“Your heart is breaking.” She stares at the cards. “And the deeper you wade into that wedding, the worse it hurts.”
“Logan’s wedding?”
Liza nods.
I twist my purse strap in my hands. “He makes me so mad sometimes. And he got super pissed off at me because I let his fiancée give him a quilt that I knitted especially for him. It’s a quilt that has a special meaning for both of us sewn into it. I’m worried he might think I’m trying to sabotage his relationship.”
“He’s not right, though, is he?” Liza’s melodic voice cuts through my guilt. “You didn’t want to sabotage exactly. But you don’t want to look at them together.”
“So what?” I say. “So what if I don’t think they’re a good match?”
“His wedding is bringing up past pain, I see.” Liza taps one of the cards. “Some old hurts you need to look at and then let go.”
“I read a piece of my childhood diary to him last night.”
She nods. “You two are going to do more reading sessions. Not right away, but within the month. You’ll both resist it, but he has to hear your side of things.”
“Well, forget it.” I frown. “I’m never reading Logan Wild another one of my entries again.”
Liza closes her eyes and is quiet for a moment. “No, you must read what was in your heart. And Logan must be there as your witness. The angels are telling me you won’t be able to move forward until you do. And neither will he.”
“Why does Logan have to bear witness?” I say.
“Because he bore witness to your life, and to your childhood. He, more than anyone, knows you and why you made the choices you have. Let him in, so you can let him go. You can give that gift to each other, my dear.”
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.”
