FOUR
BIG GLITTER IS OUT TO GET YOU
EMILY
August 6th
The land rolled out before me like an undulating, lush green-and-gold patchwork.I leaned against the massive rock that crowned the hill known locally as Gwenyvere’s Bower despite the fact that there was nothing bower-like about the rocky outcropping, and considered my life.
“Thus far, it’s been going well.But I don’t like not having a job,” I said aloud to no one, the August breeze whipping away my words, but not before they were overheard.
“You got canned?You can come work for us,” a voice said behind me.
Bess panted her way to the top of the Bower, her hair stuffed into a knit cap despite the warmth of the day.She looked like a middle-aged hipster, if such a thing was possible, and I studied my older sister with the eye of one who saw her roughly once a year.
“You look good,” I said, wanting to point out that I could see some silver in her dirty blond hair.“Happy.Satisfied.Fulfilled.”
Her lips twisted.“Hardly that when we have Big Glitter on our ass.”
“Really?”I leaned out to look at the seat of her pants.“Did you sit on it?”
“Oh lord, your sense of humor.I forgot about it,” she answered in response, making shooing motions until I shifted down the rock a few feet, so she could lean against it and catch her breath.
“Who or what is Big Glitter?”I couldn’t help but ask.
“The companies that are after those of us who are working to ban nonbiodegradable glitter.Stop making that face; it is a serious subject!”
“I know it is, but I badly want to make a joke about a glitter bomb,” I admitted, unable to keep from nudging her with my elbow.
She rolled her eyes.“How do you find that funny?Lordisa, Emily!I suppose since you are a bride, I’ll have to put up with your flippancy, but for the love of all that’s good in this world, try to keep a firm grip on it.”
“Are you kidding?”I went back to contemplating the view.“My quirky nature is what endears me to people, or so says Fang.Where’s Monk?”
“Trying to locate the safe house to which we’ve been assigned for the next four days.”She narrowed her eyes on me.“You’re sure we couldn’t stay with you—”
“Our landlady is very nosy and is always watching us.She’s nice, but if we’re out in the yard, she wants to chat.So if you are trying to keep a low profile, then I would suggest finding somewhere else.”
She sighed with all the drama of a reality-TV actor.“Fine, but if we get caught, I’m hitting you up for bail money first.So, the wedding is on the eighteenth?”
