Page 31 of Say Yes to the Death

To Do:

- Marching band practice

- Forward Aaron the updated quotes

“The high priestess.” Alice tapped a hot pink fingernail against a black and gold card. “You’re about to begin a journey where you will be tested. You should trust your intuition. Follow it.”

Claire sighed and propped her head in her hand, elbow planted on Luke’s breakfast nook table. The bay window behind her let in plenty of late afternoon sun, illuminating the row of cards in front of her. After several less-than-subtle hints from her mother, she had erroneously agreed to a tarot reading. Dull pain throbbed behind her temples. Rosie whined and laid her head on Claire’s lap. Claire patted her absentmindedly.

Rachel had shown up halfway through lunch to collect the bags that Luke had tossed unceremoniously onto the porch. Mindy had farted into her toiletries bag, claiming that it would give Rachel pinkeye, and Claire could have sworn she saw her mother take a sock from the laundry bag.

Nicole, Kyle, and Mindy had gone home shortly after, bellies full of empanadas and homemade tortilla chips. Now she and Luke were slowly passing the time until Alice left for the airport. Their argument hovered on the horizon like storm clouds.

“The queen of cups.” Alice glanced at Luke, who was wandering around the kitchen with a video camera, clearly amused by the proceedings. A beautiful flower arrangement stood behind him. It had been waiting on the porch for them when they arrived at his home—a thank you from Kayley Herrold’s family for telling their daughter’s story and putting the Widowmaker behind bars.

“Wait. I can interpret this one.” Claire put her hand on the queen and wiggled her around on the table. “Drink more wine, Claire. Thou cannot pour from an empty cup,” she said in a British accent.

“Thank you, queen of cups,” she said in her normal voice, reaching for an almost-empty bottle of pinot noir. Alice slapped her hand.

“No. This generally means you are lovely and caring, deeply empathetic, with an open heart. Maybe too open.”

Claire grunted.

“The moon,” Alice said, gesturing to a card of a dog howling at the moon. “How has your anxiety been, Claire?”

“You mean since I was stabbed last week? Oh, great. It’s been super manageable.”

“Sweetheart.” Her mom reached across the table to hold her hand. “Did you call any of those therapists I sent you?”

Again with the therapists. They sure hadn’t worked for Alice and Bio-dad when they had tried couples counseling as a last-ditch effort to save their marriage. The last thing Claire needed right now was someone delving into her childhood and blaming her deadbeat dad for all her current problems. That was a can of worms she was more than happy to leave firmly sealed.

“I don’t need a therapist. I’m fine,” she said, withdrawing her hand. “People get stabbed every day. What’s the next card?”

“The tower.” Alice frowned at the image of a woman falling from a flaming tower.

“Seems about right.” Claire shot daggers at Luke, who snorted audibly from across the room. “Should I petition the city to install trampolines outside my apartment?”

“I don’t think so, sweetie. The tower means change, possibly chaos. Sometimes destruction.”

“Fabulous, I haven’t hit my ‘destruction’ quota yet this month.”

“And…” Alice glanced at the last card.

“Who’s the old guy holding the stick?” Claire asked.

“The emperor. He usually means something to do with structure or authority. Sometimes he represents a father figure.”

“Maybe Roy was supposed to come here with you,” Claire said pointedly. She missed her stepdad and his kind, quiet ways.

“He was going to, sweetie. Someone’s water heater exploded right before we were going to leave for the airport.” Alice scooped up the cards and shuffled them back into the deck.

“You’re sure it had nothing to do with his pathological fear of planes?”

“He doesn’t have that anymore. I took him to a hypnotist.” She handed the deck to Claire.

“Of course you did. Well, thank you, Mom. Oh look, your cab is here.” Claire turned at the sound of gravel crunching on the driveway.

She was relieved for a millisecond, but then remembered that she had no idea when she’d see her mother again.

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