“Monty and I met at school, Nick,” my mother said, bringing the conversation back to its original topic. I knew she didn’t like talking about the first twelve years of my life. “It was so romantic. The university had just started their paranormal studies, and there was a lot of confusion about prerequisites. Anyone could take anything. I had no business being in a ley line class, and the only reason I signed up for it was because the gorgeous hunk of witch in front of me at the registrar’s office was, and all my alternate classes were full.”

Her spoon in the pot slowed, and steam wafted over her. “Funny how fate seems to push people together sometimes,” she said softly. “I took that class to sit next to one man, but ended up falling in love with his best friend.” She smiled at me. “Your father. All three of us partnered for the lab. I would have flunked if it hadn’t been for Monty. I’m not a ley line witch, and since Monty couldn’t stir a spell to save his life, he set all my circles for me the next two years in return for me invoking all his charms for him until he graduated.”

I had never heard this one before, and as I rose to get three coffee mugs, my gaze fell upon the pot of red sauce. Brow pinching, I wondered if there was a tactful way to spill it down the garbage disposal. She was cooking in her spell pot again, too. I hoped she had remembered to wash it in saltwater, or lunch might be a bit more interesting than usual.

“How did you and Rachel meet?” my mother asked as she nudged me away from the pot and set a loaf of frozen bread to bake in the oven.

Eyes suddenly wide, I shook my head in warning at Nick. His eyes flicked from me to my mother. “Ah, a sporting event.”

“The Howlers?” she questioned.

Nick looked to me for help, and I sat beside him. “We met at the rat fights, Mom,” I said. “I bet on the mink, and he bet on the rat.”

“Rat fights?” she said, making a face. “Nasty business, that. Who won?”

“They got away,” Nick said, his eyes soft on mine. “We always imagined they escaped together and fell madly in love and are living in the city’s sewers somewhere.”

I choked back a laugh, but my mother let hers flow freely. My heart seemed to catch at the sound. I hadn’t heard her laugh in delight in a long time.

“Yes,” she said as she set her oven mitts aside. “I like that. Minks and rats. Just like Monty and me with no more children.”

I blinked, wondering how she had jumped from rats and minks to her and Dad, and how that related to them not having any more children.