Free Brida Pact by Leora Gonzales

physically. Do you need
me to head your way to help with your sister? I can be there in about an hour.”
    “No, I can talk to Pixie myself. I may need to call in
backup though if she starts asking questions about things that I don’t remember
paying attention to. Or if she tries to strangle me,” Poppy said, reaching in
for a cider from the sack. Taking a rather large sip, she asked, “Can I call
you back tonight if I need you?”
    “Absolutely. I’m here to help any way I can. We want to set
up the meet for tomorrow morning. Can you pack tonight after talking to your
sister? I want you to focus on getting your stuff together and talking to your
sister. Call me as soon as she leaves so we can figure out a time you can come
in. You may want your sister with you. There’s nothing saying the family can’t
meet your potential husband.”
    Poppy nodded and then realized that Valerie was unable to
see.
    “Okay, wish me luck. Pixie’s a pistol. And, Valerie?”
    So many questions were running through her head but she did
want to get one thing out to the liaison, who was now seeming more of a friend
than anything else.
    “Yes?”
    “Thanks. I may be shocked right now but I’m also actually
excited. I really appreciate you calling me and helping get all the small stuff
out of the way. I just can’t believe this is happening.”
    “You’re welcome, Poppy. I’m so happy for you. I have a good
feeling about this.”
    * * *
* *
    Breaking the news to her sister was actually easier than
Poppy had expected. Pixie was somewhat preoccupied and had mentally checked out
of the first part of the conversation. It wasn’t until Poppy said she’d already
been matched that Pixie decided to check back in.
    “What the fuck did you just say?” Pixie dropped the piece of
garlic bread she’d been preparing to shovel into her mouth.
    Poppy tipped the bottle of wine and topped off Pixie’s glass
yet again. Not a bad idea to keep Pixie tipsy if she could help it. Liquid
courage for herself actually wasn’t a bad idea either and she decided to fill
up her glass with her favorite sweet red wine. Now that she was thinking about
it, did aliens have access to alcohol or should that be one of the things she
packed to take? That was definitely on the call list for Valerie later.
    “I was saying that I was matched today. Yay!” Poppy said
with a gigantic fake smile and raised her wineglass, hoping her sister would
follow her lead.
    “Poppy— Poppy— Fuck! I don’t even know where to start! Are
you sure you have a match? I thought these things took weeks or months. This is
too quick―are they going to try to take you away from me tonight?”
    “Pix, what’s going on with you? I went through the first
half of the meal answering all the questions you had yesterday and you didn’t
even pay attention. Are you okay? Plus, you’re about to cry…you never cry. And
what do you mean, ‘take me away’? You act as though I’m going to get snatched
off the street. You have a life, sis. I don’t. You have a great job and
boyfriend. I don’t. I can’t even get a cat in this stupid apartment to become
the crazy cat lady. I need this. Or, at least, I need to see if this will
work.”
    Poppy pleaded with her eyes for Pixie to understand where
she was coming from. She knew she was on the verge of tears herself but knew
also that if she cried then they would both start blubbering. When her sister
took a deep breath in, Poppy braced herself for more yelling. She was very
surprised when Pixie spoke in a small voice.
    “I am happy for you. I think this is a good thing…at least
it’s something you need to do to knock yourself out of whatever rut you have
been in. These problems at work are grating on me and it’s as if Brenda is
fucking up on purpose. I don’t know why she would do that, but it’s making me
crazy. Maybe she wants my job…or she’s just an idiot and because we’re friends
she thinks she can get away with all these