“Fortunately, there’s a fair bit of overlap on the lists,” Allie noted, deftly removing one of Charlie’s capos from Evan’s mouth. “And the eleven still in school can transfer to programs here . . .” Evan squeaked as her hold tightened. “Although I guess it’s not really worth it for twenty-two months. And after that we’ll have other things to worry about, won’t we?”

“Mama! Squish!”

“Sorry, darling.”

The twins, Charlie noted, were not on the lists. The odds were high the twins were prepping for a trip to Australia, thrilled to be heading for a continent where most of the fauna and a good chunk of the flora could kill them.

“Cha Cha?” Small hands clutched at her jeans.

“What can I do for you, Edward?”

“Up!”

We can save him, Charlie thought as she lifted the toddler onto her lap. And Evan and all five of the brothers to be named later. In spite of Auntie Jane, they were working on that now. We can save, if not all the family—because Uncle Arthur and the oldest of the aunties wouldn’t be able to leave Ontario—most of the family. An enclave here. An enclave somewhere else. Joined this time only by her ability to Walk the Wood. Hers and Auntie Catherine’s if Auntie Catherine could be convinced to help. Charlie wasn’t one hundred percent positive that Auntie Catherine would bother to come home.

“Want!”

“Too bad, kidlet.” She set the sharpie far enough away he couldn’t reach it, although he tried. Alive was better, she wasn’t arguing with that, but what kind of world would Edward and his brothers grow up in? The Gales could slide back to a more primitive existence without much difficulty, back to the land was pretty close to a religious statement, but they’d be robbed of so much.

“No, I think we should concentrate on the north side.” Allie slid her tablet across the table to Auntie Gwen. “Get everything on Macewan that actually touches the park.”

“That’ll attract too much attention, Alysha.”

“We can keep a lid on it for twenty-two months. And then it won’t matter.”

How, Charlie wondered, could she look any of Allie’s children in the eye if she hadn’t done everything possible to ensure they could grow up playing the bagpipes on their phone?

“I have to go.” Leaping to her feet with Edward on her lap, probably not the best idea, but she caught him before he hit the floor, swung him into the air, shrieking with laughter, and handed him to Auntie Gwen. “I have to . . .” So easy to lie. Screw it. “. . . talk to Jack.”

“You’re only making it harder on both of you, Charlotte.”

A little exasperation, but that was standard for Auntie Gwen. The pity in her voice, that was new. Charlie stopped at the door, and turned around. “You told her we talked about it?”

Color high on her cheeks, Allie shook her head. “Charlie, she already knew.”