The warm, moist air rolled across the land, setting off sparks as it passed over Gwyn's skin. She shivered. Change comes.
A cackle floated on the air from behind her. "It'll do you no good to run. I tried, your mama tried, we Murphy girls are destined to be married to no-good losers who sit around all day, drink their beer and piss away their lives. Take my advice, girl, get yourself a daughter by him and kick him to the curb. Don't wait for twenty years of your life to pass away."
Gwyn closed her eyes, resting her head against the windowpane, praying for some relief. "Yes, Nana." She'd been hearing the same advice since she was twelve years old, when she came to live with Nana.
She wished her mother were here. Despite all the troubles her father had left them with, her mother always had a smile on her face for Gwyn. "There's hope yet in the world, baby, don't let anyone tell you different."
Tell that to the thug who had gunned down her mother and the other clerks as they were leaving the bank that night.
Shaking herself, Gwyn turned and crossed the room. "I've got to get back to work, Nana. I'll stop by later when I get off work."
Fluffing her hair, Nana shook her head. "Don't bother. It's bingo tonight and there's a new man down the hall. I need to get there early so that slut Esme don't claim the seat next to him."
The slut was seventy-five years old to her grandmother's eighty and didn't need a cane to get around the center. Gwyn rolled her eyes. "All right. I'll be back on Tuesday then."
She kissed the papery cheek offered and left her grandmother to her knitting. Closing the room door behind her, Gwyn breathed in the filtered, cool air. Why Nana insisted on leaving her windows open during this early heat wave, she would never know.
Glancing at her watch, Gwyn sighed. She had five minutes to make a ten-minute trip. Hopefully, Rick wouldn't be sitting in his usual spot.
A wave of heated air smacked her in the face as she left the facility. Glancing to the sky, she saw the black thunderheads rolling in from the east. It was going to be a soaker, and she knew she'd better get a move on.
As soon as she got into her old Honda, she cranked up the air conditioning, wishing for a blast, but thankful for the trickle that seeped out from the vents. She adjusted the mirror and winced at her reflection. Maybe she should just call in sick for the rest of the day.
Inhaling and exhaling like the meditation tapes taught her, she set her shoulders. Sick days were reserved for when she had to take Nana to the doctor's office.
Pushing down on the gas pedal, she flipped on the headlights. The stormy gloom darkened what had been an exceptionally sunny day. She'd only gotten a few miles down the road when the heavens opened. Rain fell in sheets down the windshield, obscuring her view. The wipers flashed back and forth, doing nothing to combat the deluge. As soon as the lightning lit the road, the thunder boomed.
Too late she saw the deer, which was apparently not about to move for her compact car. Yanking the wheel, she swerved off the road. Bouncing down into the ditch, her seatbelt dug into her tender skin.
In what felt like hours, but must have been only minutes, she forced her hands to uncurl from the steering wheel. Breathe in. Breath out. Rinse. Repeat. She reached down for her purse and dug out her cell phone.
Damn it. No reception. Forget this.
As soon as she could, she was calling in sick.
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