Page 76 of Flying

I start to tap my thumb to each finger as I breathe in and out.

Finally Ava Marie breaks the silence and signals her approval sharply. “Jim, stop messing with her, this is already what was discussed. Yes, Lily, we’ll approve that. One of us will be in touch with the date and time, but I anticipate that it will be soon.”

I knewthey weren’t going to risk me changing my mind, but I didn’t expect them to organize so quickly either. That conversation took place late Sunday afternoon and by lunchtime Monday Pru hand delivered instructions. In the canvas tote were a pink crystal rock, a satchel of loose leaf tea and an infuser travel mug, and a pair of tall thick socks with the high school logo on them. The note included was her ancient looking scrawl:

Dearest Lily,

The Peacock Springs Council formally accepts your proposal and would like to complete your overdue community obligation this week. On the upcoming Tuesday evening, we request your arrival to Curl Up & Dye promptly at 3:30 p.m. to be escorted to town hall. Per the conversation at Mayor Kelly’s Vet Clinic, you will be able to have a dinner and bathroom break at 6:30 p.m., and then resume until you complete three additional hours. Once you have completed the six hour stay, you will be released for the evening. We will follow up with additional information on the subsequent six hours owed after this first set is completed.

Included here are a rose quartz crystal, the ingredientsfor an herbal tea I have customized for you, and socks to be worn to avoid any potential chafing. We ask that you prepare the tea to bring along and have the crystal with you.

Blessings,

Prudence Cleary

fifty-one

Lily

Monday Evening

It’slate Monday evening and I’m still on Delia & Nessa’s couch being a miserable oaf. The inevitable conversation waiting for River and I will have to wait until after tomorrow’s nonsense.

“I’ve got to do a little work in the office today, do you need me to grab anything for you while I’m there?” Delia asks before grabbing her purse and touching up her red lipstick in the mirror.

“I’ve got everything I need as far as I can tell, except something to make sure I don’t die of boredom and being forced to sit still tomorrow,” I admit.

“I’ve got a plan for that,” Nessa winks from her horizontal position across the armchair near me.

“Actually, maybe grab me a few things, I’ll text you what will be most comfortable to be in.” I shrug and pick up my phone.

After a while, I convince Nessa to take a walk to Pages with me. Opening the door to the bookstore, Seth barely looks up from whatever his current read is.

“Yo, Seth, customers,” Nessa teases him and he grunts at us.

Looking around the store you can see the touches his sisters added. There’s a large seating area with a mix of plush chairs and twoseaters near a refurbished coffee table. There’s lots of low lighting and the shelves are a soft natural wood color reminding me of a ballet studio floor.

Next door was a large “blooming again soon” sign on the La Vie en Rose florist shop, and I guess I’ve really committed to returning because I’m nosey as hell.

“Seth, any idea who is taking over for Rosie? I’m shocked that she retired!”

His scowl deepens, causing Nessa and I to exchange a look of confusion, Seth is generally not a fan of most things but there’s something there. Before we can prod him further, the door chimes and a few tourist customers wander in. Seth does his best attempt at putting on a pleasant customer service voice while we make our way through the rows of bookshelves. With a new memoir in hand, I make my way over to pay.

fifty-two

River

Tuesday

While anxiously pacingthe basement stockroom in an effort to work on inventory, code for be left alone, Delia walks in.

It’s almost time to meet at the salon.Motherfucking hell, really?She stares me down as I swallow hard.

“Get it over with. She’s gone? It’s my fault, right?” I scrub my face groaning out, “Fuck, I really screwed up.” I’m dusting clean bottles over a second time to seem busy. The silence stretches on causing my insides to twist and turn.

“I’m going to do it. I’m going to sit out the time in the stockyard for her later today.” Glancing at the time on my phone I correct myself, “Soon, I’m waiting for Anna Lucia. It might not fix things, but I’ve felt like this was all my fault, so I asked to be the one in the penalty box.”

I fidget more as I continue, “I know it won’t save us, but maybe it will take one obstacle away. Make it easier.”

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