“Why? I thought we were going to have a private conversation.”
“I thought you might like to hear what Fate has to say before you go into a death spiral on someone who hurt your feelings. She may give you another take on things.”
Gaia snorted. “Death spiral. So dramatic.” She lowered herself into her chair. The waitress came over and asked them what they wanted to drink. Gaia turned to her sisters. “I liked what you recommended before. Is there something else I should try?”
“Cranberry and vodka is nice,” Fate said.
“That’s a Cape Codder,” the waitress said.
“How about a tequila sunrise?” Karma suggested.
Gaia tipped her head this way and that. “I like Cape Cod. I’ve never had tequila though.” She looked at the waitress. “What would you like better if you were going to choose between those two?”
The young waitress smiled. “I’d probably get the Cape Codder because, well, I don’t like tequila that much.” Whispering behind her hand, she added, “You have to ask for the good stuff or you get the cheapest.”
Mother Nature nodded once. “A Cape Codder it is.”
The other two sisters decided to order Cape Codders as well. “With Stoli,” Karma added.
“How are things going?” Fate asked.
Gaia narrowed her eyes and said, “I could ask you the same thing.”
Fate cleared her throat. Sitting up straight, she plopped her laptop on the table, then opened it in front of Gaia. “I tried rewriting your online profile. The answers you gave me wouldn’t have attracted anyone except possibly some kind of nut. So here’s what I said about you.” Fate brought up a page with a flattering picture of Gaia and the profile, which read very simply:I am a young at heart, nurturing, outdoorsy kind of girl. I love nature walks and finding a pretty spot to observe a sunset. If you enjoy those things and can be a good listener, that’s all I need. I’m not looking for anything in particular as far as relationships go. I’d rather see how things evolve.
Gaia leaned back in her chair. “That’s it?”
Fate shrugged. “That’s it. I don’t think I can say much more without raising red flags. Do you?”
“Let me think.”Should I ask her to add that I’m all-powerful? No. She must’ve thought that would scare men away. Should I ask her to include my desire to make the world a better place? No, I don’t want a militant political activist either.
At last, Gaia opened her eyes and sighed loudly. “All right. I think you have it. Is there anything special you want me to do? Should I look at other people’s profiles and pick one? I don’t know how this works.”
Fate smiled. “I haven’t posted this yet. I was waiting for your approval.”
Gaia nodded. “Approval given.”
“Okay.” Fate pushed one button on the computer keyboard and folded her arms. “Now we wait.”
Karma smiled. “You see how much easier it is to just let go of ugly feelings and move on with your life?”
“Is that what I’m doing?” Gaia asked.
“I think so. Ihopeso. You were about to ask me to zap someone for you, right?”
Gaia let out a defeatedpuhsound, and her posture slumped.
The waitress came over with their three drinks and set them on the table. Gaia was about to guzzle hers when Fate held up her glass. “What should we toast to?”
“Toast? Oh yeah. I’ve observed that tradition before. Seems silly to me.”
“How about to moving on?” Karma suggested.
“Perfect!” Fate raised her glass, and Karma clinked it. Then they both reached across the table and clinked Gaia’s glass as she just sat there holding it. “To moving on,” her sisters said in unison.
“Whatever,” Gaia muttered and guzzled a mouthful.
The other two took a sip and set down their glasses. The tangy sweetness pleased Gaia. Her cranberries were usually a little bitter, but humans had found a way to sweeten them with sugar cane and enjoy their unique taste. The thing they called vodka didn’t seem to change it much, but it gave it that little kick she noticed other drinks had.
