Page 131 of January

“I assume you’re staying.”

“Jesus,” Melinda said. “You should charge a lot more for what you do.”

The woman laughed and replied, “I do this because I have a gift, not to get rich.”

“But you could,” Kyle added. “And I’m moving in.”

“Congratulations,” the woman said, sounding sincere. Then, she pointed to Melinda’s stomach. “And to you, too. One day.” She shrugged and smirked.

“I’m sorry; did you just point at my stomach and tell me congratulations?”

“Yes, I did. One day.” The fortune teller nodded.

“How do you…”

“I hear M names are in fashion,” the woman said when Melinda faded out.

“Holy shit,” Kyle replied.

“Yeah, holy shit,” Melinda said. “Can I bring my tour groups here to have readings with you? They’d love this. We can work out some kind of a deal or something.”

“I prefer to keep myself open,” the woman replied. “I come out here when something calls to me. I sit and wait until someone like you approaches and I have something to offer.”

“An M name?” Kyle asked softly.

“A couple of them, yes.”

Melinda looked over at Kyle, who smiled wide at her. Then, she moved her head to Kyle’s shoulder and smiled, too.

“But don’t get ahead of yourselves just yet. You have some furniture to pick out first, I believe.”

“Yeah, we do,” Kyle said. “For the garden.”

“Then, the bedroom,” Melinda offered.

“Stop by and see me sometime,” the woman said.

“We will,” Kyle replied. “And thank you.”

The fortune teller sat down in her folding chair, gave them both a sweet smile, and they walked on, saying nothing until they were in front of Melinda’s building.

“I think dinner and a bath,” Kyle said.

“Bath?”

“Yes, we have all that stuff I bought. We could relax tonight.”

“That sounds amazing,” Melinda replied.

“And maybe tomorrow, we can go pick out that furniture,” Kyle suggested as they made their way up the stairs.

“Do I have to put it together?”

“No.” Kyle laughed.

“Canyouput it together, and I watch? I’m thinking only a sports bra and a little sweat on your brow. If you have a tool belt, that’s extra points.”

“Oh, it is, huh?” Kyle tickled Melinda’s sides when they walked into the apartment, closing the door behind Melinda and pressing her against it.

---