Casting Shadows (The Ash Grove Chronicles) by DeWees Amanda

Author:DeWees, Amanda [DeWees, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: teen, relationships, performing arts, magic, romantic suspense, teen romance, shifters, series, teen pregnancy, paranormal, North Carolina, romance, high school, suspense, time slip, pregnancy, supernatural
Published: 2012-11-22T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Tasha caught up with Maddie in the coffee bar at morning break later that week. Her amber eyes were worried. “Have you talked to Joy lately?”

“No, is anything wrong?” Her mind immediately went to problems with the baby, but Tasha reassured her.

“It’s just that she seems kind of down. She wouldn’t say at first, but then she tried to joke about being treated like a scarlet woman when she goes out in public.”

Maddie glowered. She’d had a taste of that lately, with all the stares and jeers on campus after the “She Says Yes” episode. “If Mr. Supermodel would just put a ring on it—”

“Not our business,” said Tasha warningly. “I think the two of us should take her out for some retail therapy and get her some prettier maternity clothes. The things she’s wearing now are enough to depress anybody.”

“That’s a great idea, Tash.”

“Should I invite Sheila?”

“No,” said Maddie, too quickly. “I mean, Sheila’s still kind of on probation where Joy is concerned.”

Tasha accepted that, much to her relief. “All right then. Even if it’s just the three of us, I’ll bet Joy won’t get the nasty comments she does when she’s alone. We can stare down anyone who tries to make her feel bad.”

“We can do even better than that,” said Maddie, as inspiration struck her. “We can draw fire.”

They arranged with Joy to pick her up on Saturday for a road trip to Asheville for a girls’ day out. When they arrived that morning in Tasha’s car, they found Tanner on the point of taking off on his Ninja. As the girls got out of the car and he got a full view of them, a broad grin broke over his face.

“You two are the greatest,” he said, and dismounted. “I’ll get Joy.”

When he led her out on the front porch, she started laughing so hard after one look at her friends that it brought Dr. Sumner out of the house as well. He shook his head in amusement. “I’m not even going to ask,” he said.

“Whose idea was this?” demanded Joy. “Maddie, it had to be you.”

“Tasha thought up the girls’ day out,” said Maddie. “It was my idea to check the theater costume stock.” She and Tasha were both wearing pregnancy pads under their clothes that made them look almost as pregnant as Joy. “And look, the best part.” She and Tasha showed their left hands. “No wedding rings.”

Joy made her way down the front steps and came to hug them—as best she could with their bellies in the way. “Y’all are the best. Thank you.”

“It’s the least we could do,” said Tasha. “Maddie and I are lucky—we get to take these off at the end of the day. I don’t know how you do it, Joy. Even just getting in and out of the car is hard with this thing on.”

“Well, I have the end result to look forward to.”

The morning passed satisfyingly. Joy forgot her self-consciousness and was soon caught up in

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