was going to know, and there was nothing they could do about it. Not if they wanted to stay friends, anyway. Honey knew she wouldn’t want anyone knowing her personal business. She certainly wouldn’t want to think about that every time she looked at a person and wonder . . . She’d probably steer clear of them just to avoid it. Who wouldn’t?
“It’s just a matter of balance,” she told herself, trying to quell the surge of panic and tamp down the gut knowledge that this best life, these new friends and new community . . . couldn’t stay that way. Not realistically. She simply had to learn her limits and find a way to keep from knowing things. Pacing was the key. She’d stay a little apart, give herself some space and the protection that would afford her. She wanted her new life and her new friends, so she’d simply find a way to figure out how to balance it all, and be thankful for all the good things she had and would continue to have.
“You saw something, didn’t you?”
Honey jumped, startled, so lost in her thoughts she hadn’t noticed Alva had come around to her side of the worktable. “Alva. Listen, I’m sorry we didn’t get the chance to talk, you know, before I spoke to Barbara. That wasn’t planned—”
Alva waved her hand. “Water under the bridge.”
Honey glanced down at her, thinking it was obviously anything but without saying so.
Alva moved a hair closer and lowered her voice. “So, what did you see? When Riley hugged you. That girl deserves all the happiness in the world, so if you know something that might affect her newly-wedded bliss, you should tell me. We’ll figure out how best to handle it. I’m good with people.”
Honey didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but she understood why Alva was willing to forgive her for letting Barbara Hughes scoop her on the latest in hot gossip. Alva wanted to be her partner in extrasensory perception crime. “It’s nothing to be concerned about,” she told Alva. “I think Riley and Quinn can look forward to a good life.”
Alva’s interest only increased. “So, you did see something! Well, perhaps you should let me be the judge of what should be passed along. After all, you don’t really know Riley as yet, about her past heartbreak and how truly wonderful Quinn has been for her. If it’s good news, perhaps that is something we should pass along.” She beamed up at Honey, who didn’t miss the calculating twinkle in her eyes. “Like a wedding present, of sorts.”
“I-I think we should just let Riley and Quinn be happy newlyweds and—oh look! Franco and Charlotte are already talking about catering a reception for them here on the island, and Lani’s going to do cupcakes for dessert. You should—don’t you want to be in on the planning?”
Alva was clearly torn between pursuing her new path as Honey’s second sight assistant and not being left out of the latest turn of events. “We’ll talk more later.” She bustled back over to the excited group.
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Honey murmured under her breath.
It would take a little time to figure out the delicate balance of making friends and being a good friend in return, while keeping the visions separate, but she wasn’t exactly sure how that was going to work. Her friends were so good, so sweet and understanding about giving her space, about not intentionally intruding or making it hard on her . . . but the fact was accidents were going to happen. Contact amongst good friends was going to happen. At least, if she really wanted to be a part of this group, this community, it would. And if she wanted to gush about the man in her life and be a part of things like Riley’s big announcement it stood to reason her talent was also going to come up in conversation . . . like it just did with Alva. They were going to notice when she had visions and naturally be curious.
What would happen when it was something she did feel compelled to share? Something that did require a warning?
Honey rubbed her forehead as the mounting tension began to make her temples throb.
“You feeling poorly, mon amie?”
She looked up to find Franco standing on the other side of the worktable. The smile she gave him was sincere. “I’m okay. Just . . . a lot on my mind.”
“We’ll understand if you want to