“I’m no—” Shaking my head, I stop myself in time. “I bought this house. Just yesterday in fact, and toda?—”
“Granny!” comes an already familiar voice, running toward us in a nightgown very similar to the granny’s. “What are you doing there?”
Great. The sweet old lady is the witch’s grandmother. Should have figured that out.
“It was stuffy in the house, and I needed some fresh air.”
“All the windows were open,” the witch says, running up the steps and trying to catch her breath. “And you know that because you opened them yourself yesterday, nearly freezing me to death.” Her voice is accusing, tone harsh.
“You’ll thank me later, dear. Open windows are like a fridge for your youth.”
“Grandma,” the witch quite literally growls, not appreciating the shared wisdom.
The need to defend a defenseless old lady is strong, so I rise from the swing and stand between Moon and the witch.
“She might not remember that,” I start in a warning tone. “She clearly has some memory issues,” I add quieter, hoping it will calm her down because the last thing the old lady needs is her aggravated, ungrateful granddaughter going ballistic on her for not remembering about open windows.
But my words have the opposite effect. The witch’s eyes narrow while her little nostrils flare, making her look like a bull ready to attack. A small, ginger bull. She pushes her finger into my chest, digging it deep into my flesh.
“Don’t tell me how I need to talk to my grandma,” she hisses warningly.
“You need to learn some respect and boundaries,” I hiss back, leaning forward. It should scare her, though it isn’t my intention. I’m much larger than her, plus my past gives me a certain aura that people tend to avoid. I try not to intimidate people on purpose, but sometimes it comes involuntarily.
Not her though. She rises on her tippytoes to get closer to my face while her finger presses even harder. I wish I could say I barely feel it, but her nail digs pretty deep right at the spot where the hot coffee landed, making the moment memorable for sure for the next few hours.
“I recommend you learn some boundaries too about not involving your unknowing ass into things you don’t know.”
“Language, Nora!” A shaky voice reminds us about her presence.
“Sorry, Granny,” the witch shoots back without taking her eyes off me. “Don’t talk to my grandmother.”
“Shecame to me!” I cry out in disbelief. “What was I supposed to do? Kick her out?”
“You didn’t have any problems kicking me out when I wasn’t bothering anyone.”
“She has deme—” I nearly say something I can’t take back while pointing at Moon. The witch’s narrowed eyes and pursed lips tell me that I might lose an ear if I finish that sentence. “You know what,” I start, throwing my hands in the air in a surrendering gesture. “Never mind. Just go.”
I grab my coffee and nod to the old lady, who gives a jolly “Goodbye, Steve” to me as I head back into the house. I’m being forced to hide in my own house one day after I purchased it. I’m going to kill Jonah.
Picking up my phone, I shoot him a message.
You set me up, Jonah.
His reply is instant.
???
My neighbors are crazy.
The Moons?
I’d forgotten he’d said their last name was Moon. I rub my face with my hand because I’m losing my grip on reality.
Yes, them.
What are you talking about? They are ADORABLE!
Deciding I won’t be getting anything out of this conversation because he’s clearly on their side, and all of this is just a big plot, I drop the phone on the table and go to pour myself another cup of coffee. I’ve got some things to do before my first guest arrives, so I don’t have time for a psychotic rooster, a witch, and her ghost of a grandmother.
