“Yeah, I’m here—but nothing’s changed on my end. Why? Has it changed for you?”
“No, of course not.”
He sighs in a way that sounds weighted. “What she did to us, I’ll never forgive her for.” My mind works to unpack the mystery, but all I draw is a blank slate. “But,” Pane continues, “she did let Natalie move close by for school.”
Natalie, our sister.
“Which reminds me, you need to pick her up on my usual weekend.”
“Of ... course. I’ll be there. There’s just one thing: I can’t remember where it is. Can you text me the directions? But not to this phone. I got another one that’s for personal use.”
He pauses. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, just really busy. There’s so much going on. Oh no. I think someone cut off their arm. Here’s the number.”
“Can’t I text it to this one—”
“No time!”
I rattle off the digits, ensure he’s got it, and make muffled screaming sounds in the background. “It’s worse than I thought. Gotta go!”
Then I hang up and exhale.
Holy shit.
I forgot to find out the day.
Later. I’ll find out later. I take a moment and rake my hair from my eyes, recapping everything I know. My cousin will visit soon. I’ve got to pick up my sister from school?
I’m overloaded.
The project is weeks behind schedule, but if I hire extra labor, maybe we can pull this off before Rhett shows up.
My gaze tracks the ley lines where they throb slowly, quietly, undulating like they’re struggling for breath.
Ron approaches. “You okay, boss?”
“Let me ask you a question.”
“Sure thing.”
Maybe one tiny little mention won’t hurt. “Do you see some strange lines running on the ground?”
“What?”
I point. “Out there, something maybe sort of milky. Do you see them?”
He shoots me a worried look. “No, and if you see them, keep it to yourself.”
“Why’s that?”
He drops his voice. “We talked about this.”
We did?“Maybe you could remind me.”
Ron looks around as if to make sure no one can hear. He has a pretty jovial face—round, friendly, open. I like him immediately. Not sure if old me liked him, butnew medoes. “Once again—and don’t forget this time, boss—there are some things this town will tolerate: unicorns, piggycorns, even lambicorns.”
“Hercules,” I correct.
