Glimpse by Stacey Wallace Benefiel Read Free Book Online Page B

to get better or take a turn for the worse. 
    Second, why was the vision in the future? I now had a real picture in my mind to go along with my feelings, but Avery was not close to death in the present. We were both older.  Avery’s hair was gray at the temples and I was…pregnant.  That’s what was freaking me out the most.  Still, I couldn’t help but feel a small thrill run through me at the prospect that we would be together for longer than just a summer. We were going to have a baby together?  Maybe it was all just a cruel cosmic joke?  Maybe I wasn’t freaking out enough about this.  Shouldn’t I be freaking out more about this?
    Feelings, senses, I could keep to myself, I always had. But a possibly life-ending vision of the future?  How was I going to keep that to myself? Who in the hell was I going to tell about it? My parents?  They were sure to take me straight to the doctor. Maybe that was a good idea, I could probably use one.
    I should start by telling Claire.  She was the least likely to…well she would spaz out, but she might not think I was insane. 
    Avery was going to be the scariest to confess this to.  Tomorrow, which was now today, after church at the lake, I would have to tell him then. Omitting, of course, the fact that I was in the vision and pregnant with his child.  I was smart enough to know that informing him he was possibly my future husband and father of my child would probably not get me a second make-out session.
    I took a deep breath, forcing my thoughts from my consciousness. I let myself slide into the feeling of Avery’s arms around my waist, the clean sweet smell of his skin, the way he looked at me as he brought his face close to mine.  Sweet, sweet dreams.
     

    I awoke a short while later, Mom’s hand on my forehead, a blank stare on her face.
    The Avery vision flipped through my mind, but my eyes were all the way open.  Unlike before, I could see the vision and what was right in front of me, which unfortunately was Melody clutching her creepy one-eared teddy bear.  I looked up and studied Mom’s face as the images of the smashed red pickup and Avery’s wrecked body appeared.  Her brow furrowed when I reached the part with me on my knees rocking back and forth, holding my stomach, covered in Avery’s blood. Was I the only one seeing the vision?  I didn’t think so.
    “Mom, what’re you doing?” I jerked my head away from her touch.
    “Oh, sorry honey,” she whispered, coming to, “I didn’t mean to scare you.  I just thought that you looked a little feverish when you came home tonight. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
    “I’m fine, Mom.  Go back to bed.” I rolled toward the wall, turning my back to her, trying to convince myself that she wasn’t doing what I thought she’d been doing.  Grace Wells, devoted mother, Pastor’s wife, and bible group leader did not just read my mind.
    “Goodnight, my sweet redheaded girl.”
    “Goodnight, Mom.”
    What in the frickity frack was going on? I pulled my blankets up over my head. So far, sixteen was turning out to be weird and more than I could deal with.  Not to mention seriously screwing up my beauty sleep.

 
Chapter Five
     
     
    I got up at five and jumped out of bed.  I wanted to be the first person in the bathroom. Luxuriating in the hot shower, I smoothed a gigantic dollop of conditioner into my hair and let it linger while I meticulously shaved my legs.  I scrubbed my arms, my stomach, the small of my back, and the tops of my feet with jasmine scented body wash. Forget tea rose perfume.  This was the way to go.
    I stepped from the shower and took two clean, but thin, towels from underneath the sink vanity. Securing one around my body, twisting the other around my hair. It was hard to breathe, the room was so steamy. I yanked open the small window above the toilet, letting the steam escape.  I brushed my teeth, plucked my eyebrows, and cleaned my ears. Today, when Avery saw me I