Page 25 of Morning's Light

CHAPTER 7

Astix took the streets at a little less than twenty-five miles per hour. Sleet covered the asphalt and pelted the windshield with musical plinks. She considered herself an adept driver, but the added pressure of her sister in the passenger seat begging her to go faster had Astix’s caution tripling. No way would she risk another accident when Aisanna was finally on the mend. So she drove like an elderly person with a vision problem to be on the safe side.

“This is taking too long,” Aisanna griped. Her hands tightened on the oh-shit bar. “We need to get there before I go out of my mind.”

“Are you in the mood to die today?” Astix asked.

“No.”

“Then stop badgering me.” She shot her sister an evil grin and turned up the heater. “Speaking of badgering, we need a plan.”

“A plan, in this case, is about as effective as using a trap made of cotton swabs to catch a raging bear.”

“Ha! Good one, Aisanna,” chirped Karsia from the backseat.

“So…no plan?”

“We’ll talk about it when I’m not freaking out.” Aisanna bit her nails and tried to keep her breathing even, her heartbeat slow, her mind from racing down the worst-case-scenario highway.

Luckily, Astix took her panic into account. “Sorry, I was trying to lighten the mood. We’re almost there,” she put in easily to keep her own frustration down. “Just be calm.”

It was too difficult to be calm. Visions of her business going down in flames danced in her head. Elon was good, but not equipped to handle things alone. And with the extra tables and centerpieces added for the Peterson wedding… Of all the days for her to be out of commission.

“My post-traumatic stress from the accident is warring with my need to be there. Immediately,” she told Astix.

“Yeah, I figured.”

“I could help out if you need me,” Karsia said, leaning over the seat. “I’m not quite the gardener you are, but—”

“No thanks,” Aisanna put in hastily, then felt guilty. “I mean, thanks for the offer, but this is my thing. It’s something I have to do myself.”

Astix maneuvered at a constant pace, well aware of the slip and skid of her tires. She leaned forward and focused on the double yellow lines. Soon, she turned a corner and cut across two blocks using a side alley.

“Here, here!” Aisanna motioned for her to stop. “I’ll walk from here. It’s close enough.”

Karsia frowned. “Are you sure?”

The wipers madly hissed to keep up with the pelt of ice and rain. The wind howled, although the car remained steady. Astix hesitantly slowed to a stop with only minimal slipping.

“Yes, I’m sure. Thank you so much for everything.”

“Do you need me to stay and…” Astix trailed off.

“No. I’ll get Elon to drive me home.”

Astix opened her mouth to protest that rash decision when the door slammed shut in her face. She sat for a moment with the roar of the heater ringing in her ears, watching her sister walk away, hunched against the weather. A sigh escaped and she set her jaw.

“I’m worried about her,” said Karsia.

“Yeah, I know. So am I.”

“We definitely need a plan.”

“Definitely.”

The idea of Aisanna going it alone did not sit well with either sister. Unfortunately, there appeared to be little choice in the matter.

“Any ideas?” Karsia asked.

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