“Tell us what we need to do, Lanie,” Nina says, giving me a chastising look. “We’ll help you beat this bad luck.”
Nina is supposed to be the voice of reason. The one who helps us see the cracks in our foundation so we can get back on solid ground. She shakes her head imperceptibly, telling me not to rock the boat anymore. I throw my hands in the air. Apparently, we’re going along with this.
“Fine.” I huff. “How about we look up New Year rituals. I’m sure we’ll find that a burning scarecrow is not involved,” I suggest, offering a smile to hopefully mollify Lanie. “Then you’ll know it was just a dream and there’s nothing to worry about.”
Lanie bobs her head, moving toward my office.
I fire up my Mac and start my search by plopping in the termsscarecrow new yearand hitting Search. I’m biting my lower lip, trying not to make it obvious that I’m completing this search only to prove to Lanie that she’s being unreasonable.
To my shock, I get a hit.
“New Year’s Eve rituals to banish ill fortune and bad things,” I read out loud.
Apparently, it’s an Ecuadorian thing to set fire to scarecrows filled with paper at midnight.
“See,” she screeches. “I told you.”
“You probably read that somewhere,” Nina says.
Now she wants to talk reason.
“I didn’t. I swear. Something bad is coming for me. I know it.”
This is so unlike Lanie that she’s truly scaring me. She’s damn near hysterical. I’ve never once seen her like this.
“Okay, so we’re burning a scarecrow at midnight,” I say, giving in because what other choice do I have? I don’t want Lanie to spiral any further. “What else do you feel you need to do, Lane?”
She motions toward the computer. “Can I…search? I think I’ll know when I see it.”
I remove myself from the seat, standing aside so that Lanie can sit and scroll for as long as she needs.
“I’m going to go pour us some drinks,” Nina says, motioning for me to follow her.
“I’ll go change. I’m not wearing this getup,” I say, twirling one more time to see the sparkle.
Nina heads to the kitchen and I follow, grabbing glasses while Nina opens the bottle of merlot she brought.
“What do you make of that?” Nina asks, and I lift both eyebrows.
“I was going to ask you that question. I’m a little shocked that you went along with all this.”
She takes a little more than a sip of wine, sighing after she swallows.
“I’m a little caught off guard, if I’m being honest. This behavior is very odd for her.”
I bob my head like a doll. “Very. What can we do?”
She shrugs. “Be here for her. And drink this,” she says, lifting her glass to me. “I thought you were going to change.”
“I am, but I think we’re going to need a lot more of that,” I say, pointing to her already empty glass and thinking about what’s to come tonight. “Between my date being cancelled and Lanie, let’s keep the drinks coming.”
“I think we should run to the store and grab some champagne before everything closes. We can’t burn a scarecrow at midnight without champagne.” Nina laughs.
“No, we cannot.”
By the time I’ve changed and we join Lanie in the office, she’s compiled a list. I run over it, realizing that the night is going to be wacky for sure.
“Throw white flowers into the sea? We can’t go to the Atlantic,” I say, looking to Nina, who shakes her head, agreeing with my assessment.
