Waiting For A Star To Fall (Autumn Brody Book 2) by A.C. Dillon Page A

ones."
    "That's a good sign," Autumn deadpanned.
    Gesturing to an antique oak table, around which sat four chairs, Audrina smiled sheepishly. "As much as I enjoy sharing my gifts, I do need to pay the rent. Readings are $40 for a simple Tarot question spread. In-depth connections with the spirit world are $90. Which of you will be going first?"
    "Oh! Oh, I'm not here for that," Autumn quickly blurted out, smoothing the skirt of her dress in fidgety fashion. "I'm the moral support. She's here for the reading.”
    "You may not know you're here for a reading, but the spirits are already talking about you. But we'll start with your friend and see where that takes us."
    Veronica stared pointedly at Autumn, begging her with a glance to behave. It wasn't likely to happen. Despite her relaxed, modern June Cleaver appearance, this Madame Audrina was giving her the creeps.
    "Tarot, please," Veronica stated, reaching into her purse and withdrawing two crisp twenties.
    Settling at the far end of the table, Autumn studied the psychic's methods, figuring if nothing else, she could put them to use in a future short story. In a soft voice, she quickly determined that Veronica sought answers about her love life ( not impressive; most people reached out to psychics for love life drama ) and asked her to cut the Tarot deck. From there, she dealt out five cards in some sort of triangle formation. One by one, she flipped them over, explaining their meaning.
    "Until recently, things were on a really high note for you," Audrina began. "Your career, your love life, your family—everything was just as you'd always wanted it to be. True connections, great opportunities... All of this was yours. But now, things are in disarray. You're torn between reason and emotion," she added, flipping a second card. "Your heart says no, your mind says yes, or vice versa."
    Veronica nodded sadly. "Heart yes, mind no."
    Autumn gave her friend credit: unlike most people, she was resisting the urge to fill in the blanks for the psychic. Testing her. That's my clever friend.
    To the third card Audrina moved, flipping it with a nod.
    "I see now: the four of pentacles. It's a card of power and ambition. When it slips into this position, it suggests that a shift in power or something material has brought about the crisis. I see this a lot when women are promoted and their husbands are laid off, or when one student is accepted to a graduate program and their lover is denied. Your paths have suddenly diverted, and that connection has been severed. Perhaps he is not supportive of a change in your life?" Before Veronica could speak, Audrina shook her head. "No, it's not that. I see a man who loves unconditionally. But he is afraid that he can't hold his own ground against this change. That it heralds change for your relationship. So he fights. He's jealous. Resists separate lives, is envious of anyone close to you. He's torn. You are torn as well."
    Damn, Autumn mused. She's bang on. It's kind of scary... Unless Gabriel has told her things during his own readings. She'd reserve judgment for now. Veronica, on the other hand, was on the edge of her seat.
    "That's exactly what's going on," Veronica affirmed. "He's sacrificing himself to stay close to me, like he thinks if we're apart, I'll just stop caring."
    Audrina's hand reached across the table, squeezing Veronica's. "It is often up to us women to make the hard choices. To instigate difficult change and growth." Turning over the next card, she nodded sadly. "Yes, and the cards agree. The Hanged Man."
    "So it's over?" Veronica asked quietly, her voice hoarse.
    "No, not necessarily. Think of it as suspended. In limbo. For your relationship, you're being asked to make a great personal sacrifice. But it's worthwhile: in this ending, there are lessons to be learned. It may be what your man needs to snap out of the confusion and envy he's experiencing."
    Veronica bounced anxiously in her chair, biting her lower lip. "So maybe it can