Page 24

“Do you have a gift we don’t know about? Stop reading my mind.”

“Reading your mind is not a gift, believe me. And it comes from decades of being your little sister. I can’t read everyone’s mind, but I can read yours!” She pointed her finger at me as her voice got louder.

My father opened my door and stuck his head in. “Everything ok in here?”

Woodlawn Malpas was in his mid-fifties, but most people thought he was younger. With his shoulder-length, dusty brown hair and clean-shaven face, he could easily pass for forty-two or three.

“Freyja has a date!” my sister cried out.

“And that’s a problem?” My father clearly didn’t understand my dilemma. One I didn’t think I had until Athena basically called me a whore.

Ok, so she didn’t even insinuate that. But suddenly that’s how I felt. I sank down on my bed, my mind traveling over the events of the past few weeks. Hell, the past few years.

I had the utmost trust in Lucille to never steer me wrong. But... what if?

What if she was wrong?

What if Duncan was the man I was supposed to be with?

Sure, he looked like he might be my father’s age. His actual age. But that didn’t bother me. I didn’t have daddy issues. I grew up with two very loving, albeit open, parents. There was nothing our parents held back, especially their love and support. So, I wasn’t looking for a daddy to take care of me.

I could do that myself.

I had my own money.

There was just something about Duncan Murphy that I couldn’t put into words. He called to me on a spiritual level. I had told both Athena and my mother about meeting him for the first time. Stevie was nothing but supportive and encouraging. Even when I had no way of finding him again.

If she knew I had literally fallen at his feet a second time, she would assure me there was a reason for it. My mother was older and wiser than both Athena and me. Why was I letting my sister get in my head?

Because she actually knows what your future holds.

UGH! Why did life have to be so complicated?

“Freyja knows the man the universe has chosen for her will be at Mardi Gras. Why start something you know you can’t continue?” Athena waved her hands in the air, exasperated with me, then plopped down on my bed next to me. She laid her head on my shoulder and confessed, “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Maybe the universe has put this young man in Freyja’s path to teach her something she needs before she meets her one.”

My dad, always the pragmatist. It was why he and my mother had been together for so long. They complimented each other. Her weaknesses were his strengths and vice versa.

Though I did wonder if his thoughts might change when he found out Duncan was not a‘young man.’

Athena looked up at him. “What could she possibly need to learn?”

“Maybe she needs to learn to listen to the universe. Maybe this boy will be awful, and she will learn that you can’t tempt fate?”

Athena tilted her head at my dad. “Maybe,” she agreed.

“So, I can go?” I asked. I knew it was my decision, but having the support of my family was the most important thing in my life. I might act like the bossy older sister and let’s face it, I was because it was my birthright, but what my family thought about me was important.

“Darling, it’s your decision. No one else can decide that for you.”

“I want to go. I can’t explain it, but I feel like this night is important.” It was true. Even if I had no idea why.

“Then you’ll go,” he said, as if he had made the decision. My father left my room, leaving Athena and I alone. I looked at my sister.

“What do you think?”

Athena let out a heavy breath. Her shoulders slumped, and she looked at the floor. “I can’t decide this for you. Because I can’t give you information that might alter the path fate wants you to take. I understand why you want to go. No one understands the what ifs better than I do. But my what ifs are, what if this does alter your path? What if it turns you in the wrong direction and causes you heartache? You’re my big sister and I never want you to be hurt.”