Oh, hey Cara, Jessica jumped, looking guiltily at her sister in law who was standing in her parents' doorway. Cara had recently flown from London for a week long visit, and had already been in California for a couple of days.

Just looking for something in Mom's drawer, Jessica explained.

I didn't mean to startle you Jess, Cara apologized.I just didn't think anyone would be home, so I got a little panicked when I heard a noise from in here, Cara said while walking towards Jessica.

Wow, Cara, you look like you're almost ready to pop.

Thanks a lot Jess, Cara said, as Jessica pointed to her pregnant belly. I have three more months to go. And I was much bigger with Nathan.

You know, Todd said he wants a girl. But there's no way I'm getting that fat again, Jessica huffed. No offense Cara.

I found these, Jessica changed the subject, as she showed Cara the envelope.

Oh, Cara said, once she saw what Jessica was holding. Ummmm, Cara said, as a moment of awkwardness slivered between the two friends. Your Mom told me Liz sent those to her, she started, trying to break the ice.

Yes I see, Jessica said. Looks like she had a nice Christmas in New York with Nicholas Morrow and his parents. No wonder she didn't want to come here to be with all of us.

Actually Jess, Cara corrected her. They're in Connecticut.

Oh? Jessica replied. I see. So you knew about this then? Mom never tells me anything about what Liz is up to. I well…, Jessica averted her eyes. You kind of caught me. I came in here to see Mom's address book, to see if she has Liz's number.

And I found it. Mom's always too busy to give it to me, or she never knows where she wrote it. But it's right here. So what's going on with my sister and Nicholas? Jessica asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

Well, I know they've been spending time together. Cara said. It was her turn to avert her eyes.

Oh? So they're dating then? Jessica said, doing a poor job of hiding her curiosity.

I guess so, Cara responded slowly, that's what Steve told me, and when Liz was here, I knew she was eager to get back for New Years so I figured she was going to celebrate with someone. I now know that person was Nicholas Morrow.

Wait, Jessica said, her eyes narrowing. Liz was here? When?

Ummmm, Cara bit her lip, looking uncomfortable. She arrived the day after Christmas. She gave us a surprise. Enid Rollins drove her here. Your parents were ecstatic. She went back on the thirtieth. She told us she had New Years plans to get back to.

Hmmmm, if she knew anything about me trying to claim that money, I would have heard about it by now, Jessica thought in relief. Looks like I'm off the hook!

I was pretty busy while Liz was here, Cara continued. We didn't have much time to talk.

Well, it's nice of her to call me and spend time with me after Christmas, Jessica said sarcastically, a hurt look on her face. You'd figure she'd at least talk to me. She's turned into a Scrooge when it comes to me! If she was here on Christmas day, then I'd be able to use that as an excuse for not going over to Todd's parents' house. I could have stayed here, catching up with her while Todd went to the Wilkins'.

She looked closely at Cara's expression. They hadn't spent much time with each other since Cara first arrived two days ago. And her friend was so busy, they hadn't had much time for a heart to heart like they used to when they were teenagers.

Well Jess, you can't really blame Liz for moving away can you? I mean, you and Todd,? Cara shook her dark head. I never thought you'd do something like that Jess. I mean, when I first heard, I just couldn't believe it.

Jessica rolled her eyes. Please Cara, not you too.

Well, I wasn't going to say anything but come on Jess. Out of all the men in Sweet Valley, all the men in the world, why did it have to be your twin sister's ex boyfriend? It's almost like you purposely went out of your way to hurt her.

It wasn't like that Cara. We fell in love.

Right, like you fell in love with every other guy. Look Jess, it's true, we're not in high school anymore, Liz and Todd were a long time ago. But you betrayed her. The both of you betrayed her. And what do you and Todd have in common anyway? Don't you care? Don't you care at all that she'd be hurt? Elizabeth is the nicest person in the world and…..

Knock it off Cara, Jessica said angrily. I won't be guilt tripped into feeling bad about my relationship with Todd. I thought you were my friend Cara.

Cara sighed loudly. I am your friend. That's why I'm telling you this. You've been doing this for as long as I can remember. You've done it to Lila several times. You can't let anyone else have a guy interested in them if you're not right there, trying to get a piece of him. I hate to say this Jess, but if Steven weren't your brother, I really have to wonder if you'd be going after him too.

Cara!

It's true!

For you to even suggest such a thing is sick.

Sicker than marrying your sister's boyfriend? Cara countered. Look, I know they were over a long time ago. But Todd and Liz were always friends. They had something special. You had to swoop in and you destroyed that too. Don't you get it? The relationship she had with him will never be the same.

And how can you, with any kind of scruples, start having sex with the guy who dated your sister? How can you marry him? It's almost like you have this obsession with having every man wrapped around your little finger. You have to be first in their eyes. God forbid they already have a girlfriend. They have to want you more than they want anyone else.

Jessica put her hands on her hips. I'm tired of this conversation Cara. First Lila and Amy, and now you. I saw that geek Winston Egbert at the store the other day and he didn't even acknowledge me. He ignores Todd too! His former best friend. Can you believe that? He thinks he's so high and mighty now, especially since he and Maria Santeli are back together.

He's so smug that he's dating the mayor's daughter. I mean, he's managing the Dairi Burger for God's sake,! she said in exasperation. He was never my real friend anyway. And Maria. I can't believe I actually used to be friends with that girl. She had the nerve to stick her nose up at me. She and Winston are perfect for each other. He was always an annoying nerd who wanted to be one of the cool kids.

Jess!

Drop it Cara, I already got a lecture from Steven about my lack of ethics, blah blah blah. He acts like he's in a courtroom somewhere when he starts with his sermons. Well I am done with that. All of you are going to have to accept me and Todd together or not accept me at all. Being married to my lawyer brother must have gotten to your head! I don't want to hear it! Not from you, not from Steven!

Cara shook her head. Fine Jess, have it your way. But you're living in denial if you think Elizabeth will forgive you any time soon.

She'll forgive me, Jessica insisted. I'll make it right. You'll see. You'll all see. Deep down she loves me more than she loves anyone else in the world! Liz is just being stubborn, Jessica convinced herself, as she gave her sister in law a scathing look.

Now if you'll excuse me Cara, I have to go to the mall for a new dress that I plan on wearing tonight. See ya,! she said as she put the envelope of photos in her purse. She turned on her heel, and walked out of the door, leaving Cara staring at her back.


Caroline Pierce inhaled deeply and blew her red hair out of her face.

Where is it dammit,? she muttered to herself, as she pulled a latex glove higher up her wrist. I can't believe I'm doing this, she thought, as she opened another metal can of trash. What will Flynn say, when I tell him I lost my earring? Her fiancee had bought her the earrings on their six month anniversary. She smiled, thinking of his warm hazel eyes and sandy brown hair.

He wasn't dashingly handsome, or even the sharpest tool in the shed, but he was respectful, loving, and more than decent towards her than any other guy had been. He had a sense of fun, and a good sense of humor. The fact that his father was loaded from profiting off of other people's scandals didn't bother her in the least.

The Back Valley wasn't exactly superior reading material, but it had always been one of Caroline's favorite magazines. Caroline smiled, thinking of when they first met. She had been working in the men's section of Lytton and Brown, Sweet Valley's largest department store. She had been stacking sweaters on the shelf when she stumbled upon him making a mess with what she had just folded. Flynn had then asked her for his size, and her phone number.

Caroline sighed in frustration, inhaling the pungent odor of the garbage she was leafing through. Earlier in the day, she had been sitting in a doctor's office, waiting for a consultation with Dr Ray Spencer's partner, Dr Melvin. Now here she was, in the back of the complex, sifting through the day's trash, hoping to find the precious ornament.

Like Dr Spencer, Dr Melvin was new to Sweet Valley. He was a laser specialist, and together with his colleague, the two men were proving to be a valuable asset to enhancing the beauty of Sweet Valley's women. Caroline was interested in removing some of her freckles, and made an appointment as soon as she saw some before and after pictures of Dr Melvin's other patients.

Her fiancee had recently put a diamond ring on her finger, and she didn't want to walk down the aisle looking like Pipi Longstocking. On some days, she was too lazy to put on her sunblock, and the result was a mass of tiny pigmented spots scattered across her face and hands. Flynn had told her he loved her freckles, but Caroline insisted that she needed to get rid of them for their wedding.

The last time she saw the earring was in her reflection in the bathroom mirror at the doctor's office. She had gone back out to the reception area and sat down, waiting to be called. She had sat with the doctor, and listened to him explaining step by step on how he could even out her skin, and stressed the importance of protecting herself from the harsh rays of sunlight.

They had agreed that she would come in next week to begin the treatments, and Dr Melvin had given her a sample of a new sunblock that he had helped develop. It was only after she was sitting in her car on the freeway, that she noticed her earring was gone. After searching her car from top to bottom, Caroline had rushed back into the office, hoping that someone had seen it, only to hear that the place had just been mopped and vacuumed, and the contents had been placed outside in the trash. Caroline insisted that she'd go out back to look for it, and the receptionist had supplied her with some gloves before closing.

Yuck! Caroline exclaimed, when she found someone's chewed gum stuck to a paper cup. She was just about to open up another bag of trash when she heard a couple of voices coming in her direction.

I don't know what I'm going to do, Caroline heard, immediately recognizing the voice. What am I going to say? This man is a stranger to me! I'm supposed to meet him tomorrow, at the Valley Inn. I don't want to go back to that slimy hovel! The thought of entering that roach motel! Ugggghhh! Roger, I don't want to. He's even been in prison! I know he's my real father, but…..

Huh,? Caroline thought silently, as she ducked behind a large metal dumpster.

But what,? a male voice said. You don't want to meet him because he's poor and he doesn't shop on Rodeo Drive?

Yes! I mean no! I don't know. I'm just afraid to meet him. Grace told me his name. It's Gerald. Gerald Baker. Can you imagine that? Lila Baker. Ewww! That's a horrible name! Lila Fowler is so much more dignified.

He can't be that bad. Look Lila, just because someone doesn't have money doesn't mean you can't give them a chance! Although I'm not surprised. You shunned me for years when I didn't have a penny to my name! When I wasn't popular enough for you and your snotty minions. Jessica Wakefield, Cara Walker, don't think I'll ever forget that. Look, he's your biological father. You have to be somewhat curious about what he's like.

Ohmigod,! Caroline's heart started pounding in her chest at what she was hearing. You have got to be kidding me!

And yes, I know he's…..according to you…. a bum, Roger's voice rang out. But maybe if you talk to him, it won't be that bad? Lila, being poor, it's nothing to be ashamed of. He's probably going to be nervous too, to meet a daughter he didn't raise.

Well, I still don't want anyone to know he's my father! You haven't said anything have you?

Of course I haven't!

Will you come with me? I…..I don't want to go alone, Lila's voice was low, and apprehensive.

Sure Lila, if you want me to…

Caroline heard the sound of someone replacing the lid on one of the large bins, and two pairs of footsteps walking away on the gravel path. A fly buzzed around her mouth, that was hanging open in shock. She snapped back to attention when it almost flew into her eye.

Wait till I tell Flynn's dad about this,! she grinned wickedly. Lila is not George Fowler's real daughter? Talk about being in the right place at the right time. Lila's always been a bitch to me. The only reason she's ever tolerated me is because I usually had the juiciest dirt on everybody! Well, someone's got to take her highness down a peg or two. And who better to do it than me?...…

Caroline removed the latex gloves from her hand, and threw them in one of the bins, her search for the earring forgotten. This new piece of information that she had found was surely more precious than the lost piece of jewelry...