k, a model with a good income, to buy her Porsche for cash.
BELLS TINKLED, announcing Crescent Moon had visitors. Clara sensed these people were important even before she looked beyond the long strings of beads that partitioned the back end from the rest of her store.
When she stepped out, she caught sight of Lauren Perkins and Jason Corwin browsing through her wares, waiting for her. “If it isn’t two of my favorite people!” Clara said as she strode out to greet them.
“It’s good to see you, too.” Lauren smiled, but as always, Clara sensed the hesitancy behind the mask. The young woman was never quite certain of her welcome.
Hoping to change that, Clara wrapped her arms around Lauren first, enveloping her in the bright blue of her caftan.
She then turned to Jason, hugging him the same way.
“I was so worried when I heard about the fire. But I knew in here you were both fine.” She clasped her hand against her chest, feeling her beating heart, which had indeed informed her that the fire hadn’t touched them.
“More likely the town gossips let you know there were no injuries,” Jason said, laughing as he discounted her sixth sense.
Clara stared at him-through him-before she broke eye contact.
As there were no other customers, she could give them her full attention. She sensed they needed it. “Lauren, what can I do for you?” she asked.
“Are you so certain we’re not here for Jason?” Lauren grinned.
Clearly she understood Jason well.
Clara smiled. “You’d think after my tarot reading he’d become a believer.” She liked Jason too much to fault him for being a skeptic.
“Ah, yes, the tarot reading,” Lauren said. “He mentioned something about that.”
“What did he say?”
“Something about a fortune-teller predicting he’d meet me.” Her eyes danced with laughter at his description.
“Did he tell you I predicted a lady in red would rock his world?”
“Not in so many words,” Lauren murmured.
“And if I recall, he suggested you might be wearing a red mask.”
Startled, Lauren glanced at Jason. “I don’t believe he mentioned that.”
“I love your outfit.” Clara pointedly glanced at Lauren’s red fringed boots and matching scarf before nodding knowingly. “There’s still time for him to come around.”
Lauren and Jason glanced at each other, unsure of what to say.
“Come sit.” Clara gestured to a small table where she consulted with customers. “I just brewed some tea. Let me get some for you both.” They obviously needed to relax.
A few minutes later, she joined them, placing small teacups in front of them. “So. What brings you here?”
Lauren reached into her purse and pulled out a small book. “I found this in my grandmother’s house. It was written by one of my ancestors and we’re hoping you can shed light on some things.”
She handed it to Clara, but the negative energy emanating from it was so strong, Clara let it drop to the table.
“What’s wrong?” Lauren asked.
“Evil spirits?” Jason asked, laughing.
Clara shot him a quelling look. “Disturbing auras,” she explained, using delicate words to avoid upsetting Lauren. “Did it belong to your grandmother?”
“I don’t think so. It’s not in her handwriting. But I think it might have belonged to the Mary Perkins who set the actual curse.”