Liz parted the beads to Dorian’s tent and felt like she was stepping into Jeannie’s bottle from the mid-century television show Aunt Amelia had a few guest parts in, I Dream of Jeannie. Velvet cushions and pillows in jewel tones trimmed with gold tassels were scattered on the floor. New age music played and there was smoke and the scent of sandalwood escaping from four brass incense holders in each corner of the tent. Dorian sat with a blonde haired woman wearing a cheery watermelon print sundress at a round table and was in the process of scooping up a bunch of tarot cards. She looked up and gave Liz a weak smile, then placed the deck of cards next to her crystal ball. Also in front of her was an empty teacup, an indigo china teapot decorated with a crescent moon and stars, along with a Ouija type board. No letters were on the board only hieroglyphic type symbols. Above the board, pointing down from a chain, was a crystal in the shape of a Native American arrowhead. Liz knew from her great-aunt’s readings in the past, nothing on Dorian’s table were mere props. Dorian believed in choosing whatever conduit seemed most natural to befit the person she was having a session with.
The woman in the sundress stood. “Thank you, Madame Starwood. It was such a blessing to meet you in person. I understand completely what you’re saying about my brother. You’ve given me such peace and closure.” She smiled as she passed Liz on the way to the exit. “Best hundred dollars I’ve spent. You don’t even have to tell her why you’re here. She knows.” She clutched Dorian’s latest book in her hand, pushed aside the beads, and walked out into the sunlight. A definite lightness to her step.
“Another satisfied customer, I see.” Liz went to the table and placed the two plates of food on top. “Auntie insists that you break for a late lunch. I also ran into your intended. He said he’ll come here so you can eat together. You look a little peaked as Auntie says. Why don’t you start without him while the food’s still hot?”
Dorian looked the opposite of the young woman who’d just left. She had major bags under her eyes that she’d tried to cover with makeup, only causing her wrinkles to stand out more sharply. She looked every bit her seventy years. “I’ll wait.”
How did Liz know she’d say that? She sat in the vacated chair and leaned in to meet Dorian’s downcast eyes. “You must be excited about the rehearsal dinner on board Queen of the Seas. The whole ship is at your disposal. I told you the weather would be beautiful.”
She didn’t answer.
“Are you okay, Dorian? No cold feet, I hope.”
That didn’t seem to be the right thing to say, because Dorian burst into tears. Through her tears she gave Liz a knowing look, like she was cognizant of what Liz was thinking when it came to Julian Rhodes. Something was squirrelly about her intended. Then she remembered all the people who’d tried to get her to see her ex-boyfriend Travis for who he was. Maybe if she had listened, a murder might not have taken place.
“I’ve had another premonition,” Dorian said. “Only this time it was when I was wide awake. It had something to do with water. And a warning from my dead ex-husband to watch my back. I haven’t seen Cedric for years. Have to admit he looked quite handsome.” She smiled and there was a mischievous twinkle in her eye. That was the Dorian Starwood Liz knew over the years. Joking, kind, and modest. Dorian smiled. “I’m being silly. Yes, the cruise tonight will be splendid.” She leaned in closer and whispered, “I am so sorry that even Amelia can’t be on board for the rehearsal dinner. I had to make a pact with Julian that if Garrett was invited no one else except family would be.”
Placing her hand on Dorian’s, Liz said, “No worries. Auntie will be busy anyway because of the Mermaid Regatta, but she’ll be front and center for your wedding tomorrow morning. As will Dad and I.”
“I have to ask you a favor.”
“Sure.”
Dorian cast her gaze to the floor. “I told Julian the tent was Amelia’s idea. He doesn’t understand how much I love getting back to my roots and also the money will go to my favorite charity. I’m sorry I told a fib, but I’ve found sometimes it’s easier.”
“Uhm, sure. But there might be a little problem. He already confronted me about it and I told him I thought it was your idea. I’m so sorry, Dorian. If he asks me again, I’ll say it was Auntie’s idea.”
“No worries, my dear. I need to stand up for myself but sometimes it’s easier to tell a fib. Julian is so worried about me, I think sometimes it borders on the obsessive.”
“How long have you two known each other?”
“It will be six months to the day, tomorrow.”
“Did you meet at the Sunshine Wiccan Society?”
“Oh, no. I’ve never been there. The coven’s temple is getting a renovation. Julian wants to wait until it is finished to present it to me. It’s part of my wedding present.”
That and the salt-rock engagement ring, Liz thought. “Have you met any of the society’s members?”
“No. We’ve been busy traveling the world. Just the two of us. It was my son who introduced us when Julian came into his restaurant. A serendipitous meeting. Thank you, Liz. I feel better already just talking to you and remembering how lucky I am.”
“There you are Dory!” Julian strode in and stood behind Liz. She swore she could feel the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end, or maybe it was the fan blowing a cloud of incense her way.
He looked down at a stack of Phoebe’s glossy hardcover superstition books, opened the top one and sneered. “I see your daughter’s been here. Dropped the books you coerced your publisher to print, then she disappeared to spend more of your money.”
Dorian turned her gaze to Liz in embarrassment. Liz, who had scurried to the corner of the tent when he’d walked in, pretended to be looking at a display of Dorian’s books. She smiled back at Dorian and nodded her head, it’s all good.
When Julian saw Liz, he said, “Good. The food’s here.” Then, almost grudgingly, he added, “Thank you…”
“Liz,” Dorian said to refresh her fiancé’s memory, then Dorian got up from her chair and went toward him.
He gave her a kiss on the lips. Definitely not one you would give your mother or grandmother. “Let me get you some water, love.” He went to a silver tub set on a small table. Crowning from the ice were the necks of cobalt glass bottles of SWS mineral water. He grabbed one, untwisted the cap and handed the bottle to Dorian.
Then he offered one to Liz, adding, “I notice you have a brisk business in your deli at the emporium. I guarantee if you carried some of our SWS water you’d make a tidy profit.”
“What a great idea,” Dorian said.
“I’ll pass that on to Pops. And thanks, I’d love to try a bottle.” She walked over and reached for the bottle in his hand, curious about its magic powers. When her fingers touched his, she felt once again his otherworldly magnetism and heat flushed her cheeks. “Well, you guys better eat before it gets cold. Oh, and I asked if their fries were cooked in the same oil as their clams and shrimp and they said they weren’t.”
A rare smile bloomed on Julian’s face. He said in his rich velvety voice, “Thank you, Liz.”
Taken aback by his change of attitude she made an excuse to exit the tent. As soon as she stepped outside, she heard Dorian say in a strained voice, “Your cousin was here, Darling. She insisted I give her a reading for free. Seeing as you’re family, I did it for you. But I don’t understand why she’s here and why you never mentioned her before?”
An elderly person passed by Liz, then stepped into the tent. Liz heard Julian say, “She’s closed. There will be no more readings today.”
What a jerk, Liz thought as she walked toward Deli-casies’ tent. She’d almost convinced herself that perhaps Julian did have Dorian’s welfare at heart.
Almost.