Part 29 (1/2)
”Sawyer.” He offered a hand. ”Boone Sawyer. We're Anastasia's neighbors.”
”Neighbors, you say? Well, I doubt that's all. But come in, come in.” He exchanged Boone's hand for Jessie's. ”See what we have in store for you.”
”Ghosts!” She nearly bounced out of her Mary Janes. ”Daddy, ghosts!”
”Not a bad attempt for a layman,” Padrick said kindly enough. ”Oh, by the way, Ana's just taken Nash and Morgana upstairs. We've having twins tonight. Maureen, my pa.s.sion flower, come meet Ana's neighbors.” He turned to Boone as a striking amazon in a scarlet turban came striding down the hall.
”I imagine you'd like a drink, boyo,” Padrick said to Boone.
”Yes, sir.” Boone blew out a long breath. ”I believe I would.”
Hesitant and uneasy, Mel knocked on the door of Morgana's bedroom, then poked her head in. She wasn't sure whether she'd expected the clinical-and, to her mind, frightening-aura of a delivery room or the mystical glow of a magic circle. Either one she could have done without.
Instead, there was Morgana propped up in a big, cozy-looking bed, flowers and candles all around. Harp and flute music was drifting through the room. Morgana looked a bit flushed, Nash more than a bit pale, but the basic normality of it all rea.s.sured Mel enough to have her crossing the threshold when Ana gestured to her.
”Come on in, Mel. You should be an expert at this now. After all, you helped Sebastian and me deliver the foal just a few months ago.”
”I feel like a horse,” Morgana muttered, ”but that doesn't mean I appreciate the comparison.”
”I don't want to interrupt, or get in the way or-Oh, boy,” she whispered when Morgana threw her head back and began to puff like a steam engine.
”Okay, okay.” Nash gripped her hand and fumbled with a stopwatch.
”Here comes another one. We're doing fine, just fine.”
”We, h.e.l.l,” Morgana said between her teeth. ”I'd like to see you-”
”Breathe.” Ana's voice was gentle as she placed crystals over Morgana's belly. They hovered in the air, gleaming with an unearthly light that Mel tried to take in stride.
After all, she reminded herself, she'd been married to a witch for two months.
”It's all right, babe.” Nash pressed his lips to her hand, wis.h.i.+ng desperately for the pain to pa.s.s. ”It's almost over.”
”Don't go.” She gripped his hand hard as the contraction began to ease.
”Don't go.”
”I'm right here. You're wonderful.” As Ana had instructed him, he cooled Morgana's face with a damp cloth. ”I love you, gorgeous.”
”You'd better.” She managed a smile and let out a long, cleansing breath. Knowing she had a ways to go, she closed her eyes. ”How am I doing, Ana?”
”Great. A couple more hours.”
”A couple-” Nash bit off the words and fixed on a smile that was sick around the edges. ”Terrific.”
Mel cleared her throat, and Ana glanced over. ”I'm sorry. We got a li ttle distracted.”
”No problem. I just thought you'd want to know Boone's here-with Jessie.”
”Oh.” Ana mopped her own brow with her s.h.i.+rtsleeve. ”I'd forgotten. I'll be right down. Would you send Aunt Bryna up?”
”Sure. Hey, Morgana, we're all with you.”