Page 8 of Medusa

“Help me!”

Heaving an internal sigh, Maddie waited until he’d put the stool back at the cutting board and climbed up. Once everything was cut, Damien poured the zucchini into the bacon grease still in the frying pan to cook.

“What now?” he asked happily.

“Now we need the table set. Lyta sometimes uses the baby fork, so put one of those at her place, please. Small forks for you and Alexander, big ones for Hestia and I. I’ll pour water in the glasses and you can bring them outone at a time!” she emphasized. Last week, he’d tried to take two and ended up looking half-drowned. At least it was just water. His clothes had dried by the time his mom had arrived to pick him up at the end of the day.

She grated the cheese and cut the mushrooms while he made several trips to the table with all the utensils and glasses, moving the zucchini around once in a while to cook it evenly.

“Five minute warning,” Maddie called into the other room after testing a noodle and finding it the perfect softness. “Alexander, what does that mean for you?”

“Pee on potty,” the two-year-old called back.

“Very good. Don’t forget to make a checkmark on your reward sheet after you wash your hands.”

Damien returned to the kitchen, hands empty.

“What about you, mister? Can you think about your body?”

“I don’t have to pee,” he insisted.

“Are you sure? You’ve had to leave the table twice this week already,” Maddie reminded him.

Damien sighed, his shoulders sagging. “I guess.”

“Good boy.”

At the end of the day, Hestia was cleaning up the kitchen while Maddie played with Atlanta on the floor.

“Come on, At’ta, you want the toy. I know you want the car. Come and get it.”

The little girl burbled cheerfully and flapped her wings slightly, the claws of her hind legs scratching on the vinyl flooring.

“Oh no! Atlanta!”

Maddie swiveled around to greet the newcomer. “Don’t worry about it, Chloe. These floors can take a little beating. She’s doing so well.”

“Is she?” Chloe sat beside her on the floor. “I’ve only really seen the babies from my pack. And Heidi’s, of course.” She was talking about her best friend, who’d had twins a little over a year ago.

“How are those babies different from Atlanta?” Maddie asked, rolling the car back and forth to keep the baby’s attention.

“They’re older when they first transform, so they’re usually walking already. Their first transformation is a little rough, but it’s complete, and they can walk around after the first few tumbles.” Chloe leaned over and grabbed a soft doll. She made it wave at the baby, who gurgled.

“Fascinating. She’s advanced in some ways, but not in others,” Maddie said thoughtfully. “I’m trying to encourage her to either crawl or transform fully, depending on her preference. Mobility is good for her. It’ll help build her muscles.

Atlanta rocked back and forth on her hands and clawed feet again, flapping her wings for balance. She let out a shriek of impatience.

“Yes, sweetheart, I know you can do it. One hand at a time,” Maddie encouraged. She glanced at the clock. “Okay, it’s been about five minutes now. I think it’s time to rest. We’ll try again tomorrow.”

Chloe bum scooted forward and picked up the little girl, who turned fully human once in her mother’s arms. “Were you a good girl today, my darling?”

The baby happily patted her mother’s face and then tugged on the neckline of her shirt, nuzzling into her breast.

“Do you mind if I nurse her here?” Chloe asked.

“Not at all! Make yourself comfortable.” Maddie gestured at the couch. “I’m just going to tidy up a bit and pass the mop over the floors. It won’t distract her?”

“From the way she’s rooting, I don’t think a tornado would distract her!” Chloe said with a chuckle, hiking up the hem of her shirt and unclasping the cup of her bra.

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