Page 11
Lena
When I returned to my suite, Carrie was sitting on her yoga mat, encased in sunlight streaming through the window. With her blonde hair, it looked as though she had a halo. Her teacup was set at the edge of her mat and she was sorting through several sets of tarot cards.
Carrie looked up. “Hey, stranger. How are you?”
I kicked off my shoes and joined her on the floor. “Good actually. How are you?”
She pointed at the new decks. “Andy brought me gifts.” A huge smile lit up her face.
“Has he gone home?”
She nodded sadly. “He has but this is the last time. I’m moving.”
She indicated a few boxes I hadn’t noticed before. Panic welled in my chest. “What happened, is everything okay?”
Carrie smiled again. “Everything is wonderful. Andy proposed and I accepted. This is my last week at the Ranch. I’m moving to the suburbs with my handsome Dom/fiancé.”
“Wow, Carrie, Congratulations.” I leaned over and gave her a hug. She looked so happy. and the rock I now noticed on her finger glittered in the sun’s reflection. “That is quite a ring.”
She held it up. “Right? I love it.”
What wasn’t to love?
“Carrie. Can I ask you something?”
“Of course, Lena, anything.”
“How did you know Andy was the one?”
Carrie sighed contentedly. “I knew because he accepts me just the way I am. Loves me for me and appreciates all my broken bits. He’s never tried to fix me, just been there for me.
I met him here, about a year ago. He attended with his friend, who was nursing a jaded heart over his slave who’d left him without a word.
She ended up here and Andy knew, so he arranged for the two of them to come for a stay.
When Cade saw River, it rekindled their old passion and after working through their issues, and a lot of proving himself on Cade’s side, she finally accepted him back.
They have a super-healthy relationship now and he works hard to balance his work/home dynamic. ”
Her words gave me hope. It wasn’t just me. I’d known that, in my head, but to hear aloud what had felt so dirty and taboo, cracked something inside of me. “Thank you, Carrie, you’ve given me hope for my own happily-ever-after.”
She smiled warmly. “From what I hear, Ethan Reacher thinks the sun rises and sets wherever you're standing. I’m pretty sure if you just let him in, you’ll find that HEA with him.”
“You really think so?”
“I do, but we can do a spread just to see.” Carrie chose one of the new decks with fairies on it.
She pulled three cards and then showed them to me, wearing a huge smile on her face.
“The cards never lie. Squee! Look, Lena, the energy coming toward you is ‘Awakening’. It means a cloud has lifted and you are beginning to see your old self re-emerge. You have recently gone through a bad experience where you gave up who you were to please someone else. Now that old self is coming back. Allow changes to occur that permit the real you to show up.”
I couldn’t believe how accurate that card was.
“Card two is what’s currently surrounding you.
” It showed a woman with wings and it was called “Sexuality”.
Carrie smirked as she read the card aloud.
“Sexuality is important for our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. You are being guided to heal old trauma and negative experiences. Set yourself free to be truly open to experience the dynamic aspects of your sexuality.”
Holy crap! There really was something to this card thing. Carrie flipped over the third card and gasped.
“What is it? Is it bad?” She turned the card so I could see it, this time a glimmer of happy tears in her eyes.
“In case you were still wondering if Ethan was the one…” She held the “Happily Ever After” card.
“The movie you are currently starring in has a very happy ending. Your past is now in the past and mistakes are forgotten. You no longer need to worry about how your tale ends. This new joy renews your faith in yourself and in love and ensures a happy outcome is in store for you.”
There was the green light to move ahead. I was astounded.
Carrie was definitely glowing with positivity. “I’m so happy for you, Lena.”
So was I but, as good as all this was, I didn’t feel free. I thought about the blue ribbon that Daniel had tied around my neck. I still had it and for some reason had brought it with me to the Ranch.
“Carrie, I brought something from home–a very negative symbol from my old dynamic. I think I need to get rid of it, but I don’t know how.”
She worried her lip between her teeth for a moment and then snapped her fingers. “I got it! Tomorrow night a Firelight Ritual is being debuted. It’s where we release tokens from our past and let them burn in the fire. That’s where you need to get rid of it, Lena.”
I nodded. “Okay. I will do it.”
Carrie clapped her hands excitedly. “I’ll be there to support you, don’t worry, you won’t be alone.”
I felt her support like a gentle thrum of energy moving through me. This was so perfect with all the right components aligning. Now all I had to do was be brave enough to follow through.
Just then the phone rang in the suite. Carrie grabbed it and then held out the phone to me mouthing it was Ethan. She was practically bouncing as I took the phone from her hand.
“Hello?”
“Hello, sweet girl, I just wanted to let you know I have reserved a room for 8 pm tonight. Would you like to have dinner with me beforehand?”
I looked at Carrie, covered the phone and asked: “Should I go for dinner with Ethan before we scene tonight?”
She nodded her head vigorously. “It will help to set the tone for the evening.”
I nodded to her, and said, “Yes,” into the receiver.
“I’ll meet you in the lobby at 6:30, Lena.”
“Okay, bye, Ethan.” I hung up the phone and for the first time, felt excitement without the usual accompanying anxiety I’d had these past few years and it felt good. “I’m going to relax and read a book in the tub. Thank you, Carrie. I really appreciate your help.”
“My pleasure. If I don’t see you beforehand, I’ll meet you at the fire tomorrow at 8 pm.”
“Okay.” I walked to my room and closed the door, my body practically humming with all the new feels. A niggling doubt tried to worm in, but I pushed it away. I wanted nothing to ruin my night with Ethan, especially my past.