Forecast (29 page)

“Paris, France?” Jess asked in an uncharacteristically small voice.

“Yeah France, unless Paris has moved and no one told me.”

Jess glanced at her palm and began to cry. “Yes, Mac. I’d like that very much.”

*

Drew was stepping out of the elevator just as Jess was stepping in. He was going to keep his greeting to a polite nod until he noticed she was holding a box of belongings. He held his hand on the door to stop it from closing.

“What are you doing? Did you quit?” Perhaps she’d been fired. She looked like she’d been crying.

“No. I just like carrying a box around.”

“Quitting is a bit melodramatic,” said Drew. “We can still work together.”

“Put your ego away, Drew,” snapped Jess. “I’ve been offered a job at the Paris office … effective immediately.”

“Wow! Congratulations. Do you speak French?”

Incredible! He really knew nothing about her. “Fluently.” Jess placed the box at her feet. “I saw Rowie today.”

That had his attention, although he faked disinterest. “That’s nice.”

“It was nice. She’s nice, Drew … Weird but nice.” Oops, she couldn’t help herself. Oh well, complete change doesn’t happen overnight. She pushed the ‘door close’ button, but Drew stopped it again.

“I need to tell you …” He searched the elevator for words. “What happened between us … I didn’t mean to … you know …”

Jess laughed at him. “That was eloquent.”

“It had nothing to do with you. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Or anyone really.”

“Me either,” said Jess. It was okay now. “It just wasn’t meant to be. Simple.”

“I should’ve considered your feelings before I … you know … with Eva. I’m sorry … But I can’t apologize for Rowie …”

“You shouldn’t have to,” Jess admitted. “Besides, right now, I’m more upset about the way I’ve acted at work … because of a guy!”

“Not just any ordinary guy!” Drew grinned, but Jess didn’t laugh. “That was a joke.”

“Impeccable timing.”

Drew stuck his hand out. “Friends?”

“I don’t think so. But not enemies either.” Jess smiled. “You’re lucky, Drew.”

“Why’s that?”

“The search is over for you. Don’t blow it.” She stared at him for just a moment, taking one last snapshot in her mind “Au revoir, Drew.” She pressed the button again and this time Drew stepped back and watched the doors close. He leant against the wall, deep in thought. Was the search over for him? After everything that had happened between them, could he and Rowie work it out?

A workman approached him and gave a cough. “It’s a sign, buddy.”

“Excuse me?”

The workman pointed at the wall behind Drew. “You’re leaning against a sign. I’ve gotta remove it.”

Drew realized he was leaning against an old promotional sign for Rowie. He stared at her face, into her eyes. He read the logline for the show.

Let a little magic into your life.

The workman lifted the sign and carried it into the elevator.

Drew began to laugh. “It couldn’t be clearer than that.” He stopped the elevator doors from closing and jumped in.

Rowie was in Jack’s office going through a proposal for a new job. It was perfect. It was exciting. And best of all, she was sharing the moment with Jack. As much as she’d been surprised when he and her mother first got together, she’d fallen in love with him too. He was a great man and she was thrilled he was with Lilia.

“It’s a half hour show, once a week,” Jack explained. “You present different aspects of the occult through interviews and reviews.”

“It looks like fun.”

“It will be. And they really want your input. They want to demystify psychic phenomena.” Jack smiled at Rowie. He adored the girl. He adored her mother. Hell, he adored Gwendolyn, even though she could be a huge pain in the ass. He returned to the proposal. “Plus they want a live feed each morning, with you predicting the weather. I know the shop is closing, but you can do it outside The Grove.”

It all sounds great.” Rowie flicked through the pages. “This is definitely the best offer.”

“Apart from the one from Playboy.” Jack laughed and threw his hands up in the air. “Joke! Whoa, Lilia would kill me.”

Rowie fell silent for a moment. “I’m worried about Mom.”

“She’ll be okay. Today will be tough, but I’m looking after her.” Jack looked at Rowie and she could see the love shining in his eyes. “I’m not going anywhere, I promise.”

*

Lilia sat quietly in the garden. The ground was covered in a carpet of red leaves. She pulled her sweater sleeves down over her hands. There was a real bite in the air. Lilia loved fall. It was her favorite time of year.

She could see her father drifting nearby, but his presence was little comfort today. There was nothing she could do but wait. She looked at the stone archway that joined both the shop and house gardens to make one sprawling Eden. She would have to perform some rituals to get the fae folk to relocate to The Grove’s side. And quickly. Once the contracts were signed, the Burger Boy energy would begin to permeate the place and the veil between the worlds could close.

Lilia felt renewed, with a sense of purpose, and decided to begin immediately. She stood up and made her way over to the herb garden. She needed to brew a tea and make an ointment. She picked some nettle and thyme. She picked some marigold. It wasn’t a full moon but she’d just have to improvise. She had ginger, hollyhock and hazelnuts inside. She’d seen a four leaf clover here a few days ago … where was it? There. And finally, a snap of moly—which may or may not exist.

She straightened and stretched her back out. She wasn’t able to save the shop, but she as sure as hell would save the faeries.

*

Gwendolyn was in the Edgar Cayce room with Bobby, Sally Sue and the real estate agent. There was no turning back now.

“Another autograph right here,” the agent guided.

She scrawled her name and waited until the agent turned the page.

Sally-Sue was not a happy camper. “It’s a bit creepy here, Bobby.”

“Nothing a bulldozer can’t fix, sugar pie.”

“Another signature here.”

Gwendolyn felt sick, but signed her name again. Her fingers clenched the pen. She wasn’t feeling well. Her chest felt tight. Something was … oh dear … not really an appropriate time for a …

Gwendolyn shot through a tunnel into the future. She found herself standing in the middle of a Burger Boy. There was a huge poster of a happy cow, dancing into a burger bun. She looked around, frantic. She wanted to shake the vision off, but for some reason was finding it difficult.

A cheery teenage boy was standing behind the counter, smiling at her with a robotic grin. “Welcome to Burger Boy’s 700th store. Despite my working conditions, I’d love to take your order.”

I can’t believe I’m contributing to this, thought Gwendolyn as she pushed her way out of the fog and back to reality.

Sally-Sue was looking at her warily. “How can there be light in this room if there’re no windows?”

Gwendolyn pressed her fingers against her throbbing temples. “Magic.”
You ignorant woman, isn’t that obvious?

Sally-Sue was starting to feel hysterical. One hand clutched at the crucifix around her neck while the other grabbed Bobby’s arm. “Honey, you don’t think this place isn’t haunted, do you?”

“No such thing as ghosts.”

Gwendolyn’s hand flew to her mouth. Blasphemer.

“And if there is a spook or two around here,” Bobby boomed, “Father Patrick and a bucket of holy water will soon fix it.”

Gwendolyn clutched her chest. Something wasn’t right. Breathless … can’t breathe. Pain, pressing. Help. It hurts. Stop. Make them stop. The pain shot up her arms. She tried to call out.

LILIA. ROWIE.

She began to fall forward … forward … the floor shot up and hit her. She lay there. Helpless … cold. And then, thankfully, everything went black.

*

At that very moment, the teapot slipped from Lilia’s hands. She froze and a second took ten to pass. The fae folk whispered urgently, telling her to hurry. The sound of the teapot smashing roused her. And then she began running.

*

Rowie and Jack were saying goodbye when Rowie sensed her grandmother passing. She clutched hold of the doorframe. Her hand shot to her forehead and began to pound it.

Jack looked horrified. “Rowie … are you okay? Rowie … what’s wrong?”

She began to sob. “Oh no, no, Gran! It’s Gran.”

Jack grabbed Rowie’s hand and sprinted towards the elevator.

*

Drew was trying to flag a cab. He was getting more and more frustrated each time another one passed him by. Why did he feel a sense of urgency? He’d waited this long for Rowie. Would five extra minutes really matter?

Finally, a cab pulled over and he jumped in. “The Village,” he said. “And hurry.”

*

Gwendolyn felt fabulous. She was floating around, staring at her body with a sense of complete detachment. The real estate agent was calling an ambulance. The scene below her was muted and dreamy, yet she understood everything with complete clarity.

“It looks like a heart attack,” the agent yelled into the phone.

Bobby gave Gwendolyn’s lifeless body a poke with his foot. “I hope she doesn’t die before signing the contract.”

“Should we pray for her Pagan soul, Bobby?”

“Don’t be fucking ridiculous.”

Suddenly the room disappeared, and Gwendolyn was sucked through a tunnel. Or was it different layers of reality? Whatever it was, it was familiar. She’d made this journey before, and she’d make it again.

She became aware of people around her: family, friends, guides, all there to welcome her home. Her senses exploded and she turned to the Light. It was so welcoming and bright. She couldn’t wait to step into it.

But first, before it, stood Dorian. “Hello my love.”

“Dorian.” Gwendolyn dissolved into him and rejoiced in her infinite form … until she heard a voice. A small voice. An important voice.

“Mom!”

Dorian released her. There was a huge roar and suddenly Gwendolyn was aware of the constraints of her body, aware of Lilia holding her, begging her …

“Don’t you leave me, Mom. Don’t you dare die.”

*

Jack screeched to a stop outside The Grove. There was an ambulance and a crowd in front of Second Site. The crowd parted as the paramedics came racing out of the shop. Rowie ran towards the stretcher, and her grandmother.

“Oh Gran, please no …”

You go with Lilia,” yelled Jack. “I’ll follow.”

Rowie climbed into the ambulance, and into her mother’s arms, and then they both turned their attention to Gwendolyn. The driver slammed the doors shut and ten seconds later the ambulance roared away.

*

Drew was paying for the cab as the ambulance passed. He still wasn’t completely sold on the idea of precognition, but somehow he just knew that ambulance was carrying Rowie. Fear turned his blood to ice. He sprinted down the road and spotted Jack getting into his own car. “Jack!”

Neither seemed very surprised to see the other.

“It’s Gwendolyn,” Jack explained as he started the car and screeched into the traffic. “She goes on and on about dying, but no one believes her.”

“She seemed full of life.”

“She’s stubborn. Could die … out of spite.”

Drew turned to his friend. “Jack … what are you doing here?”

“It’s the strangest thing, Drew. I’m in love with Lilia.”

“That’s not so strange. I’m in love with her daughter.”

They both nodded. Nothing more needed to be said.

Time ticks by differently in a hospital waiting room. Lilia and Rowie sat side by side … waiting, watching the clock move at an outrageously slow pace. Sometimes it seemed to go backwards.

A sob caught in Rowie’s throat. “Why didn’t I …”

“Rowie, please don’t.”

“But she always said …”

“I know.”

“We didn’t …”

“… Believe her. I know.”

The doors opened and Gwendolyn’s doctor walked in. A grim look marred her pretty features.

Lilia’s hand flew to her heart. “Oh Goddess. She’s gone?”

“No, oh no,” the doctor comforted. “She’s okay. Apparently my ex husband is going to marry his bimbo, but your mother is fine.”

“What happened?” asked Rowie.

“A heart attack, but there doesn’t seem to be any damage to her heart. She’s healthy. Could live to 100.

“100? You don’t know how happy I am to hear that,” cried Lilia. “Despite how annoying she’ll be.”

Rowie was reeling with relief. “Can we see her now?”

The doctor nodded. “Sure. Not for long though. She needs her rest.”

Rowie and Lilia clutched each other all the way to Gwendolyn’s room. “She’s okay, she’s okay,” they both whispered like a mantra.

Lilia knocked lightly and they stepped inside. Gwendolyn was propped up on some pillows, reading a nurse’s palm. The nurse withdrew her hand, but Gwendolyn ignored Rowie and Lilia and grabbed it back.

“You’ll meet a lovely dentist before long,” she promised. “He’ll help fix those teeth. Oh, fabulous, triplets!”

The nurse looked faint. “You have visitors,” she said as she bid a hasty retreat from the room.

“Are you two just going to stand there all night,” barked Gwendolyn.

Rowie and Lilia took a couple of steps towards the bed.

Gwendolyn looked triumphant. “I hate to say I told you so. Luckily, I’m organized,” she declared. “Prepared!” All of a sudden Gwendolyn burst into tears. It was their cue. Lilia and Rowie ran to her and scooped her into their arms.

“I don’t want to die,” Gwendolyn wailed. “All the promises and Post-it notes … I didn’t really think …”

“Nor did we. You scared us, Mom.”

Gwendolyn looked panicked. “I’m not ready. I mean, I thought I was. The silverware has been distributed, but there’s so much I haven’t done yet.”

“The doctor says you’ll live for years,” Rowie promised.