Chapter 3
Straton
Like a fool, I have been standing outside of Merla’s psychic shop for a full ten minutes.
I’m not sure why I haven’t gone inside yet, but my feet are refusing to leave their spot.
A bell jingles to my right and I look over to see a woman with white hair locking up the door of her storefront. She turns, catching my eye, and smiles.
The woman walks down the steps toward me, not breaking eye contact.
“Hi there. Are you here to see Merla?”
“Um, yeah, I guess so. Uh,” I stammer out.
“I’ll walk in with you. She’s my wife.”
“Oh. But I see you just closed up. Is it closing time for her as well?”
“It’s fine, come on in.”
Stepping into the heavily incensed air, a woman with dyed blue hair is standing at the register.
“Hey, Alessandra, is Merla reading someone right now?”
“She is, but probably done soon.” The woman says, eyeing me.
“This is, um,” the white-haired woman looks at me.
“Straton. Straton Del Toro.”
“Oh, um, I don’t see an appointment here for a Straton and, well, we are closing now.”
“No worries, Al. I can cover the front while Merla reads him. Go ahead and clock out.”
“Thanks, sorry. I just have a date and don’t want to be late.”
“Who’s the lucky guy?”
“Some rando I met online. I’m not holding my breath, given my luck.”
“I’ll light a candle for you tonight, okay, hun?”
“Thanks, Fleur,” the woman says, giving Merla’s wife a small hug before heading out the door.
A minute later, Merla walks out with a young woman, who is nodding her head enthusiastically at the psychic.
“Thank you, Lady Merla. I promise to follow my instincts.”
“You will do amazing, JoJo, good luck.”
The door closes behind the young woman and Merla turns to me, eyeing me up and down before giving her wife a hello kiss.
“Who have you brought to me, Fleur?” She asks, but before waiting for an answer, she looks perplexed at the register. “And where is Alessandra?”
“I let her go get ready for her date. I can watch the front. This is Straton Del Toro. I found him outside staring at the shop.”
“Well, hello there, Straton Del Toro. How can I help you?”
“Hello, ma’am, um, Lady Merla. My cousin, back in California, has just been matched through your sister, Liora.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful! Fleur and I were just in Branwen Beach for Thanksgiving.”
“That’s nice, um, anyway, he suggested I visit you. Like him, I would like to find my true love.”
Merla nods at me, her violet-blue eyes studying my face.
“And you are aware that I don’t do touch magic, correct? And I can only guide you. You still have to make important choices along the way.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Alright, well then, follow me to the back. I still have hot water from the last customer.”
I sit at a small, round table covered in a lacy cloth while watching Lady Merla brew my tea.
In the dim light of her parlor, she instructs me to drink the fragrant tea until only a shallow pool remains.
She instructs me to swirl the delicate porcelain cup three times counterclockwise while focusing on my question.
With practiced hands, Lady Merla carefully inverts the cup onto a saucer, allowing the excess liquid to drain away, before lifting it with a flourish to reveal the mysterious patterns left behind by the clinging leaves.
“Do you celebrate Yule, Straton?” The psychic asks as she studies the wet leaf patterns.
“Uh, not officially or anything. I’ve attended events, though.”
“If you learn of an event this year, then you must go. Understand?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Right then, Merla sits up straight and looks at her watch.
“Goodness! Fleur and I have dinner reservations. We must go.”
“Oh, okay.” I say, standing, unsure if that was all a tea leaf reading was supposed to be.
Refusing payment, the violet-blue eyed eccentric rushes me out of the shop and I hear a bolt being locked behind me.
What the hell was that?
Walking to the lot where I parked my car, I mull over what just happened. It didn’t seem like very much, that’s for sure. But, at least I didn’t pay for it, so I guess it’s no biggie.
Crossing the street, the rich smells wafting from Sea Glass Cafe meet my nose and my stomach immediately growls.
Remembering their award-winning vegan clam chowder, I decide that dinner there is a must before I go home.
Opening the door, a flier in the front window catches my eye.
There’s a Yule event tomorrow. When Merla made that rushed comment, I didn’t even think about how tomorrow is the winter solstice.
I take a picture of the flier with my phone and head inside to the delicious smells of comfort and goodness.
Walking into the great hall, I am impressed at how beautiful and magical everything looks.
I have been here for the police department's pancake breakfasts, and this place is normally boring and plain.
But not today. Twinkling lights everywhere I look, dark colors of green, red, purple, black, and an almost limitless number of interesting looking tables of wares.
Hot cider in hand, I take my time perusing the various tables.
I have already seen several interesting things I may want to purchase, but I promised myself to look at everything before taking out my wallet.
Plus, even though yesterday with Merla was rushed and weird, I told myself to give what she said a real shot. It can’t hurt, at least.
Standing at a jewelry table, I hear a light airy laugh from across the room. It surprises me, given how nosey the place is, so I look up to see who made it. Immediately, my eyes fall upon a stunningly beautiful woman.
If I had to guess, this goddess is a witch, based on her table and clothing. Her graying-black hair is in braids and up in an elaborate bun on top of her head. The woman’s gold earrings sparkle next to her rich brown skin and I can see her smile clearly from where I stand.
She is a curvy knockout. And I need to be in her presence.