King 02 - Breathless (14 page)

“Yes.” He was gruff and still refused to meet my eyes. “I need to order stepping stones for the memorial garden at the church. Is there someone who can help me with that?”

“Of course. I can do that. We have samples on that shelf over there.” I motioned to the far side of the store. “And once you find something you like, I can write up the order for you.”

He turned around and moved to the display I had indicated. I sagged against the counter, trying to regain my equilibrium before I had to deal with him again. Silence hung between us, although I could hear Belinda in the storage room. Her thoughts were wholly consumed with organizing the summer silk flowers that we had just moved back there. I wished with all my might that she’d come up and save me, but the chances of that were pretty slim.

Finally, Rev. Pryce turned back toward me. “I think this simple round one with the inset pebbles will be best. It’s number A-20.”

I resumed my business-like air and grabbed the mouse next to the computer. I clicked the tab for the right order form. “Sure. Now do you know how many you need? Or if you have the measurements of the area, we can figure it out on here.”

His lips were mashed together, but he muttered, “We need fifteen. That’ll be fine. How soon will they be in?”

I entered the product number and quantity and let the computer do its job. The screen changed and I glanced back at the minister. “It’ll be about a week to ten days. Will that be all right? The shipments usually come in Wednesdays or Fridays.”

He nodded, still avoiding looking at me directly. “Fine,” he repeated. “Do I pay for it now, or do I need to leave a deposit of some sort?”

I shook my head. “No, that’s all right. It can wait until the order comes in.”

He huffed out a breath. “There’s our tax exempt status as well.” The door behind him opened, and Marly entered.

“Tasmyn, are you—oh! Rev. Pryce. I’m sorry, I didn’t know…” her voice trailed off and she looked at me with mingled curiosity and concern.

I caught her eye and sent a silent pleading message. As smoothly as though she could hear
my
mind, she stepped forward.

“Did you find everything you need, Rev. Pryce?” Marly smiled at him, and I noted that he had no problem meeting her gaze.

“Uh… yes. We were just finishing up. I was asking about our tax exemption.”

“I can help you with that. We’re almost to closing time and Tasmyn needs to help Belinda in the back. Tas, I’ll see you in just a minute.” Her tone was firm, and I heard her thinking,
Don’t leave yet. I want to talk to you before you go.

I nodded in answer to both statements and slipped into the back. Belinda was just hanging up her apron, and she was obviously feeling chatty. I tried to be polite and respond to her, but I was desperately trying to hear both Marly and Rev. Pryce’s conversation—and their minds. Of course, I thought in exasperation, when I
want
to hear people I can’t. I stifled a sigh of impatience.

Finally Belinda announced that she was leaving for the day.

“Okay,” I replied. “Marly’s out front, so I’ll just wait for her and make sure we’re locked up.” I waved to her as she went out the door.

I gave up all pretense of busy-work and perched on a stool, straining to hear anything at all.

“…and while we’ve definitely heard good things about your church, we just really aren’t church people.”
And people like you are a good reason why. Do you think I didn’t see how you treated Tasmyn? And that I can’t see the judgment in your eyes even now?

“Well, Mrs. Sawyer, you know, that’s why we’re here, for folks who don’t think they’re church people. We would love to have you and your husband join us this Sunday. You’d be very welcome.”
Give me the chance to show you the truth… maybe find out more about that girl. If she’s what I fear, it might not be too late for me to help her.

“Call me Marly, please. We appreciate the invitation. How is Cara, by the way? Is she enjoying her senior year so far?”

His hesitation in answering was barely discernable. “She’s well, thank you. Yes, hard to believe this is the last year. Time does fly, doesn’t it—well, you’d know that all too well, wouldn’t you? Now that two of yours have left the nest? I don’t know what we’ll do without Cara next year.”
But I won’t be sorry to have her away from this place. A hotbed of temptation and evil.

“Yes, Michael’s at school now, too. It’s very quiet around our house. We’re so happy that Tasmyn is here as much as she is. She’s brought us a great deal of joy.”
Did you get that, you nosy—

“I’m sure. Well, we’re encouraging Cara to expand her horizons this year. We’d like to see her make some more friends. We know the move was hard on her, coming down here in the middle of high school… there’s always the chance of a child getting pulled into the wrong crowd. That’s bad news.”
And even worse if it’s true evil the child encounters. They’re not equipped to fight that sort of thing—not the way I am. I could help them, if they’d just reach out.

“I thought Cara hung out with Tasmyn and Amber at school. I can’t imagine a better pair of friends than those two.”
Do you think I’m stupid? And do you really think I’d buy your narrow-minded bigotry?

“Sometimes parents can be deceived. Look at that poor Amber. She was involved with those girls who turned out to be not just bad influences—they were messing with demonic forces. And her parents didn’t know. We’ve had a lot of long talks about it, and to be frank, they’re a little concerned about Amber’s friendship with this Tasmyn. We aren’t certain about how deep in she was with the Massler girl, after all. Why was she out there that day? How do we know—”

“I’m going to stop you right there, Rev. Pryce.” Marly’s tone was pure cold steel. “Tasmyn is like a daughter to me. I know her very well, and I can assure you—and Amber’s parents, too, if they’re interested—that she is the kindest, most compassionate girl I’ve ever known. Amber and Cara are both blessed to call her a friend. And I’ll tell you something else.” Her voice dropped, and I had to strain to hear it. “If I hear anything about you spreading these lies, it will not go well with you. Do we understand each other?”

There was silence on the other side of the wall, although I could hear the low rumblings of Marly’s fury. And then I picked up the minister’s own passionate thoughts.

She’s been taken in. It’s worse than I feared. What kind of hold does this girl have over people? It makes me wonder if she’s the real ringleader and that Massler child was merely another player. If only they could all see the light…

“I have the best interests of our children at heart, Mrs—Marly,” Rev. Pryce answered her, with surprising gentleness. “You would be amazed at the things I’ve seen and experienced, and if I could, I would protect the young ones. I won’t say anything more, except—I would advise vigilance. Be watchful.” I heard a rustle of paper, and I could tell that he was taking a receipt. “Thank you for placing the order for me. You’ll let me know when the stones come in?”

Marly was still seething. “Yes, you’ll be notified.” There were heavy steps, and the doorbell tinkled once again.

I slipped through the swinging doors and came up behind Marly. She was leaning against the counter, her head resting on her hands. Without turning, she spoke.

“I’m guessing you heard all of that?”

I propped a hip against the counter, standing next to her. “Yes. I heard it all—and I do mean
all
.”

She looked up at me, a wry smile on her face. “Yeah, I’ll bet. Sorry. I may not have a foul mouth but my thoughts might be a different matter.”

I shook my head slightly. “I didn’t mean that. I meant him.”

Marly leaned over and draped an arm around my shoulders. “He’s unbelievable. I don’t understand how can he look at you and see anything less than what you are. The idea that you’d be involved in something—in anything wrong is just ludicrous.”

I rested my head on her shoulder, taking comfort in her closeness and from the feelings of absolute love and acceptance that came from her. “But in another way, he’s not so far off. He knows there’s something wrong with me. Evil, that’s what he was thinking. I might not mean it to be that way, but what if he’s right?”

Marly turned and held me by the shoulders, looking down sternly. “I don’t want to hear that. There’s nothing wrong with you, not an evil bone in your body. After what you did to save Amber last year, how could you doubt that what you have is a gift?”

I looked at the floor. There was an on-going debate within me about my talents: gift or curse? Sometimes I was so sure, and other times… the line between hero and villain seemed very hazy.

“I don’t know,” I murmured. “My parents always taught me to hide it, to control it… and they’re still not happy when I listen to anyone on purpose. They prefer the illusion that I’m normal.”

“Tasmyn…” Marly hugged me close. “Honey, not being normal doesn’t necessarily mean being evil, or having something wrong with you. We’ve talked about this before. I believe, as I know you do, that your mind hearing is a gift from God. You use it for good purposes, as much as you can.”

“But what Rev. Pryce said...”

“Rev. Pryce’s idea of God is much too narrow, in my opinion,” Marly said firmly. “He can only see a God who fits into his very short-sighted perception of the world.” She rolled her eyes and sighed. “I really can’t stand the man, but we should probably feel sorry for him. A hard way to live, that.”

“I guess so,” I answered, still not convinced that the good reverend didn’t have a point. “But Marly, he doesn’t like me at all. If he could keep Cara away from me, he would. She’s become so suspicious around me, and I know it’s because of her dad. I couldn’t stand it if Amber were the same way. They’re my only friends left.” Tears were threatening.

“Let’s give Amber a little credit,” Marly suggested. “She knows the truth, and one of Amber’s best traits is her loyalty. It nearly killed her last year, but it also means that she’d defend you to the death.” We were both quiet for a moment, remembering. It was true that Michael and I had stopped Nell from hurting Amber, but not too long after that, Amber had turned around and saved our lives, too. It had been her stubborn persistence that had pulled Cara and her father into the whole situation. While I knew that having Rev. Pryce there that day had made all the difference—as an adult, and a respected member of the community at that, his witness of Nell’s madness had truly sealed her fate—sometimes I couldn’t help but wish that Amber had chosen to bring anyone else, anyone with a less suspicious mind.

“I don’t know what I should do,” I murmured. “Should I try to convince Cara’s dad that I’m not a witch? Or should I just let him think what he likes and hope he eventually realizes the truth—or at least as much of the truth as I want him to know?”

Marly smiled and brushed my hair back away from my face. It was such a thoroughly
Michael
gesture that I was instantly fighting tears again.

“Sweetie, don’t let him get to you. Is something else going on? It’s not like you to get so broody over somebody like Matt Pryce.”

I was tempted to share everything with Marly. Her sympathy and love made me feel so safe, and it would be easy to just tell her about Ms. Lacusta and all my other woes. But in the next moment I knew that I couldn’t put her in the position of lying to Michael or my parents. I was going to have to shoulder this particular burden on my own, for now at least.

I shook my head. “No, it’s just the usual school stuff. And… I miss Michael so much. I know it’s only been a month, but it feels like forever since I’ve seen him.”

Marly drew me into a warm hug. “I know. He feels the same way. But he told you about homecoming, right? We’re working out a way to drive up there that weekend. Luke might not be able to come—by November, we’ll be busy again at the nursery, you know that—but I should be able to work it out to go. Wouldn’t that be fun, just a girls’ trip?”

I knew she was trying to cheer me up, and so I nodded and smiled as brightly as I could.

“I’d love that. But now...” I grimaced and moved away from Marly’s embrace. “Now I better head home before my mother sends out a search party.”

She smiled ruefully. “Okay. Try to keep your chin up. And you know if you need me, I’m always here, day or night.”

I nodded. “I know. Thanks, Marly. See you Friday.” I slipped out and into the diminishing light of the early evening.