“Nothing. It’s just I see the lady I made cry at her tarot card reading.” Hannah pointed with her chin, and Kate realized Hannah had been talking about Cathy.
“It was Cathy? She’s who you read?”
Hannah nodded. Her face was paler now, her freckles stood out in stark relief.
“It’ll be fine. Cathy’s great; let’s go say hi.” Kate pulled Hannah away from the food table toward the bar, where Cathy was standing and waiting for a drink. Hannah stood rooted to the spot.
“C’mon, it will be okay.”
“What if she’s mad at me?”
“I’m sure she isn’t.”
Cathy picked up a pint of beer and turned toward them. Kate waved with her free hand. “Hey, Cathy!”
A smile broke out on Cathy’s face. She raised her beer in a toast. Kate and Hannah walked toward Cathy, and they met in the middle of the taproom. Cathy gave Kate a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek.
“How are you doing, hun?”
“I can’t complain. It’s the busy season, you know.”
“Oh, I know it! I’ve got to come in and pick up some presents for Munchie and Ollie.”
“I’ve got lots of great presents for my favorite customers.”
Cathy smiled, “I bet you tell everyone they are your favorite customers.”
Kate winked at Cathy. “You caught me.”
“And you’re here with,” Cathy snapped her fingers, “Maxim, right?”
Hannah smiled. “I’m surprised you remembered my reader name!”
“How could I forget my twin!”
“Twin?” Kate scrunched her brow.
“My main pen name is Maxim,” Cathy said.
“Oh right, I’ve been meaning to read one of your books for ages, but I’m holding out for when you start writing something queer,” Kate said.
Cathy sighed, “I know, I really should. I’ve been writing male/female romance for so long. Hopefully, next year I’ll finally branch out.”
“We would all support you,” Hannah said. “I’d love to read something sapphic!”
Cathy pointed above her grey locks. “Do you see this lightbulb?”
Hannah and Kate nodded, playing along.
“I think I’ve figured out that’s what the cards were trying to tell me. Ever since Cindy passed away, I’ve pushed off the idea of writing a love story between two women because it hit too close to home. I needed the distance writing about a romance I had zero interest in living, but this upcoming year it’s time to move forward and find love with my writing again.”
Hannah threw her arms around Cathy. “That’s amazing, and I’m so relieved!”
Cathy tilted her head. “Why is that?”
Kate put her hand on Hannah’s back.
“I thought I did a terrible job with your reading and only made you upset.” Hannah adjusted her glasses.
