams walking on a wet street that looked very much like the ones outside. When she walked into the next room she found herself alone. Paintings lined all four walls and a flight of stairs went off to her right. Starting left she went from each painting to the next. These consisted of children at play with each other and animals.

When she reached the far wall she froze as she looked up at the painting. A chill went down her spine and into her hands turning her whole body into ice. The little girl in the painting was leaning out of the window with her hands raised up and from them flew a little bird. It was the same, it was exactly the same save for one thing. The little girl with the bird she once knew had been black and the one before her now had white skin; but it was the same.

With trembling hands she slowly reached up and touched the oil painting. She almost felt transported back in time to the many days in Mississippi before the fire took everything. Her euphoria; however, was shattered when she realized that someone had copied her mother's painting, only changing the girl white. She knew her mother's work had many admirers of all colors.

"Please don't touch the artwork."

Pleasant was certain she had turned to ice. Slowly she turned around feeling the room spin with her. For a long time she stared at the finely dressed woman before her. Her clothing was well made and everything matched from her hat down to her shoes. Pleasant hadn't seen such a carnation since she fled Natt Fristad.

"Are you enjoying Mr. Forbes' work?" the woman asked as Pleasant stood still. "If you would like to make a purchase please do. We will be closing soon. We will be in town for a few months so if nothing suits your fancy you can keep trying back." The woman removed her gloves and started for the flight of stairs.

Pleasant was ringing like a rag trying to get words out. "Mama?"

The woman paused and stepped back into view as she came down the stairs. She glanced around the would be dining room then looked back to the woman before her. "Pardon?"

Pleasant crossed the room on stiff legs. "Mama!"

The woman looked around again. "I can't be your mother, child," she said. "I'm Mrs. Forbes."

"Mama, it's me, Pleasant." The young woman trembled. She had closed the gap between her and Mrs. Forbes now.

Mrs. Forbes looked into her eyes and her hands flew to her heart. "My God!" she exclaimed. "Dear God."

Pleasant smiled as best she could before hugging the woman who then held her at arm's length.

"Pleasant?" she shook her head. "I don't believe it; what are you doing here?"

"I am staying with a doctor and his sister," Pleasant said. "Mama, I don't understand I thought..."

Mrs. Forbes held up her hand. "Shhh now," she whispered taking Pleasant by the wrist and guiding her upstairs. "Wait here please." Leaving Pleasant alone she went back downstairs to close the gallery.

Pleasant went upstairs where everything was arranged as a home would be expected to. She passed a few open doors and paused when she came to one with a crib. Slowly she entered the room, lit by the late afternoon light. Gently she placed her hand on the crib, brushing her fingers on the little animals inside.

"They are with their father."

Pleasant turned around to see her mother standing in the doorway. The very sight of her made her knees weak and she hurried to hug her again only this time the woman didn't embrace her. Instead she crossed the room and sat in the rocker gesturing for Pleasant to take the stool before her.

"I thought you were dead," Pleasant said. "Please, Mama, help me understand."

"Well I am not dead," Mrs. Forbes said. "Clearly I never was."

"But Uncle and Auntie..."

"I died to that life, Pleasant," Mrs. Forbes said. "I loved you girls. I made sure the two of you could have bright futures and be well taken care of when you were women. I meant to send for you but then I met Mr. Forbes. We met at a fair and he was taken with some of my work. We started seeing each other more often. He said I had real talent and he could make something of it. Slowly...very slowly I got over your father's death."

"But..."

"I didn't want to," Mrs. Forbes said. "I fought my feelings each step of the way but then I realized that I loved this man. We told each other everything." She smiled and looked at her daughter. "I only held back one secret."

"May and me," Pleasant said.

"After he asked to marry me I realized that too much time had gone by," Mrs. Forbes said. "I thought that if I told him then he would change his mind. Two daughters?" she shook her head. "So instead I chose to let go of everything connected with my past. It was causing me so much pain."

"So you let us think you were dead?" Pleasant asked more to herself. "How could you let yourself do that?"

"You were well taking care of!" Mrs. Forbes said. "I was sure your dreams would come true as mine had."

"We wanted our mother," Pleasant said, suddenly feeling a pain so sharp it was slashing her heart to ribbons."

"I did what I thought was best," Mrs. Forbes said. 'It's done and it can't be changed. We were never supposed to cross paths."

"You had more children..."

"Yes."

"I needed you!" Pleasant found herself crying against her will. "Mama!"

"Pleasant you are a grown woman now," Mrs. Forbes said. "And by the looks of it you are doing very well."

Pleasant looked at her mother as tremors rocked her body. It was as if the woman she had once known had morphed into someone else entirely. It was clear to see that this Mr. Forbes had money and his wife and children were wanting for nothing. "Oh, Papa," she whispered to herself.

"What?"

"I needed you," Pleasant said and her mother turned away. "I cried for you! I begged for you to help me! All this time I thought you were dead. I needed my mother more than anything all these years but you wouldn't have come would you?"

Mrs. Forbes looked to the crib adjacent them. "You have to understand how hard life was," she said. "I had little choices to stay alive; none of them decent. I slaved long and hard before Mr. Forbes came. If you think things were tough for us in Mississippi..."

Pleasant raised her head. "Nothing in Mississippi was as bad as what I have gone through. We never went hungry, we were never cold...and no one ever harmed us."

Mrs. Forbes looked at her daughter before her. "My husband will be home soon," she said. "He does not know about you. I'm begging you, Pleasant."

Pleasant closed her eyes, releasing heavy tears down her face. With great effort she heaved herself from the stool and dragged herself to the door. She allowed herself one look back before stepping into the hall and going down the stairs. In the dining room she paused before the painting of the girl. She supposed there was more money to be made with white art. She felt as though she had once again taking a plunge into Collect Lake only this time she did not fight against the freezing waters.