The week dragged on, and Sarah began to feel anxious. Duane didn't call her. She wondered if she should call him.

Stupid, childish game, which wouldn't work out, she thought. She called.

"Hi," he said, sounding surprised.

"Hi, yourself. I wanted to thank you again. Without you, I'd be ignorant of what is in the Motown Museum."

"Same here."

"You must be busy this week. Do you want to come over tomorrow night?"

He was silent a minute. She froze, feeling a sort of dread she couldn't describe. Talk, damn it, she thought.

"Do you want to come over here?" he asked.

"That would be nice. If you're sure. It's OK, I understand you need to tread carefully when it comes to your daughters."

"No, they're grown up. They said they wanted me to have a life."

"OK, I'll see you." She hung up. She stared for a minute, trying to process what went through her mind or more, what went through her heart.

"Everything OK?" Joanna Shields was standing there.

"Yes, better than I had been thinking," Sarah said. "How is it going for you?"

"Good. AJ got a job with another company. Jax Enterprises. He's so happy. He feels like now we can do what we want. I still dread what the Quartermaines might do and say, though."

"Yes, it'll hurt him, possibly. But his brother Jason will be on his side, that will mean the most to him."

"Yes. Were you talking to your boyfriend on the phone? You sounded a little upset."

"I did? Yeah, he doesn't realize dating a woman younger than he isn't the worst type of problem in the world. He could be dating a Quartermaine."

Joanna laughed. "Sure. Just hang in there. Want me to call him and tell him all about it?"

"I think he's shy of his daughters" Sarah said. "They're grown up. It would be harder if they were kids. Wouldn't you think so? How did your children come to accept AJ? They have, haven't they?"

"Yes, though I guess it's easier with younger children. These grown ones can state their opinion right off."

"They want him to be happy, so he says. I really do understand, I do. His daughters are old enough to figure out what is going on. I understand him being shy of that. Even if it doesn't bother them, it has to feel strange to him. But his wife cheated on him and she gets to have her love life. But she's married. That's different. I understand and don't blame him, really. He invited me over his house. That means a lot."

"That does mean a lot," Joanna said, reassuringly. Even the ever-confident Dr.Webber could end up rambling over a man."Asking you over there."

"I met them," Sarah said. "They are cool, really. It's he that has the hesitation."

"But if they don't, that will help him with his."

"Yes," Sarah said. "I hope so."

"You really like this guy, don't you? I can see it in your face You'll work it out. If that's all your difficulty, he'll relax. Wasn't he the big risk taker? And maybe it has nothing to do with your age. He could feel that way if you were his age. He's been off the market so long, right?"

"Yes, thanks, Joanna, for listening to me. And your difficulties are worse."

Joanna laughed. "Quartermaines. The Family. That's why we call them the Mansons. The Family. And scary."

Sarah said, "When I was in school here, we called them Quarterbrains."

"I like it," Joanna said. "Why they can't let their children live their lives? It amazes me."

"Me too. Now AJ gave them an heir, thatmakes them evenmore controlling."

"Yes, you know, AJ wanting to move out and take Michael with him won't suit them at all. Sometimes I think we should move in. He thinks we'll feel trapped, but I sometimes think then we'll only be doing what they say they want, and they can't complain."

"I hope they take his working for Jax OK," Sarah said.

"They live with Skye working for another company OK, in fact, that company is Sergei Kanishchev's, and he is another member of the ELQ Board of Directors."

"They hate non-family board members," Sarah said. "I remember that. Back when Elizabeth dated Jason it was this guy, Sonny, who some say is a crook."

"Grandfather calls Jax the kangaroo and Sergei the Russian pirate."

"No surprise," Sarah said. "Good luck."

"Thanks. I really need it," Joanna said.