Keepers of the Flame

“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 more than a bite of those cholesterol bombs. A nice baked potato with a smidgeon of butter—”

Bri reached under a stack of greens and held up a couple of small plastic sacks. “Chocolate for my sweet craving.” Bri shook the nuggets so little metallic wrappers rustled as the candies tumbled against each other, glittering. “Our favorites.”

“You got dark chocolate for me.” Elizabeth was touched. “You’re so sweet. So bad, but so sweet.” She glanced at her watch. “We have just enough time to settle you in, cook, dress, and go to the folks.”

Bri nodded at Elizabeth’s cell thrusting from her purse’s outer pocket. “You should find about three messages from me on that.”

“Oops.” When she looked at the readout, it was blank. “Forgot to charge it.” Another result of stress. She was tired of hurting because of Cassidy and forced the thought of him away again. Enough wallowing. Get on with life! Straightening her shoulders, she said. “I want you to stay with me.”

Under lowered brows, Bri watched her, that uncertain look back in her eyes. “For real?”

“For real. You can have the guest room.” She bit her lips to stop them from trembling, cleared her throat. “It’ll be good to have you living with me, like when we were kids. Especially since I’m on vacation.” She wanted her sister more now than ever since they’d become adults. Bri’s first walkabout had been during freshman summer vacation in college. Elizabeth had never admitted how much she wished Bri hadn’t gone her own way. Perhaps she’d stay now.

“Okay,” Bri said.

Elizabeth relaxed, smiled. Everything would be better now that Bri was home.

A few hours later Bri and Elizabeth left their parents’ home. “Mom and Dad loved our gift of an all-expenses-paid two-week vacation in Hawaii.” Bri was very pleased at how the dinner had gone—except for a tense few minutes when they skirted around Cassidy Jones, who’d usually celebrated with them.

Her parents had been delighted by Bri’s announcement to settle in Denver and become a nurse.

She shifted the foam freezer chest full of ham, Mickey potatoes, crudités, baked beans and fruit salad that she carried.

Elizabeth hauled two sacks of potatoes. Apparently their mother had had the same craving as the twins. “Leaving tomorrow. All this food,” their mother had grumbled, pressing it on her daughters.

Night had fallen and wispy clouds draped the black sky. Only a few stars could be seen from the city. Bri inhaled deeply. Their parents’ house backed onto Cheesman Park and the scent of thick grass and roses came on a cool breeze. Sweden’s air had still carried the last of spring. For a moment she just stood and let the city sounds and scents and very atmosphere caress her.

There was no place like home. Finally her itchy feet had stopped tingling, bringing her back to her family.

“You’re tired, let me drive,” Bri said to her sister.

“You must be jet-lagged.”

“I was, but I got my second wind.” As soon as she put her head on a pillow tonight she’d crash for sure, but right now she was in a state of hyperawareness. She unlocked the doors, opened hers and they stowed the chest and potatoes in the back seat, and got in.

Elizabeth stared at her.