The War on Witches Read Free Page A

then.”
    Paige let out a groan as she hung up and went to make a notation in the reservations book. “Wait. Was that a table for eighteen at nine or a table for nineteen at eight?”
    â€œHaving fun?” Phoebe asked.
    Paige marked down the table for nineteen at eight and hoped for the best. “You can cross restaurateur off my potential career list.”
    Phoebe took a seat at the bar. “I thought you were full up on Whitelighter duties and helping at Magic School.”
    â€œAnd the two days a week at Social Services,” Paige said as she moved behind the bar. “But the one thing those all have in common is their inability to cover the bills when you’re raising three kids. Parole officers only make so much. Add to that the renovations from when Tam accidentally torched the house with her new power. . . .”
    â€œAnd the money Piper contributes while you cover for her probably helps.”
    â€œI’m pretty sure I’m on the family-pay plan.” Paige opened a bottle of white wine and poured two glasses. “Which makes me feel worse since we’re already mooching off them by living at the Manor while the house is being brought back up to code. And here we thought it was just a little smoke damage.”
    â€œYou’ll be back home soon enough,” Phoebe replied, taking a sip of her wine. “And then it’ll be Kat’s turn to find a way to destroy something . . . with or without magic. I swear I don’t know how Piper managed.”
    â€œAnd she only started out by giving birth to the twice-blessed one,” Paige said. “Whatever that meant.”
    â€œYeah, well, raising little half Cupids ain’t easy either,” Phoebe said. “P.J. had her first crush on a boy in daycare. We found out when she beamed him to the house for a playdate on Sunday. Coop had to rush him home before his parents realized he was gone and called the cops.”
    â€œStarting a little young, isn’t she?”
    â€œWho can say? Coop’s the first Cupid to marry a witch and have children. We’re in uncharted territory here. I never expected that P.J.’s witch half would unite with her Cupid half, even without a ring to activate her power. I can’t even imagine what will happen when Parker’s power reveals itself, no matter how many times I try to force a premonition to give me a heads-up. At least one of us was smart enough to marry a normal guy with no magic.”
    â€œThat has its own challenges when your daughters are witches and Whitelighters. Witchlighters?” Paige said. “I’m still not sure it was the right decision to bind their magic. Especially if they’re growing up with cousins that still have access to theirs.”
    â€œNothing saying you and Henry can’t change your minds once the girls are old enough to understand consequences,” Phoebe said. “For now, think of it as giving Henry Jr. the chance to grow up without having to defend himself from magical pranks. It’s not going to be easy on him, being the only kid in the family without magic.”
    â€œStill less of a crapshoot than being in the foster system, I guess,” Paige said. “And I say that as someone who works with the foster system. Let’s hope things stay calm for a while. I can’t handle any magical mischief on top of all the jobs I’m covering. Speaking of jobs, shouldn’t you be at work right now?”
    â€œI’m like two weeks ahead on my column,” Phoebe said. “I stocked a bunch of articles since I was supposed to be on my book tour right now. Then it went and got postponed.”
    â€œMaybe it’s a blessing. Take some time off to spend with your family.”
    â€œThat’s a good idea,” Phoebe said. “The girls would love an impromptu trip to Disneyland. We save a lot on airfare with a husband that can beam us there.”
    Paige nodded slowly. The last