Fair Play by Deirdre Martin Page B

mystical mumbo jumbo after all. “Can I ask another question?”
    â€œBe my guest.”
    He picked up the cards again, this time closing his eyes. “When will it happen?”
    He waited for another number to appear in his mind. Thirty-three. Okay, so maybe thirty-three would be the only number that ever came to his mind. That was fine with him. He shuffled the deck more slowly this time, turning over the top card when he was done. The card was upside down. “Nine of Wands,” he read aloud, checking out the illustration of a peasant in tights alongside a cart loaded with nine long pieces of wood. He looked at his cousin expectantly.
    â€œWell . . .” she began hesitantly.
    â€œWhat?” Michael was growing alarmed. “What is it?”
    â€œReversed, the Nine of Wands indicates obstacles, adversity, delays. Lots of problems, lots of barriers to overcome.” She winced. “Sorry.”
    â€œI knew these cards were bullshit,” Michael muttered darkly.
    â€œIt doesn’t mean you’re not going to get her,” Gemma assured him. “It’s just not going to be easy.”
    â€œGreat.” Michael sulked.
    Gemma’s gaze was sympathetic. “You really like her, don’t you?”
    â€œYeah, I really do,” said Michael. “She’s smart and funny. A little bit cranky, too, but that’s okay, I can cope with cranky. And she’s gorgeous— Madonn’ . . .”
    â€œWell, then you’ve got to have faith it’s going to work out.” Gemma began putting the cards back in their velvet bag. “What does Anthony think of her?”
    Michael pulled a tortured face. “Don’t get me started on Anthony.”
    â€œWhat? Why?”
    He told Gemma all about Dante’s, including Theresa’s suggestions and his brother’s reluctance to change anything.
    â€œYou have to go easy with Anthony, Michael. He’s very sensitive.”
    â€œWho isn’t?” Michael scoffed.
    â€œI mean about the restaurant in particular.”
    â€œWell, so am I.”
    â€œIt’s different. Dante’s has been his whole life. He’s poured his guts into it. Now all of a sudden you step in and want to change things around? No wonder he’s upset.”
    â€œAre you saying I don’t have a right to improve things?” Michael demanded, feeling defensive.
    â€œNot at all. I’m just saying be sensitive to his feelings. You’ve seen and done things he never has, maybe never will. He’s jealous of you. All he’s ever had is Dante’s, and he’s afraid you’re somehow going to take it away from him. Be gentle with him, Mike.”
    â€œYeah, yeah, I will,” Michael promised. He found the idea that Anthony might be jealous of him bizarre, but he supposed it could be true. All those times Anthony got on his ass about being a wussy college boy and a dumb jock . . . Michael always assumed it was Anthony’s way of putting him down. But now he saw there might be a different way to interpret it.
    The incense was starting to make his temples throb. Hopping down from his stool, he leaned in to kiss his cousin’s cheek. “I should run. I’ve got a million things to do today.”
    â€œWait. Let me give you something.”
    Gemma hustled out from behind the counter and went to the front of the store, returning with two large, thick candles, one white, one red. “Burn them and think thoughts of Theresa. They’re to attract love.”
    â€œDon’t you have a spell I can recite or something?” Michael ribbed.
    â€œI do, but I know you won’t do it.”
    Squirming with embarrassment, Michael gently thrust the candles back at his cousin. “I can’t take these, Gemma.”
    â€œAfraid you might get what you want?” she asked, refusing to take them back from him.
    â€œNo, afraid people might think I’m a total