The Lavender Butterfly

Chapter 7

After we left the beach, I found myself driving down a lonely road built through the middle of a swamp on the way to the town of Cassadaga. “This town really is in the middle of nowhere,” I said to Meredith. As we pulled into town, we were greeted by rows of buildings dedicated to the paranormal. Psychic readings, tarot card readings, mediums, and other attractions of the like. “Ooh, look Chris, a fortune teller! Let’s go in, I’ve always wanted to do one of these.” she said excitedly. “Yeah sure, why not?” I replied. We walked into the door of the fortune tellers. As we walked in, bells on the door chimed. I sniffed the room and observed a combination of burning sage and a musty old room. An older woman, wearing large rimmed glasses and a blue bandana covering her silver hair, greeted us as we walked in the door.  “Hello, welcome! Are you here for a fortune reading?” “Yes,” Meredith replied. “Do one for both of us, please.” The old lady smiled, as she led us to a small table with a crystal ball on it. Honestly this is exactly what I would expect from a fortune teller. It all seemed very stereotypical to me. She waved her hands above the crystal ball as she started to read Meredith’s fortune. “I see you walking confidently through an office, wearing a business suit, carrying yourself with a very dignified confidence. I see a big promotion in your future, many a day of great success. I also see a child in your home, embracing you lovingly.” “Could it be,” Meredith said, as she looked over to me, eyes starting to water. I looked at her solemnly. We both knew the truth, the truth that she would never be able to bear children. Her physician laid it out very clearly when we both went to her last appointment the previous year. “And you,” the fortune teller said as she turned to me. “I see a lavender colored butterfly, emerging from its cocoon…” she said, her voice strangely relaxing. I felt a sudden calm come over me, her voice giving me goosebumps. I felt strange, like she had cast a spell over me. I quickly shook it off. “A butterfly? What does that mean?” I replied. “Shh……I see great change in your near future. A great change and great uncertainty, as if you don’t know who you truly are. You will find yourself, a soul searching, if you will. An abrupt turn of events will see you going down a completely different path. There will be great struggle as you adapt to your new life, but you will find yourself born anew. A rebirth if you will.” “That must be what the butterfly emerging from the cocoon meant!” Meredith said. I didn’t say anything out loud, but I quietly dismissed her reading. It’s certainly not the fortune I would prefer to hear, that’s for sure. “Am I losing my job? Am I quitting, or getting fired or laid off?” I thought to myself. I like where my life is going. I’ve made great strides with my career, and Meredith and I have found our newfound wealth a vast improvement in our lives. Also, I feel that our love for each other is better than it’s ever been. Our love life and passion for each other have never been better as well. The thought of things changing wasn’t very appealing to me. “Thank you for your reading, madam,” Meredith replied, as we started for the door. “Any time, my dear. Feel free to come back another time!” The fortune teller rang as we left. As we got in the car, Meredith put the palms of her hands in mine. “What do you think she meant, about the child,” she said. “Could it be that we will finally get our wish?” I looked into her eyes, and I saw that she was overcome with emotion. “I’m sorry hon, you know I would like nothing more to start a family with you, but you remember what the doctor said……I mean you can take all the fertility drugs you can but, in the end, it will be no use. Believe me baby, I want a family too…. it’s just……I think that ship has sailed because…” I trailed off. I really didn’t need to continue my sentence. Her eyes lit up, as I anticipated what she was about to say next. “What if we adopted?” She spoke. I replied, “That might work, however that can be a very lengthy process. Plus, with all the paperwork and everything, I hear it can cost a lot of money.” I knew that we could easily afford it, but if I wanted a family, I would like it to be our own. Our own bloodline. Maybe it was selfish of me. I looked at Meredith and she looked back at me discouragingly. “Maybe we should head over to the hotel for the night. I’m getting a bit tired,” she said. “Yeah, me too,” I replied as we pulled out of the parking lot and drove down the road toward the hotel.