I climbed into my car, soaking wet and pissed off. Pitting the heaters on full blast, I started the engine and drove off.
Allegra was waiting with Shotgun and the twins.
???
“What the fuck happened?” Shotgun demanded as I entered the house, dripping water.
“What do you think?” I snarled, and Shotgun laughed.
“Go dry off; I’ve got dinner covered.”
I eyed him suspiciously. Shotgun could cook and was a damn good cook, but he was also lazy. He was quite happy to order takeaway, and I wanted Allegra to have a homemade meal. I was startled when Darcy wandered towards me with sauce all around her mouth.
“What on earth?”
“Kid likes barbecue.”
“Shotgun, tell me you cooked!” I nearly shouted.
“Babe, we’ve got ribs, chicken, corn on the cob, fries, and baby potatoes, and Allegra made slaw and a side salad. Is that okay?”
“Yes,” I grumbled and headed upstairs to dry off.
“Yuk,” Darcy stated, and I turned to see her pointing at the puddle I’d left. Her nose scrunched up. “Weewee.”
“No, I didn’t piss myself!” I exclaimed just as Allegra came out. She paused by the doorway, looking startled.
“Er, did I miss something?”
“Weewee,” Darcy insisted, gesturing again.
“That’s rain, not wee,” I replied.
Darcy’s frown descended, and then she shrieked and burst into tears. Allegra rushed forward as Shotgun scooped her up.
“What?” Shotgun demanded, confused.
Darcy began babbling so fast that none of us could understand her. We caught my name, then the word ‘gone’. Allegra worked it out.
“Oh my God, I’m going to kill them,” she gasped and burst into laughter.
“Who?” Shotgun asked, rubbing Darcy’s back as she hiccupped. Wade appeared to be chewing on a corn on the cob, completely unconcerned.
“Two secs,” Allegra muttered and sent a text to someone. A short while later, her phone pinged, and Allegra chuckled again. “Damn, I knew it!” she exclaimed.
“What?” I demanded.
“Thatch and Gramps watched The Wizard of Oz, with Judy Garland, and the water melted the witch. You said that’s Rain.” Allegra laughed. It took me a few moments before I gasped and began to laugh.
“Oh no, Darcy thinks I’m melting!”
“And you’re dripping water everywhere, which makes it worse. Go and dry off,” Shotgun ordered, amused as Darcy ducked her sticky face into his throat.
“Yeah, ten minutes. By the way, Wade’s eating something if you weren’t aware.” I pointed out and ran upstairs.
“Wade! How the hell did you get that!” Allegra exclaimed, and I laughed. It was chaos, which went completely against my structured, routine life, but I loved it.
Allegra
