The Light of Asteria Read Online Free Page B

front of my face, and I stirred.
    “Sorry Ed. I guess I’m a little tired.” I
blushed and started towards the sink, needing a diversion from
those sharp eyes.
    “So, did you get everything squared away at
HCC?” she asked, turning the music down. Edna refused to get a
dishwasher stating she already had one from the Nora Johnson
Company.
    “Yep.” I felt her gaze as I put the first
plate in the drainer.
    “Did it take you all day to get things
squared away?”
    I sighed in defeat. I wouldn’t lie to her,
but I didn’t need a lecture either. “Nope ... it didn’t take as
long as I thought, and so I went to see Hol and Kate again.” My
eyes stayed glued on Avery through the window. The forks clanked to
the bottom of the sink.
    “Remember, Sunny, God doesn’t close a door
without opening a window first.” She patted my hand and walked out
to the porch.
    The weekend was uneventful, but the buntings
had taken a liking to the barn. Edna and I spent Saturday watching
them build their nests in the rafters of the old hayloft. I talked
to Hol and Kate after church. They went to the mixer Saturday
night. True to form, Kate had to help Holly home; she was a bit of
a partier in high school.
    “So … did you see Gavin?” I couldn’t help but
ask Kate.
    “Holly’s been searching for him since you
introduced them, but he hasn’t been anywhere. He would be an
upperclassman, right?” Kate said knowingly. I was sure she could
feel my blush over the phone.
    “I guess so … listen, take care of Hol and
don’t let her do anything too stupid, all right?”
    “When can you come up? I miss you.”
    “Well, how about after work the last Saturday
of the month.” I didn’t get paid until then; surely Edna wouldn’t
mind.
    “That would be wonderful.” Kate said
quietly.
    “Talk to you soon, and take care, you.”
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     
    Chapter
3—Vernor’s
     
    The first two weeks of community college
brought little in the way of education, but dozens of lavender
blooms now tickled the bottom of my windowsill. Edna had taken some
of the bulbs as starters and given them to her Sunday school. The
vibrant painted buntings seemed to be a new addition to the woods
surrounding our home. They flitted so close I could practically
touch them. All radio stations in the house pointed to the
classics. Edna finally stopped complaining, viewing the new music
as an adventure. Our ridge became popular with the mountain’s
wildlife, and I often would catch animals watching me in the early
morning light as I tended to Avery. I could no longer stomach the
thought of meat, and so vegetarian fare had taken over my diet.
Edna wanted me to visit the doctor, fearing a new allergy, but I
refused, reminding her of one of her favorite philosophies … life’s
about change. Dreams of blinding lights, green eyes, and beautiful
waterfalls overtook my nights, leaving me restless in the morning.
Even though it had been two weeks, my mind stayed forever focused
on Gavin. As I drove to the hardware store, I knew I needed to
convince myself that I would never see him again or I might just go
crazy.
    “Mornin’, Nora honey. How goes school?” Mr.
Vernor was a portly man with a peaceable nature. His short, white
hair fringed the sides of his baldhead, and frameless bifocals
stayed perched on the end of his nose. He and the Mrs. owned the
building and lived on the second floor. Selling hardware was more
of a hobby than a livelihood.
    “Morning Mr. Vernor. School’s fine.”
    “Would you mind staying a little late today?
I have an appointment in town, and Mamma’s at her sisters.”
    I smiled. Mamma was the
nickname for his wife. They never had children, and so I always
found it odd. His appointments when Mamma was away usually
entailed a fishing pole and his best friend that owned the
barbershop next door.
    “Sure, not a problem.” Well there goes the
thought of asking off early. At this rate, I’d get to Kate and
Hol’s right at