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She led me down the hall and into the private living area. Grace’s place had two distinct sections: one guests could visit, and another they couldn’t. The private area was homier. Grace’s laptop and a few bits and pieces were scattered on a table in the corner, and a small tree stood beside the window, adorned with tinsel and smelling strongly of pine. Wilding pine trees grew on the side of the road up to the ski resort, and I wondered whether Grace had cut this one down herself. She may look somewhat aristocratic, but she was a very capable woman.
My gaze fell on Desdemona, who was seated at a round four-person table, and I couldn’t help smiling.
“It’s so good to see you, Kennedy.” Desdemona stood up and pulled me into an embrace with strength that belied her thin frame. The scent of potpourri followed her, and her iron-gray hair—with its two colorful dreadlocks on each side of her face—smelled faintly of herbal oil. “Destiny Falls has missed you, and I sense that you have also missed us.”
“I have.” But she was the first person who seemed to have accepted and believed that immediately. Even Grace had been cautious. “I’m glad to be back.”
She kissed my cheek and reached into the folds of her faded purple outfit—which could have been either a robe or a dress, it was difficult to tell—to withdraw a tarot deck wrapped lovingly in purple satin.
“May I do a reading for you, dear?”
“Breakfast is ready,” Grace reminded her.
Desdemona seemed unconcerned. “A simple single card draw. It won’t take more than two minutes.”
Grace sighed. “Go ahead.”
“Okay.” My stomach flip-flopped. I’d never been sure whether I believed in Desdemona’s psychic abilities, but the woman had a way of knowing things, and it was difficult not to put stock in what she said.
Desdemona shuffled the card deck and spread it for me. “Take one.”
I ran a hand over the assortment, choosing one from near the middle of the deck. “Here.” She took it from me and turned it over. “What is it?”
She smiled, running her fingertips over the beautiful illustration. “The Fool.”
I pulled a face. “That can’t be good.”
“To the contrary.” Desdemona took one last look at the carefree figure depicted in the image and tucked it among the others. “The Fool symbolizes the beginning of a new adventure for you to explore with childlike glee. In this case, I would consider it a very positive card.”
“Thank you. I’ll keep an eye out for that new adventure.”
“Oh, don’t worry.” She studied me intently. “The adventure will find you.”
A shiver rippled down my spine, but it wasn’t unpleasant. More like a thrum of anticipation.
Grace set a platter on the table. It contained an array of croissants, fruit Danishes, cream puffs, and even a couple of eclairs along with plump blueberries, strawberries, and sliced pineapple and mango.
“Looks delicious,” I told her. “Thanks for including me.” I’d probably be eating pancakes drowned in syrup and moping otherwise.
“You’re welcome. Dig in.”
We ate until we were stuffed, chatting about Grace’s books—she was an author—Desdemona’s store, and my acting career. Unsurprisingly, they were both interested in hearing what Hollywood was like, but I was equally eager to know more about what had happened here over the years.
By the time we’d cleared the dishes away, we still hadn’t run out of conversation. We were sitting in the living room when my phone rang. I answered without looking, assuming it would be one of my siblings.
“Hello,” I said.
“Kennedy.”
I sat bolt upright at the distorted voice. It sounded almost mechanical. Pulling the phone away from my ear, I checked the screen. It was a private number. “Who is this?”
Grace stiffened at my tone, raising an eyebrow as if asking whether everything was okay. I held up a finger, indicating for her to wait a moment.
“Someone who cares about you.” After hearing a full sentence, there was no doubt that whoever was on the other end of this call had disguised themselves electronically.
“What do you want?” I asked, my voice shaking. The delicious food I’d eaten sat like a rock in my gut.
“I left you a gift.”
