Chapter 32
The Strength card reminds us we can overcome both internal and external struggles.
CAL
Marci called as I was taking Carl for his last walk of the evening. I assured her my doors were locked. I had even had my locks changed when Laura suggested that Juliet might have copied the key taped to the underside of my outdoor rocking chair. “Perhaps that is how she made calls from your office to Paul’s house.” That call log had baffled me. This seemed a reasonable explanation.
“Let’s go to the lake and watch fireworks tomorrow night. Just me and you, like old times.”
“Lake Lanier is too far. And Fourth of July is so crowded up there. Let’s stay home and watch fireworks on TV.”
“Not Lanier. Let’s go to this little lake in Roswell. There’s this cute little community called Mountain Park. One of my customers lives there.”
“I’ll go if you make curried chicken salad and homemade croissants. And cream cheese brownies.” Marci knows the way to my heart is gastronomical.
“You got it. I’ll pick you up at 7:00.”
The next evening, she picked me up at seven on the dot. The brownies smelled wonderful, and I ate one in the car.
We made small talk, chatting about the progress of my book (dismal) and the price of tomatoes at the Farmer’s Market (exorbitant). I have missed hanging out with Marci.
“Who is the customer in Mountain Park? Do I know them?”
“Oh my gosh, did you see that car turn right in front of me without a blinker.” I hadn’t. I was busy foraging for another cream cheese brownie.
We turned off Hwy 92 onto a side road. “So, who is this customer?”
“Look at that deer! Oh, you missed it. It was so cute!”
“Why are you acting so weird?”
We pulled into the driveway of a small cabin that had a view of the lake. I assumed we’d have a front row seat for the fireworks shortly. Marci unloaded the food onto the patio table in the front yard. Then she got back into the car. “I forgot the wine. I’ll be right back.”
What the hell? I yelled it aloud as her car retreated down the dirt road. “What the hell, Marci?”
I was furious when Danny walked out the front door of the cabin.