Page 81 of Date with Destiny

For a moment I think she is moving towards me; sensing it’smewho needs her. She knows that I’m the one who came for her, who requires her powers once again.

But no, of course it’s not me. Not when I’ve brought a bona fide celebrity with me. She throws herself at Celeste, lavishing her with compliments.

‘Celeste Bretherton, I am an enormous fan of yours! I watch every episode ofEngage!Without fail. I cried buckets over the season finale, but Trisha really deserved the bejewelled crown, she was so talented, andso relatable.’ She waves behind her at a desk in the corner. ‘You’ve even inspired me to try my hand at a spot of jewellery making.’

Celeste makes that ‘incredibly interested’ face she uses with contestants on the show. The one viewers have recreated over and over in memes all over the internet.

‘How wonderful!’ she claps her hands, towering over Crystal. ‘You must show me, my darling.’ She pauses, remembering her lines when it comes to a fellow TV star, even one as small-fry as Crystal. ‘And of course, I am a huge fan of yours, too. You aredazzlingon the screen, my darling.’

Celeste has never watched a single minute of the show, despite our haranguing.

Crystal pales. ‘I’m honoured,’ she says humbly. ‘And if you ever need someone with my skills onEngage!, I am morethan available. I could do a five-minute segment at the end of each episode, revealing who is going to falter or win the following week.’

Celeste nods emphatically. ‘That could be an interesting angle!’ she lies. ‘I shall have a discussion with my producer, darling, and get in touch.’

I clear my throat awkwardly, knowing she won’t get in touch. Celeste uses the opportunity to redirect the conversation.

‘Darling Chryssy,’ she begins informally and Crystal colours with joy. This is the magic of Celeste; she can be as fake as anything but still make people feel special. Crystal thinks they’re now friends, as does, almost certainly, everyone out in reception who got a picture with her. ‘This is my beautiful daughter, Ginny, and her friend Myfanwy.’

Crystal turns her attention towards us, adopting her own professional Fan Face. ‘Hello Ginny, hello Myfanwy,’ she says in a softer tone, one I recognize from her show when she’s starting a reading with someone. She shouts YOU at them, and then goes into this hypnotizing voice that reels you in.

‘Hi Crystal,’ Myfanwy squeaks, while I can only grin stupidly. ‘We really, really, really love you,’ she continues and I manage a nod. ‘You’re the best. That reading you gave that guy the other day, the one who was shagging his boss? It was amazing! I can’t believe she’s going to get pregnant and he’s going to set fire to his office building. That is just so…cool.’ She finishes breathlessly and I stare dumbly at this woman, trying to cling onto the real reason we’ve come here today.

Crystal smiles benignly as, behind her, Celeste looks put out. Neither of us have ever reacted toherlike this. ‘Thank you, girls,’ Crystal says in her soft voice. ‘I’m glad to have brought you some insight.’ She turns to look fully at me, taking me in, and for a moment I think she will remember me. I want her to so desperately. I want her to prove herself; I want her to show me everything she said back then was real. I want her to be the real deal. I want to believe.I do believe.

She opens her mouth, still looking at me intensely. ‘Ginny,’ she begins slowly, ‘can you,’ she leans closer, ‘put in a good word for me with your mum?’ she tinkles, throwing a glance back at Celeste.

I swallow hard.

She doesn’t remember me.

‘Of course,’ I choke out words at last. ‘She’d be lucky to have you!’ Over her shoulder, I see Celeste roll her eyes. I take a deep breath. ‘Crystal, I know it was a long time ago, but we’ve actually met before.’

She cocks her head, curious but not alarmed. ‘We have?’

I nod slowly. ‘When I was a teenager, I went to a funfair, where you were working…’

She looks a little embarrassed. ‘Oh my goodness, that was a different life!’ she exclaims, turning to glance at Celeste for a reaction, but she’s too busy staring at me, eyebrows knitted with confusion, to care about this woman’s shameful past as a fairground fortune teller. I feel a pang of guilt for not telling Celeste the truth, but plough on regardless.

‘You gave me six predictions for my future,’ I tell her quickly. ‘And loads of them have come true! But I need to… I need to know…’ I trail off. What do I need? What do I need to know? What am I asking for?

Crystal looks at me closely. ‘You, know, Ginny, youdolook familiar. And I remember…’ She stares off into the distance, her eyes glazing over. ‘I remember those predictions. I can see! I can see it all. Your path is clear.’

My heart leaps with excitement. She can see! She can see what’s going to happen on my path. She can tell me everything’s going to be OK. ‘What?’ I ask eagerly. ‘What can you see? What’s going to happen?’

Her eyes return to normal and she smiles nicely.

‘Ginny, this is my work.’

‘Huh?’ I glance nervously between Crystal and Myfanwy, who looks as confused as me.

Crystal’s smile gets wider. ‘I mean, Ginny, that I do personal readings and I do the show, but we’re not currently on camera and you’re not a member of my TV audience.’

‘Of course!’ I say quickly. ‘Can I schedule a personal reading then?’

‘Sure!’ she says brightly. ‘It costs £15,000.’

‘Oh.’ I feel myself deflate. ‘I see.’

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