by M. Ullrich
❖
Catherine walked along with her phone against her ear and her eyes on the sidewalk.
“Sophia Glass’s office. This is Gladys, how may I help you?” Catherine fought an odd combination of relief and disappointment that Imogene didn’t answer.
“I’d like to make an appointment?” The words came out as a question, Catherine not knowing how anything worked in the psychic world.
“For when?”
“As soon as possible.” She surprised herself with her own eagerness.
“We have a one thirty available today.”
Checking her Stuhrling watch, Catherine noted it was just after one o’clock. “I’ll take it.” Catherine relayed her information to the receptionist and checked her watch one last time to calculate how much time she had before her appointment, almost dropping her phone as she collided with another pedestrian.
“Get off the phone and enjoy your life!” A gentle voice called out without an ounce of aggression as Catherine tried to regain her balance. She turned to tell the other person just what she thought, but all she saw was a retreating form bundled in a black coat and sky blue scarf. Catherine grumbled to herself and continued in the direction of the address Gladys had provided over the phone.
Swinging open the large glass door of the storefront, Catherine was surprised by the office space she walked into. She wasn’t sure what she expected; maybe bright colors and decorations that would make her feel as if she was transported to the days the gypsies ran the fortune-telling racket, but not this.
The space was large, with an open waiting area and a saltwater tank full of colorful fish tucked away in the corner. Several chairs looked comfortable enough to curl up in with your favorite book if not for the small reception desk occupied by an older woman.
“You can go right back, Sophia is waiting for you.” The older woman, who Catherine felt confident to assume was Gladys, spoke up and pointed toward an office door in the back of the room.
“How did you know who I was?” Catherine asked with narrowed eyes, wondering if the receptionist was psychic as well.
“Not many people brave the ice to come here, and you’re right on time.”
“Right.” The large wooden door was slightly ajar, so Catherine poked her head inside. Sophia was seated behind her desk, resting the back of her head against her large chair. She knocked gently to avoid startling her.
“Come in,” she said, not opening her eyes right away. “You must be my one—” When she saw Catherine, she paused. “Hello again. I wasn’t expecting to see you this soon, if at all,” she teased.
“I thought for sure you would have been able to see this coming,” Catherine teased back as she stepped further into the office. She immediately relaxed in her surroundings. The office smelled of lavender and was decorated in a modern style. Light neutral colors covered the walls and thriving plants sat on the long windowsills.
“I can’t see everything,” Sophia said. She reached out her right hand and waited for Catherine to take it, looking surprised when she actually did.
“Catherine Carter.”
“Please have a seat, Catherine. There’s no need to be nervous.”
“I’m a little out of my element. I can’t help but be a bit jumpy.”
“I’m not talking about that, although that’s pretty obvious as well. I’m talking about life in general.” Sophia sat back and steepled her fingers together. “You’re fighting the clock, and it makes you nervous.”
Everyone hears their clock ticking, especially women. Catherine tried to school her features, wanting to keep from silently telling her whether she was right or wrong. Next she’ll say something just as generic in an attempt to get me to hand over my checkbook.
“You will find happiness in time.” Sophia closed her eyes when Catherine laughed at her words. “But the sadness you carry now? It’s bleeding into everything, everyone around you. They see it and feel it along with you, ever since it started.” Catherine started to fidget in her seat. She picked at a loose string on the arm of the upholstered chair. Sophia inhaled sharply. “You’ve been deeply hurt by someone you put on a very high pedestal.”
Catherine watched as Sophia’s eyes moved rapidly beneath the thin skin of her eyelids. When they opened once more, Catherine tried to discern the look directed at her. Sophia looked confused, bewildered, and maybe even a bit ill.
“What’s your favorite color?” Sophia asked, the question catching Catherine off guard.
“I don’t know. Blue, I guess. Why?” The way Sophia smiled led Catherine to believe she’d answered the question correctly.
“It’s going to have a great impact on your life.”
Catherine sat in silence for a moment and thought of everything she could take from this ten-minute meeting. Sophia had focused more on pain from the past as opposed to the happiness she was so desperate to find in the future. Why should I waste another twenty?
“Thanks for everything, Ms. Glass.” Catherine stood up and extended her hand. Just because she felt a fool didn’t mean she should be rude. Sophia’s hand was warm and soft, but her eyes were still closed.
“You will be happy, in time,” Sophia said. Catherine felt Sophia’s reluctance to let go of her hand, but she tugged it free and made her way to the door quickly.
❖
Catherine hurried back in the direction of the café in order to retrieve her car. She kicked herself for thinking Sophia would be able to help. Sure, the psychic said she’d be happy, but wouldn’t she say the same to any other person who sat across from her with money in their pocket? Catherine fisted her hands at her sides, regretting the choice she made to waste an afternoon on a silly whim.
“Son of a bitch!” She didn’t care who was around or who heard her. The seven-year-old on the corner who gave her a shameful look probably heard worse at home, so she wasn’t about to feel guilty now. Stepping back to take a look, Catherine cursed again as she saw a long scratch along the driver’s side of her silver Mercedes. “Dammit.” She kicked at a nearby pile of snow. After she glanced again at the vehicle, she noticed a note on the windshield. She unfolded the small piece of paper and read the unruly handwriting: I’m so sorry!
The simple apology was followed by a phone number and a scribbled name. It could have ended with an E, but Catherine wouldn’t be willing to bet money on it. She looked at the damage one last time and started to calculate how much it might cost her to get rid of the electric blue blemish.
Chapter Five
Catherine kept herself buried deep with proposals, numbers, and reports for days on end, only leaving her office for sleep and bathing. Thankfully, the weather had been cooperative, and the several meetings postponed from the previous week were finally had. She was all caught up by Friday. With a sigh of relief, she leaned back and checked the time. If she left the office then, she’d be able to stop by the store and grab a couple presents for the kids and a nice bottle of wine for the parents. As much as she loved her work she wasn’t looking forward to a dinner filled with financial talk, and a potential client that would most likely have many inane questions. She was, however, looking forward to some quality time with her favorite family. Surely Alice wouldn’t mind if Catherine paid her children in toys to keep distracting her from the business at hand. She leaned forward and hit the intercom button on her phone.
“Vivian?” She waited a beat.
“Yes, Ms. Carter?” The receptionist’s rich voice crackled through the small speaker.
“Am I free to go?” She was already pulling on her long wool pea coat.
“I won’t tell if you don’t.” Vivian’s slightly mischievous tone matched that of her boss’s.
“Good.” Vivian jumped when the voice came from beside her desk instead of the phone. “Go home, Vivian. Enjoy your weekend.”
“You, too, Ms. Carter.”
Just a little over an hour later, Catherine stood outside Alice’s door for the second time in two weeks with a bottle of
wine in one hand, but the smile on her face was due to the bag of goodies she held in the other. Tonight was casual, with no party and no guest list. It was quality time with the four people who were more family to her than any of her blood kin were. Catherine didn’t bother to knock. She walked into the house and announced her arrival, happy to be pummeled by an energetic child.
“Aunt Cat!” A little girl with a head full of dirty-blond knots shrieked as she threw her body at the tall woman.
“Hey there, Mac!” Catherine refused to call the six-year-old by her full name, claiming Mackenzie had far too many letters for such a small person. She scooped the small pajama-clad bundle in her arms and swung her to and fro. “Did you miss me?”
“Not as much as you missed me!” Mac giggled as she was bounced around.
“You got that right!” Catherine covered her chubby cheeks with kiss after kiss.
“What are you two up to?” Alice said, coming out of the kitchen while she dried her hands on a dish towel.
“No good.” Catherine placed the child on her feet and walked over to hug her friend. “You look nice.” Even in a simple, purple sleeveless dress, Alice managed to look stunning.
“You don’t look so bad yourself, boss.”
Catherine grinned at the nickname. Alice only used it when Catherine showed up wearing a suit. “Thanks.” She blushed slightly. “Where’s Dennis?”
“Giving Daniel his bedtime bath.”
“Oh man, I was hoping to give him this before bed.” She raised the small bag in her hand, but the nosy Mac snatched it away.
“For me?” Her little face was already buried in the gift bag.
“For you and your brother,” Catherine clarified.
“If it’s a noisemaker, I will kill you. And I’ll make it painful.” Alice crossed her arms.
“Two plush teddy bears and one very educational video game. I promise.” Catherine crossed her heart with her long index finger.
“Fine. Let me check on Dennis and Daniel.” She bent at her knees to get eye level with her daughter. “And then it’s bedtime for you, missy.” Alice stood and walked out of the room.
“One Cat ride before bed?” Catherine looked down at her short accomplice, getting an enthusiastic nod.
Catherine heard Alice laughing when she reentered the room to find her on her hands and knees, the expensive suit jacket thrown across a nearby chair and a giggling Mac on her back. Mac’s laughter echoed through the room as Catherine crawled back and forth and bounced her body all around. Both their faces were red with exertion, making Catherine look years younger.
“Hey, Cat?” Alice said, still grinning.
“Yeah?” Catherine answered from the floor but never stopped moving.
“There’s something you need to know about this little meeting tonight.”
“What’s that?”
“Our guest, and your potential client is, well…” Alice hesitated a moment too long, and the doorbell rang.
“Here! The guest is here!” Catherine finished. She rolled the child gently to the floor before flipping onto her back and lifting Mac into the air, letting the little girl feel as though she were flying.
Catherine could hear the small exchange as Alice greeted her guests, but she couldn’t see the new arrivals from behind the couch. The voices came closer, and then suddenly seemed to be standing over her. Catherine pushed up on her elbows and rose to steady herself on her knees. She looked up just as Alice entered the room with two women. Catherine froze.
“Cat, you remember Sophia and Imogene, don’t you?”
“They’re here!” Mac screamed, and she tackled the flustered Catherine to the floor before she had a chance to speak. The last thing Catherine saw before closing her eyes against an unidentifiable emotion was two sets of black shoes and a pair of blue heels. Catherine was a professional, and she would handle this situation like one. Despite having her face in the carpet and her shirt untucked, baring an inch or two of her taut abdomen, Catherine was about to rise to the occasion. Literally and figuratively.
“Did you know about this?” Imogene whispered from the corner of her mouth to Sophia. Instead of answering, Sophia changed the subject.
“Alice! So good to see you again. I’m sorry Dennis couldn’t make it, he’s feeling a bit under the weather.” She embraced Alice loosely and pointed to the two-body pileup in front of her. “Is she yours?”
“No, she’s not mine, but the child is.” A short burst of laughter cut through some of the tension that filled the room. “That little spitfire is Mackenzie, and she is how old?”
“Six years old,” the little girl answered immediately while continuing to climb Catherine like Everest.
“That’s right! And my son, Daniel, is four. He’s getting his bedtime bath, so he won’t be joining us this evening.”
“Good thing, too,” Catherine said. “I’m not sure these joints would be able to take it.” She collected herself, shaking off the surprise that temporarily paralyzed her. She stood and made her way over to her fellow adults, giving Sophia a narrow-eyed look that let her know not to speak of their meeting.
“This is my friend and experienced financial advisor, Catherine Carter. I’m not sure if either of you remember her from the party—”
“Oh, I remember her,” Imogene said, locking eyes with her.
“Catherine.” Sophia extended a hand. “So nice to formally meet you.”
“You, too.” Catherine shook Sophia’s hand and turned to Imogene after. “Imogene, right?”
Imogene took Catherine’s offered hand in a warm, tight grip. “Right.”
Before Catherine could say anything more, possibly even apologize for her harsh words during their last conversation, Imogene had turned away and followed Alice toward the dining room. Catherine watched her voluptuous hips sashaying beneath a simple black dress and released a heavy breath.
Great. This should be fun, Catherine thought as she followed the small group, tucking in her shirt and straightening her trousers along the way.
Dinner went by smoothly, conversation flowing between everyone. Catherine made sure not to engage Imogene directly, and she kept her eyes away from Sophia’s knowing gaze. Thankfully, Alice and Dennis were wonderful hosts and never had a lack of subject matter. Whether it was the kids or Dennis’s job as a high school English teacher, they made sure an awkward silence never fell.
“So!” Alice’s warm voice got everyone’s attention as she turned to address a silent Catherine. “What’s going on with you lately, how’s your car?”
“It’s still gouged.” Catherine sat back into the cushioned dining room chair and sighed in contentment at her full stomach. She felt relaxed for the first time that evening.
“You haven’t called the number that was left? Cat, it’s been a week! The person that hit you probably thinks they’re going to get off scot-free. It’s so unlike you to let something like this slide.”
“Don’t let it go too long,” Dennis added quietly. Imogene and Sophia just watched the exchange as they sipped at their coffee.
“I won’t. At first I was waiting because I was pissed and didn’t want to overreact. I knew if I called that day, I’d be awful to whoever scribbled that note with their second grade handwriting. I can’t even read the name on it!” She chuckled as she swept her thick curls off her shoulder with her left hand. “I don’t know what to say. ‘Hi, is this the person who hit my car and left a giant blue scratch down the entire side and then fled the scene? I got your note.’ I think I can do better than that, Alice.”
“What are you going to do, then?” Alice continued, “Just let it go and pay to fix it yourself? A Mercedes can’t be that cheap when it comes to bodywork.”
“Oh shit,” Imogene said. Her head was down, and Sophia fought to hide a smirk. After a moment, Imogene looked up and stared at Catherine before saying, “I’m sorry.”
Each person at the table looked from one to the other, realization dawning on each face at sep
arate times. Catherine kept her eyes on Imogene, watching as shame and embarrassment crawled across her freckled face. Her cheeks were rosy, and her eyes sparkled slightly with what looked like latent tears. For the first time that evening, Catherine allowed herself to look at and admire Imogene. She remembered just how beautiful Imogene was. A familiar warmth spread through her at the opportunity for a fresh start with her.
“Well, it seems as if we were destined to meet again,” Catherine said. She looked at Sophia, who was chuckling softly. Psychic humor. Catherine shifted and leaned forward with her forearms on the table. “I suppose we should pour ourselves another cup of coffee, exchange information, and get down to business.” Catherine smiled as she delivered her words in a calm, gentle tone. Her anxious feeling melted away the instant Imogene smiled at her.
Sophia wore a knowing look while Alice looked both confused and relieved.
Catherine and Imogene talked at the table while Sophia and Alice went into the living room. Dennis checked on their sleeping children.
“Catherine is quite a puzzle.” Sophia didn’t soften the statement.
“Excuse me?” Alice said, sitting back on the couch.
“She seems so tense, almost cold most of the time.” Sophia looked over her shoulder to make sure no one else could hear her. She wasn’t normally one for gossip or talking behind anyone’s back, but the way Catherine’s moods and emotions shifted behind her dark eyes genuinely intrigued her. “But at other times, she seems like the most warm, friendly person you could ever want in your life. She has me curious, I’ll tell you that much.”
“She’s been through a lot.” Alice looked at her hands and remained silent after offering what little information she had.
“We all have,” Sophia argued gently.
“It’s her job. The warm Cat is the Cat I’ve always been friends with. She’s just become a lot more business oriented over the years. That’s all.”
Sophia wondered if Alice truly believed that or if she had noticed a hint of worry in her words. Judging by what she had seen when she had the chance to read Catherine, Alice was giving her a basic reason for her friend’s behavior. Maybe Alice didn’t know the real reason after all. Whatever the truth was, Sophia believed she knew who could bring back the Cat everyone knew and loved.