Dalir's Salvation Read Free Page B

Instead, she’d endured the label of failure and accepted termination after termination. But she wouldn’t bring crystal-ball antics into Diva Unique. The store was her best friend’s baby. Celine had entrusted it to her while she trekked through Bali and Tibet. She couldn’t let her girl down.
    Ari and the woman moved to the jewelry display. They sorted through gold filigree rings and fashionable bangles.
    “These are nice.” The woman sighed. “But I found out from one of my mother-in-law’s friends that she absolutely hated the designer jewelry I bought her for Christmas. This is a disaster. I don’t know what to choose. I can’t mess up her birthday gift, too.”
    The woman’s stress engulfed Ari. Before she changed her mind, Ari clasped the woman’s arm. Fiery tingles spread into her hand. Jessica. That was the customer’s name. As a newlywed, Jessica not only agonized over pleasing her mom-in-law but feared disappointing her husband as well.
    Mere seconds ticked by, but for Ari it extended into moments, allowing her a glimpse into the young woman’s emotions and fragments of thoughts. More of the fiery sensation spread up Ari’s arm. Her heart rate kicked up. She ignored a warning to let go before she passed out. So close. Just a bit longer. Something useful would surely pop up.
    Blue. The rest of the clues flashed like a neon sign.
    Ari let go. A held breath whooshed out of her. It wasn’t surprising to find the answer buried underneath a mountain of worry. Most people stood in the way of their own good instincts. Spots floated before her eyes. Ari coughed as she waved away Jessica’s concerned expression. “I’m fine. I swallowed down the wrong pipe. I just lost my breath for second.” Her vision cleared. She led Jessica down one of the aisles. The narrow skirt of Ari’s purple dress limited her stride. “I think I have something that will work.” She rose on the toes of her beige high-heeled pumps and sorted through a stack of folded, colorful fabrics on the shelf. She’d stocked it last night after closing. “What do you think?”
    Jessica snatched the cream and blue, paisley scarf from Ari’s hand. “Oh my gosh! My mother-in-law just read a fashion article a few weeks ago about tying scarves. She loved the idea of using them to spice up her wardrobe. She just hasn’t been able to find what she likes, but she’ll love this. The blue matches her eyes.” Jessica stared in amazement. “How did you know?”
    Ari feigned a shrug of innocence. “Lucky guess.”
    “Seriously? Lucky guess? This is perfect. You’re nothing short of amazing.”
    Joy infused Ari. “Just doing my job.” Sometimes her ability did bring some good. That’s all she’d ever wanted, but she’d sworn not to use her special insight after losing her last job two months ago. Well, maybe just one more time. “Now, what about you? After all you’ve been through, you deserve something pretty.” Ari steered Jessica toward a charm bracelet she knew the young woman would love.
    The rest of the morning sped by with Saturday shoppers wandering in from the mall corridor. As the lone sales attendant, Ari did double duty helping customers and ringing up purchases. Two hours later, the store emptied. She kicked off her shoes behind the sales counter and wiggled her toes. Function trumped comfort. That’s why she wore heels no less than three inches. Without the addition to her height, she’d spend the day with a crick in her neck from constantly looking up.
    She snagged a pen and pad from the counter and made a list of items to replenish. Candles, stationary, and lemon-lavender bath salts. Lauren absolutely loved bath salts as well as the other high-end bath products. After a month in the jungle, she was probably suffering from withdrawals. She’d set some aside for her. Ari added another case of bath salts to the list.
    Funny. She hadn’t sensed Lauren’s decision to volunteer at a remote health clinic in South America