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the drawer and she puts it in front of me. The white of the paper is smooth under my fingers. A bolt of excitement stings my skin. “Write some of Papa S.’s words on here.”
    “Which ones?” He says so many wise things.
    “Anything to save the unfortunate people on the Outside.”
    It doesn’t take long to choose. I pick up the pen. It has been a long time since I have written and I watch carefully as the ink makes the words on the page.
    Listen only to Mother Nature, I write. She will save you.
    Rachel takes the paper from me, carefully folds it and tucks it into the hem of the skirt she has made. Swiftly, she pulls the thread behind it, locks it inside.
    Will anyone find it? Who shall wear the skirt of silver stars?Somewhere, on the Outside, a woman will feel the material against her legs. And hidden away, touching her ankles, my inky words will try to save her.

    So I watch. And I listen. But I hear very little through this thick, dirty glass that separates me from the outside world.
    I see the children. They run across the fields, laughing. I watch them disappear into the trees.
    And I wonder.
    After all these years, I still wonder.
    Each day I imagine that a different child is mine. One day it is the boy growing into a man. His gentle ways. One day it is the girl with hair like the sun. Today, the wild girl is my daughter.
    Most days it is her.

CHAPTER EIGHT

    “I have some good news,” Papa S. says.
    He is standing at the head of our tables in the meadow.
    The grass around us is dry, as Mother Nature hasn’t sent rain for over two weeks. The morning is cold against my back.
    “We are to welcome three new members to Seed.”
    No one moves, but surely they feel the same shock as I do. There is only us. This is our family. We are complete, safe from the Outside. But now Papa S. wants someone else to come in.
    “Don’t be afraid.” He smiles warmly at us. “I have asked Nature and she has agreed.”
    I look at Kindred John. His face is still, but his eyes don’t seem happy. Elizabeth is smiling, but it doesn’t look right.
    Papa S. motions his hand toward Kindred Smith, who stands up. “Mother Nature guided me,” Kindred Smith begins. He coughs slightly. “I have a good friend, Linda. I hadn’t seen her for many years, but then Nature led me to her. Linda needs me. She needs us. Her heart belongs at Seed.” He is beginning to speak quickly as he spreads his arms wide. “She will live here withher two children.”
    My mind is stuck. Strangers at Seed.
    Elizabeth kisses her palm and faces it toward Kindred Smith. “We will welcome them,” she says softly as she gets up.
    Heather stands up next. “We will welcome them.” Her voice is strong in the air.
    We all rise. I kiss my palm and face it toward Kindred Smith. His smile is wide.
    “We will welcome them,” I say with my family. I try to mean it and ignore the doubt that is creeping around me. I look to Papa S., but his mouth is closed and I don’t recognize the expression in his eyes.

    We watch the car from the window, Kate, Ruby, and I. From here it looks so small, like a ladybug crawling closer. Slowly, it creeps up our long driveway. We never have visitors and Ruby has gone silent, standing on the chair beside me. Kate’s hands go still in the sink as we hear the rumble of the car’s engine. It comes to a stop outside the main door of our house.
    A woman gets out. Her hair is pulled back from her face. Her trousers are blue, her top black, and she looks nervous. Even from here, I can see the bones through her skin. I have never seen anyone who looks so fragile, as though she could break. She bends totalk to someone in the back, just as the front door to Seed opens and Kindred Smith walks out. He is beaming, and the woman seems to relax slightly as he goes toward her. They kiss each other on the cheek.
    “I’m so glad you decided to come.” Kindred Smith’s words are muffled through the glass.
    “So am I.” The woman smiles