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“I just ordered coffee. But I wanted to tell you I met someone, just like you said I would.”
“Your palm said you would, not me! Get your order and come back. I don’t have any bookings until later this morning.”
She did as Hocus suggested.
“Close the door so we aren’t interrupted,” Hocus said. “That baker is the nosiest, most critical woman I have ever met.”
“I didn’t notice her.”
“You can’t miss her,” Hocus said with disdain.
Shelly pulled the chair out and sat across from Hocus. The space was tiny but far from claustrophobic. Colorful fabrics draped on the walls and ceiling made it cozy and mysterious.
“You’ve added more art since the last time I was here.”
“Family decided to load me up when they were decluttering. I live with Miss Pam, and you know what that’s like. Nothing extra, not even a pin.”
“No, I actually haven’t met her yet. Alan talks about her, though.”
“Alan? Not the cop.”
Shelly hesitated, watching Hocus, who, despite obviously trying not to respond, flared her nostrils a little. “Yes, Alan Stone. Why? Oh, no. What do you know?”
“Let me see your palm,” Hocus said, holding out her hand.
When Hocus saw the changes in Shelly’s palm, she wanted to warn her, but she hesitated. When she’d warned people in the past, it had only made them angry. “Still waters run deep with Detective Stone,” Hocus said, “so just an FYI to be aware.”
“In what way?” Shelly asked, looking frightened.
“He doesn’t easily open up. Just make sure to ask a lot of questions. If there’s anything you need to know, anything pressing, stay after him.”
For the first time as a soothsayer, Hocus worried that she’d overstepped her bounds. Alan Stone had skeletons in his closet, but she wasn’t going to be the one to break the news to Shelly because she had no proof. Making slanderous comments about a cop might get her in trouble. But she was worried as hell about Shelly.
“I already had a talk with him,” Shelly said. “I’m determined to make it work.”
“Good for you. Hard work is the only way to make a relationship last.”
That, and looking the other way, Hocus thought, but didn’t say it out loud.
Hocus looked at Shelly’s palm again and a wave of fear went through her body. “Be careful not to react to anything coming up in the future, even issues that are you able to see with your own eyes. That’s key.”
***
Those early days of wine and roses captivated Shelly, and she knew she was in love. Alan stayed busy, his work hours long and grueling, so she made it her duty to use her four days off a week to serve him.
Before long, he seemed uncomfortable and stopped responding to her efforts. One night, he got home late and walked into the dining room with a beautifully set table and candlelight. It wasn’t just the table that was fancy. Shelly had dressed up, too.
“You don’t have to do this.” He made swirling motions at the table with his hand. “You should be able to relax on your days off.”
“I want to do it for you,” she insisted, but that seemed to make it worse.
“It’s not necessary. It actually makes me feel obligated.”
“Obligated!”
“That’s not the right word,” he sputtered. “Guilty might be better.”
That shocked her, but she let it be for now, not wanting to ruin the evening over semantics.
