His mom smiled, making it clear what side she was on. “That is so generous of you. But just until this whole thing is sorted. We don’t want to be a burden.”
“Once this whole thing is sorted out, you won’t need to stay here. Then you can all go back to Ethan’s chalet because Nina should be gone then.” Undrea smiled at him. “Now, let’s get their luggage brought in, figure out the rooms, and then I need to call the office.”
Ethan wasn’t going to fight her. Staying with her was no hardship for him. He never wanted to be away from her. And it would be rude to turn down her generous offer. “Your house, your rules.”
She smiled and glanced at his mom. “You really did raise him right.”
While Ethan helped his mom and Sarah Jane bring their luggage in, Undrea changed the sheets on her bed. She’d already decided that Connie and Sarah Jane would take her room, Ethan could stay in the guest room, and she’d bunk on the couch.
She didn’t mind it one bit. The couch was comfortable, and on the rare occasions she was sick or just too lazy to get up when binging some shows, she’d slept out there before. She kind of liked sleeping by the tank anyway. The sound of the water was very soothing.
Bowie helped her change the sheets, although help was a rather generous word. He seemed to think it was a game she’d invented just for him and insisted on skittering around under the fitted sheet while she was trying to put it on, randomly attacking it and then darting to the other side of the bed.
She couldn’t help but laugh at his antics, even though he’d turned a five-minute job into one already running past ten. “Listen, you little stinker. I’m trying to put sheets on, not entertain you.”
“I see you’ve discovered one of Bowie’s favorite pastimes,” Ethan said as he came in with a suitcase in each hand.
“How do I get him out of there?”
“You don’t. You’re going to have to put him out of the room if you plan to finish without interference.” He put the suitcases down. “Come on, Bowie. Get out of there.”
“I don’t think he’s listening,” Undrea said. “I’m just going to make the bed right on top of him.”
Ethan shook his head. “That’s not going to deter him. He loves being under the covers. Face it. You can’t outsmart that one.”
“There’s a joke in there somewhere. A mermaid being outsmarted by a cat.”
“You’ve been catfished?”
She laughed. “Something like that.”
He grinned as he went around to the other side of the bed. “I’ll grab him.”
“Thanks. No sign of trouble outside?” She only asked because Ethan had told her how he’d let Nina believe he was going out for a run, then going to the grocery store, but Undrea knew that wouldn’t keep her in the dark for long.
“Nope. I figure I have at least another hour or so before she gets suspicious.” He dug Bowie out from under the fitted sheet. The cat meowed in protest as Ethan took him out of the room. “You’re not helping, you naughty beast.”
Undrea got the bed made in record time after they left, but all she could think about was getting a call from Corette to say they had a plan.
When she’d explained to Corette that Ethan’s mom and her friend had arrived, Corette had said it would be best if Undrea brought them up to speed, but that had been before Undrea had known they each had their own touch of the supernatural. She pulled the comforter into place and straightened it, then put the pillows back on the bed.
Probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to let Corette know about Connie and Sarah Jane’s gifts. And it would be a good excuse to see how things were going. Although maybe she shouldn’t interrupt Corette, in case she was in the middle of something. Which meant calling Mattie instead.
She walked into the hall. Ethan was in the guest room, sitting on the bed with Bowie. The contents of his backpack were spread out on the bed. “All clear. You can let him roam.”
“Okay.” He put the cat down. “My mom is already talking about going to the grocery store to get ingredients for dinner. That’s a no-go, right?”
“Right. I just don’t think she should risk it. Nina’s powers should only work on men, but that doesn’t mean she couldn’t still do something physical. The last thing we need is your mom kidnapped or something.”
He looked a little shocked. “You really think Nina would do that?”
“I think Nina would do just about anything to hang on to you. Is your mom in the kitchen?”
“Yep.”
“I’ll talk to her. And then I need to make a couple of calls. Maybe there’s a movie or a show they could watch? I know that’s not what they came to town to do, but if you hang out with them…”
“Of course.” He glanced at the laptop open beside him, then shut it. “I can work anytime. I need to be with my mom. Old habits, you know?” He got to his feet, looking a little sheepish. “Nina used to complain that I worked too much. I guess she was right about that.”
Undrea smiled sympathetically. “You didn’t get to where you are by taking a lot of time off, but yeah, working later would be good. Although I’m sure you have business you need to attend to. Why not take your laptop out with you, and when they get into the movie, do what you need to do then?”
“No, it can wait. Come on, let’s go make sure my mom doesn’t already have car keys in her hand.”
They went down the hall and into the kitchen. Sarah Jane was at the table making a list, while Connie was standing in the middle of the kitchen dictating said list as she ticked things off on her fingers.
“Heavy cream and Parmesan, too.” Connie smiled at Undrea. “There you are. Do like fettucine Alfredo? And do you have a cheese grater? I should probably ask if there’s anything you’re allergic too.”
“I do and I do and I’m not allergic to anything, but we need to back up a step. I understand you think you’re going to the grocery store.”
Connie gave her one of those motherly looks. “I promise it’ll be quick, and if I see Nina, I’ll disappear. Literally.”
“I know that sounds like a good plan,” Undrea said. “But you are not leaving this house. The Shop-n-Save delivers.”
Connie frowned. “That’s going to be expensive. And I don’t think they let you use coupons.”
“Mom.” Ethan rolled his eyes as he put his hand on Undrea’s arm. “I’ve got this. Go make your calls.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
“Mom,” he repeated. “How many times do I have to remind you that I can afford it? Even without coupons.”
Undrea slipped out of the kitchen and down to the basement. It was half garage and half storage. She never parked her truck in here, though. The F250 was too big. And she’d never had the time or need to finish the enclosed part into anything more than storage. Right now it held her bike, a push lawn mower, some other garden tools and a couple of boxes of things she’d never gotten around to sorting.
Wouldn’t be that hard to finish the space. Maybe someday. But now she was thinking she should have Ethan put the Maserati in here.