Page 17 of My Inherited House Might be Haunted

I laughed at that. He wasn’t wrong. No one sane would cross this dog even now, much less when he was fully grown into those large paws of his.

Lucy, sitting in the passenger seat, hissed at me.

“Yes, yes, I’m sorry for dawdling and not taking you home. Forgive me, Princess. I’ll repent and get you home ASAP.” I rolled my eyes at the dramatics. Cats, man.

Still, I had a smile on my face as I started up the car. It had been a very busy day, but you know what? I wouldn’t change a single thing.

Seven

Calix

Phaedra showed up at closing time with a bag full of goodies, her sewing machine, and her patented you-must-be-joking look. She wore that a lot with me. To be fair, I often did things that warranted it.

My sister had apparently gotten her hair redone, as it was now in blue and black braids going down to her waist, and she was in a cute little blue sundress, which made me wonder.

“You got a date with hubby or something?”

“Later tonight,” she confirmed. “I’ve got two hours to straighten this all out.”

“Uh, we’re actually doing fine?”

“Uh-huh,” she said with blatant disbelief, which was just hurtful, then handed me her sewing machine before beelining for the couch. “Hi, Brownie, my name is Phaedra. I’m this idiot’s sister. How are you?”

Brownie gave a smile and wave.

She sat on the couch next to it, still all smiles. “I brought some things for you. What’s your name?”

The Brownie gave an uncertain shake of the head.

Phaedra’s frown grew more pronounced. “Honey, can you not talk?”

Brownie pointed to the throat area and gave a mournful shake of the head.

A light went on in the back of my head. “Is that why you were eating a peppermint stick? Your throat’s sore?”

A nod this time.

Well damn, now I did feel like an idiot. “Hang on, I’ve got a remedy for that.”

I darted for my kitchen and went to the cabinet that held all of my infused medicines. I used to get laryngitis regularly every two years, almost like clockwork, so I kept infused honey on hand to help heal the throat. I pulled a small teaspoon of that out and carefully brought it back to my new friend.

Phaedra had already pulled out several Barbie doll–sized outfits, most of them looking like they’d fit fine. I guessed she’d brought the sewing machine to do alterations with. She had everything from dresses to pants and even a green jumpsuit.

The Brownie liked the look of the jumpsuit very much and tugged it on with Phaedra’s help. It was a tolerable fit, if a bit too long in the legs.

“Hmm, good thing I brought the sewing machine. Looks like we need to hem those up a little.”

Brownie took them back off, a tad reluctantly, and Phaedra took both it and the sewing machine to my (rather crowded) table.

I changed places with her and offered the honey. “This should help heal up your throat. Uh, if you don’t have a name, can we think of one?”

Brownie seemed excited over this and eagerly nodded.

Phaedra, not even glancing back in our direction, advised, “Once given a name, a Brownie considers it a contract with thehuman. Also, they like nature names. You also have a girl on your hands.”

“Both good to know.” Nature names, huh. I watched my Brownie happily eat the honey, then lick the spoon clean. Reminded me of when I found it with the peppermint stick. “How about Pepper?”

Brownie stopped licking the spoon to give me a wide smile and enthusiastic nod.

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