Free 1 The Bitches of Everafter by Barbra Annino Page B

did begin her community service there wouldn’t be enough time for chores. If she could at least give the house a proper scrub down today while she had the chance, then maybe it wouldn’t sadden her so much to witness the state of it.
    She decided, after fluffing up her pillow and crisping her sheets, that she would take the gamble. Besides, she was incredibly curious about the bathroom incident. What if the linen cabinet, which seemed to appear out of nowhere, was in fact a gesture from the house itself? What if it were rewarding her somehow for caring for it? Of course deep down Snow knew there was no such thing as magic. Still, she was curious about what other secrets lay hidden inside these walls.
    Snow bumped into Cindy carrying a box full of shoes on her way out of her room. 
    “Watch it, Princess,” Cindy said. There was a cigarette dangling from her mouth and it bobbed up and down as she spoke. “These babies are worth more than this whole freaking place.”
    “Sorry,” said Snow. “Do you need help?”
    Cindy hesitated, then shrugged. “Sure, get the door.”
    Snow stepped around Cindy and hurried down the stairs. She opened the door just as Hansel was about to knock. They both jumped.
    “Hey,” said Hansel, “Didn’t mean to startle you.”
    “That’s all right,” said Snow.
    “I just wanted to tell Granny I was finished with the gutters. I think she may have had something else for me, so I wanted to check with her.”
    “Oh, certainly, come in,” said Snow.
    Hansel stepped through the threshold.
    Cindy reached the foyer then, struggling to maintain control of both the box and her cigarette. “Hey, Hammerhead, can you get the fuck out of the way, please?”
    Hansel didn’t flinch at the insult. Instead he rushed to relieve the box from Cindy’s arms. “Let me help you there.”
    Cindy relinquished the box to Hansel. She blew out a ring of smoke over his head and walked her eyes up and down his body, landing on his chiseled chest. “You know, Handy Andy, if that belt was filled with credit cards instead of rusty metal, I’d be bent over you like a gymnast on a balance beam.”
    Snow nearly choked. “I can’t believe you said that.”
    Hansel’s face flushed.
    Cindy curved her neck, sliding her eyes to Snow. “You’re adorable, aren’t you?”
    Snow averted her eyes. “I don’t mean to be.”
    “Well, Princess,” Cindy took a last puff and tossed the cigarette butt out the open door, “A couple of weeks with us and you won’t be anymore.” She tapped Snow’s cheek.
    Hansel grimaced. He flashed Snow an apologetic smile, which only embarrassed her further.
    “Come on, Carrot-top. Those shoes aren’t going to put themselves in the car. The faster I get rid of these, the faster I can torture that son of a bitch I had the misfortune of marrying by ransacking what used to be my store.”
    Hansel stepped out into the sunlight and Cindy followed.
    Snow wondered who’d really drawn the short straw in that marriage. She also wondered if these foul-mouthed women were ever going to stop picking on her.
    Emboldened by the pity she saw on Hansel’s face, Snow called out, “It’s Snow.”
    Cindy was halfway down the steps by then. She turned, shielding her eyes from the sun. “What?”
    Snow faltered for just a moment like a sapling in the wind, then found a spark of courage. “My name. It isn’t Princess. It’s Snow. Snow White.”
    It took every ounce of strength she had to steady her nerves. On the inside, she was trembling, but she kept her tone even, her eyes trained on Cindy, and her jawline stern.
    Cindy stared at her for the longest time, her face unreadable. Then she smiled. “Whatever you say.” She turned and glided down the steps.
    Snow smiled, feeling as if she had just gained a smidgen of respect. She was proud of herself for throwing caution to the wind and speaking her mind.
    Then Cindy added, “ Princess .”
    She cackled and slapped Hansel on the behind, nearly