I wheezed and tried to extract myself from her damp embrace.
Virgil hovered in the doorway with the last of my boxes, looking torn between sympathy and self-preservation. The vampire had been ferrying things from his car for the last hour while Ellie supervised, which in practice meant she’d inspected every box, reminisced over every item, and wept over a pair of socks.
To my surprise, Mrs. Chen had accompanied the couple. The witch was currently dispensing advice to Nora about her herb garden.
Victoria watched from the first floor landing, her tight face broadcasting that she did not sign up for this. Pearl sat beside her, tail curled around her paws, her sapphire eyes tracking events with the air of a nature documentary narrator observing a baffling mating ritual.
“Is she always like this?” the cat asked.
“Only when she’s happy,” I said with a sigh. “Or sad. Or surprised. Or watching commercials about dogs.”
Pearl blinked. “How alarming.”
Bo reappeared from behind the door. “Is it safe?”
Ellie’s lower lip wobbled as she looked mistily at my dog. “Oh, Bo! You’re going to have such a big garden to play in.”
Bo reversedbehind the door.
“Right,” I said, clapping my hands briskly. “That’s the last of it. Thank you, Virgil. You can put that one in the bedroom.”
“Which bedroom?” Virgil asked.
“Second floor, third door on the left,” Victoria directed.
Virgil hesitated. “Isn’t that Samuel’s bedroom?”
“It is.”
Virgil’s shoulders drooped. He made for the stairs with the dejected look of a man headed for the gallows.
“Wait.” Ellie’s red-rimmed eyes locked on the box in the vampire’s hands.
It was taped shut and I’d deliberately placed it at the bottom of the stack.
My best friend’s gaze shifted accusingly to me. “Abby. Tell me you didn’t.”
I avoided her eyes.
Ellie strode over to her boyfriend and ripped the tape off.
She sucked in air and removed the object inside the box like exhibit A at a murder trial.
“The lava lamp,” Ellie said stiffly. “I tried to throw this away three times.”
“And I rescued it three times,” I confessed with zero remorse.
Bo popped out from behind the door, tail going ninety. “It made the trip?!”
“It made the trip,” I confirmed.
“Yes!” My dog bounced and did a lap of the hall. “Best day ever!”
“It doesn’t even work properly,” Ellie protested. “The wax just sits there in a blob!”
“It’s a slow starter. Besides, it has sentimental value.”
Victoria was studying the lava lamp like it might lower her property value. “Is that a... decorative piece?”
