“We’ll figure this out, Thorn. I promise.”
“It won’t be anything like the talent show,” Blossom assured her. “There’s no stage. All we’re going to do is sit around a table and call up a few dead people, do a few tarot readings, and then listen to a dozen or so speeches. In front of an audience and half a dozen journalists.”
“N-O.”
Blossom shrugged. “Your grandmother insists. So you can take it up with her.”
Riley’s eyes narrowed, and her nose twitched. “What else aren’t you telling me?”
Her mother avoided her gaze and handed Nick the box of crystals. “Do me a favor and put these by the front door so you can take them home with you.”
“Sure,” Nick said.
“You’re a good son-in-law,” Blossom said, patting him on the cheek.
“He’s not your son-in-law, and he’s also not your pack mule,” Riley argued.
“You know that your father and I are fine if you two decide to get married legally or not. It’s a very personal decision.”
Nick left his open-mouthed girlfriend gaping at her mother and took the box to the front door.
“You did NOT just say that!” Riley screeched moments later.
He ran back into the room. “Everything all right?”
Riley had a pillow and was holding it over her face. “I’m going to kill my grandmother.” The words were muffled, but he caught them loud and clear.
He pulled the pillow away from her face, then on instinct checked to make sure she wasn’t carrying any weapons. He put an arm around her waist and felt around for any concealed weapons.
“She’s just kidding, Nick,” Blossom said, looking not entirely sure. “She just had a little shock. That’s all. How about some tea, Riley? You like tea.”
“I hate tea. I want alcohol,” Riley said, her face white.
“I’ll get the hooch,” Blossom said. “Try to get her to lay down in the TV room.”
Nick led Riley to the couch he’d personally helped move the first time he’d met the parents and pushed her down. “What’s wrong, baby? What did your mean grandma do now?”
“B-B-Bella.”
“Bella? What’s a bella?” he asked.
“G-Goodshine.”
“Channel 50 is sending their weather girl, Bella Goodshine, to cover the seance,” Blossom said, shoving a bottle into Riley’s hands before lighting up another cigarette. “Apparently she’s branching out into fluff pieces instead of just storm systems and ruining my daughter’s marriage.”
Riley took a hit from the bottle and snatched the cigarette from her mother. She took a long drag and coughed out a cloud of smoke.
Nick took the bottle from her in case it was flammable.
“Does anyone smell smoke in there?” Roger yelled from the front porch.
Blossom stole the cigarette and dunked it in a flower vase.
“No!” mother and daughter shouted together as they frantically fanned the air.
“Weird. Imma take Daisy for a walk around the block,” he bellowed back.
“I can’t just perform for a crowd, Mom,” Riley groaned.
