“I am,” I said, looking down at the sleeping boy in my arms and wondering how any mother could sell her child. I was sure Zach looked very much like Henry as a baby. His wild dark red curls were so sweet.
“I didn’t know about Zach, and Fabio didn’t know about either of us. Zach’s and my childhoods were bad,” Zelda said, giving her father a look that conveyed she didn’t blame him. “Problem we’re having now is that Zach wants nothing to do with Fabdudio.”
“Why?” I asked. I’d give anything to have my parents back in my life.
Zelda took a long pause and then sighed. “To love other people, you have to love yourself first.”
I was stunned to silence for a moment. My heart tore a little for Zach. “That is seriously profound,” I said.
“Got it from my porno loving rabbit Shifter therapist. Most of the time, I want to headbutt Roger, but the nose twitching little number-two is right fairly often. However, I will deny saying that for eternity.”
“His name is Roger the rabbit?” I asked with a grin.
“Yep,” Zelda said, gently taking Henry from my arms. “You’re gonna love him. You might even want to do a few sessions with him. The little shart has helped me tremendously.”
“You mean tree-mendously,” I corrected her with a small laugh then let my chin drop to my chest. “But I really can’t stay Zelda. I have to leaf, I mean leave.”
“And go where?” Fabio demanded, alarmed.
“To find my hairy magical beans,” I replied with a sad smile. “I lost them somewhere along my life journey.”
“Will you give us a week before you search for your tes-tree-cles?” Fabio begged with a sweet smile.
“You speak Puntreelish?” I asked with a laugh.
“A little,” he said. “I’d love to learn some more. Will you please stay a week?”
“You haven’t had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with the bread in the middle yet,” Zelda pointed out.
“And you must see Zorro in his show,” Fabio added.
“His show?” I asked, confused.
“He’s starring in the Assjacket Community Theatre production of Zorro, the Gay Blade—the Musical,” Zelda informed me with a groan.
“Actually,” Fabio chimed in. “They changed the show.”
“Why?” Zelda asked. “Zorro was thrilled with his part. That’s why he bought the pink leather assless chaps.”
Fabio rocked a sleeping Audrey in his arms and shook his head. “Apparently, a famous director with an entourage of height impaired ladies has all of a sudden shown up in town. She’s insisted on changing the show to Jaws—The Musical.”
“You’re shitting me. Jaws as a musical?” I asked and then slapped my hand over my mouth, hoping neither toddler woke up and repeated me.
“No, I'm not bowel movement-ing you,” Fabio said.
“Wait. Who was supposed to direct?” Zelda asked, confused.
“Bob and the cast were going experimental and letting the play direct itself this time,” Fabio said with a chuckle. “Maybe it’s good this director showed up. I can’t even imagine what a musical version of Jaws will turn out like, though.” He shook his head. “Zorro is playing the shark in pink leather assless chaps. Poor Bob the beaver is trying to write the new script, but from what I hear, it’s not going well. He’s pulled more than half of his unibrow out.”
“That had to hurt,” I said with a wince, mulling all the information over. “Wait, is Bob the magical berry tooter?”
“Yep,” Zelda said. “If you spot him with a bowl of berries, steer clear. However, Bob’s butt bombs are nothing compared to how Zorro must be feeling.”
My body tensed. “What do you mean?”
“Zorro has to be devastated about the show change,” Zelda said. “Breaks my heart.”
Crap. It was not okay for Zorro to be devastated.
“I’ll stay… for a week,” I said. The words came out of my mouth before I could think them through, but I would stand by them. If Zorro needed me, I would be here to comfort him.
Zelda and Fabio exchanged a glance of enormous relief. They were up to something, but at this point, I assumed they were always up to something. My concern was Zorro…and if I was being honest, Zach as well.
Zorro, my beautiful best friend, had been through hell in his life, too. Being a gay goat Shifter who’d been excommunicated from his pack, because goats were homophobic assholes, was painful enough. I’d stay until Jaws was over and cheer my most loyal friend on.
Of course, I would definitely see Zach, also, but that was secretly thrilling.
And then I would go off to find my balls.
“Welcome to Assjacket.” Fabio gently laid a sleeping Audrey down on the couch then wrapped his arms around me.
The hug was lovely. It made me miss my own father. Maybe, I could help Zach accept Fabio. It would be a perfect parting gift to the man I secretly loved.
“Get your hands off of her,” Zach bellowed from the bottom of the stairs. “Never touch her again. Willow is not available.”
“Dude, Fabio is not hitting on Willow,” Zelda hissed at her brother. “He’s banging the fashion impaired leader of the witches much to my great horror and barley concealed secret delight. Plus, this is my house, and you are not the boss of it.”
Zach’s eyes blazed green and his fury was palpable. The air was thick with magic. Bright green sparks popped all around him, and the house rumbled on its foundation.
Fabio quickly backed away from me with an expression of great sadness on his handsome face.
“Zach, that wasn’t nice,” I barked, eyeing him with shock. My instinct was to comfort him, but that wasn’t our relationship. Never had been and never would be.
“Do I look like I care?” he demanded.
“No, you don’t,” I said sadly. “And that’s your loss.”
“Willow,” he said, approaching me warily with a look of longing in his eyes that confused me. “You have no clue what is going on. Please stay out of it.”
“With pleasure,” I said, backing away, wildly unsure what had come over Zach. “I’m only
