Close to Destiny (A Magical Love Story)

Chapter 8

Later

I wanted to spend hours in bed crying and hiding my face from the light of day. But I couldn't. I had to get out of The Grand East Hotel. At least for a few hours. I was going stir crazy in the quiet dimness. I wanted to go back to New York and forget about everyone and everything I had come across here in London. But I couldn't do that either. I bundled myself up in the black wool coat that fell like an A-line dress to my knees. I was about to close the door to the wardrobe when the corner of a silver bag, tossed hastily in the corner, caught my eye.

The hat. It wouldn't be a useless acquisition after all. I tucked my hair under the brim and glanced into the mirror.

"It looks ravishing on you!" The words echoed in my head. But it wasn't the voice of the man who'd bought me the hat. It was another voice. Familiar, but I couldn't identify it. Over and over, the words expanded in my mind, reaching a deafening crescendo. I swallowed hard and studied my reflection. The lightheadedness I had felt in the shop was back with a vengeance. I yanked off the hat and collapsed onto the bed.

Shivers ran through me even though I was covered up enough for a winter in Antarctica. Slowly, I glanced at the hat and shook my head. I knew I was being ridiculous. It was a perfectly beautiful hat, so why wouldn't I hear my own inner voice commenting on it? I was the one driving myself insane.

I sat up, took the hat gently in my hands and tucked it into the silver bag. Once my mental state improved, I would wear it. For the moment, it seemed as if I had created some sort of bizarre fixation... at least that's what Dr. Bell likely would have said.

Taking a deep breath, I left the room, walked briskly through the hallways and out the revolving front door. I pushed the hat episode to the back of my mind. The icy air filled my lungs, made me shudder and cringe. I'd become too accustomed to the constant heat of the hotel. There wasn't much on this street other than a few pubs, but around the corner there was a complex of shops. I wandered in and out of a few to pass time. Only the bookstore was of any interest to me. I smacked 15 pounds onto the counter and bought a book about interpreting dreams. Would this somehow give me a bit of control in a situation that had left me powerless and confused? Maybe.

Book in hand, I crossed the street to a whimsical looking tearoom with purple doors and shutters. It was crowded, but I found a tiny glass table and a plush lavender chair at the back of the room.

"Welcome to Violet's Tea Dream, may I take your order?" a breathless lilting voice said. "Our specialty is violet tea and violet scones."

"That'll be fine," I said, still digesting the unusual décor. I was the lone tea drinker of the bunch. Mothers and daughters, friends and couples sat at each table. A flowery scent—most likely the violets—filled the air. It calmed me. I took a deep breath and turned to chapter one. At the same time, the waitress set a silver teapot, a silver-rimmed china cup and a fragrant, lavender-tinged scone on the lace placemat in front of me. My eyes returned to the printed page, but before I could finish reading the first sentence, a strange yet familiar feeling made me look up.

"You know those kinds of books are useless, don't you?" Destiny slid into the chair next to mine. "Fifteen pounds out the window," she continued with a grin. "But if it amuses you..." She sighed and shook her head.

My hands trembled, and the book fell to the floor. I was simultaneously hot as an oven and cold as a glacier. I didn't know if seconds or minutes had passed, but it felt like forever by the time the waitress reappeared and told Destiny she would bring "the usual."

"You come here often?" I mumbled. I was shocked that my voice was actually able to make it out of my throat.

"This is my tearoom," she said. Destiny picked up my book, dusted it off and set it on the table. "I meant what I said about these kinds of books. A total waste of money." Shamefully, I stuffed my recent purchase into my backpack.

Destiny poured a cup of tea and handed it to me. I took a sip, not wanting to offend her.

"Delicious," I said, but my mind was far from the taste of violet tea.

I took a deep breath. I couldn't be dreaming. Destiny was right here with me in broad daylight. The waitress saw her after all. And she looked so normal. An ordinary young woman sitting down for an afternoon snack. Out of the corner of my eye, I looked her up and down. Today, she was wearing a long, blue dress—sort of plain compared with her usual fashion statements.

"So you are real," I said.

"Of course I am," she said with a laugh.

"This is really uncomfortable, but I have... some questions... I'm confused. I mean, how do you know me? Who are those friends of yours and how can they have a party in a room that's being renovated? And Will? Who is he, and why did you want me to meet him?" I hoped I didn't sound hysterical, but I couldn't miss this daytime, somewhat-normal opportunity to unravel the strangeness that had entangled me in its unwelcome web.

The waitress returned with Destiny's tea and scone, then disappeared in a matter of seconds. Destiny looked at me with kind, understanding eyes.

"Oh, initiation is always difficult," she said. "But it's the only road."

"Initiation into what?"

Destiny took a delicate bite of her scone and a sip of tea, then gazed thoughtfully into space before coming back to Earth.

"I was a bit presumptuous when we first met, so I've decided to take a step back. You're not ready to hear everything, or understand everything yet, Kat, but the one thing I can tell you is that Will is not a figment of your imagination, and you'll be meeting him again—that is, if you want to."

"I do want to see him." Elation filled my heart, but I told myself to hold back this silly feeling of joy. I couldn't plunge into anything.

"Yes, but there's some hesitation too. You don't want to rush."

"How did you know that?" I asked.

"It's written all over your face."

"Destiny..." I said her name awkwardly, like a child getting used to the sound of a new word. "Why did you choose me for whatever it is you're doing?"

She laughed and touched my hand lightly.

"I didn't choose you, Katherine. Things have a way of unfolding and guiding us in certain directions. I can't turn my back on my responsibilities."

I felt more in the dark than before our conversation. Most of my questions had gone unanswered, and as a matter of fact, the questions had multiplied like dangerous spores.

"Don't be discouraged, Katherine. I told you that you had to meet Will, and that worked out splendidly. The rest will too."

She took a final sip of tea, told me my order was on the house, smiled brilliantly and headed out the door. I stared at my uneaten scone and the crumbs Destiny had left behind. Feelings of relief, confusion and frustration entwined. What right did Destiny have to play with my life? How had she managed to take such control in a period of days? I held my head in my hands, hoping the headache that was starting to creep up would go away.

If you enjoyed this chapter, please vote – thank you!