The Fake Engagement

His family adored her, and the more time he spent with her and they saw her, they slowly fell for her.

His mother had already told him that she agreed with his choice of woman, and that shouldn’t have meant anything to him, but it did.

Eliza fit into his world.

Preston had tried to talk to her about what happened in the sun house, and he’d been thwarted at every turn. Today, they’d been at his folks for nearly a week, and he’d decided to make the journey into town to go see his old boss, Melinda.

Several people from the town stopped him to talk, to congratulate. He took their praises, offered a smile, but moved on quickly.

Arriving at the diner, he went up to the main counter, and sure enough, Melinda stepped out from behind the kitchen.

“Well, well, well, I knew the day would come when a big hotshot businessman would return to me.”

“Hey, Melinda,” he said.

She folded her arms. “How come you’re not wearing a suit?”

“I’m here to be with family. No suit required.”

“Well, I’m not impressed. You know how I feel about a man in a uniform.”

He couldn’t help but laugh. “Fine. Next time, I’ll wear a suit just for you.”

“It would be greatly appreciated.”

He’d missed this woman. “Do I get a hug?”

She was already rounding the counter and embracing him. “You don’t have enough meat on your bones. I thought your lady friend was going to start plumping you up.”

“Are you planning to cook me?” he asked. Melinda always complained that he was too skinny.

“Never. I want to see you well taken care of. Come. Come. You can work with me.” His hand was grabbed, and before he knew it, he had an apron on and was already chopping up some onions for her.

She had done this to him back in the day. Melinda had told him the best way to run a business was to start in hot water, to learn how to get himself out of the pot. Most of what he knew about cooking, he’d learned from Melinda.

His mother had tried to teach him to cook, but he’d been so bored throughout the whole process. With Melinda, it was different. She didn’t linger for a family dinner. Her food was incredible, and she had to be fast. Cooking at the diner was about speed and efficiency.

“I met your lady friend,” Melinda said.

“Eliza.”

“She’s nice.”

“She is.”

“You put a baby inside her?”

“You said the woman I was to be with was the woman of ten,” he said.

“That’s what your palm read.”

“What does it mean?” he asked.

“I cannot tell you the reasons why or what for. I can only tell you what I see. Talk to Eliza. She will know of the ten.”

Preston wiped his hands on a towel. “Will you read it again?” he asked.

She sighed. “Nothing will change.”

“Please, for me. I’m … I’m kind of in a bind right now, and I just, I need to know if there is any light.”

She tutted. “You know I can’t resist your charm. You and I both know you don’t believe I have a gift, but I’m starting to wonder if you’re asking for a second reading.” She wiped her hands, grabbed his palm, and lifted it.

Melinda, much like she did all those years ago, touched his hand and closed her eyes. “You have such indecision. Being back home is a problem for you. You feel a connection to this place even when you don’t want to.”

He didn’t believe in mediums, or people’s ability to see into the future, but with Melinda, it always freaked him out. All he could gather about her was how she was able to read people. To see what others tried to hide.

She closed his hand into a fist. “You have a great fight on your hand. It’s internal.” She reached out to touch his head. “All in here, but if you don’t get your act together and make a decision, Eliza’s fate has changed.” She took a step back.

“What do you mean her fate has changed? You said to me when I was sixteen that no one’s fate can change once you say something, that it must come true.”

“You also believed I was high from smoking weed, which I have never done.” She tutted. “Do not ask for me to see if you don’t like what you hear.”

“If her fate changes, for the good, or for the worse?” he asked.

“I cannot answer you as to the way life falls, young man. No one has ever defied my reading, but … I was once warned of this many years ago, by my grandmother. She had the gift. She foretold of your parents’ love. Of their ability to bring this town back from ruin, and they did exactly that. She told me that if anyone’s fate has been changed or altered, if the true course has been removed, only misery will follow. The decision you make will determine if Eliza is happy or lives a life in constant agony.”