Page 21 of A Sanctuary from Shadow
“Please,” I said. “Briar and I have been on two dates and communed together once. We’re not even officially together.”
Ace sneered at the lovers on the book cover he held. “Looked pretty official to me.”
“Well, I’m only 20 and in college. A wedding’s not happening.”
“You might want to tell Briar.” Vi grabbed a purse off a hook on my dark plum wall. She draped it over her shoulder, then sauntered back across my striped woven rug to slam my door and admire her appearance in my standing mirror. “He and Uncle Neel were talking after circle. I couldn’t hear what they said, but I saw Uncle Neel hand something to Briar. It was in a tiny box, whatever it was.”
“Briar doesnotwant to marry me.” I had better chances of winning a Grammy. “He’s a frat boy who’s having far too much fun being young and irresponsible to settle down.”
“Then what did Uncle Neel give him?” Vi challenged.
“How should I know? It could’ve been anything. Why would you assume it was a ring?”
“Looked like a ring.” She shrugged, admiring her image.
My blood still singing the song of seduction, I glanced down at the paperback by her feet.What’s happening with the pirate captor’s throbbing member?I wondered. “Don’t you guys have homework to do?”
Vi’s eyes glittered. “Mine’s all done.”
I cursed her, then turned to Ace, who now played with the red yarn hair on the head of my favorite childhood belonging—my Raggedy Andy, my favorite character from my favorite movie.
Ace’s mouth twisted. “Come on,” he grumbled like I’d badgered him for hours. “I’ll get it done. Doesn’t have to be now.”
Vi hummed, twirling over to rehang my purse. “He has a big physics test tomorrow.”
Ace tossed up a hand, glaring at her.
I eyed him. “What’s your current physics grade?”
He harrumphed, “D.”
“What?”I pointed at the door. “Acer Larkspur, get your ass to studying!”
Ace glowered. “Relax,Mom. I’ll pass.”
His remark didn’t cut the way he’d intended. We all knew I was more of a mother to my siblings than Aunt Aylie was. She lacked the nurturing gene.
I chucked another pillow. “You’ll pass because you’re going to study.”
“Later.” He caught the pillow, wedging it between his elbow and the chair. “First, tell me what’s going on.”
“What do you mean?”
“That answers that.” Vi cast our brother an I-told-you-so glance.
“You haven’t heard anything about the meetings?” Ace continued. “I thought Dad might’ve filled you in. He always tells you more than us.”
I shook my head. “What meetings?”
“A group of five men has been coming to the house after midnight for the past few weeks,” Ace said. “Dad and Uncle Neel lock themselves in the dining room with them for hours.”
No wonder Daddy looked so haggard. “What men?”
“Two elders.” Vi sat down at the foot of my bed, hugging my chenille bunny. “Clem Polkweed, Poppy’s grandfather, and Arbutus Colwort.”
“The rest are younger,” Ace added. “Ash Loosestrife, Sy Rockrose, and Cole Hawthorne.”
I jolted. “Briar’s father?”
