Dolores reached for her walking stick and rose carefully to her feet. Ella’s eyes were fixed on her as she walked over towards the dresser and reached for a bone-china cup. ‘This is what we need. Shall we see what your future holds?’ asked Dolores, resting her stick against the chair and sitting back down.

‘Absolutely,’ replied Ella, leaving Dolores looking pleased as she placed the cup on the table and began to swirl the teapot. After a few seconds Dolores poured the tea into the cup and looked up at Ella.

‘Can you really read tea leaves?’ asked Ella, intrigued by what she was about to find out.

‘Of course, it’s an ancient tradition dating back thousands of years – nearly as old as me. My Granny taught me. The tea is brewed but this time we don’t use a strainer, we need the leaves to do the reading all by themselves.’ Dolores was clearly taking this very seriously. ‘What I need you to do is prepare yourself mentally, think about your life, any unanswered questions you may have, while the tea is brewing and you’re holding the cup.’ Dolores passed Ella the cup, who wrapped her hands around it and shuffled back on the settee and sat up straight.

Ella had many unanswered questions, more than Dolores could ever imagine: why she’d allowed Alex into her life and why he’d caused her so much pain.

‘Now drink your tea carefully. You need to leave the tea leaves in the cup, and a little liquid too.’

Ella nodded her understanding and began to drink the tea. ‘I think I’ve finished,’ she said, looking down into her cup before passing it back to Dolores.

With much concentration on her face, Dolores swirled the cup around slowly, then carefully she poured the rest of the liquid away. Dolores remained silent whilst Ella moved to the edge of her seat, waiting for her reading to start. Dolores scrutinised the leaves and made a few noises. ‘What I’m looking for is the most prominent pattern,’ she murmured. ‘Tea-leaf reading is a way to give us answers. These shapes can tell us of our successes, downfalls, relationships and life in general.’

Dolores gazed at the cup for a moment longer. ‘Are you ready?’ She glanced up at Ella.

‘I think so.’ Ella could feel her heart racing and had no clue what to expect.

‘Okay, we have numerous shapes and symbols, which all mean different things. I can see a cloud. You, my dear, have had a difficult time.’

Ella blew out a breath – that was an understatement!

‘You’ve had significant difficulties and grief. Grief that will live with you every day of your life.’

Immediately, thinking of her parents, the tears welled up in Ella’s eyes. She nodded and swallowed. Dolores was spot on.