Page 25 of Choosing Stella

This time it became a brief smile.

“Fine. I’ll relocate.”

“Pack light.”

“I assumed you weren’t moving my furniture.”

“Good. We’re already communicating.”

She stood.

The white streak flashed against Stella’s hair when she turned.

I got up.

“Eat something first.”

Stella looked over her shoulder.

“That sounded suspiciously like an order.”

“It was a suggestion made by a man who doesn’t want you getting dizzy halfway down the stairs.”

“I’m not dizzy.”

“When did you last eat?”

She considered that.

“Before I went to The Exchange.”

“Then I’m upgrading the suggestion.”

Stella sighed.

“You’re going to be annoying.”

“You’re probably right.”

She went into the kitchen.

I stayed near the edge of the living room while she put bread in the toaster and pulled yogurt from the refrigerator. She filled a glass with water and drank half of it before the toast came up.

She ate standing at the counter while I checked the view from the windows without touching the curtains.

“Do you always travel with tarot cards?” I asked.

Stella glanced toward the den.

“I work with them.”

“I thought The Network was your work.”

“It’s one of my jobs.”

She finished the yogurt and rinsed the spoon.

“I do private readings too.”