I bite my lip and scan his face. When I realize he’s telling nothing but the truth, I nod. “You’re the man of my dreams too, Sutton Cooper.”
“Good to know,” he replies with a wry smile. “I’ll be waitin’ in the truck for you.” With one last kiss, he lets me go and walks back out into the shop before locking the door behind him.
With my heart now feeling too big for my chest, I take a deep, steadying breath and walk into the back room where Star waits for me.
“Everythin’ OK?” she asks, looking out to the shop before returning her gaze to me.
“Yeah. That man is just…” I shake my head. “I swear he’s too good for this world.”
Star’s mouth tugs up. “Yeah, I think the same about my Landry.” She nods down to the overturned tarot cards laid out on the table in front of her. “Are you ready to find out what your future holds?”
I stare at the cards before taking a seat opposite her. “Ready as I’ll ever be. Let’s see if you can change my life for a second time.”
She laughs. “No pressure or anythin’. I’m guessin’ you’ve got some big life decisions to make?”
“You could say that,” I reply dryly.
Reaching over, she covers one of my hands with hers, her eyes never once leaving mine. “Then let’s see if we can find you some answers.”
“You probably already know what this card is,” she says, tapping her finger on The Lovers.
“I was kind of expecting it, to be honest. You know, given I’ve just found my One,” I reply. “But I don’t know what it represents other than the obvious.”
“OK, this card does have a number of meanin’s. This card has appeared at the center of the spread. Usually, this would mean that true love is on the horizon, but since you’ve already found your soulmate, this is sayin’ the love you’ve found will only get deeper, stronger, and more fulfillin’ as time passes.” I nod. “The Lovers card represents harmony and soul connections. Choices you’ve made from the heart.”
“Like Sutton and I finding each other again?”
“Exactly,” she replies with a warm smile. “You were always meant to cross paths with Sutton again. Now the feelings you have and the bond you share will only get stronger.”
“OK. What about that one?” I ask, pointing to the next card.
“The Star,” she says reverently. “It always comes after a period of hardship. It signifies healin’ and a brighter future. This ties into our last readin’ where I said there was a fresh outlook and new opportunities on the horizon. Has somethin’ happened along those lines?”
I snort. “You could say that. I’ve been offered a job to take over the hospital in Timber Falls.”
Her eyes brighten. “Wow. That certainly qualifies as a new opportunity. You were only meant to stay for six months, right?”
“I was covering my uncle’s long service leave. I know it hasn’t been that long, but I already can't imagine living anywhere else.”
“Meanin’ you’ve got an important decision to make?”
“Pretty much,” I say with a dry laugh. “Does that card say anything about whether to stay or go?”
“It’s the card of blessin’s and of a future aligned with joy, peace, and fulfillment. This is sayin’ that dreams can be more than just dreams. They can be your reality if you dare to follow what your soul truly desires.”
My heart skips a beat and hope burns bright inside me.I could have everything I want by staying in Timber Falls…
She goes over the other cards before stopping at the last one, tapping her finger against the table. “This is the High Priestess. You should follow your intuition and listen to the truth that your body, heart,andsoul knows. All you’ve got to do is say yes, Blair.”
My eyes roam over the cards in front of me. Not for the first time I wonder how Star knows just what to say when I need it most. The first time was whether to accept Uncle George’s offer. Now it’s about following my heart and making the right choiceforme, one that I know will bring me a life of happiness. It may not be what I ever envisioned for myself, but then again, do we ever really know what the future holds?
When I lift my gaze back to Star, I find her watching me closely. “I think I’ve given you a lot to think about already, but can I say one last thing?
“Please do.”
“Only you know what you want for your life. Not your family, not your friends, not even Sutton. Just you. The cards I’ve revealed today have a common theme. Your destiny is entwined with love, and no matter what you’re strugglin’ with, only you know your heart’s true path,”
“And the mountain spirit it seems,” I muse.
