Beth chuckled, the corners of her eyes crinkling with amusement. "You can't force karma, I guess. It has its own way of working things out."
"Yeah, well, at least he's off the suspect list now," I said, still feeling the sting of Robert's harsh words about Deva. I really wished I could have set loose some karmic retribution on him right then and there.
8
EMMA
I had always lovedDeva’s old neighborhood. Tucked into the heart of Mystic Hollow, this was the area many young families started out at. The yards were on the small side, as were the houses, but it was a neighborhood full of young children and life, even now.
“Remember that tree!” I said, pointing to one we passed. “Remember how you broke your arm falling out of it?”
Beth laughed. “I remember a day of serious regrets and a cast that smelled like sweat and death.”
“You were fearless, even then,” I told her.
She grinned. “That’s me. Miss Fearless.”
I debated with myself and then went for it. “Except when it comes to handsome neighbors…”
Beth shot me a death glare.
I tried to look innocent in return as I changed the subject. “Deva’s still pretty heartbroken over having to sell the house in the divorce.”
“How that man got her to take out a loan on her mom’s house and add him to the house, I’ll never know. I guess, like me, she doesn’t make wise choices when it comes to men.”
“Didn’t,” I corrected. “Maybe sometimes in life we just have to make some mistakes before we find the right men for us. I mean, if Marquis doesn’t have Deva’s heart by the end of the year, I’ll eat my sock.”
She chuckled. “At least Deva’s mistake led to her and Carol being roommates, I think it’s been good for both of them. Carol loved living with someone, and Deva’s had to learn to loosen up with perfectionism with the chaos that is Carol.”
Beth was right. Deva used to get an eye tick when a person dropped crumbs. Now, she just let it go. She wasn’t just trying to change, shehadchanged. As hard as it was to lose the house she grew up in, that aspect of it was a blessing for her.
We parked near Deva’s old neighbor’s house and cut the engine, waiting for Carol who should be coming shortly, to help us with our next lead. The silence of the car was comforting, but my mind was everywhere. Life since becoming Karma had been crazy, but Deva being cursed just felt so random and weird. Was this my life now?
“I hope Deva is doing okay at the restaurant.”
Beth nodded. “Rebuilding is sometimes harder than building in the first place, even if she has the help of magic.”
“But she’ll do it.”
“She will, but we’ll need to be there to support her mentally and emotionally. With her daughters busy and living all over the world, Deva never wants to tell them about the hard stuff she’s going through, so we’re the only ones she can really lean on.”
Beth was right, and wise, as always. When we had breaks from the investigation, we’d have to focus on Deva. She always seemed so tough, but deep down, she was like all of us.
"Okay, so what’s the plan here?" I asked Beth as Carol pulled up behind us.
"It’s simple. We need to talk to Nick about the tree incident and see if he cursed Deva. Easy peasy."
Right…
As we got out and stood in front of the house, the scent of blooming flowers and fresh-cut grass filled my nostrils. The paint was peeling on the door and somewhat overgrown bushes lined the walkway. "This place could use a little TLC."
"No joke," Beth said.
Carol gave us an encouraging smile. “My yard looks the same way sometimes.”
“Yardwork sucks,” I agreed with a grin.
“How’s Deva doing?” Beth asked.
