epidermis. "Is this some cheaters' reality TV show? Are you going to tell me you're having an affair with my boyfriend?"
What? Where did my long lost sister go?
"I don't even know who your boyfriend is. I'm dating Dr. Floyd Fowler." I stepped back and wondered about her emotional stability. "He lives in Maryland, and so do I."
"That explains why you're so pale."
Nice. The bronze hue of her skin extended way beyond Sparkle O's Goddess Bronzer, which told me she wouldn't be keen on a sun-avoidance lecture.
"Floyd Fowler, huh?" she asked.
"The one and only."
"His name's so dorky, it almost sounds made up." She gripped the edge of her table and eyed me like a lioness ready to launch a vicious attack.
I didn't like this predatory side of her. "I can't help what his mother named him."
Her expression softened some, but suspicion still clouded her eyes. "You swear on Sparkle O you're dating Floyd?"
"Yes. And as a fellow Sparkle O girl, you know I wouldn't lie." Lying was against our core beliefs.
"Sorry." She let out a breath and stretched her neck side-to-side. "My boyfriend and I are having some problems, so I get a little worked up."
"I understand." And truly, I did. My break-up-stye worry required a perpetual supply of dark chocolate almond clusters.
"You're both doctors?"
"We met in school." I was glad we were back on track, but our fun Sparkle O connection seemed tainted.
"Did you guys get your doctors of divinity at Higher Power Online University?"
I wasn't even sure what that degree was, nor had I heard of that college before. "No, we're both naturopathic doctors."
Her corneal suspicion intensified. "I thought the only doctors allowed in here were supposed to be PhDs in divine studies or metaphysics. How'd you get into this show?"
What a bizarre question. "I filled out the application and paid the registration fee."
"What'd you put for your profession when you registered?"
What had I listed? Then I remembered. "I'm not sure because my great auntie-slash-assistant signed up for me."
"You make your great aunt work for you?" Her tone held a barb of accusation.
"Hardly." I laughed because no one made Aunt Alfa do anything. "She loves working and has her own line of essential oils and herbs. She's been an aromatherapist and herbalist for more than seventy years."
Vesta scrunched her platinum eyebrows. "How old is she?"
"Just turned ninety-one. And until last year, she had her own practice in Pennsylvania. She tried to retire in Florida, but it didn't work out."
Retirement wasn't easy when your only life savings was an essential oil collection.
"Well, I hope you don't get in trouble." She turned around, dismissing me. But then she must have had second thoughts because she picked up an oversized stack of tarot cards and held them up for my inspection. "This is my brand new Goddess deck. Isn't it gorgeous?"
"Pretty artwork." A curvy woman with hair like an ebony river adorned the card.
"You want a reading? I'll give you a Sparkle O discount." She locked eyes with me. "Five dollars off."
I know she was trying to be nice, and maybe even compensate for her behavior, but a tarot reading didn't interest me. "Thanks, but I'm afraid I don't have time."
I hoped I sounded sincere. The last thing I wanted was a jealous vegan vixen after me.
CHAPTER THREE
Psychic Surgery and Voodoo Dolls
I made a beeline for my booth, and seconds later I saw it. Me, personified in a display.
Draped in hot pink velvet with rhinestone edging, the Health Nuts Rock booth radiated peace and happiness, just as I'd hoped. Pink was the color of love, and the stones added that extra bit of oomph to market the wellness book I'd just written, Health Nuts Rock: You Don't Have to be Certifiable to be Certifiably Healthy.
I stowed my purse beneath the table and looked over my show inventory, which consisted of Sparkle O products, autographed copies of my book, organic dark chocolate bars, and Aunt Alfa's herbal remedies and essential
What? Where did my long lost sister go?
"I don't even know who your boyfriend is. I'm dating Dr. Floyd Fowler." I stepped back and wondered about her emotional stability. "He lives in Maryland, and so do I."
"That explains why you're so pale."
Nice. The bronze hue of her skin extended way beyond Sparkle O's Goddess Bronzer, which told me she wouldn't be keen on a sun-avoidance lecture.
"Floyd Fowler, huh?" she asked.
"The one and only."
"His name's so dorky, it almost sounds made up." She gripped the edge of her table and eyed me like a lioness ready to launch a vicious attack.
I didn't like this predatory side of her. "I can't help what his mother named him."
Her expression softened some, but suspicion still clouded her eyes. "You swear on Sparkle O you're dating Floyd?"
"Yes. And as a fellow Sparkle O girl, you know I wouldn't lie." Lying was against our core beliefs.
"Sorry." She let out a breath and stretched her neck side-to-side. "My boyfriend and I are having some problems, so I get a little worked up."
"I understand." And truly, I did. My break-up-stye worry required a perpetual supply of dark chocolate almond clusters.
"You're both doctors?"
"We met in school." I was glad we were back on track, but our fun Sparkle O connection seemed tainted.
"Did you guys get your doctors of divinity at Higher Power Online University?"
I wasn't even sure what that degree was, nor had I heard of that college before. "No, we're both naturopathic doctors."
Her corneal suspicion intensified. "I thought the only doctors allowed in here were supposed to be PhDs in divine studies or metaphysics. How'd you get into this show?"
What a bizarre question. "I filled out the application and paid the registration fee."
"What'd you put for your profession when you registered?"
What had I listed? Then I remembered. "I'm not sure because my great auntie-slash-assistant signed up for me."
"You make your great aunt work for you?" Her tone held a barb of accusation.
"Hardly." I laughed because no one made Aunt Alfa do anything. "She loves working and has her own line of essential oils and herbs. She's been an aromatherapist and herbalist for more than seventy years."
Vesta scrunched her platinum eyebrows. "How old is she?"
"Just turned ninety-one. And until last year, she had her own practice in Pennsylvania. She tried to retire in Florida, but it didn't work out."
Retirement wasn't easy when your only life savings was an essential oil collection.
"Well, I hope you don't get in trouble." She turned around, dismissing me. But then she must have had second thoughts because she picked up an oversized stack of tarot cards and held them up for my inspection. "This is my brand new Goddess deck. Isn't it gorgeous?"
"Pretty artwork." A curvy woman with hair like an ebony river adorned the card.
"You want a reading? I'll give you a Sparkle O discount." She locked eyes with me. "Five dollars off."
I know she was trying to be nice, and maybe even compensate for her behavior, but a tarot reading didn't interest me. "Thanks, but I'm afraid I don't have time."
I hoped I sounded sincere. The last thing I wanted was a jealous vegan vixen after me.
CHAPTER THREE
Psychic Surgery and Voodoo Dolls
I made a beeline for my booth, and seconds later I saw it. Me, personified in a display.
Draped in hot pink velvet with rhinestone edging, the Health Nuts Rock booth radiated peace and happiness, just as I'd hoped. Pink was the color of love, and the stones added that extra bit of oomph to market the wellness book I'd just written, Health Nuts Rock: You Don't Have to be Certifiable to be Certifiably Healthy.
I stowed my purse beneath the table and looked over my show inventory, which consisted of Sparkle O products, autographed copies of my book, organic dark chocolate bars, and Aunt Alfa's herbal remedies and essential
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