Darkmoon(62)

“I am so jealous,” Sydney told me, and I had to drag my thoughts back to present. “And here I am, still living at my parents’ house.”

I didn’t bother to point out that we were living very different lives. Trying to sound off-hand, I replied, “Well, Connor had the money from selling his brother’s house, so it’s really more that he’s buying it and I’m just being listed on the deed. Anyway,” I went on, before she could interject, “it’s got a secondary master suite, so you and Anthony should come up and visit and hang for a while after Connor and I get settled.”

“I am so there,” she said, apparently abandoning the green-eyed monster for the moment. “When do you think you’ll be settled? I need to know so I can ask for some time off from work.”

Somehow I managed to avoid bursting into laughter. Patience had never been one of Syd’s strong suits. “I don’t know,” I said carefully. “Maybe a couple of weeks?”

“So…mid-June?”

That might be doable, but it also felt like it might be putting some pressure on us. “I have a better idea. Why don’t you guys come up for the Fourth of July weekend? I know it’ll be a lot cooler here than in Cottonwood.”

“That’s for damn sure. I already feel like I’m dying of heat prostration, and it’s barely June.”

I knew the feeling. At least her parents’ house had air conditioning. Lovely, lovely air conditioning. However, I figured I could put up with the heat for a while, since there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Or, more correctly, a big house with dual-zone A/C, in the unlikely event that you’d even need it in Flagstaff. “Well, check with Anthony and let me know. I haven’t had time to research it much, but I’m sure they must be doing fireworks or something up in Flag.”

“I will.” She paused, then said, “I can’t believe you and Connor bought a house.”

Neither can the rest of my family, I thought, but only said, “I know, it’s kind of crazy. But it was such a good deal that we would’ve been crazy to pass it up.”

“So how long are you down here?”

“We’re going back up on Monday, probably.”

“Do you guys want to go out tonight, since you’re in town? I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.”

I hesitated. Normally I would’ve said yes, even though it wouldn’t been a lot of fun to sit and drink mineral water while everyone else was having wine or cocktails. If nothing else, though, it might have helped to get out and socialize, and take my mind off my problems and my stiff-necked family.

But Lucas was here, and it would have been rude to dump him so Connor and I could go out with our friends. Not that Lucas probably couldn’t find something to occupy himself, left to his own devices. Still, I hadn’t been raised to treat guests that way, and I didn’t think I should start now.

“I know,” I said. “And we have so much more we need to talk about, but — ”

“More?” she demanded. “There’s more besides buying a house?”

You have no idea. “Um, yeah.” Since everyone in town knew about the twins by now, I figured it was safe enough to mention it. “Well, I’m having twins.”

“Twins!” she squealed, and again I had to hold the phone away from my ear. “Oh, my God, that is awesome! Do you know what they are yet?”

“No, it’s way too early.” Did I even want to know? Secretly, I was sort of hoping it would be one of each. Nice and neat.

“Oh,” she said, sounding disappointed. “Well, it’ll be fun no matter what they are. If they’re the same, you can get them matching outfits and stuff.”

Personally, I’d always hated it when I saw parents doing that to their twins, and so I vowed not to even if mine ended up being the same sex. But it wasn’t worth arguing with Sydney over.

“Anyway,” I said, not wanting to get too sidetracked, “I’d love to see you guys, but Connor’s cousin Lucas is with us, and I don’t really want to abandon him while we go out. Rain check?”

“Sure,” she said. “We would’ve had to get a late start anyway, since Anthony doesn’t get off work until eight.”

I made a noncommittal comment, and after that we said our goodbyes and hung up. In the next few weeks I’d have to try to clear out some time to get together with her, even if it was just for lunch, but this weekend was already over-committed. I set down the phone, peered in the mirror, and realized I needed to do a little clean-up work to get ready for dinner. After meeting with the elders and then my aunt, I was looking just a little drained. Thank the Goddess for blush and lip gloss.