Shuffling forward, a toddler around each leg, she smiled tightly at Charlie. “I’m about to ask Jack to eat Auntie Carmen.”

“Did you want me to stop you or get Jack some condiments?”

“Good question.” Allie gave up on the smile. “Mom’s bearing the brunt of Auntie Jane, but Auntie Carmen’s in tears because she was the last to know. Translation, she found out after Auntie Bea.”

“They live in the same house.”

“Auntie Bea answered the phone when Auntie Gwen called. While Auntie Bea was on the phone with Auntie Jane, Auntie Carmen called me and wailed for . . .” She checked her watch. “. . . just over twenty minutes. Auntie Bea wouldn’t get in a taxi with her as long as she kept crying which is why they’re still not here. Mixed blessings. Where is Jack?”

“Taking the mugs back to Kenny’s. You weren’t seriously considering . . . ?” Charlie waved her hands in the universal gesture for going to ask Jack to eat an auntie? Perhaps not universal, she acknowledged silently, but it came up surprisingly often.

“No, but they’re on their way over now and he might need to singe them slightly.”

Before Charlie could point out that would probably just make them angry “Will the Future Blame Us” rang out from her pocket. “I should take this, it’s Auntie Catherine.”

“She still gets her own ringtone?”

“It seemed safest. Do you think your mother called her?”

“Maybe. Maybe Auntie Jane called her to brag. My plans are working,” Allie cackled, rubbing her hands together. Edward stared up at her wide-eyed. Evan sat down and put his thumb in his mouth. “Even though I’m thousands of kilometers away, I’m directly responsible for a seventh son of a seventh son of a seventh son of a Gale!”

Charlie paused, finger over the phone. “That’s your impression of Auntie Jane?”

“What’s wrong with it?”

“She doesn’t usually sound like she’s about to toss a fireball at the Scarecrow.”

“Neither did . . .” Lips pressed into a thin line, Allie bent and scooped Evan up off the floor. “Answer your phone, Charlie.”

That seemed like the best option. “Hello, Auntie Catherine. Yes, I did know that Allie was expecting.”

On the other end of the phone, Auntie Catherine snorted. “Oh, for pity’s sake, Charlotte, who asked? I Saw my granddaughter’s condition months ago and it doesn’t take a Seer to realize you’d be one of the first to know that she was about to present the family with yet another set of male twins.”

“You Saw it and you didn’t think to mention it?” Saw the babies, she mouthed at Allie.