“Well there you are, the centre of attention,” I said. “And your problem, if it is a problem, seems to be a
couple. A partnership with an emotional bond. They’re lovers even. Who could they be?” Claire didn’t answer. She rarely spoke during a reading; she liked to take it all in. As much as I dislike being
fed information, I wished she would speak, I needed all the help I could get, Claire’s readings were seldom logical. I read on, going from distant past, through the present, to the near future. “You’ll be celebrating soon,”
I said, pointing to the three girls gaily dancing around on the Three of Cups. “I see some sort of party – a christening, engagement or wedding.” “A wedding!” Her wonky eye lit up. “Probably someone close to you.” I added. I didn’t want to get her hopes up – after all, isn’t it every woman’s
dream to have a white wedding? I imagined it would be Claire’s, though she’d never indicated this and I’d never asked in case I hit a nerve. “It could be what’s-her-name, the one in your office with alopecia.” “Marcia.” “Yes. Perhaps she’ll have a leaving party. You said she was bored with filing.”
Claire nodded. I turned over the next card. The Empress – the embodiment of creativity, femininity and
determination – appeared in the position representing Claire’s life-in-general. Next to that the Ace of Cups. These two cards in such close proximity could only mean one thing. “Someone is going to have a baby,” I said, rubbing my stomach involuntarily. “This birth will have a big
impact on you.” The reading suddenly started to make sense. “Your sister will probably ask you to be her birthing partner?” I said. I didn’t believe this to be true but I did not want to tell Claire anything else until I was certain. After all, it’s not often you read your own future in someone else’s cards. At the top of the cross, in the lofty position of distant future (which could be anything from three months to a
year) was the last card – the climax of the session. I turned it over with trepidation. The Ten of Cups. “That says it all,” I said aloud without thinking. Claire wriggled like a child in a sweet shop. “Tell me. Tell me. What does it say?” “Everything. Look at the picture. These people are standing together, holding hands and looking at the sun.
They’re ecstatic because everything has worked out just the way the wanted it. Even the children are dancing. In the Minor Arcana, you won’t find a nicer card.” “Oh I quite like that one,” she pointed to the Empress. “She looks pretty contented.” Yes, I thought, she is. In fact, I could barely contain my excitement. I looked at my watch. “Oh my god, it’s six-thirty already. I’d better go and make myself beautiful for Adrian.” “You always look beautiful,” she said.
Poor Claire, I felt so happy at that moment I almost asked her to be my bridesmaid but then I thought of her
in the photographs, smiling. “Sorry I can’t go into more depth. Next time, okay?” “Don’t worry,” she said. “I’ve heard enough.” After that, Claire stopped ringing for readings. I called her a few times but she was too busy to talk. I put it
down to jealousy – women like her want to dream about their own weddings not hear about someone else’s. She said she’d call me. She didn’t. I didn’t chase after her; Adrian and I split up, his wife named me in their divorce and I had a bout of endometriosis to cope with. I pass Claire’s house occasionally on the way to one of my new clients. Sometimes I look through the window. The walls are now painted white and the plants have gone. There are teddy bears on the sofa, a baby gym where the elephant table used to be, and the last time I looked, there was a pram in the doorway. Claire must baby-sit a lot for her sister.
LYNDA NASH 27
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