The Great Unexpected

Before Nula can explain further, Lizzie arrives. She babbles about good news, not realizing Naomi hasn’t heard. Finally, Lizzie says she’s excited that they are all going to Ireland. Naomi is shocked to learn Lizzie is going too.

Nula, Naomi, and Lizzie arrive in Ireland and are met at the airport by a driver. After driving for three hours, Nula is sure he’s brought them to the wrong place. The girls see the iron rooks on the gate, and Naomi is amazed by the sign that says, “Rooks Orchard.” Nula expects a much humbler home, but the driver reassures her.

Nula feels the place is familiar, but she’s still sure there’s been a mistake. However, Miss Pilpenny rushes outside, introducing herself and correctly naming each of the three shocked people in the car. Before they left for Ireland, Naomi learned that Lizzie had also been summoned, but not by the same person who summoned Nula and Naomi. Lizzie was sent for by her aunt, her mother’s sister, Miss Pilpenny, who was Sybil’s companion. When the girls see the inside of the large house, they assume it is a hotel. Naomi lies down and doesn’t wake up until the next day.

Lizzie confirms that Miss Pilpenny is her mother’s sister and Sybil was Nula’s sister, meaning that Naomi, alone, is not related by blood to any of them. Naomi says that this doesn’t matter. The women feel the tension rising and suggest a walk. Miss Pilpenny and Lizzie are already comfortable with each other, and Nula notes Naomi’s irritation. Naomi is happy for Lizzie, but she worries someone might come to take her away too. Nula is surprised, saying she’s always worried that someone would come for Naomi. Nula calls her a wonderful “unexpected surprise,” saying it took a long time for her and Joe to “accept that good fortune” (182).

Nula pulls a packet of Joe’s ashes from her pocket and reminds Naomi that, even though Nula and Joe weren’t related, they were a good match. Nula scatters some of the ashes on the flowers nearby and says that she, Joe, and Naomi were a good match, too. Miss Pilpenny tells the girls they can roam wherever they like except for the fairy ring in the orchard; they should avoid it. They find the Crooked Bridge, recalling that Finn described just such a one, and they see the rooks. They find the fairy ring made of mushrooms, and Lizzie recalls her mother talking about fairy rings and how “terrible fates” await anybody who disturbs one. When Lizzie suggests that a person responsible for such a violation might die, go blind, or simply disappear, Naomi nudges a mushroom. Despite Lizzie’s protests, Naomi dips a foot into the ring. Just then, they are called away, and Lizzie says it’ll be Naomi’s fault if something bad happens.

In Blackbird Tree, a storm rages. An electrical wire snaps, and everyone’s lights go out.

Lizzie asks if this is the only hotel nearby, and Miss Pilpenny informs her that this isn’t a hotel and that it belonged to Sybil. Nula is flabbergasted. Mr. Dingle arrives, and Lizzie is sure he brings bad news because Naomi disturbed the fairy ring. Lizzie asks Naomi if this is real or not, and Naomi asks her, “What is ‘real’?” (190). When they left the orchard, Naomi thought she saw Finn in the shadows, and she saw a rock carved with the initials “F.M.” and a broken heart. She didn’t tell Lizzie, though, because she thought maybe the boy and the rock weren’t real.

The storm in Blackbird Tree lasts for three days. Lightning strikes Nula’s barn and house, and both burn to the ground.

News of the storm reaches Naomi and Nula. Lizzie cries for them because they are now homeless. Naomi feels that bad things keep pouring out of the donkey’s ears.

Witch Wiggins visits one-armed Farley, and she gives him the two iron rooks she salvaged from Nula’s barn. He puts them with the other two, and she is happy to reunite them. He pulls out a piece of folded blue paper and hands it to Hazel.