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was even more excited than I was at the prospect of having him living across the hall from her. I
smiled happily at both of them, inordinately pleased. I d hoped that Evie and Cruz would hit it
off, and I was thrilled that she liked his clothes. Evie had an unerring eye for talent. If she took
someone under her wing they were certain to succeed.
My goodness! Look at the time! We have lunch reservations at the club in half an hour.
I changed out of the gown and we took the elevator down to the parking garage. Boris had
the Rolls waiting, warmed up and ready to drive. Evie took Cruz on a quick tour of her late
husband s automobile collection, which filled a whole level of the building s garage. Cruz was
floored by all the beautiful cars, and particularly enamored of a shining silver Jaguar. I knew
nothing about cars, but its sleek lines were appealing, and I had to admit it was a beauty.
Evie turned to me while Cruz wandered among the cars, Your cousin is an absolute delight!
And he s so deliciously counter-culture. I can t wait until the girls at the club see him!
I laughed at her. Evie was always enchanted by unique and talented people. I had a feeling
she was already hatching plans to make Cruz her new project. I grinned when I thought of the
thrill ride that was in store for him. He was going to love getting to know Evie.
When Boris showed up with the Rolls I persuaded Cruz to drive it, since he had more
experience behind the wheel. He was nervous but excited, taking the wheel with wide eyes. Evie
asked Boris to prepare the Jaguar for us to take home.
These cars need to get out more often, she explained, And you can come up to see me
again in a few weeks and trade it for another.
We arrived with great fanfare to lunch at Evie s club, and were given the royal treatment.
Waiters fussed and flapped around our table, showering us with attention. I knew that Evie was
an excellent tipper, but they all seemed genuinely eager to please her. Cruz was mightily
impressed with everything he saw, hanging on Evie s every word and gesture. It occurred to me
that he was in the early stages of his training to enter the rarified world of fashion design.
Seated at a plush banquette, we were surrounded by colorful saltwater fish tanks. Every time
I looked up I saw fishy little eyes watching me, and I decided against ordering seafood. I found
myself daydreaming about swimming amongst them, spinning around and under the pink coral.
Evie commissioned Cruz to make her a gown for a New Year s Eve ball she d be attending
when she wintered in Switzerland. It would be loaded with European high society and simply
everyone would be there. They chattered away with their heads together, dreaming up the
design and color scheme, making sketches on napkins. I was lost in my thoughts of mermaids
and their mysteries, wondering if Lue Khang s theory about water spirits could possibly be true.
Earth to Marina! Cruz interrupted my musings, waving a hand before my eyes. Won t
that be a blast?
What? I asked, coming back to reality.
I ve made plans to visit Madame Fatima, Evie announced. We re all going to have a
reading of the future! I see a beautiful gown in mine, she winked at Cruz.
We picked up the car from the valet and drove to the outskirts of the city. Evie directed us to
a quiet residential neighborhood, where we parked in front of a small pink stucco house. We
passed through a wrought iron gate and entered a courtyard built around an ornate rococo
fountain, green with moss. Strange little garden gnomes peeked out from behind lush ferns that
lined the pathway, ending at a small black door with an evil eye amulet mounted over it.
Evie s penchant for visiting psychics, palm readers and new age spiritualists had taken us all
over the city, but this was one of the more unusual locations she d dragged me out to. I knew one
thing for sure; Madame Fatima was simply the flavor of the month.
The three of us were led into a dimly lit sitting room by a small, elaborately dressed woman.
The first thing that struck me about Madame Fatima were her large, deeply set eyes. Glittering
like polished onyx, they struck me as ancient and reptilian. Those arresting eyes were set in a
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