Cards & Consequences (ePub)

The use/belief in tarot as an adjunct resource for decisions is a central theme for the primary character, a woman who combines extraordinary physical, intellectual, financial, and spiritual attributes.

After delivering a dramatic Tower clarifying card to Marlena Christies Hopes and Doubts position, the verdict talented Romanian tarot reader Vatche comes to is that whichever God people prayed to truly reigned in the Heavens, a singularly blessed man stood on the cusp of learning what she was willing to alter significant parts of her very desirable life for. Ten days after this major reading, having handled dozens of details involving projects for three art galleries and a jet-set lifestyle, Marlena has left her smart phones on the corporate jet and is parked in a C-level apartment complex, confident about sharpened-to-the-ultimate plans being set into motion.

Marlena is highly motivated and capable of making information into necessary Next Steps in fixing the mistakes of the now almost-thirty year old man she loved, but modesty aside, second chances with a superstar woman will require specific changes and actions!

Initially stunned at the magical doorway appearance of someone whose memory hes mostly erased from his negative life, Eddie Starkes is indeed smart enough to grasp the joyous opportunity represented by this truly magnificent evolution of the gifted and sensual beauty he immediately thinks of as Before Marlena. From the time he exits a highly sexual shower that replays significant events from their intimate history and his personal stupidity, through an attempted mugging and morning after talk that resets the relationship, Eddie deserves credit for displaying the qualities of character, intelligence, and sexuality that originally drew a 5-star great woman like Marlena Victoria Christie.

When he recaps six weeks of togetherness (Poolside Thoughts-- Wet & Wonderful Things), from learning some conversational Italian to winning a celebrity doubles tennis tournament, trysting in unique locations without worrying how she knows about them, and making excellent progress personally and relative to her international art business, its obvious how right Marlena was about returning his good karma to her life.

Corporate accomplishments and living the Truly Good Life take a uniquely different tangent after Marlena introduces Eddie to tarot reading, a powerful and unusual part of her mental arsenal, and they turn to achieving a short but highly rewarding laundry list of art thefts for Marlenas powerful former guardian-now mentor Silas Randson.

Jackson Rommel, a handsome but dangerous gigolo and sociopath from Marlenas childhood, is the answer to continuing appearances of a negative, troubling Knight in her tarot readings, with an equally powerful but unknown link to Eddie. That he rejected, but was spurred to change his own position in life with a minor publisher by Eddies book proposal becomes a dangerous crossing point between four lives.

After Silas interrupts early Travers Race Day reverie with news about violence involving the specific person theyd intended to relieve of a final masterpiece, Marlena, Eddie, and hoops buddy/electronics expert Rahim Maxwell fly back to Louisville to develop plans regarding the catching of whoever might be responsible for the vicious attack on Silas nominal friend. Whether tarot cards are predictive, or if information gained from inspecting what the Universe knows can directly benefit actions becomes moot when a gun-wielding Rommel uses long dormant knowledge of secret passages in the Randson mansion architecture to surprise them.

Rooftop heroics by Eddie, Marlena, and a less-feeble-than-imagined Silas in foiling Rommels long-harbored vengeance, a fabulous necklace again gracing a deserving neck, and the knowledge that while its not necessary, stealing artwork is still an exciting extracurricular activity, are included in the finale.