Chapter 1: The Call

6:30 glared from the microwave face as Olivia Burton, still drunk with sleep, sat in her warm and cozy Chicago kitchen alone. She could hear soft sounds of sleep coming from her husband's study. "He must have fallen asleep in there," she thought to herself. She took a last sip of coffee with the awareness that soon the little voice of four year old Alexia, her daughter, would be heard from the landing of the stairs. She rose from her chair and refreshed her coffee mug. So much had happened in the past month – in the past six months to change her life and her family. She walked across the kitchen and began preparing breakfast. Waffles, sausage, and juice for Alexia; fresh fruit, bagels, and eggs for everyone else, every morning she prepared the same breakfast. Suddenly aware of how tired she was, she busied herself preparing breakfast and packing lunches for the day. The alarm clock had sounded far too early this morning. The more she prepared the angrier she got. "Just who does Lt. Colonel Joan Burton think that she is anyway?" The whole house had been awakened by a 4:00 AM call from Joan to Roland. The yelling was so loud between the two of them that it bounced from room to room. Alexia awoke from a sound sleep and Chance, the family dog, barked so loudly that Olivia feared that a neighbor would call the police. Exhausted and embarrassed Roland finally had to retreat to the study downstairs to finish the call. It had taken Olivia at least an hour to get Alexia back to sleep. Now, this morning she found herself steaming with anger at the woman who she saw as the source of all her family's grief. She longed for Roland to awake, so they could discuss the phone call. Why had Joan called? What did she want? Olivia was uncertain, but she knew that she had to keep Roland in Chicago by any means necessary. Olivia hated that fact that Joan was the only other woman in the world who could convince Roland to do things. She had to figure out a way to keep the two of them apart permanently. If Roland or Joan for that matter ever knew the whole truth, Olivia could lose Roland forever. Her thoughts were interrupted by Roland's gruff voice as he entered the kitchen. "Good morning Livvy, what's for breakfast?" She turned startled and a slight smile crossed her lips as she responded, "Same as always." Roland poured himself a cup of coffee and removed half a bagel from the toaster oven. Olivia watched him carefully waiting for the right moment to bring Joan into the conversation. "Did you sleep well?" she asked. "As well as one can on a lumpy sofa," he replied. Gingerly, she asked her next question. "So, what did Joan want?" Roland gave no reply and knowing him as well as she did, Olivia decided to press the issue no further. "He'll come to me when he is ready," she thought. Suddenly, as if hit by lightning Roland asked, "What am I going to do Livvy?" "I can't live like this; I just don't know what to do!" Olivia sat down next to him at the table and gently stroked his hand. "Don't worry baby," she assured him, "we will figure this all out together- we always figure things out together."

Chapter 2: Olivia's Secret

Olivia was finally in the safety and dare she say sanctity of her office. It had been a long day. In and out of court with rapist, drug dealers, child pornographers, the crimes and criminals seemed endless. She had been a state prosecutor for nearly nine years and no one worked as hard as she did. She believed in the law. She believed in the system. Mostly she believed in justice. Yes, making sure that the innocent were protected and the guilty were punished for their crimes was the essence of her job; it was who she was. Olivia had to admit that the only thing she loved more than being a lawyer was being a wife and mother. She and Mark had been married for ten years. After six years of marriage little Alexia had been born. After Alexia's birth both she and Mark, an engineer, had decided to scale down on their work loads to spend more time as a family. Five months ago, Olivia had decided to quit the prosecutor's office to have more time at home. Plenty of firms had courted her with enthusiasm while knowing that she only wanted to work part- time. They all figured that a lawyer of her talents, even part-time was an asset to their firm, but then Roland called and deals had to be made. Her boss in the prosecutor's office knew people at Northwestern. Roland needed a position at Northwestern. She would do anything for Roland, so here she sat in an office that she had vowed to give up. Mark was livid with her decision, but she had promised Roland. To keep her promise to Roland, she broke one to Mark and Alexia. Tensions had been high at home until she got the early morning call. Mark had retreated and said he understood that she needed to help Roland. Olivia knew that he suspected a secret between the two of them, but had learned years ago that though he asked he could never expect a straight answer. Jordan, her secretary, walked in with several messages from the day. Roland called three times, her mother had called from California, Mark had called to have dinner in the city. The messages went on and on. One however, caught her eye. Joan had called. In all the time that Olivia had known Joan, she had only once called her directly. Roland had always been the go between. Why would Joan be calling her? Maybe she knew. She had finally figured out what Olivia had done and wanted to confront her. No, that was silly, how could she know? No one knew. Olivia's mind raced back to one month earlier when she had gone to Fort Marshall. She remembered the morning clearly that Joan had called. "There's been an accident," she said quite calmly. A pain had gone all the way through Olivia's body. "What type of an accident?" she asked in reply. "An explosion," was Joan's clear, quiet, and calm reply. "Roland has been seriously hurt and I think you should come." Images of a bloody and mangled Roland flashed through Olivia's head. She got the earliest flight that she could , cancelled all of her appointments and raced to South Carolina. She had to get to Roland, her Roland, her brother, her twin. When she finally arrived on post, Joan was waiting. She explained Roland's condition quite matter of factly. Olivia had never meet anyone as cold as Joan. She cringed being around her. She never understood what Roland liked about her. She had tried, really tried, to get along with her, but all her attempts were met with the same coldness she now felt. Olivia had long ago decided that Joan, though family, should be treated with indifference. She couldn't be concerned about Joan now. She had to get to Roland. "Where is my brother?" she asked calmly. Joan lead her down a hallway and through a set of heavy secured doors. The hospital's intensive care unit, it was here that she saw her brother. He lay in a hospital bed with wires and tubes running from everywhere. The doctor's kept him heavily sedated to ease his pain. Tears begin to flow from Olivia's eyes. "NO!" she told herself " I can't cry; Roland needs me to be strong." She turned rather abruptly to Joan and in her sternest voiced asked, "How did this happen to him." Joan looked surprised for a moment. She had never heard such a harsh voice come from Olivia. "I can only tell you what I have been told. I was not there when it happened." "Who was there?" was Olivia's less than polite reply. A few of the women who were there are Roland's friends they can explain it. "Who? The tribe- Claudia Joy, Denise, Pamela ,and Roxy," "Yes," Joan answered, "I didn't know that you knew them." " I don't know them, but Roland talks about them all the time." "Well, I think that they can answer your questions and I'm sure they would love to meet you." Joan turned and walked out of the room. Olivia went to follow, and turned quickly back to Roland's bed. She put her face close to his and in a soft whisper said, "Don't worry. I will never tell and I will make sure that our plan goes on as scheduled. This is a setback not a problem. Our plan will still work." She gave Roland's hand a final squeeze and hurried to join Joan in the hallway.

Chapter 3: The Meeting

Joan's mind was still whirling from the events of the last couple of days. So much had happened to her since her return from Afghanistan. There had been her PTSD, promotion to XO, Roland's affair, separation from Roland, Roland's injury and his move to Chicago, and of course being pregnant with Roland's baby. Roland, Roland, Roland, for the last few days, her thoughts had been filled with Roland. She hated to admit it but she missed him. She still loved him and every time they spoke, though he never said it, she knew he missed and loved her too. Maybe, it was hormones taking over or maybe it was something else. She had been happy when Michael had told her a few days earlier that he needed her to go to Washington. Getting off post and out of the house that she had shared with Roland was exactly what she needed. She never could have imagined that a routine trip on behalf of General Holden could have caused her so much confusion.

It was late in the evening and Joan had just finished a meeting at the Pentagon when it happened. A female reporter approached her in the hallway. "Lt. Colonel Burton, you don't know me," she said " but I interviewed your husband a while back and I was just interested to know how he was doing since the accident." The reporter extended her hand and flashed Joan a smile. "Vanessa Kelsing." Joan could not believe that the woman who had single handedly ruined her marriage was standing in front of her smiling as if they were new best friends. Joan quite calmly stated that Roland had recovered from most of his injuries and the doctor's expected a full recovery. She turned quickly on her heels to flee, and rushed into the nearest bathroom. Alone and looking in the mirror, Joan couldn't believe that she had been such a coward. Why was she running away? She had done nothing wrong. Suddenly a rage that she had not felt in a long time gathered in her stomach. She pulled open the bathroom door with such force that the woman on the other side preparing to come in jumped back in amazement. Fueled on by her anger at the nerve of the woman who had slept with her husband and then had the audacity to smile in her face, Joan moved quickly through the corridors. After several turns, she came face to face with Vanessa Kelsing at an elevator laughing with a male colleague. "Ms. Kelsing," Joan said "may I have a word with you in private." Vanessa looked rather nervous but agreed to speak with Joan. She kissed the man on his check and said she would see him later. Then turning from him to Joan she said quite innocently. "Colonel Burton allow me to introduce you to my husband." A new rage built in Joan. So, she was married too not only had she disrespected Joan's marriage she had disrespected her own. As the elevator doors closed on the unsuspecting husband, Joan released all the rage that she had been holding back. "Mrs. Kelsing , it is obvious to me that you are under the impression that I don't know what you and Roland did." Vanessa stood looking confused. Joan continued, "Roland has confessed everything to me. This bit of information should make you happy. We have separated and will be divorced soon." Vanessa, in a very timid voice, replied, " I –I I'm very sorry- I didn't know the two of you were having problems. He spoke so highly of you during our interview." "Well, perhaps you should have gotten a clue from the fact that he spent the night having sex with you in a hotel room." Vanessa looked outraged! She looked around the hallway nervously. "Listen, I don't know what post gossip you have been listening to but I have never slept with your husband." "Don't lie to me!" screamed Joan "Roland confessed the whole thing to me – I know" "I don't know what you think you know," Vanessa retorted. "I don't know what your husband told you. All I know is that I didn't sleep with your husband. Not, that I didn't try, but he wouldn't go through with it. We never had sex." Vanessa turned in a passionate rage and got on the newly arrived elevator leaving the echo of her words in Joan's ears. "I didn't sleep with your husband."

Back in her hotel room, Joan tossed and turned. She could not sleep. Was it possible that Roland hadn't had an affair? Why would he lie to her? There was only one person that could answer her questions. She glanced at her watch. It was a promotion gift from Roland when she made Lt. Colonel. She never took it off. 04:00 hours, she could not call him now. She couldn't not call him now. She wanted answers and Roland was the only one who could give them.

Chapter 4: A Rock and a Hard Place

Mark sat looking out his office window. The sky gave every indication that a rain shower was vastly approaching. "Good," he said, "rain clouds match my mood perfectly." He was so tired from all of last night's drama that he hadn't been able to fully concentrate on anything. He had been pulled from a peaceful night's rest at 4:00AM by the constant ringing of the phone. The phone rang eight times went to voice mail and thirty seconds later begin ringing again. After the third set of rings, he feared it could be an emergency so he turned to answer. "Hello." "Hey, Mark. It's Joan. I'm sorry to call so late or is it early?" "I need to talk to Roland; it's an emergency." Mark sat up in the bed. He was worried. "Joan is the baby alright? Are you alright." "Yes, the baby and I are fine. I just need to speak to Roland." Mark got up and went down the hallway to Roland's bedroom door. "Roland, man, Joan's on the phone, she says she needs to talk to you. It's an emergency." Roland came to the door slowly. He still had pain from his injuries. This was the main reason that Olivia insisted that he move in with the family until she was sure that he was 100 percent out of the woods. "Thanks man," he said taking the phone from Mark's hand.

Mark had snuggled back into bed with Olivia. She had not even stirred when the phone rang. Olivia was a sound sleeper most of the time. She awakened a little in response to his touch as he reached out to cuddle next to her. He had barely drifted back off to sleep when he heard Roland's angry shouts coming from down the hall. The shouting seemed to get louder and louder. Broken bits of conversation "I never said" "You assumed" " I don't want to talk about it!" Chance begin barking louder and louder. This woke Alexia who cried out for her Mommy. Alexia's cries woke Olivia. "What's going on?" Olivia turned to face Mark. "Joan's on the phone. I guess she and Roland are having an argument." Hurriedly, Olivia dashed from the bed to comfort her crying daughter in the next room. Mark covered his head with the pillow as his wife screamed at her brother and then at his wife through the phone. This is what his life had been like since Roland had decided to leave Joan. He just wanted his old life back and some peace and quiet. Yes, peace and quiet would be nice.

His secretary buzzed bringing him back to the present. "Olivia is calling on line two." Great he and Olivia would have a nice quiet dinner at their favorite restaurant before going home. Roland had felt so badly about the chaos he and Joan had caused that morning. He quickly agreed to baby sit for the night. Besides, Mark knew that Roland loved spending time with his niece. As much as both he and Olivia loved their daughter and Roland, they needed a break. Mark feared that Roland's marriage problems were beginning to have an affect on his own marriage. Olivia and Roland were hiding something. He knew it. Lately the twosome were always having whispered conversations or long walks alone. He also knew that unless Roland wanted her to Olivia would never tell him what was going on. He hated knowing that there was any secret between him and his wife. A night alone was exactly what he and Olivia needed. "Hi Livvy, what time do you want to meet for dinner?" "I'm sorry honey, but I can't tonight. I need to get home and talk to Roland. Joan called and I have to talk to Roland before she calls again." Mark tried to disguise the disappointment in his voice. " O.K., sure, I'll see you at home then. I need to go." "Mark, honey, I'm sorry. Please don't be mad at me." "Livvy, I have to go. See you at home."

Chapter 5: Tribal Meeting

"Please don't forget that your case studies are due in very soon. Some of you have not been keeping accurate logs and appointments at the clinic with your subjects. This is not something that you can do at the last minute." Roland couldn't believe the laziness of some of his students. He had only been at Northwestern a week officially, and he already suspected that at least five of his new charges would not finish the program. He did not understand their apathy and procrastination. He was never a procrastinator when he was in med school. He had never been a procrastinator period. If something needed to be done, he just rolled up his sleeves and got it done. Joan had once told him that he would have made a great soldier. Roland doubted that; he had grown to despise everything army – everything except Joan. There were so many rules and none of them focused on people. Everything was about the army and the country. Family seemed to matter little to these people. Family was everything to Roland for as long as he could remember. His dad had died when he and Olivia were only ten. After his father's death, his mother had circled the family wagons. For so long it was just Roland, Olivia, and their mother. The three of them ate, slept, lived and breathed each other for years. His sister and his mother were the two people that he trusted with his deepest secrets and darkest fears. Then there was Joan; he had given Joan that same trust early in their marriage. When they first meet, he found her to be warm and instinctive. She was so much like his mother and though Livvy would kill him if she even knew he thought it, a lot like his sister too. But know, so many promises had been broken, he thought it was best for everyone if he loved Joan from a distance. He was not sure that he could trust her. Trust was so important now. With Joan left behind in South Carolina and his mother working in California, Olivia was his only confidant. Well, maybe not the only one he remembered with a smile. He gathered his papers and headed for his office. He had promised to check in with the wives this morning and was anxious to speak with them. These weekly conference calls had become substations for their tribal meetings. His friends were the only other thing that he didn't hate about the army.

"Hi Ladies," Roland beamed with excitement. "Roland!!" was the collective response from the group. Pamela spoke up first. "We miss you so much. How is everything in Chicago?" "Things are fine hear. I started work this week and I'm just taking it one day at a time." "Roland, my boys are missing you like crazy. With Trevor gone, you were my go-to dad. I hate you for leaving." "Tell the boys I said hi. Maybe, I'll get to see them when I am in town next week to sign the final papers." "So you two are going through with the divorce then," questioned Denise. "Yep, it's best for everyone." "Will it best for the baby?" asked Pamela. "Is it best for you," Denise chimed in. " I have the sneaking suspicion that everything is not fine. Roland, how are you really?" Claudia Joy spoke for the first time. Roxy's voice was full of concern as she pleaded. "Roland, you are our friend even if you are miles away. We care about you. We want to help you. Tell us what's wrong" There was a long pause. Claudia Joy's voice finally broke the silence. "We've all known that something has been wrong for a while now. You know you can trust us. What is this really all about?" "Come on ladies, I am fine. I'm just a guy getting a divorce." "We think it is something more than the divorce." "Denise don't worry about me. How are Frank and Jeremy?" " Listen Mister, don't try to change the subject. We are way too smart to fall for that" " O.K.. Rox, I can see you guys are not going to let this go." "Nope," was Pamela's stern reply. "I am learning how to dig deeper for the real story thanks to my radio gig. We know something deeper is going on with you. Now, spill it!" Claudia Joy laughed a hearty laughed and added. "Pamela has spoken, so HAVE AT IT!" All of the friends laughed. Roland felt good laughing. He had not really laughed in a long time. What was it about these women that always gave him such a warm feeling inside? "Roland," Denise voice was low, sweet and full of concern, "do you really want to get a divorce?" "Denise, my life stop being about what I want a long time ago. But, to answer your question, no I don't want a divorce. I need to get a divorce. It is what's best for Joan, the baby, and me." " Says who?" asked Roxy. "Listen, I am going to tell you guys something, but you must promise that this goes no further than the five of us. I can't risk too many people finding out and this somehow getting back to Joan. You guys have to promise." " We promise," was the unisoned reply.

Chapter 6: A shot in the dark

Joan once again sat staring at her plate. She knew she needed to eat, but food did not matter to her. She forced another bite into her mouth and then rose and placed her dish in the sink. She should have been hungry. She had just done a three mile run before dinner. Three miles was nothing for her. She had cut down from her usual seven to ten. She had to think of the baby. Tonight, however, like most nights since returning from D.C., her thoughts were all about Vanessa Kelsing and Roland. During the day, Joan pushed all thoughts of them from her mind. She had to be focused at work. There was no room for errors. She was General Holden's XO. He had confidence in her and had gone the extra mile in appointing her though many thought he had made a mistake. She would not mess up and embarrass Michael or herself. Home was different. With Roland gone, the house was always quiet. Sometimes she still half –way expected him to come walking through the front door brief case in hand with a wide smile plastered across his face. She knew she had to accept the truth Roland was gone and he was not coming back, but sometimes she just hoped. When she called Roland from D.C. to confront him with the information that Vanessa had given her, he was angry. Roland never got angry – not like that. The conversation ended with him yelling into the phone that the marriage was over and then the line went dead. Where was all of this sudden anger coming from? What was going on with her husband? Over the past week since the call, she had tried contacting him every way she thought possible. She had called his cell with no success. At Olivia's house, the voice mail always answered her calls. Olivia's secretary always had the same reply "I'll tell her you called." Even Mark, who was normally quite friendly didn't answer or return her phone calls. She had tried contacting Roland at his new office, but the switchboard operator said that his new phone line had not been installed yet. She even once thought of calling her mother-in – law in California. But, who was she kidding, if the others remained silent, so would she. It seemed that Joan was running out of options. Who did she know that could get through to Roland? "Of course," she thought, 'I can't believe that I didn't think of this before." Joan ran to the phone and dialed the number. "Major Sherwood's residence."

"Hey, Denise." "Joan?" "Yes, hi, how are you doing?" Denise almost dropped the receiver. Why was Joan calling her at home? "Has- has something happened with Frank?" "No, Major Sherwood and his troops are fine. We get daily reports from the sand box. He's fine. I didn't mean to alarm you." "Well, what can I do for you Joan?" "Denise, I really need your help." "What's going on Joan?" "I need to talk to Roland and he is not answering my phone calls. Have you heard from him?" Denise thought carefully. She wanted to help Joan, but she could not betray Roland's friendship. She sighed heavily, "Joan, I'm sorry, but he doesn't want to talk to you. There is nothing that I can do. You will just have to wait until your divorce hearing." "That's a week away. I can't wait that long." " I don't think you have another choice. I have to go or I'll be late for the hospital." "Denise, please." "Joan, I have to go."

Joan held the phone in disbelief. She was certain that Denise would help her. Why would Denise help her? She was Roland's friend not Joan's. One thing was certain, she could not wait another week to speak with Roland. She dialed the phone again. It was a shot in the dark, but Roland had given her this number for emergencies only. Very few people knew Olivia's private number, Joan knew Roland called his sister on it daily. She had never used it. She pushed the last number and the phone begin to ring. Suprisingly, she did not get a voice mail instead a tiny little voice rang out, "Hello." "Hi Lexxie, it's Auntie Joan. Is your mommy there?" "No, mommy's not here," the little voice responded, "Is your daddy home." "No, mommy and daddy went to a movie. I'm babysitting." "You're baby sitting?" "Yep!!" "Who are you babysitting?" "Uncle Roland." "Sweetie, I need to talk to your Uncle Roland. Can you give him the phone?" "uum –huh" "Lexxie, don't tell your uncle who's on the phone – can you do that for me?" "O.K., bye- Auntie Joan."

"Uncle Roland, the phone's for you." "Did the phone ring Pumpkin? I didn't hear it." "It's mommy's phone." Alexia reached the phone up towards her uncle. "Guess, your mommy finally figured out that she left her phone, huh" Alexia shrugged and smiled sweetly. "Can I have a cookie?" she asked with an air of innocence. "Pumpkin you can have anything that you want." Alexia ran off triumphantly to retrieve her cookie from the kitchen. "Hey genius, leave your phone much?" Roland liked teasing his sister. "I'm not Olivia. Roland, this is Joan."

Chapter 7: To tell the truth

Roland waited impatiently for Mark and Olivia to return from their evening out. It was a little past midnight and he had long giving up trying to sleep. They had worked so hard to plan this and it all seemed to be falling apart. Olivia would know what to do. Olivia had to know. Why had Olivia left her phone tonight of all nights? His head was still throbbing from his conversation with Joan. She just kept demanding the truth. No matter how hard he insisted that he was telling the truth somehow she knew that he was lying. The truth- the truth, he had told his lie so often that even he sometimes believed it to be true. There were only six people who really knew what happened between him and Vanessa. Olivia was the only person who knew why he had lied. That secret would have to remain between the two of them. As much as he loved his friends, he could never tell them. Roland was so deep in his thoughts that he had not heard Mark and Olivia enter the house. They were both now standing in front of him looking a little confused. "Roland did you hear me?" Olivia was asking. "Hear what?" "I asked if everything went alright tonight. Did Lexxie get to bed on time?" "Lexxie is fine. She was perfect as always." "Perfect as always? Livvie, I think our daughter has successfully wrapped her uncle around her little finger." " Well, it must be around the free one because she has had you wrapped for years," was Olivia's reply. "Roland, what's wrong with you? Are you sick? You look as if you've been punched in the stomach." "Livvy, we need to talk – right now." "Why, was going on? I'm tired and I want to go to bed. Can we talk about it in the morning?" "Joan called while you were out" "So, you didn't answer the phone right?" "No, I didn't answer the phone, but Lexxie did. You left your cell and she was playing with it when it rang." "I didn't even notice that it was missing. Joan called on my phone?" " I guess she was just trying to reach me any way she could. Denise called and said that she had asked her to contact me too." "Well, what did she want?" " The truth. She talked with Vanessa and she wants the truth." "Ro, did you tell her?" "No, I didn't tell her, but Livvy she is not giving up. I have to go there next week and I will not be able to avoid her. What am I going to do?" Mark cleared his throat loudly. " I think that's my cue to go up to bed." For the first time, both Olivia and Roland remembered that Mark was in the room. Olivia thought for a minute and then decided. "No, Mark we need you to stay. We need your help."

"You did what!!!!" It was all that Mark could think to say. He had listened calmly as Olivia explained how she had convinced Roland to lie to Joan about his encounter with the reporter. He could not believe what he was hearing. For months, Olivia had been telling him that the reason that Joan and Roland were breaking up was because Joan had discovered Roland's infidelity, a one – night stand with some reporter. Now, they were both saying that it had all been a lie. A lie that they had come up with together, a lie planned with the purpose of breaking up the marriage. "Olivia I am so disappointed in you. How could you help him break up his marriage. If he wanted to go, he could have just left. The lie was not necessary. The lie was hurtful and manipulative. I mean, I know that you don't like Joan, but Livvy… how could you do that to her or anyone?" "Mark you just don't know the whole story." " Tell me the whole story then." "I can't" "You can; you just won't. Whenever, the choice is between me and your brother, you always choose him." "That's not true. I have never chosen Roland over you." "Have you been living in this house for the past three months? It's Roland over everybody. Roland comes before me, before our daughter, before your job." Olivia felt both anger and fear in the pit of her stomach. She knew that Mark was right. She had been so driven to help Roland that she had little time to do anything else. She felt guilty that she could not give her family all of herself. She felt guilty that she had to lie to Mark. At this moment, she knew that she could not tell him the whole story. She also knew that Mark sensed that she was holding something back. But, she could not betray Roland. He needed her now more than ever. He needed her more than Mark and even Lexxie at this moment. She would not let him down. She had to take control of the situation. She softened her anger just a tad and turned to face her husband. "He needs my help right now. I am helping him, but I have never neglected you or our daughter." " I never said you neglected us. I said it's always Roland before us." Roland could remain silent no longer. He was the source of some much pain lately. He began to rethink his decision to come to Olivia for help. He should have left his sister and her family out of this. Olivia and Mark did not deserve this. He couldn't do this to his niece. He would just have to do this alone. "Mark, man, listen. I never meant to lay this on you guys. You're right. Livvy should not have to choose between you and me. We have been unfair and dishonest. Please don't be mad at her. She was only trying to help me. She should not have helped me." "Roland don't say that, of course I should help you. You're my brother and I love you." "Mark's your husband and you should love him more. Livvy, I'm leaving. I'll figure this out by myself." " Roland, you can't leave. You can't do this by yourself." "Roland, don't go. I don't know what's going on, but I know that it must be really serious if Livvy is willing to lie to me to protect you." Olivia could not believe her ears. Mark was being so compassionate. She would not have expected less from him. Mark's compassion for others was reason number one million and one that she loved him. Though she knew that the conversation between she and her husband was far from over, she also knew that as always he would come through for her. " This problem is between Livvy and me. It has nothing to do with you. I would never forgive myself if you left here and something happened to you. Livvy would never forgive me." Mark threw Olivia one last glance as he turned to go upstairs. She averted his glare and answered softly. "I'll be up in a few minutes." Turning her full attention back to Roland she spoke gently but sternly. " You will not leave this house. You will not do this by yourself. You are not alone. I will handle Mark and if need be Joan too. I don't want you to worry about anything. Just concentrate on Friday. We just have to make until Friday. Two days Ro, and this could all be over. Two days. We have come this far and we can't go back now. It's getting late. You need to rest. Go to bed Roland. I'll see you in the morning." " Good night Livvy. Thanks for everything. I love you." Roland slowly retreated up the stairs leaving his sister alone with her thoughts. Everyone would rest in her house tonight except her. Maybe Mark was right. Had she done something evil? Had she convinced Roland to go along with the plan for her own selfish reasons? Did she really dislike Joan that much? For the first time the weight of the situation hit Olivia like a ton of bricks. For the first time, since this whole nightmare had began, Olivia allowed the tears to flow. She cried for her husband, for her daughter, for Roland, for her mother, for Joan and for herself. She cried for nearly half an hour then regaining her composure, she went upstairs to face her husband.

Chapter 8:

Joan was the last person that either Roxy or Pamela wanted to see. Every since Roland had shared his secret with them all of the wives had avoided her like the plague. But, now here they were face to face with her at the exchange. There was no where for them to go. She was walking straight towards them. They exchanged a worried glanced and laced their pinkies together remembering their promise to Roland. In their sweetest army wives voices they both sang "Hey, Joan hi are you doing?"

Joan knew that there was no use in trying to get any information out of these two either. Denise had pretty much hung up on her and Claudia Joy balked and hurried off to pick up Emmaline when she had tried talking to her in Michael's office this morning. She knew this meeting with Pamela and Roxy would go the same way. They all knew something. She could tell, but none of them would betray their friendship to Roland. Roland was so lucky to have such loyal friends. Roland was Joan's best friend. He was keeping something from her, but she did not know what. She had decided that she would just have to make things happen herself. The phone lines to Roland had gone dead again. She knew that she would not be lucky enough to have Lexxie answer a phone for a second time. She had to see Roland face to face. He would be here on Monday. She just had to wait two days, and then she would get the answers that she wanted. Right now, she just had to get through a friendly exchange with one and two. "Hey, ladies, how are you?" Roxy spoke first. "We're doing really great. Missing our husbands like crazy though. Any word on when they might be returning?" " Well, that's classified information. When you need to know the army will tell you." Joan now turned her attention to Pamela who had been avoiding making eye contact. " Hey, I heard your show today. It was really very good. You seem as if you've been doing it for years. The major made a good choice in picking you." Pamela seemed shocked, but recovered quickly. " Thanks Joan, that was kind of you to say. How are you and the baby doing?" "Well, the baby's fine. I have another doctor's appointment next week." "Any morning sickness yet?" chimed in Roxy. "A little, but it's not bad. I have survived worse. I am a soldier." Pamela and Roxy exchanged knowing glances. Joan caught the look and asked, "What's that look about?" "You'll see, you'll see," said Pamela. " Yeah, just give it another month," added Roxy. Joan had no idea what they were talking about. Sometimes other woman, non – army woman baffled her with their silliness over such minor things. Women had been having babies forever. She could never figure out why other women made such a big deal out of it. "Listen Joan, we need to go. Sitters ain't cheap and we live on enlisted incomes. No, psychiatrist husband's salary to fall back on." The minute the words left her mouth Roxy regretted them, but she couldn't take them back. She watched as all of the color slowly drained from Joan's face. Pamela begin pushing Roxy and their cart forward. "Joan, we really have to go now. Good to see you again."

Safely inside the mini- van, both Pamela and Roxy breathed a sigh of relief. "I can't believe I said that." Roxy was so embarrassed that her checks had began to redden. "Well, as you would say we can't cry over spilled cows milk kicked over by a chicken." Pamela laughed loudly at her own joke. " Pamela Moran, are you making fun of me?" Roxy playfully punched her friend in the arm. "We had better hurry home. I think we should have a tribal meeting ASAP." "Yeah, I think you're right," said Pamela as she turned on the ignition and begin to pull slowly out of the parking space. As she glanced back in her review mirror she caught a glimpse of Joan leaving the exchange. Pamela had never seen anyone look so completely alone. For a brief moment, the idea entered her mind that maybe she should tell Joan the truth. Then she remembered her promise to Roland. They had all promised to keep each other's secrets. Roland had not betrayed her and kept quiet when she had been a surrogate. She owed him her silence, but still she couldn't remove the image of Joan's sad face from her mind.

Chapter 9:

Denise could tell that the seasons were changing. There was a new chill to the air as she stood waiting for Claudia Joy to answer the bell. Claudia Joy opened the door and greeted her with a warm and friendly smile. Roxy and Pamela were already in the living room enjoying their drinks. Pamela was laughing heartedly as Roxy described yet another escapade at the newly renovated Hump Bar. None of the ladies besides Roxy could bear to go back there since the explosion. Though Roxy always put on a brave front, she had been considering Trevor's suggestion of finding a job on post more and more.

"Claudia Joy" asked Denise, "what time is Roland's flight getting in tomorrow? Are you still picking him up at the airport?" Claudia Joy's smiled faded as she turned to Denise. "I already told Pamela and Roxy; he's not coming." "Not coming? Did he say why?" "Well, no he didn't, but I get the distinct feeling that it has everything to do with his not wanting to see Joan." Roxy who had just returned from the kitchen with a drink for Denise, let out a big sigh of relief. "So maybe this means they won't be getting a divorce." "Sorry Roxy," said Denise "but the divorce proceedings can still go on. Roland does not have to be present. His lawyer will be here on his behalf. They will just send him the papers to sign." Roxy thought for a moment. She hadn't realized it before, but Roland was her best male friend. She couldn't imagine life on post without him. She never said it openly to the others, but she had always secretly hoped that Roland and Joan could work things out. She missed having Roland around; they all missed him. "Well, you'd think he'd at least come to see us," said a dejected Roxy. "Hey, Pamela where are you going?" Roxy suddenly noticed that Pamela had collected her purse and keys and was headed for the door. "Lucus was feeling a little sick tonight. I think I had better go home and check on him." " Do you want me to come by and look at him?" offered a sympathetic Denise. "No, I think he will be fine. He is just suffering from a severe case of missing daddy." " That illness seems to be going around on post even in this house," commented Claudia Joy. " Emmaline has been a handful lately. She misses her sister now that Amanda is finally off at college. It doesn't help that Michael is here less and less because of all of his new responsibilities." " Is there anything we can do Claudia Joy?" asked Denise. "No, she'll be fine. She's a good girl. Besides, if I survived the last year of Amanda, I can survive anything. Pamela, you'd better get going. I hope Lucus feels better." " Yeah, I hope so too. See you guys tomorrow."

The whole trip over in the car Pamela had psyched herself up. She knew what she had to do. She just hoped that it would not cost her a dear friendship. But know, standing in front of the Burton quarters, she wasn't so sure. She would have walked away, but Joan suddenly appeared at door. " Pamela, I thought I heard someone out here. If you are looking for Roland, he's not here. In fact he's not coming. I just got a call from his lawyer." "No, actually Joan I knew he was not here. We knew he wasn't coming. I came to see you." Joan felt a twinge of pain in the pit of her stomach as she listened to Pamela. Roland had informed his friends personally that he wouldn't be coming. Yet, he had his lawyer to call her. It was really over. Tomorrow it would be official, but she knew her marriage was really over. " Umm Joan, may I come in?" " Pamela I'm sorry of course you can come in. You said you wanted to see me. I'm sorry, but I can't tell you anything about Delta Force. It's a members only club; I'm not a member. I don't even know where they are or what they are doing. I'm sorry." " As much as I would love to know where my husband is, I didn't come here to discuss my husband; I'm here to discuss yours." "Roland, what about him?" "Joan, I need to tell you something. Roland told us this in confidence, but I feel you have a right to know. I don't know if this will help the situation at all, but you should at least know." " Know what?" " Roland lied to you when he said that he had an affair with that reporter. He lied on purpose hoping that you would want to leave him." " So, it is true." " You knew already?" " Well, I meet the reporter, Vanessa, a few weeks back and she told me that she hadn't sleep with Roland. I've been trying to get a straight answer out of him for weeks, but he just dodges all my questions." " So, Joan what are you going to do?" " What can I do. Obviously, Roland wants out of this marriage. I mean look what he has done to get rid of me." "Do you want out?" " Well, no. But what can I do? My husband hates me." " Joan, Roland doesn't hate you. He's in love with you. Something else is going on." " I know. Pamela do you know what it is? Please, you have to tell me." " Joan, if I knew I would tell you, but I don't. You are going to have to go to the source on this one." "How, he ignores all of my calls. He won't come here. I'm running out of options." " Well Joan, if your mountain won't come to you; you have to go to the mountain."