Prologue

Spring, Present Day

R ain dotted the concrete as Hilde hurried across the parking lot clutching her umbrella. The overcast sky threatened dark, stormy clouds and she wanted to be inside before it broke loose and poured. Despite the coming Spring, it was still chilly, making her shiver under her thick pea coat.

She hustled up the steps of the children's hospital entrance, retracting her umbrellas as she crossed the threshold of the double sliding doors. She made her way to information, leaving a trail of raindrops. The receptionist gave her directions to her niece's room. She headed to the elevators at a brisk pace.

When she found the room, her sister, Linnea, was dozing in the chair beside the girl's hospital bed. Her chin was on her chest, her hands limp in her lap. Marigold was curled on her side in the bed hooked up to all sorts of contraptions. It hurt her heart to see her little niece like that. But the one thing that gave her comfort was seeing the blue scarf wrapped around her. The scarf she gave her for Christmas when she was six.

She'd just celebrated her eighth birthday and then immediately came down with some sort of respiratory infection. The doctors ran every test they had but never discovered the cause.

The door closed with a soft snick behind her and she paused there in the half light of the room. Outside, rain began to pour.

Linnea startled and lifted her head. Her eyes opened and fixed on Hilde standing at the door. Confusion flickered over her face for a moment, then she gave her a nod of hello. She yawned and stretched and rose, walking around the end of the bed to greet her. She wrapped her in a tight hug.

"Any change?" Hilde asked when she pulled away.

Linnea shook her head. Her eyes were bloodshot. Dark circles had formed under her lower lashes. Exhaustion lined her face.

"I'm glad you came." Her voice was low so as not to disturb Marigold.

Hilde clutched her sister's arm, squeezing it. "Why don't you go home and get some rest? I'll sit with her for a while."

Linnea glanced back at Marigold, the hesitation evident in her body language. "Are you certain?"

"Yes, of course. She's my favorite niece. I don't mind."

"She's your only niece," Linnea pointed out.

They shared a chuckle.

"I could use a shower," her sister said.

"Then go. How's Jack?" she asked, inquiring about her brother-in-law.

"He's staying busy at work. I think he's trying to be strong for all of us."

"As he should." She hugged her again. "Go on. She'll be fine. Take this. You'll need it." She handed her the umbrella.

Linnea gave her a tired nod as she took it with a glance to the window. Rain sluiced down it in rivulets. "Thank you."

She grabbed her purse from the chair and left. When she was gone, Hilde perched in the chair next to the bed. She clasped her hands in her lap, watching Marigold sleep. Her round, cherub face was in repose, her long lashes brushing her cheeks. She looked thinner than when she saw her at Christmas. Her cheeks were not quite as rosy. Her blonde hair was flat against her head.

She stirred and her eyes fluttered open. Even with the illness, her blue eyes were still bright and clear.

"Where's Mummy?"

"She went home to get some rest." Hilde leaned forward, placing her hand on the girl's cold one. She gave it a quick squeeze. "I'll stay with you until she comes back."

Marigold shifted in the hospital bed, eyeing the water jug across the room. "I'm thirsty."

"I'll get you some water."

Hilde rose and moved to the other side, pouring a cup of water for her. Then handed it to her. She sipped it, then handed it back. Hilde placed it on the side table and sat again.

She hated seeing Marigold like this. She looked and sounded weak.

"Auntie, will you tell me a story?" she asked, blinking her wide blue eyes.

How could she resist? "Of course, I will, sweet girl. And I have just the one for you."

"What's it about?"

"Why, it's about a princess who was the fairest in all the land. But the evil queen was so jealous of her, she exiled her from the castle when she was the same age as you. The queen hoped she would never return."

The girl's eyes went round. "What did she do?"

"The princess ran into the forest," Hilde said. "She was scared and alone. As night fell, she needed a safe place to sleep. She found a village hidden deep within the forest populated by forest elves. They took her in and let her stay with them."

"And then what happened?" She scooted to a sitting position.

"I'll tell you. Once upon a time, there was a lovely young woman named Snow White…"