CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-EIGHT - Laughter and Tears: The Family Reunion Cocktail

Jack ran a hand through his hair, looking miserable. "Ava, meet Guinevere. Or rather, say goodbye to Guinevere. We just broke up." "Thou hast made a grievous error," Guinevere continued, seemingly oblivious to Ava's presence. "May thy family be plagued with misfortune until the end of days!" With a dramatic swirl of her skirts, Guinevere stormed out, leaving a stunned silence in her wake. It lasted approximately three seconds before Aunt Mildred, still clutching her salvaged wigs, let out a piercing shriek. "A curse! We've been cursed!" She turned to Ava, eyes wild. "It must be because of our pirate ancestry. Quick, we need to perform a cleansing ritual!" Ava tried to interject some reason. "Aunt Mildred, I'm sure it's not a real curse. And we don't have any pirate ancestry-" But Aunt Mildred was already rushing to the attic, muttering about eye patches and stuffed parrots. Ava looked at Jack, who shrugged helplessly. "Sorry about this," he said. "I didn't think she'd take it so