Trudy didn’t say anything at first, and Maya assumed she was trying to come up with a way to let Maya down easily. But she picked up her pencil and wrote, I was hoping you’d say that.

Maya searched Trudy’s face. “What do you mean?”

My sister and I need some help around here, Trudy wrote. Two old ladies can only do so much when the summer crowds get going and the shop fills up. I told Violet I thought you’d be a great fit.

“You did? Why?”

Trudy grinned. You’re a natural. You’re good with these materials, even when they’re finicky. You’re patient, you’re easy to get along with, and I think you’ll be a big help to customers. And to me.

“But Violet . . .” Maya peeked over her shoulder to where Violet stood by the front door chatting with a customer. “I don’t think she’ll be so eager to have me work here.”

I wouldn’t be so sure about that. All I need to know is if you’re serious about wanting to work. If not we’ll put a “Help Wanted” sign in the window tomorrow.

Maya thought again of her grandmother, how her hands were so quick they almost disappeared, flipping card after card as she doled out futures. Maya had never believed in anything the cards showed, but then again, neither had her grandmother.

“I don’t tell people their futures, Maya,” she’d once said. “All I do is give them courage. Usually they already know what they need to do. Sometimes it’s fear that holds them back. Sometimes it’s sadness or pain or hope. I just give them the push they need to walk the path laid out for them.”

Maya didn’t know what her future held, but she felt the push like a gentle hand at the small of her back.

“I do,” she said to Trudy. “I want to work here.”

Trudy nodded. Okay then. I’ll take care of it.

Then she reached into a drawer of her worktable and pulled out the driftwood and sea oats Maya had twined together the last time she was here.

Remember this?

Maya nodded.

I was thinking we could do something with it. Trudy motioned back and forth between the two of them with her finger.

“I’d like that.” Maya ran her fingers over the rough wood and prickly sea oats. “It needs to be softer.”

Let’s get to work then.

Together they fiddled with various pieces and positions, trying glass and shells and twine until something felt right. After a while, Maya glanced at her watch. “My shift starts soon. Can we come back to this later?”

Trudy patted Maya’s hand and nodded.

As she leaned down to grab her bag by her chair, the bell over the door jingled. She slung her bag across her shoulder and stood and came nearly face-to-face with the boy she’d seen in the diner, the one whose curious stare had raised the hair on her arms, caused a pulse low in her stomach, and sent those colorful and electrifying images through her mind.