Page 7 of Tea Leaves and Runaway Brides

Once we are seated, she says, "I am Lady Merla, and I do tea leaf readings."

She pours us steaming hot tea into two teacups on the table.

"Now, I want you two to focus on your question as you drink the tea."

Tina immediately picks up her cup and begins sipping. I'm more hesitant, but quickly realize I know the question that's been bothering me ever since I fled the church. While I sip the strawberry-flavored tea, I think repeatedly: what is my next step?

When we are both close to finishing, she has us swirl our cups several times and then drains the tea onto each saucer. Lady Merla reads Tina first and mentions that she needs to open her heart up to the farmer that she's been considering.

"You've been considering a farmer?" I ask, and my friend shushes me.

"It's your turn for the reading," Tina says, her cheeks lightly pink.

Lady Merla peers at the patterns my wet tea leaves formed on the saucer and looks up at me with her violet-blue eyes. Sitting back, she gives me a warm smile.

"Emerson, your rescuer will also rescue your heart."

When she says this, both Tina and I gasp.

"What did you say?" My friend says.

Lady Merla repeats, matter-of-factly, "Emerson's rescuer will rescue her heart."

"Woah."

5

Darius

While I do my morning campground walkthrough with Chief following close behind, I stop by Cabin 3 to check on the runaway bride.

Her friend, Tina, opens the door. "Your rescuer's here," she calls into the cabin, and I feel my cheeks heat.

"Hey. Sorry. I just wanted to make sure everything was okay in here."

"Everything is great. Thank you so much for your hospitality," Emerson says from the couch.

"Okay. Great," I say, stepping back to make my escape. I feel incredibly awkward and nervous around her, like a schoolboy with a crush.

"Oh, mister..." Emerson calls to me.

"Please call me Darius."

"Okay. Yes. Darius. I was just wondering... I didn't sleep well last night because I kept thinking that I am meant to move to the Cape."

"Move here?" I say with surprise.

Her friend, Tina, looks up from the kitchen and exclaims, "She visited a psychic yesterday. I think she's being led by her reading."

Her friend gives the runaway bride a sly smile and Emerson appears to roll her eyes at her, turning back to me.

"I just kept thinking about how I finally stood up to my father and for what I want in this life. And now that I'm homeless, well, why not make a new home here?"

"Sea Glass is a fantastic place to live," I say, trying not to sound too excited about her moving closer to me when I don't even know the woman. "Hey, I know a great real estate agent. I could get her info for you."

"That would be fantastic," Emerson says.

"Alright. I have her info in the office if you want to meet me there in a half-hour after I do my walkthrough."