“I know Edward,” said a close friend of Dr. Tallman. “He’s a doctor for God’s sake. If at all possible, he’s doing everything he can to keep his family safe.”
October 31, 1:30 p.m.
Chapter Four
Tami looked confused. “A refund? No,” she said, a little hesitant, obviously finding the woman’s behavior as odd as Chase did. “I want you to finish. At least I think I do,” she muttered, then glanced back at Chase.
He didn’t say anything because he didn’t think it should be his call, but he secretly hoped Tami said no. He hadn’t liked the good-or-evil crap the woman said about him and he suspected he wouldn’t like what she said about Tami.
“Are you sure?” the gypsy asked again, putting Chase on high alert.
“Yes,” Tami said, now sounding determined.
She nodded and reached for Tami’s hand again. She traced a line on Tami’s palm and stopped only a fourth of an inch in. Then, blinking, she glanced away, as if to ponder some thought.
Chase saw her stare at her sign for several long seconds. She closed her eyes. She inhaled, her chest rising, then she let out the air slowly. When she opened her eyes she looked up at Tami and adjusted her shoulders. “You will have a good life. Two children. A boy and a girl.”
Chase stared at the woman, thinking her whole tone and demeanor had changed. And from the frown on Tami’s lips, he wasn’t the only one who’d noticed it.
Tami tilted her head to the side and studied the woman. “Why do I think you’re lying?”
The palm reader stiffened. She put her hand over her chest. Her large ruby ring caught the sunlight and flickered. “I speak from my heart.”
“But does your heart tell the truth?” Tami asked.
She raised her chin, her mouth thinned. “I have read your fortune, now be gone with you and let me find other customers.”
“What are you not telling me?” Tami asked, sounding frightened.
Chase wanted to reach over and touch her shoulder, but didn’t know if she would welcome it. Then he thought, what the hell? He put his hand on her shoulder. “Let’s just go,” he said.
“Am I going to die or something?” Tami asked the woman.
The woman’s eyes became cold, distant. “We are all going to die.” She glanced out at the crowd. “See her? She’s going to die.” The woman motioned to the right. “That boy there. He’s going to die. There is no one safe from death.”
Tami, frowning, stood up and stared down at the woman. “You really suck at this.”
“Just be on your way. Go!” She shooed them away like mosquitoes.
“Come on.” Chase touched Tami’s elbow. As they stepped a few feet away, Tami stopped and looked up at him. “Am I crazy? Didn’t you think she was lying, too?”
Chase chose his words carefully. “I think she’s nothing but an old biddy who doesn’t know her ass from a hole in the ground.”
Tami laughed and then sobered. “I don’t think I’ll ever have my palm read again.”
“Me, either,” Chase said.
Tami made a face. “I mean, all she tells me is that we’re all going to die someday. Talk about obvious.”
“Hey. It was better than I got. I might grow up to be evil. She might as well have said I’d be a serial killer or something. Oh, and I might or might not die. If I turn my back on a challenge I’m gonna be a goner.”
Tami laughed. “You’re right, she was just a crazy old lady, wasn’t she?” She leaned in and bumped his shoulder with hers. A nice bump. Like he was more than just her best friend’s little brother.
“Yeah,” he said, and not sure if it was accidental, he shifted a little away so as not to crowd her, but he couldn’t stop smiling.
Tami looked around. “Oh, crap.”
“What?” he asked.