Page 14 of Five Things I Love About You

‘Are you ready?’ she says, her voice low.

I nod.

‘Right. You need to shuffle these then lay them out in three piles.’ I do as she instructs.

‘Now, pick a pack. Don’t overthink it, just choose whichever one you feel the most drawn to.’

I study the three piles of cards, wondering how I’m meant to know whether one is drawing me to it more than the others. Should I be feeling some sort of divine intervention, a tingling in my fingertips? I start to worry I’m doing this all wrong and in the end just slam my hand down on the pack in the middle, which seems as good a choice as any.

Pathetically, I’m pleased when Sophie smiles. She picks the other two packs off the table and clears them out of the way, then turns her attention back to me. There’s something about her when she’s doing a reading. She becomes more serious. For some reason this makes me want to laugh and I have to bite my lip. She believes in this stuff, so I need to respect that.

I watch as Sophie takes the remaining pack and plucks three cards from the top, turning them over and placing them on the table one by one. I study her face for some sort of reaction to what she sees but, whether it’s her excellent poker face or the candlelight, I can’t tell what she’s thinking.

I look down at the cards in front of me. The first one has an orange compass in the middle, and a few winged animals sitting on clouds. On the next one, a man stands on a cloud, a little dog at his heels. He’s wearing some sort of dress and holding a long stick over his shoulder. Curious. The final one has a naked man and woman who are being watched by a purple-clad goddess next to a range of mountains. I try not to stare at the man’s willy and look back up at Sophie.

She doesn’t speak and I wonder whether I’m supposed to be asking a question? Just as I’m about to blurt something out to break the awkward silence, she moves her hand and points at the first card, the one with the orange disc.

‘This card is what’s known as the Wheel of Fortune,’ she says, and I nod earnestly. ‘It’s a good card to start with because it has lots of positive connotations. It can be an indicator of good luck or fortune and can also suggest that some big changes are coming.’ She catches my eye and smiles, and I smile back. For some reason my heart is thumping even though I don’t believe in any of this stuff. She can’t tell me if I’m about to die, can she? Oh God, what if she can?

I look back down at the cards just as Sophie starts speaking again. ‘This is good news for you, Miranda, because it means the universe has a plan for you, even if it’s not entirely clear what that plan might be yet.’ A shiver goes down my spine. Even cynical old me has wondered whether the universe might be trying to tell me something with these dreams I’ve been having. That I should be trying to find Jay, maybe? Who knows? I focus back in on what Sophie is saying.

‘It means that the universe is working on your behalf and will bring you the love you deserve. It means you might be about to meet your soulmate.’

She stops and I realise she’s looking at me, waiting for some sort of reaction.

‘Wow, that would be nice,’ I say, and smile weakly.

‘Well, yes. But you do have to put some effort in yourself,’ she says. ‘He’s not going to just land in your lap.’

Dammit.

‘What about the next one?’ I say, and she passes her gaze to the next card.

‘This is The Fool,’ she says, giving me a grin. ‘It doesn’t mean that, though, as I’m sure you know.’ She picks it up and studies it more closely, then puts it down again. ‘This card generally points to new beginnings, and new paths in life.’ She looks up. ‘So, this could be something to do with your job, couldn’t it?’

I nod.

‘It’s a pretty positive card, and it could mean you’re on the verge of something new and exciting. An adventure of some sort.’ She claps her hands together and makes me jump. ‘This is exciting,’ she says, although I’m struggling to share her belief that a few cards can truly carry so much significance.

‘This last one is The Lovers,’ she says, and lets out a low whistle. ‘It means you might get lucky!’

‘That sounds professional,’ I say, laughing.

She grins. ‘Sorry.’ She looks back down at the table but there’s still a smile playing at the corner of her mouth. ‘You’re faced with a dilemma, a choice to make. Animportantchoice. But it can also signify a soulmate?—’

‘Ooh!’ The voice comes from behind me and we both look up at the interruption.

‘Kirstie, bugger off!’ Sophie yells, flapping her hands. Kirstie looks suitably chastened and scurries over to the sofa and sits down. ‘Sorry, I’ll be quiet as a mouse. I promise.’

I turn back to the table and see Sophie scowling.

‘As I was saying before we were RUDELY interrupted’ – this last word said loudly for Kirstie’s benefit – ‘this card can mean love is coming your way, and that you might be about to meet the love of your life.’

There’s a moment of silence as I take her words in. Then, like a volcano erupting, there’s an explosion of laughter behind me.

‘I guess you’re not talking about Darren then?’ Kirstie says.

‘At least someone here finds the state of my love life amusing,’ I say grumpily, picking up a drinks coaster and chucking it at her. It hits her square on the forehead.

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