Page 3 of His Two Hidden Masks

“The crypt you and I walked past for first communion?”

“Yes, and Confirmation and most Sundays, until Mama stopped forcing me to go to church.”

“And you never felt weird before?” he said.

“Never, and then last night, big goosebumps. Who gets goosebumps in July, Leo?”

“Well, clearly,” he said, “you do.”

“I felt cursed. And you know how I am when I get an idea in my head. Last night, I asked Auntie Aurora to read my cards so she could tell me everything was going to be wonderful.” I looked over at Leo and tried to force a smile.

His eyebrows arched. “And am I to guess you didn’t hear what you wanted?”

“Of course not,” I said. “The cards were not just bad. The cards were very bad, very very bad. Horrible, Leo. I know it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have insisted on the reading. I believe in fate. I believe in signs. I also know that the cards can be wrong.”

“Just forget it, honey. Focus on what you and Roberto are starting together. You’ve told me again and again how much sense this marriage makes.”

“Right, right,” I whispered. I had been looking for a sign and hoped Auntie Aurora’s cards would promise me a life of love and fortune. I had wanted the cards to take my fear and sweep it away like bread crumbs under the family dining table.

I drew three cards, the Lovers, the Wheel of Fortune, and the Sun. Good cards. Amazing cards about love, prosperity, and positivity, except my cards were all upside down, which reversedtheir power. In a quick glance, I knew my cards told a story of doubt, despair, and betrayal.

Auntie Aurora swept them off the table in one quick move. She murmured something about the cards not feeling right in her hands, kissed me on the forehead, and told me to sleep well.

“Darling.” Leo reached over and squeezed one of my perfectly manicured hands. “Do I need to recite to you all the times your Auntie has been wrong?”

“No. I mean, maybe,” I said. “Yes, please.”

“Remember when Auntie Aurora predicted you would be a brain surgeon?”

I giggled. “Oh, yes, and I flunked chemistry that semester and enrolled in culinary school, much to Mama’s horror.”

Leo held his finger in the air and nodded. “And there was the time she predicted you would fall in love with someone in the moonlight whose name began with a D, or was it G?”

“It was D, and I remember, because, Dante.”

“Oh, my God!” Leo laughed. “You rejected every boy in lower secondary school that year, except that idiot, Dante Camarda, and he was an emotionally stunted disaster.”

“And a bad kisser,” I said. “So sloppy and his tongue was like a lizard.”

“The worst,” Leo said, wrinkling his nose. “And can we ever forget the best prediction of all? My future wife is a beautiful woman with long red hair who loves the water.”

I laughed out loud.

“I mean, your aunt basically told me I would marry Ariel,” he said, “and I think we all know that Ariel is not my type. So, do we need to keep doing this?”

“No,” I said.

“How about champagne? Limoncella?” He stood and picked up his bridal support bag, pulling out bottles. “I did not come without alcohol, in case you are wondering.”

“Yes, and yes, and did you bring chocolate?”

“Of course, I brought chocolate.” Leo grinned. “You are the only woman I know who eats chocolate for breakfast, her own chocolate.” He handed me a square and poured me a glass of champagne.

“Let’s start with one glass, and do not get any of this on your dress or Mama Uzano will murder me with her strong, tiny hands.”

“She would murder you,” I said, taking a bite of the chocolate. “But it would probably be over quick.”

“Drink carefully, for my sake.” He smiled.

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