Tuesday.

Aimee walked into school concealing the picture she found of her dad and the woman named Abby safely in her book. The photo fascinated her beyond reason, she had never seen that expression on her father's face before and she was determined to find out who Abby was and if she still lived in Chicago. She thought if she could find Abby, her dad would be happy again like he was with her mother; more than happy.

She looked for Joey before the first bell rang, but didn't see him amongst the mass of other students; so she walked by herself to Mr. Innes's dungeon of a classroom. Sitting down, she spotted Michael sitting in front of her. Aimee tapped his shoulder.

"Where is Joey?" she whispered. Michael turned around and shrugged his shoulders.

"Thought he was with you." He whispered back, a little resentful.

"No, he wasn't." she paused, aware of Michael's tone of voice. "Are you mad at me?"

"It's nothing, sorry. I've just been seeing less and less of him since you came." Michael said before turning back around. Aimee felt hurt.

The leaves had begun to turn a golden yellow and fiery red. Aimee pulled her scarf tighter around her neck as she ate the soup the maid fixed for her that morning. She pulled out the book that held the picture and opened it to read the next chapter. A hard wind blew and turned the pages of her book. The picture flew out and took flight. Aimee chased after it. It landed in a pot of dead tulips. Another hand found it first; it was Joey's. Aimee quickly snapped it back.

"What is that?" Joey asked, innocently curious.

"Where've you been?" Aimee asked, trying quickly to change the subject.

"The Dean was informing me that I made NHS…what are you hiding?" Joey reached his hand towards the picture that was flapping in the wind under Aimee's arm.

"Don't!" she almost screamed. She didn't want Joey to see the picture; it was too personal.

He looked at her strangely and turned to leave. Aimee grabbed his arm to stop him. "I'm sorry, I just, and it's private." She stammered.

Joey looked at her and remembered his father's words. "My first soccer game is on Friday." He started. Aimee smiled, relived that he didn't push her for information.

"I know." She flung her hair back; the wind was blowing it around. "I was thinking about going."

"You were?" he responded in a playful mocking tone. He dug his hands into his coat pocket. Aimee nodded her head in agreement. "You mocking me?"

"Of course not." Joey said. They looked at each other for a moment, but Aimee broke his gaze and looked down at the leaves surrounding her shoes. "Maybe, we can get something to eat after the game?"

Aimee looked back up at him, trying to find the words to say yes. "I have to ask my dad." She ended up saying.

"Do you want to go inside? It's getting really cold." Joey said, acknowledging the fact she needed to ask her dad first. He offered his hand to her and she took it, leading her inside.

That afternoon, when she came home, she found a brown leather journal sitting on her bed. Aimee flung her bag onto the floor and jumped on her bed, examining the journal. On top was a note in handwriting she barely recognized: Here is your father's journal from before he met your mom. I know you were in the library last night. If you have any questions about your father's past, feel free to ask me. I know more than you think. Andrew

She smiled at the letter and opened to the first page. In her father's neat handwriting, she found the dates 1994-2003 written across the page. Aimee read the first couple of entries then flipped through almost half the journal in search of Abby. She was about to give up in November of '99, but then turned the page one last time to 2000 and saw Abby's name.

Carol delivered her twins today. We found Luka outside, kneeling in the snow trying to bring her in. We had to rush her up to the OR after the first twin was born. I met a nurse there named Abby. I think she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen and I hope to see more of her. I don't think she saw me though. Oh well, it's getting late and tomorrow is another day.

JCIII

A year later she found:

Abby and I sat by the lake today. She's not happy with Luka. I feel horrible though; I don't think she'll ever talk to me again. I told her I wasn't one of her girlfriends she could come and talk to about her boy problems, but deep inside I really wanted to be with her. Luka doesn't deserve her. She just gave me a cold stare and walked away. Maybe all I can be is a friend to her right now. I don't like wishing bad things for her and Luka; I just want her to be happy.

JCIII

Without really reading any more, she found every page that contained Abby's name and marked it with a blue sticky note from her desk. Aimee closed the journal and slid it underneath her bed. She looked at the picture once more and placed it back into her book.

Wednesday.

Joey woke up to a note taped to his forehead. His mom liked to do this when she and his dad were at work in the morning. He peeled it off his head and read it. All it was, was a smiley face and a picture of toast and eggs pointing to a badly drawn picture of a microwave. He threw off his covers and walked down stairs in his boxers. Joey found the toast and eggs in the microwave still warm and ate them in about three bites.

He hoped Aimee could give him an answer today. Not that he had alternate plans, but because he just wanted to know. He jogged his morning jog as always, and as always he found his aunt and uncle welcoming the rising sun. Joey quickly changed into his school uniform and took the El to school because he was running late. He found Aimee staring at the picture again as he sat down next to her in Physics. He tried to get a good look at it, but she put it into her book when she saw him. He knew it was none of his business, but still, he was curious.

In their theology class, Mrs. Porter had asked the class to prepare a slideshow presentation on the sacrament of marriage using their own families as an example. Aimee had been loathing this assignment for a week, but stood up confidently when her name was called. She placed the first slide onto the projector and clicked it on. "This is my mom and dad before they were married in an African village called Kisangani; they were aid workers."

Aimee then proceeded with wedding photos and family pictures just as the syllabus had asked. Towards the end of her presentation, Joey could tell she was getting a little tense. She began to recite the wedding vows, giving an example of how her mom and dad exemplified one particular vow (as asked on the syllabus). "…and till death do us part." Aimee paused, "And then, she died."

Aimee looked out into the classroom, tears trying to escape the corners of her eyes, but she wouldn't let them. "Can I be excused madam?" she asked Mrs. Porter before walking slowly to the door almost about to burst out in tears.

Before Joey could offer any kind of condolences, the door closed and his name was called. He walked up to the projector and put down a transparency of his mom. He looked towards the door once last time to see if Aimee was all right, then clicked it on. "This is my mom," he began, "Abigail Kovac, but her friends and family just call her Abby…"

Joey didn't see Aimee at lunch and couldn't find her on the way to soccer practice either. Michael had to meet his mom at the downtown library and so Joey took the El to the ER. He spotted Frank and Jerry at the front desk and gratefully accepted a chocolate chip cookie. Joey walked into the lounge to find his mom and dad separating from a kiss.

"Do you guys ever stop?" Joey said. Abby and Luka came up to their son and engulfed him into a group hug. Luka laid his head on top of Abby's and held them closer.

"I love you guys." He barely whispered.

Abby took a step back and gave her son a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'm off at six Joey." She said before exiting the lounge. He looked over at his dad.

"Aimee lost her mom." Joey said.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Luka said, grabbing a mug to put his coffee in.

"Her mom died in Paris. That's why she moved here, to Chicago. I think her dad used to live here or something." Joey said, scratching his head; a nervous habit he picked up from his mom. Luka noticed this and smiled.

"You know Jo, sometimes people need to free themselves of familiar surrounding to cope with their loss; especially one so great as that. I mean, imagine losing someone you love so-"

"I get it dad. It's just, I dunno, she keeps looking at this picture and she won't let me see it and-"

"Maybe it's of her mother." Luka suggested. Joey nodded. "Sorry Jo, but I need to get back to work."

"How long are you on for?"

"I'll try to be home before ten ok."

"Ok, thanks." Joey said after his dad left. He decided to finish his homework in the lounge and wait for his mom to get off work.