wicked witches 07.5 - christmas witch Read Online Free PDF Page B

going to be a rule breaker. It was a bit disappointing. “I was wrong when I said Bay was the kvetch this morning,” I said. “You’re the kvetch, Clove.”
    “It’s not an insult if we don’t know what it means,” Thistle pointed out.
    “It means she’s whiny and complains about things that are unimportant,” I explained. “What I’m about to do is not important and it’s definitely not something to whine about.”
    “Are you sure?” Clove looked dubious.
    “I’m sure.”
    After watching my three great-nieces worry and pout through what should have been a perfectly nice breakfast – my three nieces throwing themselves at the same man notwithstanding – I knew I had to find Bernard to save Christmas. How I became the hero of Christmas was beyond me, but if I pulled it off I was buying a cape to wear around town.
    “This place is a dump,” Thistle said, glancing around and wrinkling her nose. “Who would live here?”
    “Maybe Mr. Hill is poor,” Clove suggested.
    “Mr. Hill has a nice pension from when he served as custodian of the school,” I said. “He could have a better house, but he prefers whiskey to home ownership.”
    “It sounds like whiskey is bad for you,” Clove said.
    “It depends on how you drink it,” I shot back. “Okay, we need to get inside. Who wants me to boost them through this window?”
    “Why can’t you just use your magic and open the back door?” Bay asked.
    “Because the back door is visible from the street and I don’t want anyone to see us.”
    “Because we’re doing something illegal,” Clove said. “I knew it!”
    She was starting to get on my nerves. When Winnie suggested I spend the afternoon with the girls so their mothers could get their Christmas baking out of the way without greedy fingers slipping in the frosting bowl I didn’t exactly jump for joy. When I thought better of it, though, I realized they made the perfect alibi. No one would break into someone’s home with children in tow.
    See, this is why I’m a genius.
    “I already told you we’re not doing anything illegal,” I countered. “We’re doing something good.”
    “What?”
    “We’re trying to find Santa Claus,” Thistle supplied, hitting Clove on the back of the head. “Duh!”
    “I hate you,” Clove hissed.
    I snagged the back of her coat and dragged her from Thistle before the conversation dissolved into screams and punches. That would draw too much attention. Clove and Thistle are like oil and vinegar sometimes.
    “You need to stop fighting right now,” I ordered.
    “Because you’re afraid the cops will hear us and come arrest us,” Thistle said. “Admit it.”
    “Because I’m embarrassed to be seen with you two right now,” I clarified. “I have a reputation to uphold, and you are ruining it.”
    “I’ll go in through the window,” Bay offered, sighing dramatically as she edged Thistle out of the way with her hip. “There’s no reason for everyone to fight.”
    I glanced at her a moment, taking in her solid thighs and hips, and then shook my head. She’s not a big girl, but compared to the other two she looks downright huge sometimes. “It has to be Clove.”
    “What? Why?” Clove gnawed on her fingernails as the suggestion sank in.
    “You’re the smallest,” I replied, hoping I sounded reasonable even though I wanted to throttle her. “Bay is too heavy for me to lift.”
    Bay scorched me with a murderous look. “Are you saying I’m fat?”
    “Of course not,” I snapped. “I’m saying you’re bigger than the other two because you’re older. Clove is easiest for me to lift. She’s the smallest. I’m not as young as I used to be and I don’t work out.”
    “I think you should use your magic,” Clove said.
    “I already told you I can’t do that.”
    “But … I don’t want to be in there alone.”
    “Yes, but you’ll be the hero when we tell this story later,” I said, changing tactics. “When we find Santa and save Christmas,