There were candles, a trio of varying heights, in the center of Carla's round table. As she chuckled and looked up to greet her visitor they cast shadows, making everything slippery and hard to read at first glance.
That was why, Carla would tell herself later, she was so confused in that first, uncertain instant.
"Mela?" she gasped, face draining of color, cards tumbling from her suddenly slack fingers.