sorry,â Susan said to Lauren gravely. She was clearly sincere, making Lauren feel vaguely guilty, though she wasnât quite sure why.
âThank you,â she said, ignoring her uncomfortable feelings. âBut, hey, thatâs the past, and weâre looking to the future, right? What does Deannaâs hand say to you, Susan?â
Susan studied Deannaâs palm and looked up gravely.
âWhat?â Deanna asked impatiently.
âSo far, it has told me that you do not like housework at all,â Susan said.
Even Deanna laughed. âOkay, I suck. Seriously, Iâm really bad at it, so I gave it up.â
âDonât worry, she has a wonderful woman who comes in twice a week,â Heidi assured Susan.
Susan traced a finger down a line in Deannaâs hand.
âThe life line, right?â Heidi asked.
Susan shrugged.
âIt doesnât look very long,â Deanna said worriedly.
Susan shook her head, looking at Deanna. âOften, things are what we make them. The lineâ¦itâs like the card. It might not mean anything bad at all. It signifies change. A change in life. Heidi is getting married.â
âIâm not even dating steadily,â Deanna said.
âYouâre a beautiful woman,â Susan said, sidestepping.
âWhat else do you see?â
Susan pointed. âHereâ¦artistic success. You are clever and determined.â Susan looked up and stared hard at Deanna. âWhen you set your mind to something, you can make it happen. When we fail, far too often, it is because weâre afraid. Remember, you have the talent and the will. Donât be put off by circumstances that seem dire. You are very strong. And there will be changes.â
âWill I ever get married?â Deanna asked.
Susan shrugged. âYour palm is not telling me. I can say that you are passionate and giving, and that you are quite capable of creating fire, passionâand loveâaround you.â
âI like that,â Deanna said.
Lauren looked at her, trying to avoid Susanâs eyes. Lots of people could have said that to you, her stern gaze said.
âYour turn,â Deanna said.
âAh, the crystal ball for our talented young artist,â Susan murmured. She didnât move, though, and her eyes were downcast.
âI think Susan is tired,â Lauren said.
âOh no, you are not getting out of this!â Heidi insisted.
âMay I see more fully?â Susan asked.
Lauren handed her the drawing she had done.
âYou are very kind,â she murmured. âYou have caught me on paper with great beauty.â
âI want to work more on it. Iâll send you a copy when Iâm done,â Lauren told her.
Susan nodded and handed back the drawing. Lauren flipped her sketchbook closed and returned it to her purse.
âIt seems like youâve had a busy night. You look tired. You really donât have to do another reading,â Lauren said.
âSheâs trying to get out of this,â Heidi explained.
Susan stood. She wasnât smiling. âI think that we must look into the crystal ball.â
Heidi and Deanna started to rise.
âThere is only room in the tent for oneâIâm sorry. The crystal ball is quite different from the palm and the cards.â
Susan waited gravely, and at last Lauren followed her into the tent, the sounds from the street and the night receding. As she sat in the chair opposite Susan, the world outside all but disappeared.
âYour fiancé, he was a soldier?â Susan asked, staring into the crystal ball.
Startled, Lauren looked at her. âYes.â
âIâm very sorry, truly. Butâ¦there are those who believe there are certain fates we cannot avoid, and others who believe we have a hand in our own futures. Perhaps many people lived because your young man died,â she said softly.
âThank you. I like to think that,â Lauren