Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 92743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
I hold out my left hand and she gives a knowing grin. “A south paw. I’m not surprised. Creative people often are.”
I’m about to tell her that I’m not really a “creative” person—I work on a lobster boat—but something stops me. I may not be a professional photographer, but it’s definitely a creative outlet, and it could have been my career if my life had taken a different turn.
A long-neglected part of me likes being called creative. It likes it a lot.
So, I keep my mouth shut as she takes my hand in both of hers. Her skin is so dry it feels like paper against mine, but her touch is comforting as she prods at my palm. “Yes, this is all we need,” she murmurs before falling silent for several moments.
“What do you see?” I finally ask, more curious than I’ve been about something like this before. I’ve had my tarot cards read several times, but never my palm, and never by someone like Effie.
If she isn’t the real deal, I don’t know who is, and it isn’t just the fact that she looks the part more than anyone else offering their services here tonight. It’s her energy.
She projects an air of complete confidence, kindness, and wisdom as she says, “As I thought, you’re a new soul. It’s your first time here in a human body.” She clucks her tongue sympathetically. “Which means a lot of pain and ugly surprises. People will let you down. Not because they’re bad people, necessarily, but because you’re so innocent and new.”
I frown. “I don’t know about that. I mean, I wouldn’t say I’m a bad person, but I have dark thoughts every now and then.”
“We all do, darling,” she says, unphased as she moves her prodding fingers closer to the center of my palm. “But your dark thoughts are pale, peachy gray in a world of midnight black.” She exhales a soft laugh. “Trust me on that.” She lifts her chin, her eyes brighter now. “But that’s a blessing to the world. And to the people who love you. Of which there are many. I see wonderful friends who treasure you for exactly who you are and a family member…” She looks down again, humming softly. “Not a parent… Maybe an older relative?”
“My grandfather,” I supply.
She nods. “Yes, a grandfather, but he’s like your parent. He loves you desperately. He’d do anything for you. Even if he seems cranky or closed off at times, his heart is as soft and devoted as yours.” She looks up, holding my gaze as she adds in a more pointed tone, “He will never abandon you or stand in the way of your dreams. Not for a moment. He only wants your happiness. He might put up a fight at first, if there’s something he doesn’t understand, but in the end…” She glances past me toward where Weaver stands by the pillar. “He’ll learn to love what you love. Whatever and…whoever that happens to be.”
I pull in a breath and let it out with a shake of my head. “I’m not so sure about that.”
“That’s all right.” She smiles. “I am.”
“But he’s…” I clear my throat and glance quickly over my shoulder, ensuring Weaver is still distracted before adding in a softer voice, “My family would hate him, Effie. Our families have ugly, awful history between us, and Gramps…” I shake my head again, more firmly this time. “Gramps would never be okay with me being romantically involved with a Tripp. Not even someone my age, let alone a man who’s so much older. The age difference doesn’t bother me, but it would bother him. A lot. I know it would.”
Her expression sobers. “Sacrifices will have to be made to build a life with an older man, but your family won’t be one of them. They might be upset or hurt at first, but they’ll come back to you.” She taps her thumb to the center of my palm. “I see a happy family life in your future. And a happy marriage.”
My jaw clenches. “That’s a nice thought, but…it can’t happen. Not with Weaver. It just can’t. There are too many things standing in our way.”
She smiles, sadly this time. “Well, you know best, I’m sure. I read what I see, but futures are never set in stone.” She releases my hand. “If you’re determined to push happiness away, you’ll succeed. You have that power. All you have to do is keep believing that other people’s dreams are more important than your own.”
My lips part as pain flashes through my chest.
She gives my wrist a gentle squeeze. “I’m sorry if that isn’t what you wanted to hear, sweetheart. I can assure you, however, that everything will be okay. It always is. You’ll get where you’re going eventually. There’s no rush, no finish line, no goal except to live as fully as you can each time you get the chance, and learn your heart lessons along the way.”