"You know me, I never have that sort of foresight," Mia said, pulling out her cell phone. "Lucky for me, I'm not so forgetful when it comes to phone numbers," she added, as she punched in the number for Mrs. Rogers and waited for Gary to pick up.
Gary picked up the phone as he exited the car. She was becoming quite a lovely middle-aged woman in her late thirties, and quite matronly. She looked like the sort of woman who spent her days baking cookies and caring for her children like some classic sitcom.
"Hello? Oh...Mrs. McKay, I can't tell you how...Oh, yes, Mia. Why don't you call me Gail?" Gary, or rather Gail Rogers listened for a few moments. "Yes, it's South, not North. I've just arrived home myself. I'll see you in a few minutes. Thank you again, Mia."
Gail Rogers moved to the front door of the house and unlocked it. As she entered, the person inside looked up in surprise. "Who are you?"
Gail frowned. "This is no time for games. Mrs. McKay is coming to take you to the library."
"But..." the mystified stranger said.
"You can play games like that with your new friends," she said, calmly. "Your father and I missed each other, and want to have some time to talk. Now, hurry up."
She headed toward the kitchen.
Mia hung up her phone. "Let's get going," she said.
Thalia looked at her sister with some admiration. She had no regrets about her vocation, but it was hard not to think about what it would be like had she opted to have a family like her sister. She did love children, after all.
Topanga smiled at her daughter and her friend. "Have a fun time, girls."
"We will!!!" they both chirped.
The McKay Minivan left the driveway.
