Keepers of the Flame. Robin D. Owens

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СКАЧАТЬ never wanted to talk about that subject. “The folks will be glad to see you. They were hoping you’d come home for Dad’s birthday.”

      “This time the favors I called in were solid. Got here this morning. Everywhere’s been interesting. Denver and home is better.”

      Touching the puffiness under her eyes, Elizabeth winced. “My God, look at me, breaking down in a grocery store!”

      Bri glanced around, “You wouldn’t be the first, and you picked an appropriate place. Supplies all around. Tiger Balm’s right behind your shoulder and aspirin on my side of the aisle.” Bri grinned. Elizabeth always thought Bri had gotten the prettier smile. Bri said since they were identical, Elizabeth had it, too. That wasn’t true. Bri’s smile was special. Maybe because she was such a free spirit.

      “’Scuse me,” said a tall, wiry black woman with salt-and-pepper hair, walking down the aisle. Her face showed irritation—that part which wasn’t covered with a package of frozen baby peas. “I need one of those instant ice packs.” Her visible eye rolled to other items on the shelves. “And one of those herbal sinus pillows, too.”

      Bri moved her cart. “Let’s see,” she said. “I’m a massage therapist.” She tilted her head toward Elizabeth. “And she’s a medical doctor. What happened?”

      A corner of the woman’s mouth quirked as she walked past Bri to Elizabeth. “Volleyball.” She took the peas from her face.

      Elizabeth winced in sympathy, checked the woman’s eye, then carefully felt around the bone. “No other head injury?”

      “No.”

      “Blurry vision?”

      “No.”

      “Looks like a big black eye.”

      The woman snorted. “Got that.”

      “Here,” Bri said, ripping open the box and twisting the instant ice compress to initiate the cold. She placed the pack on the woman’s face.

      Then Bri did the unthinkable. Elizabeth saw an aura of green pulse from Bri’s hand through the pack and bathe the woman’s face for long, long seconds.

      “I think you’ll find it looks worse than it is,” Bri said, releasing the compress after the woman dropped the peas in her basket and held the pack herself.

      “Thanks. It feels better already.”

      “Here’s your sinus pillow.” Elizabeth hoped her voice was less stiff than she felt.

      “Thanks again.” The woman nodded and left.

      “Are you crazy!” Elizabeth whispered. “I want to talk to you!” She jerked her cart around and headed toward an empty corner of the store.

      Smiling, Bri sauntered after her, tugging her smoothly rolling cart. Elizabeth got her temper under control by the time her twin reached her.

      “What were you doing!” Elizabeth demanded.

      “You know what I was doing. Just because you deny our gift of healing hands doesn’t mean I do.”

      “You used it in a grocery store.”

      “What, you think healing should only be confined to clinics?” Bri glanced around. “Let me tell you, this store is pristine compared to some of the places I’ve been.” She lowered her voice. “The refugee camps I’ve…worked…in.”

      Elizabeth clutched the handle of her grocery cart until her knuckles whitened. “Someone could have seen!”

      “Seen what? It was only a little burst of energy.” Bri’s smile widened. “And well done, if I say so, myself. That bruise will fade in record time.”

      Again Bri glanced around. “So how many of our fellow shoppers can see healing auras, do you think? It’s not even an organic store.”

      “Someone could have seen,” Elizabeth repeated, unable to put enough distress in words.

      Bri was frowning now—maybe she’d come to her senses. “You saw how the lady came straight to you, the doctor. People trust doctors with medical degrees, not those of us with healing hands. That’s why I’ve decided that you got it right, working within the Western medical establishment.”

      Elizabeth still didn’t know what to say, and must have appeared as confused as she felt.

      Bri patted her shoulder, but her face went impassive. “I promise I won’t let anyone know you have the gift, too.”

      Elizabeth winced and rubbed her temples. She could barely hear her sister for the cacophony once again inundated her mind. “Sorry to snap at you. These damned chimes are driving me mad!”

      Eyes widening, Bri said, “Chimes? You too?” Her voice dropped. “What about a gong…and chants?”

      Elizabeth knew her mouth opened and closed like a guppy’s.

      “You hear them, too,” Bri said.

      “What?” Elizabeth whispered, clutching the handle of her cart again.

      “Chanting voices more persistent than the chimes and gong. I thought something was wrong so got checked out in Sweden by both medical and alternative health practitioners. No observable or understandable physical or mental problems.”

      Swallowing, Elizabeth said, “I attributed it to emotional trauma.”

      “Well, you’ve had plenty of that. How long?”

      “Three and a half weeks.”

      “Me, too. Did you have your hearing checked?”

      Elizabeth sighed. “Yes.”

      “Let’s give it another week, then decide what to do.” Elizabeth turned to finish shopping, but Bri put a hand on her arm, snagged her gaze with the same changeable hazel eyes but showing a different pattern of specks. “It might be a sign that our healing powers are changing. I’ve noticed mine are a little more reliable and slightly stronger.”

      Elizabeth flinched.

      Bri said, “Is that one of the reasons Cassidy broke up with you? Because he discovered you using your gift?”

      “I don’t use a gift. Sometimes something just seems to flow from me. Nothing important. But our last argument was because he’d noticed…” It hurt to remember. She waved a hand. “Past and done.” She looked at their carts, then back at her sister, then they both stared at the sack of potatoes in each other’s cart and shook their heads in unison. “I see you had a craving for potatoes, too,” Elizabeth said.

      “Yes,” Bri said, “those really unhealthy shredded potatoes loaded with cheese and sour cream. Mickey potatoes.” Mickey was the friend of their mom’s who’d given them the recipe.

      Trying to lighten the moment Elizabeth closed her eyes and groaned theatrically in pleasure. “As medical professionals, we shouldn’t consider СКАЧАТЬ