Page 26 of Shit Happens in Ivydell

The wind is blowing, but it’s warmer than it has been. I hardly need the sweatshirt I pulled over my tank top. Yesterday, a sweatshirt was barely enough. It’s that time of year all over Texas, I guess. Jackets one day, short sleeves the next.

By the time we’ve had a couple cups of coffee and said good morning half a dozen times, it’s warmed up considerably. I pull my sweatshirt off as we walk outside to leave.

“When did you put on a bra?”

“While you were complaining about me to yourself in the mirror.”

He laughs. “You deserved everything I said about you.”

The warm breeze feels amazing, but it reminds me I didn’t bring many clothes for warmer weather. When I was packing, I focused on leggings and sweaters, figured I’d buy whatever I needed here as the weather changed. That was before I had a clear vision of my shopping options.

I kiss Jensen goodbye when we reach the shops, and walk the rest of the way back to Sparrow’s Song alone. The Spirit Sisters meet me before I make it to my casita, both wearing khakis, similar, but not perfectly matching floral long-sleeved shirts, and their identical purple puffer vests. Their gray wavy hair is loose instead of in the long braids I’ve gotten used to seeing on them. They’re getting a late start this morning.

“Good morning. I didn’t expect to see you two this late in the morning.”

“Oh, we’ve had a busy morning,” Alma says.

“Yes,” Elma agrees. “The spirits are active early today. Much to be tended to.”

“Nothing too troubling, I hope.”

“The spirits never bring trouble.”

“Only truth.”

Okay, that wasn’t vague at all. I probably don’t want specifics. “Well, that’s good. Enjoy your walk.”

“Clear skies today,” Alma says.

Elma smiles. “Enjoy your journey. It’s going to be a good one.”

That was dramatic. I’m less than a hundred feet from my front door. Not much of a journey left. She probably meant it in a more general sense. Those two are difficult to translate sometimes.

Josephine walks to her car with a duffel bag slung over her shoulder.

“Hey! Where are you going? It’s Tuesday.”

“Special request. I wouldn’t normally make the trip for just one session, but this is a VIP client. What are you doing today?”

“I need to go clothes shopping. Any suggestions for where I should do that?”

“Uh, yeah. Albuquerque. Get in. You can take my car and shop while I work, and then we’ll go to dinner and have a sleepover at my place. It’ll be fun. We’ll get an early start out tomorrow. You’ll be back here, ready to work by mid-morning.”

“I only intended to shop for a few hours and work the rest of the day. But that is such an appealing offer.”

“It’s still open.”

“I don’t have a bag packed. I assume you’re on a schedule.”

“You’ve got twenty minutes.”

That’s ten more than I need. “Okay!”

I let Jensen know my change in plans.

Your raincheck sex just got delayed by a day. I’m going to Albuquerque to shop.

With Josephine, I assume.

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