“Of course, come on in,” Jason said as he held the door open.
Seated in a booth in the back of the restaurant, Lilly and Jason exchanged pleasantries for a few minutes. The conversation began to dwindle. Lilly was determined to get the information she had come to gain.
“Oh, by the way, Jason, have you heard from the band. Do you know where they are?”
“I don’t have any idea, Lilly. I knew when they were arriving here and approximately how long they would stay. Once they left, it wasn’t my concern. Trey mentioned Gainsville Florida and a trip to Coconut Grove. At some point, they are going up the East coast to New York.”
Lilly finished her coffee and licked the sugary croissant crumbs from her fingers, “Thanks Jason. I am not going to be chasing after the band, don’t concern yourself. If any members of the band contact you for any reason, please tell them it is of utmost importance Roland contact me immediately.”
Jason leaned back and put his hands behind his head. “Lilly, are you in trouble?”
A furrow appeared between Lilly’s eyes, “Trouble? What do you mean?”
“You know, pregnant?”
Lilly let out a whoosh of air, “No, I don’t have that problem, thank the Goddess.”
Jason looked relieved as he stood up and grabbed his newspaper. “I’ve got to get into my office, Lilly. I will pass on your message if I hear from them.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it,” Lilly stood crimson cheeked as she watched Jason walk down the hall to his office.
~
She walked up the block slowly, said hello to a group of beefy young firemen in front of the fire station and crossed Esplanade Avenue into the French Quarter. Walking up Decatur Street toward the Square, she passed Raven Moon. As she approached a hand flipped the open sign over on the front door. Lilly walked in and found Claude and Regina standing amid unpacked boxes of incense and candles.
They looked up and smiled. Regina came over and hugged her. “How are you doing?” Lilly assured her she was feeling better.
Claude, however, gave her a hard look and voiced his concern, “Are you sure? I sense there is something bothering you?”
Lilly looked at him in surprise. “I guess having a psychic for a friend means I will never be able to keep a secret.”
Claude smiled, “I would never pry into your personal business. I was merely picking up a sense of unrest.”
Lilly released a frustrated sigh, “I miss Roland. I mean, I more than miss him. I am in physical pain like a vital organ is missing. I’m having weird nightmares. I don’t know what to do about it. I need to speak with Roland. I have no idea where he is or how I can get in touch with him. Maybe you or Regina have an idea.”
Lilly sat on a stool and explained the note she had found from Roland and how she had missed telling him goodbye.
“Do you believe Roland left thinking you were not truly interested in him. He thought you were enjoying a Mardi Gras fling?” Regina asked.
Lilly shook her head slowly as tears filled her eyes, “I don’t know. While he was with me, I never thought our relationship was a Mardi Gras fling. I may have put too much meaning into it.”
She opened her mouth to tell them about her dream of the crystal skull in the shop window, but a frisson up her spine warned her to keep the dream to herself.
Lilly’s tingling fingers fidgeted with the Inanna crystal through the fabric of her shirt. Regina watched her for a moment, “Do you have a love talisman under your shirt?”
Lilly shook her head, “No it’s a crystal.”
“Oh, can I see it? I love crystals.” Lilly slowly pulled the golden chain from under her shirt and let the crystal dangle before Regina’s eyes.
Regina’s eyes grew wide. “Amazing! May I touch it?”
Lilly nodded seriously, “Yes, but be aware it is powerful and you could be incinerated immediately.” Regina stepped back as Lilly laughed. “I’m kidding. You may have a look at it, but I am not taking it off.”
Regina cupped the multi-faceted crystal in her hand, turning it gently as the violet light moved within. “It is magnificent and ancient,” Regina said in a low voice filled with awe. Where did you get it?”
“It was an initiation gift from Jolene,” Lilly said only partially lying.
“Some gift!” Regina said. “I’ve heard something about a crystal with violet light,” Regina said slowly, staring at the crystal in her hand.
Lilly gently lifted the crystal from Regina’s hand and placed it out of sight beneath her shirt.
Smiling brightly Regina changed the subject, “Oh, Lilly, I’m glad you showed up. Would you like to make some extra money today? Claude has several readings scheduled and I would appreciate your help in the shop.” Lilly smiled and agreed to help.
They passed the day chatting as they waited on a few customers, packaged orders to be mailed to distant customers and unpacked several boxes filled with statues of deities from Baal to Quan Yin.
Claude bid his last client, ‘Goodbye,’ and locked the door to the store. Turing around he smiled at Lilly, “How was your day?”
“Busy, and I know yours was too but, I’m, uh, maybe you could...”
Claude tilted his head slightly and gave her a puzzled look, “What do you need, Lilly? I’m happy to help.”
Lilly smiled shyly, “Do you think you could scry for Roland? Can you find out where he is?
Claude rubbed his hand across his face, “I think so but I think it will take more preparation than merely looking in the crystal ball. Do you have anything of his I could use as a contact?”
Lilly shook her head. “No, only the card he wrote me. Wait, yes, I do! He left a necklace he wore, a silver spiral on a leather cord. It is on my dresser.”
Claude smiled, “Okay, sounds perfect. Bring his silver spiral and I’ll see what I
