title: An Open Book: Chapters fom a Reader's Life
author:  Michael Dirda 
description: "Dirda inhabits each book he reads. Inhabits it--and makes a space alongside it for us to join him. . . . He is a rare treasure."
zlib_text: > > > > > > > > LIFE’S A BIRCH
  
  > > > > > > > > THE BLOOMIN’ PSYCHIC, BOOK 2
  
  > > ANNABEL CHASE
  
  > > [ _RED PALM PRESS LLC_](http://www.annabelchase.com)
  
  > > > > > > CONTENTS
  
  > > > > >  _Chapter 1_
  
  > > > > >  _Chapter 2_
  
  > > > > >  _Chapter 3_
  
  > > > > >  _Chapter 4_
  
  > > > > >  _Chapter 5_
  
  > > > > >  _Chapter 6_
  
  > > > > >  _Chapter 7_
  
  > > > > >  _Chapter 8_
  
  > > > > >  _Chapter 9_
  
  > > > > >  _Chapter 10_
  
  > > > > >  _Chapter 11_
  
  > > > > >  _Chapter 12_
  
  > > > > >  _Chapter 13_
  
  > > > > >  _Chapter 14_
  
  > > > > >  _Chapter 15_
  
  > > > > >  _Chapter 16_
  
  > > > > >  _Chapter 17_
  
  > > > > >  _Chapter 18_
  
  > > > > >  _Chapter 19_
  
  > > > > >  _Chapter 20_
  
  > > > > > > > > > > > > CHAPTER ONE
  
  > > > > > > ![](Images/image00125.jpeg)
  
  STANDING at the river’s edge, I stared across the water to New Jersey on the
  other side and inhaled deeply. “There must be a westerly wind today. I can
  smell the Axe body spray from here.”
  
  Behind me, Scarlet snorted. “I don’t know how you can smell anyt