Sweet Fortune

the stairs. A moment later the office door opened and Mrs. Valentine walked in wearing her professional attire. She had on a dark green turban, a wide-sleeved green paisley blouse, and a long green skirt that fell to her ankles. The usual assortment of beads and chains covered her bosom, tinkling merrily as she came through the door. She had a newspaper tucked under one arm.
    “Mrs. V, you look great. How are you feeling?”
    “Fine, dear. Just fine. I can see again, if you know what I mean. Such a relief.”
    Jessie smiled happily. “I'm so glad, Mrs. V. Go on into your office. The tea is almost ready. I'll bring it right in.”
    “Thank you, dear. I could use a cup of tea.” Mrs. Valentine unfolded the newspaper as she headed for the inner office.
    Jessie hurried over to the tea tray and spooned tea into the pot. She hummed cheerfully as she reached for the kettle of boiling water. When all was ready, she arranged the pot and two delicate cups on the tray, added a tiny bowl of sugar cubes and a spoon, and picked up the tray.
    On the way past the rolltop desk she paused long enough to place the neatly bound Attwood report on the tray. Then she entered Mrs. Valentine's private office.
    Mrs. Valentine had the newspaper spread out on top of her consulting table. Her reading glasses were perched on her nose and she was deep into the front-page story.
    Jessie glanced at the headlines as she set down the tea tray. She grinned with satisfaction. “Local Psychic Exposes Multimillion Scam.”
    “Oh, my.” Mrs. Valentine read carefully to the end of the last paragraph and then turned to the next page to continue. “Oh, my goodness.”
    Jessie could hardly contain her excitement. She hovered on the other side of the desk with eager impatience until Mrs. Valentine had finally finished the article. When her employer eventually closed the newspaper and sat back in her chair, looking somewhat stunned, Jessie could not wait any longer.
    “Well, Mrs. V? What do you think? Valentine Consultations is going to be famous. People will be beating down our door. We'll be scheduling appointments weeks in advance. This is going to be the most important psychic-consultation agency in the city, maybe in the whole state.”
    “Jessie, dear…”
    “I've been doing some planning. We'll probably have to take on additional staff to deal with the paperwork, but that's okay. I've had some experience in personnel work. I'll handle that end of it.”
    “Jessie…”
    “But I'm wondering if we shouldn't get another psychic to work with you.” Jessie frowned in thought and began to pace the office. “We're going to be awfully busy and I don't think we can depend too much on my abilities. The truth is, much as I hate to admit it, I don't think I have any real psychic talent. I'm much more suited for management.”
    “Jessie, there is something we must discuss, dear.”
    “I'm going to speak to Mom and Connie about coming up with some sketches for a redo of the interior design of the office too.”
    “Something important, Jessie, dear…”
    “We want the place to look businesslike, yet charming and a bit otherworldly. Successful, yet unconcerned with success, if you know what I mean.”
    “Jessie…”
    “We may eventually have to look for larger office space. But we can wait for that, don't you think?”
    “Jessie, I'm afraid I'm going to have to let you go, dear.”
    “Also, I was thinking it might be a good idea to…What did you say?” Jessie came to an abrupt halt and stood staring down at Mrs. Valentine. “Mrs. V, you can't mean that.”
    Mrs. Valentine heaved a massive sigh. “I am so sorry, dear. You know I'm extremely fond of you. You're a delight to have around the place. But I'm afraid Valentine Consultations is, uh, too small an operation to warrant an assistant.”
    Jessie gripped the edge of the desk with both hands. “But that's just it, Mrs. V. It won't be a small operation once these headlines hit the streets. The phone will be ringing off the hook. We're going to go big .”
    “That's precisely what I'm afraid of, dear. I never meant Valentine Consultations to go big. I liked it the way it was. Just a small, pleasant little business I could run by myself. I had doubts the day I hired you, but I liked you so much, I overcame my premonitions of trouble. You'd think I, of all people, should have known better. Now look what's happened. You've ruined everything. I may have to close entirely until the excitement