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imagination? Or something more?
    He rubbed his hand against his leg, and the apparition began to fade. On his sweatshirt he noticed a strand of Henna’s hair. He wound the bleached fiber around his ring finger while the lady’s voice penetrated his thoughts once more.
    It will come … You’ll begin to know things. You’ll feel them
.
    Feel what? This was crazy.
    God works in many different ways …
    Beneath the barrage of recent events, Clay felt his faith in such notions crumbling. If, indeed, God was involved in daily existence, did he work through palm-reading, herb-scented women named after plants?
    At this point Clay would believe just about anything.

    The red Honda Prelude zipped through the narrow streets. At the wheel, Summer paid no attention to her friend’s tightened knuckles on the door handle.
    “You really think Clay’ll call you?”
    “I have no clue,” Mylisha said. “Before he ran off to college and got married, he never gave much reason for breaking things off. He turned real quiet, like he was guarding something. A hard one to read, that boy. Who knows what he’ll do?”
    “But you do have a glimmer of hope.”
    “Maybe. Just a little. I say, let the boy be a man about this.”
    “Got that right.” Summer flashed a ravenous smile. “And I bet every inch of him is just
starving
for attention. Men. They’re so predictable.”
    “Shush.” Mylisha slapped at Summer’s forearm. “Clay and I are just friends. That’s all we can be, all we should be.”
    “You don’t mean the racial thing, do you? People need to grow up.”
    “No, I’m talking about right and wrong. He’s still legally married, Summer.”
    “Oh yeah, you’re stuck on that.” Although Summer Svenson poked fun at Mylisha’s resolve, she wished she had some of her friend’s moral fortitude. The girl passed up a lot of opportunities for the sake of her beliefs. Hard to understand, but harder to begrudge. Summer, on the other hand, took what came her way. “Listen, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something.”
    Mylisha’s bright mahogany eyes turned her way. “What?”
    “I respect your views on religion, I hope you know that, but it seems like you let God rob you of your happiness. I mean, look at you. You never get out, you have no serious relationships, and we both know you work
way
too many hours.”
    “It’s called responsibility. Can’t just up and leave when I feel like it.”
    “Isn’t there anything you do just for yourself these days?”
    “Of course there is.”
    “Like what?”
    “My classes at LCC.”
    “Oh, you’re the real party animal, racking up credits at Last Chance College—”
    “Lane Community.”
    “Whatever. You deserve to have a little fun, that’s all I’m saying. Half the time, you’re watching after your sister’s kids. Time to stop living like a prisoner.”
    “A prisoner?” Mylisha’s voice grew husky. “That is so unfair. What about you? Your world spins around whoever happens to be the hottie of the week.”
    “Wait. Don’t
even
put on your self-righteous attitude with me.”
    “We’ve all got our problems, Summer. I’m the first to admit it.”
    “Well, that’s mighty white of you.”
    “Very funny. Girl, why are we even discussing this?”
    “Because friends take care of each other, and somebody’s gotta tell you …”
    “Tell me what?”
    “You’ve changed, Mylisha. You’re getting—I don’t know how else to put it
—boring
. Time to break loose.”
    “And set aside my beliefs? My heritage?”
    “Sure. Break a rule here and there. There’s freedom outside the box.” Summer slowed the car at an intersection. “Just think about it, that’s all. Are we cool?”
    “Tell me my ears didn’t lie. Did you say I was boring?”
    “Maybe that’s too strong a word.”
    “Even worse than the other
b
word.”
    “Just trying to do you a favor.” Summer looked both ways, then accelerated. “Promise me you’ll think about it?”
    In