Ophelia turned to Avery once the woman left. “So I’m officially a Traiteur.”
A huge smile broke out across his face. “Well, it’s about damn time.”
“Is it? I feel like I just found out that I could even treat someone. I also just found out about, you know —” Ophelia looked around in the shop and lowered her voice “— magic.”
Avery chuckled and hugged Ophelia. “I wish I could have seen your face when your Mawmaw told you. I bet that was the shock of a lifetime for your sheltered ass.”
“I am not sheltered. I’ve lived in New York!” she exclaimed.
“Oh okayyy,” teased Avery. “Seriously, though, welcome to the other side.” He winked.
“Is it really like ‘the other side’? Have I been living in complete ignorance?”
“Nah. You know how, when you’re little and learn about sex, and then you realize all of these people in the world have hadsex? Even your parents and aunties. And you’re shocked and horrified?”
She shuddered. “God, yes. That was not fun to find out.”
“Right. Well, this is similar, except not as gross. You kinda just start to realize that there’s this other unspoken thing out there, just living right below the surface of proper society.”
“That actually makes perfect sense.”
“Yeah. I feel more open about it because people here know about Voodoo. Now, most of them think it’s all fake n’ shit, but you get what I’m saying.” Avery lowered his head closer to Ophelia and whispered, “But I have a friend on the West Bank who can commune with spirits. Obviously, she doesnottalk about it much.”
“Holy shit. That’s creepy and cool.”
Avery pulled away and examined her. “I’m proud of you, ya know? This is wonderful.”
Ophelia beamed. “It is. Yeah. So I wanted to ask you for a favor.”
“Oh boy. You cashin’ in already, huh?”
“Hush. Just listen. Can I treat people here? Like, in your office? It would require us sharing the space and adding in an examination table of sorts, but I want to help people like you do, like my grandmother did, and I think this place might be the way I do it.”
Avery smiled and clapped his hands together. “Girrlll,” he drawled. “Yes! Yes! Let’s do it.”
“Really?” squealed Ophelia. This issue had been plaguing her morning, noon, and night. It was pointless to have a gift like this andnotuse it.
“Abso-fucking-lutely. We’ve gotta get started like ASAP. We need to change up this office, and then we can get the word out to my connections.”
“Speaking of…how do you get the word out? It’s not like you advertise your services. Unless you do, and I don’t know.”
“It’s called word-of-mouth marketing, honey chile.”
Ophelia dramatically rolled her eyes. “Yes, Avery, I knowwhat word-of-mouth marketing is,” she deadpanned. “But I want to know howyouget the word out, like exactly how you do it without people thinking you need to be sent to a mental institution.”
“Honestly, it’s very easy since most of my friends are all up in this shit. Tiffany, my friend who lives in the Bywater, runs a holistic healing shop and spreads the word about my rituals to her clients. She also teaches restorative yoga at a studio over there and puts up little bulletin notes for me on their board. I’m a part of the small business alliance here, and I’ve told the people who I trust in that community. Hmm…who else? Well, people that come here, obviously. Previous clients from my grandmother. And I just try to connect a lot with people in the magical community here. Not everyone is out and vocal about their magic, but those who are know me and my talents.”
“Interesting. Do I need to be out and vocal about my magic? I’m not sure if I’m quite ready for that. I haven’t even told my sisters or Jade about the magical piece of being a Traiteur.”
“No. I mean, you’ll have to tell some people in order to get clients. I tell everyone who I am and what I do, but I grew up like that. I don’t think you’ll have to take the same approach, unless you want to.”
“That’s a relief. I’m not ready yet. But thank you for this. This means so much to me. I’ll start gathering supplies and sourcing an exam table. I also want to practice a bit more with my Mawmaw and my friend Etienne before we pull the trigger on this.”
Avery nodded absently and then jerked his head up abruptly.
“Hold up. Etienne? That beefy hunk who’s friends with Luke?”
Ophelia smiled, knowing Avery ogled Etienne like everyone else. “The very one.”
