Page 112 of Made

“Doesn’t make it untrue.”

“It kind of does.”

He motioned toward Finn’s Ferocious Ferrets. “There they are.”

“The ferrets?”

“No, Rita.” He chuckled. “Kagan and Esme.”

In the days leading up to the party, Evie was showing signs of becoming a consummate diplomat in her approach to managing Maeve. Taking Serafina’s advice, my daughter was coping by strict adherence to a simple standard.If it’s not a ten, let it go.The thing is, inviting all the residents of Hallow Hill was a ten with Evie. Maeve wasn’t a fan of many of my neighbors.Too bad.My daughter loved them and was loved in return, with the single exception of John David. According to both Evie and Maeve, the vampire didn’t count. He was an honorary citizen of Hallow Hill, but technically not a resident. So, the mother and paternal grandmother agreed he could be omitted from the guest list.

“Nothing doing!” I said. “If John David isn’t invited, I’m not coming either,” I said.

“MOM! How could you say that?”

“Because in some ways, John David is the glue that holds Hallow Hill together socially.”

“I thought that was Molly’s. Or Legendary Lunch.”

“Molly’s plays a big part. Sure. But the parties! I don’t think you understand how much my neighbors look forward to the seasonal soirees.”

“Why? Awful things happen.”

“Like what?”

“You want a list. Okay. Very first party. How could you dismiss being the victim of such an elaborate prank? Youthought you were surrounded by people who were fine with the vampire killing a guest.”

“Well…”

“How about the stray Vampira who was addicted to eating everybody in sight? Didn’t she worm her way in through a domestic help agency?”

“Well, that was…”

“Let’s not forget the king of disruption disguised as a werewolf named Vuk.”

“But…”

“Most recently? Somebody had the bad taste to go into labor just when the dancing was supposed to begin at the Yule party. Unbelievably, that wastoppedby the kidnapping of your best friend.”

“Gosh.”

“Yeah. Gosh.”

“Are you saying my friends and neighbors look forward to these parties because they’re like black comedy?”

“Uh.” She was shaking her head. “No. I wasn’t saying that at all. I’m saying that John David’s parties are fraught with questionable incidents.”

I sighed. “I’d like to deny that.”

“But you can’t.”

“No. I can’t deny the ‘questionable incidents’ part. But I also can’t be shaken off my position. It would crush John David to not be invited.”

“So what?”

“EVIE!I don’t like this unkind side of you.”

At least she had manners enough to look ashamed. After a very lengthy sigh, she asked, “Are you going to vouch for him?”