She already knows who my true love mate is!
You’re shitting me!Who???
A harpy!Well, half harpy, half human.Her name is Nepha.Isn’t that a gorgeous name?I am meeting her on the winter solstice.
I stare at my phone, smiling, but also feeling the familiar lonely, jealous pit in my gut.Before I type back, another text comes through.
And I also found out something cool for you.Her sister, Merla Indovina, lives in fricken Sea Glass!Ever hear of her?
No, but that’s crazy.Why should I know of her?
She reads tea leaves and has a huge online following, I guess.
So she does paranormal matchmaking like Liora?
Not exactly.Liora practices this touch magic stuff.And only finds true love matches for people.But Merla reads tea leaves and helps guide people to all sorts of things.Career choices, family planning, stuff like that.But also finding your One.
I stare at the phone, an excitement slowly replacing my jealous gut feeling.
I am going to send you her info and I think you should check her out.
Two days later, I find myself standing in front of a whimsical classic Cape cottage with dark purple shutters, wondering when I will have the guts to walk inside.
2
Ophelia
“Hey lady!Are you busy?Can you help me bring stuff in from my car?”
Turning around, I see one of my besties, and fellow coven sisters, Ursula, walking into the great hall.
“I can help you, babe.Do we need anyone else?”
“Nah, we can handle it.”
Stepping outside, the December day has somehow gotten even colder.Ursula fills my arms with several small boxes and I make my way back to the hall, trying not to slip on any black ice.
“Let me help you,” Selwyn, a member of one of our sister covens, runs over and relieves me of several boxes.
“Thanks.Ursula’s table is next to mine over here.”
“Are you selling your garments again this year?”
“Yeah.I made bank last year, so I worked hard the last several months sewing all sorts of things.”
“Okay, cool.When my mom arrives, I know she will want to check out your wares.”
Ursula comes up behind us as we place down the boxes, which are full of her scented oils, carrying her massage chair.
“I love it when you do these events,” Selwyn says, eyeing her chair.
“I know you do.Damn, your shoulders are always wicked tight.”
“Yeah.I think that’s from hunching over while making my jewelry.”
Selwyn walks back to his table across the hall.The Yule event isn’t until Saturday, but we still have a lot to do to make this place look magical.Soon I will throw on my Brainy Smurf hat and direct folks on where to hang the various fairy lights, crystals, and other odds and ends we use to make this plain great hall into a magical winter retreat.As I set up my empty clothing racks to create a mini store behind my table, my phone buzzes and I see it’s my oldest son, Max.
Mom, I’m sorry but I can’t come for the holidays now.
