“I don’t think so, but would you mind if I took a photo of these?” I’m not sure if this is a tarot faux pas.
She smiles. “Not at all. But please remember, you still have your own free-will and can create the life you love and deserve.”
A life you love and deserve.This hits me. It sounds so easy. It’smylife and I should enjoy it. What a concept.
I take a photo while Jane rubs crystals between her hands and starts the process with Viv. She selects her deck and now I’m the observer.
Viv doesn’t even need Jane. She opts for the same layout but pulls her cards and tells Jane what they mean, not the other way around. Her pulls take way less time and they end up talking about decks and complex layouts. It sounds like they’ve been friends forever instead of just meeting. It’s not surprising, because this is how Viv’s always been.
While they’re wrapping up their reading, I’m browsing Jane’s selection of tarot card decks and journals she has for sale. Ah, there’s nothing like a new blank notebook. Pulling tarot cards may be fun. It feels like a solid souvenir to remind me of this time with Viv.
My brain is still reeling from my reading. I’m doing my best not to overthink but that’s how I’m wired.
Before we leave, Jane offers to take our photo. We snuggle up on a couch in the corner and have her take a few.
We each buy a tarot deck and say our goodbyes. When Jane thanks us for coming, she pulls me into a hug. She smells like patchouli and flowers— what Iwouldexpect.
She quietly whispers in my ear, “Ivy, don’t be afraid of change. I’d encourage you to spend time thinking about worth.”
Her words are soft but pack a punch. They don’t make me feel bad or immediately question myself.
I don’t know what the change is, but I don’t need to be afraid of it… yet.
Chapter Thirty-Five
I WALK INTO THE restaurant and hear Ivy and Vivian before I see them. Loud laughter. I could probably pick out Ivy’s laugh in a crowded room. Their booth is easy to find.
“Holland!” Ivy yells, waving me over.
I walk over and sit next to Ivy. Our hips touch and I realize I’m nervous. Ridiculous.
“This is Vivian,” she says with her hands out to the woman across from us. “Viv, this is Holland.”
“Great to meet you! You have the cutest dog. Ivy was showing me pictures.” Vivian reaches for a handshake.
“I meant to ask, do you have any pics of him as a puppy? I bet little Slate was even cuter,” Ivy says enthusiastically.
A gut punch. I do have pictures but they’re all of Hazel and Slate. There aren’t many but they’re special to me. Not because Slate is a puppy, but because they’re some of the last pictures I have of Hazel.
“I don’t. Was too busy adjusting to get many puppy pictures.” The lie sounds ridiculous but I’m hoping they’ll let me get away with it.
“Bummer!” Vivian says. I feel like we’re in the clear.
“Before I forget, I have something for you.” Ivy turns to a few shoppingbags. It looks like they had a successful day out.
She hands me a small bag from my favorite local bakery. A peanut butter scone—the same one Chels always throws into the lodge’s coffee order for Slate and I to split.
Ivy thought of me today and my chest warms at that.
“Thanks. I can’t wait to split it with Slate later.”
Ivy and Vivian tell me all about their day. I like hearing them get excited about the local spots they checked out. I do my best to hide my satisfied look.
They complement each other, both in the pieces of their personality showing and physical looks. Vivian is tall, and blonde with a pixie cut. Ivy seems to filter what she’s saying, whereas Vivian doesn’t even make an attempt. The energy of them together makes me miss having a group of friends.
In this moment, I’m trying not to stare at Ivy. She’s something. I can feel the happiness rolling off her. How does she act like this is exactly what her and Viv planned? Instead of being disappointed, they made the best of it.
Wish I could do that.
