Blood Red

“What?” Deanna asked impatiently.

“So far, it has told me that you do not like housework at all,” Susan said.

Even Deanna laughed. “Okay, I suck. Seriously, I’m really bad at it, so I gave it up.”

“Don’t worry, she has a wonderful woman who comes in twice a week,” Heidi assured Susan.

Susan traced a finger down a line in Deanna’s hand.

“The life line, right?” Heidi asked.

Susan shrugged.

“It doesn’t look very long,” Deanna said worriedly.

Susan shook her head, looking at Deanna. “Often, things are what we make them. The line…it’s like the card. It might not mean anything bad at all. It signifies change. A change in life. Heidi is getting married.”

“I’m not even dating steadily,” Deanna said.

“You’re a beautiful woman,” Susan said, sidestepping.

“What else do you see?”

Susan pointed. “Here…artistic success. You are clever and determined.” Susan looked up and stared hard at Deanna. “When you set your mind to something, you can make it happen. When we fail, far too often, it is because we’re afraid. Remember, you have the talent and the will. Don’t be put off by circumstances that seem dire. You are very strong. And there will be changes.”

“Will I ever get married?” Deanna asked.

Susan shrugged. “Your palm is not telling me. I can say that you are passionate and giving, and that you are quite capable of creating fire, passion—and love—around you.”

“I like that,” Deanna said.

Lauren looked at her, trying to avoid Susan’s eyes. Lots of people could have said that to you, her stern gaze said.

“Your turn,” Deanna said.

“Ah, the crystal ball for our talented young artist,” Susan murmured. She didn’t move, though, and her eyes were downcast.

“I think Susan is tired,” Lauren said.

“Oh no, you are not getting out of this!” Heidi insisted.

“May I see more fully?” Susan asked.

Lauren handed her the drawing she had done.

“You are very kind,” she murmured. “You have caught me on paper with great beauty.”

“I want to work more on it. I’ll send you a copy when I’m done,” Lauren told her.

Susan nodded and handed back the drawing. Lauren flipped her sketchbook closed and returned it to her purse.

“It seems like you’ve had a busy night. You look tired. You really don’t have to do another reading,” Lauren said.

“She’s trying to get out of this,” Heidi explained.

Susan stood. She wasn’t smiling. “I think that we must look into the crystal ball.”

Heidi and Deanna started to rise.

“There is only room in the tent for one—I’m sorry. The crystal ball is quite different from the palm and the cards.”

Susan waited gravely, and at last Lauren followed her into the tent, the sounds from the street and the night receding. As she sat in the chair opposite Susan, the world outside all but disappeared.

“Your fiance, he was a soldier?” Susan asked, staring into the crystal ball.

Startled, Lauren looked at her. “Yes.”

“I’m very sorry, truly. But…there are those who believe there are certain fates we cannot avoid, and others who believe we have a hand in our own futures. Perhaps many people lived because your young man died,” she said softly.

“Thank you. I like to think that,” Lauren murmured.

“You don’t date much.”

“I’ve dated.”

Susan smiled enigmatically.

“What?” Lauren asked.

“You don’t date much because you feel that you meet nothing but dimwits and users since you lost your man.”

“It’s hard to meet the right person.”