Read Online Demon's Delight by MaryJanice Davidson - Free Book Online

maternity ward. Flower was carrying a teddy bear. Power had a gaily wrapped box with a big blue bow on the top.
    â€œExcuse me,” he said to the charge nurse. “My daughter, Rhea Goodman Mere? She’s having a baby? Can you tell me what—”
    A shout interrupted him. “And stay out!” Punctuated by the clatter of an emesis basin slamming into the wall.
    â€œNever mind,” Flower said. “We can find her.”
    They turned and walked down the hall in time to see their son-in-law practically sprint into the hallway. “All right, all right !” he yelled back. “Don’t come crying to me when you forget how to do your breathing!”
    â€œChris, darling!” Flower called, hurrying up to him and giving him a hug. “We came as soon as you called.”
    â€œHappy birthday, by the way,” Power added, handing Chris the gaily wrapped box. “A milestone. You’re to be congratulated.”
    â€œI found three gray hairs on my head this morning, and your daughter—and my daughter—are directly responsible. I’m only thirty-two, and I’m going gray!”
    â€œWell, nobody forced you two to get married and have babies,” Flower said gently.
    â€œQuite the opposite,” Power muttered.
    â€œAnd don’t worry about Violet Number Two; she’s at home with her aunties and uncles.”
    â€œGreat. If she points a toy gun in my face and pretends to shoot me, I’m holding both of you responsible.”
    â€œWe can’t help it that ‘kill the witch’ is everyone’s favorite childhood game.”
    â€œIt’s not everyone’s—”
    â€œWhat are you doing out there?” Rhea shouted. “Taking a poll? Get your ass in here!”
    â€œComing, coming!” He gave his in-laws a final, harassed glance before going back through the gates of hell.
    â€œThe baby will be your birthday present!” Flower called after him.
    â€œDoubt it,” Power said, glancing at his watch. “It’s almost midnight.”
    â€œSecond babies always come faster.”
    â€œShe’s only been in labor for four hours.”
    â€œDarling. It’s Rhea .”
    â€œThat’s true,” Power said, and sat down with his wife to wait for another Goodman-Mere baby.
    Â 
    â€œAnd…it’s a boy!”
    â€œOh, great ,” Rhea groaned. “What was I thinking? I knew it hurt like a bastard, and I let you knock me up again anyway.”
    â€œHold on a minute, Mom, we’ll get him cleaned up, and then you can hold him.” The nurse had to shout over the baby’s wails to be heard.
    â€œListen to the lungs on that kid,” Chris said happily. “A chip off the old maternal block.”
    â€œShut up.”
    â€œAnd he’s gorgeous.”
    She perked up, as much as she could in her exhausted state. “He looks okay? I figured he was okay from all the yelling. Violet Number Two did the same thing when she was born.”
    â€œHere he is, Mom!”
    Rhea stared down in wonder at the tiny, perfect face. The baby was looking up at her with the blue eyes of a fair-skinned newborn, and she wondered if they would go dark like hers, or green like Chris’s. She hoped they would be green, because…
    â€œWelcome to the world, Christopher Goodman Mere,” she said softly, and kissed her baby at the exact moment her husband kissed her on the top of her head.

Street Corners and Halos
    Catherine Spangler

 
    To all those who have ever suffered loss of family or home,
or been affected by hatred and intolerance. May you find
inner peace and joy in living every day to the fullest.

    Special thanks to Roberta for the title and the ending.
You’re amazing.

 
    For, remember, man looks upon the things of the day
but God looks upon the heart.
    (Edgar Cayce Reading 3253–2)

Chapter 1
    T HE high heels of her boots made a distinct click on the