~Iris POV~
"Iris! It's storming again!" Arwen shouted to me from the couch, his excitement over the weather, after suddenly a large clap of thunder rolled through the house-was a severe contrast to my apprehension.
" Yes buddy! I see and hear it too!" I said, holding my hands against my ears to reduce the ringing and dizziness that was attempting to engulf me.
I've always hated storms, the terror they produce has made it hard for me to function from the time I was a small child. The only thing that would calm me was being snuggled in my dad's arms as the storm rolled on around us. As I had grown up I was able to handle the physical effects better because I had to.
"Arwen!!" I shouted as he was standing on the couch jumping and giggling. " Come away from there! We need to get you ready for your next appointment. Dad is taking you today, he's going to be here any minute and you don't want to be late."
"Okay sissy!" He grinned up at me good naturedly as he got off the couch and gave me a huge grin and hugged me tightly. " I love you Iris."
"I love you too, you little munchkin." I tickled him lightly and we went to grab his shoes at the front door. Just as we had them on, dad burst through the threshold. Quickly shaking off the umbrella he had with him, I gave him a hug and they raced to the waiting van as it poured rain.
I shut the door immediately to make sure that the blustery winds didn't get me soaked as well. I texted my dad to ask him to let me know when they arrived for Arwen's appointment.
Joan was out sick so I was going to be manning the dinner crowd all on my own. I wasn't looking forward to it but it isn't anything I hadn't done before.
As I opened my umbrella and walked to the dinner I didn't know the huge changes that awaited me in only a few hours' time.
Joan calling in sick isn't completely rare, since I've worked there I it happened once every few months or so, since she works so hard she rarely allows for her time to be doing any kind of relaxation until it's too late. She's constantly trying to help me to keep afloat.
My job has always been to remind her to slow down. I arrived at the dinner about thirty minutes early to get the silverware wrapped for individual service and make sure that each booth had a thorough bath.
My cousin Kai walked in at that moment,
" Snow! You would not believe the day that I've had," she rolled her eyes all the way in the back of her head.
"That stupid storm almost killed me today! Girl, I'm starving for one of the amazing burgers here. So I hoped in the car and came to get one.I pulled on to the high way and a lightning strike hit a tree at the side of the road and it split thr tree right down the middle…"
Lightening and thunder simultaneously struck outside the dinner muffling Kai's words and my silverware clattered to the floor. I reached down and picked it up. Glad I had come in early to do them.
Kai's my only cousin, she's from my mom's side. My aunt Diana, who was my mom's youngest sister, gave birth to her just a year after I was born. She is similar in height and weight to me but she's naturally dishwater blonde with a mousy pinched nose and tiny mouth.
Kai or Morde-kai is her full name. Used to bother her that it was a boy's name. But it helped keep life interesting. Her parents loved the name Mordecai from the Book of Esther in the Bible. Especially how he loudly made sure to make sure that Esther was in the right place at the right time.
"Kai, what happened?!" I turned and really looked at her, as I grabbed more silverware to wrap, she looked back at me and crossed her arms indignant. " Iris! You're really going to make me repeat what I just said?!"
Thunder rang through the diner at that exact second and I jumped again. Dread coursing down my spine, Kai's face softened a little, she remembered my fear of storms from when we were kids and she reached across and grabbed my hand.
"Snow it's going to be fine! Okay from the top, a tree on the side of the road got struck with lightning and it split in half and fell just as I was driving underneath! The branch hit the back windshield and I've got a major crack but I'm glad that I floored it when I did!"
"Kai, me too, I would have been screaming and swearing up a storm!" We both laughed for a second and then she took something out of her pocket.
*Find your own prince charming,* The flier read as she placed it on the counter.
"What's that ?" I asked curious.
" Some beautiful lady is going to be given the role of princess to some Transylvanian prince" Kai looked dubious, and rolled her eyes.
The flier had someone in a mask and holding a rose and at the bottom in huge bold font, Prize of $1.8million.
"Well I hope whoever they choose is worth the prize."