“What is this conversation about?” Elle said, pushing her cart next to mine.
“Halloween costumes.”
“Sutter Cane is dressing up as an astronaut.”
“Wasn’t he one last year?” Goldie asked.
“Yes, but he’s a different one this year.”
Goldie smiled at Elle. “Your kid copies the best people.”
“I assume that means you’ll be a witch again this year.”
“What are you planning to be?”
“A pregnant woman. Zodiac will dress up as my biker man servant.”
“Love is weird,” Dalisay said and took Lyric’s hand. “Want to ditch these boring foxes and look at candy with me?”
Lyric adored the Tooker sisters because they often walked on their hands. Skylar was already trying to figure out how to copy them. Once Lyric followed Dalisay and Elle, I started working on my grocery list items.
“Yarrow and Blackjack are psyched about meeting you officially,” Goldie said as she checked her phone.
“I’m a little worried they won’t like me.”
“My dad doesn’t warm up to people quickly. It’s not personal, so don’t take it that way. Yarrow can be prickly, but she isn’t judgmental except toward bullies. Since you’re the opposite of a bully, I have a feeling she’s going to love you.
“Did you just call me a doormat?”
“No, that sounds derogatory. Um, let’s refer to you as a pussy. They’re nice and warm and can apparently stretch wideenough for a crotch goblin to crawl out.” Goldie laughed at my annoyed expression. “Childbirth terrifies me. I nearly fainted during Elle’s first delivery, when a bulbous monstrosity started emerging. I got lightheaded and had to flee the room.”
“Why were you looking at her vagina?”
“Curiosity, I guess. Lula wouldn’t let me watch her deliver. She was always a goody-two-shoe type, you know?”
I grinned when I realized Goldie was messing with me.
“Anyway, you’re a pussy, not a bully. Yarrow might be nuts, but she’s loyal to those who matter. She’ll want to protect you.”
“I can’t picture your mom as nuts. She seems normal in the pictures and videos I’ve seen.”
“Your former husband was a dick, right?” Goldie asked, and I tensed immediately. “Could someone tell he was a piece of shit from a picture or video?”
“No.”
“Exactly. But my mom isn’t crazy like someone smearing shit on the walls. She just sees the world differently. Sometimes, she’ll laugh at things that don’t seem funny,” Goldie said and then stared hard into my eyes. “I’m very protective of her. That’s why I want you to be aware of her nutty behavior. I won’t tolerate you making her feel bad.”
“Oh, I thought you were worried she’d makemefeel bad.”
“But you’re not nuts,” she said and brushed hair off my shoulders. “You’re just a big pussy.” Goldie smiled and added, “Yarrow is going to love your eyes. They’re so expressive.”
Her comment erased my earlier fears and left me with a slight grin for the rest of the grocery shopping. After Elle and I paid for our groceries, we walked to the front of the store, where Lyric played with Dalisay.
Riding a mechanical horse, Lyric smiled at me and said, “I’m a cowgirl.”
Goldie climbed on a different one and announced, “I’m going to ride, too. Wait, did you mom types need help putting the groceries in your cars?”
Admiring how Goldie embraced her fun auntie role, I shook my head and left them to enjoy the mild autumn afternoon.
