Love's Prophecy

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Book excerpt

Chapter 1

Maddie and her roommate June strolled through the streets, enjoying the fair, eating cotton candy and trying their luck at a couple of games. June won a bear at ring toss. Maddie won some oversized glasses at the sharpshooting booth. The fair was set up close to their university. They were halfway through their senior years and were glad for a chance to wander around and get their minds off testing for a while.

They spotted a fortune telling booth ahead, so the girls headed that way. June was reluctant, but Maddie was wondering if the fortune teller could give her some insight  into her situation with Liam. She had not seen him in six months. He went skiing with friends at Christmas instead of coming home. It had been four years since she  had seen Liam in the magic mirror. They both had been away at different universities. They did not get many chances to see each other.

When he was on break, he went home to Morristown. When she was on break, she was expected to go home to Rolling Fork. Sometimes, she visited with Dora and Rafe, her sister and Liam’s brother, but Liam was not always there when she visited. She made up her mind to look in the mirror again next time she was home. She had not told any of her friends at college about seeing Liam in the mirror because she did not think they would believe her.

They reached the fortune teller’s booth and went inside. The fortune teller was made up like a gypsy. She watched them as they approached her table.

“Take a chance on the future,” she said. “It is always good to know what to expect.”

“You go first,” Maddie motioned for June to take a seat.

June sat down, hesitantly, and laid her money on the table. The money quickly disappeared and the fortune teller reached for her hand.

“You have a nice long life line.” she said.

June glanced at Maddie and grinned.

The fortune teller studied her hand for a few minutes. June watched her anxiously, because the fortune teller was quiet for so long. The fortune teller looked up at June. “You have already had a glimpse of your true love. Do not delay to establish a relationship. You will have to face treachery from your look-alike. She will try to take what is yours. She always wants what is yours. You will win in the end, but you will face unexpected happenings from unexpected directions. Hold strong to your love. True love is worth fighting for. Do not give up on love.”

The fortune teller sat back quietly. June rose from the chair and let Maddie have her turn.

Maddie sat down. She laid her money on the table and watched it disappear. She put her hand on the table for the fortune teller to study.

The fortune teller studied her hand and looked at Maddie.

“Your true love is waiting for a sign from you. He wants to be sure you are ready to make a life with him. Do not wait too long. Let him know you are his. If you do not make your move soon, someone else will try to make him hers.”

The girls thanked the fortune teller and left. They did not discuss what she told them until they moved away from her booth.

The girls wandered over to some picnic tables and sat down. June looked at Maddie.

“I don’t talk about my twin sister very often. She went to cosmetology school, while I dropped out of the university to take care of Mom. She would not help. She said she was not putting her life on hold.  My sister is rather wild. She is the kind of person who always has a male in tow. Anytime she thinks I am interested in anyone, she does her best to turn his attention away from me and toward her.

I don’t know why she is like that. It is almost like she hates me. She has always resented me for being born first. I was born at 11:58 pm on June 30th. She was born at 12:04 am on July 1st.

I was named June and she was named July.

When I was in the museum in Denton, I looked in the mirror hanging there. I saw a man in the mirror. I don’t know his name or anything about him, but I did not say anything about him to anybody, because I did not want July to hear about him.”

June looked at Maddie to see if she believed her.

Maddie smiled at June. “I believe you,” she said. “I saw my true love in the mirror at the gallery in Rolling Fork. It was four years ago. He was nineteen, and I was fifteen. My sister convinced me not to say anything until we were both older. I was lucky. My sister married Liam’s older brother. They live in Morristown. I get to see him sometimes.” Maddie looked troubled.

“According to the fortune teller’s prophesy, I have to let him know we are meant to be together or someone else is going to try to get him interested in her,”

“Doesn’t he know about you seeing him in the mirror?” asked June.

“No, I didn’t tell him. We were both so young, I did not want to put pressure on him when we could not be together,” explained Maddie.

“What does your guy look like?” asked Maddie.

“He has dark hair and he looks rugged, but handsome. I only saw him once, but he was dressed in a flannel shirt and black boots.”

Maddie looked at her, startled at her description. Maddie took her wallet out of her purse and flipped to some pictures they took the last time she visited Dora. She found a family group of Rafe, Jason, and Liam. Maddie turned the pictures so June could see them.

June looked at the photos and gasped. She turned white and kept gazing at the photo.

Maddie pointed at Rafe. “This is my sister Dora’s husband, Rafe. The one on the other end is Liam and the one in the middle is their brother, Jason.”

“Jason,” whispered June. “He is the man I saw in the mirror. You know him. Tell me about him.”

“Well, his last name is Haggerty. They live in Morristown. They have a logging business. Rafe  has been in charge since the death of their father and brother. Jason is in charge of the logging crew. Liam is in his last year at his university. They are all nice guys. Jason comes off as gruff sometimes, but he is a softy when it comes to family,” Maddie paused for June to absorb what she told her.

Maddie took out her phone and called Dora.

“Hello, Maddie,” said Dora. “Are you about ready for a break?”

“Yes, I am. I’m not interrupting class, am I?” asked Maddie.

Dora was teaching third grade in Morristown. She had been a certified teacher for three and a half years, and she loved teaching.

“No, my students are in gym class this period. What are you doing?”

“My roommate, June and I are visiting a street fair. We needed a break. Have you heard from Liam lately?” asked Maddie.

“No, but as far as I know, he will be home on break in a couple of weeks. Why?” asked Dora.

“I think it is time for Liam and me to get serious, before he becomes interested in someone else,” Maddie said, firmly. “Would it be alright if June and I  come for a visit as soon as we finish our tests?”

“You and your roommate are welcome anytime. We would love to see you,” Dora assured her.

“Is Jason in town?” asked Maddie.

“He away delivering a load of logs, but he should be back by the time you get here. Why?” asked Dora.

“No reason. I was just wondering,” said Maddie. “We will see you in a couple of weeks. I will let you know when to expect us. Give my love to Rafe and the kids.”

“I will. Take care,” said Dora.

Maddie hung up the phone and smiled at June.

“Are you ready to meet your true love?” she asked.

June grinned back. “Yes, I am,” she said.

Still grinning, Maddie and June headed to martial arts class. They bowed to Professor Yang and suited up. Maddie was so good at demonstrations the professor often asked her help with the other students. Maddie got June interested in martial arts. Now, she loved the class almost as much as Maddie.

Maddie and June paired up and started their practice. They soon had an audience as more and more students stopped and watched them. Professor Yang stood back and watched. He did not try to get the other students to  go back to practicing. He knew they would learn a lot just watching these gifted young ladies.

When Maddie and June finished their routine and bowed to each other, the other students clapped for them. Professor Yang encouraged the other students to continue their own class and went to talk to Maddie and June.

“Miss Hawthorn, Miss Mavorn,  you are doing this class an honor by being here,” he said, bowing slightly.

“The honor is all ours. Thank you for allowing us to be students here,” said Maddie.

“We love our classes here,” agreed June.

“Do you have plans for after graduation?” asked Professor Yang.

“Yes,” said Maddie. ‘I am going to see about opening a martial arts school in Morristown.” She was also taking classes in business administration so she could manage the business end of the school.

“I see,” said the professor thoughtfully. “Why, Morristown? I thought you were from Rolling Fork.”

“Yes, I am, but my sister, Dora and brother, Blake have made their homes in Morristown.” With Dora living and teaching there, and Blake running his law firm and living in Hawthorn house in Morristown, she hoped her parents would not try to discourage her about her plans. Maddie grinned at June. “Also, my true love lives in Morristown.”