“One roast beef sandwich and one tuna melt,” Carol repeated the order for Wonder’s sake. “Did you get it?”

“I did. Coming right up.”

She’d been scatterbrained all day, forgetting the orders as soon as she’d heard them. Most of the time she caught herself staring into the distance as if the answers to her problems could be found in the treetops.

It bothered her tremendously that she hadn’t had the chance to wish Anandur good luck on his mission or to talk to him about what had happened last night.

After the restless night she’d had, she overslept, waking up after he and the other senior Guardians had left for San Francisco.

Not that there was anything she could say to make things right between them. Not unless she wanted to use Gertrude’s suggestion and make up a lie.

Then there was the worry. He hadn’t shared any details about the raid with her, so she didn’t know whether he was going to be in any real danger.

“Do you think I should call him?”

“I assume that by him, you mean Anandur.”

“Who else?” It’s not like she could call Esag. All she had was a name and a vague image of a tall, smiling guy, that and the tight feeling in her chest whenever she said his name in her head.

“Calling or texting the Guardians during a mission is prohibited. Besides, their numbers are temporarily blocked, and they can’t receive or even see calls from civilians. Only Kian and Onegus can call them.”

“But they can call out, right?” Wonder stuffed the tuna sandwich inside the panini maker.

“It’s likely. The raid won’t happen until late at night. They might be allowed to make calls before that.”

Wonder used tongs to take out the tuna melt, placed it on a plate, added a scoop of potato salad and a pickle, then handed it to Carol who took the order to the table.

“Start making two cappuccinos,” she told Wonder as she came back. “I saw Amanda and Syssi heading here.”

On their way back home, the two stopped by the café almost every day. It was so cool how well the sisters-in-law got along, carpooling to and from the university where they worked together. It seemed like the two were spending more time with each other than with their respective mates.

Wonder couldn’t help but feel a little envious. She would’ve loved having a best friend who never tired of her company and vice versa.

“Wonder, darling.” Amanda sauntered behind the counter as if she owned the café and pulled her into her arms. “How did it go last night?” She leaned to whisper in her ear. “Did you get what you wanted?”

Wonder sighed. “Let’s just say that I’ve gotten more than I bargained for.”

Amanda frowned. “Really? What happened? Anandur is a sweetheart. There is no way he did something he wasn’t supposed to.”

Why did everyone automatically assume it was the guy’s fault? Wonder had seen enough bitchy and underhanded moves in the club to realize that often it was the girl’s fault and not the guy’s.

“I need to finish making your cappuccino. Anything you’d like to eat?”

Amanda smacked her lips. “Goat cheese and roasted red peppers melt. Usually, I wait to eat with Dalhu, but he went with the Guardians to San Francisco and won’t be back until tomorrow.” She turned around to her sister-in-law. “Syssi, do you want a sandwich?”

“I’ll have the same one you’re having.”

Wonder pulled out two more slices of bread. “Is Kian gone too?”

“No, he’s here. But he is going to spend most of his time in the war room until the mission is over. Our butler is going to bring him his meals there.”

As Wonder made the sandwiches, she remembered Anandur mentioning that Dalhu was an ex-Doomer. She hadn’t met the guy yet, but Anandur seemed to like him.

“Is Dalhu going on the mission as a consultant?” Wonder handed Amanda the two cappuccinos.

“No, my Dalhu needs to flex his muscles a bit. He’s been holding a paintbrush for far too long. He’s going to fight with the guys.” She took the cups and sauntered away to where Syssi was sitting at a table. “Why don’t you join us, girls? We can have a fab gossip session.”

Amanda didn’t sound worried at all. Was it because she knew Dalhu was a formidable warrior, or was it because the mission was not dangerous?

Carol glanced around the café and then lifted her wrist to look at her watch. “It’s ten minutes to six. We can get away with closing a little early. Whoever comes now can use the vending machines.” She flipped the sign to ‘closed’ and grabbed a can of cola from the fridge. “Can I get you something?”

“I’ll take one of these too.” Wonder took the two sandwiches out of the griddle, put them on plates and brought them to the table.

Amanda lifted her sandwich. “I’m waiting to hear the story, entertain me while I’m eating.”

Wonder cast a sidelong glance at Syssi. Did she know about her and Anandur too? Probably. At this rate pretty soon every immortal in the village would know.

“Can this stay between us, please? It’s bad enough that Trudy and Hilde know. Don’t tell anyone else, will you?”

Amanda made the zipping motion over her lips.

“I promise,” Syssi said.

Carol shrugged. “I didn’t tell anyone.”

“Talk, girl. I don’t have all night.” Amanda winked. “Well, actually I do. It’s not like I have any plans for later. But I have no patience.”

Wonder took a deep breath. “The long and the short of it is that Anandur kissed me and I said another guy’s name. Apparently, I’ve been in love with someone named Esag.” She grimaced. “What a bad timing for a memory to resurface. I was enjoying the best kiss imaginable, and then poof; all the effort of dressing up and looking nice so Anandur would notice that I’m all grown up was gone up in smoke. I ruined it for us before it ever began.”

“Was Anandur mad?” Syssi asked.

Amanda rolled her eyes. “No, he was so happy he went dancing naked in the woods. What kind of question is that? Of course, he got mad. Who wouldn't?”

Syssi waved a hand. “You’re obsessed with that dancing naked in the woods idea. Just do it already and stop talking about it.”

Baffled, Wonder looked from one woman to the other. What were they talking about?

Carol leaned over to whisper in her ear. “Ignore them. They’re being silly.”

Oh. So it was some kind of a private joke.

Amanda smirked. “Only if you join me, darling. We need seven beautiful women to perform the ritual. Are you game, Wonder?”

“Keep ignoring them,” Carol said.

“Maybe some other time. I’m too anxious to go dancing, in the nude or otherwise.”

“Right.” Amanda put her half-eaten sandwich down and wrapped it in a napkin. “I say forget about that Esag guy whoever he is and concentrate on Anandur. You are obviously into him, and he is into you. What was in the past, should stay in the past.”

That was actually not bad advice, even if it was somewhat simplistic. Sometimes it was better not to overthink things and just go with one’s gut.

“You should talk to Vanessa,” Syssi offered. “Now that you’ve gotten one memory back, she might help you retrieve the others.”

“I don’t have her number.”

Syssi pulled out her phone and found the contact. “What’s your number? I can text you the contact information.”

As Wonder dictated the numbers and Syssi sent the contact over, Amanda tapped her long-nailed fingers on the table impatiently.

“Vanessa is too busy now to schlep over here. Kri is going to the monastery tomorrow for the bi-weekly self-defense classes she’s giving the girls. She can take you with her.”

“Didn’t she go with the guys on the mission?” Wonder asked.

Carol shook her head. “I told you that Kian doesn't allow it.”

“You did. But you also said that she could do other things, like calming down the humans.”

“True, but I think what she does with the girls is more important. She is helping them gain confidence. After what they’ve been through, that’s crucial.”

Wonder couldn’t argue with that. Carol’s comment reminded her of her old roommates' haunted eyes. Gods only knew what those two girls had been through. Maybe the shelter should offer self-defense classes as well.

If she ever went back there, Wonder might volunteer to do that. She wasn’t anywhere near Kri’s skill level, but somehow she knew how to street fight, which should be enough.