The Light of Asteria by Elizabeth Isaacs Read Free Book Online Page B

dashed out of Sunday school. Everyone knew Edna
was a handful when she was mad.
    “Sorry, Ed. I’ll explain at
lunch,” I whispered. She glowered and headed off to the choir loft.
I grimaced, taking my place of honor on the third pew. My stomach
still ached, like I had just done a thousand sit-ups. I arched my
back, willing the muscles to stretch; my core screamed in
protest.
    “Morning, Nora dear.” Mrs.
Brown stiffly sat in front of me on the second pew. “How are Katie
and Holly? Are they coming home for the festival?” She was the town
busy body and had taught all of us in Sunday school when we were in
seventh grade.
    “They both have class, and
so they won’t be able to make it. But they’re doing well and said
to be sure and say hi.” Luckily, the choir stood to start the
service. Mrs. Brown turned back to the front.
    Dark images of Gavin lying
helplessly on the ground made my heart flutter. The emotional
suffering I experienced as I walked to the hill was
incomprehensively painful, yet I knew they were his feelings. To be
honest, I was relieved his physical body didn’t match his emotions;
if they did, he would have been beaten to a pulp.
    A hymn started, and
on the second verse I finally found the
right page and stood with the congregation. Edna scowled; I focused
on the music. We sat down, the sermon started, and my mind wandered
back to green eyes.
    On top of it all, I knew
Gavin had reacted to my thoughts, which was crazy. Still, if I
could feel his emotions, why couldn’t he hear my thoughts? Instinct
cried I was right, but I had a hard time thinking that let
alone sa ying it out loud.
    As the congregation stood
for the doxology, I formulated how much Edna needed to know. Other
parishioners bustled and scooted out of the pews, and it took a
moment to realize everyone had practically left. Edna cleared her
throat, waiting by the end of the row. I warily stood.
    “Thank you, Rose, for
coming all the way up the mountain to pick me up,” she
fumed.
    I walked a few paces behind
the two older women. As if I didn’t feel bad enough. …
    “You’re more than welcome,
Ed. I’m just glad nothing horrible happened to Nora.” Her concern
mixed with a healthy dose of curiosity. Rose and Mrs. Brown were
the best of friends.
    Lunch was, at best,
awkward. As we sat in our little corner of the café, Edna blatantly
stared while I read the sweetener packet, still avoiding her
gaze. An infant wailing by the door kept the silence from
becoming unbearable.
    “Did something happen to
the Jeep?” she asked as our lunch came.
    “No, something happened to
Hol.” I never kept things from Edna. She already knew about Holly’s
escapades into the dark realm of teenage stupidity, and so Hol’s
inebriated state wasn’t exactly shocking. But she did worry, just
as Kate and I had, about Holly’s decision to go it alone on such a
big campus. There was no reason to explain Hol’s situation wasn’t
why I was late.
    “What is that girl
thinking? She could have been hurt … you said someone brought her
back to the dorm?” I squirmed, becoming very interested in my
sandwich.
    “Yes … he was a gentleman.”
The silence stretched. I could feel Edna’s stare.
    “I spoke with Joe this
morning, before church.”
    “Oh?” I needlessly blew on
a spoonful of soup.
    “He said you sold a special
hammer yesterday.” The spoon froze midair.
    “Oh, yeah.” My eyebrows
rose in mock surprise. Edna wasn’t fooled. “I met a student from
the university when I took Hol and Kate to school. He came into the
hardware store the other day. Apparently, his brother needed some
stuff and they picked it up at Vernor’s as they were passing
through. I’m not sure how special the hammer was, but it was
fifteen bucks, so maybe it was top of the line.” I finished lamely.
Her look intensified.
    “Did this young
man—”
    “Hello, Edna. Do you think
you’ll have some extra preserves this year?” Luckily Mr. Brown,
literally Mrs.