Page 62 of Out of Sight

“Oh, say a colour.”

“Crimson.”

Her nails turned crimson.

“That’s...”

“Say buff, and it goes back to buff. Say clear, and things get appalling.” Lucia grinned. “It will only last for a week, but it should be fun.”

Regis grinned. “What do I owe you?”

“Nothing. You let everyone come together in your yard, and you are doing it again tomorrow. I will spot you and Ira this one.”

Ira had her hands out. “Can I touch things?”

“Absolutely. These are very sturdy. If you want them off, tell your mom to get some nail polish remover and take them off. Pick a different design and come back a different day.”

She smiled as she felt Ted arrive with an escort. “My cousin Ted is arriving.”

“Is that the lady with the braids?”

Lucia nodded. “Yes.”

“You are cousins?”

“Yes. We have the same grandmother.”

“Oh.”

“Our dads were brothers.”

“Oh.” Ira blinked and nodded. “Okay. So you have a mom and dad?”

“I did before the curse. Now they don’t know what to do, so I think they are just going to imagine there is no problem.”

Ira frowned. “That’s stupid.”

“That is how adults think sometimes.” She smiled and picked out the instruments to place in the autoclave. She washed them and set them in the tray.

Ira looked at her mom. “Can we show Dad?”

“Yes, but next time he might want your little nails covered in dragons.”

Ira laughed and bowed to Lucia. “Thank you, miss.”

Regis smiled. “Thank you, Lucia.”

There was a knock at the door. “Come in, Yorwell.”

He stepped in and smiled. “Is it functional?”

“It is wonderful. Thank you so much.”

The two ladies, big and small, filtered out with a wave.

She looked at him and tidied up.

“Ted is here. She brought one of your aunts with her.”