Dead Sure (Cold Case Psychic #42)

PROLOGUE

Tennyson

Tennyson Grimm sat in his office at West Side Magick finishing his lunch and going over his schedule for the afternoon.

He had two readings scheduled, with the last ending at half past two, which meant he’d be able to pick the kids up from the bus stop.

Everly loved every second of kindergarten and he couldn’t wait to hear all about her day.

Ten’s first afternoon client was a young woman named Autumn Miller, who was a first time visitor to West Side Magick.

She’d been referred to Tennyson by one of his former clients, Matilda Brighthouse, a nursing student who’d wanted to know if the man she was dating was “the one.” He wasn’t and Matilda had been grateful for Ten’s assistance not only in learning the truth about her soon-to-be ex-boyfriend and for sending her in a direction that led to her meeting the actual man of her dreams. Ten had received an invitation to their wedding two weeks ago.

Shutting his eyes, Ten opened his gift wide, hoping to learn something about his new client. Nothing came through. There were no spirits who were excitedly waiting to speak to Autumn and he wasn’t getting anything about why she’d booked the visit. No matter, Ten loved surprises.

As Ten took a sip from his water bottle, there was a knock on the door. “Come in, Carson!”

“Hey,” Carson grinned, as he popped his head into the room. I’ve got Autumn Miller for you.”

“Great!” Ten stood up, as a young woman swooped into the room. She was about five and a half feet tall, with gorgeous dark curly hair and emerald green eyes. Autumn was dressed in pink scrubs and a matching pair of crocs. “Hello, Autumn. I’m Tennyson Grimm.”

“Nice to meet you.” She held her hand out to shake.

When Ten took her hand, he got a bit of a jolt.

Autumn was an open book. He could see her entire life played out in heartbreaks and slights, which started when she was in kindergarten when her mother left the family.

The woman had more heartbreaks than he’d ever seen in a client before with lost friendships, missed opportunities, and a very poor dating history.

The men Autumn chose were the kind of people who used and abused her in the worst ways possible, financially, sexually, and mentally.

To put it simply, this girl was a mess. Ten hoped there was something he could do to help turn her life around. “What brings you to see me?”

“I’m in love with my boss.” Autumn sighed dreamily, as if she were a teenager panting over a pop star.

Ten wasn’t surprised by Autumn’s confession. She had a track record of chasing taboo men. “Tell me about Eli.”

Autumn’s eyes widened, then quickly darkened. “Oh, Matilda told you all about him, I suppose.”

“Not at all.” Ten offered Autumn a smile. “Eli likes to wear pink scrubs when he does patient rounds in the NICU. He says it makes him more approachable to scared parents.” Ten opened his gift wider, wanting to give this woman something to hold on to. “You’re his favorite nurse to work with.”

“I am?” Autumn asked, looking bewildered. “I mean, Eli always asks for me to be on duty during his shifts. He says I have steady hands and a calming manner with our patients. Not every nurse can place an IV in a premature baby.”

Ten could feel Autumn’s pride shine through loud and clear. If only she could be this confident in her love life. “You’re here to find out if you and Eli have a future?”

Autumn nodded, her eyes tearing up. “I’ve watched all my friends find the men of their dreams. They got engaged and married.

A few even had kids. Matilda was my last unmarried friend.

I assumed it would be she and I against the world, until she met Greg.

Right place. Right time. She bumped into him at a coffee shop in Boston and spilled her drink all over him.

Love at first sight.” Autumn shrugged as if to say Matilda finding true love was a fluke.

“When I first met Matilda, her personal life was a bit of a mess, kind of like yours is now. You both have a ton of friends and jobs that you love, but there was that one missing piece.” Ten paused, wanting Autumn to answer.

“A husband,” Autumn filled in.

“Exactly,” Ten agreed. He focused his gift on Autumn’s future. A glorious picture was painted before his eyes. “I see you with a tall, dark, and handsome man.”

“Ohhh! Eli is all of those things!” Autumn enthused.

“Your wedding dress is made of ivory lace with a long train, your dream since you were a little girl. You and your new husband will dance the night away before leaving for a Greek cruise.” Ten paused, waiting for his vision to sharpen.

He could see basics, but not specifics. “There’s a brick house at the end of a cul-de-sac with twin girls playing in the front yard, while you plant flowers.

Marigolds and Asters, for your girls, who you named after the blooms.”

“What do my girls look like?” Autumn asked, her voice filled with wonder.

“Brunette with curly hair, and dark eyes. They’ll be short like you and serious like their father.”

“Eli is very serious. He has to be with tiny babies’ lives in his hands.”

“That’s all I can see at the moment.” Ten pushed as hard as he could, but couldn’t see beyond the brick house and the girls playing.

“When do you see my wedding?”

“Within the next eighteen months.”

“You can’t be any more specific than that? I’ll need to ask for time off for our honeymoon.”

Ten laughed, thinking Autumn was joking. One look at her face told him she was not. “There’s something you need to keep in mind. The future is fluid.”

Autumn’s green eyes darkened with a flash of anger. “What does that mean?”

“What I’ve told you is what I see in your future at this moment in time.

Decisions you make, accidents or mishaps in your or your husband’s lives can change the course of your future.

” Ten paused, waiting to see if what he was saying to Autumn was sinking in.

Yes, his predictions were usually on the money, but there were no absolutes in life. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Autumn nodded, her earlier angry look gone. “I’m getting married to the man of my dreams. My future starts today. How can I ever thank you, Tennyson?”

Ten grinned at the young woman. “Be happy. Enjoy your life. Pass your happiness along to others.”

“I will.” Autumn popped out of her seat and pulled Ten in for a quick hug. She threw open the door and laughed. “Time to go dress shopping! Byeeee!” With that, Autumn was gone.

Ten shook his head. It was obvious Autumn hadn’t paid much attention to his warning about the future being subject to change.

His client seemed to be the type who grabbed life by the horns and wrangled every situation to her liking.

That kind of attitude might work in the office or with girlfriends, but didn’t usually translate so well in matters of the heart.

Ten wished Autumn all the best and hoped life would turn out the way she wanted.