Page 99 of The Unraveling of Julia

“I don’t know if I want to go forward.” Julia sat down. “I might just leave it alone. It hurts, for one thing.”

“I can help you with that, too.”

“Why did it happen?”

“I think the souls wish to communicate with you, and they just did, in a way you can no longer deny.”

Yikes.“What if I don’t want to communicate with them?”

“That is your choice,” Helen answered, with finality. “Have a think and call me if you wish to continue.”

Julia didn’t know what she wanted. Her thoughts were all over the place. “What if I’m not made for… mediumship?”

Helen met her eye with a knowing smile. “I believe that train’s already left the station, dear.”

53

Julia hurried along the cobblestone walkway, her phone to her ear. The call was ringing, but Courtney wasn’t answering. They were supposed to meet in the Piazza di Santa Croce, but tourists crowded every square inch, talking, eating, and jostling each other. Tour groups filled the stone benches and thronged at kiosks selling handbags, T-shirts, and souvenirs.

Julia pressed End, anxious again. Maybe she hadn’t improved as much as she’d thought. Or maybe her session with Helen shook her up. She couldn’t begin to digest what she’d been told. She glanced over her shoulder, scanning for White Fiat or Black Ballcap, but she didn’t see them.

Her phone rang, and she picked up. “Courtney, where are you? I’m in the piazza.”

“Sorry I’m late but I’m here, in the Basilica. Come on in.”

Arg.“No, let’s just go. It takes time to get to the hospital. It’s rush hour and I don’t want to be late for Gianluca.”

“We have plenty of time. Come in, it’ll take ten minutes.”

“Okay.” Julia hung up, then threaded her way through the crowdto the entrance to the Basilica, a beautiful Italian Gothic Cathedral with the stunning Brunelleschi’s dome, the artistic and engineering marvel that epitomized the Renaissance in Florence. The Cathedral’s ornate white-and-green marble facade was divided into three sections, and a soaring peaked roof with a round window dominated the center section. The largest entrance was a carved wooden door, flanked by another set of carved doors, one of which was open.

Julia beelined for it and hurried inside to the Cathedral. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dimness, which made her feel off-balance. It was packed, and tourists were shadows shifting in the low light. She looked around for Courtney but didn’t see her.

She whirled around, getting her bearings in the immense hall. Arched vaults flanked the room on either side, and at the very end was a beautiful altar and multi-vaulted nave, its elongated windows of stained glass glowing like jewels. Statuary and massive paintings lined walls of white plaster, and tourists milled through the arches, following docents in groups. She didn’t see Courtney.

Julia texted her:Where are you?

Courtney texted back:Near the altar.

Julia hurried there, crossing the hall through the crowd. She spotted Courtney in front of a statue of the Virgin Mary, lighting a red votive candle on a stand of many others, their yellow flames in flickering rows.

Julia reached her side. “Hi, ready to go?”

Courtney looked over. “How was it?”

“I’ll tell you on the way to the hospital.”

“Don’t you want to light a candle for Mike? Or did you already, like, contact him?”

“No. I’ll light a candle.”

“I already paid. Just take one.”

“Thanks.” Julia took a votive candle from a box, placed it on the stand, and tried to light it using another candle, but her hand was shaking.

Courtney blinked, concerned. She took the candle, lit Julia’s votive, and replaced it. “Are you okay? Tell me about the session.”

“Let’s talk in the car. I feel anxious again.”