Patti came toward the door with a platter of chicken in her hands, a bottle of BBQ sauce and grilling utensils under her arm, and a pack of matches between her teeth.
Dad and I both moved to take something from her at the same time. He held up a hand toward me and said, “I got it.” He took the platter and she removed the matches from her mouth.
“I can do it,” she insisted.
He grinned as I opened the door for them. “Yeah,” he said over his shoulder. “I know you can.” And together they left for the commons area to be domesticated. Weird.
The twins and I stood there in silence. They were like mannequins.
“You know you guys don’t have to be afr—” Ginger smacked a hand over my mouth and glared at me. I shut up and moved away, walking to the couch through the balloons. The twins followed me and sat down.
“We’re just not used to it,” Marna whispered.
“I know, but he’s on our side. We can talk,” I assured them. “So, what’s up with you two? You’re really flight attendants?”
Marna’s eyes danced. “I prefer sky muffins.” She giggled. “Astaroth wouldn’t allow us to—”
Ginger elbowed her and they shared a frightened glance.
“It’s okay,” I said. “Really. You can say whatever you want. We’re safe.”
Ginger crossed her arms and legs. Marna swallowed hard and nodded at me with her gray doe eyes. “Okay,” she began. “Er, well, he wouldn’t allow us to move to the United States or apply to classes at uni, so we came up with this idea and he bought it.”
“But only after he suggested we become a stripping duet,” Ginger grumbled.
“At a high end club, of course,” Marna added with a wink. “Anyhow, when we promised to make married men join the mile-high club, he was sold.”
“But only on a trial run,” Ginger specified.
I had no idea what the mile-high club was, and I wasn’t about to ask.
Marna charged ahead. “Yes. We’re basically in a probation period to see how it goes. Astaroth pulled strings with the airline so we’ll always fly together. We’re on an eight-hour layover right now, so we’ve got to head back to Atlanta in a bit.”
Seeing Marna there on my couch and knowing they’d secured a tiny piece of temporary freedom caused a surge of happiness to rise up in me.
“I’m excited for you guys,” I said. “Promise me you’ll call anytime you’re in this area, okay?”
Marna promised and we sat there chatting until Patti and Dad came back up with the empty platter.
“Chicken’s on the grill!” Patti announced from the sink.
I smiled until Dad cleared his throat and said, “I’ve gotta get going.”
“But you just got here!” I said.
“You’re not staying to eat?” Patti asked.
He shook his head. “Sorry, girls. No time. I just came to visit for a minute and give Anna her present.”
I stood and faced Dad, while he scratched his goatee.
“You ready for it?” he asked.
I nodded, nervous. “What is it?”
“Your next assignment.”
My heart jumped and I held my breath.
“You’ve told the girls everything, right?” He inclined his head toward the twins, who didn’t move a muscle.
“Yeah, they know everything,” I said.
“Well, good. Now you’re off to California to tell the last of your Neph pals. Happy graduation. And happy birthday next week.”
California. The word blinked and shouted in my mind.
My heart rapid fired as he presented an itinerary sheet from his back pocket, smacking it into the palm of my hand. Do not smile. Do not react. I curled my fingers around the paper, dancing, leaping on the inside.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
Patti turned off the water and stared at me, joy thinly veiled across her face. “You’re going to California?”
When I nodded she raced into the living room, hands still wet, and threw her arms around me. “Finally!”
“All right, all right,” Dad said. He tapped his temple and eyed me. “Head in the game, girl.”
I nodded, holding back nervous, happy laughter as Patti let me go and practically danced her way into the kitchen to finish up. My head was light with a buzzing sensation.
“Nice call on learning sign language, by the way,” Dad said, looking at the twins and me. “Don’t let any of the Dukes or spirits see you using it, though. Any signs between Neph have been put to a stop in the past. I’ve got the daughter of Sonellion and the son of Mammon learning, too,” he said to me.
“Awesome, thanks, Dad.”
“Yep. We’ve got our annual summit coming up next week in Vegas, Dukes only, so that’s when you’ll go to California. I’ve got to head out now, but I wanted to give you this in person.”
He tweaked my chin and I grabbed his hand. I never felt like I got enough time with him. And I wanted to ask him about a Neph being plagued with multiple temptations.
“Can I call you later today?” I asked.
“Yep.” Dad kissed my temple and hulked to the door, boots clanking. He turned back to the three of us one last time before leaving.