“Good mornin’, sug. Beautiful outside, isn’t it? Looks like someone shook a white bedsheet over the world.”
I smiled, thinking she’d just come up with the perfect analogy. “I don’t think I ever remember it snowing this much in the Valley.” The tires crunched over the packed road as we pulled away from the curb. I waved at my neighbor, Mrs. Bailey, who was outside sweeping snow off her front steps. “Thanks again for the ride, Mama. I wasn’t sure how the Vespa would handle on these roads.”
“Don’t mention it. Needed a few things from the store anyhow.”
I glanced into one of the paper bags from our local grocery store, How Green Was My Valley. “Looks like you’re cooking for a crowd. Are you having a party or something?”
She chuckled tightly, her eyes darting my way for a second. “A party? Why, no, sugar.” Another chuckle. “I’m just workin’ on a few recipes, that’s all.” She chuckled a little more, which was one too many chuckles. I narrowed my eyes, wondering what was going on, but thought better than to ask. As busy as my schedule was this week, it might be better not to know.
She tapped a container on the seat. “Made a little too much banana bread yesterday. Thought you and the other agents might need some extra fuel to start your busy week.”
I snatched up the container and thanked her. Mama made the most amazing banana bread in the world. In fact, “amazing” was the word people used to describe everything about my mother, including her special gift. “Do you have a busy workday planned?” Mama, or the Amazing Althea as most people called her, earned her living as a psychic advisor, specializing in tarot cards and palm readings.
“Reckon I will. That’s not my prediction, mind you. I’m just goin’ on what Flora told me.”
“Flora?” What was she talking about?
“That friend of yours from the agency.”
I drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “I know who Flora is. What does she have to do with your work today?”
The back tire slid a little as Mama downshifted and made a turn onto one of the snow-packed side streets. “She didn’t tell you? I’m working at the expo all week.”
“You’re what?”
“I’ll be helpin’ one of the authors, Pam somethin’ or another. Flora said her books have a fortune-teller in them. Said that’s why the books are so popular. Seems Pam’s readers are fascinated with people like me. People with the gift.” She lifted her head slightly. “Anyway, Flora thought it would be interestin’ if I sat at Pam’s table and offered readings to folks, kind of like I was the fortune-teller in the books.”
“Have you ever read one of Pam Fox’s books?”
Mama shook her head. “Can’t say that I have. But they must be good. She’s a bestseller, right?”
“Uh-huh.” I pressed my lips together, trying not to crack a smile. Yes, Pam was a bestseller, but I wasn’t sure it was the fortune-teller that kept people turning the pages as much as the hot romance. Nonetheless, I had to admit, Flora was a genius. Bringing to life one of Pam’s characters? Well, that was simply brilliant. Readers were going to be drawn to Pam’s table like flies to honey. Although I wasn’t sure I liked the idea of my mother being put on display in such a manner. “You’re not going to be wearing a costume, are you?” Hopefully Flora hadn’t decided to dress her up like a snake charmer.
“A costume? Why would I need a costume?”
Thank goodness. “You don’t. You’re perfect just the way you are,” I said, glancing across the seat. Underneath her long parka and fur-lined boots, I knew she was more than likely wearing her normal attire: an ankle-length skirt well suited to her tall figure, paired with a flowing blouse in a rich hue of either purple or gold—majestic colors, according to Mama. Today she’d taken extra care to tie her long silver hair back in a braid and accent her wrists and fingers with turquoise jewelry.
She adjusted the knob for the defroster and said, “Startin’ a new life with someone can be unsettlin’ for a lot of people. Maybe something I tell one of the brides might bring a little comfort for them or keep them from makin’ a terrible mistake.”
I sat a little straighter. “A mistake? What do you mean?” But I knew what she meant. I thought back to my own wedding, when Mama came rushing in at the last moment, a tarot card in hand and a dire warning on her lips. “Don’t marry him, sugar,” she’d warned. “He’s going to break your heart. It’s right here in the cards.”
“You can’t do that, Mama. Even if you get a bad reading off someone, you can’t tell them not to get married. That’s not what this week’s all about. It’s supposed to be a positive experience for the attendees.”