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    Abby said, “Just wait ‘till you fall in love. You won’t believe how much you’ll enjoy kissing then.”
    “Have you ever been in love?”
    Abby's shoulders dropped three inches. “I still am.”
    This was news. “Who are you in love with?”
    “The boys’ daddy.”
    Channie had always assumed the rascal was nothing but a passing fling since Abby didn’t even try to get him to marry her.  
    “Why didn’t you name the fella? Daddy would have made darn sure he stepped up and did you right by you.”
    “Are you serious? Daddy would’a killed him.”
    “Not if he agreed to marry you.”  
    “He’s magically disabled, Channie. How many times do I have to say it before somebody believes me?”
    “The trips don’t act like Halfies.”
    “You ever met any Halfies ?” Abby narrowed her eyes when she repeated the derogatory term for mixed-blood people.
    “No, but everybody says—”  
    “Magically disabled blood does not dilute power. My babies are proof enough of that. Besides, I got no reason to lie about it. You know how folks look down on mixed-blood people. Why would I want to burden the boys with that kind of prejudice if it weren’t the truth?”
    “Well then, how come you didn’t lie about it the other way. You could have said their daddy was a mage instead of an Empty.“
    “If I would’a done that, Daddy never would have stopped tormenting me about who it was until I told him another lie and named some poor mage. And then I would’ve had to marry him. And please quit calling the trip’s daddy an Empty. If you’re too lazy to say ‘magically disabled,’ call him an MD.”
    “Sorry, it’s just a habit. I meant no offense. How did you meet him?”
      “Me and Momma had gone into town. I smarted off about something and pissed her off. You know how she is. She made me sit in the bus while she went in to Wal-Mart. It got so damn hot, even with the doors open, I thought I was gonna die. I knew better than to go inside where it was air-conditioned after Momma told me to wait in the bus, so I went around to the north side of the building to get out of the sun and found a couple of boys leaning against the wall.”
    Abby got a faraway, dreamy look in her eyes. “They worked at the McDonald’s next to Walmart and were on their lunch break. We started talking and one thing led to another and Diego … I mean … oh crap …”
    Abby pressed her fist to her mouth and closed her eyes.
    Channie reached out and touched her elbow.  
    “It’s okay, Abby. I won’t tell anyone. I promise.”
    “I can’t believe I said his name. Five years and I ain’t never said his name in front of nobody. What the hell’s wrong with me?”
    Channie waited a few minutes for Abby to calm down then said, “It’s an interesting name.”  
    “It’s Spanish.”  
    That explained the trips’ exotic good looks and dark coloring.
    Abby said, “Not much chance of you forgetting a name like that, huh?”
    “No, but I already promised I wouldn’t tell anyone so quit worrying about it. What happened next?“
    “He bought me a Coke-a-Cola.”
    “Come on, Abby. You know what I mean. How’d you and Diego fall in love?” Channie had experienced an intense crush or two, but she’d never been in love.  
    Abby said, “I didn’t want to get caught talking to boys, so I went back to the bus as soon as I finished my drink, even though it was hotter than the gates of hell, and waited for Momma. I didn’t think I’d ever see Diego again, but the very next time we went to Walmart — there he was. I intentionally pissed Momma off so she’d send me back to the bus. As soon as I walked outside, Diego invited me to go to McDonald’s.”
    “Wow. What’d he say when you told him you didn’t have any money?”
    “He acted all insulted and said he’d never ask a girl out on a date and then expect her to pay.”
    “So, what’d you get?” Channie had never eaten at a restaurant before.
    “Cheeseburger,