Page 63 of Total Lunar Eclipse

“For now,” I concede, before giving him one last hug.

Then I walk away to my future.

CHAPTER 29

ZAHRA

The drive out to Tucson from Minnesota was long, but I had my Harry Potters on tape and my parents really appreciated me taking some fragile items out to their condo that they didn’t trust with the shipping people.

That’s right, they trustedmenot to break anything.

Are you all laughing your asses off, too?

I decided to take up the resort’s offer to stay with them during my interviewing process. My parents haven’t moved out here yet and their condo is a mess of boxes preparing for their arrival next week. I luxuriate in the king-sized bed and order some room service: the biggest fruit platter they make sans the grapes.

Zahra Delsol doesnoteat grapes.

Still.

One day, though, maybe.

So, today’s the big day.

I carefully dress in the same teal, Boho dress and mala bead necklace that I wore the first time I interviewed for this position. I wear my hair down, but take great pains to fluff it to make it look extra sexy. I end up just looking like I’d been electrocuted and brush it smoothly back down.

I’ll have to do.

The driver is waiting for me to take me downtown and I chit-chat about the absence of the Snowbirds with him. He pulls up in front of the glass buildings and the déjà-vu of this entire scene catches up to me. I pull up short in front of the building’s main entrance and look at my reflection in the mirrored glass, wondering:

How often do you get second chances in life?

Not that fucking often.

“Thank you, Universe!” I shout out, startling a guy walking by.

Grinning like a loon, I walk into the building and wave off the receptionist.

I know exactly where I’m going.

And that’s up.

Because you gotta go up to come down.

(That was a terrible blow job pun, but laugh anyway. Thanks, Trust Tree Sisters. You know I ramble and say stupider shit when I’m nervous.)

Once I reach the top floor, the familiar settings of the half-moon desk, the sparse sitting area, and the heavy wooden doors from Hell greet me. Except there’s no Mary. I still can’t believe sweet Mary was Moon all along. . . her comments about being a part of the office (notTheOffice) finally make sense. Is it ironic Vesta would take her place?

“Deep thoughts, Venus?” Mrs. Gerty queries, standing up from under the desk.

I hadn’t even seen her.

“What were you doing under the desk? Is a certain Element there and you were watering his knob with your mouth?”

“Zahra Rosa Delsol!” she shouts and I giggle.

It’s too easy.

“I was just thinking of Mary being Moon,” I tell her.