âIâm sure we have something you can help with. Maybe stuffing information folders for the chamber of commerce. I know they need help with that.â
Determined to have a witty comeback this time, she searched her brain as she opened her mouth. Just then Franklin Yardley called the meeting to order.
Pam waggled her fingers and sauntered off.
âBitch,â Jill said as Mac led her to the back of the room.
âTry to play nice with the other children.â
âYou heard what she said.â
âI did. I also know that youâre younger, more successful and a hell of a lot sexier. Did it ever occur to you sheâs acting this way because sheâs bitter?â
Jill felt her bad mood drain away. âNo, but I like it.â
Â
E MILY HELD the deck of cards in her hand. Bev demonstrated how to shuffle and Emily did her best to follow directions.
âJust slide a few in front,â the older woman said with a smile. âItâs easy.â
The cards felt big and awkward, but Emily did as instructed. The cards slid into place.
âGood,â Bev told her. âLetâs try it again.â She winked. âWe need a well-shuffled deck so I can beat you this time.â
They were playing Go Fish, which was a little kidsâ game, but still fun. Emily shuffled two more times, then dealt out the cards. When one slipped and fell on the floor, Bev didnât say anything. She was nice that way, Emily thought as she put the card back in place. She never yelled or got mad. She never made Emily feel scared.
âYou have other cards,â Emily said as she sorted her cards by numbers. She already had two threes and two fives. That was good. âCards with pictures and stuff on them.â
âYouâre right. I do. My tarot cards.â
âWhat are they for? Different games?â
âNot exactly. The cards can be fun. People use them at parties. Some people think theyâre specialâthat theycan tell whatâs going to happen in the future or what happened in the past.â
Knowing the future sounded scary, Emily thought. âDoesnât everyone already know the past? Werenât they there when it happened?â
âSometimes. But they arenât always clear on the events. A lot of people think tarot is silly.â
âDo you?â
Bev put down her cards and leaned forward. Her long red braid hung over her shoulder and nearly brushed against the table.
âI believe I have a gift. I can see things other people canât. Like youâre a good reader. You read better than most kids you know. Thatâs a gift, right?â
Emily nodded.
âNow you being able to read is something people can see. They donât have to take it on faith. But my gift is different. You canât see it or touch it. So while I believe, others donât.â
Emily thought she understood. âDoes Jill believe?â
Bev laughed. âAn interesting question. My niece is one of my doubters.â
Emily was shocked. âShe thinks youâre lying?â
âNot lying, just pretending.â
âAre you?â
âNo.â
Emily tried to understand. âSo the cards tell you whatâs gonna happen tomorrow?â
âNot specifically. They give me ideas. Good fortune,bad fortune, that sort of thing. People come to me with questions and I try to help them find answers.â
âWow.â That sounded pretty exciting. If Emily could know the futureâ¦she closed her mind to the question. There were too many dark places she didnât want go.
âThere are responsibilities that come with my gift. Do you know what responsibilities are?â
Emily nodded. âYou have to do the right thing and you have to think it up even if no one tells you. Like having a pet. Iâd have to feed it and stuff, even if Mom didnât remind me. Or doing my homework without being re minded.â
âExactly. I have to
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