The cab pulled to a stop along a curb on the other side of town and Trist pushed bills at the driver. Val watched, it was quite a bit more then the fare and the slender man smiled warmly and shook his head, refusing change. The driver drew a breath and the line between his eyes eased, some small worry was lifted and he nodded and thanked them as they climbed out.

“His daughter’s sick, they don’t have insurance and he doesn’t get paid until Friday.” Trist explained as the cab pulled away. “Well, here we are.”

The neighborhood was older homes, most with store fronts and the entire neighborhood felt fifty years behind the times. The side walk was cracked but children played on the corner with no fear of violence. Cars drove slowly around, parking on the street was mostly filled, it was a place with character.

They stood in front of one store, raised slightly from the street level. The glass front windows had the name “Everly’s” written in a flowing script across the front but blinds were pulled and there was no description of what kind of business lay within. Trist didn’t wait, he stepped up the wide path to the door with gingerly placed feet.

Val followed but it was the kind of store he didn’t visit. It was local, you had to belong to the neighborhood to know what was inside and Val had never belonged to any neighborhood. There wasn’t a moment’s hesitation for Trist, he pulled the door open and old, brass bells overhead jingled. Val followed into the dim store but even before his eyes adjusted, he knew the smell of old books and green tea.

“Well, honey child, I was wondering when you’d show up.”

It took blinking like a bewildered owl for Val to pull his eyes from the shelf after shelf of old, cloth and leather bound books to the large, black woman that was sailing around the corner of the counter she’d been sitting behind to wrap her arms around Trist. Her skin was as black as night and her eyes as dark and even with the weight and years she wore, she was lovely. Her hair was twisted into tight braids and small beads and bells hung from their length and added a cheerful noise when she moved. Small, round reading glasses sat forgotten on her nose and when she smiled, her face nearly split in two.

Trist tossed himself against her bulk and clung to the comforting warmth and feel of her. “Eshe, how’d you know I was going to stop by.”

She stroked a hand down the back of his head and across the braid while squeezing him tighter in the hug. “Honey, anytime Alice in Wonderland falls off the shelf I know you’ll be stopping by.” She whistled low. “What’ve you been up to, boy? You’re vibrating like a badly made bell?” But she was glancing around Trist to the man that had followed him and the uneasy way he was eyeing her and the collection of books.

“Gavan’s away for the weekend, I had a rough night.” He sighed and felt knots in his shoulders letting go.

“Well.” She pulled the skinny young man away. “If he’s away and you’re only a little shaky after a bad night I’d say you’re doing fine indeed!” She leaned in and pressed a kiss to the side of his face. “Now, who’s this you’ve got with you? Don’t tell me, you’ve finally got a boyfriend?” She smiled and tucked an arm around Trist.

“I’m not, I mean, we’re not, I…” Val stuttered.

Eshe laughed. “Oh, he’s cute.”

“Val, this is Eshe Everly. Eshe love, this is Val, my keeper for the weekend and yes, he is beyond adorable.” When Eshe slid her arm from around him, Trist grinned wider.

Val, however, was blushing. It only made him look more charming. “It’s nice to meet you.” He managed to force out but before he could offer his hand to the approaching woman, he was gathered into a hug. It made him tense, unused to such casual contact but when she withdrew he wasn’t kissed as Trist had been.

“Very nice to meet any friends of Trist’s.” She turned to where the seer stood, a soft and contented look on his face. “I assume you’d like to go upstairs?”

“Always but…” Trist pulled his eyes away from Val’s enchanting blush and his lewd thoughts.

“Oh, go, take your time, honey, you need it. I’ll keep Val here occupied.” She smiled. “We’ll have tea.”

“Thanks.” Just being in the store eased Trist’s nerves. “I promise I won’t be long, Val, I’ll be right back.”

“Sure, this was your outing.” Val shoved his hands in his pockets as he watched Trist turn and head to the spiral staircase at the back of the store.

“Take that coat off, Val.” Eshe shooed at him as she turned the look on the door and flipped the sign around to closed. “I turned the heat up knowing that Trist was on his way. We’ll both boil here soon!” She moved to return to her seat behind the counter. “Tea?”

“Thanks.” Val eyed the ceramic pot and the three waiting mugs. “Will your father be joining us? I know Trist would like to see him.”

She paused in her pouring. “My father?” The wide smile split her face again. “Oh, to Trist it would be that way. Honey, my father’s been dead for almost thirty years.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…”

“Hush, father is still here, as I will linger when my daughter takes my place here and she will when my grandson replaces here. It’s the way of our family. I may not have the gifts Trist has, but I know who knocks Alice In Wonderland from the shelf before he shows up for a visit.” She raised her eyes to the back stairs and the small room at the top. “To Trist though, he talks as easily to my father as he does to me.”

Val nodded and sipped his tea.

“But, you doubt his sight.” Eshe nodded and kept her eyes on the handsome man sitting on the other side of her desk.

“I believe he thinks what he says is the truth. He’s said things he shouldn’t have been able to know. I’ve no other explanation.”

She laughed warmly. “Oh, spoken like a true man of logic. You are cute.”

Val blushed and it only made the woman across from him laugh harder.

“If I was twenty years younger, hmm.” Her head shook and the beads rattled. “But I’m old enough to be your mother! Here.” She pushed a deck of cards across the flat surface. “Pick me a card, any card.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Indulge me. They won’t bite, just pick one.” She sipped her tea while Val uneasily selected a card at random and handed it to her. “Ah, the five of cups. You’ve lost someone you loved, sorrow and grief and it’s recent.”

The mug rattled slightly as Val set it back down.

“A little girl, no…” Eshe stared at the card. “A boy, odd a woman older then yourself?” She frowned. “A family.” She sighed and smiled gently. “I’m so sorry dear, your sister?”

“How do you…” He felt his heart pounding and wished he could escape back to the sane world he used to live in.

“The cards tell me, I listen. Draw another card for me?”

His hand was shaking a little but he pulled another card.

The card turned over. “The nine of swords? Dishonesty and death, odd.” She studied the card. “There’s lies around your sister’s death, things you don’t yet know. Oh, my such sadness in it. You’re the last of your family?”

“I don’t think I want to do this anymore, I’m sorry.” Val glanced down to stare into his tea but a comforting warm hand wrapped around one of his and drew his eyes back up.

“Draw another card, child, drawn another and see it through.”

Black eyes locked to brown and Val drew another card.

“Knight of wands. A lover with a generous and mercurial nature…” She glanced back to the stairs Trist had climbed. “Another, please?”

Val pulled a card and slid it across the table.

“Ten of swords…” She stared at the cards for a moment before glancing up and smiling. “Well, now that wasn’t what I was looking to read!” The cards scooped together and she set them aside.

“What did it mean?” Val asked carefully.

“Val, it’s just cards.”

“What did it mean?”

She glanced up to where Trist had gone. “There’s more to your sister’s death then you’re aware of, a new lover, Trist as I see it, is a good guide to finding those answers but to pursue it will lead to danger.”

“What about my sister’s death? It was an accident.” Only, he remembered Trist standing outside his apartment door saying the same thing that Eshe was trying to say.

“I don’t know, I only see what the cards show me.”

“Trist and I, we’re not involved like that. I’m not, I mean…” He gave up under her steady, knowing look.

“Pull another card for me?”

“Why?”

“Because I wish to see.”

Val pulled one more, and rolled his eyes.

“Ah, the lovers, the start of a meaningful romance. Hit me again, dealer.” She smiled wickedly.

Val sighed and pulled another card from the deck.

“Interesting, another major card, the Hierophant, reversed, an unorthodox or break in convention. One last card?” She raised an eyebrow.

“Am I allowed to say no?”

“Not really.”

Val let the card snap out onto the table.

Eshe laughed. “How powerful! All major cards! The fool, a card of new beginnings, of unlimited options and one of pleasure and passion. So, do you want to tell me again that you’re not gay and not interested in Trist?”