I glanced over at Drew and realized he was just as embarrassed as me by the reading because his face was as red as I was sure mine must have been. We had not talked about some of the things that the cards had unearthed, but I’d be lying if I said that the part about me opening to the possibilities wasn’t correct. I just hadn’t gotten to a point where I wanted to share those special wants and desires with him yet. Time spun out into an awkward silence for everyone in the room.
“Okay—the card that represents the relationship is the Two of Cups,” Clarisse said with a knowing smile. “The power of love will be or already is strong. The meeting of your hearts complements each other because you are opposites that attract. The powers of love and healing promote cooperation in such a way that your hearts, minds, and souls recognize and appreciate each other resulting in the harmonious blessing of Awen.”
“I guess that means our relationship will most likely be a good one,” Drew said after Clarisse had finished.
“Probably,” Clarisse shrugged, “but not perfect because no relationship, by any means, is perfect. There are sure to be ups and downs, but one thing is clear to me as I sit here feeling your respective emotions. Both of you draw a decent amount of strength and support from the other,” Clarisse said as she stood from her chair and blew the candles out.
Drew and I also vacated our chairs, and Clarisse walked us to the door where she hugged me and offered Drew a smile. “If you are ever back in New Orleans, please come and see me again, if not for a reading, then to catch up. I’d love to know how everything turns out for you. Eden, don’t let your reading weigh too heavily on your mind. Freedom will come for you and Echo, and it seems that it will be sooner than later. When the time comes, and her past merges with your present remember to act with caution the cards pointed to dangers lying ahead.” Clarisse turned to Drew. “Take care of her, you hear?”
He glanced down at me with an adoring smile. “Oh, I plan on it.”
With that, we left and headed back toward Canal Street and then to where we’d parked my car. As always, Drew opened the passenger side and helped me in. I had yet to drive my own car since we’d left Oklahoma. He’d insisted on driving every single time. When he had settled behind the wheel again, he glanced at me curiously.
“Why didn’t you tell Clarisse that Echo is your mother?”
“I didn’t see the point, plus I think she figured it out by the end. I also think that Echo has known what I learned today for quite some time. There was an undeniable feeling of guilt that rampaged through me when Clarisse told us that to free Echo we had to discover who killed her. Only then will her soul move on. That lack of knowledge is what has her tethered here, tethered to me. Since that strong sense of guilt rolled through me, Echo has been silent. Not even a peep.”
“Are you mad at her for not telling you? I mean, she kept it from you all these years.”
Instead of answering his question, I simply gawked at him. If I was reading his question correctly, then he believed that Echo was in my head after all. He knew my secret, all of it, and didn’t think I was crazy for it. It made me so happy that I started laughing. He looked at me cross-eyed, obviously not understanding why I was suddenly laughing for no apparent reason.
“Eden—are you okay,” he asked, worried as I continued to laugh.
When my laughing became sobbing, he came unglued. He leaned over the middle console and made me look at him. His worry had turned into an expression of fear. “Eden, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong, I’m happy,” I told him through my sobs and started laughing again. “I am so happy that I’m crying. I don’t think this has ever happened before. You know the truth about me, and you don’t think I am crazy or lying.”
“Eden, I have never thought you were crazy, and I am pretty sure now that you weren’t lying about Echo. How else would Clarisse know there was another soul in your body without you telling her? This is all surreal, but I believe it’s true, and we will figure it out—together.” He leaned in and wiped the tears from my face.
Letting out a relieved breath, he started the engine. We had to meet our parents back at our hotel in an hour, so Drew headed that way. The room arrangements were weird in that I was bunked with his mom and Drew was with my dad. I think I was more nervous about the decision than Drew seeing how he’d seemed to accept it just fine. My dad hadn’t been kidding when he’d said it would be an excellent opportunity for him to get to know Drew and for me to get to know Sara. There wasn’t much talking that went on between Drew and me on the way back to the hotel. I think we were both taking the time to process everything that we’d learned, but he still held my hand the whole car ride back. It was something he’d done since the very first date and had not wavered from the habit at all. I didn’t mind it one bit.
As he walked with me to the elevator in the hotel, he asked, “Has Echo come back yet?”
I mashed the up button, the elevator door slid open, and we stepped inside. “Nope, she’s as quiet as a mouse, but
