Page 112 of Chosen Road

My eyes darted back and forth between Jace, Vander, and Ruby.

“Jace knows she got a prescription for anxiety and that she tried the middle dose the doctor gave her and she’s loopy,” Vander provided us with the story. “We’re on our way to rock-climbing. Just stay with her until she’s cognizant.”

Jace stood and received hugs from both Minty and me, then Vander instructed him to get his stuff and wait in the car.

“You’ll call me if anything goes sideways?” he asked, a hint of anxiety in his eyes. Upon further examination, the week with George must have been stressful. Once Ruby came down, I’d ask her about it.

“She’ll be fine.” I rushed to soothe him. “She’s just never done it before. Where’s the rest so she doesn’t take anymore?”

“It’s in the fridge. She only took one.” He shook his head. “Lightweight.”

“My Lord, I think I can fly,” Ruby said, her face full of wonder.

Vander leaned down and peered into her eyes. “You okay there, Ruby-mine?”

Ruby visibly struggled to focus on Vander’s face. She tilted her chin down and raised her eyebrows. Her face serious, she confided, “I can do anything.” She pressed her lips together and nodded while holding his gaze.

Vander chuckled. “Yup, this is not going to work, lightweight.” He bent to give her a quick kiss.

“Mm… You want to go upstairs?” she suggested.

His shoulders shook with laughter. “I’ll take you up on that offer another time.”

She noticed Minty and me and her face lit up. “Hey! How are you guys doing? Vander, look who’s here!” She sat grinning at us, her head cocked to the side. “You’re my sister and my friend,” she said pointing to me. “And you’re my friend who’s like a sister,” she continued, pointing to Minty. “You are my sister-friends. It’s a new word. We should call the dictionary people and have them add it.” Her eyes widened on Minty holding her cell phone. “We could take our picture and actually have a picture of us next to the definition. That would be epic. Cheese!” She grinned at Minty’s cell phone.

“Got it, Ruby. Great pic,” Minty’s voice shook with laughter as she recorded.

Ruby spun to point to Vander. “And you, your picture would be next to a steamroller. Because you’re bossy. So bossy.”

Vander grinned down at her. She smiled back at him, then turned to me with her eyebrows up. “I bet Gus is a steamroller.”

Vander laughed on his way out the door. “That’s my cue to leave. No telling secrets, Ruby-mine. I’m taking Jace out for the day. Your sister-friends are going to stay with you.”

Without answering him, she turned to Minty. “I have come to the realization, that people are meant to fly. I always thought getting into an airplane is tantamount, tant-amount, tan-ta-mount… Is that a word? I didn’t even know I knew that word!”

“It’s tantamount,” she wagged her eyebrows and smiled at her apparent genius, “to suicide, but I was wrong. We are descended from birds and that’s why we will become angels.” She paused to think before defining her earlier statement. “Some of us will become angels. That’s sad.” She broke off to consider the fate of those not destined for wings, then gave herself a little shake. “It’s only in the middle part of evolution that we cannot fly.” She deepened her voice. “By ourselves.”

“How long is this going to last?” I asked Minty.

“Vander said she took it at nine this morning. She should peak soon and pass out.”

“Should we record her?” I giggled.

“I got most of it including her dissertation on flight,” Minty laughed her tinkling laugh.

“I love your laugh, Minty,” Ruby sighed and delicately touched her fingers to her chest. “I do not laugh like a lady. I laugh like a…” She began to chortle, slapping her hand lazily on her thigh. “Like an inebriated donkey!”

Within an hour, the doorbell rang with food delivery.

“Yum, Vander ordered Greek food,” Minty said as she brought the order to the table. “You hungry, Ruby?”

“I could eat,” Ruby replied. She went to move off the couch and informed us that she was far too heavy to get up.

“I’ll bring you a plate,” I promised.

“Lots,” she instructed. “Bring me lots.” She watched as I filled her plate. “You’re so slow, Amber, and I am so fast. I’m like light and you’re like sound. Wait. Which one travels faster?”

“Light travels faster,” Minty replied.

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