Chapter 11
As they drove home, Mia kept thinking of ways to tell Christina. Mia was now certain of her friend’s pregnancy because so many others had noticed it as well.
Christina pulled the car over into a slow-moving vehicle turn out and shut it off.
“Okay, tell me what you don’t want me to know.
You keep watching me like I’m going to explode or something.
Did someone predict my fortune and I’m going to die before my wedding?
What? I need to know so I can deal with my future. Good or bad.”
“It’s good, but Christina, I could be wrong. It’s just that other people are seeing it too, so I think you should know, so you can do something about it if you want.” Mia took a breath. “You’re pregnant. With twins.”
“What are you talking about? I’m totally regular and I’m on the pill.
” She pulled out her calendar from her purse.
“I track my cycles just in case and my last one was …” She flipped through the calendar app.
“It looks like I didn’t write it down. Probably all the excitement from the engagement and the move. ”
She fiddled with her calendar, then counted out the weeks aloud. “Eight weeks? How can I have missed it for eight weeks? Wait, why did you say twins?”
Mia didn’t look up. “Finn can hear them arguing and laughing.”
“That’s why she’s staring at me? She can hear the babies?
But if they’re that young, they don’t have mouths or voices, or—crap, it’s a witch thing, isn’t it.
The twins are probably witches too. Of course they are; their daddy is a witch, just as, apparently, I am.
How is it that you knew, Finn knew, even the coffee lady knew, but I didn’t?
Marsha can’t backtrack a line to save her life. ”
“I don’t know why you didn’t know, but now that you do, does it feel right? We’re dealing in a time of false information, so maybe I’m wrong. Maybe everyone’s wrong,” Mia said, focusing on the hope she didn’t feel for the idea.
Christina’s hand dropped to her stomach.
“I’m pregnant? With twins? I can’t believe this is happening so soon.
I mean, we’ve talked about a family. Levi wants a son to buy one of those little motorcycles.
Just thinking about my baby on one of those makes me freak out.
Wow. Pregnant. Me? I’m going to be a mom. ”
“I could be wrong,” Mia repeated, but then she saw the glow on Christina’s face.
“No, it’s true. I can hear them now. Girls.
Twin girls with an attitude. What are we going to do?
I guess I’d better get a test and a doctor’s appointment.
And tell Levi.” She laughed. “I’m not sure he’s ready to be a dad, but he’d better buck up.
There’s no way I’m going through this without him.
I’d have to move back in with Mom and Dad and they would ruin the kids.
Private schools, trips to Paris to shop, a housekeeper and cook? Maybe I’m not going to tell Levi.”
Mia laughed. “You’d be back by the weekend. Your mom drives you crazy.”
“Yeah, but these girls might send me to the loony bin sooner.” She rubbed her stomach protectively. “I’m just kidding, girls.”
“So you’re okay with this entire thing? I feel like I keep asking people that question. ‘Hey, your world just exploded, but are you okay? It’s been a week.’”
Christina started the car and pulled into traffic. “Let’s go back to the academy, with a quick stop at Majors Grocery for a test. Levi needs shampoo anyway. What did we learn from the coffee lady, besides the fact that she makes great cookies?”
Mia and Christina talked about the witch entrance announcement. Mia slapped herself on the forehead. “I forgot to ask her about when Suzanne Parker came to town. I wonder if she’d know about her living here and being part of this coven. I bet she does. Now I have to go back and ask more questions.”
“You need a book. A notebook where you can write down this stuff,” Christina offered an idea.
“I have one, but it means I have to look at it when I’m talking to people. I’ll call Marsha tonight. I wonder if Grans started dinner yet. Does dinner happen if we’re not there to remind people or actually cook ourselves?”
“Oh, I’m certain Abigail has dinner going. She’s been pushing food on me all week.” Christina sighed and hit the steering wheel with the heel of her hand. “My soon-to-be mother-in-law knows, doesn’t she?”
“That I don’t know, but if she’s pushing food? Probably. Your mom would be taking food out of your hand, so you’d fit into a designer wedding dress,” Mia pointed out.
“Twins. I’ll be huge walking down the aisle if we wait. We need to move up this wedding, especially the one in Magic Springs. I don’t want to look like a white whale in satin and lace.”
When they got to the academy, Mia got out of the car and saw Buddy land in the tree.
“Do you think we had an escort?” Christina stood, watching the dragon.
“I don’t think Buddy’s going to be far from us until Trent gets released from almost solitary confinement.” Mia walked over and rubbed Buddy’s snout. “Make sure you check in on Trent and Cerby too. We’re probably in for the night.”
With those words, Buddy purred and rose back into the air. She disappeared seconds later, going into stealth mode.
“She listens to you.” Christina joined Mia as they walked to the door. “I couldn’t even get my dog to chase a ball when I was a kid. You have a dragon delivering messages and protection duties.”
“I’m not sure it’s my skills. I think Buddy is a lot smarter than we assume. I’m going to have to learn a lot more about dragons. I doubt there’s a training camp for them nearby.” Mia was met at the door by Muffy, who used the impromptu meeting to wander outside for a few minutes.
The academy smelled amazing, like Sunday dinner. Roasted chicken had to be in the oven, and it appeared that Abigail was cooking in the downstairs kitchen. Christina went looking for Levi for a little talk, and after Muffy came back in, Mia went to the kitchen with her on her heels.
“Welcome back. I thought I’d cook here so you didn’t have to deal with the crowd when you returned.
Finn left for work at the Lodge and Levi and his dad are out back, making plans to expand that garden of yours.
Just don’t let them know I told you. It’s a surprise.
Oh, and your grandmother and Damien are working on a potion in your lab.
” She looked up from the pie dough she was rolling out. “Where’s Christina?”
“She went to find Levi. They need to talk.” Mia went over to check the stove. Corn was in a pan, waiting to be cooked, and potatoes bubbled in another pan to make mashed potatoes. “Anything I can help with?”
“Get a bag of blueberry pie filling from the freezer, and check to see if we have vanilla ice cream while you’re there.
I thought I saw some, but now I’m questioning myself.
” She looked up after carefully setting the first shell in the pie pan.
“Wait, Christina knows? Did she figure it out or did you tell her?”
“I told her. Marsha Fieldstone almost did earlier. I figured it would freak her out less hearing it from me. Besides, the twins are freaking out Finn. Now that Christina knows, maybe they’ll quiet down.”
“Maybe. Not all witch babies talk so early. Trent chatted the whole time I was carrying him. He wanted to know everything I was doing and seeing. He’s always been my curious one. Levi’s going to freak out a little. I can already see that.”
“Babies. I knew they were coming, but it’s a little sooner than I’d expected for those two.” Mia came out of the walk-in freezer with the pie filling. “I put the vanilla ice cream on the shelf closest to the door.”
“I love the idea of grandchildren, but this feels early to me as well.” Abigail poured the fruit into the shell, then put the top shell on, cutting a leaf motif in the middle and sprinkling sugar on top.
“Grab that bottle of chardonnay from the fridge and two glasses. We’ve got a little time before the pie and chicken are ready.
Let’s have a glass to celebrate the new arrivals.
I always knew exactly when I conceived. My body told me the story.
I even knew the day they would arrive, but Thomas never believed me. ”
As they sat at the little table in the kitchen, Mia poured wine and listened to Abigail’s pregnancy stories.
She wondered how many women had done this same thing.
Sat in their kitchens, waiting for food they’d prepared for the family to be ready as they talked about babies and the magical process that brought them into the world.
“I thought Trent would be the first of my three to become a dad,” Abigail said after a couple of sips. “He’s levelheaded and ready for the challenge. Levi was always the baby. I just hope he’s grown up enough for this.”
“He has no choice. Christina won’t let him slack off. The girl’s a tyrant.” Mia smiled as she thought of her friend as a mother. “As far as Trent is concerned, he’s not even married.”
“He might not be formally married to you, but you’re as much a Majors as Christina is. The two of you just need to do the ceremony to finalize it.” Abigail took another sip of wine. “But maybe right now is not the best time for more babies.”
“Don’t worry about it until we have something to worry about.
All we can do right now is prepare as much as possible so we’re ready.
Getting Cerby and Tempest trained is the first step.
I have a feeling that we’re going to need Mark and Sarah in this fight.
And Em will have babies to play with soon.
” Mia held up her glass. “To the future, whatever it might bring.”
“You are definitely a kitchen witch. You have a positivity streak a mile long.” Abigail smiled and clinked Mia’s glass. “To our expanding family. May we welcome them with open hearts.”