"Alright, you two! Knock it off." Gus called out from the couch. "There are children present."
James lifted his head, forcing his eyes to focus. "She’s too young to understand, but if it makes you feel better cover her eyes."
"Don't forget this one." Gus put a possessive hand over Annette's belly. "Do you not see this? He's impressionable, too."
Annette swatted him away. "Oh, stop it. James isn’t doing anything you haven't tonight."
Gus gave her a lascivious grin. "Yeah, but it's fun when I do it." He pointed at James. "That I can do without. My gag reflex is starting to act up."
James released Anna with a chuckle, noting the puffiness of her lips and the way she clung to him. Satisfaction surged through him. She wasn't immune, she was just scared. He could work with that.
"That was quite a greeting," Louise teased. She tapped his arm. "I simply must do a tarot reading for you, James. Follow me." She pivoted with a swirl of hot pink fabric and marched through the swinging kitchen doors like a general.
James threaded his fingers through Anna's before she could get away. "You're coming with me." He gave her hand a squeeze. "I'm not letting you out of my sight tonight." Then trailed Louise through the doors.
"Have a seat." Louise pointed to the chair opposite hers, shuffling her cards. James sat, pulling Anna into the seat next to him.
"Margie, dear." Louise spoke to the young server working at the kitchen counter. "Can we get three coffees, please? Cream and sugar?"
"Of course, Miss Louise!" Margie scrambled several cups onto a tray and began pouring fragrant coffee.
"First," Louise declared, her gaze burning into his as she set her cards down. "Let me see your hands."
James placed his hands in hers and watched as she squinted at the lines that crisscrossed his palms.
"Hmmmmm…" She hummed under her breath as she drew a finger along the long line that curved down around his thumb joint. Her eyes shot to his. "You'll have a long life, close to ninety-five years if I were to guess."
Then she traced the one that bisected his palm. "Most importantly, this one suggests you'll have a great love, one that will change the rest of your life."
James studied Anna out of the corner of his eye and waited for her to squirm away, but she didn't. She seemed to be holding her breath, mesmerized by her aunt's words.
Louise dropped his hand and sat up. "Excellent. Now for the reading." She shuffled the cards one more time, then splayed them out on the table in a perfect ribbon spread. A dealer in Vegas couldn’t have done it better. "Choose three cards from this deck and turn them over in front of you."
James followed the instructions, choosing from different spots in the deck, and turned over each one. The intricate drawings on the card faces meant nothing to him, but the prolonged oooohs and ahhhhs from Louise were promising.
Steaming cups of coffee were placed in front of them. "Here you go, Miss Louise. Please let me know if you need anything else." Margie's reverent tone bordered on hero worship.
"Thank you, Margie," Louise answered without halting her study of the cards. "And don't forget what I told you, dear. Yourcatering dreams are right around the corner waiting for you. You just have to move toward them and they will be realized. Success is waiting for you."
"Yes, ma'am!" Margie's eyes sparkled with excitement as she scurried away.
“Pardon me, Louise,” James said, halting the reading before turning his gaze to Margie. “Are you a caterer?”
Margie stood frozen like a statue for a moment before bobbing her head. “Y-y-yes,” she stuttered. “I’ve worked for several hotel chains in the Keys. But I want to start my own catering business in Key West.”
James dug a business card from his back pocket and handed it to the startled woman. “Call this number, and my assistant will speak with you about what we’re looking for. My hotel, The Majestic, is opening soon and we need a team of caterers if you’re interested.”
Margie’s mouth dropped as she stared at the card reverently. “Thank you, Mr. Armstrong,” she breathed. “I’ll call her first thing tomorrow.”
Louise chuckled. “You see what I mean, Margie? Your good fortune is literally around the corner.” She gave James a pleased smile. “Very nice. Now let’s begin.” She returned her attention to the three cards on the table, humming under her breath as she examined the first one.
"Okay." Louise sat back, a satisfied smile on her face. "Oh, my. This is as good as I thought it would be. You've been a fortunate boy all your life, haven't you?"
James shrugged a shoulder, not wanting to give anything away. "I've done alright."
Louise arched an eyebrow, not impressed with his answer. "Mmmhmm." She tapped the card on the table with her index finger. "This one signifies your past."
James stared at the picture depicted on the card: a large, blaring sun with a naked child riding on a white horse, and yellow sun flowers dotted the background. What Louise could read from the card, he had no idea, but he was rapt with interest as she explained its significance.
