stalks in her life.

They found themselves in the lower level of the museum, where they passed

by a scrollwork sign that announced “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”

It was her favorite book as a kid. “Go in?” she asked Peter.

He seemed hesitant. It was more of an area for kids than adults.

“Sure,” he said eventually. “After you.”

They walked in just as a burst of three kids ran out. Once inside, though, it

was quiet.

There was a display where you could feel the beat of the Tin Man's heart, and a cutout display where you could take a photo of yourself as a Flying Monkey. Which they did.

“Here,” Peter said ahead of her, “I think these are for you.”

He was pointing at a giant pair of silver slippers mounted on a pink platform.

A girl was standing inside them, clicking her heels together. When she did, a sign lit up in front of her in pink letters. There's no place like home.

She joined him. “I thought they were supposed to be ruby?” she said.

He was reading the sign next to the exhibit. “Says here they were silver in

the book. They used ruby in the movie to provide contrast with the Yellow Brick

Road.” He looked up. “And you thought science was boring.”

“Not science. Maybe scien tists,” she teased.

“Ouch,” he said, but he was smiling. The girl in the shoes had hopped down

and moved on to the next exhibit. “Just for that, it's your turn,” he said, pointing.

“Uh uh,” she said.

“Don't think your feet will fit?”

This kidding, it was like when they were kids. “What do I do?” she asked,

sliding out of her shoes.

“Hop up,” he said, taking her hand. It was strong and soft at the same time.

She leaned on him a little more than she needed and slid her feet into the giant

shoes.

The room was empty, almost silent. A disco ball swirled mirrored stars

around the darkened room.

“Now,” Peter said. “Click your heels together and say, 'There's no place like

home'.”

Her heart bumped in her chest. The painting in front of her was of the Emerald City, a spiraling Yellow Brick Road leading up to its gates. Above it was empty blue sky.

She closed her eyes and swallowed. “There's no place like home,” she said

and clicked her silver shoes together three times.

She opened her eyes. The sky above the Emerald City was emblazoned in

winking pink LED lights. There's No Place Like Home.

She swallowed again.

“Kate?” Peter said, his voice distant.

“Hmm?”

“I got a text. I've got to go.”

* * *

Kate stepped out of the silver slippers, then retrieved her own shoes from the carpet. “A text? From who?”

“From Lucius,” he said, his face unreadable. They began walking.

Uh oh. “Everything okay?” she asked, trying not to think the worst.

“Nothing too major,” he said as he began texting back. “Water on the floor in

the lab from a backed-up sink. And Barney got loose again.”

“Who's Barney?”

Peter held his hands apart about two feet. “A Bearded Dragon, about so long.”

“Oh, yeah. Didn't he win that beard contest in Golden Grove a few weeks ago?”

“This guy's a lizard.”

She nodded. “Exactly.”