Free Cartomancy by Kristin Cook

you are correct.” He
smiled. “What’s your name again Miss? I don’t believe Jordan told
me.” Astrid looked at Jordan and kicked him under the coffee table.
“Oh, sorry grandpa, her name is Astrid. She is Lilly’s
granddaughter.” All at once, the mood in the room changed. “Well,
you don’t say, are you really Lilly’s granddaughter?” His
grandfather said beaming. Astrid noticed that he seemed to sit up
straighter all of the sudden. “Yes, Sir…as a matter of fact we…..”
suddenly Jordan’s grandpa jumped up. “You kids, wait here, I’ll be
right back.” He walked quickly, almost running, out of the room.
Astrid looked at Jordan and he just shrugged his shoulders. His
grandpa returned a few minutes later with a huge vase full of
roses. Beautiful red roses with some pink and yellow smaller ones
mixed in. He handed the vase to Astrid. “These are for your grandma
Lilly, please give them to her for me, won’t you?” He winked at
Astrid. Astrid had no idea what had just happened. “Yes?” was all
she could muster. Jordan nudged her in the ribs and smiled. “Well,
grandpa, I guess we better get going before Miss Lilly thinks we
were kidnapped or something.” Like that could ever happen is this
town Astrid thought to herself. Jordan got up and hugged his
grandpa.“Ok, you kids be careful and make sure you tell your
grandma that I picked those especially for her.” He said waving
from the porch as they walked down the stairs to the sidewalk. “We
certainly will!” Jordan yelled back. As Astrid walked up the street
she chuckled to herself and wiped a tear from her eye. She finally
knew something that her grandma didn’t. And she couldn’t wait to
tell her.
     

Chapter 23
     
    A few weeks had passed and Waverly finally
came over to see Astrid. “Can we talk?” She texted Astrid from out
in the front yard. After a few minutes Astrid replied “Took you
long enough, but whatevs.” Waverly went up onto the porch and began
shuffling her tarot cards at the table. Astrid came outside with
two cans of pop and some chips in a bowl. For a moment the girls
sat quietly, not knowing what to say, then Astrid’s phone buzzed
and vibrated on the table. She looked at the text message: “Well
this is awkward.” She let out a loud sigh and rolled her eyes. “Did
you seriously just text me?” Waverly took her friends hand in hers.
“Please believe me, I did not mean to say the thing that we aren’t
talking about. It was an accident. I thought it would be funny. I
didn’t know it would be headline news all over the world.” Astrid
began to cry. “But, you DID say it! And now everyone thinks that
I’m some vampire-freak!” Now both girls were crying. Waverly got up
and put her arms around her best friend. “I am so sorry Astrid, I
really wanted to come sooner but I’ve been grounded. No electronics
or anything. Can you please just forgive me? You’re my best friend.
People are talking about me too, it isn’t just you!” Astrid looked
up and wiped her nose on her sleeve. “Is that supposed to make me
feel better? The whole world not only thinks I am a freak, but my
best friend too? You know that NO boys are ever going to talk to us
when school starts!” Waverly sat at Astrid’s feet and looked up at
her. “Probably not, and maybe nobody will. That’s why we have to
stick together. We’re all that we’ve got.” Waverly sat back in her
chair and Astrid drew her legs up and sat with her head on her
knees. “Listen Waverly, I came over here today to talk you and to
see where we go from here. A lot of people still want readings. I
don’t know what to tell them. Astrid took a drink of her soda and a
handful of chips and tried to calm down. “Well, first of all my
parents don’t want me doing it anymore. It’s too disruptive or
something.” She halfway smiled. “I know, my mom doesn’t want me to
either for some odd reason.” Waverly said throwing a chip at
Astrid. “What’s wrong with