He continued his slow, measured steps like a monk mindfully wandering his garden. “There are some who abuse their gifts for personal gain.”
Two lady joggers hustled past them on the sidewalk.
“Hello, gorgeous hunka man bear. I’d like to jump on those shoulders and ride him into the sunset.”
“Gah! Did that dog just fart, or did all the fish in the river die?”
Riley celebrated internally. Clearly her psychic faculties were coming back online.
“Okay. What’s the best way to figure out if Sesame is some kind of psychic? Wait around and see if she starts picking winning lottery numbers and talking to dead people?” she asked.
“The best way to learn something about anyone is to spend time in their shoes.”
“I don’t suppose you mean that literally?” she asked. Sesame had great shoes.
“I am afraid not. I believe that for us to assess the reasons for your psychic flu, we must spend time with the trigger.”
“Crap. I knew you were going to say that,” Riley lamented.
“Of course you did. You are psychic,” Gabe pointed out.
They stopped walking when Burt began to execute his pre-poop ritual, circling a spot on the grass in earnest. Riley hoped she’d brought a bag big enough to handle sesame chicken, burrito, and pork rinds.
“Fine. We’ll spend time with Beth. I mean Sesame. What do I do if it happens again? I know the ol’ close-the-spiritual-garage-door thing would probably help stop it, but I can’t get a read on someone if my defenses are up.”
Burt was circling faster now.
“After you rest and recover for a few days, I will teach you a new technique for defense. It is much the same as our practice this morning.”
Riley bit her lip. Some rest and recovery sounded luxurious. But time was a luxury she couldn’t afford. “I’m worried we might not have a few days. If Sesame is up to something, it’s important that we know what it is sooner rather than later.” She peeked at him out of the corner of her eye. “I promise I’ll rest up after we find out what’s going on.”
Gabe nodded slowly. “If you are sure your powers are not depleted.”
“They’re not,” she assured him quickly.
“That is good. Because if theyweredepleted and you insisted upon pushing yourself, you could be spiritually injured.”
“No spiritual-injury potential here,” she insisted.
“Then I suppose there is no time like the present. And to ensure your success, I will join you in your reading of Sesame. We are stronger together.”
Great. They could be strongeranddizzier together.
“You’re a good friend, Gabe.”
Burt stopped his frantic circling abruptly and squatted. Both humans politely turned their backs to give him privacy.
“Sooooo. How are things with you and Wander?” she asked, rolling to the balls of her feet as she stared out across the Susquehanna River.
Gabe had recently professed his affection for her sister by standing up to their grandmother and escorting Wander on an ice cream date. But to her knowledge, the couple hadn’t gotten naked yet.
His smile went soft and dreamy. “Wander is a lotus blossom of great wisdom and beauty.”
Riley wouldn’t have been surprised if the big guy had hugged himself in joy.
“So…good, then?” she guessed.
“Wonderful. She is wonderful. And I am wonderful when I am around her.” Gabe heaved a sigh that she swore tickled the leaves on the shrub ten feet ahead of them.
