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money at her?”
    “Lower your voice. And stop exaggerating. I hardly do a thing for that poor child.”
    “Oh, right.”
    “She’s my only granddaughter. Listen, I’ve never told you this before but I went to my psychic friend. She says there’s a very strong possibility that Ashley is the reincarnation of Juliet. She says there’s an unusually powerful heart connection between us.”
    I sat back in my chair and stared at my mother. It wasn’t news. I had heard the reincarnation story at least a thousand times. Never mind what Ashley used to say when she was little, I wasn’t going to encourage this nonsense. My mother was finally losing her mind. Did I need to see about her power of attorney? Pay her bills? I’d ask her doctor.
    “Mother? There’s also a very strong possibility that your psychic friend is milking your wallet.”

 
    CHAPTER 5
    Ashley at Work
    I was at work and organizing the catalog JPEGs for our upcoming show of artists from the coast of the Carolinas and Georgia. It was to be called Tidal Water Gems . I loved organizing catalogs but I couldn’t decide which painting or photograph should be on the cover. The Turners had turned this job over to me a few months ago, saying I had a better eye for that sort of thing. Obviously, I wasn’t so sure. I only wished my work was ready to be on a cover.
    “What do you think, Mr. Turner? Should we use Jack Alterman’s photographic landscape of the Ashepoo River or the Jonathan Green painting of the church ladies?”
    I must have looked superserious because Mr. Turner smiled at me in that weird way grown-ups smile when they think you’re precious.
    “If only I was twenty years younger,” Bill Turner said, “I’d steal your heart and whisk you away to the Kasbah!”
    “Aw, Mr. Turner. That’s so sweet!” I said. “What’s the Kasbah?”
    “William Turner? You stop harassing Ashley and get in here right now! You’ve got a pile of contracts to read and sign!”
    “Yes, dear. Yes, dear,” Mr. Turner said, and scurried away like a frightened mouse.
    I gave him a wave with the roll of my fingers and he smiled at me again, happy he had not offended me. As if I took him seriously. Please.
    Judy Turner came out of her lavish office and toward mine, which in reality was a closet I shared with the copier, the watercooler, the cleaning equipment, the coffeemaker, the tiniest refrigerator on earth, and all the office supplies.
    “Old fool,” Judy said. “Don’t pay him one bit of attention.”
    “You’re the love of my life!” Mr. Turner called out and I giggled.
    “That’s right,” Mrs. Turner called back and rolled her eyes. “And you’re mine!”
    “He’s hilarious,” I said and held up photos of the two cover options. “Cover?”
    “Hmmm. Tough one. They’re both so incredible. Put Jonathan Green on the front for the humanity, Jack Alterman on the back for the atmosphere. Then run the Altermans first in the catalog followed by the Greens. Sprinkle the others in between. It’s equitable that way. Blame me if they squawk.”
    “Excellent. Another decision made. If we reprint, I can reverse it. Then everyone’s happy, right?”
    “Such a lovely brain! This is why we adore you!”
    “Ha! Ha! Now I have to choose paper. The show’s been live on our website for almost a week.”
    “Oh, Ashley , dahlin, the website gives me nightmares! Even though I’ve known you since you were just a little bitty thing, I never dreamed you’d grow up to be my right arm. Your momma must be so proud of you.”
    “Thank you,” I said, unable to make eye contact. I was thinking something else entirely. The Turners wouldn’t believe what it’s like to try and live on ten dollars an hour. I’d bet they hadn’t had ramen for dinner since Nixon left office.
    The opening for Tidal Water Gems was only a few days away. But the event for Senator Galloway was that very night. I was so excited. I’d brought my dress to work in a plastic hanging bag