TheXtra Path

“Ms. Clark.” An older woman in a business suit stepped up to Eliza’s desk.

Eliza looked up from her computer and smiled at her snobby supervisor. “Mrs. Davis. How can I be of service?”

Mrs. Davis glared at her but quickly hid it. She probably suspected Eliza started a rumor about her but didn’t have any proof. Eliza hid her malicious grin. Child’s play. Being in the government office was more about knocking others down and positioning than anything else.

“Governor Taylor would like to see you,” Mrs. Davis replied.

“Yes, I’ll be right there,” Eliza said.

“I don’t see what he sees in you,” Mrs. Davis said. She gave her a critical eye, looking at Eliza’s wonderful hair, immaculate makeup, and tight dress. Alex did a wonderful job. Eliza made sure to follow the dress code of the office. Barely. “Or maybe I do.”

“Mrs. Davis. Are you implying Governor Taylor is only inviting me to his office because of the way I look? I’m sure we could discuss it in our meeting.”

Mrs. Davis’s face turned bright red. “You venomous-” She cut off her words and walked briskly away.

Eliza had missed this. The thrill of maneuvering people around to achieve her goals. Doing this as a girl was different but no less exciting. Despite her threat, Eliza knew her looks made her climb the ranks incredibly fast in a short amount of time. The fact she was competent at her job was icing on the cake.

After finishing her email, Eliza made her way to the governor’s office. The secretary nodded at her and motioned her to sit down to wait for him to be ready. It only took five minutes before Eliza was allowed to enter.

“Eliza, please come in,” Governor Taylor said with a smile. She felt his gaze linger on her chest for a brief moment; an arrow in her quiver. The governor was in his early forties with streaks of grey in his black hair. He looked like a dignified politician, despite the hidden sleaze.

“How can I help you, Governor?” Eliza said in her most innocent voice.

“Please, call me Ben,” he said. “I’ve been very impressed with you. You’ve only been here for a couple of weeks and already made a huge impression. Your work on the waterline project saved us from utter disaster.”

“I’m glad was able to help,” Eliza said.

“And humble as well,” Ben said with a smirk; he knew that no one without ambition would end up in his office. “Anyway, without beating around the bush, I’d like to make you one of my assistants. You’ve shown you are very capable, and I’d like to snatch you before someone else takes notice.”

Eliza faked being surprised. She had been aiming for this. “Oh my!” she exclaimed. “I don’t know what to say. I’d be honored.”

“Great,” Ben said. “Hannah will show you to your new office. We will be seeing a lot more of each other now.” He couldn’t quite keep the leer off his face.

Eliza smiled brightly. “Of course. I’m looking forward to it.” She hesitated for a moment. “Um, can I ask something?”

“What is it?”

“I came across a department that seemed intriguing,” Eliza said. “It’s a branch within the Department of Data Management. The Outlier Division.”

A look of confusion passed over the governor’s face, then a smile appeared. “Oh, the Fiction Hunters. They have a small branch over in Riverton. What’s your question?”

“What do they . . . do exactly?” Eliza said. “From the description . . .”

Ben laughed. “I know, I know. We had to make it sound as official as possible, but they’re a bunch of passionate people that search for supernatural stuff. They’ve been in a bit of a frenzy since that mass healing in the hospital that happened a few weeks ago.”

“I heard about that,” Eliza exclaimed. “Do they find anything from their investigations?”

Ben shrugged. “I get reports now and then, but most of it is garbage. I don’t know why we waste so much money on it. Why the interest? Are you intrigued by the supernatural?”

“Oh, no,” Eliza shook her head. “Not me. I’ve got a friend who loves the stuff. Whenever something happens, she always drives me up the wall by telling me all about it. I bet she talked about that hospital miracle for three days straight.”

“We all have a friend like that,” Ben laughed. “It’s good to be passionate about something, but too much can be overwhelming. How about this, there are always spots open in the division. I could send in a referral for your friend. If she’s qualified, she’d probably be able to get a job.”

“You would do that?” Eliza asked. “She would love that.”

“Think nothing of it. Just tell Hannah about it on the way out.”

Eliza gratefully nodded her head and stepped out of the office. One goal down.

---

“Alright, maggots,” Debby yelled. “Stand!” 

The three girls climbed to their feet, panting hard. Kathy, Satie, and Gabriel. All three were idiots. Debby guessed it was a combination that the original three were stupid and that they liked dumb girls. And Debby had the honor of training them to be bodyguards for David. She took it as punishment for failing to protect him.

“You have been here three weeks,” Debby said. “Congratulations! You have graduated basic training.”

“You mean, we won’t have to keep sparing with each other every day and running for miles?” the dark-haired Satie asked with hope for relief.

“You’ll still have to do some physical training,” Debby answered. “But, most of the training will be how to best protect David.” When the girls had learned they were going to be bodyguards, they complained, but they quieted when they learned they’d get to spend the most time with David. Debby guessed his bodyguard would be one of the most desired positions in the new kingdom they were setting up.

“What about scrubbing toilets?” the tall Gabriel asked. “Do we still have to do that?”

“Yes,” Debby scowled. “That is your punishment.”

“For trying to kidnap David?” Satie asked. “We said we were sorry.”

“No,” Debby said with disapproval. “We don’t hold you accountable for what you did before your transformation. No, it’s the constant fighting you girls get into. It was only supposed to last a week, but we have to keep on extending it.”

Satie and Gabriel glared at each other but held their tongues. They knew better than to talk back or start fighting in Debby’s presence. The orange-haired Kathy on the other hand stared at a passing butterfly with a distracted expression.

“You’re dismissed,” Debby announced. “No more fighting or you’ll be getting Samantha’s cooking for a week. They say she’s been getting better and needs taste testers.” All three girls blanched and hurried off.

Once they left, Debby collapsed onto a nearby bench. She was tired. Juliet joined her.

“You know,” Juliet said. “You don’t have to push them so hard. Or yourself.”

Debby looked at her former employer. “You know I do. I failed David.”

“I don’t think that, and neither does David,” Juliet said. “We all made mistakes and no lasting harm came from it.”

“They had a gun,” Debby said. “Things could have drastically gone wrong.”

“Yes, but they didn’t. Learn and move on. Don’t let it drag you down. How are the girls progressing?”

“Satie has the most promise. She’s not naturally prone to violence, but if David’s in trouble, she’ll fight tooth and nail to protect him. She can even beat me in a fight if she’s angry enough. Gabriel is prone to violence and is very possessive of David. She’ll start a fight if she thinks you’re flirting with him. Living with her might be a problem, but she’ll be good in a hostile environment. Kathy . . . not so much. She gets distracted too easily. I feel like she would fit better in another position.”

Juliet nodded. “I’ll find a good place for her. She does remind me a bit of Alex.”

Debby laughed. “Not that bad. She’s an airhead, not a blank slate. Oh, Rey joins us every once in a while. She’s been great.”

“I heard about that,” Juliet nodded. “She seemed a bit lost after we banned her from the garage. And driving. And touching anything mechanical. She still has her private garage, but she needed more. I’m glad she’s able to fit in somewhere.”

“So, what’s up? You wouldn’t come out here just to talk.”

Juliet laughed. “You know me too well. We’ve got a job. I want to know if they’re ready to protect David.”

“That depends on what we’ll be doing.”

“Our doctor friend has somebody who wants to be healed. We want to do it tomorrow.”

“Can we do it at the mall?”

Juliet paused. “I think we can handle that. Why there?”

“After the kidnapping incident, I combed over the entire place to make it more secure,” Debby answered. “The new girls pointed out a few hidden rooms and escape routes. They know the area very well, and it will be a good place for a first job.”

“They wanted to have the healing done in their home, but I can see how that would create a security issue. The mall renovations are progressing smoothly. It wouldn’t be the end of the world if it gets leaked that it is connected to the Mystic. It might be better this way.”

“Great,” Debby nodded. “I’ll start making plans.”

---

David fiddled with his clothes as he waited in the parking lot below the mall. He was more or less used to this disguise now, but it still took a few minutes for it not to feel odd.

Ever since the failed kidnapping, David had been under lockdown. Three weeks of not going outside were driving him stir-crazy. Mostly, he had been helping Marci set up the research on the supernatural things that the girls could do. Surprisingly, the one who stepped in to help the most was Rachel. Ever since they moved into the mansion, Rachel had almost disappeared except for when David dug her out of a book to play video games or talk. Julius had a huge library, and Rachel had been devouring everything she could find. And since they had more cash on hand, they had been ordering a bunch of books. Juliet wanted her to go into publishing and was lining up an internship, but Rachel didn’t show much interest.

Rachel ambushed them when she heard about the project. David was surprised by the passion as opposed to the lackadaisical expression she usually had. Rachel set up charts and experiments to quantify the level of mutation that had happened. For example, Samantha could hold food in her hand and nothing would happen, but the moment she combined two ingredients, things would go horribly wrong.

Rachel began testing all of the girls, though most didn’t display any supernatural qualities. It didn’t mean they didn’t have any, but that it was less obvious. Samantha’s cooking was the most noticeable, along with Marci not being able to grow plants and Rey not being able to work on cars. Alex’s submissiveness was sort of considered supernatural, and Debby was insanely ticklish. Leah loved to play pranks, but no one knew that because she was horrible at it. No matter what she did, it would always fail before getting set off.

The other things they found weren’t exactly supernatural, but they made note of them. When Rachel read, she could completely zone out of the world. She had to keep food nearby for when she finished a book or she’d starve. Ellie would get a panic attack if she was alone for more than a few hours. And, Juliet had a growing romance novel collection.

Rachel was doing such a great job that they decided to use her as the referral for the Fiction Hunters. It was one of the most risky positions, but Rachel was up for it. The only problem was that she was a little young, but they played her off as a recent high school graduate who wanted work experience as an intern before starting college. She passed her interview with flying colors and joined as a simple secretary to organize documents.

David looked around the car at the other passengers with him. Debby was on the phone and coordinating with the other guards. Kathy was sitting next to him in exactly the same outfit, with a red wig and everything. Granted, she was a bit shorter and filled out her chest much more, but to those who hadn’t gotten a close look at him, she’d be able to pass as him.

“Are you sure you’re ok being my body double?” David asked.

Kathy smiled. “Of course! I’m happy to help.” David’s experience with Kathy was that she was gullible and a bit of an airhead. He didn’t want to take advantage of her, but she looked happy. 

Debby looked back. “Most likely we won’t need her. Whenever you go out, we’ll have her on standby. It’s almost time. Are you clear on the plan?”

David nodded. “Rey is the escort for the family coming in. The doctor and nurse I met at the hospital will also be there. Satie and Gabriel are in secret locations to watch for suspicious behavior. Juliet and Nancy will be watching the security footage. Cassidy and Florence are driving around the area.”

“Good. And what do you do if I give you the signal?”

“Immediately run down here and jump into the car. If needed, Kathy will distract our pursuers to drive them off our tail as I remove my disguise. We have a hidden passageway that will close behind us.”

“Good, good. As I said, I doubt there’ll be any issue this time, but I want to get in the habit of being careful.”

David thought it was overkill but better safe than sorry.

Debby got the confirmation that the clients had entered the mall and were waiting in the lobby. “Let’s do it.”

---

Dr. Timothy Wilson wanted to pace back and forth, but his experience as a doctor forced him to remain calm. Nothing was worse for a patient than for the doctor to be nervous. He looked over at the family he had chosen. The Carvers. A father, mother, and daughter. The seventeen-year-old daughter, Anna, was the reason they were there. She was in a wheelchair with tubes pumping medicine to keep her alive. She was bald, thin, and pale. She maybe had a couple of months to live. The nurse, Erika, was doing her best to keep her comfortable.

Tim tried to convince the Mystic’s companions to meet at the hospital since it would deteriorate Anna’s condition if they moved her, but they refused and the Carvers agreed. Probably for the best; Tim didn’t think another mass healing event would end well for the Mystic. Plus, if Anna got healed, they wouldn’t need to worry about her condition.

Tim looked around the mall. He remembered coming here when he was younger. The location had always struggled to generate business. Judging by the looks of it, the new owners were remodeling it. The upstairs looked like small apartments while the downstairs were converted into lobbies and auditoriums. Looks like the Mystic didn’t have to worry about money.

“She’s on her way,” the bodyguard said. This girl was different than the other one he had met. She was in the same type of suit, but she was stoic and lighter-skinned. Mrs. Carver tried to make small talk with her, but she only gave one-syllable answers. She had checked them for weapons and phones.

A few minutes later, the original bodyguard stepped out from a nearby door. Followed by the Mystic holding a candle. 

Memories of the Miracle flooded back to Tim. In his mind’s eye, the Mystic was larger than life and almost angelic. But, seeing her again, he was reminded how human she was. And young. She was maybe sixteen or seventeen. It was hard to tell since she had on a lot of makeup. She had red hair, though now that he saw it clearer, it was a wig.

“Thank you so much for seeing us,” Mr. Carver said. “We’ve tried everything, but our daughter isn’t getting better. When we saw your miracle on the news, we knew you were our only hope.”

“Anna is seventeen years old and has had cancer for the last three years,” Erika said. “She’s been fighting it, but she’s not doing well. Please help her.”

The Mystic nodded and looked intently at Anna. Anna, who had been falling asleep while they waited, woke completely up. 

“You’re really her!” Anna said, then began coughing. Her mother rushed to her side and helped her calm down.

“Is it true what was on the news? Can you heal her?” her mother said with hope and pain in her eyes.

The Mystic nodded but waited for her bodyguard to move the mother back. “I’m sorry,” the bodyguard said. “The Mystic needs to be alone for this. Please, nobody touch her unless we give permission.” The mother let herself be pulled away with great reluctance.

Once the space was clear around Anna, the Mystic began her ritual. Tim tried to catch any meaning to the strange dance. The Mystic wasn’t graceful or anything like that, but she was more smooth than the last time he saw her; she had been downright clumsy the last time. He couldn’t make any sense of it this time either. Finally, the Mystic touched Anna’s hand. 

Anna’s complexion immediately improved. Her eyes widened and she would have jumped out of her wheelchair except her legs got caught on the blanket keeping her lower body warm. She face-planted into the carpet in a jumble of blankets and medical tubes. The Mystic quickly got out of the way as her parents and the nurse rushed to help her.

The girl who sat up looked completely different. She had long brown hair that flowed down her back. Her body was no longer withering away, but full and vibrant. The smile on her face brightened up the room. Tears flowed freely as the family hugged.

The Mystic looked at the scene with melancholy. She smiled, yet she looked sad as well.

Tim would need to run tests to make sure she was completely cured, but that could wait. Instead, he stepped closer to the Mystic. The bodyguard was about to interfere, but Tim said, “I know the rules. I won’t get close.” 

He looked at the Mystic, then turned back to the family. “You know, my life has been a mess since you came to the hospital. I’ve been interviewed, critiqued, and even stalked. There were moments where I even doubted what you had done.” He turned to stare at the Mystic. “Seeing you again, I’m amazed. I have a niece about your age. I don’t know if what we’re doing is right, but I can see you truly care for others. If you keep on helping others, I’m your man. No matter what.”

At that moment, the bodyguard received a message. Immediately, she pulled the Mystic away. She glared at Tim. “Someone just pulled up into the parking lot. We told you to keep this private.”

“I did, I promise,” Tim said with confusion. He hadn’t told anyone except Erika and the family. And he expressly told them to keep quiet about it for fear the Mystic wouldn’t show up.

“Please, wait,” Mrs. Carver said as the Mystic was halfway out the door. “I told my sister! Her child is even worse than Anna was. I couldn’t wait! Please, don’t go!”

The bodyguard looked furious, but the Mystic placed a hand on her shoulder. Tim saw this countless times before during the Miracle. The Mystic had compassion, perhaps to a fault. Tim had an overwhelming urge to protect this child and keep her innocence.

The bodyguard groaned but began talking through her phone. The second bodyguard left to search for any weapons and escort them back to the room. The situation became much more complicated once they saw who the patient was. A fourteen-year-old boy was wheeled into the lobby with his mother. The boy was bald and withering away. His eyes were closed, and they didn’t look like they’d open again. 

This time, Tim was furious. “Mrs. Carver, I explained to you about the limitations. I can’t allow this.”

“Doctor,” the mother who had just walked in said. “Justin will be dead within the week. I do not care what you think.” She had a manic look in her eyes. Desperate. She looked at a healed Anna and then stared at the Mystic. “What do you say, Mystic? Can you save my son?”

The Mystic stared at the mother with deep conviction and nodded. She looked at her bodyguard, not for permission, but for her to explain what needed to happen.

The bodyguard sighed. “I’m not sure how much you were told, but healing boys are much different than healing girls. You won’t be able to see him again. We will have to take him away. You can email and text, but you can’t talk to or see him again.”

“But, he will be alive?” the mother asked.

“Yes.”

“That is all I can ask for.” The mother thrust out a folder. “Here are the documents of Justin’s death. He will be cremated within the week.” Tim wanted to protest again about the ethical and legal problems of faking someone’s death, but he knew there was no arguing with this woman.

The bodyguard nodded. “Don’t worry, he’ll be happy and healthy. You have my word.” The Mystic nodded in confirmation. The bodyguard turned to the outsiders. “Everyone but the mother, please leave.” To the mother, she said, “Please say your goodbyes. You have five minutes.”

---

David watched the mother say goodbye to her son. 

Justin opened his eyes when his mother touched him. “Mom, where are we?” he asked weakly.

The mother’s hard expression melted away. “Hi, honey. These people have a special treatment for you. They say you can get better, but you have to go away.”

“Are you coming with me?”

She shook her head. “I can’t. But, we can write to each other. I want to hear about everything. Can you do that?” Tears swelled in her eyes. “Can you be brave for me?”

He nodded, holding back his tears. “I think so.”

She hugged him tightly. “That’s my boy. Be good.”

David watched them with a heavy heart. The weight of responsibility fell hard on his shoulders, especially as the mother broke into sobs when Rey took him to the next room. David turned to go.

“Hey, Mystic,” the mother called. “If I find out you’ve hurt my child in any way, I will hunt you down. You hear me?”

David turned and walked back; Debby tried to pull him back, but David shrugged her off. In his best falsetto voice he could muster, he whispered so she could barely hear him. “I hear you. I will save your son. I look forward to the day when you can reunite.”

The mother looked at him hard and nodded. Her mask softened. “Thank you.”

David walked away with Debby on his heels. “David,” Debby said when they were alone. Her voice had hints of scolding in them.

“I know, I know,” David said. “But, I needed to do that. I know your biggest concern is my safety, and I am grateful. But there are things I need to do. That woman just gave me her son. She was desperate, yes, but it takes courage to do that. There are times when I will need to do things that go against the plan. I’m not overly invested in Juliet’s plan for a new country. But, I am interested in creating a place where the girls can live in peace. I might make risks you deem unnecessary, but I need to make them. You can advise and warn me, but the final decision is mine to make.” He smiled at her. “I hope you’ll be there if I fall.”

Debby’s eyes shone with devotion. “Always.”

---

Justin felt anxious as he waited in the elevator. They were going down to a parking lot. He was so tired, but he forced himself to be attentive. Something extreme was about to happen.

They arrived at the car and a few minutes later, the Mystic and her bodyguard appeared.

“What’s going to happen to me now?” Justin asked.

The Mystic did something that caught Justin completely by surprise. She took off her wig and dress. In her place, a seventeen-year-old was wearing shorts and a t-shirt. The guy quickly wiped off the makeup. He smiled at Justin. “That’s better. A pleasure to meet you, Justin. My name is David.”

“The famous Mystic is a guy?” he asked.

“Yep, it’s a good disguise, huh? I’m sorry, you’re kind of in a difficult spot. You’re about to die, and I’m the only one who can save you. You see, whoever I touch becomes a girl. They are beautiful and in perfect health. That’s why I could get away with touching the girls at the hospital. If I touch guys, it would raise all sorts of questions.”

“I see,” Justin said slowly, not understanding anything.

“It doesn’t matter if you believe me or not. It’s going to happen. I’m telling you because you have a small influence on the way you’ll turn out, including your personality.”

“My personality?”

“Yeah, that’s another difference with guys. Their personality changes. Everyone here used to be a guy. My head bodyguard used to be a guard for another person. Rey over there used to be a criminal we broke out of prison. And, my body-double over there tried to kidnap me. We believe they transformed to be their ideal girl. Another warning will be that you’ll be attracted to me.”

“Um, I’m not sure . . .” Justin started but broke off into a fit of coughs.

David shook his head. “You don’t have a choice in the matter. Your mother pleaded with us, and we’re sticking our necks out for you. For her. As I promised, I’ll take good care of you and won’t take advantage of your new feelings.”

“It’s kind of frustrating,” Kathy pouted. “He won’t even kiss us.”

“Anyway,” David said. “I’ll give you fifteen minutes to think about your ideal girl. Use the time wisely.”

The group backed away leaving Justin to his thoughts. It took a full ten minutes to somewhat comprehend his situation. Turn into a girl? Lose his personality? It was so surreal. But, he could feel his body lose strength. He would not last long. So, he set his mind on the type of girl he’d like to be.

The Mystic, David, walked back. “Are you ready?”

“Yes, I think so,” Justin replied. “I chose someone like my mother. She’s the strongest person I know, and if I have to be a girl, I’d like to take that strength.”

“Wise choice,” David said. “Just from our short meeting with her, she made quite the impact.” He grinned. “You might be more than we bargained for if you’re exactly like her.”

Justin laughed. “Ok, just do it. I’m ready to be healthy again. It’s been so long.”

David nodded and touched Justin’s shoulder.

“That’s it?” Justin asked. “I thought you had to do some sort of ritual dance.”

“Oh, that? It’s not necessary. I only do it to distract other people. All it takes is a touch. I can’t control it at all. I’ll tell you the story once you change. Look, your hair is already starting to grow back.”

Justin rubbed the top of his head. Hair was sprouting from his head like that playdough toy he used to play with as a kid. It grew fast and thick down to his shoulders. It was silver, nothing like his or his mom’s original hair color. He felt something on top of his head. Not a hat. A crown?

“Tiara?” Justin asked and then felt at his throat to his smaller Adam’s apple. His voice had changed. The high pitch voice sounded alien to his ears.

“Looks like we’ve got a princess,” David said. “Here, use this.” He handed Justin a hand mirror.

Justin took it. His hands shook as he looked at the reflection. He had long ago given up on being attractive or even growing up to maturity. Cancer ravaged his body that left him with a wasted body. The face in the reflection was flush with life and color as it shifted from his boyish face to a pretty girl. He blinked and his eyes changed from brown to a bright blue. Coupled with the full head of hair, he didn’t recognize himself anymore.

The changes flowed down his body. His shoulders stayed about the same since he was thin, but his chest bulged out. He stared at them with curiosity. Due to his circumstances, his puberty wasn’t normal. But, he still had a healthy interest in the female body. He touched his new body part gingerly. “This feels so weird,” he said in his pretty voice.

The changes moved further down his body. He felt his manhood get absorbed into his groin and his legs gained fat and muscle. He felt stronger than he had in ages. “I think a can stand.” He pulled out any remaining tubes connecting him to his previous body. “Help me up?” he asked David.

David offered his hand, and Justin stood up on wobbly legs. He laughed. Well, giggled very girlishly. He didn’t care. He could stand on his own. He ran and jumped until he stubbed his toe on the hard street. “Ouch!”

Suddenly, a small glowing tornado enveloped him. His clothes got ripped away and new materials took their place. When the wind settled down, Justin was wearing a pretty blue dress his his shoulders bare and a fancy necklace around his neck. He swung his hips around, which caused the skirt to sway back and forth. He giggled again at the strange feeling.

A voice in his head began invading his thoughts. Memories came back to him as the spoke comfortingly. While he hated being sick and stranded in his bed most of his teenage life, there was a certain appeal to being pampered endlessly. The voice in his head described his experience in the hospital as similar to being waited hand and foot like a princess. Since Justin couldn’t go outside anymore, he found himself watching a lot of movies and reading books. The princesses in those stories appealed to him; they usually lived sheltered lives, but adventure called to them to shed those shackles of comfort to grow into young women. They still had the authority of their station, but they had the power and experience to live up to the throne.

Justin thought of his mother. She had a normal life growing up. After she went off on her own, she found someone she loved, and they started a new family. They had Justin, but when he started to show signs of sickness, his father bailed on her, leaving her alone to fend for herself with a sick child. No matter how hard things got, Justin was her world. She had been his rock. The voice incorporated her strength into Justin’s new soul.

Justin opened her eyes and looked at the world with a fresh perspective. A grin tugged at her lips. She was complete. She turned to David; her heart skipped a beat but kept her composure. A princess does not get flustered. “I think it’s done.”

David nodded. “How do you feel?”

“Like a princess who’s been locked away in a tower,” she said with a grin. “I’m tired of being cooped up and want freedom.”

“And you’ll have it,” David laughed. “Before that, do you have an idea what you want your new name to be?”

Justin thought for a moment, then nodded. “June. It’s my mother’s middle name.”

---

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