Lightning

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

I rolled over, the last remnants of dreams fleeing as my consciousness returned, and felt the bright morning sun on my face.  I peeked through my eyelashes at the sheer lace curtains covering the window and gave a happy sigh as I stretched.

“Good morning, honey,” Char welcomed me to the beautiful day.  She was laying on her stomach on the floor, reading an ancient-looking, leather-bound book.  “Care to join me for a wander in the woods?  You should get accustomed to our new surroundings.”

I propped myself up on my elbows slowly, luxuriating in the smooth sheets and the early morning sunlight.  “Okay, but just a bit of a walk.  I’m not sure I’ve fully recovered from our long sleep and you know how much I dislike running through the wilderness with you.”

“Sounds alright,” she nodded.  “I ran the property boundaries yesterday, so it will be fun to see what’s in the middle.  Lia told me there’s a path into the woods marked by orange flags that goes to a little pavilion.  We could bring breakfast with us.”

“That sounds perfect,” I beamed at her and slid out of bed.

We dressed in shorts, tanks and sneakers and wandered into the kitchen.  Lia was already there, leaning into the refrigerator, and the kettle was about to boil on the stove.  Just a couple of the girls were on the island counter, putting berries into ice cube trays.

“Good morning, my darlings,” Lia backed out of the refrigerator with a large mixing bowl in her hands.  “Crepes?”

“Mmm…that sounds delicious,” I slipped up onto a stool and poured some water over the berries.

“We’ll pack them up and take them to go, if you don’t mind,” Char added, taking the empty backpack off her shoulder and placing it on the stool next to me.  “We’re going to wander down that orange path you told me about.”

“Ooh, it’s a lovely morning for that,” Lia smiled at us, pouring the first bit of batter into a pan and swirling it around delicately.

“Would you mind if Syringa and I join you?” Viola asked Char timidly.  They had quickly discovered which one of us was the boss.

I smiled and nodded my agreement to Char.  “That would be wonderful,” she replied.  “You can help me with a little something I have in mind for Zin.”

“No, now what?” I groaned.  “This girl drives me crazy.  Always all about the mission, never any fun.”  I poked her in the chest a few times for emphasis.

“Don’t be more than an hour or two, my darlings,” Lia flipped a crepe out of the pan and onto a quickly-growing pile.  “I have a surprise for you in town this morning.”

“What is it?” Char’s eyes widened.

“You truly are as impatient as your mother and sister suggest,” Lia shook her head.  “You will just need to be patient and find out when we arrive.”

A few minutes later, Char’s backpack was slung over her shoulders, filled with our breakfast, and we were headed out the back door toward the gardens and forest.  Viola was standing on Char’s shoulder and Syringa was gently seated upon mine.  The smell of lilac that surrounded her made me incredibly happy.

We walked quickly through the vegetable and flower gardens toward the entrance of the path, marked by a large oak wrapped with a bright orange ribbon.  Char rushed ahead and broke into the tree line, but I stopped next to the great oak.  I reached my hand out to touch the trunk, closed my eyes and took a deep breath.  The scent of morning dew calmed and energized me.  The vines within me reached out toward the tree, breaking through my palm and entwining themselves around my fingers.  This was a small pocket of still-virgin forest and the trees were singing with an ancient happiness that I had rarely encountered.  Char’s hand gently slid down my forearm until it rested on top of my own.  I could feel us inhale simultaneously and whispered, “Can you feel it?”