Green Sky

Carrie hummed softly as she nudged the fridge door closed with her hip. Her hands full, she made her way to the counter.

Setting the lettuce, mayonaise, and bacon on the counter, she plucked a plump tomato out of the overflowing bowl next to the kitchen door.

She smiled to herself and glanced over at Emily in the next room.

The baby lay sleeping on a quilt spread across the floor. Her butt was in the air, chubby hands next to her cheeks.

Lightly bouncing the tomato in her hand, Carrie padded across the kitchen, her bare feet softly slapping the tile until she reached the carpet of the living room. She knelt next to the quilt, gently setting her hand on Emily's warm back, feeling it rise and fall with each breath. She fought the impulse to lay down next to her and cuddle into a nap.

With one last gentle carress, she stood and went back to the kitchen.

Turning on the faucet, she ran the tomato under a rush of cool water, the flesh firm and still warm from the afternoon sun. Staring out the window, she frowned at the clouds in the distance. Green tinged, they bruised the sky as angry black moved rapidly from the south.

"Weird," Carrie muttered. Her cell phone buzzed on the kitchen counter. Setting the tomato down, she shook the water off her hands and picked the phone. "Hello?" She dried her hands on her skirt, still staring at the sky.

"Carrie? It's Henry. Gage is on his way. I need you and Emily at the main house. Now."

"Emily just went down for her nap. Can it wait?"

"No." Henry paused. Carrie could hear Frank shouting in the background and Henry's answering rumble.

"What's going on?" Worry crept into her voice.

"Probably nothing, but better safe than sorry. There's a tornado alert and I want everyone here."

"Tornado?" Carrie thought furiously. "There aren't tornadoes in Montana!"

"We don't have time for this," Henry said impatiently. "Gage will be there in less than five minutes. Pack a bag for Emily and get your butt over here. Now." With a click, he disconnected.

Carrie ran into the nursery to pack, the tomato laying forgotten on the white tile.

This post was inspired by a Write on Edge prompt showing a picture of a BLT. What? It looks familiar? Oh yeah. Didn't I tell you? Oh...don't worry. I need to do a whole post on it soon.

In the meantime, this takes place after Farmers Market and is part of the Hidden Hollow series.

As always, concrit is appreciated. Especially since I wrote this drugged. Not that type of drug. Geez, people. Nyquil!