In the Cards - Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

On Monday morning, Bernie beat me to the top of the front steps and sat waiting patiently for me to unlock the door to my studio on the beachfront. Nudging me to one side as soon as the door was open and nearly sending me flying, he bolted ahead and immediately made for his blanket on the far side of the room; his paws skidding on the polished floor.  He turned around several times on his blanket before flopping down heavily with a sigh of pure contentment!                                     

It had taken me over five years to collect my treasures and I was proud of how they captured the mood of my work.  From the ceiling hung feathered dream catchers and tinkling wind chimes and the tops of two wooden cabinets held scented candles and sticks of incense.  A comfortable sofa covered with an Indian throw rested along the wall and hand-woven Indian rugs were scattered over the polished mahogany floorboards.  The curtains were fine printed Japanese silk in rainbow colours (a brilliant find at a boot sale) and white orchids grew in clay pots on the large bay windowsill.  Aunt Margaret’s antique varnished reading table was positioned in the centre of the room with matching tapestry chairs facing each other.  The table was uncluttered except for a painted box containing Aunt Margaret’s set of Ryder Waite Tarot cards which I used exclusively for readings in the studio.                                                                            

My diary was full that morning and I had just finished boiling the kettle in the tiny kitchenette at the back when the door bell rang.  I hurried through to greet my first customer of the day; a successful actress who was currently rehearsing for a new play.   

‘Morning, Andrea!  Come and take a seat.  I was just making a cup of coffee.  Would you like one?’                                         

‘No thanks,’ said Andrea.  ‘I haven’t too much time this morning.  I’ve been called in for early rehearsal so could we just do a quick spread today?  There is something I really need to know and I hope your cards can give me some direction.’         

‘No problem,’ I said, removing the silk-wrapped cards from the box and spreading the black cloth over the table. I shuffled the cards and handed them to Andrea to divide into three piles. This had always been part of my own personal ritual; an opportunity for the Querant to touch the cards before the reading.  I knew from past experience that Andrea preferred to ask her question out loud and prompted her to do this while I collected the cards.                        

‘Well,’ Andrea began.  ‘I have been asked to do a screen test for a new film which starts filming in Geneva in November.  As a rule, I don’t consent to screen tests, but the script is fantastic and I would really love the part, so I’ve agreed to do it.  The leading man has already been cast and if I get this part we will be working very closely together.  The problem is, he’s my ex-husband and with our history of fireworks, I need to know if our on-screen partnership will work better than our marriage.’

I immediately decided that Andrea’s ex-husband presented a more appropriate Significator for this reading and asked Andrea to describe his appearance in general terms and to provide a bit of insight into his personality.                       

‘Well, he’s the clichéd tall, dark and handsome man " gorgeous really!’ she said with a rueful smile.  ‘He’s very serious about his career and frankly, not much of a “people” person.  He’s highly intelligent but doesn’t offer much of himself if you know what I mean?’                                               

As she talked, I searched through the pack for the card I believed summed up Andrea’s ex-husband.  Locating the card, I laid it face up on the table.  It was the King of Pentacles.                                                      

‘I will leave this Significator on the table as a focus for our reading this morning,’ I said.   ‘I think perhaps a basic three-card spread; past, present and future would be best for the short time you have available, if that’s ok with you?’                          

Andrea nodded and I fanned the cards out face down in an arc, making sure that each card was visible.  I asked Andrea to select three, reminding her to focus her mind on her question as she did so.  Andrea handed me the three selected cards and I laid them face up, one at a time in a row across the table.                     

‘Predictably, the past shows conflict and sadness, shown here by the Five of Swords.  Given what you’ve told me; not much of a surprise! Your present success is reflected in the Six of Pentacles.  You have worked hard to establish yourself and your career and you are now reaping the rewards of that hard work.’                                              

I studied the final card on the table carefully.  This card held the answer to Andrea’s question.                                      

‘The Four of Cups tells us that you are feeling anxious about something coming up and warns that you need to think carefully about both the benefits and risks.  If you have any doubts at all, it would be better to err on the side of caution as there will be another opportunity around the corner.’                                         

Andrea looked disappointed but resigned.  ‘I suppose that’s what I expected, really,’ she said.  ‘I’ve been unhappy about being asked to do a screen test with my experience and knowing that I will have to work with Joe on a professional level has worried me quite a bit.’                              

‘It might interest you to know that the sum of these cards relates to the Lovers,’ I said, after a quick mental calculation.  ‘Apart from the obvious interpretation, one of the meanings of that card is an important choice to be made and if due consideration is given to the problem, your choice will be the correct one.  I’m afraid it’s up to you, Andrea.’

            ‘Fair enough!  Thanks Georgia!  I don’t know what I would do without your insight!  I suppose I’d better get on my way or my director will be tearing at his hair!  See you same time next Monday!’                                              

She got up to put on her suede jacket and, pausing only to drop my fee in the handed-painted jar by the door as usual, with a wave of her hand she was gone.                  

The day galloped along with back-to-back appointments right up until four o’clock.  I couldn’t believe how the time had passed!  My last customer had demanded five different spreads and the reading had taken two hours. My diary was clear for the remainder of the day so I packed away the cards and began tidying up the studio, anticipating an early departure for once.     

I had just taken my coffee cup through to the kitchenette to wash it up when I heard the tinkle of the doorbell.  Surprised at having an unexpected visitor so late in the afternoon, I hurried through to see a tall, dark-haired man, four or five years my senior, standing very uncomfortably on the other side of the door.  Bernie had woken up and was regarding the stranger with his ears up and head on one side.  Not sensing any kind of threat to his mistress, he heaved a huge sigh and closed his eyes.  I was reassured.               

‘Hello - can I help you?’ I asked.    

‘Yes please.  I’m looking for Georgia May.’                        

‘I’m Georgia,’ I said, holding out my hand. ‘What can I do for you?’                     

He smiled as he took my outstretched hand. The green of his eyes appeared to deepen and made him look several years younger.  ‘I’m Mike Hanlon " pleased to meet you.  Fred recommended you very highly and flaky as he usually is, I do trust his judgement.’                  

I guided him over to the sofa and we sat down.                  

‘I’m Fred’s manager as I guess he’s told you,’ Mike began.  ‘I really need your help!  I have recently taken on a new client who is extraordinarily talented and beautiful with it but very troubled and a bit neurotic.  We supply all the assistance she requires in the form of a hairdresser, make-up artist, secretary and so on, and she personally employs her own bodyguard. For the past year she’s had a psychic advisor on retainer but unfortunately the poor woman had to return to Ireland to take care of her ailing mother and won’t be returning.  My client has refused to start rehearsals on her new show until I find someone to take her place and that’s why I’m here.  She insists that until she has psychic support, she will not be able to perform and I’m at my wits’ end!  There aren’t very many people with your talent around you know!’  He leaned forward earnestly.  ‘Miss May, I would be eternally grateful if you could meet with my client.  Like many entertainers, she really does seem to have a superstitious fear of performing without her own rituals and, as much as I admit that getting her into rehearsals would be of huge

 benefit to my business, I feel sorry for her.  She seems a bit lost somehow.’ He sat back on the sofa, regarding me almost pleadingly with those green eyes.                                          

This artist sounded a bit unstable to me to say the least, but there was no doubt of Mike’s sincerity and, unusually for me, I made a snap decision to help him.                      

‘Please call me Georgia,’ I said. ‘I’ll agree to meet with her as long as it’s understood that if the meeting goes badly, I reserve the right to refuse to do a reading.  I can’t conduct readings in a hostile environment.’                           

Mike looked relieved.  ‘Thanks so much " you’re a life-saver and I’m sure you’ll like her!  Would it be convenient for you come to the Bayside Auditorium tomorrow morning at ten o’clock?  If you come in at the main gate, I will make sure a visitor’s pass is waiting for you. Security will ring me when you arrive and I’ll be there to meet you in the foyer.’                                                         

We stood up and Bernie wandered over to make his presence known.  Mike patted him on the head and shook my hand.  I saw him to the door and waved as he went down the steps on to the pavement, realising suddenly that I had not asked the name of this neurotic new performer.  It was odd that Mike hadn’t volunteered the information either.  Oh well, all would no doubt be revealed the following day.

Author's Note

Thank you for reading this chapter.

Reviews

[Aarea]

Oh, a very nice, intriguing chapter! I want to read more though! You should continue! Mike is interesting, and I can't help but wonder who his client is and whether or not the woman at the first will take the job with her ex or not. Send me a message when you post the next chapter please, and I will read it!