Thoughts like these were far from her mind when she skipped down the long drive after breakfast and ducked between some hedges on the south side of the lawn. A month or so ago she had discovered a hidden, magical spot in the vast gardens of Caverleigh. Already, Sarah thought of it as her very own. Concentrating intently, she counted and made the proper number of turns in the maze - 4 right turns, 2 left turns and then 3 right. She came at once into a walled garden still tended and beautiful. It was so beautiful and otherworldly that Sarah always felt she had just stepped into a church when she came inside.

The garden was filled with roses of every variety, most of which had begun to bloom. Roses climbed up very high and tumbled down across the hedges. Roses filled the gently curving beds and grew in clusters along the path. There were peach-colored roses, wide open and big as both your hands. There were elegant white roses, sweetly scented with golden centers. There were deep red roses scattering their petals when the breezes made them dance. There were tiny pink fairy roses peeking from the lush green bowers that climbed up the hedges on one side and yellow tea roses nestling themselves among the ivy.

The grassy lawn of the garden held a wrought iron table and four chairs. Two old stone benches nearly covered with moss sat in the shade on either end of the garden. Above one of the benches was one of the most beautiful rose bushes of all. It was deep pink and its branches made a natural canopy over the bench. Never had Sarah seen a more inviting spot. She perched on the bench, her arms wrapped around her knees, and planned her afternoon festivities, humming to herself.

The idea of having a tea party there had come to her upon her second visit to the place. She knew that she wanted to have tea there as soon as the weather was warm enough. It seemed very important. She would bring her stuffed animals and Aunt Alice's friendly cat, Bart, to the tea party. They would spend the afternoon. Mrs. Drummond had already agreed to make a proper tea for her and loan her some cups and saucers. She went over the details in her head, growing sleepy in the warm spring sun. Lovingly, she touched the deep pink roses above her head. Their sweetness seemed to grow stronger. Then from somewhere not too far away she heard someone singing. Her hand stilled. The singing grew closer. It was a song Sarah found strangely familiar in a voice so clear that she found herself barely breathing to listen.  Sarah opened her eyes slowly to a garden ablaze with light. Walking toward her was a lady with long red hair in a rich blue gown that gleamed as it trailed behind her along the grass. She was the most beautiful lady that Sarah had ever seen. Her dress was like the ones in the storybook about knights and ladies, but she had shining white wings that seemed filled with light.

Sarah stood up very slowly, wanting to make sure she was awake. The angel's eyes were gentle and loving and Sarah found that she was not afraid at all. "Is this your garden?" she asked.

At first the angel didn't answer and when she did it was only to ask Sarah a question: "What do you want most of all, Sarah?"

It seemed a strange question. Sarah knew she had to answer the angel, but a hundred possible answers flooded her mind. Some of the answers were about things - I want a new doll; I want more drawing pencils; I want chocolate pudding for supper - but somehow these answers didn't seem right. Other answers were more about wanting to see her parents or to be taller, or to have red hair like the angel. Still, she knew, much as she wanted these things, these were not the answer either. Then the answer came. It came so clearly in her mind that Sarah let out a little gasp and the angel smiled and nodded.

"I want my Aunt Alice to come to my tea party. I want her to like me. I don't want her to be alone anymore." How had the angel known? "Do you love your Aunt Alice, Sarah?" the angel asked. And suddenly Sarah knew that she did - it was hard to understand why exactly, but she did. She loved the sad, quiet woman fiercely, protectively. Sarah took a deep breath - "Yes," she said. "I do".

The angel smiled a smile that lit up the whole world and plucked a deep ink rose from the bush above Sarah's head, placing it in her small hands.

"Give this to your Aunt Alice with your love," she said. "And invite her to your tea party."

Sarah sat looking in wonder at the beautiful rose in her hands. When she looked up, the angel was gone.