Page 50 of Unraveling Rain
“As I was saying,” Granny continues, “I asked her to draw a card, and she pulledthe Lovers. The moment I turned it, I just knew a man worthy of our fierce and outspoken Rain would arrive in Azalea Creek soon.”
Mama looks at her, clearly torn between disbelief and curiosity.
Ouch. Does Mama think I’m not worthy of love?
Granny notices my reaction and tuts. “Don’t give me that look. You know I’m quite accurate with my readings.”
I stifle a laugh. Mama can make me cry and ask for forgiveness for something I didn’t do just with a single look, but even she folds when Granny lays down the mystical sass.
“So who’s this guy?” Mama asks, leaning closer to the pot for a sniff.
“Oh, I know,” Granny says with a little too much joy.
“You weren’t that happy when Ruin found Gio. What’s different this time?” I ask, a little flabbergasted by the contrast.
“Rain Melody,” she says, wiping her hands on her apron as she comes closer, “your sister always wanted to explore the world. We all knew that eventually she was going to meet her soulmate. Even after her accident, I was confident that they were going to find each other again. Their love is powerful.”
She looks at me with tenderness. “Butyou,my dear, you have always been more closed off. Always happy with what you have here. I was waiting for a great man to come toyou. And boy, did he ever.”
A smile sneaks onto my face. Xander is amazing.
“But who is he?” Mama asks, now pouring a fragrant liquid from the pot through a strainer into a large bowl. “And how didyoumeet him, Granny?”
“At the diner,” she says with a wink. “He’s one of Ruin’s patients, and he’s quite the catch—if I say so myself.”
She wiggles her eyebrows. I burst into laughter, tilting back and nearly losing my balance. Even Mama laughs, quietly covering her mouth with the back of her hand.
“What?” Granny says, unfazed. “The fact that I’m old doesn’t mean I’m blind. Xander ischef’s kiss.”
She puckers her lips and brings three fingers together dramatically, kissing them with a dreamy look in her eyes. I completely lose it and collapse into a laughing heap on the floor.
Eventually, Mama and I wipe our eyes and catch our breath. I get up and pour us all some water.
“Okay, now Ireallyhave to see this Xander guy,” Mama says, pulling out her phone and her glasses. “And how come Ruin didn’t mention him to me?”.
“Here, Mama. No need to Google him,” I say, fishing my phone from my back pocket. I find the picture I took of Xander and me at the summit and hand it over.
“Ooh, la, la,” Mama exclaims, fanning herself. She squints closer. “And you said his name is Xander?”
I nod, hands in my back pockets. “Xander González. He plays for the Carolina Red Wolves in Raleigh.” Mama’s face shifts. She knows I don’t ever want to leave this town.
“We’re just talking. Having fun,” I say with a shrug, gently taking the phone back.
“There’s nothing wrong with that, dear. Just promise me to keep your heart open. Give it a real chance.”
She says it with that look—the one that means she’s worried, but she’ll respect whatever I decide to do.
“And bring him to the St. John’s Day gathering. I’d love to meet him,” she adds, placing a soft hand on my cheek. I lean into it.
“That’s right, dear. You have to open your heart, not just your legs,” Granny throws in.
Mama and I dissolve in a fit of laughter again.
Gosh, I love my family.
Chapter 14
Rain
