Round two, here we gooo! Please leave me a review if you like it, because I live off of reviews. And if you have an idea you'd like to see here, please tell me in a review! I'd love to take all your thoughts into account.

"Leslie! Are you packed? We have to leave in five minutes!"

"Almost!" Leslie grabbed a Ziploc bag full of toiletries and threw it in her suitcase, then added her AirPods and a couple pairs of shoes.

"Leslieee!"

"Coming! I just need to get dressed!" Leslie pulled on a Patagonia T-shirt over her jeans. Grabbing her suitcase handle, she threw the strap of her purse over her shoulder and rushed downstairs. Her mother was already in the car, loading it with her two large suitcases. She glanced at Leslie's small baby blue carry-on. "You can fit all your stuff in there?" She asked dubiously.

"Mom, just because you need a lot of stuff doesn't mean I do. What'd you do, put your whole company in there?" She gestured to her mother's bags.

"Ha ha. Very funny. Get in the car." Medda put her daughter's suitcase in the backseat while Leslie climbed into the driver's seat. Medda glanced at her. "What are you doing?"

"Driving."

"Don't be silly!"

"Mom, we have a flight to catch. We can't risk getting a ticket and being late."

"My driving's just fine!"

"Mom, I saw your parallel parking yesterday."

"I was in a hurry!"

"Please, Mom."

Medda huffed and climbed into the passenger seat. "Just because you've never gotten a ticket doesn't mean you're a better driver."

Leslie chose to ignore her mother's comment as she pulled out of the driveway and onto the road.

Katherine hopped into her car and sent a text to Jack. I'm on the way to pick up the Larkins. Are we still on to bring them over for dinner?

She was pulling out when Jack sent her a reply. Yep!

She grinned, turned off her phone, and eased into the street.

Beep beep!

Leslie grinned at the sight of Katherine's car. "C'mon, Mom," she called, grabbing her luggage. She threw open the passenger door. "Kath!" She wrapped one arm around her friend's shoulders. Katherine hugged her back.

"Leslie! So glad you're here!" She looked up to see Medda coming behind her. "You too, Ms. Medda!" She got out of the car and gave them both a proper hug. "Get in and I'll take you to my apartment. Are you tired? We're going to dinner at Jack's house at 5."

"That's fine," declared Medda, climbing into the backseat and giving her baggage a shove.

Katherine led the Larkins to her swanky apartment. "Drink in my penthouse," she joked.

Leslie took a shower and dressed to get ready to see Jack. "I haven't seen him since we moved to California," she mused. She stepped out of her room. Kath and Medda were eating off a veggie platter in the kitchen. Her mother was wearing an elegant cobalt jumpsuit, and Katherine was wearing a chunky white sweater over orange leggings.

"I feel underdressed," joked Leslie, gesturing to her jeans and fleece.

"Oh, it doesn't matter," said Katherine, waving her hand. "I just felt like wearing this, and you know your mom."

"Elegance is important!" Insisted Medda, taking a bite of a carrot.

"Well, we should leave now if we want to be on time," said Katherine, glancing at her smart watch. "It's a little bit of a drive from here to the house he and Crutchie share."

"Crutchie? Who's that?" Asked Leslie.

"Oh, remember Colin Morris? He had an accident and can't use his left leg. He got a forearm crutch, and Jack just started calling him Crutchie."

"Oh! Colin was always so sweet! It's cool that I get to see him again!" Leslie stood up and grabbed her purse. "Well, let's go!"

"This is Jack's house?" Asked Leslie, looking at the round house that was nestled in a little grove of trees.

"Yup!" Katherine got out of the car and waited for the Larkins to do the same. Then she knocked on the door. "Jack?"

He opened the door. "Katherine!" He hugged her, then turned to face the Larkins. "Ms. Medda!"

"Jack Kelly, man of mystery! Come here and give me a hug!"

Jack obliged, wrapping his arms first around Medda, then Leslie. "It's been so long!" Said Leslie, cheerfully hugging him back. "You look so different!"

"You do, too!" He waved them inside the house. "Come on in and see my place!"

They entered a sun-drenched sitting room. The couches and coffee table were covered with loose sketches and broken pencils, and an easel propped up next to a window displayed a beautifully painted bowl of fruit. "Pretty," said Leslie, looking at the art.

Jack waved it off. "Just a boring assignment for class." He led them into the kitchen, where an apron-clad young man looked up from a bowl and smiled. Leslie noticed the forearm crutch he was using with his right arm.

"Hi!" He said, grinning. "I'm Crutchie! You must be the Larkins."

Medda stepped forward and heartily shook the boy's free hand. "So nice to meet you! I'm Medda."

"I'm Leslie," she added, waving.

"I'm glad you guys got in OK."

Jack sidled up to Crutchie and reached for a clump of shredded cheese on the plate next to him. Crutchie whacked his hand. "Leave it! I'm making my world-famous macaroni and cheese with chicken!"

Leslie grinned. She was pretty sure she was going to like it here.