muttered.
“What’s typical?” Brandi tipped her face higher into the glaring sun.
Eryn carefully ripped open the top of the envelope, not sure what to expect. “Oh, James is never in one place long enough to bother telling me where he is.” She peered inside. “He usually sends legal papers for me to take care of for him.” She sighed. “I wish he would stop traveling long enough to visit once in awhile.”
She pulled out a wad of paper that apparently was supposed to pass for wrapping paper. Pulling back the edges, she uncovered a scribbled note on top of a stone pendant engraved with three spirals, hung on a thin, black cord. She studied the round, nickel-sized ornament, wondering what possessed her brother to send it to her. Even more surprising was that he had taken the time to write a note. “Eryn - Was in England this past month. Cornwall in particular. Found this. Thought you might like it. - James.”
“Now that’s a first.” He never acknowledged her birthday, let alone sends her gifts. “I wonder why he did that?”
“What?” Brandi asked.
“He actually sent me a souvenir.” She flipped over a small card attached to the string and read the description. “It says the symbol is a triskele , a triple spiral. It represents the sun, the afterlife, and reincarnation. The one continuous line represents continuous movement of the universe within eternity.” Eryn dangled the stone in front of her, her brow creased in thought. “I’ve seen this symbol before. I just can’t remember where.”
Eryn put the smooth stone in her palm and traced the lines of the interlocking spirals with her finger. “Hmm. From Cornwall of all places.” She liked the sound of that.
Cornwall, England. When she was young she wanted to be a princess and live in a castle, a big white fortress with looming towers that brandished flags bearing her family’s colors. She imagined walking in the gardens, dreaming of her knight in shining armor, who would sweep her onto his horse and protect her with his shining sword. The memory made her smile. What little girl didn’t dream of her knight? She carefully wound the cord around the pendant and put it back in its envelope.
Placing the package beside her, she swung her legs over the side of the lounge chair. The water looked too good to pass up. Looking at Brandi out of the corner of her eye, she got up quickly and jumped into the pool, hooting as she folded her legs into a perfect cannonball, splashing Brandi thoroughly. It felt good to cut loose, something she didn’t do too often.
The cool water slid past her skin, slowing her drift to the bottom, dropping her down into the hushed silence. The sun’s rays penetrated through the ceiling of the watery space, illuminating the floor of the pool with dancing lights. Crouching low, she pushed off the bottom to the surface.
Brandi was sitting up now, drying herself off, a scowl on her face.
Eryn laughed. “Aw, live a little. You’re like Bryce. Too serious.” She swam to the edge of the pool and climbed out, then grabbed a towel and patted her skin dry. “I’ve got to get my stuff together for the shoot.”
Brandi looked over at Eryn, scowl still set. “God, you’re so skinny.” She looked at her own waist. “I’m still working on these love handles here.” She pinched some skin between her fingers.
“You’re kidding, right?” Eryn asked incredulous. “If you lose any more weight, you’ll be a poster child for anorexia.”
Brandi dismissed Eryn’s reaction. “It’s the way of the world, girlfriend. Gotta do what it takes to get ahead.”
It was hard for Eryn not to worry about Brandi. She was like a sister to her. Over the years she had watched Brandi nearly break in her efforts to bend to the demands of the fickle Hollywood scene. She jumped from man to man,
“What’s typical?” Brandi tipped her face higher into the glaring sun.
Eryn carefully ripped open the top of the envelope, not sure what to expect. “Oh, James is never in one place long enough to bother telling me where he is.” She peered inside. “He usually sends legal papers for me to take care of for him.” She sighed. “I wish he would stop traveling long enough to visit once in awhile.”
She pulled out a wad of paper that apparently was supposed to pass for wrapping paper. Pulling back the edges, she uncovered a scribbled note on top of a stone pendant engraved with three spirals, hung on a thin, black cord. She studied the round, nickel-sized ornament, wondering what possessed her brother to send it to her. Even more surprising was that he had taken the time to write a note. “Eryn - Was in England this past month. Cornwall in particular. Found this. Thought you might like it. - James.”
“Now that’s a first.” He never acknowledged her birthday, let alone sends her gifts. “I wonder why he did that?”
“What?” Brandi asked.
“He actually sent me a souvenir.” She flipped over a small card attached to the string and read the description. “It says the symbol is a triskele , a triple spiral. It represents the sun, the afterlife, and reincarnation. The one continuous line represents continuous movement of the universe within eternity.” Eryn dangled the stone in front of her, her brow creased in thought. “I’ve seen this symbol before. I just can’t remember where.”
Eryn put the smooth stone in her palm and traced the lines of the interlocking spirals with her finger. “Hmm. From Cornwall of all places.” She liked the sound of that.
Cornwall, England. When she was young she wanted to be a princess and live in a castle, a big white fortress with looming towers that brandished flags bearing her family’s colors. She imagined walking in the gardens, dreaming of her knight in shining armor, who would sweep her onto his horse and protect her with his shining sword. The memory made her smile. What little girl didn’t dream of her knight? She carefully wound the cord around the pendant and put it back in its envelope.
Placing the package beside her, she swung her legs over the side of the lounge chair. The water looked too good to pass up. Looking at Brandi out of the corner of her eye, she got up quickly and jumped into the pool, hooting as she folded her legs into a perfect cannonball, splashing Brandi thoroughly. It felt good to cut loose, something she didn’t do too often.
The cool water slid past her skin, slowing her drift to the bottom, dropping her down into the hushed silence. The sun’s rays penetrated through the ceiling of the watery space, illuminating the floor of the pool with dancing lights. Crouching low, she pushed off the bottom to the surface.
Brandi was sitting up now, drying herself off, a scowl on her face.
Eryn laughed. “Aw, live a little. You’re like Bryce. Too serious.” She swam to the edge of the pool and climbed out, then grabbed a towel and patted her skin dry. “I’ve got to get my stuff together for the shoot.”
Brandi looked over at Eryn, scowl still set. “God, you’re so skinny.” She looked at her own waist. “I’m still working on these love handles here.” She pinched some skin between her fingers.
“You’re kidding, right?” Eryn asked incredulous. “If you lose any more weight, you’ll be a poster child for anorexia.”
Brandi dismissed Eryn’s reaction. “It’s the way of the world, girlfriend. Gotta do what it takes to get ahead.”
It was hard for Eryn not to worry about Brandi. She was like a sister to her. Over the years she had watched Brandi nearly break in her efforts to bend to the demands of the fickle Hollywood scene. She jumped from man to man,
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