Page 3 of Home Is Where the Witch Is
“Speakin’ of early, we don’t want to miss this delivery.”
“I know, I’m comin’,” Rosie sassed him, heading slowly for the front door where she could slip her flip-flops onto her swollen pregnant-lady feet.
“Gabe’s in his room and is gonna start dinner,” Rosie told Maggie, who had relocated herself to the couch where she could laze under the air conditioning instead of lazing in the summer afternoon.
“I’ll help,” Maggie promised.
“That’s my girl,” Rosie smiled, blowing her daughter a kiss as she and Declan headed out the door.
Even after all this time,Rosie still felt a little apprehensive going into the Kwik Kleen. The seemingly innocuous washing machines in the tiny laundromat had always had it in for her and had often been yet another burden on days where she didn’t have the fortitude to deal when she’d first come to town. Now, though, things were different. Sheownedthe damn place, thanks to Carol-Ann, and one of the things she’d been wanting to do for a while was make it a better and more convenient service for the folks of Mosswood.
The rickety window AC unit had been replaced with a new shiny wall unit for one thing, and the peeling two-tone paint had been scraped back and replaced with a relaxing pale sage green color. Even the itty bitty waiting area had also been transformed.
The outdoor park bench, the small wobbly coffee table, and the stack of ancient magazines when Rosie had first visited were long gone. Now there was a comfy leatherette couch in a dark brown, a matching armchair where the coffee table had been, and a few books in a rack that Declan had fixed to the wall beneath the AC unit to save space. All in all the place was welcoming and clean, and Rosie was thrilled that today was the day the project would be complete.
Almost on cue, a large truck rolled up right outside the Kwik Kleen. A thrill of anticipation went through her as Declan helped the delivery guys to unpack two brand new washing machines and two matching dryers. They were stainless steel and looked more expensive than they had been, even though that had been expensive enough—plus the modifications to make them cash-and-card operated. Once upon a time Rosie would have been beside herself to have been able to afford just one of the washers, and she’d never dreamed of ever being able to own a dryer or be able to afford the electricity bill that came along with it.
Carol-Ann’s legacy lived on, and Rosie was determined it wouldn’t just be her family who got to enjoy the benefits of the hard work the older woman had put in over the years. Upgrading the Kwik Kleen might have seemed like a small project, but it would mean a lot to Mosswood.
It took Declan and the delivery guys about ten minutes to unload the goods and shuffle them into place in the tiny store, with Rosie watching on with excitement. When the guys finally got their tips and left, she breathed a sigh of satisfaction.
“This,” she said, waving her hand emphatically at the new appliances, “is a local miracle. I would have killed to have had access to these babies when I first moved to town.”
Declan smiled knowingly. “We’ll have even better ones in the new cottage,” he reminded her.
“And an honest-to-goodness laundryroom,” she added, referring to one of the small additions they were making. “It’ll be so good to have space to actually fold the clothes. Speaking of space to fold…” She trailed off, her gaze slipping to the large piece of walnut-stained wood leaning carefully against the wall behind the plate-glass door.
Declan grinned. “Shall we add the finishin’ touch?” he asked his wife, even though he already damn-well knew the answer. Lifting the piece of wood was no problem for the huge Irishman. He hefted it with ease, maneuvering it into place on top of the washers and driers so that it was a fancy counter top. It took a little finessing to get it into place properly but once it was, it was a beautiful sight to behold.
“Now all we need is a new noticeboard and a water cooler,” Rosie mused, “and we’re good to re-open!”
“Sounds like a plan, darlin’,” Declan agreed. The pair stood back to admire the place, Rosie easily fitting into the safe space beneath Declan’s shoulder as his arm curved around her lovingly. “How’re you feelin’?”
“Not bad,” she mused, pretending to consider the question. “Could be better.”
Declan quirked a rust-colored brow. “How so? You need a vending machine in here as well as the cooler?”
“Nowthatis a great idea,” Rosie agree playfully, flashing a grin when Declan moaned in mock chagrin. “But no. I was thinking about something a little more… intimate.”
“Oh y’were, were ya?” Declan smirked down at his wife.
“Maybe,” she confessed. “If you behave yourself.”
“No chance, then,” he grinned back, before leaning down to plant a kiss on is wife’s lips that hinted he might just give it a try anyway.
CHAPTER TWO
Breakfastthe next morning was a chaotic whirlpool of toast, cereal, juice and family passing like ships in the night. Declan was getting Gabe ready to head off with Myles and Matthew to a go-carting place in Huntsville for some manly bonding, while Maggie and Rosie were preparing themselves for a morning full of crazy baby shenanigans. Tammy had agreed to host a joint baby shower at her place for the impending family members, and while Rosie was so glad she wasn’t having half the folk in town through her living room that day there was still plenty to prepare.
She’d promised Tammy she’d make cobb salad, which had proven to be more difficult than she’d bargained for given how hard it was for her to get close enough to the counter to cook in the first place. She’d pulled together some little clear bottles to use as vases for the table settings and was planning on getting some vines and flowers from Tammy’s garden to decorate them with.
While Tammy herself was widely known as the best cook in town, she had wisely elected to get this event catered for. Elladine at the Moon Cafe had been only too happy to oblige. Rosie admitted if that meant some of Elladine’s gorgeously golden beignets, she was more than happy to sit back and just enjoy the baby shower instead of needing to feel like she was being the hostess.
“How do I look?” Rosie asked, as soon as the two girls had the small house to themselves.
“Like a goddess,” Maggie said, and even though she strongly suspected her daughter was laying it on a bit thick, Rosie couldn’t deny that she appreciated the sentiment. She was already feeling like a fish out of water at an event where so many of Tammy’s other friends, relatives, and loved ones were going to be gathering while she and Maggie only had each other.
She was sure it was a littletoofar from the truth. While she’d managed to finally heal her face—an action helped along by the baby inside of her womb—Rosie was still relatively self-conscious. Outfit wise she’d ended up choosing a dark brown 90s style maxi dress, even going so far as to wear the tight white t-shirt underneath it. She felt breezy and comfortable, and she reasoned she couldn’t ask any more than that given her state of affairs.
