Free Don't Die Dragonfly by Linda Joy Singleton Page A

before they happen. I hate myself for deceiving you, but I never lost my gift. Can you forgive me?”
    Her hazel eyes narrowed thoughtfully. There was a ding from the timer and she turned to check on the simmering sauce. Then she fixed her gaze back on me and said, “There’s nothing to forgive.”
    “Go ahead and yell at me. I deserve it.”
    “You don’t owe me an apology.”
    “I owe you much more! You were so disappointed when I said I lost my powers and couldn’t carry on the family gift. And you brought Dominic here as some sort of an apprentice. Only you don’t need him anymore because you have me.”
    “I was afraid of this,” Nona said with a sad shake of her head. “You found out I was mentoring Dominic and you’re jealous.”
    “No! That’s not it at all.”
    “You don’t resent his being here?”
    “Well … a little.” I paused. “But that’s not the issue. In fact, Dominic was the one who insisted I tell you the truth.”
    “Honey, you don’t have to pretend for me. I love you even if you didn’t inherit my gift.”
    “But I did!” I argued. “I was lying before, not now.”
    She gently squeezed my hand. “Sabine, you’re my granddaughter and I adore you more than the universe. I’ll admit, I was disappointed when I found out you’d lost your psychic ability, but I’ve accepted it. And you have to, too.”
    “But I didn’t lose anything. I still see ghosts. I talk to Opal all the time. I get strange visions.”
    “Are you sure? Or do you only want to think you have your gift?”
    “I don’t think anything—I know. Why can’t you believe me?”
    “I want to, honey, but I’ll need more.” She put her hands on her hips and gave me a challenging look. “Prove it.”

If Opal weren’t already dead, I would have killed her.
    She could have said something—anything at all!—to convince my grandmother that I was in contact with the other side. Instead, she slammed an “Out to Lunch” sign on our communication channel. I begged and pleaded with her, yet nothing worked.
    So I tried to summon a spirit.
    I visualized a protective white light shielding me like armor against any dark spirits. Most spirits were cool and eager to find someone who could understand them, maybe pass on a message to a loved one. But you never knew when a stinker would butt in.
    Nona stood by with a patient, sympathetic expression while I concentrated hard. “Is anyone there?” I mentally called out.
    Nothing.
    “Can you hear me? I just want to talk.”
    But apparently no one wanted to talk with me. And I blamed Opal.
    “You’re doing this to get back at me for telling you to go away,” I silently accused. “Go ahead. Play your games. I can do this on my own.”
    Nona gave me a pitiful glance, and that fueled my determination to prove myself. I snapped my fingers and gestured to the phone. “Watch this. I’ll predict who’s calling. Ask anyone to call but don’t tell me who, and I’ll guess who it is before the phone is answered.”
    “Aren’t you taking this a bit too far?” she asked, amused.
    “Not until you believe me.”
    “It’s not that important. You’re beautiful, healthy, and smart. You’re wonderful without any extra powers.”
    “Call someone.” I pointed to the phone.
    She sighed, but did as I asked. She went into another room to call someone, careful to shut the door so I wouldn’t overhear. And when the phone finally rang a few minutes later, I played the “Who’s Calling” game I’d enjoyed since I was a child.
    “It’s a woman.” I forced an image into my head. “She’s blonde—in her thirties and she is … looking for romance.”
    I grabbed the receiver on the third ring—and nearly died when I recognized the voice on the other end. Gerby Weatherby was a balding, eighty-something, poker-playing pal of Nona’s.
    “The only romance he’s ever after is the cozy union of a pair of aces,” Nona said with a laugh as she thanked Gerby and hung up.
    “But