Between the Land and the Sea - By Derrolyn Anderson Page 0,11

serious Marina– I absolutely believe her. Madame Fatima is the real deal.” For as long as I could remember Evie had been indulging her weakness for psychics and spiritualists. Madame Fatima was the latest in a long line of what I considered to be charlatans.

They came sniffing around wealthy widows, offering them a chance to communicate with the departed. I humored Evie, knowing that her late husband’s financial advisers worked hard to keep the bulk of her fortune safe.

Evie went on to explain that at her last reading Fatima had been seized by a vision concerning me. I was to embark on a great romance and adventure in the coming weeks.

Something that would mark me for life. It was just the sort of nebulous prediction I had come to expect from someone like her. I could stub my toe in the cafeteria and she would pronounce it realized.

“When are you going to get your driver’s license?” Evie asked, changing the subject. Since my dad had been engrossed in his latest research he’d been putting off teaching me to drive.

“I don’t know,” I said glumly, “I’m kind of stranded here.”

“Enough with the pity party,” Evie said briskly, “Just don’t forget our plans.” I hadn’t forgotten about getting my license, far from it. Cruz already had his and offered to take me out to practice. As soon as I passed my driver’s test Evie promised me the use of one of her cars. When I could drive I’d be set free, able to come and go as I pleased. I couldn’t wait.

“We have many road trips ahead of us,” Evie reminded me. Her late husband’s collection of luxury cars stored away in our building’s underground garage beckoned. Evie didn’t drive, and we had hatched some elaborate plans for the getaways the two of us would take when I could be her chauffeur. I felt badly about all the times we had made poor Boris wait around for us while we shopped and explored the city.

“I’ll get it as soon as I can,” I promised.

I told Evie about Aptos, and thanked her for all the beautiful outfits she had sent me away with. The bags had been crammed with sundresses, swimsuits and sunglasses. There were multiple boxes of elegant strappy sandals in various colors. Apparently Evie thought living by the beach called for an enormous amount of resort wear. She had gone a bit overboard as usual.

“When do you start school?” she asked.

“I have a couple of weeks,” I replied.

“You know, I met my very first love in high school,” she reminisced, “His name was Bill Masters and he took me out to the Stork Club, which was simply the swankiest spot in all of New York! Oh my! You should have seen all the ladies in their fancy dresses! I even saw Jackie Kennedy there!”

She launched into an elaborate description of the clothes, food and nightlife of the era. Evie was an expert on everything you could possibly imagine, and she considered it her life’s work to impart all of her knowledge to me.

“I wonder whatever happened to Billy...” her voice trailed off. “That night I was spotted by a talent scout from the William Morris agency who got me started out in the business. I was exactly your age now.”

“Too bad I won’t be attending high school in New York City,” I said dryly.

“Fatima tells me that you’re exactly where you need to be. An incredible stroke of luck, but then, you’ve always been lucky.”

I sighed, “That’s convenient.”

“Take my advice,” she said knowingly, “Use this time in high school to gain some experience handling boys– when you’re older, men of fortune will be no match for you.”

“Why Aunt Evie!” I said in mock horror, “How ruthless! Are you suggesting I marry for money?” I knew that was precisely what she had in mind.

“You are accustomed to the finer things...” she said teasingly.

“Which I could just as soon do without,” I added defiantly.

“We’ll see,” she said smugly, “We’ll see.”

We said our goodbyes and I settled back down to read. I had plenty of time to myself before school started and lots of light reading to keep me occupied. It was my idea of perfect happiness.

I was just getting into a new mystery novel when something moved in the mirror on the wall, catching my eye. I looked up to see the reflection of a man in the backyard. I bolted upright and crept over to the side of the window where I