Fiday snippet
Thanks @arviyya for the tag <3 Also I'm late, posting this on Sunday but I think the gods of tumblr can manage.
I'll share the unpublished scene where we meet Mrs. Crouch for the first time, coming up in two chapters!
Her face lit up as she spotted them. Barty made way to greet her first as she rose, arms wide open and beaming at him.
“Mummy,” Barty said in greeting, walking right into the hug to kiss her cheeks.
“Offspring! How are you, dove?” she asked. “You smell of flight. Have you been terrorising those poor seagulls again?”
“Someone keeps adding more fish to the pond. Not my fault they’ve gone mental, I was merely clearing up the air.”
“Ah,” said Mrs. Crouch, “I suppose he wants his allowance now—but first, you must introduce me to your handsome friend here.”
Evan tried to fight the redness that bloomed so unmistakably on his face as he stepped forward to greet her.
“Mummy, this is my friend Evan from school. Evan, this is my mum,” said Barty.
Mrs. Crouch embraced him. She smelled like freesia and fire, and her hug was soft and held a level of care Evan hadn’t felt in a lifetime.
“How lovely to meet you,” she nearly whispered against Evan’s ear, pulling him much closer than he was prepared for.
“Likewise, Mrs. Crouch. The pleasure is mine,” Evan replied.
“Oh, please. Call me Anne. Now, you smell of hurry and paint. How is the refurbishment going? My favourite child here tells me you’ve had some obstacles,” she said while they took their seats.
“Whatever you do, do not get a pond in the back garden,” Barty cut in. “Unless you two plan to team up and give me a tenured position clearing aerospace.”
“I don’t think we can afford you, sweetheart,” said Anne.
“I’ll give you a discount,” Barty winked.
