After the movers had gone away, Stephanie called her friends, Ann and Jackie, she called Ann's phone number knowing for sure that she would either she would answer or Jackie would.
"Hi Steph!" Ann and Jackie both said at the same time. "Oh, what a surprise you two are hanging out together." Steph said sarcastically. "It's summertime Steph, you know Jackie and I have to have some time together." Ann said.
"I'm aware, anyway, I just got moved in and I think I'm officially crushing on someone." Steph hinted. "Oh, tell us all about it." Jackie insisted. "Well, he's going to be a junior next year and I think he's both black and Mexican." Steph said. "Is he the one outside with the guitar?" Ann asked.
"Wait...how did you know he has a guitar?" Steph asked as she suddenly heard a honking noise from behind her. She was startled to see her two adult friends pulling up behind her Mercedes.
"Ann, Jackie, it's great to see you two." Steph said giving the two of them a hug. Stephanie then noticed a couple of suitcases in the back of Ann's car.
"What's....with the suitcases?" Steph asked. Ann and Jackie looked at each other then back at Stephanie.
"We'll tell you inside." Ann said.
The inside of the house Stephanie had gotten was pretty large, it had three bedrooms, and two baths and the previous owner had taken great care to update it to the 21st century so nothing looked like it was from over thirty years ago. Stephanie had been ready to have an entire house to herself, then a massive ball was dropped on her.
"Like hell you are!" Stephanie shouted at Ann and Jackie as she sat in a chair across from them while they sat on the couch.
"Steph, believe us, we talked about this with each other, but we came to the conclusion that this was the most logical solution." Jackie said.
"Yes, but the house is in my name. I can cover for it just fine." Steph argued.
"And what will your neighbors think when they see an ordinary sixteen year-old girl all alone in a house?" Ann rhetorically asked her.
"I'll just tell them my parents are out of town or something. I don't see why you two have to pose as my parents?" Steph argued again.
"Stephanie, I know this situation you're in now isn't easy and I tried my damnedest to find a way to get you back to your normal age, but I wanted to help you in the best possible way I can. Ann and I have talked about it and we thought this was a sound idea." Jackie explained.
"But what about your company Ann?"
"Oh, don't worry about that, I can run most of my business from home. Besides, Megan's come really far in the company now. Ever since her marriage, she's been a real go-getter. She'll run some stuff from the office while I run things from home." Ann explained.
"Well, what about you? I heard you were going to Cornell now." Stephanie said.
"I am, but....I wanted to be here for my friend. So during the seasonal breaks from university, I'll be back here to help run things. Ann will handle the business side, while I handle the home economic side like groceries, cleaning, yard work. I know she'll love seeing me mow the grass and cooling myself off with water in the heat." Jackie joked.
"Whoa, easy there darling, you're going to make me sweat." Ann said.
"But....but....why? You guys are just going to....embarrass me." Stephanie said in a slump.
"She's our daughter." Ann and Jackie both said at the same time.
"That's another thing, what are we called anyway, I know you two aren't married....yet."
"Lots of people aren't, but our story will be that Jackie and I adopted you a few years ago, when you were 14. You decided to keep your name and we've had a wonderful three years raising you." Ann explained.
Stephanie knew she would have a hard time explaining her missing parents, so this helped, she was grateful for Ann and Jackie being there for her. Life had been crazy since she found out about magic, now she had to relieve high school.
"Okay, 'Moms', so I guess you two are Mrs. and Mrs. O'Toole, or Mrs. and Mrs. Kirkman?"
"We're the O'Toole-Kirkman's. We couldn't really decide on which we liked, so we just went with both." Jackie said.
"Now, I think we should go say hello to our neighbors, the...Desotos? Sounds Spanish, I'm sure the dad looks sexy." Ann teased as Jackie laughed.
"What?! No, come on, why do you guys have to meet him too?" Stephanie asked embarrassed.
"Because we're your moms." Ann and Jackie both said with a smirk.
Stephanie groaned at this, she had a good house, a good car, now she was going to have embarrassing parents to boot.