The sidewalk glowed a blinding white under the Capitola sun. Tourists adjusted their hats and their sunglasses to shield themselves from the hot coastal wind. Families rushed into air-conditioned boutiques and gelato shops to find reprieve. Ethan danced out of the way of these sweaty, sunburnt strangers as he scanned shop signs for something interesting.
"What about this plant shop?" he asked his friends, too exhausted to see if they were listening.
"Hm?" Tammy asked back.
She followed Ethan's drooping finger to a sun-bleached sign that read "Chloro-tola." Tammy was unamused even after the joke registered.
"I don't need any more plants in my apartment," Tammy said.
"Do you just want to go back to the room?" Ethan asked.
"There's nothing to do their either," Maggie said, walking past and pointing to another business. "I saw that place when I was searching for things to do and they had good reviews, would you guys mind if we went there?"
She directed them to a modest unit with a cracked sign that read "Tarot, Fortune Telling & Palm Reading." The window had a neon sign of a hand with a flickering eye in the center to give the impression that it was blinking. A thick, patterned tapestry hung behind it.
"You want a tarot reading?" Tammy asked.
"I get one every few months!" Maggie said, "Are you guys down?"
Tammy looked at Ethan, offloading the responsibility of making a decision. He shrugged and nodded. As he walked over to hold the door open, a gale of air conditioning greeted the group, coaxing long sighs of relief.
"Take as long as you need," Tammy said.
The lobby had crushed velvet chairs, tapestries, and coffee tables with dusty hard-covers. From the ceiling hung pots with overgrown pothos plants, their legs waving in the air-conditioned breeze. The sound of footsteps on the Spanish tile grew louder, and the smells of coffee and perfume grew stronger.
"Welcome, welcome!" a woman announced, coming through a curtain at the end of the lobby, "How may I help you all?"
"Uhm, hi!" Maggie said, "we were passing by and wondering if we could get a-"
"Tarot reading?" the woman interrupted.
"Yes," Maggie said, looking amazed.
"There's nothing psychic about that," the woman laughed, "it's the first service on the sign."
Tammy snorted and failed to hide it in a fake cough. Maggie blushed and hid her embarrassment under a smile.
"Well, I am Isis," the woman said, "and I would be happy to provide my services to each of you."
"Oh, you don't have to-" Tammy started.
"But I will," Isis said, "and for the two of you who are here only in support of your friend: if I can't pique your interest, you must receive my services for free. Is this fair?"
Tammy and Ethan locked eyes before looking at Maggie and then turning back to Isis.
"I...I guess that's fine," Ethan said.
"Wonderful!" Isis said, "We will start with you, sir."
"Oh, shouldn't Maggie-"