“What shall we toast to?”
“To apartment 1B,the love shack! It seems as if anyone who moves in there finds the love of their lives.”
Merry laughed. “To apartment 1B.” They clinked glasses and took a sip of water. Suddenly Merry’s eyes widened.
“What are you thinking?” Roz asked.
“I know who should move in there next.”
“Hey, I haven’t even moved out yet.”
“You will. Konrad will probably ask you to share his larger apartment instead of the other way around, don’t you think?”
Roz shrugged. “He hasn’t asked me anything yet.”
“Then why don’t you ask him?”
“Boy, you really want me out of that apartment, don’t you?”
Merry chuckled. “Not at all. It just seems inevitable. But I wonder if he’s afraid to ask you right now. He needs help with the rent, and if his pride is anything like most men’s—”
“Oh, God. You’re right. I didn’t even think of that. If anything, he’s prouder than most. But we’re really getting ahead of ourselves. We have a preliminary hearing to deal with first.”
“When is that?”
“Next week. It was supposed to be today, but because of the full moon, I postponed it.”
“Probably a good idea. What happens to him when the moon is full?”
“Uh… I don’t know, and I’m not sure I want to know.”
“You should probably ask him. Maybe if you’re better prepared than I was, it won’t be such a shock.”
“Did you see Jason shift?”
Merry laughed. “Oh, yeah. And the timing couldn’t have been worse. Believe me, it’s better to know what you’re in for.”
Roz heard herself gulp.
Chapter 18
Dottie and Ralph had called everyone to their apartment. When Konrad arrived, he was nearly the last one.
“Hello, Konrad,” Dottie said. “It looks like all the chairs have been taken, so I guess you’ll have to stand.”
“Nonsense,” Ralph said as he sprang out of his chair. “Here, Konrad. Have my seat.”
Dottie glared at him.
“No, thanks,” Konrad said. “Standing is fine.”
Roz patted her armrest and gave him a come-hither look. He balanced on the arm lightly as he pictured upending Dottie’s couch, Roz rolling into his lap, and launching a couple of witches into the air.
Gwyneth asked, “Where’s Nathan, y’all?”
People murmured, but no one seemed to know. Dottie checked her watch. “Well, I guess we’ll have to start without him. You snooze, you lose, as they say.”
Nathan walked in at that moment. “I wasn’t snoozing. I was watching TV. I hope this is important.”
