Imani grinned. “It really is. Let me know when you know. I love babies. I can’t wait to meet him or her.”
“Will do. So, now what?”
“It’s time for me to go back to work. I’ll just send your recording to my phone.” Her magic tingled my scalp, and she said, “Today’s recording on Lily’s phone will be sent to mine in one second’s time.” I sighed. She was so much better at rhyming than I was. “Okay, I’m off. And don’t forget to let me know about the baby.”
“I won’t. Promise.” She gave me a quick hug, then disappeared.
Alone again.
Funny how that bothered me. I used to love being by myself. Not that I hated alone time, but it wasn’t as if I could just go wherever I wanted without an escort like I could back in Sydney. Wandering around by myself taking photos or going for a run or a surf was not doable, which meant most of my alone time was being stuck inside. No wonder it bothered me. I’d be beyond happy when we shut the snake group down, and I could get my life back. Hopefully catching them also meant solving the mystery of what happened to my parents.
Restlessness was setting in. I stood and went to the window. At least the sky was blue today, but it was still cold. It would have been awesome to go for a run, but since I couldn’t do that by myself, it wasn’t going to happen. I did need to exercise though. I magicked my laptop to myself and magicked my clothes into T-shirt and black tights. I found a Pilates workout video on YouTube and got to it. Didn’t matter what happened, I would not lose my positive attitude, and exercise always helped me maintain it.
It was time to sweat.
After working out, I showered and sat on my bed to read. I must have dozed off, sloth that I was, because I awoke to my phone ringing and a dark room. I wiped the drool from the corner of my mouth and fumbled for my phone. I was still half asleep, so by the time I found it tangled in my covers, it had stopped ringing. Thank goodness for the “missed calls” feature.
James.
I sat up and called him back. “Sorry, I missed your call. Has she had the baby?”
“Yes. It’s a girl! She’s so beautiful, Lily. And Mill is doing well too, although she’s exhausted. We’d love for you to come see her.”
“Congratulations! Oh my God, I’m an auntie! Oh, Imani wanted me to tell her when the baby came. Is it okay if she visits too?”
The smile in his voice was unmistakable. “Yes, of course. When Millicent’s had enough, she’ll let you know. Her parents are here at the moment, but it’s fine if you come.”
“Let me just wash the drool off my face, and I’ll be there.”
“What?”
I laughed. “I had an unscheduled nap, which is why I missed your call. See you soon!” I ran to the bathroom, magicked a change of clothes, grabbed my Nikon—because I was totally going to take some professional shots of them on such an incredible day—and made my doorway to the hospital. Once I was there, I texted Imani the details. And thankfully, this time there was no one in the cubicle. Phew!
I dropped into the gift shop on the way to Mill’s room and picked up a huge bunch of flowers. I couldn’t believe I was about to meet a new little person who was actually related to me. It was about time our family grew. I blinked back tears. Mum and Dad would’ve been overjoyed, but they’d never get to meet James’s new baby. The magma of anger that silently flowed through my core bubbled to the surface. Whoever had robbed our family of every special moment and every quiet, loving word and hug would be lucky if they survived my wrath. I’m coming for you, and I’m leaving mercy behind. I shuddered at my own vehemence. Once my volcano erupted, it would obliterate everyone in its way.
Maybe even me.
I stopped just outside Millicent’s room and took some calming breaths. The last thing I wanted to do was allow those evil pigs to encroach on such a happy event. I pushed all the negativity out of my mind and went in.
James was on the other side of the bed, and Millicent’s parents were on this side, their backs to me, blocking my view of Millicent and the baby. I assumed she was holding the baby since I couldn’t see it anywhere. Hmm, not it, Lily, her. The sooner they told me her name, the better. I smiled. I had a niece.
James looked up and grinned at me.
“Hi,” I said, moving to the foot of the bed. Millicent’s parents turned towards me, and Millicent looked up from the swaddled bundle in her arms. “How are you?”
“Tired and incredibly happy.” Her smile was that of someone exhausted but content. “Lily, these are my parents, Robert and Anne. This is James’s sister.”
They both smiled, and Anne said, “Lovely to meet you. I was wondering when we’d finally get an introduction.” Her blonde hair was cut in a similar shoulder-length bob to Millicent, and she was petite of frame, just like my sister-in-law. Considering how nice Mill was, I had to assume her parents were too.
“Lovely to meet you too.” I smiled and turned to Millicent. “Let’s get some photos of you and the baby, and then you, James, and the baby.” I held up my camera and shut off my magic. Bereft at its absence, it was an effort to maintain my smile. It took a moment, but I got myself together.
I took a few shots of Millicent holding the most adorable baby I’d ever seen. I wasn’t really a baby person, but, in an instant, my niece changed that for me. I asked Millicent to place her in her little plastic hospital crib, which she did, and I took a few close-ups of her sweet face and tiny hands. Millicent then gathered her up again. James sat on the bed next to Millicent, put his arm around her, and looked at the camera. I took a few shots like that, then of the parents gazing lovingly upon their daughter. I finished and looked at Millicent’s parents. “Would you like some with Millicent as well?”
Her mother put her hand to her chest. “Oh, would you? That would be lovely. Thank you!” Robert and Anne moved into shot, and I did my thing.
I lowered my camera. “I’m done. Um… would I be able to hold her?”
Millicent’s eyes lit up with her grin. “Of course.” She handed the baby to James, who brought her around to my side of the bed.
“Sit there, Lily, and you can hold her.” I did as asked, and James placed the tiny, warm bundle into my waiting arms.
I stared down at the precious sleeping babe. Her chubby-cheeked pink face was relaxed and sweet in sleep. She had a button nose and lots of dark hair. My heart swelled to twice its normal size, and I thought it might burst from overwhelming love. I whispered, “She’s perfect.” I wanted to plant thousands of kisses on her face, but I was sure no one would appreciate it if I woke her. I guessed I’d have time for all that later. I looked up at James, tears moistening my eyes. We smiled at each other but needed no words. We were sharing the bittersweet joy of having this incredible human in our lives without our parents.
I swallowed and gazed back down at the baby. My voice cracked when I spoke. “Your grandparents on daddy’s side would have loved to meet you, sweetness. I’m sorry you won’t get to know them, but I’ll fill you in on how awesome they were one day. Know that you’re loved. I’m Auntie Lily, by the way, and when Mummy and Daddy are being mean and telling you that you can’t have another piece of cake, you just come and visit me, and we’ll eat all the cake you want, and play all the games. Love you, precious.” This time, I couldn’t resist. I carefully bent my head and placed the gentlest kiss on her forehead.
James had been hovering the whole time, and I could tell he was itching to have his daughter back. I grinned. “Okay, Daddy, here you go.” He smiled and bent to take her as I gingerly lifted the baby and placed her into his arms. “Has she got a name yet?”
Millicent shook her head. “No. We have three on the shortlist. We’re giving ourselves another day to decide.”
James made his way back to Millicent. As he placed the baby in her arms, the baby let out a tiny grumble, which quickly turned into a halting cry. Mill’s mother laughed. “Someone’s hungry. We’ll go and grab a cup of tea and leave you to it, won’t we, Robert?”
“Yes, love.” Millicent’s father smiled down at her. “We’ll be back soon.”
I stood. “I’ve got a few things to do at home, so I’ll pop away too, let you settle into your new reality.” I grinned. “Congratulations, you two. You’ve made the cutest baby on the planet.” I gave Millicent a kiss on the cheek, then went and gave my brother the biggest hug ever. “Call me if you need anything.”
James smiled. “Will do.”
“Oh, Imani should be coming at some point. I thought she’d be here soon after me, but she must’ve been held up at work.”
“Not a problem. Bye, Lily.”
“See you later, alligator.” I made my way to Millicent’s bathroom. What a day. Elation and melancholy danced a timeless, heart-wrenching waltz inside me. But that was life, and we’d all do our best to get through it for as long as we could.
Except for those who had jumped recently.
Pushing that thought from my mind and filling it with the joy of my new niece, I made my doorway and went through.
Chapter 8
The next morning, I was still on a baby high. I texted James to make sure everyone was still doing well, and then I got ready for a, hopefully, good day. The fact that it wasn’t raining and the top temp would be ten degrees was positive too. Beren and Imani had met Will, Liv, and me at Angelica’s; then we walked to the gallery.
When we reached our destination, I paused, took a deep breath, then opened the art-gallery door. Behind me, Will put his hands on my waist in support. It was weird coming back. The last time I was here, I was investigating the disappearance of my art teacher. I’d had to date the gallery owner’s son to find out what had happened. Sadly, he’d killed her, and her gorgeous fox. Since then, new owners had bought the business and renamed it London Gallery—after the street it was on rather than the city.
The layout was unchanged—three large rooms—but the timber floor had been stained almost black, and the walls were stark white. The first room contained black-and-white images, and the second two rooms featured colour photographs, all of them portraits or African nature studies. So many stunning images, from giraffes and lions to elderly people with deep-set wrinkles that told a thousand stories. From my friends’ comments, they were impressed too.
We stopped in front of a colour shot of a black panther lying relaxed on a large fallen tree trunk, its tail slunk over the edge, hugging the curve of the log, the tail tip touching the earth. The panther’s majestic green eyes stared straight into the camera, its shiny black coat impressively regal. If the lion was the king of the jungle, the panther was the prince of darkness. If only I could have one as a pet. It had to be the most gorgeous type of cat there was.
“You like this one?” Will asked.
“Love would be more the word I’d use.”
“Why don’t you buy it? I’m sure Angelica wouldn’t mind you putting it up somewhere.”
I laughed. “Um, it’s three thousand pounds. I’m saving for my own place. I’ll never be able to afford something over here if I keep spending my money.”
“When was the last time you spent money?” Liv asked.
“Um… ages ago, I suppose, but, still, I can’t justify spending that much on something that won’t be useful. Once I have my own place sorted, I’ll save for artwork. They’re worth it, but it’s just not the right time for me.” I could sell my apartment in Sydney and buy something here, but I’d still need to add to the funds, and I wasn’t quite ready to let my Australian home go just yet. And as much as I loved that photograph, I couldn’t justify spending that much on it, especially since I didn’t have a steady income. It felt like a want rather than a need—okay, it actually wasn’t a need at all.
“Hmm.”
I turned and looked at Will. “What does ‘hmm’ mean?”
He shrugged. “Nothing, just hmm.”
I raised my brow, not convinced, but I had no idea what he was going for with the hmm. Was it a criticism of my unwillingness to be frivolous, or did he not want me to get my own place? Gah, who knew? And it didn’t matter.
We moved on and finally reached the last picture. Beren put his hands in his jeans pockets. “I don’t know about you lot, but I’m starving. Let’s go grab some lunch.”
“Sounds good to me. I’m super hungry.” Liv linked her arm through mine, and we wandered back through the gallery, to the front door, Imani, Will, and Beren behind. Liv opened the gallery door, and Will’s phone rang.
He looked at his phone. “I have to take this. Go on, and I’ll catch up.”
Beren nodded and nudged Liv and I out onto the street, Imani behind him. I resisted the urge to pout. “I hope that’s not work calling him in. We hardly ever get to do fun things together.”
Beren walked next to me along the footpath. “It’s just part of the job, but I’m sure that whatever it is, he’ll be able to have lunch with us.”
I sighed. “I sure hope so.”
We reached a T intersection, Westerham Hall diagonally opposite us. Imani peered across at the car park, which was full of cars and people. There were even kids with helium balloons. “What’s happening there today? Do they have markets or something? I love a good market.”
I remembered browsing the internet for local events. “It’s some promo thing for a local plastic surgeon.”
Footsteps sounded behind us. I turned. Will grinned, his dimples super cute. How did I get so lucky? “You guys haven’t gone far. What’s happening?”
Beren affected a serious expression. “We’re considering whether or not to check out the plastic surgery fun day.”
I nodded. “Yes, because nothing says ‘party time’ like getting a nose job.” I ran my finger down my nose. Nope, all good here, thanks. “Although, maybe they have snacks. They could feed us lots of treats, then suck the fat back out.”
“Loves, we’re missing out. I want to see what kind of crowd something like this attracts. I feel that a trip across the road is in order. A short detour, if you will.” Imani rubbed her hands together.
I gave her a side-eyed glance. “You’re a weirdo. You that, right?”
She waggled her brows. “You know it, lovie. Enough talk. Let’s go.” She looked both ways and crossed to the Westerham Hall car park. We, being the loyal friends we were, followed. If one of us was going to be silly, it didn’t hurt for the rest of us to support them.
Once we reached the other side, Will slipped his arm around my waist. “Just FYI, if you get anything sucked out, I’m going to get lip filler and bum implants.” His lip twitched as he tried to keep a straight face, and Liv snickered.
I gave him my most serious face. “You’re only allowed to get bum implants if you can dance like Beyoncé. You get it, you gotta shake it. Besides, you need pec and bicep implants way more.” I took that opportunity to unashamedly feel his pecs, which were actually quite firm and totally perfect. Nobody could blame me, surely?
“Ooh, burned, my scrawny friend.” Beren laughed.
“I think you mean brawny.” Will lifted his arm and flexed his bicep, even though we couldn’t see it through his black turtleneck jumper.
We reached the hall door. The A-frame out the front said, “Get your free consultation today! If you want perfection in your reflection, Dr Ezekal can help.”
I raised a brow. “Perfection in your reflection? There’s no such thing, and besides, it’s subjective.” So many people were sad they weren’t perfect, but why couldn’t they just be happy? There was more to this world than looking like the latest fad. I folded my arms, and a woman came out the door. My mouth wanted to fall open, but I didn’t let it. Her nose came to the smallest point, so much so that it was hardly there, and her lips were humungous. So huge that if they were removable, you could use them to make balloon animals at a kid’s party. And how did she even breathe through those pin-hole nostrils? After she’d passed, I said, “I rest my case.”
Imani smirked. “She probably thinks she looks gorgeous. At least she’s happy. And
not all plastic surgery looks so obvious. I bet you’ve seen people who’ve had it, and you didn’t even notice.”
“True, I suppose, and I’m all for people being happy with themselves. But at what cost do aesthetics come at?” I wasn’t convinced. “I mean, I know some people need it for reconstructive reasons, but surgery is so risky. You could get infections afterwards or die from the anaesthetic. The whole thing scares me.” I shuddered. “Just before I came here, a woman in Sydney had half her face eaten off by an infection, and another one died when her beautician injected her with something she shouldn’t have. Besides, what’s wrong with normal lips? Seriously, they’re lips. They all look fine the way they are. Next thing you know, people will be wanting fat earlobes.”
Liv laughed. “I think that’s about the only body part they don’t currently operate on, although I’m sure someone somewhere has probably had their lobes plumped up.”
“I don’t know,” Will said, a sultry look on his face. “Ears really do it for me. The plumper, the better.”
“I’ll start saving,” I said as I pulled the door to the hall open. Massive pictures of perfect faces and bodies had been put up around the place. It was as if we were visiting another exhibition.
A woman in her thirties stood just inside the entry. Her blonde hair was tied back in a neat bun, and blue eyes gazed out of her slim face. She smiled in greeting. Her teeth formed two perfectly white and straight rows that were like a flash of neon in her heavily made-up face. “Welcome to our open day. How can I help you?”
I smiled. “Hi. We just wanted to come in and have a look.”
“I’m sorry, but this open day is for serious clients only. Dr Ezekal doesn’t have time to consult with tyre kickers.”
“How do you know I don’t want plastic surgery?” Okay, I totally didn’t want it, but still, if there were hor d’oeuvres on offer, I could consider it for five minutes.
“Your body language, and, if I looked like you, I wouldn’t do anything. We only work with patients we feel really need the surgery. I’m sorry.”
Witchbotched in Westerham Page 8
