"Oh no… the beans are boiling over. Andy, what do we do?'

"Just push the can to the edge of the grill where the fire isn't so hot."

"The hot dogs are gonna burn. If we wait for mom, they'll be black."

"Cass, transfer them to the plate on that rock. The fire will keep them warm enough and they wont burn."

"Mom is so not going to eat hot dogs."

"Not even the veggie dogs?"

"Really? You brought veggie dogs?"

"No. I got them from the folks a few sites over. I traded them for a couple of beers."

"This camping stuff is so cool."

"It's a shame the party must come to an abrupt end."

"Mom!"

"Miranda!"

"Mom, come on. We've been waiting dinner for you."

"Really. You've prepared Boef à la Bouguingnonne?"

"Miranda…"

"No. You do not say anything. I am here for the sole purpose of retrieving my daughters. I am not here to socialize or play catch up. What were you thinking? You just take my children over state lines without any consideration to me? Were you just too busy to call me?"

"I thought…"

"No you did not. There was a time I thought you did have a brain with which to think. Now, I find I was merely delusional. Caroline, Cassidy, let's go."

"Mom…"

"I do not want to hear it, Caroline. Get your things and get to the car, now."

"Fine. Come on Cass."

"Miranda, I'm…" "What? Sorry? You were always so quick to apologize. I was used to that sentiment from you. Until your final offense, of course. You never got around to that apology."

"Miranda…"

"It's a bit late for apologies now, Andréa. I am aware my daughters were a bit overly precocious today. I am also fully aware of their ability to manipulate easy marks. I will refrain from having charges brought against you, but I require you maintain a distance from my family. Is that understood?"

"But I…"

"I insist on it."

"We're ready, mom."

"Yes, well, let's go then."

"Bye Andy. Thanks for the adventure while it lasted."

"Your welcome Cass. Sorry you can't stay."

"Bye Andy. I'm sorry I got you in trouble."

"It's ok, Caroline. I know there was no malicious intent."

"Girls, you know how I love to wait."

"Ok. Bye Andy."

"I still don't see why you had to be so mean. Andy didn't do anything. Me and Cass are the ones to blame for all this."

"And don't think I have forgotten your involvement for a moment."

"But mom. Why did you tell Andy to stay away from us? It's not like she's gonna seek us out to corrupt our morals. Hell, she probably wouldn't have looked us up again anyway."

"Language, Cassidy."

"Can't you take it back?"

"I don' think.."

"Mom, Andy's innocent. Don't crucify her because we acted up."

"Caroline, what will you have me do? Call the woman and invite her over for dinner?"

"Well, you did ruin ours."

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Well, what if just Cass and I invite her out for pizza, or something?"

"No. I obviously can not leave the two of you alone with her. God knows what you might convince her to do."

"So, can we invite her to dinner."

"Fine. Invite her, if you must. But I must insist on being present. Perhaps a Sunday dinner."

"Thanks mom."

"Don't mention it."

""Cassidy, I really don't think it's a good idea."

"Come on, Andy. Mom really did approve. You can call her if you don't believe me. Her only stipulation was that she be present."

"And you think that's going to convince me?"

"She'll be on her best behavior. I promise."

"Cass…"

"It'd mean a lot to me and Caroline. Please, Andy?"

Oh, alright. But if your mother starts in on me, I wont be held responsible."

"Understood. So can you make it Sunday?"

"Yeah. I think my schedule is open. What time?"

"Three o'clock ok? We usually do early dinner on Sundays."

"Sure. That's fine. I'll be there at three."

"Thanks Andy."

"Bye Cass."

"Hey Andy."

"Hi Caroline."

"You brought wine?"

"A guest is supposed to bring an offering. So I cashed in some stocks and bought a couple of bottles."

"Ha. Nice. Ooh, mom really likes this stuff."

'Yeah, I know. Every little bit…"

"Andy!"

"Hey Cass. How's it going?"

"Great. Thanks for coming."

"My pleasure, I hope."

"Don't worry. She's in a good mood today."

"Good to know. So, what's for dinner?"

"If the three of you would care to move beyond the foyer, we can proceed to the dining room and discover exactly what is for dinner."

"We're coming, mom."

"Hello, Miranda."

"Andréa. Lovely to see you again."

"Thank you for having me."

"Of course. Please come in."

"Andy, you don't have to help clean."

"It's ok, Cass. I really don't mind."

"Mom doesn't usually take work calls on Sundays. It must be really important."

"When is it not?"

'Caro, you know mom has been trying."

"Yeah, well, I think she can try a little harder."

"Hey, you guys are finishing up high school this year, aren't you?"

"Yeah. Graduation in officially in three weeks."

"Wow. What are your plans?"

"First the summer off."

"Yeah, our last summer off, ever."

"Unless you go into education."

"Hey, yeah. Never thought of that. But I'm planning to go into business management."

"And I'm going for a fine arts degree. I don't know if I have what it takes to make it with my own talent, but I can always be involved with art in some way."

"Too true. You should meet my friend Lily. She's been managing art studios for ever. She could probably give you a few pointers from all she's learned."

"Cool. Do you think I could really meet with her?"

"Sure. I can give her a call and set something up. Maybe a lunch date."

"Sweet. I would really appreciate it."

"No problem Caroline. I'll just give her your number and the two of you can work something out. Cass, you need a hand with those?"

"Nah. Thanks. I was just going to put them in to soak. I'll scrub 'em out later. You interested in playing something on the wii?"

"I don't think so."

"Oh, come on. We promise to go easy on you."

"Oh, thanks. Actually, I should get going. I still have to get some laundry done."

"Who are you kidding. We know you're doing free lance. You can make your schedule. I bet you can eke out some time tomorrow for laundry. Maybe before your afternoon 'stories'."

"I do not watch soap operas. In fact, I don't watch any television."

"That is a great weight off my shoulders. Perhaps there is a chance for you yet."

"Laugh at me if you must, Miranda. But at least I am not tied to my work 24-7."

"Yes, your work ethic is impressive. Jumping from one story to the next. Touching as many different publications as possible. God forbid you should commit yourself to a single project for more than a headline."

"What are you saying? Because I don't have myself contracted with a single publication, I'm not professional?"

"What I am saying is, I do not believe you have proven yourself to have the temerity and will to see a project, or a story through to the bitter end."

"I finish all my articles."

"Just typing 'the end' does not mean you have finished your article. Your writing has always been nothing more than a tease. You flit around the topic with hints and allegations, you never suss out the answers to the questions you so eloquently devise. In truth, you simply quit."

"I do not. I do my research, I find my answers, and I report them. Even my opinion pieces are complete in their arguments. And if my writing is so terrible, why is it I have been nominated for five separate journalism awards."

"And how many have you walked away with?"

"Two, thank you very much."

"Oh, how impressive."

"Mom. Stop it."

"It's ok, Cass. I should be leaving anyway. Thanks for having me for dinner. Maybe I can pay you back with a pizza night. Caroline, I'll call Lily. She'll probably get in touch with you in a day or two. She just loves sharing her knowledge with an eager audience. Miranda, as wonderfully argumentative as ever. Good night."

"What was that? You promised."

"I'm sorry, Caroline. I just…"

"You were just a bitch."

"Cassidy, I will not be spoken to in this manner in my own home."

"Fine. Let's go outside. I can not believe you. We were having a perfectly lovely evening and you had to blow it."

"I did not mean to 'blow it'."

"What is wrong with you? Can't we ever have friends without you tearing them down?"

"You consider Andréa your friend?"

"Why else would we invite her over? Why would we run off to go camping with her? Yes, we consider her a friend. Or at least someone we would like to have as a friend."

"Cassidy, don't you think she is a bit too old to be your friend?"

"Are you for real? Too old? She's what? Thirty? That's only fifteen years older than us. You wanted to be her friend and your like twentyfive years older."

"What are you talking about?"

"You liked her, once. We aren't clueless. We saw how you were back then. You really liked her and it hurt you when she left. Is that why you had to be such a jerk tonight? Is that why you get so angry when she's involved with us? Are you still mad at her about Paris?"

"Cassidy, I think you are in waters that are way over your head. I suggest you climb on a life raft and get out."

"Whatever. I'm going up to bed. Thank you for ruining our evening."

"Don't be upset mom. Cass will get over it. Although, I think she did bring up a few good points. Maybe you should think about it. I'm going up, too."

"Yes. Goodnight, Caroline."

"Goodnight, mom."