Three Converts

Part 63

We were a bundle of nerves after Annie and Gordo left. We cleaned up from the party, then sat around letting our nervous energy bounce off each other. It was too late to put our part of the plan into action, too early for bed. Not that any of us were an ounce tired. Griffin tried to do some work. I tried to watch. When he slipped and nicked his thumb, I demanded he stop before he lost an entire finger.

Misty, Sophie, and I cleaned the entire house top to bottom. Again. Sophie raved about how brave Gordo was. Misty painted our nails. We collectively made a list of people we needed to speak with this week. Griffin knew the most people, so he was our point person. Finally, mercifully, we retired to our rooms. The sooner we slept, the sooner we could wake up and begin Operation Council Termination.

I expected the rest of the week to drag, but it went surprisingly fast. We had a lot to do, but things were shaping up beautifully. Still, by Saturday I was a nervous wreck. We had all taken Saturday night and Sunday off from our respective jobs, but I was starting to wonder if that was a mistake. At least if we were working Saturday evening we'd have some distraction. We went over our plan repeatedly. Every single detail. Every word. Every potential scenario.

Sophie was especially quiet. Rocco gave her a poke. "What's up, li'l sis? You're quiet."

"I'm so scared. I don't know if I can go back. I don't know if I can face... them." We all knew "them" meant "Franklin."

"You don't have to go Soph. You don't. We can do this without you." That was true. It wouldn't be quite as easy, though. Sophie was a compelling argument against the commune. Everyone there knew her and loved her. Seeing her bald head would rattle even the most devout council-followers.

"You should though." I was surprised to hear the firm tone of Misty's voice. "I think it will give you some closure, Soph." Her eyes were wet and I thought of the burns across my friend's belly. We all needed some closure from the commune. Soph nodded slowly, without asking details. Her teeth clenched, and I was reminded of the time Dad told her she wasn't big enough to help him at work. She'd followed him out and came back carrying a stack of logs nearly as big as she was.

"Okay. You're right. I'm in." And she was. We were all in this one hundred percent.

I was surprised to find how absolutely exhausted I was by the time we went to bed. Griff kissed me as I closed my eyes. "Tired?"

"Shockingly? I am. I might actually sleep tonight."

"Nervous?"

"Absolutely terrified." He kissed me again.

"How I can help?" I opened my eyes to his eyes, clear as the blue sky. He still smelled like wood even though his hair was dripping onto my forehead from the shower he'd just taken. I burrowed deeper under the covers and closed my eyes.

"Mm. Kiss me to sleep?"

"I don't know what that mean, but yes." And hekissed my lips, eyelids, nose, face, and neck. I felt his soft lips as Idrifted into a deep, perfect slumber.