Page 62 of Feast

“You know I have towels, right?”

“I just bought these at the Macy’s end-of-summer white sale,” Halley protested. “I couldn’t leave them for Lance.”

“Okay, but what about the other thirteen boxes?”

“Books, mostly.” Halley set the towels in the only chair in the living room not yet occupied. “Which reminds me, I ordered a new bookcase. Do you mind if I put it in here?”

Maddie closed her eyes. “Go for it.”

“You okay?” Halley asked.

“I don’t know. When did we have lunch?”

“Around one.”

“And what time is it now?”

“Um…almost six.”

“Then I’m fine, just hungry.” Keeping her eyes closed, Maddie plucked her phone out of the pocket of her leggings. “Let’s order tacos.”

“Ulk.”

That got her eyes open. “Since when do you not like tacos?”

Halley had one hand pressed to her stomach and a grimace on her face. “Since the smell of beef makes me puke now.”

“Okay, then. Pizza?”

Halley’s eyes lit up. “Ooh. Onions and anchovies, please.”

“Anchovies? Seriously?”

Halley patted her tummy and pouted. “It’s for the baby.”

“So far this kid hates tacos and loves anchovies,” Maddie said and shook her head. “He’s gonna be really weird.”

“She,” Halley corrected. “I kind of feel like it’s a girl.”

“Do you know how she feels about cheesy garlic bread?”

Halley paused to consider. “I think she’ll be fine with it.”

“Good, because I want a double order.” Maddie tapped at her phone. “Anything else for you or the little one?”

“Nah, we’re good with the anchovies.”

“Okay.” Maddie finished the order and tucked her phone away. “Forty-five minutes to an hour.”

“That should be enough time to get most of this knocked out,” Halley said, hands on her hips as she surveyed the living room. “Do you have box number six over there?”

“I have number eight and number seven,” Maddie said. “No six.”

“Well, where is it?” Halley muttered, and stepping nimbly over box eleven, went into the front hall.

“Why do you have so much energy?” Maddie called after her.

“I don’t know,” Halley said, coming back with the elusive box number six. “I feel really great. You know, aside from the puking.”