A Taste of Spring novel Chapter 2

SPRING

The chimes of her ringing cell phone rankled Spring Lafayette's nerves. She turned her attention from the passing scenery of city life and settled back into the backseat of the taxi. Spring glanced at the cell phone in her hand then up at the rearview mirror. Her eyes met the driver's gaze through the reflective image.

The driver, a young woman with purple hair and considerable patience, smiled.

Spring offered a half smile as she worked on calming her pounding heart which overshadowed the continuous ringing of her phone, but not enough for her to ignore it. She groaned as she tapped the answer button.

"Listen Springy, I've thought about it and you don't have to do this."

(Yes, I do.)

"Don't make it out to be a big deal, Summer." Spring tried to sound confident. "We talked about this already." She waited for her sister's response but whatever Summer planned to say was replaced by the sound of muffled coughing. The hacking cough continued for at least thirty seconds before it died away.

(Yeah, I have to do this.)

"I can handle my boss," Summer attempted to say, but it came out as a comment-cough combo.

Spring sighed. "I know you can, and I can handle this. How hard can it be?" Spring's thumb hovered over the disconnect button. "I'll call you if I need to." She pressed the button before her sister could say anything that would freak her out more than she was already.

Spring moved her finger over her email icon. She opened the email her sister forwarded to her and went over the information she needed to pull this "thing" off.