Chapter Thirteen: Talk

I always liked talking to my mom. It was probably one of the things I missed most after I died.

Patty didn't arrive home from her dinner date with Victor until the next morning, feeling completely, surprisingly energized for one who had been up all night. So instead of going to bed, she put on her pajamas, and went downstairs to the kitchen where she turned on the radio and proceeded to dance around singing into a spatula while cooking breakfast. It was rare she felt this carefree, being as introverted as she was, and she wanted to take full advantage of it.

Her mother came downstairs around seven in her satin pajamas and a robe and walked into the kitchen laughing.

"What on earth are you doing?" she asked. She stood with her arms crossed over her chest, surveying her daughter as she sashayed around the kitchen. Patty didn't answer, but just smiled coyly and danced up to her mom, extending a hand. "You're crazy," said Penny.

"Come on, Mom," said Patty. "Dance." She twirled around and swung her hips as she made her way back to the stove. Penny just shook her head, though, and sat down at the table. When the song was through, Patty turned down the volume on the radio.

"What's gotten into you this morning?" he mom asked.

Patty grinned. "I had a good night," she said, stirring the eggs around a little. "That, plus a total lack of sleep."

"What?" said Penny, her voice dropping lower. Patty looked up, astonished at what she had said and blushed deeply.

"Not like that!" she protested. "Nothing happened! Victor just took me over to see his new apartment-"

"Patricia Alice Halliwell!"

"No, Mom. No. I mean, he just found out he got the apartment yesterday. It doesn't even have furniture yet. All we did was have a picnic on the floor and then we were up all night talking. I swear, Mom."

Penny sighed. "So does this mean that you and that Victor are dating now?"

Patty scooped up the eggs and started portioning them between the two plates. "Well, yeah," she said. "We, well, we talked it all out and decided we're going to give it a go. You know."

Penny smirked slightly as Patty added some toast to the plates and brought them over to the table.

"What?" asked Patty. "What is that look?"

"Nothing," said Penny, shaking her head. She took a large bite of the eggs. "It's just, I told you you liked that Victor."

Patty rolled her eyes. "Okay. Okay, fine. You were right. Happy?"

"I usually am when I'm right," said Penny. Patty studied her mom's face, but she revealed nothing, simply picking up a knife and buttering her toast. She hoped her mom was happy about being right this time. She wanted her to get along with Victor.

"So," said Penny, not noticing her daughter's stare, "Grandma, Aunt Phoebe and I vanquished Ventor last night."

"You did?" asked Patty. "When? Where?"

"Let's just say I don't think Uncle Gordon is going to be too welcoming of me for the next few days."

Patty sighed. "Is everyone okay?" she asked. "Gordie wasn't hurt, was he?"

"No," said Penny. "It was simple. Grandma and Aunt Phoebe froze him at the same time, which made it nearly impossible for him to fight through, and then I threw the potion. Honestly, coming unprepared into a house with three witches. What was he thinking?"

"Who cares?" said Patty. "He's gone. Let's be thankful he wasn't more prepared."

"It's a shame Phoebe never had kids," Penny continued, ignoring Patty's injection. "The powers she received from her mother are spectacular."

Both of Phoebe's parents had been witches, so she had received powers from both of them. Patty had always thought it would be cool to be able to literally freeze someone, instead of just halting their movement. She had only seen Phoebe in action a handful of times, but what she could do was impressive.

"You know who's having a kid?" asked Patty after a moment. Her mother shook her head. "Cynthia DeLarco. Well, Trudeau, now."

"Cynthia's pregnant?" said Penny. She shook her head slowly. "She was a teenager that last time I saw her."

"Yeah, well she's twenty-six now, Mom. She grew up. And actually, she said this is her second kid."

Penny groaned. "I'm getting old," she said.

Patty ignored her. "I think we should invite them over sometime. They're living back in her old house again, now."

"Yeah," said Penny. She smiled. "That would be fun. We haven't had babies around this house since Gordie was born."

Patty smiled back at her, but it wasn't enthusiastic. She could feel the adrenaline from her natural high wearing down more quickly by the second. Suddenly she was very grateful she wasn't working today.

As if sensing this, Penny said, "You should go to bed, dear. You look exhausted."

Patty shrugged. "I was going to do some laundry today," she said. She yawned. "And bake some cookies."

Penny laughed. "When did you become miss culinary? You've never enjoyed cooking."

"Yeah, well. Whatever. I'm too tired to think up an argument to that. I think I am going to go to bed."

She stood up and started toward the door. "Good night, Mom."

Penny shook her head.