Page 53 of Extra Witchy

Within five minutes, he had a reply from Junie.Sorry. This is why I get on LeLe’s nerves. I have something to get off my chest, but I didn’t consider her feelings. She’s lucky to have you.

At least she’s capable of realizing that.His own parents seemed to have no sense that they ever did anything wrong. To the best of Trev’s recollection, Wade had never once apologized, not even when he laid into Trev for something he didn’t do.

Junie:Lunch tomorrow then?

Trev:Sounds good.

She sent the time and place, leaving him to wonder what terrible revelation Junie was about to dump on Leanne this time.

Whatever it is, I’ll be there to pick up the pieces.

Chapter 18

The next day was jam-packed.

Leanne campaigned nonstop, starting with a chat at the coffee klatch. More than half of the gathered seniors were already on her team, but she reinforced the message by stopping in personally with a huge assortment of goodies from Sugar Daddy’s.

“Good morning,” she called, as she trekked through the fire station into the conference room, where a number of retirees awaited.

Gladys winked at her. “Can’t get enough of us, huh?”

“I’m hoping to get the most powerful voting bloc firmly in my camp,” she said seriously.

“We’re yours, honey.” Hazel hurried over to take the bakery box from her and carried it to the table where the coffee was set up.

“Not me,” said Leonard. “I belong to Gladys.”

“Stop being so literal,” Howard grumbled.

“I hope to see everyone at headquarters later. But mainly, I wanted to talk about outreach. Even if you’re not actively volunteering…” She made eye contact with a few seniors and smiled. “I hope you’ll mention that I’m running to your friends. At church and bunco, bingo and the singalong, or at your weekly breakfast catch-up.”

“You’re trying to get on our gossip circuit,” Mrs. Carmenian said with a chuckle. “I’m already canvassing for you, darling. And yet you wantmore?”

She bit her lip, trying to look rueful. “Is that wrong? I probably shouldn’t—”

“I’ll take care of it,” Hazel promised.

Impulsively, Leanne crossed to the doughnut table and gave the old woman a hug. She whispered, “I appreciate you so much. Read the book for this month’s club meeting yet?”

Hazel grinned. “I’m halfway through! It’s pure filth and I love it.”

Leanne let her go with a final pat on the back. “I saw how you went after Dan Rutherford. Don’t get in trouble, okay?”

“Please, that rodent can’t mess with me. My grandson is a lawyer.”

While Hazel filled a plate with pastries, a few other retirees offered to spread the word to folks who didn’t get online. Leanne said, “I truly appreciate it. I don’t have the same resources as Dan Rutherford.”

Howard patted her arm in a comforting gesture. “Of course you don’t. He’s sixty-eight and owns a car dealership.”

Leanne headed toward the door, content with what she’d accomplished. “Thanks so much. I won’t take up more of your time—”

“Oh, please,” Mrs. Carmenian cut in. “We don’t have that much of it left at our age, but ironically, there are so many hours to fill with our families busy and no actual job.”

That cut close to the bone. She went back to Hazel, who’d unexpectedly become her fiercest defender. “Can I hug you again before I go?”

She’d never met any of her grandparents. Junie had been disowned before Leanne was born, so she’d never known the witch side of her family, and Junie had said her biological father was some random mundane, a man she couldn’t track down if she tried. Since that was just classic Junie, she’d never questioned it. But over the past few months, she’d come to view Hazel as a surrogate grandma, and the altercation with Rutherford underscored how precious this woman was. While she seemed grumpy as hell on the surface, she was lonely deep down and longing to feel necessary and be included.

“Bring it in,” said Hazel, her round face creasing in a bright smile.

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