Christine Feehan - Air Bound

“This is our home,” Lissa reminded. “You aren’t a child. No one can force you to do anything. You’re safe here. Spend the morning with Lexi in the greenhouse. I’ve got two appointments this morning in the shop. I’ve got to finish the glass chandelier for the hotel in France and two other metal pieces as well for their gardens, but I’ll be home before Damon gets here, even if I have to reschedule the two appointments.”

Blythe nodded and glanced at her watch. “I’m heading to the village to take over Judith’s shop this morning. I promised her I’d keep it open while they were gone. They closed the gallery part time. Frank Warner, Inez’s fiancé, agreed to help them out and keep the gallery open four hours a day during the week, which was good of him. I won’t be able to be here, but Lexi and Lissa will be. Unless you want me to close for a couple of hours in the afternoon?”

Airiana found she could breathe much easier. There it was. Love surrounding her. Keeping her sane when the world around her seemed to be caving in. Three women who would stand by her and believe in her even if she couldn’t always believe in herself. She knew if she called Judith she would immediately fly home from New York, from her important art show, to be with her. Rikki would leave her beloved sea and join her without question.

“I love you all,” Airiana said. “Lexi will take good care of me while you’re both gone and no, Blythe, you don’t need to be here when Damon comes. We can handle it.”

Blythe smiled at her. “Of course you can, but call me if you need me for anything at all.” She stood up. “I still have to shower and change before I open the shop, so I’d better get moving, but . . .” She trailed off when Airiana shook her head.

“I really will be fine, Blythe,” Airiana assured. Her stomach was still in knots, but her mind had settled and she wanted to examine the theory that the patterns she’d always considered part of the walking-on-the-edge-of-madness might actually be air communicating with her.

Lissa stood up as well, gathering up the teacups to put back on the tray. “I will come home before he gets here, so no worries.”

Lissa was small, but fierce. She was definitely their warrior woman and she had no compunctions about going up against an enemy three times her size if need be. Anyone threatening her family was considered an enemy. Even her red hair crackled around her with her fierce energy.

Airiana caught her breath. She could see patterns in the air around Lissa’s silky red hair. It gleamed like living flames with every movement Lissa made. She knew exactly what those patterns were and what they meant, which had never been the problem. Now, she could study them intently instead of fearing them, believing air was giving her information, trying to convey something important.

She had always known Lissa loved her and she could see that love clearly in the fierce patterns of determination surrounding Lissa’s red head. There were no dire warnings of impending doom. Only her sister’s deep resolution that she would protect Airiana and Lexi with her life if need be.

Lissa sent her a small smile. “Stop looking at me with that mushy, goofy look. You know I don’t cry and I’m not in the least bit girly. I refuse to get all teary-eyed with you.” She picked up the tray and turned toward the kitchen.

Lexi burst out laughing. “Lissa, you’re the most girly-girl I know. You can try to hide in your most excellent baggy jeans and tees, but there’s no hiding the way you walk. Just because you refuse to be a sympathy crier like me doesn’t mean the tears aren’t there. That’s why you’re running away to the kitchen.”

“I can pound you into the ground, little sister,” Lissa reminded. “We have self-defense class tonight.”

“You can try,” Lexi said with a little sniff, “but I’ve been improving. Working on my moves.” She made chopping motions in the air with her hands.

Airiana found herself laughing. The image of little Lexi, who had trouble killing snails, fighting warrior woman Lissa was just too funny. “I want to believe you could take her, Lex, but seriously? Lissa can score on Levi and Thomas occasionally.”

“I wish,” Lissa said, and left the room.

“I’ll take a shower, get dressed and meet you in the greenhouse,” Airiana promised Lexi.

Lexi nodded. “Take your time, eat something. I’ll have everything ready for us. You do know we’re really working with compost, right? And you’re going to shower first?”

“Yes, I am. I am a girly-girl and I’m not going outside without a shower and clean clothes,” Airiana declared with a small laugh.

Lexi shrugged. “You’ll want another one when we’re finished.”

“Llamas? Really, Lex? For their manure?” Airiana asked as Lexi headed toward the door. “You weren’t kidding, were you?”

“There are studies done about concocting a sort of tea with their manure and using it on the plants . . .”

Airiana held up her hand. “Don’t use ‘tea’ and ‘manure’ in the same sentence or I’ll have to pound you into the ground.”

“You’re such a baby,” Lexi said. “It’s science. You’re supposed to love science.”

“I draw the line at foul-smelling llama-manure tea.”

Airiana watched Lexi leave laughing before she got up and made her way to the kitchen. Lissa had most of the teacups washed. Airiana leaned her hip against the doorway and watched her for a long moment.

“I love you, Lissa. If anything happens, I want you to know that you and the others mean the world to me. Being in our family has changed me, made me a better person. You’ve instilled confidence in me that I never had, and I appreciate you more than I can ever say.”

Lissa spun around, holding the dripping teapot against her chest. “ Nothing is going to happen to you. Rikki got through her crisis and came out stronger than ever. So has Judith. This is your time, Airiana. I’m not going to dismiss your fears and tell you everything is going to be fine when you’re feeling like something terrible is coming. I say, if it is, let it come. We’ll face it together. We’re strong together, whether we’re all physically present or not. You’ll get through this and you’ll be happier for it.”

Airiana nodded. “I know. I don’t want to go the way of my mother. My mind can be very demanding and chaotic if I’m not continually learning and the last thing I want to do is start drinking to numb myself.”

Lissa smiled at her. “Crazy girl, you don’t drink alcohol. I can’t see you suddenly swilling the stuff.”

Airiana laughed. “Keep an eye on me. If you see me suddenly hitting the alcohol cabinet, hit me over the head or something.”

Lissa rinsed the teapot again and set it aside with the rest of the clean dishes. “I am coming back, Airiana. If Damon gets here before me, just stall.”

“I will, I promise.” Airiana blew Lissa a kiss and turned to go back to her bedroom.

“Airiana? I love you right back,” Lissa said, her voice tight.

When Airiana turned around, Lissa was already ducking out of the kitchen through the arched doorway on the other side of the room.

Airiana found herself smiling as she took her shower. She was afraid of what Damon was going to say to her, but it didn’t matter, because she had her family and they were already closing ranks around her.

She pulled clean underwear from her drawer, hurriedly donned them and shimmied into her oldest pair of comfortable jeans. She ran her hand lovingly down her thigh. The jeans were soft and just perfect after several years of wear, but they also had a few holes in them and she couldn’t wear them too many places outside the farm. Sighing, she found a T-shirt that was somewhat threadbare and could be sacrificed to the cause.