Page 179 of Clinically Bewitched
By the end of the first week, I had accepted several truths:
The contractors were excellent at their jobs.
They were also excellent at making everyone around them smile.
This combination was deeply irritating.
My eye twitch had become permanent.
“You need to relax,” Nathan said when he stopped by to check on the progress.
We were standing in what would eventually be the nursery, watching Jasper and Chase install new windows with a precision that even I had to admire.
“I am relaxed.”
“Your left eye is twitching.”
“That’s unrelated.”
“It’s absolutely related.” He paused. “They’re doing a great job, Julien.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you so tense?”
“Because—” I stopped. “I don’t know.”
That was a lie. I knew exactly why I was tense. Because every time I came to the house, Athena was there, laughing with the contractors. Vivian was there, flirting shamelessly. Winnie was there, bringing more baked goods. And the contractors were always—always—charming, friendly, and genuinely kind to everyone.
Especially Athena.
“Dr. Darcy,” Jasper called from across the room. “Can you ask Athena if she prefers the windows to open inward or outward?”
“Why can’t you ask her?”
“Because you’re her husband. Seems more appropriate.”
At least someone remembers that.
I walked downstairs, where Athena was sitting on the couch with Vivian, both of them watching Clint and Bo work on the kitchen cabinets.
“Jasper wants to know about the windows,” I said.
