Page 132 of A Night with Damien Spur

It’s never enough. We learn from our past.

Damien was spent. ‘So will I ever find love?’

Well, you know who to ask, said the Voice.

Chapter 42

Claudia was proud of Damien. The lost soul who’d tried to end his life, fired by unrequited love, had come back from limbo.

However, thus far, even though he’d found his feet, it was difficult to steer him in the right direction.

He’d been scared of his past, hardly letting Claudia scratch the surface.

The questions he’d asked the cards were trivial. None that would yield answers that could illuminate his future. But this time she had a feeling that it would be different.

‘Well, Damien,’ Claudia said, ‘what question would you like to ask first?’

‘Will I find someone with whom to share my life?’ he replied.

‘Cut the cards and choose one,’ she said.

Damien sliced the deck and with a nimble flick extendedone to Claudia.

‘The Page of Wands,’ she said. ‘It’s an interesting answer. The studious youth of the pack. Court cards represent characteristics and can be any age or sex. This person could be studying or learning something.’

Ruby flashed through his mind. The stunning student he’d met at the Cheltenham Literary Festival. ‘How and where shall I meet her?’ he asked.

Don’t count your chickens,said the Voice.Who knows, it could be a bloke?

‘Pull another card,’ Claudia said.

Damien, eyes wide and focused, hovered his index finger over the pack.

Why are you hesitating?said the Voice.It’s all written in the stars.

He flipped a card.

‘Three of Wands,’ said Claudia. ‘That’s interesting. They may come from overseas and meet you here, or you might connect with them if you travel abroad. It’s the card of the Exodus – looking further afield.’

‘Well, that’s a step in the right direction,’ Damien said.

He thought of Ariana. He wished it could be her. She’d sent him a beautiful leather-bound notebook from America after they’d worked together, and inside, she’d written,Write for me and I will sing for you.

For goodness’ sake, have you lost your mind?the Voice said.Just because she’s asking you to give her more material doesn’t mean she loves you. Now let’s get on with the reading.

‘May I ask another question?’ Damien said.

‘Go ahead,’ Claudia replied.

‘The truth is, I need to lay my relationship with Laura to rest so I can move on. Can you help me with this?’

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘So what’s the question?’

Why are you going there? You really are a masochist,saidthe Voice.

Damien hesitated.No,damn the Voice, he was going to ask.

‘Okay, Claudia… The question is… did Laura really love me or was it a lie?’ He pulled a card and flipped it over.

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