I stare at her in surprise. It feels wrong to take it from her and yet she seems utterly fixed in her intention to give it to me. She fixes the amulet onto her chain and comes towards me. “It belonged to my grandmother. My daughter died so I have no one to give it to.”
She comes close to me, and the scent of herbs and fresh flowers fills my nostrils. Bizarrely, the smell is familiar to me. I inhale deeply and feel certain I recognize it from somewhere. She fastens the chain around my neck, and it is still warm from her flesh.
Then her gnarled, roughened hand strokes my cheek tenderly.
I want to ask her for the name of the perfume she is wearing, but the words are stuck in my throat. Then she withdraws her hand and says, “Go now, my child. Never forget, love will conquer everything. Everything.”
Chapter 32
Autumn
I have strange dreams all night long. Of tall, beautiful people I’ve never met before, but they gather around me protectively and touch my face the way Zelena did. Tenderly, as if they love me. Some of them whisper, “Courage, Autumn. Courage. Love will conquer everything.”
When my alarm rings in the morning, I feel groggy and unprepared for the world. The first thing I do is cradle the amulet Zelena gave me. I don’t exactly understand what happened last night. I paid her ten dollars for a fortune telling session, and came away with an obviously valuable and ancient piece of jewelry. I feel slightly guilty, as if I have taken advantage of a very lonely old woman, but she was so totally sure she wanted me to have it. If anything, it felt as if she had been waiting to give it to me. Which of course, is nonsense. I’m a complete stranger to her.
Still, I resolve to visit her more often and take her little presents of food. Her kitchen had nothing in it. I’ll be the granddaughter she never had.
As I get out of bed, I wonder how Rocco is feeling, if his bout of pain and sickness is over yet. I decide to call when I get to the gallery and find out, but just as I’m unlocking the back door of the gallery, the phone starts ringing inside. I rush to it and it is William.
“Miss Delaney,” he says formally. “The Count is much better this morning. He has finally fallen asleep. He asked me to inform you that he will see you tonight.”
I explain to him that my best friend is coming to visit and we will be going away together for the weekend. Could he also please tell Rocco that I will see him on Monday night, if that is all right with him.
I put down the phone and feel happier. Rocco is fine and Sam is coming today. The day passes easily. Some customers come in, and one even buys a small painting by my favorite South African artist. He paints using mud and chalk and minerals he finds in the earth.
At nearly three in the afternoon the rusty bell above the door rings and Sam walks through. We laugh and scream so much Larry comes down to see what the commotion is about. When I tell him about Sam’s achievement he insists on opening a bottle of champagne. We toast to her success. It is a good afternoon, the sun slants in through the big glass windows, Sam’s hair is like fire, Larry seems relaxed and untroubled, and I feel happy. Sam asks me if I have something to wear for the black-tie event and I say, ‘Kind of.”
Immediately Larry chases us out of the gallery. “Go on. Get out of here. Go buy something before all the shops shut.”
We spill out of the gallery laughing. The champagne is fizzing in my veins, as I link arms with Sam. There is only one boutique worth going to in town, not that I’ve even been in it, but judging purely from the dresses they display in their window, so we head towards it. Even from across the street, I see the most beautiful dress I have ever seen in my life in their window.
“Wow, look at that,” Sam exclaims.
We cross the street and stand on the pavement staring at the dress. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”
She turns towards me. “That’s the dress we’re getting for you.”
I shake my head. “No way I’m paying that much for a dress I will never wear more than once.”
“You’re not paying for it. I am. Remember I won ten thousand.”
I frown. “No, I don’t want you to spend that kind of money on a dress for me. The prize is for you.”
“Come on. Let’s go in and see how much it is first.”
The sales assistant comes forward with a smile. “Hello.”