Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
"Are you ready?"Korcalled.“Let’sgo, baby—I’mtired of wearing the same clothes over and over.Weneed to get to town to pick up my new threads.”
I laughed at his tone—he sounded so lighthearted and easy-going two thingsCarterhad never been.Ineeded that energy in my life—that kindness and happiness.Itfelt like sunshine to my soul whenI’dbeen locked in a dark closet for the past twenty years.
"Almost ready,”Icalled.
I took one last look at my reflection and for once,Iliked whatIsaw.Iwas like a new woman—a much happier and younger looking one.
I had no idea that before the day was over, half ofBlackridgewould have something to say about my personal appearance.
TWENTY-NINE
VIVIENNE
A little while later,KorandIwere standing in the garage trying to decide which vehicle to take into town.Carterhad collected cars the same way some people collected stamps, so there were half a dozen vehicles to choose from—all lined up in immaculate condition, each one polished and maintained whether it was driven regularly or not.
"What about this one?"Korasked.
I followed the direction he was pointing and smiled.
The car was a cherry-red 1965FordMustangconvertible.Thechrome gleamed in the morning sunlight and the white leather interior looked as though it had just come from the factory.
"Carter never drove that one,"Isaid."Hewas too afraid of it getting scuffed or ruined somehow.Ialways thought it was a shame—it’s a beautiful car.”
Kor raised an eyebrow.
"Is that a yes?"
I found myself smiling.
"That'sdefinitelya yes."
A few minutes later we were winding through the twisting roads with the top down and the wind in our hair.Theday was warm and bright, and the sky overhead was an endless blue.Korturned on the radio and after a little searching found a classic rock station.
The next thingIknew, we were both singing along toFleetwoodMac.Neitherof us could carry a tune particularly well but that didn't stop us—we just kept singing.Bythe time we reached the outskirts ofBlackridge,Iwas laughing so hard my sides hurt.
"You missed half the words,"Iinformed him.“It’s‘Justlike thewhite-winged dove.’Not, ‘Justlike theone-winged dove.’Howcould a one-winged dove even fly?”
He shrugged, grinning at me.
"Not very well,Iguess.”
I shook my head and laughed again.Icouldn’t remember ever feeling so free.Fora little while,Iforgot about thePackand theCouncilofEldersand theAlphaChallenge, that was fast approaching.Ieven forgot about theUnbreakableLawsthat decreed thatKorandIwould never be together.
For a little while,Iwas simply a woman enjoying a beautiful day with a man who made me happy…but it couldn’t last.
When we parked outside the post office,Ipulled down the visor mirror and groaned at whatIsaw.
"Oh myGod—myhair."
Kor leaned over to inspect the damage.
"It looks fine to me,” he said mildly.
"It looksinsane."
The wind had turned my carefully arranged waves into a wild tangle around my head.
