Celestial Bodies

Celestial Bodies

by

Laura Leone

Published by
ePublishing Works!

www.epublishingworks.com

ISBN: 978-1-61417-218-5

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

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© 1991, 2011 by Laura Resnick. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.

Thank You.

This is for Grandpa Cain—

Until we meet again, in that undiscovered country,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Foreword to the eBook Edition of

Celestial Bodies

I wrote this novel for Silhouette Books early in my career. Several years later, I turned to writing fantasy novels, which was when I switched to writing under my own name—and that’s mostly what I’ve been doing full-time ever since.

So if you link to
LauraLeone.com
to look for information about more of my Leone romances, you’ll find yourself visiting a website that’s hosted under my real name, Laura Resnick. Never fear, you’re in the right place! Just look in the site menu for what you want.

The reason I started my career under a pseudonym is covered on the FAQs page of my website, as is the reason I used a different name when I started writing fantasy. (My reasons were standard stuff, nothing wildly salacious or original; but the information is there, if you’re curious.)

Happily, changes in technology and distribution have enabled me, like many other writers, to release new editions of books that have been unavailable for a few years. So I hope you enjoy
Celestial Bodies,
as well as my other romance novels which are available again.

—Laura Resnick a.k.a. Laura Leone

Chapter One

THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE

Major Arcana

Meaning:
Changes in fortune, new beginnings, a new chapter in life starting.

Reversed:
Ill fortune; setbacks or failures brought upon oneself.

New Orleans, 1991

“The rim of the wheel revolves, but the hub remains stable. Your true self is symbolized by the hub, which does not move, but which causes the outer rim to turn. You are thus responsible for your own destiny.”

Diana Stewart tilted her head as she heard her father’s voice explaining the mysteries of the tarot. He and his client were coming out of his consulting room.

“When joy or sorrow comes into your life, it is not that fortune or misfortune has befallen you, but rather that you have invited it into your life,” he continued.

“I do
not
remember invitin’ this particular misfortune into my life,” Mrs. Bouvier said fretfully.

Diana wondered what her father had told the woman.

“Perhaps there
is
no misfortune,” he mused. “When a card appears upside down in the reading layout, I usually interpret the divinatory meaning in reverse. Perhaps I’m misinterpreting the indications in the cards today.”

“Nonsense, Felix! You’ve never been wrong before,” said Mrs. Bouvier with touching faith. “Oh, there you are, Diana! I didn’t see you when I arrived.”

Perched on a stepladder as she arranged packets of wheat germ on a shelf in the health-food section of the shop, Diana smiled down at the plump, overly blond woman. “I was carrying up some bottles of vitamin E oil from the storage room.”

“You’ve been working awfully hard these past few months.” Mrs. Bouvier fluttered her delicate hands as she gestured to their colorful surroundings.

“Business has been growing fast this year,” Diana responded with satisfaction. “The health food and the New Age books have been selling well. I’ve had to increase my yoga teaching to six classes a week, and I’ve had a lot of inquiries already about the weekend workshop I plan to do next month.”

“I notice you’ve also got a few tables and chairs out in the courtyard now,” said Mrs. Bouvier.

“Yes. We’re serving herbal tea, fruit juices, and simple snacks. A bookseller recommended it to me to help pick up sales, and so far it’s worked.”

“You’re quite an entrepreneur, just like my husband.”

There was a quality of misty fondness in Mrs. Bouvier’s eyes whenever she spoke of her late husband, who had died of stress and overwork nearly two years earlier. Diana knew that Mrs. Bouvier intended to pay her a compliment, but she sincerely hoped she wasn’t “just like” the money-hungry, high society, corporate giant who had ruined his health with his own ambitions. Felix, whenever he was annoyed with Diana, loved to remind her that she and the late Mr. Bouvier had both been born in the sign of Leo.

Mrs. Bouvier glanced at her heavy, gold watch. “Oh my, just look at the time! If I don’t hurry, I’ll be late.” She smiled prettily. “I’ve been goin’ crazy with all the preparations for my daughter’s twenty-first birthday party.”