Part 9 (1/2)
”Zelda, she calls herself Zelda now.”
”All right!” Now I was pained. ”What did Zelda have to say?”
”Well, first I asked about Destiny's father,” Mich.e.l.le said eagerly, leaning over the table.
I moved my ice water out of the reach of her enthusiasm.
”And?”
”And she couldn't get a reading on him. It was extraordinary. There was absolutely no reading on him. No father figure in Destiny's life. No biological father anyway.”
”That's strange.” Despite myself, I was hooked on this crackpot's tips. According to Marie Kenwood, Destiny and her father were quite close. But of course, I reminded myself, this was a mother's opinion of her dead son. Perhaps I'd return and question her more closely.
”Isn't it? And her mother a” this is the best part a” she and Destiny are very close, even today. They always have been, except for some period that Zelda couldn't see very clearly. Since Destiny's mother is dead, she thinks Destiny and her mother must be spiritually connected. Isn't that exciting?” Mich.e.l.le bubbled.
”Very exciting,” I said with absolutely no sarcasm in my voice. Then, my true feelings came out, ”Did you pay good money for this vision?”
”Of course I did,” Mich.e.l.le retorted. ”She is a professional, you know. She advertises all over the community. She even has business cards.”
”Business cards cost fifteen bucks, Mich.e.l.le,” I felt compelled to point out.
”Still, it shows a commitment to her work.”
”True,” I gave in, not because I believed fifteen dollars was a serious commitment, but because I knew I couldn't win this argument. ”What did the big Z have to say about you and Destiny? What's in your future?”
Mich.e.l.le grimaced. ”She said 'Enjoy Destiny. She is a gift.'”
”That's all? What's that supposed to mean?”
”She wouldn't tell me anything more. You don't suppose it means we're going to break up, do you, Kris?”
I could no longer conceal my total exasperation.
”How am I supposed to know? I'm not psychic.”
”I hope that's not what she meant. I'm crazy about Destiny. I'm not sure if she's crazy about me. I mean I know she likes me, but I don't know how much?”
”What's Destiny think about what the psychic said?”
”The part about us or about her family?”
”Both.”
”She laughed at the part about us. She said she'd never thought of herself before as a gift.”
”What about her family?”
”She said that was interesting, but it didn't seem to impress her,” Mich.e.l.le said, sounding a little offended.
”It is a bit vague, Mich.e.l.le,” I defended Destiny's skepticism because it mirrored my own.
At that moment, I had no way of knowing how prophetic the information would turn out to be.
”Not to a believer. A believer would understand its value,” she said adamantly, pointing her finger.
”Maybe,” I shrugged my shoulders.
That pretty much ended our talk about the psychic. We were at an impa.s.se as we'd been so many times in the past, both of us stubbornly believing our belief was the only one.
We moved on to safer subjects. Her work: She'd just been ranked the top salesperson in her medical equipment company. My work: I'd just hired another graphic artist. Gallagher: No, I hadn't heard from her and I had no plans to call her.
We ended the meal with our usual desert: one piece of black bottom pie, two forks.
Over the weekend, I did nothing except ride my bike and sleep a lot. I didn't work on Destiny's case. I needed a rest from it. She never called me. Maybe she needed a break from it, too.
On Monday, as I was reviewing logos for a chiropractor, Ann knocked on my door.
”Kris, there's a Marie Kenwood for you on line one.”
Startled, I pushed my work aside and answered the phone.
”h.e.l.lo, Mrs. Kenwood, this is Kristin,” I said cheerfully.
”Of course it's you, young lady, you're the one I asked for.”
How was it that this woman I barely knew always managed, in ten seconds or less, to make me feel like a little kid?
”Can I help you with something?” I asked, trying to sound as adult-like as possible.
”Yes, you may. I want to see Destiny,” she barked.
I should have expected it, I guess, but still, her request took me by surprise.
”You want to meet Destiny?”
”I've already met her. Now, I want to see her. Can you set up a time for us to get together?”
”Why me?”
”Because I don't have her phone number a””
”I could give it to you,” I quickly interjected, thinking I'd have to get Destiny's permission first.
”a” and because I don't want to shock the poor girl as much as I'm obviously shocking you.”
”This is a shock. It's been a lot of years. Why didn't you ask me the other day?”
”When you get to be my age, you don't do many things impetuously. I wanted to think about it before I asked. Now I've thought about it and I want to see her.”