“Huh.” What did she need to forgive in herself? Surviving where others didn’t? Giving up on her toxic family? Both goals made perfect sense in her head, but in her guilt-addled gut, those battles were far from over.
“Life-altering decisions require lots of self-reflection,” Zora said. “To achieve personal growth, you’ve gotta peer under heavy rocks and examine all the ugly, squiggly things hiding there.” The older woman’s grin was infectious.
“Yeah, I’ve definitely got some ugly squigglies.”
Zora patted her hand. “We all do, dear. Don’t hide from them. You know what they say about bugs—they’re more afraid of you than you are of them.” She gave Addy’s hand a squeeze. “Just be honest with yourself and listen to your intuition.” She tapped the card again. “And there’s good news.”
“Oh?”
“The card is upright, which suggests you’re about to recognize your true intention. You’re standing on a promontory, overlooking all you’ve done and learned. Use this new perspective to heal your psychic wounds and move forward from the past.”
New perspective?Well, she was in a new place, meeting new people. Perhaps this time away from the hurry and pressure of her workaday life would reveal some crucial detail she’d missed.
“Okay, um, thanks very much,” she said, her voice a little shaky. “You’ve given me a lot to think about.”
“That’s my job, dear heart. I open people’s eyes to fresh viewpoints.”
The doorway bell tinkled, signaling a customer’s arrival, and Zora pushed her seat back. “Excuse me, Doctor. Come up when you’re ready.”
Addy’s brows slammed together. “How did you know?”
Grinning, Zora tapped the inside of Addy’s wrist.
“Oh, right.” A self-conscious flush heated Addy’s cheeks as she touched the tiny caduceus tattoo, souvenir of a drunken night out with her fellow first-year residents.
The old gal probably had no more psychic powers than Snoot did, but she was a keen observer, and her woo-woo advice was worth considering.
At the counter, Addy asked, “By the way, that tea is delicious. Do you sell it?”
“Good, isn’t it?” Zora pointed to a wire display rack. “This blend comes from Del Toro Botanicals, right here in Trappers Cove. Organic sage, blackberry leaves, lemon verbena, and ginger. Excellent remedy for overthinking.”
Addy paid for her purchases and, wandering home in a bit of a daze, contemplated the eerie tarot card, at once creepy and yet kind of…hopeful?
“Holy crud!” she exclaimed as she reached the cottage. “I wanted to ask her how to help Kieran.” Perhaps Zora’s message held something useful on that matter as well.
She chewed on that question as she unpacked her purchases and assembled a monstrous sandwich, truly a work of culinary art, but when she lifted it to her lips, her stomach twisted.
“Well, shit.” She set it on the counter with a disgusted sigh.
Attentive at her feet, Snoot wagged his tail, hoping she’d drop him some scraps.
“Sorry, Bud. Can’t have you getting an upset tummy in a rental.”
She checked her phone. Still no response from Kieran.
Her mind spinning, she stared at the sandwich. And stared. And stared.
“Well, why not?” she asked Snoot. “We connected over food twice now. Maybe…”
Humming to herself, she assembled another sandwich, washed two apples, and brewed a thermos of Zora’s tea, then tucked the picnic into her backpack.
Snoot needed his midday walk anyway, and some brisk exercise in the salty air would revive her appetite. She picked up the leash. “Come on, boy. Let’s go visit the keeper.”
Chapter Twelve
“Well,shite.”Kieransankonto a sea-smoothed log and stared out at the whispering surf, steady and gentle…and totally indifferent to his aching heart. Cruelly ironic that his day off had dawned bright and mild, perfect weather for convincing Addy to make Trappers Cove her new home.
But no, he’d let a nightmare rattle him and fled her cozy bed, her soft, willing body, her compassionate smile.
