Jackie blinked. First Bronwyn, and even Tanika, then Antonio, and now Mother Mary. How did everyone believe in romantic destiny except her? She quickly typed. “There is no such thing as soulmates.”
“Oh, sweetie,” Mother Mary put a hand on Jackie’s shoulder. “Still lying to yourself, I see.”
Jackie watched as Mary closed her eyes tightly and took a deep breath. A shiver ran down Jackie’s arms, straight to her fingertips, and she felt a glow in her throat as if she’d just gulped down a ball of sunshine.
Finally, Mary opened her eyes, staring straight at Jackie. “Just because your parents’ love didn’t last forever doesn’t mean forever love doesn’t exist. What was true for them is not true for you.”
Jackie took a step backward, nearly knocking over a stand of Parisian doggie perfumes. How the hell did this woman know about her parents?
Mary held up her hands. “Hey, sweetie, don’t be scared. Sometimes stuff comes to me like a puff of smoke. I have to catch the message before it fades.”
Tears welled up in Jackie’s eyes. She willed them not to fall, but it was too late. She was crying in the middle of Couture and Collars, next to a $400 self-heating dog bed. She squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath.
“Hey now,” Mother Mary said, her voice soft and calming. “Cry if you need to. I think I’ve said enough.” She reached inside her beaded tote bag and pulled out a yellowing business card. It read:Mother Mary, Psychic Medium and Clairvoyant, with her email and phone number below. “Deep down, I think you know what you need to do. But if you ever get lost along the way, you have my number. Also, my Venmo is on the back. Like I said, I really shouldn’t be dispensing information for free. That’s how I got in trouble during the Final Four bracket pool at the community center. By the way, that PJ Dawson! Whew! He’s great. But, you know that already.” Mary winked at Jackie, and Jackie just shook her head.
Mother Mary gave Jackie’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Remember, your voice will be back if you’re honest with yourself.” Mary grabbed a pair of dog booties, flipped her red ringlets over her shoulder, and headed toward the front of the store. When she was halfway down the aisle, she turned back to Jackie. “Oh, and you may want to answer your phone when it rings. I don’t think you want to miss that call, hun.”
Jackie stood in a daze for a few long moments. When she looked up, Mother Mary was gone. She gestured for Pamela to wrap up her purchase for PeeWee and handed her a credit card. She could tell Pamela had questions, but she wisely didn’t ask. Jackie wasn’t sure if she could explain it without sounding off her rocker.
Just as Pamela handed her a receipt, Jackie’s phone rang. She pulled it out of her purse, confused. Her ringer was set to Do Not Disturb, and she hadn’t received a call in hours. She didn’t recognize the number at all, and she was terrible with area codes, but remembering what Mary had said, she answered.
Jackie cleared her throat, not expecting to make a sound, but trying anyway. “Hello?” she croaked out. There was her voice—scratchy and rough from weeks of silence, but there all the same.
“You’re a very persistent woman, Ms. Miles.”
Jackie nearly dropped her phone. It was Manny Guzman. “I am.” There was her voice again, like music to her own ears, but she didn’t want to take any chances. She was going to keep this conversation at two-word answers maximum, lest her voice disappear again mid-sentence.
“So, you want my boy Ramón to fight Mo Williams? Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
There was a beat of silence, then Manny spoke again. “I’m intrigued by your proposal. Let’s talk about this in-person. Come to Miami. I’ll have my assistant send my availability.”
“Sure,” Jackie said, gripping her shopping bag for dear life.
“Sure? That’s all you have to say? I was told the great Jackie Miles could sell ice water to a polar bear,” Manny chuckled. “Guess you’re saving the hard sale for when we meet.”
“Exactly,” Jackie smiled, because that honestly was the truth.
“Good. See you soon.” Manny ended the call abruptly, before Jackie could say goodbye.
“Yes!” Jackie screamed as she pumped her fist and did a praise dance in her stilettos. She was oblivious that the entire store was watching, until she heard Pamela clear her throat.
“Sorry,” Jackie said, nodding to Pamela and smiling. She was ready to get out of here anyway. But not before she sent Mother Mary $200 via Venmo.Just in case.
CHAPTER 33
