wicked witches 07.5 - christmas witch Read Online Free PDF

that’s true.”
    “What do you mean?” Winnie asked.
    “After Bernard didn’t show last night … should I talk about this in front of the K-I-D-S?” Terry’s face reflected concern.
    “Probably not if you think we’re so dumb that we can’t spell kids,” Thistle replied, nonplussed.
    Terry frowned. “You’re going to be a handful, young lady.”
    “I keep hoping that’s true,” Thistle replied. “We know that Mr. Hill isn’t really Santa. There’s no reason to get all … weird and whiny about it. We can take it.”
    That girl makes me laugh sometimes.
    “Bernard hasn’t been seen in a few days,” Terry said, pointing at Thistle and mock shooting her with his finger. “When he didn’t show up last night I went on a hunt for him. As far as I can tell, he’s been gone for more than a week and no one has any idea where he is.”
    “Oh, no,” Twila said, her hand flying to her mouth. “You don’t think he’s D-E-A-D, do you?”
    Terry shrugged.
    “He probably choked on the mistletoe when he tried to wash it down with his whiskey,” Thistle said. “His body is probably rotting somewhere right now.”
    “You have a wonderful imagination, young lady,” Terry said, frowning. “Where do you even come up with stuff like that?”
    “We have HBO,” Thistle replied, not missing a beat. “I’ve seen tons of movies.”
    “And now you’re grounded from the television for a week,” Twila said.
    Thistle narrowed her eyes. “If I can’t watch television then I’m going to have nothing better to do than watch you.”
    Twila faltered. “Oh. I … um … .”
    “Yeah, you didn’t think that one through, did you?” I asked, making a face. “Are you sure Bernard is missing? Maybe he moved or something.”
    “All of his stuff is still at his house, and the mail has been piling up,” Terry replied.
    “Maybe he’s dead,” Marnie suggested. “Where else could he be?”
    That was a very good question. Thankfully, I had no interest in answering it. “Is there more bacon?”
    “I told you Christmas was going to be ruined,” Bay said, pointing an accusatory face in my direction. “You never listen to me.”
    “I promised you that I wouldn’t let Christmas be ruined,” I shot back. “Stop being such a … kvetch.”
    “I don’t know what that is, but I’m pretty sure I’m not whatever that … thing … is,” Bay argued.
    “Bay, I promised you the Christmas you want,” I reminded her. “Do I break my promises?”
    Bay nodded.
    “When have I ever broken a promise?”
    “You promised us that you would make Mrs. Stevens dance naked in the middle of town so everyone would think she was drunk,” Thistle said. “That hasn’t happened.”
    These kids remember everything. It’s annoying. “It hasn’t happened yet,” I said. “ Yet being the operative word.”
    “That had better never happen,” Winnie said.
    I ignored her and kept my focus on Bay. “You have to have faith,” I said. “I’ll make sure you have a great Christmas. I won’t let you down.”
    Bay didn’t look convinced. “You’d better make sure we get that puppy, too.”
    “Yeah,” Thistle chimed in. “We don’t want a rat dog either. We want a big one. Don’t forget.”
    “You’re not getting a puppy, so stop asking for a puppy,” I said. “I will handle Santa Claus, but that doesn’t mean you’re getting a puppy.”
    “We want snow, too,” Bay added.
    Good grief. “Fine. I’ll find Santa Claus and make it snow. Is there anything else besides a puppy that you want for Christmas?”
    Bay considered the question. “World peace.”
    “I’ll get right on that.”
    There’s a reason I never had kids of my own. They suck. Yeah, I said it. How did I end up being the one who has to save Christmas?
     

Four
    “I don’t think we’re supposed to be doing this,” Clove said, her tone ominous as she watched me peer into Bernard Hill’s bedroom window. “This is against the law.”
    Clove was never