Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80563 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80563 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“I need to check in on a few things,” I start, “and then I’ll see how my day will unfold. As much as I can, at least.”
“Perfect. Text me when you know! I’m going to attempt to go to a spin class while Phil’s mom is here to watch Penny.”
“Is she going to be dressed up like Glenda from The Wizard of Oz when you get back? At least she’s the good witch.”
“Hah, right? And there is a good chance. If you want, I can dig into some boxes from the basement and find the ridiculous newborn dresses she also bought us. We can have Juliet look like she’s about to attend a Quinceanera.”
“No need,” Eliza says, appearing in the hall. “I have my own collection of designer dresses for my sister.”
“Fucking vampire hearing,” I huff. “I’ll text you in a bit.”
“Sounds good,” Abby replies. “Love you.”
“Love you too,” I tell her and end the call.
“Why are we dressing my sister up?” Eliza asks, flipping her hair over her shoulder. She herself looks like she’s ready to go to a formal party, yet Eliza never seems over or underdressed. There’s something about her that, if anything, makes you want to match her energy and ensemble. And today she’s wearing a long blue dress. It’s low cut and tight on her waist, with a thigh-high split. Her silver heels match the sparkles on the dress, and her hair is perfectly straight, hanging around her pretty face like perfectly ironed curtains.
“We aren’t.” Binx shadows around me, shifting into cat-form and winding between my legs as I walk down the hall and into the kitchen. Kristy is by the stove, dishing up two plates of French toast and eggs.
“Morning,” I tell her. “I thought for sure you’d beClick here to enter text. in bed with a hangover.”
“Oh, I was.” She widens her eyes and slowly shakes her head. “I had to mix up a potion. It’s been a while so I had to enlist Pandora’s help.”
“How do humans survive without magic?”
“I wonder that all the time. Remember when I dated that non our second year during university studies?”
“Eliot, right?”
“Yep.” She picks up both plates and goes to the island counter, where we both sit down. “It was soClick here to enter text. painful watching him deal with mundane things like hangovers and being unable to find his keys.”
“How would magic help you find your keys?” Eliza perches on the edge of the counter, looking down at our food with a bit of curiosity and disgust.
“Locator spell,” I tell her and fold my piece of toast in half before dipping it in syrup.
“Interesting.” Eliza tips her head and wrinkles her nose. “Eggs are disgusting.”
“Thanks for that. Want to try breast milkClick here to enter text.?” I quip without missing a beat.
“From the source?” Eliza raises her eyebrows. “Is Lucas okay with this?”
“I am not,” he replies, voice coming from the family room.
Kristy looks from me to Eliza and back again. “I’m missing something but I think I’m okay with it.”
I laugh and shake my head. “You don’t want to know.” We finish our food and then join Lucas in the family room. He’s on the floor with Juliet. She’s on her play mat looking up at a book Lucas is holding.
“Are you Click here to enter text. reading to her in Spanish?” I ask, coming over and sitting next to my husband.
“I am” he replies. “Exposing babies to multiple languages from a young age will make it easier for them to learn later in life.”
“She’s going to be a well-rounded kid,” ElizaClick here to enter text. says and I nod. “She has a very cultured and worldly father and a rather impulsive and violent mother.”
“You’re more than that,” Kristy replies right away.
“So much more,” Lucas says and turns his head, looking right into my eyes. I can’t help but smile, feeling so much love for him.
“Way to remind me I’m single,” Kristy grumbles and I laugh.
“Where’s Eamon?” I ask, realizing I haven’t seen him yet.
“Conservatory,” Eliza answers, silently zooming into the room. “Enjoying the sun.”
“Did he freak out?”
“Oh yeah.”
Kristy slowly shakes her head, looking out the window. “He’s like what, two thousand years old?”
“Give or take,” Lucas replies.
“I can’t imagine not seeing the sun or feeling itsClick here to enter text. warmth,” she goes on. “Did you miss it?”
“Not anymore than I missed human food,” Lucas answers. “Though the inconvenience of having to hide it Click here to enter text. was an annoyance.”
“Remember when we’d enjoy the dark in Svalbard?” Eliza reminisces, a smile on her face. “Two and a half months of night.”
“Please tell me you didn’t inspire those movies,” Kristy mumbles.
“What movies?” Eliza asks with fake innocence, but before she can keep poking, her phone rings. “It’s Rene. Again. I should answer.”
“From the bar?” I ask, almost forgetting that we own The Taproom in Chicago.