Olivia loops her arm through Dad’s. The sun streaks her hair; a world of bright color lies in those dark strands. It’s only then that I realize how young she is. She has the appearance of maturity, looks like she’s lived some, but she’s closer to my age than Dad’s. I turn my attention back to him.
“Because it’s noon,” I say.
I refuse to hide my disgust. He’s had drinking issues before, back when I was in junior high. It almost cost him the company, but he swore he’d taken care of that.
“It’s noon on a Sunday, love.” Olivia breaks away from Dad and moves closer. “Your dad’s all right. Just enjoying his weekend.”
I step away, sliding my hands into the wide pockets of my skirt. It’s a gesture her dark eyes don’t miss.
“That’s a beautiful bracelet,” she says. “Where’d you get it?”
“Why?”
“Elle,” Dad says, his voice a warning.
Olivia laughs, all teeth and throat. “Because it’s lovely. I think I’d like one.”
“Her boyfriend gave it to her,” Dad says, his eyes hard. “Can you believe that?”
Olivia taps her teeth with a crimson nail. “Boys don’t give their girlfriends trinkets like that, love.”
“That’s what I told her,” Dad says.
“Not unless they want something in return,” she finishes.
I look to Dad, hoping he’ll jump in, defend my honor, but he just raises his eyebrows, a stupid drunken grin on his face.
“I have to go,” I say. “I’m meeting Kay.”
“Tell her I’ll call tomorrow, will you? So many ideas to chat about. Can’t wait to really dig my hands into Stratus, you know?”
I don’t know, actually, but something about the gleam in her eye tells me I should. I should want to know exactly what she’s planning to do with Stratus. But right now I need to get away. From her. From Dad.
I run up the driveway, my sandals sending gravel flying like shrapnel. It peppers my bare legs, but I don’t slow. I stomp up the porch stairs and fling open the kitchen door. When I’ve slammed it behind me, I sink to the floor and yank my sandals off. One at a time, I dig out the rocks that have wedged themselves between my toes.
And I cry. I do. I’m a crier. I wish I wasn’t, but I am.
And that’s when I hear it.
The music.
Every note pitch-perfect. The arrangement unearthly. So unearthly I tug the halo off my wrist and wait as it transforms into the crown. “Come on, come on.”
Finally!
I jump to my feet, the halo on my head. With a slow build of heat and color, the Celestial comes into view, and with heavenly eyes I see the worship. My house is full of it. Ice-blue tendrils curl through the blazing air around me, filling my kitchen. They press against the walls, lifting higher and higher, slipping through the ceiling and into the sky above. I spin, looking for the source of the song, but I can’t find it.
I run through the house, holding the halo tight to my head, looking for the rogue worshiper, looking for the maker of such beautiful music. I run through the archway and into the living room, down the hallway that takes me past the bathroom and the laundry room. I step into Dad’s room, but there’s nothing. Just the incense of worship tangling together as the music continues on, note after breathtaking note.
A door slams.
“Brielle?”
It’s Dad.
Shoot. I’m standing in the doorway of my own room, my hands still on the halo. I yank it from my head, wincing at the hair I’ve torn away. It starts transforming immediately, but it’s not moving nearly fast enough, so I toss it onto my bed and pull my door shut before ducking back into the kitchen.
“Dad? What are you doing? Where’s Olivia?” I’m talking too fast, my body reeling from the abrupt transfer back to all things Terrestrial, but Dad doesn’t seem to notice.
“She’s in the truck. You seen my wallet?”
I pluck it from the counter and hand it to him.
“Thanks, kiddo.”
And then I watch as his face turns pale.
“Dad, what’s wrong?”
His legs buckle and he stumbles, grabbing a barstool for support. I run to his side and duck under his arm, putting mine around his waist. “Are you going to be sick?”
My dad is not a small man, so when he swoons on his feet my knees buckle at the added weight.
“Let’s sit, Dad. I’m going to lower you to the floor,