Page 65 of Battling Bright
“You are too young.”
“You are an idiot.”Elida poured lemonade.“Girls, is lunch coming?”
Miika laughed.“Yes, Mom.”
Elida looked out at her daughters.“Which of you took time off work for this?”
All four arms shot into the air.
Elida looked at Neekil.“Consider that a compliment.They normally put earning money over hanging around the old homestead.”
Miika laughed.“Mom, we are all grown now and trying to start our own lives.”
“Yes, pet.I know.Did you get spring rolls?”
“Yes, we did.”
Elida grinned.
Neekil asked, “So, who’s the father?Let me know so I can break his knees.”
Winnie chuckled.“She used a donor.As she puts it, no fuss, no muss.”
Elida laughed.“Thanks for that, Win.”
Hannah blinked.“A donor?”
“Yup.More or less.”
Four girls whipped their heads toward her.“What?”
“Well, remember when I was feeling twitchy, so I went to the club?”
Miika stared.“Yes.”
“I brought home a souvenir.”She patted her belly.“It wasn’t supposed to happen, but I guess the enchantment slipped.”
Neekil blinked.“I will break every joint in his body.”
“Dude, you used to fool around like other folks eat chips.”
“How far along are you?”
Miika laughed.“Three months.It was literally the last time you went to the club before we headed home to Redbird.”
Hannah got a rueful smile from Elida.“Sorry.This is the side effect of five women and one house.We are always on the lookout for signs of the crimson tide.”
“I had brothers, so this is eye-opening.”Hannah whispered, “Do they do the dishes?”
“And laundry, and we have a line full of bras twice a week.”
“Wow.It’s like Shangri-la.”
The ladies all laughed.Neekil beamed as if delighted that the women in his life were getting along.
Hannah frowned.“I just have one question.Why didn’t Neekil or any of the XIA mention you?”
“Oh, since I had to take the girls and run, I cast a spell over any thought of us.It simply faded as soon as it happened.When we returned, the spell was off, and we just needed someone to see us and speak our names again.Then all of our friends and family would remember.”
