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“Daddy says you’re staying until Aiden comes back.” One triplet was hanging off the table edge.

“It’s only three months, and it’ll be gone in a flash.”

“But you’ll never tell us apart,” another sister announced.

“I did pretty good working out which one was Poppy.”

“But you think Poppy has the blue charm on her bracelet,” the third sister said as she and the second one looked at the one who had her arms folded. “What if we switched them?”

“Hmmm, let’s see. The charms are blue, orange, and purple, but that doesn’t tell me anything according to you.”

The girls nodded. I studied the three. There was the quiet one who was watching me. She was the one who’d stood in the pantry doorway when I arrived, I was certain. Then there was one the other two had looked at, and the third who was fidgeting. She had scabs on her knees and a scrape on her elbow, maybe from falling off a bike. I was pretty sure she’d been the one who wrote my name outside. The one with her arms folded yawned and stared right at me and hardly blinked.

“My guess⁠—”

“You don’t know, do you?” That was Miss Scraped Knee.

“Don’t interrupt, Ivy.” Miss Folded Arms told her without breaking her glance at me.

I gave her a few seconds to register what she’d said. The screwed-up face and clenched fist was the sign she had.

“Ivy likes riding her bike,” I continued and enjoyed the gasp from the one who might have tumbled onto the driveway. She must have missed her sister giving her away.

“No, you cheated,” she burst out.

I tapped my elbows, and she pushed out her bottom lip and sat down, only to stand up again.

“And Poppy likes a good stare.”

“What? Did Dad tell you?” She furrowed her brows.

“Nope. But that leaves Wren who likes to watch and listen.” She rewarded me with a gap-toothed smile which was a dead giveaway.

“Can you do magic?” Wren asked.

“We can sometimes, just like before,” Ivy burst out and wrenched at her bracelet.

“Ivy, no,” both Sinclair and Poppy shouted.

Ivy kicked a table leg and glowered at her father.

I explained that my dad worked in hotels, so I’d spent a lot of time in lobbies, kids’ clubs, hotel pools, and games rooms. I learned to read people when I was very young.

“Oh.” Even Poppy seemed impressed.

I helped Sinclair put the dinner on the table that consisted of freshly baked rolls, pasta with a ragu sauce, and a salad.

“I wish the meat didn’t have a tomato sauce.” Poppy made a face at her food. “It’s gross.”

Ivy picked out the carrots and celery, making a tower that toppled over. The girls ignored the salad, but I took a second helping and commented on the garlic in the dressing. Sinclair said he’d like me to cook most evenings but he’d make the meal plan.

“We’re big meat eaters as you probably guessed.”

Returning to my room after dinner, my family photo on the dresser caught my eye. I always put that out, no matter where I was. It looked like it belonged right where it was, but that was silly. I was here for a limited time and it’d be in my bag when I walked out the door for the last time.

“That’s right,” I said to the room. “This isn’t permanent.”

FOUR