I take a deep breath as Liza returns to the cards. She holds up one card with a beautiful image of bright blue water swirling around a red heart.
She shakes the card. “I see a wedding on the horizon.”
“Ginny’s and Dave’s?” My voice rises hopefully. “They’ve hit a rough patch, to put it mildly.”
“That particular union is still in transit. More needs to be learned. What about your wedding?”
“I’m never marrying again. One divorce is enough, and it was proof to me that I’m not marriage material. It’s a decision I made a long time ago.”
“Based on what?”
I hold out my wrist so she can see the scar.
“My mother’s misdirected anger.”
Liza simply nods.
And I start rambling incoherently. “Mama’s convinced Vivian’s diary is real. Her writings include all these supposed clues from the witch who cast the spell on Jane’s ghost. And the section where Vivian writes that the witch mentions a female who bears a branding on her flesh? Mama is certain that refers to my scar. According to the witch, the branding signifies that this female is also cursed to forever be alone, and that her freedom can only be found when Jane’s is.” I take a breath and quote the passage: “The mark will disappear if she can remove the bars that close her heart from knowing its true match.”
“Those exact words?” Liza says. “Nothing else?”
“I think so. The writing’s hard to make out, but it was something about—the only way to break the curse is to find the key to unlock the door to her heart. To Jane’s heart. So of course that’s sent Mama on a wild goose chase to find the soul mates in the Darcy Legend. The whole thing’s made me crazy. I mean, I can’t believe I’m even talking about this with you.”
Liza lifts my hand gently and turns my wrist so she can see the scar. “You’ve been wounded and need to forgive. You’re so busy putting up walls you’re blind to even seeing your path.”
“I’m too busy,” I say to her. “Besides, I don’t care. I’m not one of those girls who’s waiting for her Mr. Darcy. Believe me.”
“No, you’re not. You are extremely discriminating. And you would rather be alone than in the company of misery. That’s what you and the bar ghost have in common. But if there’s a chance for real happiness with the right partner, don’t you want to recognize him when he shows up?”
I shrug. “He won’t show up. I’m meant to be alone.”
Liza stares hard at the tarot spread. “Your soul has no problem loving. It’s a timing thing. You’ll only know when you know.” She touches the top of my head gently. “Just make sure you’re not so guarded that you miss the guidance from your heart.”
Chapter Forty
“So what happened between you and you-know-who?” Ginny asks the next day as we float down the river.
Her black bathing suit with a cute skirt covers her growing belly, and my red, skimpy two-piece makes me feel way too exposed. With the way Logan and I interacted yesterday, and how I felt like he stripped away all my defenses, I definitely should have gone Ginny’s route and worn a one-piece with as much coverage as possible.
Ahead of us in the water, Logan and Gigi are each on a float. Dave and Blake are next with Ginny and me trailing behind. The cypress and oak trees make a gorgeous canopy over our heads, but the strong sun still finds a way to poke through. It’s a gorgeous, steaming hot day in Texas, and being out on the water feels amazing. What doesn’t feel amazing? The state of my friendship with Logan.
“It’s nothing worth talking about, honestly,” I tell her. “He and I had a…chat after they opened presents. We haven’t talked since.”
Not unless you count the silent chin tilt and smile he gave me when I arrived at the river, or the quick hello I gave him in return.
“Oooh. What kind of a chat?” Ginny’s voice rises in curiosity.
“He was upset about the quilt.”
“Because you didn’t give it to him yourself?” She bounces on her float. “He wishes you had, doesn’t he?”
“I don’t know.” I lower my voice even though Logan and Gigi are way too far ahead to overhear us. “Ben told me Gigi’s entering the target contest.”
Ginny’s mouth drops open. “She can’t be serious. How dare she? How dare she come into our town and try to take your title? You’re the shotgun champion of Hunt County—she doesn’t even live here! There are rules you know. You have to be a county resident.”
“She’ll just use Logan’s address.”
“You know what I think you should do?”
