Page 19 of Haunt Improvement
“Great party,” Zelda said, giving me a sarcastic two thumbs up.“Always a blast when your family comes to town.”
“I know, Zee.Sorry.”My face burned hotter, out of embarrassment this time.But it shifted back to wrath once Glinda and I were alone in the nursery.
“How long have you known your mother was going to tag along?”I demanded, propping my fists on my hips.I was sure I looked like a squatting toad with my belly filling the space between us.
“It was a last-minute decision.”Glinda grabbed her waist, mirroring my defensive posture.“Did you really have to go allAlmiraover it?You couldn’t have just kept things vague to placate her?”
“You mean like you did?”I accused, waving a hand at her suck-up dress.“Yes, Mother,” I mocked in a whiny voice.“She called Roger yourpetrabbit.That didn’t sound like hyperbole to me.”
“It’s a starting point,” she admitted.“I’m hoping his transformation will...impress her.”
“You’re hoping you can pass him off as a warlock.”I gasped at the realization.“You’re aliar.”
“You’re one to talk,” she threw back at me.“I thought you wanted to keep the West naming tradition.You said so yourself.”
“With you!”I finally snapped, yelling in her face.“I wanted to keep Gran’s traditions alive withyou.I don’t need my father, your mother, or anyone else in our wicked family to give this baby a name.Iwantedyou to be there.”
“Oh.”The fight drained from Glinda’s face.“Well...Unfortunately, I don’t thinkthatceremony will be opening any doors back into the family.”
“Holy poppy fields,” I groaned as wittle witch jabbed my bladder again.It was sharper this time.
“Holy poppy fields,” Glinda echoed, her eyes going wide as a puddle formed between my silver flats.
Chapter 8
“SOMEONE GET DEEDEEup here!And call Dylan!”Glinda shouted down the stairwell before helping me lie down on the nursery floor.
“I’ll give him a bell,” Daisy hollered back.Whether or not he’d have signal in this storm was anyone’s guess.
“This rug is organic wool,” I grunted through a contraction.
“Mmhmm, that’s nice,” Glinda said in a soothing voice, our argument a distant memory.
“It’s from Peru.Expensive—” A whimper slipped out before I swore under my breath.“Wizard help me.”
“Dylan is on his way,” DeeDee said, entering the nursery with the birth kit in hand.Hermosa scrambled in behind her with a stack of fresh towels.Sweat gleamed across her crinkled brow, but she contained her worry there as she barked orders at my cousin.
