Breaking Ties: An Ensemble Story (Read 240,937 times)

[André DiMera]

Whoever that message is from, I hope they don’t try to disrupt the memorial. Hannah and Julie’s relationship is great!

Wonder how Mike will respond to all that.

Glad Harlow is watching Mariposa during the memorial. Wonder what’s wrong with Mackenzie.

Great chapter, heroicmuse!

[Kpatch]

I'm glad Jeremy can still talk to Mike about his problems. I hope Stephanie shows decorum. It's tough because they are going to run into each other at times like these.

[heroicmuse]

Week 489 - 4

The garden at the church had been set up for Doug’s memorial. There were rows of white chairs for the guests and at the front, there was a table with a big photo of Doug on it. Eric was standing near the front as well, with a microphone clipped to his lapel.

“Testing, one two,” he said into it. Father Louis was standing near the back of the garden and gave him a thumbs up to let him know the sound was working properly.

Julie came in with David, Valerie,Hannah, and Kenneth. Her face trembled as her eyes lit on the photo of Doug.

“You all right, Grandma?” Hannah said, putting her arm around Julie and helping her to her seat.

“Fine, darling.” Julie gave her a watery smile. “Seeing him larger than life like that got to me, that’s all. He was so full of life and seeing him there and knowing I”ll never see that beautiful smile again in this world…”

Hannah squeezed her hand as Hope came up to them with Aiden, Ciara, and Chase. “Mind if I sit with you?” Hope asked Julie.

“What kind of question is that?” Julie said. “Of course I want you to sit here.”

Hope hugged Julie. “Even after all this time, I can’t believe that Daddy is gone.”

Hannah whispered to Kenneth, “You don’t see Abe around here anywhere, do you? I need to talk to him a sec.”

Kenneth frowned. “He’ll be here.” He patted Hannah’s knee. “What’s the big emergency?”

Hannah sighed deeply. She took out her phone and shielded it with her hand so that no one else would see. “This,” she said quietly. “Nat’s up to her old tricks and it’s making me too nervous to focus when this is supposed to be a day for remembering Grandpa Doug.”

Kenneth’s jaw tightened as he read the message. “One good thing,” he said under his breath. “If she’s giving you til tomorrow to give in, she’s not planning on doing anything to you today. So I say, forget about this for now. She wants you on edge and not able to say goodbye properly, so don’t give her that.”

“I guess.” Hannah put the phone back in her purse.

“What are you two whispering about?” Valerie asked.

“Nothing,” Hannah said. “Kenneth was just reminding me to put my phone on silent.” She swallowed hard. She hated lying to her mom and hadn’t done it since the days when she was hanging with Nat full-time and driving around to get her drugs. She bet Valerie didn’t believe her either.

“We should all do that,” Valerie agreed, and took out her phone to check it.

Meanwhile, Jeremy came in with Mike and Chanel, and Jennifer, Daniel, Abigail, JJ, and Paige followed behind them.

“It was really sweet of you to come with me today,” Jeremy said to Chanel. “You didn’t have to.”

Chanel shrugged. “I wanted to support you. Besides, Mr. WIlliams sounds like the kind of man I wish I’d known. He probably would have been nice to me even though I have a past.”

“Course he would,” Jeremy said. “He was to me, too.” His eyes narrowed as Stephanie and her family sat down on the eg of a row. “Um… I think we’d better move one back.”

“Why?” Jennifer said. Jeremy gestured and she said, “Oh.” They all sat down in the row behind Steve and Kayla and Stephanie. Stephanie’s eyes darted toward them, then away.

“This is ridiculous,” Mike said. “It’s a funeral, for God’s sake, and Jeremy has as much right to be here as she does.”

“I agree,” Jennifer said. “I’d hoped Kayla would talk some sense into her, but she said the only way she’d ever get involved is if JJ came to her about the earful Stephanie gave him himself.”

“Some sister-in-law she turned out to be,” Mike said, annoyed.

“Dad, don’t,” Jeremy said. “She’s got every reason to be mad at me. Besides, I don’t want a scene at the funeral.”

“Yeah,” Chanel said. “He has me, she’s irrelevant.” She took Jeremy’s hand.

“I appreciate that,” Mike said. “And no, I’m not going to make a scene at the funeral. But if she starts something at the wake that’s another story.”

Abe and Theo came in with Nan, Malcolm, and Vicki. Nan waved to Chanel as they passed.

“Wait,” Jeremy whispered to Chanel. “Mrs. Hansen from the GED is your mom?”

“I thought you knew that,” Chanel whispered back. “This bitch tried to claim she helped me cheat when I passed with flying colors, remember?”


“I knew about that, just not that she was your mom. That’s cool. She always seemed nice.”

“She is.” Chanel sighed. “I just wish I’d known her all my life and never got involved with certain other people.”

Jeremy patted her hand.

Hannah whispered to Valerie, “I’m going to go say hi to Abe. Save my seat.”

“WHy don’t you leave your purse on it?” Valerie asked. “We’re not going to let anyone take it.”

But Hannah had already hurried over to Abe, who was saying to Theo, “An adult will sit between you and Vicki. This is not an occasion where we want to risk any inappropriate behavior.”

Theo scolwed. “We’re sixteen, Dad. We’re practically adults ourselves.”

“Even so,” Abe said, “Vicki’s mother and I would both be more comfortable with this seating arrangement, so that’s the way it has to be.”

Hannah came up to them. “Excuse me,” she said. “I don’t want to interrupt but I need to talk to you a minute.” She mouthed, “Threatened.”

Abe’s jaw tightened. “I will be back in one second,” he told Theo. “Do not attempt to change the seating arrangement.”

Abe and Hannah went over to an empty corner and Hannah showed him the text from Nat while Valerie, watching from her seat, said to herself, “Now what is that all about?”

As Abe patted Hannah’s shoulder, Eric said into the microphone, “If everyone could please take their seats, we will begin momentarily.”

Hannah hurried back to her seat. Valerie gave her a narrow-eyed look like she wanted to ask her what was going on.

[André DiMera]

I hope Kenneth’s right and nothing happens at the memorial. Nice of him to reassure Hannah, all the same.

Hope no one starts a scene because of Jeremy’s past.

So glad Hannah got to show the message to Abe.

Can’t wait for the memorial to properly begin!

Great chapter, heroicmuse!

[Kpatch]

I'm glad Hannah talked to Abe.

It's natural for Mike to feel protective of Jeremy, but Kayla was right not to continue to encourage third-parties to intervene.

[heroicmuse]

Week 489 - 5

“Everything okay?” Kenneth whispered to Hannah as she slid back into her seat.

Hannah nodded. “Abe’s taking care of it.”

“Taking care of what?” Valerie asked, but Hannah turned toward the front and pretended not to have heard.

Valerie said to David under her breath, “Do you have any idea what’s going on with our daughter?”

“Not any more than usual, which is to say, no clue,” David whispered back.

Eric began the service just then. “Thank you all for coming to honor the life of Doug Williams. This is a sad day for all of us who loved him, and though it is small comfort to those of us who are left behind, Doug is now with God up in heaven, free from all pain and suffering and playing the music he loved so much in this life.” Eric bowed his head. “Let us begin with a prayer.” He closed his eyes and said, “Almighty God, please grant us peace. Let those who are heartbroken find solace and comfort in Your love as we mourn the transition of Doug Williams from this world to Your kingdom. We humbly ask that You turn the darkness and grief of his passing into the joy and love of knowing that he is in Your kingdom and that our memories of him on this day ease our sorrow and bring his family together as one, celebrating his life even as we mourn his death and trusting that we will one day be reunited with him and with You in the world to come. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, let us say Amen.”

Everyone repeated Amen. Many of Doug’s family were already blinking back tears. Hannah reached for Julie’s hand as Julie dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief.

Eric said, “In honor of Doug’s passing, I have asked some of his friends and family to come up and share a reading from the Bible. Later in the service, we will have the opportunity to remember in our own words what Doug meant to us, but first let us hear the words our Lord has provided for our comfort. Could Doug’s wife Julie, his stepson David and David’s wife Valerie, his adopted son Rory, and his granddaughter Hannah please come forward?”

Hannah and Valerie helped Julie get up. They put their arms around her and David and Rory put their hands on her shoulders as they came forward.

Rory whispered to Hannah, “I-if I can’t read it good, help me out.”

“Course,” Hannah whispered back. “But you can do it. Just think of how proud you’ll make Doug today.”

Rory’s face trembled but he said nothing.
The group passed the Bible from one to another, with each person saying one line. Julie went first.

The souls of the just are in the hand of God…

Then David and Valerie read together:

and no torment shall touch them.

Hannah read three lines, as Eric had worked out with her so that Rory wouldn’t have a big part:
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;
and their passing away was thought an affliction
and their going forth from us, utter destruction.

And last, Rory read, slowly, unsure of himself:
But they are at peace.

Eric thanked them. Everyone sat down except for Hannah, as she was singing a hymn in response to the reading, and JJ came up and joined her. They sang:

The Lord is my light and my salvation…
Of whom shall I be afraid?

"Psalm 27: The Lord Is My Light" (Haas)-Funeral Psalm-Jerry E. Pott

When they were done, JJ gave Hannah a comforting hug before she sat down. He stayed where he was and Jennifer, Hope, and Aiden came to join him for the second reading, from the New Testament, which all of them were doing.

Jennifer and Hope put their arms around JJ while they all read from the New Testament:
We know that we have passed from death to life
because we love our brothers…

After their reading there were several more prayers… and Eric prepared everyone for communion… and after that, it was time for the eulogies.

Eric called Julie up first. She came up slowly and smiled sadly at everyone.

“Well,” she said. “I don’t know how I can put into words what Doug meant to me or how much I miss him. You all knew Doug. You knew how gentle and kind he was, how much he loved music, how much he loved me. If I rehashed our whole relationship, there wouldn’t be a dry eye in the house, least of all mine. But I’m not going to do that. I am just going to say that as strange as it sounds, I’m grateful that he met Bill back in that jail cell long, long ago, because without that he wouldn’t have come to Salem and without him trying to pretend to fall in love with me he wouldn’t have done it for real and… well, you know the rest.

“I was blessed to be married to Doug for 50 years. He was there for me through happy times and sad. When my grandparents passed away, he was the shoulder I cried on. Now he’s gone and he has left so much empty space behind…” Julie’s voice shook. “I know that he’s in heaven now. And I know he lived a good life here on Earth. But Doug, if you can hear me up there, I just want you to know that 50 years wasn’t nearly enough. I’d have given anything for another 50, 100, 200. Well… almost anything. Not my soul even though it feels torn in half without him here. He wouldn’t want us to be sad or to cry but I can’t help it. I miss him that much.” Julie’s voice shook again and she left the podium and went slowly back to her seat.

Rory stood and said, “I recorded something before but I guess it can be part of the memorial video that Hannah’s putting together cause I got this feeling Doug would want me to be brave enough to say something.”

“You sure?” JJ asked him. “It’s cool if they play the video.”

“Positive,” Rory said. “Doug’s like, sitting on my shoulder or whatever whispering in my ear to go up there and speak.”

“Go ahead, Rory,” Eric said softly.

Rory came up to the front. He stood there, staring at the audience, for so long that Julie started to get up to rescue him. Then he said, slowly, “Doug, he um, he gave me a reboot. I know that sounds dumb but it’s the only way I can put it. See, when he and Julie found me, I was in bad shape. I was half dead and um, my brother had died, and I didn’t care if I joined him or not. All I knew was I couldn’t smoke weed anymore but I didn’t know how I’d pull it off.” Rory’s cheeks went red and he hoped people weren’t judging him. “But Doug, he um, he thought I was more than that. Julie too but Doug’s the one I’m remembering cause hopefully Julie’s not going anywhere for a while. Besides, sometimes she’d get kind of bossy and Doug would talk her into relaxing.” Everyone laughed, but Rory looked away from Julie, hoping she wasn’t mad. “Doug was the first guy ever to really believe in me. At first I was scared he’d think adopting me was a mistake, but far as I know that never happened. He was real patient with me and he got me books that were written in like baby language but for adults so I could practice my reading and he got me workbooks too and he told me I had this thing called dys… um dyslexia and that it wasn’t my fault I got to be as big was I was without ever learning to read. I still don’t read that good but what little bit I can do is cause of Doug. H-he changed my life in so many ways a-and I just hope I always make him proud. But one thing’s for sure, I’m never gonna forget him or what he did for me, not even if I get to live as long as he did.” Rory blinked back tears. He turned toward the photo of Doug and said, “I’m gonna miss you, dude.” His voice broke and his shoulders shook. He looked at the photo of Doug for a minute before he sat back down.

Julie put her arm around Rory. She whispered, “Doug’s not the only one who loved you. Don’t forget we’re all here for you.”

Eric called everyone up one by one who wanted to speak.

Hannah said, “I’ll never forget the way he stood up to those people who hated him having a Black granddaughter.”

JJ said, “I teased him a lot about wanting to play slow music but I’d give anything for one more song with him.”

Hope said, “He was the best father anyone could ever ask for.”

Ciara said, “I’m like Rory. I hope I make Grandpa proud up there in Heaven.”

Shawn said, “I’m honored my middle name’s after Doug. I’ve always tried to live up to it and doubly so now.”

Eric announced that there was a video camera set up in a booth for anyone who wanted to record something privately. “My understanding is that Doug’s granddaughter is going to put all of our memories together to make a short film so that we will always remember him.” Then he said, “And now, one final prayer for Doug’s soul.” He bowed his head and said, “Heavenly Father, as You can see, the outpouring of love for Your servant Doug Williams is great and so is our grief. Bring us comfort in this time of heartache and please allow Doug’s soul to rest with you in eternity in Heaven. Protect him from all evil as he makes this transition to the next world and let our grief be eased by the knowledge that he is safe and happy and by Your side.”

Everyone said Amen. They all looked at the big photo of Doug and as he stared at it, JJ could almost swear that it winked at him.

[Kpatch]

Very emotional excerpts. I'm so glad Rory found the courage to speak in public. Doug would have been proud.

[André DiMera]

Hopefully Hannah will tell her parents what’s going on later.

The readings and prayers were great!

All of the eulogies were so poignant, especially Julie and Rory’s. This was a beautiful memorial!

Can we please have previews, @heroicmmuse?

[krw627]

Very toughing tribute to Doug.

[heroicmuse]

Thank you André DiMera, Kpatch, and krw627 for your comments this week!

Doug's tribute was hard to write but it came out beautifully. I'm glad everyone enjoyed it. Next week, back to some drama. Read on for spoilers...

Coming Up on Breaking Ties...
After the memorial, people stand around talking before heading over to Julie's for the wake, but this turns out not to be such a great idea. For one thing, Valerie wants to know what Hannah and Abe were whispering about earlier, and Chanel overhears that there are threats against her. Nan is desperate to save her daughter too, and she and Valerie bond over their fears for their children because of Nat, but Nan has a suggestion that Valerie and Hannah may not like.

Meanwhile, Stephanie, Steve, and Kayla take advantage of Jeremy being across the way with Chanel to say hi to Jennifer and her family. JJ has some choice words for Steve, while Stephanie has things to say about the family's support for Jeremy. Kayla thinks Stephanie has gone too far, while Daniel tries to encourage her to let go of the anger for her own sake. But will the conflict get worse when everyone heads to the wake?

Elsewhere in Salem, an old friend of Dani's could get her into the kind of trouble she doesn't want or need, especially with Joy patrolling the campus, and Mr. Woods tries to help Ruby adjust to school.

All this and more on this week's Breaking Ties!

[André DiMera]

Wonder what Nan’s suggestion is. The memorial was nice. Hopefully the wake will be, too, despite the concern caused by Nat.

It’s understandable that Stephanie is still upset all these years later, but Doug’s wake really isn’t the time for this.

Wonder what this friend of Dani’s wants. Hope Ruby adjusts to school okay.

Thanks for the previews, heroicmuse!

[heroicmuse]

Week 490 - 1
Harlow sighed deeply as she put the phone down on a table so she would have her hands free. “Do you want me to put the baby in her room so you can talk freely?”

“That probably would be best,” Mackenzie said, sniffing. “I… my heart’s broken and it’s a complic ated situation.”

“Give me one moment, then,” Harlow said. She picked Mariposa up and said, “Say bye bye to Auntie Mackenzie.”

“No bye bye,” Mari said, her face crumpling.

“I’ll talk to you another time,” Mackenzie promised, smiling through her tears. “You get in a good lie-down, yeah? Wake up well-rested and ready to take on the world?” She added under her breath, “I wish I could have one too.”

Mari put two fingers in her mouth. Harlow said, “Come on, Mariposa. Let’s check your nappie one last time before bed.” She added to Mackenzie, “Be right back.”

A few minutes later, Harlow came back and said, “I’m sorry that took so long. Mariposa’s never been good at getting to bed when she’s meant to.”

Mackenzie shrugged. “You have responsibilities. I understand.”

“So,” Harlow said, “what’s the story?”

Mackenzie bit her lip. “I don’t know where to begin, honestly. After you went to America, I met this guy Haz and we became housemates.”

“Housemates, eh?” Harlow said.

“Well… I would have wanted more but, um… I wasn’t about to ruin a friendship over it. You remember Holly Hoyland? She’s back in town and she likes him too and we made a pact that neither of us would go past friendship. Only apparently not everyone thinks it’s important to keep their word.” Mackenzie’s voice shook. “Holly left her laptop at ours and I wasn’t trying to spy on her private communications, but I saw the screen and she’s an email from Haz about how he hates keeping secrets from me but that it’s for the best because he’s afraid I’d never speak to him again if I knew the truth. So that can only mean one thing. My best friend stole the guy I like right out from under my nose and they’re carrying on an affair behind my back.”


After the funeral, people stood around talking while others went into the booth to record memories of Doug.
Jeremy glanced over his shoulder at Stephanie, who was standing on the other side of the garden talking with Eric. “She’d better not be telling Eric how horrible I am,” he said under his breath. “That’s my shrink, she has no right…”

“He’s her cousin, sweetheart,” Jennifer said. “He’s probably checking on how she’s feeling. Kayla did tell me it’s hard for Stephanie to be out and about because of…”

“Cause of what I did to her.” Jeremy’s voice was flat.

Mike squeezed his shoulder. “Hey. We got through the memorial without any unnecessary drama, so let’s take the win.” He nodded at Jennifer. “I understand Julie’s having the wake at her house this afternoon. Do you think we should head over and see what help she needs setting up?”

“That sounds like an excellent idea,” Jennifer said. “I know Aunt Maggie is bringing food over, so let’s check with her to see if she needs help transporting it.” She smiled at Chanel. “You’re welcome to come too if you’d like.”

Chanel swallowed hard. “Oh. I don’t want to intrude when I’m not really family.” She twisted her bracelet. “I think I’m going to check in with my mom and see if she’s going to the wake, if that’s okay.”

“Can I come with you?” Jeremy asked. He put his arm around Chanel. “I mean, I get it if you just want alone time with your family, but I like having you by my side.”

Chanel hesitated. “I could use the company, though I have to warn you, my sister’s gonna ask a lot of questions. I know cause she asked me about a hundred of them before Mrs. Hansen -- I mean my mom -- made her stop putting me on the spot.”

“Better that than standing here risking the look of death from certain people,” Jeremy said. “We’ll meet you at Julie’s, Dad.”

“Don’t be too long,” Mike said. He patted Jeremy’s shoulder.

Jeremy and Chanel walked across the grass, holding hands. Jennifer said to Mike, “He’s doing so well, and that girl seems nice.”

Mike nodded. “They both want a second chance in life. I just hope…” He sighed. “Never mind. Jeremy told me something in confidence and here I went almost blabbing it.”

“That’s easy to do around here,” Daniel said. “But whatever it is you’re worrying about, Mike, Jeremy, he’s doing great. I admit I had my suspicions when he first came to Salem. I didn’t want him taking advantage of your sister, especially when he introduced himself by rustling the bushes instead of ringing the doorbell. But now I gotta say, he’s done a real 180 and you have every reason to be proud.”

“I appreciate that,” Mike said cautiously. “It would be nice if certain others would see it too.” He nodded in Steve and Stephanie’s direction.

“They’ll come around,” Daniel said. “If I can do it, so can they.”

“I hope so,” Mike said, “and I really hope it’s before they push Jeremy in the wrong direction with their nonsense.” He sighed deeply.


Vicki had her arms crossed and was glaring at her mother. Nan said, “Vicki. I don’t want to hear another word about how upset you are that Abe and I didn’t let you children sit together. This event was not about you and Theo. It was about paying our respects to the memory of the man who passed away. Come on, now, autism or no autism, you can understand that.”

“You too,” Abe said to Theo, who was standing around with his hands scrunched in his pockets. “There’s no reason to be sulking and slouching.”

“There was also no reason to separate me and Vicki during the service,” Theo said, “but that didn’t stop you from doing it anyway.”

“Stop it,” Abe said firmly. “Vicki’s mother is correct. We are here to pay our respects to Doug. Now does either of you want to film a memory of him, or should we head to Julie’s for the wake?”

“Not so fast,” Valerie said, coming over to them. “I saw you and my daughter having a whispered conversation before the service began and I want to know what’s going on. Is that horrible Nat threatening her again?”

Abe hesitated, then nodded slightly. He didn’t see Chanel and Jeremy coming up to them as he said, quietly, “I can’t say too much. I promised Hannah I wouldn’t. But what I will say is that we are aware that Natalie Simmons is determined to stop her and Chanel from testifying at her trial and that we are doing everything we can to keep both girls safe.”

Chanel’s eyes widened and she leaned her head on Jeremy’s shoulder, scared, while Nan gasped and put her hands to her mouth.

[André DiMera]

While I wouldn’t be surprised if Holly was doing that, Mackenzie might be jumping to conclusions (maybe). Glad Harlow’s there for her, either way.

The wake should be nice. Glad Jeremy wants to meet Chanel’s family. Makes sense that Mike is still concerned, though.

Glad Abe told Valerie what he could.

Great chapter, heroicmuse!

[Kpatch]

Abe, big mouth!

I've never been to a funeral where you record memories then and there but it's a nice idea.

[heroicmuse]

Week 490 - 2
“You’d better have this under control!” Nan said. “I didn’t finally get my daughter back for some two-bit crook to take her from us again. Now, are you absolutely sure you can protect her?”

“I don’t see how he can answer that,” Theo said. “There are no guarantees in police work even for top professionals like my father.”

Nan gasped. Abe held his hand up and said, “Theo, that is not helpful.” He turned toward Nan. “We are doing everything we can to protect her. I have my best tech officers looking at the messages that have been sent to try to pinpoint Nat’s location and I have other officers discreetly following both Hannah and Chanel. No one is going to get hurt, and that’s a promise.”

“Hold on, hold on,” Valerie said. “What exactly is the threat against my daughter?”

“It’s nothing specific,” Abe said, “and for all we know it’s empty words. Hannah has received a few texts and voicemails saying that if she testifies, she’s going to be sorry.”

Valerie’s eyes flashed. “Excuse my French, but damn that Natalie. As a doctor, I’m not supposed to wish for anyone’s death, but as a mother, as a human being… I’m not sorry that Marcel got shot in the back and I won’t shed a tear of something happens to Natalie too.”

Chanel’s cheeks darkened and she wondered what everyone would say, including her mother, if they knew she was the one responsible for Marcel getting shot.

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Nan said, “and not because I care about that poor excuse for a woman who is messing with our children. Uh uh. My boy almost went to jail for something he didn’t do behind Marcel Simmons’ murder and I don’t want to see any of my children go through that again.” She turned toward Abe. “Are you sure that it’s a good idea for Chanel to testify?”

“I don’t have a choice,” Chanel said, forgetting for a second how desperate she was to keep her past hidden. “I-I did some things in the past for Nat and the only reason I’m not behind bars for them is cause I agreed to testify.”

Nan looked her up and down and Chanel wondered if she knew. “I don’t want to know what you did,” Nan said at last. “Whatever it was, I’m sure it wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t been taken from me at birth and treated like yesterday’s trash. I’m just sorry you’re in this position, baby girl.”

Chanel swallowed hard. “I did it to myself,” she said. “But once I get past this stupid trial and Nat goes to jail, I can put it all behind me and move on. I got my GED now and everything, all I need is to figure out what it is I want to do for a job.” She leaned on Jeremy.

Jeremy hugged her. “Maybe I shouldn’t let her out of my sight til this is over,” he said. “Nat wouldn’t hurt her if there were witnesses, right?”
“That’s not your responsibility to do,” Nan said. “If it’s anyone’s, it’s mine.”

“I beg to differ,” Abe said. “As the police commissioner it’s my job to keep everyone safe, including Chanel.”

“And Hannah,” Valerie interjected.

“Of course.” Abe’s phone rang. “I need to take this,” he said, “and then Theo and I need to get to the wake.” He walked off.

Nan said to Valerie, “Is your girl under a court order to testify too?”

“No, thank God. She’s finished with jail and probation and the rest of it, and has been for some time.”

“That’s good,” Nan said. She sighed. “I hate to say it, but since your baby has the option to get out of this, maybe she should. Chanel has no choice but to speak up against this Natalie person but your Hannah can back out of the whole thing. If I were her mama, that’s what I’d be encouraging her to do for her own safety.”

Valerie’s eyes narrowed while she thought about it.


Steve, Kayla, and Stephanie came up to Jennifer, Daniel, JJ, Paige, and Mike. “We thought while certain people weren’t here was a good time to say hello,” Steve said.

“You mean you’re not here to give me anothe lecture about how I shouldn’t have anything to do with my cousin?” JJ said.

Paige put her hand on his shoulder. “JJ. We’re at a funeral.”

“I know where we are,” JJ said. “I also know that the same dude that I looked up to most of my life thinks that Jeremy’s not good enough for the second chance that I got and he got.” He shook his head. “Gotta be something in the Johnson family genes,” he said. “First my dad, now you. Every time I think one of you guys is worth admiring, you turn out to be a big disappointment.” He turned and walked away.

“JJ!” Jennifer said.

“Let him cool off,” Daniel said. “He’s not a teenager anymore, Jennifer. He’s close to thirty. He can handle himself and what he can’t handle, Paige can.”

“Speaking of which, I’m going to go check on him,” Paige said, and went in the same direction JJ had.
There was an awkward silence and then Kayla said, “Well, we’re going to go see if Maggie needs help with the food so…”

“Kayla, wait,” Jennifer said. “You’ve been not only my sister-in-law but my friend for a long time. I’d hate for this to get in between us.”

“So would I,” Kayla said, “which is why I’m not going to. But right now, we need to get going.” She turned to walk away.

Steve said to Stephanie, “You heard the boss lady. Let’s go.”

“In a second,” Stephanie said. She locked eyes with Jennifer. “I want these two to look me in the eye and tell me they honestly believe Jeremy isn’t going to do to anyone else what he tried to do to me. If they can, I’ll let this go. If they can’t, and I’d bet almost anything they won’t be able to, then they’re going to have to give me a very good explanation why they continue to house and feed him.”