pouted but dug in her purse and handed it over. Of course she frowned at me. I didn’t care.
I dialed the number, all the while trying to calm myself. When the man answered, I said, “Hi. My name is Elizabeth Stevens. My grandmother purchased a snake from you? Well, it was a mistake and, honestly, it needs to go. I can’t keep it.”
When I finished my conversation, I sighed in relief. “He doesn’t want it back but had another person interested in it. He’s going to have him call me.”
“Fine. I was trying to make you happy. Don’t ask me for anything ever again if you’re not going to keep what I buy for you.”
I ignored the pout in her voice. I mean, really. A snake! It was like my worst fear come to life. Why do you think I wanted to be a snake? Because I was scared to death of them, that’s why.
“We need to move it out of my bedroom. I can’t sleep with it in there. And when does it need to be fed again? I’m not doing that.”
“Oh, for pity’s sake. Calm down. He doesn’t need to be fed for five to seven days. You’ll have to move him yourself if you want him moved. I had Scot bring him over and set everything up.”
“Scot? As in my brother Scot?”
“Yes.” Grandma Verda shook her head slightly. “I worry he’s on drugs. He laughed the entire time he was here.”
Of course he’d laughed. He got to be part of the greatest joke in the world. I was going to kill him. “I’ll call him. Right now.”
I darted a glance toward my bedroom. Damn. A snake?
Maddie peered into the snake cage. “He’s kinda cute. You sure you don’t want to keep him?”
“You’re serious? You think he’s cute?”“His colors are gorgeous. I always wanted a snake when I was growing up. My mother had a ridiculous lifelong fear of snakes, so she always said no.”
Let me tell you, this boggled me. How could I be friends with someone who wanted a snake as a little girl? That’s just— weird. “Maddie, you’re one weird chick.” I went to open the freezer, then remembered what was in there. “Can you get the ice out?”
She looked at me strangely but pulled the ice out, apparently not noticing the box clearly labeled as disgusting dead rodents. “When was Scot here?”
“Earlier today. But he made me wait five whole days before coming. The jerk. He thinks this is just too funny for words.”
“You really slept on the couch?”
“Um. Yeah.” I shivered. “I really want the snake gone. Do you want him? If this guy doesn’t come through?” I’d never visit her again, but she could come here, right? Right.
“Hmm. Maybe. I’ll think about it. You’re all alone to-night?”
I nodded. “Vinny is home from the hospital, so Grandma’s been spending all her time over there.”
Maddie knelt down in front of the snake. “Hey, what’s with the white stuff in his mouth? Is that normal?”
“No clue. Don’t care. He won’t be my problem soon.” Hands on hips, she said, “Yeah, but he is now. So, you should find out about the white stuff.”
She had a point, as much as I hated to admit it. “All right, I’ll call . . . someone, in the morning.”
She sipped the lemonade I’d poured for her. “Good. So, have you heard from Miranda recently?”
“Not a peep, which is strange. Of course, I haven’t really done any magic lately, so maybe it’s connected.”
Flipping her blonde hair behind her shoulder, Maddie grinned. “Maybe you should tonight then!”
I shrugged. The magic thing? I don’t know. It had kind of lost its appeal after all the setbacks. “Hey, why don’t we get a movie tonight or something? Or go out for one?”
“Can’t. Spencer is taking me to his parents’ for dinner. I’m a little nervous. What if they don’t like me?”
“What wouldn’t they love about you? You’re beautiful, smart, funny, and you like snakes. They’ll adore you.”
We were silent. Maddie watched the snake slither around and do what ever snakes did. You know, snakey stuff. I, on the other hand, devoutly ignored the beast. I knew I was being stupid about this, but I couldn’t help it. Pictures of snakes made my skin crawl, and while I knew there was nothing wrong with having a snake as a pet, I was flat out uncomfortable with every single aspect of owning one. Tomorrow I’d call around to some pet stores to see if they’d