24. Epilogue -- Joshua

Six months later…

“How would you feel about going away for the weekend?”

Mabel looked up from her tarot cards. She was in the little office on the first floor where she did readings. The walls were covered with tapestries, and there was a group of candles in glass jars burning on a shelf in the corner of the room.

Esmerelda, as always, was sitting at her feet.

When we’d first started dating, Mabel had avoided talking about or doing any tarot card work when I was around. I knew it was because she was afraid I’d judge her, the way her ex-husband did.

Finally one day I asked her to do a reading for me. She’d been shocked but had readily agreed. To be honest I didn’t think tarot cards were any more real than astrology or psychics. I was a man of science after all. But I also knew that there were a lot of things in the universe that we didn’t understand yet, and if tarot cards were important to Mabel, they were important to me.

It had been a turning point in our relationship. Once she was fully confident that I accepted her just the way she was, despite all of our differences, she asked me to move in with her and Esmerelda. I’d been living here ever since. I loved it.

“Go away?” she parroted.

I dropped into the chair across from her, looking down at the cards on the table.

“Are you doing a reading for yourself?” I asked.

“Kind of. Sometimes I just shuffle the cards and ask if there’s any messages from the universe. Then I wait for one to pop out.”

I pointed at the card facing up on the table. It had two chalices on it.

“What’s the message of this one?”

She looked surprised, then pleased.

“It’s the two of cups. It symbolizes partnerships and unions, love and compatibility. Harmony. It often represents romance and commitment.”

“It represents us then,” I said.

She gave me a long look, then nodded. “Yeah, I guess it does. Maybe that’s why it came up today.”

“I like that idea.”

I wasn’t lying. I really did. And I had a feeling I knew why that card had come up today.

“So, can you go away next weekend?” I asked again. “I was hoping we could take a little trip.”

“Can we bring Esmerelda?” she asked.

It was her standard response to any invitation, and I loved her for it. My girlfriend was nothing if not devoted to her dog.

“Of course.”

“Then sure,” she agreed. “A trip would be fun.”

“Great. We’ll leave Friday.”

“Is it a holiday or something?” she asked. “Oh wait, it’s not our dating anniversary, is it?”

I shook my head. “I just thought it would be fun to go to New England and see the fall leaves.”

Keeping my voice purposely casual I added, “I figured it could be an engagement trip.”

Mabel’s head shot up from staring at the tarot card on the table.

“Engagement?”

I pulled a velvet bag out of my pocket and slid it across the table, right next to the Two of Cups.

“Open it.”

Mabel untied the pouch, finding the red sapphire engagement ring inside. I’d found it in a jewelry shop when I attended a veterinary conference in Boston last month. Her mouth dropped open.

“Try it on,” I urged.

She slid the ring on her finger, holding it out for me to see. It fit her perfectly, probably because I’d stolen one of her rings to bring with me to the jewelry store.

“Oh my God, this is the perfect ring for me,” she said.

“I know,” I said.

I’d gotten to know everything about her over the last six months, including the fact that she had ethical concerns about diamond mining. I also knew that red was her favorite color.

Mabel flew around the table, dropping into my lap and giving me a quick kiss.

“What do you say?” I prodded, hugging her closer. “Will you marry me?”

“Can Mabel be in the wedding?” she asked.

“I wouldn’t dream of leaving her out,” I assured her.

“In that case, yes I will marry you.”

“That’s good,” I said, “Because I already booked the engagement trip.”

“It’s a good thing I drew the Two of Cups then.”

“It really was.”

***

Hey there! If you liked this book, please show me some love, and leave a review. Good reviews are like puppies, they make everyone feel happy.