Page 26 of Date with Destiny

‘Hmm.’ I narrow my eyes. ‘I’m not totally sure this is helping really, Myfe. I was more looking for some support?’

She rolls her eyes. ‘Babe, I’m not going to, like,gaslightyou by telling you everything is great, when—’ She breaks off to wave around the room, gesturing at Robert Pattinson’s poster on the wall. ‘I meanclearlythings are not good.’

I nod again, trying to gulp down more emotions.

‘But!’ She gets close to my face. ‘We did know this was going to happen. You’ve known this mess was coming for sixteen years.’ She pauses. ‘OK, maybe we didn’t know it would bethisbad!’ She waves again at theTwilightposter. ‘But we knew you were going to have to deal with these three losses. And the good news is it means there are threegainson their way! Have you thought about that, huh?’ I hadn’t. Not really. She continues with enthusiasm. ‘You know how Diane suggested you find the fortune teller?’ She pauses briefly, wondering how I will react to the sound of my aunt’s name. ‘I’ve been trying to find her for you, but it turns out regional, travelling funfairs don’t tend to have professional websites.’

‘Weird that,’ I murmur, feeling a rush of gratitude that Myfanwy has been trying to help.

‘And since that seems to be a dead end, I was wondering if you wanted to try a different kind of psychic?’ She beams excitedly. ‘I go to this awesome woman who does tarotreading.’ She looks excited. ‘Or I could do you a reading myself. I bought this occult book and have been pulling a card for Sonali and me every day. It could answer some questions for you!’

I nod slowly, feeling too weak to fight her enthusiasm. Maybe it could be interesting? I don’t have to believe in this stuff to be entertained. And it might be a nice distraction from my – what word did Myfe use? –shitshowof a life.

‘OK,’ I tell her thrilled face. ‘OK then. Let’s do it. It’s not like things can get any worse, right?’

‘Famous last words,’ Myfanwy replies, biting back a smile.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The following morning, I creep into the kitchen to find my mother standing at the sink staring out of the window.

That woman is out there again. The woman from yesterday who saw me crying with Myfe. She hovers for a minute by the fence, and then walks away quickly. There is something familiar about her.

‘Hey,’ I greet Celeste softly, not wanting to scare her. She doesn’t move or react so I clear my throat. ‘Hey!’ I try again, a bit louder. Her head twitches a millimetre of acknowledgement in my direction. ‘Are you OK?’ I ask, moving towards the kettle.

She turns now, pasting on this weird, grimacey smile I’ve never seen before.

‘Very well, thanks!’ she says chirpily, like I’m a journalist harassing her on the red carpet about who made her dress and whether it’s a sustainable brand.

She is a shadow of herself, which is funny because I’ve always thought of all of the rest of us as living in CelesteBretherton’s shadow. My dad especially. He sometimes feels like an outsider in this family; this quiet man, so rarely here in the country. He even has a different surname – Lundin – while the rest of us are Brethertons. My mum not only insisted on keeping her name when they got married but also on her children taking that surname. She said she did all the hard work in bringing us into the world, so why should he get all the credit.

That was a different woman. I never thought I’d be missing her overbearing, difficult side, but now it’s not there, I have to admit, I’m a bit frightened.

The front door bell goes and I open the door to find Sonali and Myfanwy, dressed in leggings and T-shirts, holding yoga mats.

‘What…?’ I begin but Myfanwy cuts me off.

‘We’re going to a yoga class!’ she announces. I glance back into the hallway to find Celeste looking off into the distance, pale and limp.

Down the stairs behind me, I hear Toni stomping down to join us.

‘I’ve got a mat for you and Mum,’ she chirrups, smiling excitedly. ‘And what you’re wearing is perfect.’

I glance down at myStranger Thingspyjamas and start to protest. ‘I’m really not in the mood, you guys, and…’

Myfanwy waves her hand. ‘No one is. That’s when it’s most important to do something. And exercise is the best something to do right now. It’ll be good for you. My Reiki healer recommended this place.’ Her tone is firm and finalas she nods at Celeste. She means it’ll be good for me – and for my mum.

I look again at Celeste, who is staring off into the distance, somewhere past my shoulder. She is barely there.

I go grab a jacket.

Twenty-five minutes later, rolling around on my mat as a shouty teacher at the front yells about being calm and controlled, I have to admit I’m feeling a little bit better. The endorphins are kicking in and it feels good and important to be surrounded by so many of the people I love best right now. This is heaven.

‘This is hell,’ Myfanwy mutters on my right and I snort. ‘I should’ve made you all go to a spa or something.’

‘I’m enjoying it,’ Toni beams on my other side. ‘It’s inspiring me! I’m going to do Dry January and Veganuary next month.’

‘But it’s not January,’ I point out, perplexed. ‘Not even close.’

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