Bea nodded in approval.

Ginger burst out with a laugh. Or, you can be married to Larry Garrison and have neither! Woo-hoo!

That's complete garbage! Josie's sharp reprimand was directed toward Roxanne, and the two friends stared at each other in silence. After an awkward moment, Josie turned her attention to Ginger. Listen to me when I tell you that you really can get it all in one place. I'm living proof. And if it could happen to me, it can happen for you or Roxie or any woman.

That's exactly what Mrs. Needleman said! Ginger sat up taller in her chair.

I've had all the Mrs. Noodle-brain I can take for one morning. Roxie rose from her chair and pulled a sleepy Lilith to her feet. I won't be able to make it FridayI have an early appointment with my Web designerso I'll see you guys at Josie's on Sunday. Want to drive up with me, Bea?

Sure.

Roxie's eyes flashed briefly at Josie and then moved on to Ginger. Just protect yourself.

Ginger nodded soberly. We're using condoms.

Roxie laughed, but a sadness crept into her eyes. I was referring to the emotional kind of protection, but condoms are always a swell idea. She fiddled with Lilith's leash, her gaze softening. The only thing worse than having a guy abandon you has got to be having a guy abandon you when you're pregnant with his kid. Nobody wants that.

Ginger gasped, suddenly panicked. I'm not going to get pregnant! That's ridiculous! She looked at Bea and Josie for confirmation. I'm in the beginning stages of menopause, you know.

Ppphhhhtttt! Bea said, dismissing Ginger with a flap of her hand. Even if you were, which you aren't, that doesn't mean jack. Just ask my mother.

What do you mean? This was new information for Ginger, and she didn't much like it.

Imogene Latimer never planned on having children, right? I'm her only spawn. She's ninety-eight years old, and I'm fifty-three. You do the math, girls.

Ginger gulped.

See you Sunday, Rox! Josie called out as Roxanne turned to go.

See you guys Sunday, Roxie said, not looking back.

Ginger knew exactly what she was looking for. She even knew in which large green plastic storage tub it was buried and in which section of the attic. Of course she hadn't labeled and alphabetized the contents of her storage areasthat would have been neuroticbut Ginger was no slouch when it came to household organization.

That one, she said to Josh, pointing to a top shelf. Can you grab it for me?

Joshua reached high and pulled it down from a shelf against the eaves. Where's it going? he asked, carrying the container across the wood plank floor.

My room. On the floor by the bed would be great.

What's in here, anyway? Josh headed down the steep, narrow attic stairs.

Ginger followed him. Just a bunch of Grams's old clothes. Stuff from her Hollywood days.

Cool. Can I see it?

Her son's interest in fashion made her smile. She wondered if it would be possible for Josh to be both the leader of the free world as well as a personal shopper.

Sure.

Josh let the box drop to the floor of Ginger's room, then bent to pry open the lid. What are you looking for, Mom?

Well Ginger laughed a little to herself, knowing that once she told Josh what she was up to, she'd never hear the end of it from her boys. Grams's old bikini, you know, from her beach-blanket B-movie days.

Josh narrowed his eyes.

And there's a big floppy sun hat in there, and some big white sunglasses.

You going on vacation?

Ginger laughed loudly. No, sweetie. It's for my photo with HeatherLynn. Lucio and I thought it would be fun for me to pose like

Like Ginger from Gilligan's Island, he cut her off, smiling. That'll be awesome!

Yet again, her idea hadn't been a surprise. She was disappointed.

Mom, c'mon! It's a no-brainer, Josh said. What's HeatherLynn going to wear?

That was something Ginger hadn't yet figured out.

Wow! Josh tossed the lid aside and the clothes began flying out of the storage container, landing all over the floor. Josh threw the bikini pieces toward Ginger, then the sun hat and glasses. Eventually he pulled out what had piqued his interest. There's a cover-up! He held the blue tropical-print robe above his head. I can make HeatherLynn a little matching bikini with this!

He could? Ginger was baffled. You can do that?

Sure.

You know how to sew?

Sure, he said, shrugging. That's what I do on the costuming crew at school, Mom. I've been doing it for two years.

Her mouth opened. You have? Ginger suddenly felt guilty. She should have known this about her own kid! Why didn't you tell me? I thought you just helped with costume rental.

That, too, but I also make stuff. It's no big deal. He folded the fabric and shoved it under his arm. I'll work on it after school tomorrow. When's Lucio taking your picture?

She smiled involuntarily. Friday night.

I can do it by then, he said, bending down to place a kiss on her cheek.

Ginger brought her hand to her face in astonishment. Once her son, the designer, had left the room, her gaze fell to the pile of clothes on the floor, and she was hit by a stroke of genius.

Lucio! C'mon in!

The fact that Jason opened the door for him with such enthusiasm was Lucio's first surprise. The second came when he nearly tripped over a large green storage container in the middle of the foyer. The third surprise was how Josh enthusiastically volunteered to load the container in the car for Lucio, while Jason invited him to have a seat in the living room and relax. Mom will be just a minute, he said.

Lucio sat awkwardly on a chair, aware that things were stranger than usual in the Garrison habitat. Just then, HeatherLynn came careening around the corner from the dining room, headed right for Lucio. She stopped at his feet, placed her cute white paws on his knees, and wagged her feather-duster tail. He picked her up and she began licking his face.

Care for a cocktail? Jason asked. Martini? Whiskey sour? Gin and tonic?

Lucio tried to pry the dog off his face while scanning the room, half expecting to find video cameras trained on his every move. You know how to prepare cocktails?

Jason laughed. Not really. That's just what people are always saying in those old movies from the sixtiesyou know, ‘Would you care for a drink?' He laughed some more.

Ah. Lucio nodded, as if he now understood everything.

Josh returned to the living room and sat next to his brother on the sofa. It was the first time Lucio had seen them at ease, relatively still, so close to each other. They were identical twins, yes, but they were not identical human beings. Jason's left eye sat just slightly lower than his right, while Josh's were more symmetrical and closer-set. When Josh smiled his lips went decidedly crooked, while Jason's were straight. Jason seemed a little more muscular than Josh, and Josh was probably about a half inch taller than his brother. They were Larry Garrison redux, only with a more delicately shaped nose that they'd inherited from their mother. They were handsome young men.

And at that particular moment, both looked as if they were ready to bust out laughing.

What's going on, gentlemen? Lucio asked. What's the big secret?

Josh punched Jason in the leg. You told him Mom has a secret?

No, piss-face! I didn't say anything! He punched Josh back, harder.

Lucio laughed a little, still wrangling HeatherLynn. He hadn't had the burdenor the pleasureof growing up with a sibling. He could not imagine what life was like for Genevieve's two boys, who faced the world every day as a team.

Then why did he ask what the secret was? Josh yelled.

I don't know! Jason yelled back.