India's Summer Read Online Free PDF Page A

sparkling semiprecious stones wrapped around her neck. The necklace seemed to float against her skin. “A friend of mine makes them. She has a little store at Fred Segal. I’ll give you her name.”
    “And this is Tess,” Annabelle continued as she turned toward the rest of the group.
    An Amazonian blonde squeezed by. “Hi,” she said in a husky, low voice. “Excuse me, won’t you? I’ve just seen my director and I need to have a quick word with him.”
    “Of course,” India said, moving aside and noticing the woman’s fluorescent white teeth. “Nice to meet you.”
    “Reality television has a lot to answer for,” Tess said under her breath. There was a pause while they watched her make her exit, and then the introductions continued.
    “India, I’m Toni. We met a few summers ago. If you’re going to be here on your own for a while, I’d LOVE to do some hiking with you. Are you into power yoga? I have this amazing, I mean totally amazing guy who comes over to the house twice a week for private sessions. All my friends are in love with him. Why are all the good-looking ones gay?” She sighed wistfully.
    India was enjoying Toni’s energy. “I’d like that,” she said. “I’d like that very much.”
    “Great, I’ll ask Annie for your number and call you. By the way, your moccasins are so cute. I’m sooo into beading.”
    “Thank you; they’re very old,” India said, looking down at her feet.
    “A bit like myself,” Toni said, lifting up her head. “Had my neck done just two weeks ago; you’d never know, would you? No downtime, either.”
    India nodded her approval. All this instant intimacy was a bit alarming. You could be at a party all day in London and the most you could hope for by way of intimacy was someone pointing out you had something stuck between your teeth.
    “There you are, darling.” Annie was back at her side. “Quick, my friend Summer’s doing some readings in the other room. Why don’t you come in and listen? Some women have so much faith in her readings they don’t even decide what to wear without consulting her first.”
    “It’s true,” said Cynthia, who had popped back into the group. “The woman is almost scary, she’s so good.”
    “See, India? I told you. And hey, maybe we’ll find out your days of being single are about to be over…”
    India gave a halfhearted, irritated smile. “You mean maybe my stars are finally in alignment?”
    “Don’t be cynical, darling.”
    “Well, I’d appreciate it if you were just a tad more discreet about my spinsterhood, Annie. Please!”
    The three of them tiptoed into a chapel-like room where a circle of women were sitting on rugs and cushions, surrounded by lit candles. The walls were lined with bookshelves under a vaulted mahogany ceiling.
    “Blessings,” said a girl India knew instantly must be Summer, as she was holding a woman’s upturned hand in her own, tracing the lines around her thumb. She could have been sent by central casting, India thought, taking in the woman’s short floaty caftan, the ton of bangles, the bandanna tied around her head, and the snake tattoo that inched its way up her thigh.
    “Trules,” Summer whispered, “I can see that you’re a very giving person. Your energy is strong, but there’s been quite a drain on it recently. You must learn to hold something back for yourself or you will having nothing left to give.”
    Trules nodded with rapt attention.
    “When I do these group readings, I like to take affirmations from others. The energy can help. Do I have your permission to ask your friends if they agree with me?”
    “Yes, yes,” Trules said. The woman next to her wiped away a tear. “I think that Trules is one of the kindest, most generous, loving, and giving women we know.”
    There were nods of agreement around the room.
    Summer continued in reverential tones. “Trules, you must learn to honor yourself and your own needs first. My gift to you today is this reminder that