Breaking Ties: An Ensemble Story (Read 251,577 times)

[Kpatch]

I'm worried about little Charley. I think her fear is understandable. She's never been away from her parents before. Not sure how many weeks. I really hope the other kids don't tease or bully her. She may have heard that her mother lived in orphanages and is afraid her parents will leave her forever. They need to talk to her and find out what her deep down fears are.

Thanks for the previews.

[André DiMera]

Hopefully the judge won’t allow whatever Nat wants. Can’t wait for Hannah’s testimony.

Glad Chanel and Jeremy are there for each other.

Hope camp goes well for the kids! Wonder what Rory’s offer is.

Thanks for the previews, heroicmuse!

[heroicmuse]

Week 501 - 1
Chanel paced back and forth in the bedroom she and Jeremy had been assigned. “I’m next up. Okay. I can do this. She’s not going to see anything except a video screen she can’t get to.”

“Yep,” Jeremy said. He patted the bed. “Here. Let me help you relax.”

“Jeremy!” Chanel said. “I could be on any minute. I can’t…”

“I didn’t mean… that. Our first time isn’t gonna be while locked up in some isolated house so a crazy gang lady doesn’t get us,” Jeremy said. “I just wanted to hold you, that’s all.”

“Oh.” Chanel’s cheeks darkened. “Sorry. I guess I’m not used to a man wanting anything from me except sex.” She sank down onto the edge of the bed. “I know the DA prepped me but I can’t remember what she said… what if my sex life has to come into it? I slept with him, Jeremy. Marcel, I mean. I was fourteen and high and it seemed like a good idea.”

Jeremy scowled. “What he did to you is worse than what I did to Stephanie Johnson, and that’s saying a lot. You were a kid and he pumped drugs into you and then had his way with you. Asshole’s lucky he’s dead cause if he wasn’t…” He hit his palm with his fist.

“That’s not exactly comforting. I mean, I appreciate the sentiment, but…” Chanel bit her lip. “I don’t like to think about those days and this trial’s just bringing it all back.” She shook her head slightly. “Back then I couldn’t see a point to staying in school. I didn’t have a real home or anything and that’s how Marcel and Nat got me, cause they promised me everything I needed and didn’t tell me the price tag til it was too late. And all that time my real mom was living just over the city border crying her eyes out cause she thought I died when I was born. Pretty messed up, huh?”

“Yeah.” Jeremy squeezed her hand. “Did you ever find out who was responsible for that?”

“All I ever heard was it was a mistake. A mix up at the hospital that ruined my life.” Chanel let her breath out slowly. “Well, no use looking back, right?: She swallowed hard. “Which name do you like me by better? Chanel or Brianna?”

“Doesn’t matter to me. You’re beautiful no matter what name you go by.” Jeremy stroked Chanel’s hair. “Why? You thinking of changing your name?”

“Not changing. Restoring.” Chanel swallowed hard. “Brianna Hansen’s the name I was supposed to be born with, but instead I got renamed Chanel Dupree by a social worker who didn’t have enough creativity to come up with a real name instead of looking at the bottle of perfume in the bathroom. Besides, Chanel, she grew up to do some bad stuff, really bad stuff. In jail more often than out, in a gang, trading sex for drugs… I shot a man in the back to try to get my freedom and now I have to live with that the rest of my life. But Brianna Hansen’s the woman I was supposed to be s-so maybe if I change my name back I can actually be her.” She frowned. “I’m talking crazy, right?”

“No, I get it. You want to start over. Clean slate. And you have a chance to. I wish I had a middle name or something I could go by to do the same thing, cause Jeremy Horton’s the guy who almost drowned his ex-girlfriend when she wouldn’t give him what he wanted and punched a store manager over a $2 candy bar, and I want to get as far away as I can from that guy.”

“YOu can,” Chanel said. “I mean, you’re always going to be Jeremy to me, but the Jeremy I know is lightyears away from that guy and is the sweetest, kindest man in the world.”

“And the Chanel Dupree I know is an amazing woman with a big heart,” Jeremy said, “so…” He stroked Chanel’s hair and then they kissed.


Prescott slipped into his seat at the cafe, across from Dani and Alison.

“Thanks for meeting us here,” Alison said. “If people notice me going into the police station regularly, they’re going to wonder what the scoop is.”

“Yeah,” Dani added, “and no offense, but I’ve had enough of police stations to last a lifetime.”

“Totally get it,” Prescott said. “Course if people see a cop talking to two reporters they’re also gonna start wondering, but us having coffee this one time won’t make a difference.”

“I’m not a —” Dani began, but Alison elbowed her and said under her breath, “Go with it.” Aloud, Alison said, “So what have you got for us?”

“Not much,” Prescott said, “But I did wanna give you guys an update on where we’re at. I talked to my brother the other day.”

“And?”

Prescott sighed. “I hate to say it, but chances are he’s hiding something. He said all the right things but, I don’t know. I don’t buy that he doesn’t remember this case, and he promised three days ago to look into what happened to that tox screen and get back to me, but it’s been radio silence ever since.”

“Crap,” Alison said. “From one heartbroken sibling to another, I’m really sorry.”

“Yeah, don’t be.” Prescott leaned forward. “Look, Gerald’s my brother and I love him, and I don’t want him to get into trouble, but a dirty cop’s a dirty cop. We gotta get to the bottom of this and if my brother’s into something he shouldn’t be… I don’t want him shielded from consequences just cause his last name’s Prescott.” He slid a paper across the table. “This is the name and address of the precinct he works for. You wanna investigate him, be my guest. Just keep me in the loop cause as much as I want him out if he’s dirty, I also wanna know what’s what.”

[André DiMera]

I’m so glad Chanel and Jeremy are there for each other. It’d be interesting if Chanel did change her name to Brianna.

Glad Prescott told Dani and Alison what little he found out from his brother, and gave them his information.

Great chapter, heroicmuse!

[Kpatch]

Sweet talk between Jeremy and Chanel.

[heroicmuse]

Week 501 - 2
Marissa was the first to pull away.

Rory held his hands up. “Sorry if you didn’t want that. I didn’t mean…”

“It’s not that I don’t,” Marissa sniffed. “It’s that it feels too right and I don’t know if I have the energy for this right now.”

Rory sighed deeply. “I wish Doug was still here. He’d know what to tell me. BUt he isn’t so I guess I gotta guess.” He blinked back tears. “I’m still crazy about you even if it doesn’t seem like it and I still wanna have coffee with you.”

Marissa’s cheeks went red. “It’s not like I’m not crazy about you. It just isn’t fair, you know? My mom could need me, like really need me. And you were so hurt that I was spending a lot of time with her before so I just don’t see how this works. I-if she has cancer… I don’t know what she’ll need or how long she has so…”

“Doesn’t she have one of those fancy doctors that knows all the best things to do?” Rory shoved his hands in his pockets.

“Yeah, but cancer treatment is no joke. Plus, there’s insurance and stuff to deal with and she might not be up to dealing with it herself.”

“I could help,” Rory said. “Not with the forms and stuff, I still can’t read well enough for that, but say she needs some expensive doctor the insurance doesn’t want to pay for, I can do it.”

“You? You work at a coffee shop, I can’t ask you to pay for…”

Rory lowered his voice. “Doug left me half a million dollars. If your mom needs it, just ask.”

Marissa’s eyes widened. “Half a… no, that’s your money, Rory, I can’t ask you to do that, especially not if we’re not together.”

“We could solve the second half of that,” Rory said. “I’ll give you another chance if you’ll give me one.”

Marissa hesitated. “Maybe,” she said, “but I’m not taking your money, no matter what. Doug gave it to you for your future, not for my mom’s illness.”

Rory shrugged. “My future’s nothing without you.”

Marissa’s eyes narrowed. “Let’s… just have coffee and see where it goes. But don’t mention that money again or I’m going home. You’re not giving it to me, period.”

“All right, all right,” Rory said. “I won’t.” He silently added, For now, anyway.


In the courtroom, the video chat was being displayed on large televisions on either side of the room so that everyone who needed to could hear it. Hannah had been testifying for a while and now Rubin said, “Did Ms. Simmons ever ask you to do anything illegal?”

Hannah said, “Yes.”

“Tell us about it,” Rubin prompted.

Hannah looked away. She played with her hair nervously as she said, her voice flat, “Nat wanted me to get her drugs. She’d beg me for money and rides and if I said no she’d tell me she’d give me something to sweeten the pot.”

“Meaning?”

Hannah swallowed hard. “When they were good and high she’d send her brother in to my bedroom, and what we were going to do there wasn’t sleeping.”

Rubin nodded. “And you were how old then?”

“The first time, I was fourteen. I couldn’t drive then but I could get money out the ATM cause I had a debit card, so that’s what I did. I-I bought me sex with Marcel and all I had to do was wait in my bed til he finished smoking his crack and came in.”

(“Whore,” Nat whispered under her breath. “Why ain’t she the one on trial when she’s the one who gave money for sex?”

“It’s not our turn yet,” Saxon whispered back. “Be patient.”)

Rubin said, “So you were 14. And how old was Mr. Simmons at the time?”

Saxon stood. “Objection! Marcel Simmons is deceased and can’t speak for himself, and anyway he’s not the one on trial.”

Rubin rolled her eyes. “Goes to foundation, your Honor. If Natalie Simmons encouraged her fourteen-year-old friend to have sex with an adult, she was complicit in statuatory rape, not to mention the delinquency of a minor.”

“The rape bit is just prejudicial nonsense,” Saxon said. “The DA is overstating her case, which is why she will lose.”

“Let’s leave the editorializing out of it, please,” Judge Hillebrand said, “and the unnecessary drama.” She turned toward Rubin. “Short leash, Ms. Rubin. I don’t want any sensationalism. Make your case and move on.”

“Yes, your Honor. Thank you.” Rubin turned toward the monitor again. “Hannah? How old was Mr. Simmons the first time you had sex with him in exchange for drug money?”

Hannah looked away. “19 going on 20.”

“And whose idea was it that you provide money in exchange for these sexual favors?”

Hannah swallowed hard. “Nat said she could get him to do it if I’d help them out. At first she’d say it’s just this one time, but it was always just this one time.”

“And how often did it happen, Hannah?” Rubin’s voice was soft.

“At least once every few days. Nat would hit me up after school, get me to come over to hang out, and then when I got there she’d ask me for money right off the bat.”

“And how long did this go on?”

“Till I got arrested for her open container. If I wasn’t behind bars it probably still would be going on.”

“So you gave them money for drugs in exchange for sex with the defendant’s brother for your entire adolescence. Did Nat ask you to do anything else illegal?”

“Once I got my license she upped the ante. I had to give her a ride into the ‘hood or no deal. She’d leave me in the car while she went to get the drugs, and I don’t know which I was more scared of: getting caught by the cops or getting shot by some gangbanger on the streets cause where we were going, it was real rough.”

Rubin nodded. “Did Ms. Simmons try to recruit you into the Fire Lions?”

“She told me a little something after a while. She said she had a family for me, like she thought I didn’t have one of my own cause of my dad being gone, and that I’d always have people watching my back and as much sex as I wanted with whoever I wanted. But when she told me I’d be delivering packages for them I had my doubts and when she said I’d have to get beat up to get in, I didn’t want to.”

Nat jumped up. “That’s a lie! You know I’d never hurt you, Han-Bear. You were my girl. I kept you away from the Fire Lions cause there were some who —”

The judge banged her gavel. “That is enough! Mr. Saxon, control your client.”

“Sit down, Nat,” Mr. Saxon said. “Don’t make their lies look like truth to the jury.”

Nat threw herself down in her seat, but she glared at the monitor, trying to give Hannah the evil eye.

Hannah was blinking back tears and hugging herself. Ms. Rubin said gently, “Do you need a minute, Hannah?”

Hannah shook her head. “I’m fine. That little outburst wasn’t anything I didn’t expect.”

Saxon was the one on his feet now. “Move to strike, your Honor.”

“Maybe your client should have controlled herself better,” Judge Hillebrand said. “It was an outburst. Go on, Ms. Rubin.”

The testimony went on for a while. Hannah told the court how she had been arrested and held in jail for a year because of Nat’s open container and how Nat had been desperate to get back in her good graces when she got out. She also told them about Marcel kidnapping Kenneth and how Nat told her she could get him to exchange Kenneth for her. She told them how after Marcel was arrested, a boy emptied his gun into her living room to silence her permanently and that she was sure Nat was behind it, and that just like now, she had to live under guard because of the threats Nat and Marcel were making against her. Finally, she told the court about Marcel getting shot and how she and Kenneth had been arrested at court for his murder and that Kenneth had almost been charged with it because the shooter had planted the gun under his seat and that she had reason to believe Nat did that too.

Finally, Rubin said, “Please tell the court why you are testifying by video today.”

The defense table moved as Saxon pushed himself up from his seat. “Objection! Prejudicial!”

“It’s the latest crime in a pattern. Ms. Martin already testified to being under armed guards after Marcel Simmons was arrested, so now her testimony will demonstrate that it is Natalie Simmons and not her late brother who caused that type of trouble.”

“I’ll allow it,” the judge said, “but be very careful, Ms. Rubin.”

Nat was whispering something to Saxon as Rubin said, “Go ahead, Hannah. Tell the court why you are testifying by video.”

Hannah said, “Because Nat threatened my life and my family’s life if I didn’t back out of testifying. I wasn’t about to let her get away with it, but I also wasn’t going to die for the cause.”

“Nothing further,” Rubin said triumphantly.

Saxon was still whispering to Nat. “No!” he hissed. “You are not a lawyer, you can’t…”

“So back me up,” Nat whispered. “I’m the one paying you, you’re supposed to do what I want.”

The judge cleared her throat. “Do you need a minute to confer with your client or are you going to cross examine the witness now, Mr. Saxon?”

“I apologize,” Mr. Saxon said. He stood. “With the court’s permission, um…” He glanced at Nat, who nodded. “My client would like to question the witness herself.”

[André DiMera]

While it’s sweet, I don’t know if Rory giving Marissa all his money for her mom is the bes5 idea. Glad they’re a5 least talking.

Hannah’s testimony is going well so far, despite Nat’s outburst. Girl is crazy if she thinks the judge will let her cross-examine Hannah, and I can’t believe her lawyer is stupid enough to go along with it!

Great chapter, heroicmuse!

[Kpatch]

"My future's nothing without you." So romantic. I hope they get back together. Rory doesn't understand how expensive medical treatment can be. The whole $500,000 could be gone in a blink. I am sure Marissa's mom has decent insurance and an out-of-pocket maximum to protect her from going broke.

[heroicmuse]

Week 501 - 3
Rubin said, “Your Honor, the defendant is not an attorney. In addition, as we have established, she has a pattern of attempting to intimidate this witness, so I see no legitimate reason for her to have this type of access to her. Besides which, she will do nothing but turn your courtroom into a circus. So please, your Honor, don’t let her make a mockery of the proceedings.”

“I’m right here,” Saxon said, “so I can take over at a moment’s notice if needed. My client knows this witness better than anyone, so who better to disprove her many lies and manipulations?”

Rubin turned toward the judge. “Your Honor, I respectfully ask that you prohibit the defense counsel from making these inflammatory statements, especially without a factual basis. Perjury is a serious crime and he cannot make this case go away by randomly accusing the witnesses for the prosecution of it.”

“That’s enough, both of you,” Judge Hillebrand said. “I said at the outset I didn’t want unnecessary drama, and I believe that allowing a defendant who is not an attorney cross-examine a witness who is accusing her of intimidation, manipulation, and violence. Ms. Simmons, if there are certain points you want your attorney to focus on, you should have informed him of that before the trial began. That said, I will make allowances for the fact that something may have occurred to you as you heard the witness’ testimony. Therefore, I will allow a fifteen-minute recess for you to confer with your attorney about his strategy for questioning this witness. Ms. Martin, you may log off until we are ready to reconvene. The District Attorney will let you know when to be back.”

“She’d better take that break,” Nat said under her breath, “cause she won’t know what hit her after.”

Rubin came over to her. “I’d be careful of making threats in open court, Ms. Simmons,” she said quietly. “You’ll find yourself held in contempt, or worse.”

Nat said, “And I’d watch how I talk to me if I were you cause after I win this case you don’t want to be on my bad side.”

“Keep talking,” Rubin said. “You’ll talk yourself right into Supermax.” She turned and walked away, her head held high.

Nat said quietly, “Soon as we’re done here you’d better get me a phone. Someone needs to be taught a lesson.”

Saxon’s eyes narrowed while he debated how serious Nat was about this.


JJ and Paige were having brunch with Jennifer before Paige’s shift at the hospital began.

“I’m so glad we’re doing this,” Jennifer said, “though I may not forgive you for leaving my granddaughte at home with Harlow. You know how much I love seeing her.”

“We’ll make it up to you,” JJ promised.

“We kind of needed her not to hear what we wanted to talk to you about,” Paige said. “She doesn’t say very many words yet but I think she understands them.”

“Uh oh.” Jennifer sipped her coffee. “She’s not sick, is she? And you aren’t? And you’re not going through a rough patch?”

“Mom!” JJ said. “Just cause we don’t want little ears to hear what we have to say doesn’t mean you have to go to DefCon 3.”

“Sorry, sorry,” Jennifer said. “You know me, I’m a worrier. So what’s going on?”

Paige sighed. “It’s not that serious, I guess, but we can’t find a preschool for Mari for the fall and JJ thinks it’s a sign we should just wait a year. And so we were wondering…”

JJ said, “Since you raised me and Abs, we figured you’d know whether Mari needs preschool right now or not.”




Philip and Chloe had taken Charley and Parker to the parking lot in Horton Town Square, where the camp bus was going to pick them up. A banner hand been hung between two utility poles with the words CREATIVE OUTDOORS CAMP BUS STOP. Parker had a duffel bag and Charley had her backpack.

“Make sure sister has all of her things when she gets off the bus,” Chloe told Parker. “And tell your counselor that I want you to call me to let me know you got there.”

“And you,” Philip said to Charley. “Keep an eye on your big brother and make sure he’s following the rules.”

Parker rolled his eyes as Charley giggled. “Daddy Phil!”

Daniel came up to them. “Hope you don’t mind me coming to see the kids off,” he said to Philip, “but it’s gonna be a whole summer before I see Parker again.”

“Course,” Philip said. “Guaranteed he’s gonna be a foot taller by the time we see him again, so…”

“Only if they put magic pills in the food,” Parker said. “We all know I don’t grow.”

“You’re getting there little by little,” Daniel said. “Pretty soon puberty’s gonna hit you, you’ll see.”

Parker shrugged.

Charley pulled on Daniel’s sleeve. “Are you coming to camp to be our doctor?”

Daniel grinned. “I wish,” he said. “But no, I’m just here to say goodbye to you guys. You excited for your first time at camp?”

Charley looked away. “I’m glad I have Lily with me.”

“Lily’s her doll,” Philip explained. “You gotta be careful with her, Charley. Don’t take her out til you get to camp cause I don’t want to get a call that I have to track her down on a bus.”

Charley gasped. “Lily can’t get lost!” she said. “I’d be a bad Mommy if I losed her.”

“Lost,” Chloe corrected, “but I know you won’t.” Her phone buzzed. She glanced at it. “The bus is going to be a little late, but it’s on its way,” she said. “In 20 minutes or so, it’ll be time to say goodbye.”

Charley swallowed hard.

[André DiMera]

Yes, Nat, and that someone is you. She needs to learn to keep her big mouth shut. I hope she follows Rubin’s advice and talks herself into the harshest sentence possible. Thank goodness the judge didn’t go along with her insane ideas.

Glad J.J. and Paige are coming to Jennifer for advice.

Hope the kids have a great time at camp!

Great chapter, heroicmuse!

[Kpatch]

I feel for Charley. Those situations are scary for little children. Even adults doing something for the first time in a strange place with strange people. I wonder if it's an upscale camp because his parents can certainly afford that.

[heroicmuse]

Week 501 - 4
After they had finished with Prescott, Dani and Alison headed back to the dorm to discuss their next move.

“So,” Alison said. “If my boss gives me and Emily the green light to go to Chicago, you want to come with?”

Dani swallowed hard. “I-I’m not a reporter,” she stammered. “I got us this far but I don’t see how I can help, like, at all.”

“”You helped get the ball rolling,” Alison argued. “You got Prescott talking. Besides, you do graphic design, right?”

“Yeah, so?”

“So, when we’re done you can help us design the graphics for social media and maybe for the show too. You know, like the photo that appears in the box while Nicole is reporting on the story. But to do that, you need to know exactly what the story is. Besides, I think it would do you some good to get out of Salem for a little bit. Unless…” Alison frowned. “Your probation doesn’t say you can’t go to Chicago, does it?”

“No, I can. I’m not allowed to go further north than that but the order says specifically, “Stay in the Salem/Chicago area.”

“So no reason you can’t come, then, right?”

“Only one.” Dani leaned forward. “I don’t get why you’re so eager to have me there.”

Alison started to say something, but just then Emily came in and she said, “Have her where?”


In her office, Marlena was trying to do paperwork, but her eyes kept blinking closed. She reached for her coffee cup, but it was empty.

“Goodness,” she said to herself. “I’m having an awfully hard time staying awake this morning.” She sighed as she got up to refill her coffee cup.

Kayla was at the nurses’ station but she came over as Marlena filled her cup. “I might need to make an appointment with you,” she said, “because I’m seeing things. I could have sworn you were at this coffee station less than an hour ago.”

“I was,” Marlena said. “I don’t know what it is about today, but I can’t seem to stay awake.”

Kayla frowned. “How much sleep have you been getting?”

“The usual amount,” Marlena said. “Six, seven hours a night.”

Kayla crossed her arms. “I think that’s your problem right there. I don’t know how to put this delicately but, Marlena, you’re not as young as you used to be. You can’t get by on seven hours of sleep a night, especially not with the case load you usually take on. I mean, come on, I’ve seen your schedule. You’re taking twice as many patients as the rest of the psychiatry department combined.”

“I appreciate your concern, but I’m fine.” Marlena smiled slightly. “It’s just the paperwork between patients, that’s all. It’s so monotonous and repetitive it’s boring me to tears. But I have another patient in fifteen minutes, and I have no doubt that I will be firing on all cylinders then.” She picked up her coffee cup and walked away.

Kayla shook her head sadly. “If a patient said that to her, she’d be the first to point out they’re in denial. But what do you do when it’s your top shrink who refuses to face the possibility that time is beginning to catch up with them?”


Bill Montague had taken the stand. Sloan said, “In your own words, please tell us what happened the night you were shot.”

Montague said, “I didn’t do anything wrong. They say I kidnapped that Dimera kid but it’s totally not true. He wanted to come with me. His family was no good, never appreciating him, always acting like his twin sister was way more important, and he had to live with a stepdad he hated too, and eventually he had enough and wanted to run away with me.”

“Puta!” Gabi whispered angrily. That’s who could destroy Rafe’s career? This asshole who did the unthinkable to Will’s nephew?”

Nicole’s mouth was a thin line. “Hopefully the judge stays in his right mind, because this guy’s as transparent as the dresses in those porn movies my dad forced me to participate in.”

“Better,” Gabi said. “Or all bets are off.” Her phone beeped and she glanced at it. “Crap. I lost track of time; I need to get to the Town Square or I’ll miss seeing Ari off to camp. Where hopefully she behaves herself this time and we don’t have to convince the camp to kick her out instead of sending her to juvie. But that’s a story for another day.”

“Yeah, especially cause the Bailiff’s coming this way,” Nicole whispered. “Go. I’ll fill you in later.”

Gabi was in such a hurry to leave her purse strap got stuck on the end of the pew and she had to pull it off before she could run out the door.

[André DiMera]

Wonder what Alison will say. Emily, as well.

I agree with Kayla, though I wonder what she’ll do.

Ugh! Montague is still a creep! Hopefully Gabi will be able to get out in time to see Ari off.

Great chapter, heroicmuse!

[Kpatch]

Maybe it's time for Marlena to retire. Make room for a more competent shrink.

[heroicmuse]

Week 501 - 5
“I’ll just get you that prescription,” Marlena told her patient, “and then we’ll check in next week and see how your mood is stabilizing. You can go ahead downstairs while I send this to the pharmacy.”

“Yes, Dr. Evans. Thank you.” The patient left.

Marlena double-cliked her pharmacy app on her computer, then stared at it. “What was I about to do on here?” she said to herself. She glanced at her session notes. “Oh yes, that’s right… now could I have forgotten so soon?”

Marlena shook her head and said to herself, “Either I’m not getting enough sleep or I’m getting old, or both. My memory certainly isn’t what it used to be.” She double checked the patient record to make sure she had the prescription right before she sent it. Then she picked up her phone to make a call.



Jennifer’s cheeks went pink. “I am so glad you asked. And so flattered that you think so much of me. There was a time when I would have killed for any recognition of me as a parent, and now you actually respect me.” She let her breath out slowly. “Anyway, enough about me. You asked me a question so here’s my answer.” She took a sip of her tea before she went on, “Don’t rush things, honey. Mari is only two going on three. The world won’t end if she doesn’t go to preschool this year. I mean, yes, you always want to give her a head start if you can, but you can do that at home, can’t you? I know you’re both working, but you can spend time playing with her with alphabet blocks or shape puzzles or coloring with crayons so that she learns some of the basics before she goes to preschool, and I’m sure Harlow would do that too if you asked her.”

“That’s true,” Paige said. “I just hate feeling like she’s missing out because we weren’t more on the ball about finding a preschool for her.”

“You have a lot going on,” Jennifer said, “and a lot of time to do it. Besides, it’ll be easier if she’s toilet trained before she starts preschool, and by next year she should be.”

“Don’t remind me.” Paige sighed. “Not looking forward to helping her with that at all.”

“Hey,” JJ said, “look at the bright side. Once it’s done, no more changing diapers.”

“True,” Paige said as JJ”s phone buzzed. He frowned as he looked at it and she said, “Emergencty?”

“Kind of,” JJ said. “Source needs to talk to me. I’d better…”

“Of course,” Jennifer said, smiling slightly. “So much like your father… he was also getting bothered by sources night and day. Anyway, don’t you think I’m used to it after spending a lifetime with him?” She kissed JJ on the cheek and he kissed Paige before he left.

JJ hurried toward his car, smliing slightly. “I guess I’m doing Dad proud,” he said to himself. “That is, if I can pull this story off.”


At the camp bus stop, Ari paced back and forth. “Where’s Mama?” she asked Will. “Are you sure she’s going to get here in time?”

“We texted her and she said she was on her way,” Sonny said, “and that’s all we can do.” He pointed. “Look. There’s Parker. You want to go say hello?”

Ari’s shoulders slumped. “He still doesn’t like me.”

“Well, maybe that’ll change at camp,” Will said. “Never know unless you try, right?”

They made their way over to where Parker and Charley were still waiting with Philip and Chloe. Philip shook hands with Sonny and said, “Oh, is Ari going to Camp Crateive Adventures too?”

“She is,” Sonny said, “and this time she’s going to follow the rules and not have to be picked up in the middle of the summer. Right, Ari?”

Ari’s cheeks turned bright red. “Yeah. Of course.” She smiled at Charley, who was dragging her foot in a small circle around herself and staring at the ground. “First time?”

Charley nodded.

“Don’t be scared,” Ari said. “Everyone’s really nice, at least if you don’t do stupid things like I did last year.”

Philip and Chloe exchanged glances. “Why?” Chloe said. “What di you do last year?”

Ari hung her head and mumbled, “I stole the pool keys at my old camp.”

“But that’s all in the past,” Sonny said quickly. “Ari’s behavior has been much improved this year and we’re sure she’s gonna have a great time at camp.”

“Right,” Chloe said flatly as Ari said to Charley, “Don’t worry. I’ll sit with you on the bus and if we’re in the same cabin I can look out for you.
Chloe looked at Philip, unsure she wanted Charley spending time with Ari, but just then Gabi came running up to them, so there was nothing she could say.