Any Way You Want It by Kathy Love Read Free Book Online

ability to see the future since I was a child.”
    Maggie nodded, not sure what she was supposed to say to that.
    Hattie paused from pouring tea into the cup. “And I am very good, very in tune with the ether—but I think it would just be easier if you told me your name.”
    A laugh escaped Maggie. “I’m sorry. I’m Maggie.”
    “Hello, Maggie.” Hattie didn’t offer her hand, but did offer a smile that revealed slightly yellowed teeth, and a warmth in her blue eyes. The witch impression was immediately transformed into a grandmotherly one.
    Maggie found herself relaxing her posture, just a bit.
    “So are you visiting us from someplace else?”
    Maggie realized that was always one of the first questions people asked here. First sign of a tourist town, she guessed.
    “Yes. From D.C.”
    Hattie nodded. “I went there years ago. Weird aura there. Must be all the politicians.”
    Maggie smiled, and realized she actually agreed. She couldn’t deny that while New Orleans had a strong energy, it was a nice feeling. An almost giddy feeling. Whereas D.C. felt oddly cold and…
    well, like Hattie said, weird. And she supposed the abundance of politicians was as good an explanation as any.
    Maggie paused. When had she ever considered such things? She’d never thought about the energy of a place. She wasn’t so cosmic—yet after two days of being in this city, she was starting to think there could be a certain mystic quality to a place.
    Still, she didn’t really believe a person could tell her future. First of all, why would this woman get a vision of her life from the other side? Maggie wasn’t interesting enough to merit spirits or energies or whatever taking the time to send visions to Hattie. At best, Hattie would get images of her bent over a desk, studying crumbling sheet music for hours on end.
    Maggie watched as Hattie finished pouring the tea and laying things out in a systematic order. A dozen bangles on her left arm jangled as she worked. But aside from the bangles and the long, graying hair, Maggie realized Hattie didn’t look particularly like a fortune-teller. She wore a turtleneck and tweed trousers
    “Relax, Maggie,” she said offering another warm-eyed smile. “Just enjoy yourself. You don’t have to believe what I tell you, anyway.”
    Apparently Maggie looked every bit the nervous skeptic.
    “Okay,” Hattie said, “think of a question or a concern and turn over the cup.”
    Maggie considered what she might want to know. For the briefest moment, the musician from last night popped into her head. She’d love to know what he’d thought about her. Then she pushed that thought aside. She suspected she did know—and it wasn’t flattering.
    She considered again and decided to go with work. Work was always safe. And maybe Hattie would tell her some exciting story. Like she’d discover something truly amazing. A composer long lost and recognized only by her.
    “Okay,” Maggie said. She carefully picked up the cup, and tipped it over so the teacup was facedown on the saucer. She flipped it back over, and watched as Hattie lifted the cup and peered inside.
    Hattie’s eyes lost some of their warmth as she focused, totally engrossed by what she saw in the cup. Her lips tugged down at the corners.
    “You work a lot.”
    Maggie’s own eyes widened. Okay, it was a little spooky that she went right to the topic of work.
    But then work was central to many people’s lives. Plus she had no wedding ring—and what did woman her age who weren’t married do?
    Work.
    “You actually hide in your work. Use it to avoid things like past failures, lack of love life.”
    Maggie remained still. Okay, see, that was the line of thought she’d just followed herself. Safe deductions.
    Hattie turned the cup slightly. “And I see that you were engaged. But that didn’t work out.”
    Again, given her age, Maggie supposed that was a safe guess too.
    She turned the cup again, as if she was reading the information