“I called this emergency meeting of the Gin and Tarot Club to get to the bottom of Alyssa’s current state of depression.”
My eyes practically cross as I stare at Lanie with something just a skip away from contempt.
“The last thing I need is this meeting. I’m not depressed.” I look around the room at Nina and Corinne—who is apparently an official member of our group—and find concern and agitation.
The agitation is clearly a Corinne staple, so I don’t take offense at it.
“You can all leave.” I pull my cardigan tight across my chest, shivering from the cold draft floating through the place.
This morning the wind picked up, and it’s been pouring rain all afternoon. The temperature has dropped at least fifteen degrees. Not good for the eve of Halloween. Tomorrow is going to be a chilly, muddy mess.
Not that it matters. My child has left the nest for bluer skies and a flock that doesn’t include me.
“What’s going on in there?” Lanie says, tapping my forehead.
I’d been so lost to my pity party of one that I hadn’t noticed she’d barged right into my personal space.
I swat at her hands. “Go away.”
“Sorry, that doesn’t work for the living... or the dead.” She glances at Corinne. “The Moradi grimoire is defunct.”
Corinne rolls her eyes, not at all affected by Lanie’s ribbing.
“Why were we called here on a Monday? What’s”—she motions to me—“all this about?”
I lift the side of my lip, baring my teeth like a wild animal.
“Alyssa, love, talk to us.” Nina’s therapist voice grates on me, and I have to bite my tongue to give me time to think through my response so as not to be offensive.
Their go-to assumption is always depression and I’m ready to turn the page on those days. This is desperation.
I feel like the clock’s ticking and I’m running out of time to solve this before someone else pops up murdered.
“I don’t need your counsel, Nina. Go home to your sterilemansion on the hill and ask your worthless husband why he’s meeting up with the town criminal.”
Not any less offensive.
She blinks, purses her lips, and goes all angry Nina on me, which is something I’ve seen twice in my life.
“You don’t get to do that. Just because you’re having a hard time, it doesn’t mean that none of us have our own issues. You and I both know I can’t accuse Richard.”
“And why is that, Nina? We all share everything with you, but you won’t confide in us about what he has on you.”
Her mouth falls open. “You know I can’t tell you that. I’m trying to protect you.”
“I don’t want your protection! I want the truth.”
Nina’s bottom lip quivers.
Holy Mary, I’ve gone and done it.
“I’m sorry, Nina, I didn’t mean to attack you. It was unfair.”
A tear drops from her eye, and now I really feel like a jerk.
She swipes it away, turning her head to look out the window.
Rain pounds against the glass as the wind whips the remaining leaves and dead branches from the trees. The crap weather reflects my mood to a tee.
