“You enjoyed every minute of it. And if you’re wondering why I know that, it’s simple: you always performed.”
“Teenage boys tend to do that.” The sick feeling returns.
I have dreams about it. That she’s there in my room, watching what I do, sitting on the corner of my bed and waiting for me.
When I was in the desert the dreams faded. When I was sleeping in small hotel rooms, being no one, I felt the distance from her. When I have a day when I think of my sister, Hedda is there that night.
A night terror.
“That’s not why I’m here.”
“I’m assuming you’re not here to see how I am or spend time…”
“You know damn well I’m not.” My words are a slap.
She shuts up and puts her hands on her hips.
“Majken’s put herself in a position where I think people may try to get at you or me or dad to force information or worse.” It was enough detail.
“So you’re telling me to be careful?” The show she usually puts on is dropped. “You think I’m at risk?”
“And Dad. And Majjie.”
She pales.
“If anyone bothers you or makes contact, you need to let me know. Have you got any paper?”
She digs around in the sideboard and pulls out a pad. I scrawl down my number and pass it back.
“Day or night. If you’re worried.”
“I saw this coming.”
I almost roll my eyes. Hedda thought she had second sight, the ability to tell the future.
“No, seriously, Ben. When I read the cards a few months ago, they said you’d return.” She looks flustered. “Blonde woman, a fair queen and a dark haired king. They were there. Death and violence. Seven of swords – betrayal, deception. But strategy.”
Her eyes glaze.
“Let me read your cards.”
I freeze.
She’s never offered this before although I saw her do it for others, as part of her act.
“How can I trust you? How do I know you’re not going to make up some bullshit to piss me off?”
I expect her eyes to harden but instead they widen and I see more than I've noticed before.
“I wouldn’t. Let me read them. For me.”
“Everything was always about you.”
For a moment she looks remorseful. Her bottom lip quivers and I see her shoulders tense.
“I thought…” She shakes her head. “Please let me read your cards, Ben.”
It was always difficult to refuse my Aunt Hedda anything. That was part of the problem.
