For Love or Magic Read Free Page B

she ran to me, pulling me into a big hug.
    â€œOh, so … wow, you guys are huggers,” I said as she let me go.
    â€œSuch an unusual name for a woman, Eliot,” Polka Dots said. “I love it.”
    â€œThanks,” I said. “My mother was a George Eliot fan.”
    She patted her belly. “We’re having a girl. Nick—that’s my husband, Nick Easter, I’m sure you’ll meet him soon—wants to name her Bunny.”
    â€œYeah, that’s a bad idea,” I said automatically.
    Polka Dots made a face and laughed. “I know, right? So now I’m all obsessed with girl names. The little monkey was due three days ago, but she refuses to come out !” Polka Dots yelled playfully toward her stomach and laughed.
    â€œYeah. Good luck with that.” A weird silence followed, and I wished not for the first time that I had Judd’s gift for charming strangers with meaningless chitchat. “Um, not to be rude but … who are you people?”
    Polka Dots slapped her hand to her forehead and laughed. “Oh! Wow! We totally forgot to introduce ourselves! You must be like, ‘Who are these crazy people in my house?’”
    â€œA little,” I said. “Yeah.”
    She smiled. “I’m Bernadette Easter, but you can call me Peach. Everyone does. And this is Addie Hooper-Higgins. She owns the antiques store. She sold you your bed.”
    Addie Hooper-Higgins. The name did ring the vaguest of bells.
    â€œOh, right. Nice to meet you.” I held out my hand on instinct, but Addie just pulled me in for another hug. Over Addie’s shoulder, Peach smiled and winked at me, as if we were sharing a joke. That crazy Addie. Always hugs people twice.
    â€œUm, yeah,” I said when Addie released me the second time. “I’m Eliot. Well, you know that. And this big guy is Seamus.”
    â€œOh!” Addie clapped her hands, delighted. “What a beautiful creature!”
    â€œDon’t be offended if he’s a little standoffish. He’s not exactly friendly, but he doesn’t bite.” I hesitated, deliberating. “That I know of.”
    The words were barely out of my mouth before Seamus was up on his hind legs, his massive paws on Addie’s shoulders as he attempted to lick her face right off her head. I stared in disbelief. The little bastard. For eight months, I’ve been feeding that dog—and not the cheap stuff, either, freaking Iams —and he had yet to lick my face or show any affection for me at all. On a good day, he tolerated my presence. On a bad one, he ate my lunch.
    â€œWhat a little love!” Addie laughed and patted his shoulders lightly. “Down now, Seamus.”
    Seamus immediately hopped down. He ambled over to Peach, sniffed her knee and licked her hand.
    â€œSweet dog!” Peach said, rubbing his head.
    â€œYeah.” I had a sudden hopeful thought. “You want him?”
    They both looked at me as though I had just offered them my firstborn or something, and then Addie laughed.
    â€œOh, you,” she said. “You’re funny.”
    I hadn’t been kidding but … whatever.
    â€œI’m sorry,” I said. “I just got here this morning and I wasn’t expecting visitors, so I don’t have anything to offer you.”
    â€œOh, get the woman a soda, would you, Peach?” Addie said, and Peach went into the kitchen. I followed. Peach opened my fridge, and I was shocked to see that it was full. I could only catch a glimpse of the bounty in the few seconds while Peach grabbed three bottles of soda, but I saw a number of disposable Gladware containers and something that looked like lasagna before Peach closed the door.
    â€œWow, you filled the fridge. That’s … uh … neighborly.” My stomach was growling at the thought of that lasagna, and I hoped they couldn’t hear it.
    Peach whipped the cap off one of the