“Um, yes. Just let me get a picture of you with Jay and Roni, then we’ll go.”

I was relieved when Jay and Veronica left to join their families again, and we all got in our cars. The twins followed us to the apartment.

I took the stairs two at a time, excited to have company today. When I opened the door I gasped and stood there in shock a moment before saying, “Patti, it’s awesome!”

She had decorated with my school colors. Royal blue and gold streamers crisscrossed the ceiling, and balloons were everywhere. I heard her and the twins come up behind me, Patti giggling and Marna oohing. I was about to hug Patti, when a movement on the other side of the room caught my eye through the dangling balloon ribbons. I cursed my stupid body whose first reaction was to scream.

Midshriek, I realized it was my dad, but my startled system couldn’t stop its initial reaction. A chain reaction started as Patti, then both the twins screamed, too.

Dad parted the balloons and slunk forward, chuckling. We all shut up and caught our breaths.

“Do you give all your guests such a warm welcome?”

Patti’s hand was on her heart. “Geez, John! A little warning next time?”

“I bet you’re wishing you’d never given me that key,” Dad said to Patti with his most charming, frightening grin. He stared at her long enough to make her face redden and her aura sputter.

She rolled her eyes and went past him to the kitchen. “We’re about to grill,” she said without looking up from the food prep. “You’re welcome to stay.” Her aura was a strange blend of yellow and light gray annoyance.

“Can’t stay long. Just wanted to see my little girl on her graduation day.” Dad nodded a greeting at the twins and they slunk back against the two barstools at the counter.

My heart rate was still rapid when he came forward and embraced me.

“Thanks for coming,” I whispered into his black T-shirt. I breathed in his clean, zesty scent and didn’t want to let him go.

“I came to give you a gift.”

I looked up at him with expectancy.

“But not yet,” he said.

I made a face.

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.