Page 43 of Sort of Seeing Someone

“It’s just not the time or place for it, Moonie,” Liv says with a hint of exhaustion in her voice. “Maybe someday we’ll pick it back up—like when we’re retired and living in a spiritual communelike Mom is.”

“A spiritual commune? Mom lives in a vibrant retirement community in the Fine Arts District.”

“Oh, shit,” says Liv, as she covers her mouth.

My sisters go silent. Nora drops her head into her hands.

“She moved there for the art. Remember?”

Nora looks at Liv. Liv nods giving her permission to do what, I’m not sure.

“She did move there for theart,” says Nora. “Just not the kind of art you’re thinking.”

“She spends her days hunting for vortexes. And I have to hand it to her,” Liv says. “She’s remarkably happy for someone who lives in a tent with thirty other women.”

“It’s more of a yurt,” Nora corrects her.

I take a moment to gather myself in my state of shock. My mom and I have always been close. Well, as close as you can be to a single parent who has to split her time between a classroom full of kids and then three more kids at home. But looking back since her move, the frequency of our calls and texts has dwindled. She’s dodged every suggestion of getting together out west. The last two Christmases, she’s stayed in Arizona claiming a bout of norovirus. In hindsight, if my mom was trying to play keep-away with me, she’s done an excellent job.

“Is Mom in a cult?” I ask.

“She’s a member of the Sedona Metaphysical Spiritual Sisterhood,” Liv states matter-of-factly.

“Oh, Jesus Christ.”

“Leave him out of it,” Nora shares. “She and her sisters pray to the earth, air, fire, water, and spirits.And that’s also what each of these roses stand for, in case you didn’t know. In fact, there’s probablya lotyou don’t know. Liv?”

At that, Olivia procures a small, leatherbound book from the seat next to her. It’s tattered in texture and camel in color. It closes with a skinny lace that wraps around a circular button on the front. The cover is stamped with: “S&S”

“This is Mom’s. She started writing in it before we were born and then we both helped her add to it back when we were allowed to talk about these kinds of things.”

“What doesS&Sstand for?” I ask.

“Secrets & Spells. The first part is everything she’s ever learned about our gift. The second part is her original potion recipes. She was always good at mixing and concocting.”

“And where can I find the part about hexes?” I ask, poking my own fun at the whole charade.

“We’re not witches,” Nora reminds me in all seriousness. “We just have a special connection with the spiritual world.”

I undo the lace closure and thumb through the yellowed pages.

“We told her we burned it,” says Liv. “It’s what Dad wanted, but Mom could never bring herself to do it.”

“So it’s just been gathering dust under my bed,” says Nora. “And I’ve spent the last decade paranoid the cleaning lady would find it one day and set it on Esteban’s side of the bed. Picture it. He thinks it’s an anniversary gift—a vintage Spanish bible—opens it, and the next thing I know he’s making me take nightly baths in holy water. Wow, now that I say that out loud, I can’t believe I’ve risked that fate this whole time. Take the book with you, Moonie. And don’t ever bring it back into this house, okay?”

“You don’t want it, Liv?”

She scrunches her face and waves her hands like I’ve offered her tuna salad that’s been left out in the sun.

“I hope you know we really do support you,” Liv says in her most motherly tone. “Just be careful. Candles, smudge sticks, and crystals are all fine. But your ability to see the future when you touch another palm is the real gift and it’s what makes us so special. As tempting as it’ll be to exploit that talent for money or personal gain, proceed with caution.Exexveei has been known to backfire if it senses that’s what you’re up to. I think that’s on page nineteen of the book, by the way.”

“And the things you’ll see, Moonie, won’t always be sunshine and rainbows, you know. So be prepared for—”

“Okay, that’s enough. Can I be excused now?” I say as I shut the spell book and tuck it under my armpit. “And can you two change into something with a little more color?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be returning this matching set to Target long before the kids or Esteban get home.”

Nora blows out the candles in the circle and swirls of light gray smoke slither up in the air.

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