by Heather Beck
“Sure. Why not?” Ava said, her tension easing. “It sounds like fun.” She handed him twenty-five pesos – what the sign on the cart said a reading cost – and then watched as he retrieved a box filled with neatly folded cards. He opened the cage, luring the canary out onto a platform with a seed. The canary effortlessly plucked a card out of the box and then grabbed the seed with his beak and headed back into the cage.
The man picked up the card and was about to read it out loud when his face suddenly fell.
“What is it?” Ava asked.
He looked at her silently for a moment before refolding the card and giving it to her. “You should read this by yourself and contemplate its meaning.” Without another word, he snapped the latch on the birdcage shut and hurried away, rolling the cart behind him.
Okay…Ava thought, baffled by his reaction and abrupt departure. She turned her attention back to the card in her hands and unfolded it, seeing that it was written in Spanish with the English translation underneath. She began to read.
There are those who seek to hurt you
They’re closer than you thought
So keep your eyes wide open, my dear
There’s a nightmare lurking in the dark
“What the…?” Ava said, stopping herself just in time. She re-read the card, images of Christopher stalking her, preying on her instantly coming to mind. Don’t be ridiculous, she scolded herself. There’s no way this fortune is about Christopher or that it’s even real. Trying to push the disturbing images out of her head, she crumpled the note and was about to shove it into her pocket when Javier returned to her side.
“What’s that?” he asked, gesturing to the card in her hand. “Don’t tell me I turn my back for a minute and guys are already giving you their numbers.”
“No, it’s a fortune…from a canary.”
“Ah, a Mexican street market staple. What does it say?”
Not sure how to answer, Ava handed him the card. He uncrumpled it and then began to read, his face falling. “Is this some sort of sick joke?”
“You tell me. Are the fortunes usually so ominous?”
“No. Where did the vendor go?”
Ava turned and pointed in the direction he’d gone, but as she’d expected, he was nowhere to be seen. “It doesn’t matter,” she said, taking the card from Javier and putting it in her pocket. “It’s not like I take these things seriously, anyway.”
“Yeah, you shouldn’t, but that doesn’t mean anyone has a right to be handing out fortunes like these.” He shook his head as if he was disgusted. “Anyway, it’s getting late, and we still have a long drive back. What do you say we head home now?”
“Sure,” Ava said, taking his free hand in hers. As they walked back to his car, she tried to concentrate on the amazing date they’d had and the way it felt to have their fingers intertwined. Still, she couldn’t help but think about that chilling fortune and the unsettling feeling it had given her.
At eleven o’clock, half an hour past her curfew, Ava quietly opened the front door to her villa and slipped inside. She hadn’t meant to stay out this late, but the drive back from Valladolid had taken longer than expected, and then there was that passionate kiss she’d shared with Javier in his car – that had taken up some extra time, too.
The lights were still on in the living room and dining room, but as Ava started to ascend the steps to her bedroom, she was surprised to find the lights on the second floor were off. She’d expected her mom to be up waiting for her, worrying about her. In fact, she found it odd that her mom hadn’t called her tonight, wondering why she was out so late.
When she reached the top of the stairs, she noticed a light coming from underneath her mom’s bedroom door. She made her way toward the end of the hall, wanting to let her mom know she’d gotten home safe, but as soon as she got closer, she heard her mom talking softly from behind the closed door. She leaned in closer, curious who she was talking to at this hour, but before she could hear what her mom was saying, someone grabbed her arm from behind.
Letting out a little gasp, Ava turned around, barely able to make out Tessa’s figure in the dark. “Tess, what are you doing?” she demanded, her heart racing. “You scared me.”
“Sorry,” Tessa said sheepishly. “I was starting to worry about you, so when I saw you there, I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“It’s fine,” Ava said, her tone softening. “Do you know who Mom is talking to?”
Tessa shook her head. “All I know is that she’s been on the phone for hours.”
“What? Seriously?”
“Yeah, but what I want to know is, how was your date with Javier? And more importantly, what were you doing that kept you out so late?”
“The date was amazing,” Ava said as she led Tessa away from their mom’s door, giving up on eavesdropping, “but things got kind of weird at the end.”
“What do you mean by weird?” Tessa asked as they went into Ava’s bedroom and turned on the lights.
“Well, I got this really creepy fortune from a canary…”
“A what?”
“A canary. It’s a Mexican thing. Anyway, the fortune sounds like it was written specifically for me, like it’s trying to warn me.”
“The same kind of thing happened to me. Remember when we went to that Chinese restaurant and the fortune cookie said not to make any drastic life changes in the next three days? Then, how the next day, I went to the salon for a totally new haircut and absolutely hated it?”
“Um, yeah,” Ava said, “but like I was saying, this fortune is creepy – really creepy.” She dug into her pocket and gave the card to her sister.
As Tessa read it, her eyes widened. “Okay, point taken,” she said, handing the card back to Ava. “You think this is about Christopher, don’t you?”
“I know it seems crazy, but I don’t know. Maybe?”
“Did Javier see this?”
“Yeah, but I didn’t tell him about Christopher, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“I’m not. What I’m really thinking is that this is all just a coincidence. Yeah, it’s a freaky fortune, and yeah, it does hit close to home, but fortunes have a way of doing that – making you see connections to your life that aren’t really there.”
Ava was quiet for a moment as she thought about Tessa’s words. “You’re right, of course, you are,” she finally said with a sigh. “I’m just being paranoid – again.”
“If anyone has a right to be paranoid, it’s you. No one’s blaming you for that.”
“Thanks, I think…”
“You’re welcome. Now, try to get some sleep, and do me a favor, okay? Throw that stupid fortune out and forget about it. We need to concentrate on the important things, like relaxing, having fun, and finding me a Mexican hottie.” Tessa blew Ava a kiss, then left the room, taking with her all the worries Ava had about the eerie fortune.
* * *
Chapter Ten
“Hey, Mom. What are you still doing here?” Ava asked the following morning as she walked into the living room, finding her mom curled up on the couch with a cup of coffee in her hand. She’d been looking thoughtfully out the window, seemingly forgetting about the pile of paper on the coffee table in front of her.
“Hi, honey,” Isabelle said, giving Ava a warm smile. “Oh, I’m just getting some paperwork done at home where it’s a little quieter. I’ll be heading to Artista in an hour or so.”
“You’re really working hard, aren’t you?” Ava said, sitting down on the couch opposite her mom.
“Yes, but it’s nothing compared to the hours Rowan puts in. His dedication is really inspiring.”
“Uh huh. So, was that who you were talking to last night? Tessa said you were on the phone for ages.”
Isabelle frowned. “No, I was talking to your dad. Why would you think it was Rowan?”
“I didn’t. I was just asking.” Ava felt her cheeks go red, feeling embarrassed and even guilty for implying that her mom wo
uld spend the night behind closed doors, whispering to a man who wasn’t her husband. Still, she found it odd how her parents’ calls were becoming so secretive. “Did Dad say if the police are any closer to catching Christopher?” she asked, wondering if that’s what they had been talking about.
Isabelle shook her head and sighed. “The cops don’t even have a lead. It’s like he’s disappeared from the face of the earth.”
“Only he hasn’t – not really.”
“No.” She paused slightly, as if trying to find the right words before continuing. “I don’t want to scare you, honey, but the cops say it’s possible that Christopher is no longer in California. He could be anywhere, so we have to be extra diligent, okay? It’s more important than ever that no one knows where we are.”
Ava gulped, her mind flashing back to a few days ago when she’d found Tessa posting pictures of herself in Mexico. For a split second, she wanted to tell her mom what her sister had done in case she’d put them all in danger, but she quickly decided against it, telling herself that it would be impossible for Christopher to get over the border undetected. Besides, she didn’t want to get Tessa into any sort of trouble with their mom, especially since she’d promised never to do something like that again.
“Everything’s going to be alright,” Isabelle said as she reached out and gently patted Ava’s hand, like she could sense her unease. “I’ll keep you safe. I promise.”
“I know you will,” Ava said, smiling for her mom’s sake. She was still very concerned, but since worrying would solve nothing, she just wanted to change the subject. “So, what does Rowan have you working on now?” she asked, gesturing toward the pile of paper.
“I’m trying to help him organize that big art show he was telling you and Tessa about, but there’s so much to do. From finding the right caterer to sending out invitations to creating a marketing plan…I don’t know how we’ll get it all done in time.”
“Sounds hectic. Maybe I can help.”
“That’s kind of you, Ava, but if Rowan and I work hard, I’m sure we can pull it off. Besides, you’re busy with your online studies and, of course, Javier. Speaking of which…” she leaned forward, excited, “we never did get a chance to talk about your second date with Javier. So, how was it?”
“Pretty amazing, actually,” Ava said, feeling a rush of emotion as she thought back to yesterday. “He planned this whole day for us that was fun but also kind of romantic. First, he took me to Ek Balam to climb the ruins and swim in a cenote, and then we visited the city of Valladolid and had dinner there. He put a lot of effort into the date, like he really cared about making it special.”
“He must really like you then.”
“I think he does – I hope he does. He’s just so different from any other guy I’ve dated that it’s a little scary, but somehow, I think that’s why it works.”
“I think you’re right. You and Javier may come from different backgrounds and have different upbringings, but I don’t think that truly makes you, well, different. Rowan says Javier has a good heart, and I know you do, too. At the end of the day, that’s what really matters, what really connects you.”
Silently, Ava thought about her mom’s words. “That’s actually kind of beautiful,” she said.
“Thanks,” Isabelle said with a laugh, “I try.”
“So,” Ava began, leaning in, interested, “what else did Rowan say about Javier?”
“Not too much, if I’m to be honest, but he does keep mentioning Javier’s art. This upcoming show could attract buyers from all over the country. It’s a great opportunity for someone as gifted as Javier, but Rowan is still adamant that he needs a masterpiece, a connecting element for his collection. I hate to meddle, but I think you should talk to Javier about painting that piece. I haven’t seen him at Artista once since I started working there.”
“I’ll definitely try, but I know he’s been working crazy hours lately.”
“I understand, and so does Rowan. He just has this thing where he likes to push people to reach their full potential. And while we’re on the subject of reaching one’s full potential,” she began, glancing at the pile of paper, “I should probably try to reach mine and get this work done.”
“Sure thing,” Ava said as she stood up, but before she left the room, she turned to her mom, asking something that had been on her mind for the last few days. “Hey, Mom,” she said, a little hesitantly, “when we were at Artista, I got the feeling that Rowan knew about what happened with Miguel and how Javier was there to help me. Was I just imagining that, or did you tell him?”
“No, you weren’t imagining it,” Isabelle said, guilt washing over her face. “I wasn’t planning on telling him, but when I called the next day to say I wouldn’t be coming in, he could tell that something was wrong. It was from there that the truth came out.” She sighed deeply. “I’m really sorry, Ava. I didn’t mean to betray your trust.”
“You didn’t,” Ava reassured her mom, not wanting her to feel bad. “I get why you told Rowan, and it’s okay.”
“Are you sure?”
Ava nodded.
Isabelle got up to give her daughter a hug. “Thank you,” she said. “You’re such an understanding person – always have been, always will be.”
Ava smiled as she hugged her mom back. All she’d wanted was the truth, and she was glad that when it came down to it, her mom would always be honest with her.
Later that day, after their mom had gone to work, Ava and Tessa headed to the beach. They wanted a break from studying and thought the best way to relax was by lounging in the sun and listening to the sound of the waves.
“This is the perfect spot,” Tessa said, not waiting for Ava to agree as she pulled a beach towel from her tote bag and laid it on the sand. Sitting down, she leaned back, looking like a model in a swimsuit commercial with her designer black bikini, dark shades, and an oversized sunhat.
Ava placed her beach towel next to her sister’s and sat down, looking out at the vast blue sea. “Gosh, I love it here,” she said, taking a deep breath of the saltwater air.
“California has beaches, too, you know.”
“Yeah, but not like this.”
Tessa sighed. “You keep going on and on about how much you love Mexico. Don’t you miss anything about home, like, at all?”
“Dad, of course, and…” she paused, thinking hard.
“And?” Tessa appeared impatient.
“My room, I guess,” she finally added, remembering how it’d been her safe haven – a place to go when she wanted to get away from the prying eyes of the camera.
“That’s seriously sad, Ava. I didn’t know you hated your life that much.”
“I don’t hate my life, but sometimes I think about what it would be like if we were just a normal family.”
“Why? Normal is boring. Don’t you realize there are probably a million people out there who’d kill to be like us?”
“Kill? Do you really have to use that word, Tess?”
“Oh, you know what I meant,” she said, waving her hand dismissively in the air. “Your problem is that you take what you have for granted. If you really hate your job, why do you keep doing it?”
“You know why.”
“What? Because of me?” Tessa looked a little guilty, but it was clear she was trying hard to ignore that feeling as she continued. “Listen, Ava, life has given us this amazing opportunity, and I don’t want to see you throw that away because you think the grass is greener on the other side.”
“What opportunity are you talking about specifically?” Ava couldn’t help but feel like there was something her sister wasn’t telling her.
“Well, I did get this email from Lauren Field…”
“Lauren Field?” Ava interrupted, surprised. “Since when were you two email buddies?”
“Since we bailed on her and Glamorize. I asked our manager to get me her email because I wanted to personally apologize and stay in her good books, of course.”
“What? That we’re in Mexico? Give me more credit than that, Ava. All I told her was that we’re temporarily out of the country. Anyway, I got an email from her this morning saying that if we’re back in Hollywood within a month, she can pretty much guarantee that the Glamorize gig is ours.” She smiled, looking happier than she had in days. “I think you were right – disappearing might have actually helped our careers, after all.”
“That’s awesome, Tess,” Ava said slowly, not wanting to dampen her sister’s mood, “but we can’t guarantee anything. The police still haven’t found Christopher, and until they do, we can’t go back.”
Tessa’s smile faded, but only slightly. “Yeah, I know, but that doesn’t mean I have to abandon all hope. Lauren’s giving us a month. That’s plenty of time for the police to catch Christopher, and when they do, we can go home and back to work – exactly where we belong.”
“Where we belong?” Ava cast her sister a tight smile, wondering if she’d forgotten about the conversation they’d just had. “I know you think I’m being ungrateful, but I think it’s more than that. Maybe I like being here so much because, for the first time in forever, I can be anonymous. No paparazzi, no cameras…I feel like I’m finally living a normal life.”
“Here we go with the normal spiel again. I don’t want to burst your bubble, sis, but I don’t think anything about us or our lives will ever be normal.”
“Maybe you’re right,” Ava said with a sigh as she finally laid down on her beach towel. Wanting to relax, she closed her eyes and listened to the sounds of the beach – the waves, the gulls, the palm leaves rustling in the wind. A calm had just come over her when she felt shadows being cast on her. She opened her eyes to see three guys – two Americans and one Mexican who were all in their early twenties – coming to a stop in front of her and Tessa. Feeling uncomfortable, she sat up, but Tessa, appearing much more laid back, merely raised herself up on her elbows.