Chapter 11 #2
It’s the evening before the wedding, and incredibly, we managed to pull everything together in a day. It’s not so incredible if you take into account Clint’s connections and reputation in the area. He was able to pull strings all over the place, hitting the LA Champions hockey team angle hard.
This evening, he has all the guys at a haberdashery in Sterling being fitted for their suits. Baby Lucy is with Aunt Raven and all the moms and aunts back at Cooters & Shooters, and I expect she’ll be thoroughly spoiled next time we see her.
The girls and I are all at Miss Gina’s having a magical bachelorette party.
A butler brings out a tray of crystal tumblers filled with a deep purple liquid, and I lean into the table, whispering, “Is purple drink still purple drink if it’s served in Waterford crystal?”
“I wouldn’t know! I’ve never had anything in crystal,” Heather whispers back. “But we had the most divine breakfast, and I adore the guest cottage. I feel like a princess.”
We all take our tumblers and sip the perfectly blended cocktail made of purple Kool-Aid and Everclear… or whatever Miss Gina has that approaches 190-proof grain alcohol.
“Back in my day, everyone was doing seances,” the kind old lady continues. “They were so much fun!”
“Did you ever see dead people, Miss Gina?” Maddie is obsessed with our hostess and her fairytale-like castle and flowy clothes.
We were all obsessed with her as little kids, playing with her annual springtime litter of kittens, swimming in her Olympic-sized lapis-blue swimming pool, running all over the grounds of her Italian-style mansion on the bluffs of Sterling Bay, riding in her elevator.
We grew up thinking she was our real great-grandmother. Imagine our shock when we found out she was only a lonely blind lady our Aunt Dylan had befriended back when she sold Girl Scout cookies.
Uncle Zane would drive her over, and the two became thick as thieves. They got even closer after our real grandparents died, and now she takes care of all of us like we’re her actual family. I’m even named after her.
“I never saw any dead people.” Miss G’s brow furrows as if she’s thinking hard. “I do remember the table rising off the ground once. My father said it was all sleight of hand. ‘A bunch of hooey!’ he said.”
She imitates a man’s voice in a way that makes her laugh. Her white-gray hair is styled in a bob that curls under her ears, and in the warmer months she wears flowy linen outfits. In the colder ones, she wears flannel.
“I’d love to do a seance,” Heather’s eyes are wide. “I don’t think I could do one, but maybe my grandmother Gwen could.”
“I’d love to meet her.” Miss Gina reaches across the table in Heather’s direction.
Owen’s sister reaches out and squeezes her hand. “She would adore you.”
“I want to play with the pretty cards!” Maddie jumps up and down beside her aunt, causing Ladybird to rise from where she’d been lying and let out a loud Rooo!
Spanky is on his feet at the sound, wagging his tail and walking around the chairs, concerned.
“It sounds like the dogs want to play, too!” Miss Gina claps her slender hands.
“Your dad said we have to wait until you’re older,” Heather tells her niece, provoking the fiercest pouty face.
“Daddy never lets me do fun things!” She crosses her arms hard.
“Here, come stand by me while she reads mine.” Miss Gina reaches for the little girl, pulling her into her side. “I can’t see the pictures, so you can describe them to me.”
That does the trick. Maddie perks up, nodding rapidly. “I’m good at describing stuff.”
“I bet you are.” Miss G pats her back, and we all walk over to watch.
“I’ll do a simple, three-card spread.” Heather takes out the deck of purple cards with gold-foiled illustrations. “What is your intention?”
“My goodness…” The old woman leans back in her chair, putting a hand on her chest. “I have no idea. I don’t need anything. I’ve done all I want to do… I guess, what should I focus on now?”
That makes me smile, and I sit on the side of her chair, wrapping my arm around her shoulders.
“My sweet Gina.” She pats my hand. “I remember holding you as a newborn.”
“Let’s see…” Heather places three cards face down on the table, then one by one, she turns them over. “First, in the past position, we have the Queen of Pentacles.”
“She looks just like you!” Maddie cries. “It’s a woman sitting in a pretty chair in flowy robes with flowers all around her.”
“I like the sound of that…” Miss Gina smiles, nodding. “What does it mean?”
“It’s in the upright position, so it means financial security… you’ve always been a reliable, nurturing person.”
“I’m convinced!” Kim takes the chair beside Heather to watch. “I can’t think of a better way to describe Miss G.”
“Next, in the present position, is the Four of Cups…”
“It’s a guy sitting under a tree, and a little cloud is handing him a cup,” Maddie whispers.
We all lean forward, curious. “It’s reversed,” Heather says, “Which means you need to get out more and engage in society.”
“I’ll do it!” Miss Gina slaps her leg, laughing. “I was just thinking the other day I’ve been cooped up too much lately, especially now that you all are getting older.”
“I’ll bring you to Cooters & Shooters with me on Thursday.” Kim puts her hand on the lady’s back. “And we can go to the football games on Fridays. The Nutcracker is coming up…”
“It’s getting better already!” Miss Gina smiles.
“Finally, for the future, we have the Star in the upright position, which is a wonderful thing.” Heather smiles, lifting her blue eyes. “It means renewal, hope… You’re going to leave a legacy.”
“It’s a pretty lady in a dress dipping her toe in a puddle with stars all around,” Maddie tells her.
“Isn’t that wonderful?” Miss Gina turns her head as if she’s looking at the group of us. “I hope all of this comes true. Thank you, Heather.”
“My pleasure. I love a good reading.” Heather slides the cards together, shuffling them and looking up at us. “Who’s next?”
“Not me.” Haddy holds up both hands. “I’ve got everything I want, and I’m not taking a chance following that perfect reading.”
“Gina?”
“I’m good!” I shake my head, snorting a laugh. “I don’t need to know what next great disappointment lies in my future. I’ll take it as it comes.”
“Seriously?” Kim cries. “What a bunch of party poopers! It’s the whole reason we’re out here. I’ll go next.”
She pulls up a chair, and Heather scoots around to be across from her. “What’s your intention?”
“I guess I’ll follow Miss Gina’s lead. What’s next?”
“Let’s do this.” Heather grins. “I’ll do a past, present, future read again.”
She shuffles the cards slowly, then slides them over for Kimmie to cut.
Our oldest cousin only taps them with her knuckle. “Miss Gina didn’t cut.”
“I’m no role model,” the old lady teases.
“If you’re not, then nobody is,” Kimmie replies just as fast.
“Here we go…”
Like before, Heather places three cards face down in front of our cousin. She turns the first card over to reveal an older boy bending down to hand a little girl a bouquet of flowers.
“The Six of Cups…” Heather says. “It’s in the upright position, which symbolizes nostalgia, and safety in the past. You’re holding onto something very tightly from your childhood.”
Kim blinks wide brown eyes up at me, and I don’t know why it makes me nervous. Heather’s hand moves to the next card, and she turns it over to show a blindfolded woman holding two long swords.
“The Two of Swords, also in the upright position.” Heather’s brow furrows. “It can mean you’ll face a difficult decision because of hidden information… Or you’re in a period of indecision, where you’re carefully weighing your options. Either way, look inside yourself and trust your intuition.”
“Okay…” Kimmie’s voice is quiet, and I can’t tell if this is making sense to her.
I’m completely baffled.
“And finally…” Heather turns over a card showing a naked woman dancing with the sun shining over her head. “Oh, yay! Even though the sun is reversed, that only means there’s a delay. Soon the clouds will break, and you’ll find the joy you’re seeking.”
Heather is smiling big, blinking across at her, but Kim’s expression is still.
I reach over and put my hand on her arm. “Was that not what you wanted to hear?”
She blinks out of it at once, smiling up at me. “Sorry, no, that was fun. Clear as mud, but a lot to think about!”
My nose wrinkles, but Heather is happy.
“What a relief! I hate when I get bad cards for people. I do my best to guide them to the light, but sometimes there’s just no way out of it.”
“That settles it,” Haddy laughs. “We’re stopping there. No point in tempting fate.”
“Oh, stop being a baby,” Kimmie prods. “Just pull one card, and see what happens. They can do that, can’t they, Heather?”
Our new friend squints at us. “I don’t usually do single card pulls, but we can try it for fun.”
She gathers the cards again, giving them a shuffle before holding the deck out to Haddy first, who pulls a card, then it’s my turn.
I study the ornate deck with its beautiful drawings and shimmering accents. I know it’s only a deck of cards, ink on paper, nothing more. Still, my chest is tight. With trembling fingers, I reach out and pull a card from the center.
“Haddy can go first,” Heather says. “Let’s see it.”
Haddy turns the card over, and it’s two men holding cups under what looks like the medical symbol of snakes on a staff.
“Two of Cups!” Heather’s voice is high, and she exhales a laugh. “This is good for marriage. It signifies an emotional connection, a partnership. Both parties are equally valued. It transforms any previous conflict into a commitment built on mutual trust.”
“It’s so true…” Haddy’s blue eyes mist. “We did have conflict in the beginning, but I trust Gavin now as much as any of you, my family.”
I quickly grab a tissue from the snack cart. “Don’t cry! It’s perfect.”
She sniffs, taking the napkin and dabbing her eyes. “It is perfect.”
Now I’m really nervous. “You’re batting three for three. Can we possibly get a straight line of good readings?”
Heather meets my gaze. “Let me see your card, and I won’t tell you if we don’t. We’ll just put it back in the deck.”
“Deal,” I say, handing the stiff card to her.
She turns it over, and her brows tighten. My stomach dips when I see a man standing confused in what looks like a cage of tall sticks.
“It’s bad…” I start, but Heather holds up her hand.
“No, it’s a message. The Nine of Wands is about resilience. You’ve been hurt, but you’re close to a victory.” She looks up, sliding her fingers over her eyes. “Grandma Gwen said once this card is courage wrapped in exhaustion. Move slow, be cautious, but let hope walk beside your fear.”
My stomach tightens, and I swallow the lump in my throat.
Heather doesn’t know anything about my past, so it’s impossible she made this up to fit me. Our eyes hold, and she smiles, studying my face.
“Does that mean something to you?” she asks.
I start to tell her it does, when all at once, Kim’s, Haddy’s, and my phone all light up. Kim’s makes a sound like bells, but Haddy’s and mine only buzz.
Miss Gina holds up her hands. “My goodness! What’s happening?”
“It’s a text from Maverick,” Kim says, before bursting into laughter. “Oh, no! Your dads are giving Gavin the traditional bachelor-party lap dance!”
“What does that mean?” Heather’s eyes widen, and we all crowd around our phones to see the video.
“I want to see!” Maddie bounces on her toes, but Heather touches her shoulder.
“When you’re older.”
“This is one of those times I wish I wasn’t an old blind lady,” Miss Gina grouses, and Maddie walks over to lean on the side of the old woman’s legs.
“Don’t worry, Miss Gigi,” she says. “I never get to do the fun stuff either.”
“Madison Stone, you get to do all kinds of fun stuff,” Heather fusses. “Just not everything.”
Haddy puts a hand over her mouth, laughing as Gavin is seated in a chair, his hands tied behind his back with a satin ribbon. The music changes, and our dads and Uncle Craig dance out in black satin hot pants and blond wigs.
Uncle Hendrix dances right in front of Gav, turning to touch his toes and smile up at him through his legs. It only lasts a moment before Uncle Craig drapes a white feather boa around his neck and starts pulling it back and forth quickly.
Gavin sneezes, and Haddy snorts through her hand. “Poor Gavin! This is so wrong.”
Gavin’s dad yells a loud Gesundheit! from somewhere in the crowd.
Haddy’s future husband shakes his head. “No help there.”
Kim slaps her hand on Haddy’s shoulder. “I hope he realizes he’s officially in the group.” The dancing continues. “Welcome to the family, Gavin Knight!”