Sally pressed her hand to her forehead and groaned. "Holy donkey babies."
"Those wouldn't be asses," Jacque pointed out.
"WOULD YOU STOP SAYING THAT WORD?" Sally screeched.
"Didn't you have something you wanted to tell us?" Jen asked.
"It's okay, Mommy," Titus said, looking up at a frazzled Sally. "I won't tell Daddy that Aunt Jacque and Aunt Jen said ass five times."
"Hey!" Jen huffed "You said it three times. Don't be pointing fingers Teeto."
"Aunt Jen, my name is Titus."
"Not if you're keeping count of my indiscretions. Then your name becomes Teeto, or Tagert, or some other hideous T-word name."
"Okay, seriously. Quit picking on my kid and focus," Sally said, pointing a finger first at Jen and then at Jacque.
"We are focused. Focused on the fact that Tonto is counting our profane words. I am watching you." Jen pointed two fingers at her eyes and then pointed those fingers at Titus. "Don't think because you're cute and smart and I might want you to be Thia's husband that I won't take you out."
"Jacque," Sally started.
"I'm on it," Jacque said and then reached over and smacked Jen hard on the forehead.
"OW, snap, Jacque!"
Jacque smiled and winked at her. "Tough love, Jennifer, tough love."
"I've decided I want you to love me less."
Jen sat down in the floor with her legs spread out and sat Thia down in the middle of them. Titus brought his cars over and began to show the little girl how to push them and make them roll.
“I need to talk to you about what I found out while I was visiting my parents,” Sally said. She remained standing and was fighting the urge to pace. She’d been debating whether or not she should bring it up but couldn’t stand having any secrets from her best friends. Before she continued, she held up a hand and pulled out her cell phone. She sent off a text and waited. When her phone rang she answered it and put it on speaker.
“Hello?” Lilly’s voice came through the speaker.
“Mom?” Jacque said looking up at Sally in question.
“Hey, Ms. P,” Sally said, calling Lilly by the name she and Jen had always called her despite the fact that she was now mated to the warlock king.
“Hi Jacque, Sally. I assume Jen is with you all too?”
“You know it,” Jen called out. “Someone has to keep these two from becoming boring old croons.”
“I’m sorry to bother you,” Sally spoke up. “But I can’t keep this from them any longer. But I want to give you a chance to tell Jacque first.”
“Tell me what?” Jacque asked, her eyes narrowed on the phone Sally held.
Lilly let out a sigh. “I should have come and spoken with her sooner. I would really rather not do this over the phone. Let me contact Nissa. Peri gave me her contact information and said the fae would be happy to help us with travel. I will be there as quick as I can.” The phone call ended, but no one other than Titus and Thia made a sound.
Jen spoke first. “What the crap is going on, Sally? And please don’t tell me that while you were in Texas you met another sadistic psychopath who wants to take over the world and make the rest of us into footrests.”
“Surely there can’t be another one,” Jacque said. “Especially when Peri is dealing with Volcan and his desire to have all the gypsy healers at his beck and call to make a witch army.”
Sally looked at Jacque, her head tilted slightly.
Jacque shrugged. “What? I hear things.”
Sally was about to open her mouth but snapped it closed when Nissa and Lilly appeared.
