Read First Vision of Destiny - Alicia for Free Online Page B

that could make her both cry and
smile? She doubted she’d ever find the courage to ask her
friend.
    She watched for a moment longer, as still as
they were. Finally, Woods sat up, then stood, returning to his
place against the railing with his back to Daisy. Seconds later,
Alicia’s eyes opened and she took a deep breath. She remained
sitting a few more seconds, then stood and briefly touched Woods’
shoulder. He turned his face to her, and nodded, smiling, when she
said a few words to him. She was thanking him, Daisy supposed.
Things must have gone well, then. She let out a relieved breath she
hadn’t realized she was holding.
    Turning back to the house, Alicia took a few
hesitant steps toward it. Daisy opened the window for her. Alicia
thanked her with a smile as she walked back in, pausing for a
second to rest her trembling hand on the doorjamb as though to
stabilize herself.
    “Are you all right?” Daisy asked.
    Alicia nodded. “Fine.” The word came out as a
croak. “But I could use a drink.”
    Daisy walked ahead, pouring two glasses of
the white wine. When she turned, Alicia was there, her hand already
reaching for one of the glasses.
    “How was it?” Joan asked, sliding closer to
Alicia. “What did you see?”
    The others had stopped talking and turned to
Alicia, their faces showing various degrees of curiosity.
    Having no
desire to hear this, Daisy took the second glass out onto the
balcony. Woods was still against the railing, looking out at the
ocean as she had earlier. The sun had fully set, but the very edge
of the horizon was still glowing, like the embers of a fire only
waiting to be reawakened. She stood by his side and offered him the
glass. He took it with a grateful nod. Like Alicia’s, his hand was
shaking a little when he brought the glass to his lips.
    Clutching the railway with both hands, Daisy
observed him with a critical eye. The rough wood pressed into her
palms when she tightened her grip. She had never seen him do his
little trick before, and she had just realized something. Her lips
twisted in a grimace.
    “You didn’t tell them everything,” she said,
almost accusing.
    Woods seemed startled by her words. He
blinked as he looked at her. “What?”
    “You didn’t tell them you see everything they
do.”
    His awkward smile assured her she was right.
“I’m just trying to spare them embarrassment.”
    She snorted. “You’re too kind.”
    “Not really. I’m sparing myself the
embarrassment, too.”
    She tried not to let her eyes stray down to
the bulging reason why Woods was facing away. “Right. And next
you’re going to tell me you don’t enjoy what you see.”
    He actually blushed at that, and took a sip
of wine rather than answering.
    “I knew it!” She shook a finger at him.
“Pervert!”
    Still looking embarrassed, he grinned.
“Honestly, I like it much better when it stays PG. But whatever I
see, it’s just… nice to know things work out for so many people in
the end.”
    Her curiosity piqued by his tone, Daisy
peered at him more closely. As he continued to take slow sips from
his glass, the grin faded, replaced by wistfulness. Her disbelief
that he might like innocent visions more than explicit ones was
shaken, and rather than mock him she said, “I guess I hadn’t
thought about it that way. So… your visions… they always end
well?”
    “To this day.” He knocked twice on the wooden
railway, the sound clear and sharp in the night.
    “How many people did you… show their future
to?”
    “I’ve lost count. Too many, probably.”
    The comment surprised Daisy, but before she
could say anything, Woods looked at her sideways.
    “Are you next?”
    “You wish. Let me go get your next
victim.”
    She reached for his empty glass. He didn’t
let go. “But you will let me show you?”
    As she forced herself to meet his eyes,
Daisy could only hope that she didn’t look as scared as she had
suddenly felt. “You mean, will I let you inside my life?” she