Page 9 of Shadow Running
Penn was waiting for me.She had set the table with candlesticks and proper placemats and napkins.
“What’s the occasion?”I asked, smiling.The ambience was lovely, and it made coming home a relief from the day.
“I decided to try my hand at Beef Wellington,” she said.“It came out perfectly.And I’m not going to all that trouble just to eat in front of the television.”
I laughed.“Been watching Hell’s Kitchen again, have you?”
Penn snorted.“Maybe… What of it?”She pointed to the table.“We eat in ten minutes.Go get washed up.”
I washed up, then stopped to greet Murdoch and Jangles, who were snuggled together on the cat tree.“You two love each other now, don’t you?I’m so glad.”I kissed them both on the head, and they lazily squeaked at me.At the other end of the living room, Mr.Crumbles gave out a shriek, then a whistle.“You too, Mr.Crumbles.Hello!”
“Crum-crum-crumbles!”he said back to me.Penn had taught him several new words lately.
“Oh, I didn’t tell you,” she said, as I approached the table.“Mr.Crumbles is really coming along with his wing muscles.I took him to the vet today for a check up and he’s doing well.We’re still not sure if he’ll ever be able to fly—the wing clipping was brutal—but he can flap his wings now and takes delight in doing so when he’s flustered.”
I slid into my chair and set my napkin on my lap.“He’s coming along.”
“How was work today?”Penn asked, bringing out our plates with the Beef Wellington on them.The meat was at the perfect temperature—medium rare.The mashed potatoes and gravy were already on the table, along with tender cooked asparagus and dinner rolls.
I helped myself to everything, then cut into the Wellington.The knife went through like butter, and the aroma made me salivate.“It was…odd.You remember I told you Benny wanted to see me?”
She nodded.“What did he want?”
“Well, it’s the damnedest thing,” I said.I told her all about Swift’s disappearance, about the Give A Hands Up organization, and the possible connection.“In addition, tomorrow we go out on a haunted house assignment—” I paused as my phone jangled with a text.“Hold on, I need to take this just in case—” I paused, glancing at the screen.
sonja beta and alyson anya have officially joined the valhom family.both girls and hilda are doing well.my own little legion of valkyries in training.
After the text there was a picture of Hilda, holding the two babies, with Orik in back of her, and their four other daughters standing by the bed.Merigold and Jonna were their four year old twins.Freesia and Skady were their eight year old twins.The girls had their mother’s shining gold hair.Hilda looked exhausted but proud, and Orik was beaming.
“Look!Hilda popped!”I showed Penn the picture.“We’ll have to get them something.What would be a good gift?”
Penn took the phone, grinning ear to ear.“They’re such a handsome family.And look at all that blonde hair!Maybe…Hilda’s mother is helping them, right?”
I nodded.“Ana will be there until Hilda’s back on her feet.Probably another month or two.She takes care of all the meals and cleaning.”
“What about a spa certificate for a couple’s massage for Orik and Hilda, plushies for the babies, dolls for the four year olds, and necklaces for the eight year olds?Or a jewelry making toy?”
“That sounds good to me.Anyway, I’m going to answer him and then finish telling you about the day.We may need your advice on tomorrow’s case.”
I texted Orik back.congratulations!i’m so happy for you.they’re adorable, and i hope that their sisters are happy, too.take the rest of the week off even though ana is there with hilda.let us know how things are going.
are you sure?i can come in if you need.
i’m sure.you’re welcome back any time but i’m not going to make you miss these first few days with your new babies.
As I pressed send and the message posted, another came in, from Sophia.Dante and Carter were quick to answer, as well.I set the phone aside and went back to dinner.I told Penn all about the day and the case.“So, have you ever heard of GAHU?”
She shook her head.“Nope.I’ll put feelers out, though.What else happened?”
“Tomorrow we have a haunted house to go through.I don’t know what we’re up against, but do you want to come with us?Orik’s going to be out.”I liked taking Penn along.She was a priestess of Hecate, and worked with shadow magic.She also wasn’t squeamish about dealing with ghosts and the like.
Penn helped herself to more mashed potatoes.“Sure, why not?I’m not doing anything important.The online store’s caught up.I don’t have classes tomorrow.I was going to thin the carrots and lettuce, and mow the lawn, but I can do that later.”She paused, then said, “I met somebody today.”
The tone of her voice made me look up.“Oh?”Penn never made mention of ‘meeting someone’ in the way that made me think there was a spark of interest there.
“Yeah…he’s a TA at the academy.”
Penn’s classes were at Windchime Magical Academy, a local academy for witches.While the academy focused on first through twelfth grades, it also offered adult community classes.The campus was built on five gorgeous acres.And I’d had more dealings with them in the past year than I had my entire life.
