Aspen's Embers by Diana Tremain Braund

Author:Diana Tremain Braund
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
ISBN: 9781594931024
Publisher: Bella Books
Published: 2007-08-10T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

"Is it true?" Cassie demanded. She was sitting in Aspen's driveway when Aspen got home from school. "Are you and Leigh sleeping together? Why didn't you tell me?" Cassie was irritated.

"Wait. Miss Etta is driving me crazy with all of her barking." Aspen opened the door to the run. Miss Etta hopped on her back feet, exhorting Aspen to pet her.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Cassie insisted.

"Because it was just too new," Aspen said.

"Too new? You two are sleeping together... Least that's what I heard in town."

Aspen had wondered how long it would take now that Leigh's car was parked in her driveway nearly every night. "I don't have an excuse."

"Well, that's at least something. I called Anne Jean. She

hadn't heard a thing, and I was surprised because she usually hears stuff before me."

"Who'd you hear it from?"

"Some of the mothers in my belly dancing class, which by the way, I now understand why you haven't been attending." She knew it wasn't so much that Cassie cared whether they were sleeping together, but that she didn't know about it.

"I'm sorry. We just weren't ready to talk about it."

"Brit was beside herself when I told her. She thought the reason she hadn't heard from Leigh was because she was tied up with that meeting tomorrow in Farmington."

"Well, she has been."

"But she's also not been home."

"That's true too."

"Are you in love with her?"

"I'm going to make a pot of coffee. Would you like some?

"Yes, and stop avoiding the question."

"I'm not really." Aspen put beans in the coffee grinder. "I don't know."

"You don't know?" Cassie said. "How can you not know?"

"I don't want to think about love. Love complicates life, and right now I don't have either the desire or the will to do that." Aspen got up as Anne Jean's ancient truck sputtered to a stop and then discharged a loud bang.

"I brought cinnamon rolls. I just knew you'd have a pot of coffee on. Cassie, I'm glad you're here."

"Sit, everyone." Aspen surveyed her friends. They were looking at her with expectant eyes.

"What?"

"Aspen said she doesn't know if she's in love with her," Cassie said to Anne Jean.

Anne Jean just nodded.

"It's too early," Aspen said.

"So is there some kind of time line for falling in love?" Cassie

asked.

"No." Aspen sat down. "Oh, wow, these are still warm. Perfect comfort food." Aspen folded her hands on the table and waited. "Questions?"

"When did it happen?" Cassie leaned forward, the sleeves of her burgundy caftan draped over the table. At least her hair wasn't dyed burgundy, Aspen thought.

"We knew when we went for the walk in the woods."

"Wow, what a birthday present." Cassie looked away in embarrassment. Aspen knew she was thinking about the book she and Brittany had given them. "Wait. You knew the night of your birthday and didn't tell us?"

"I'm sorry. We just . . . oh, hell, there's no excuse, really." Cassie snorted.

"Are you happy?" Anne Jean asked.

"I am. She's remarkable."

"And the other?" Cassie was still irritated. "Did you tell her?"

"I did, and she said it doesn't matter.

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