It's only half past seven and the kids are already awake. Emma can hear them through the guest room wall as they crash through castles made of cardboard bricks. Everything about Manny's lifestyle is excessive and the antithesis of every thought that has ever gone through Emma's head. She avoids thinking about most of it for her own sanity, but she draws the line at the cardboard bricks.

There are hundreds of them in the playroom, printed in bright primary colors. They are erected and toppled continuously all day every day and when they inevitably get stepped on and smushed beyond repair they're tossed out and a new package of them arrives at the door in the same week.

Manny buys more of them or Jay does. They're shipped inside yet another box and after assembly, stored against the wall of the playroom in aesthetically labeled acrylic containers.

This is how you know that you have made it when you have boxes for your boxes.

Emma fumes about this for several more minutes, until her alarm goes off. Unable to justify even one more second of this she finally forces herself up and into her robe as she pads softly down the hallway to Manny's office.

The door is open but Manny is standing at her desk and talking to someone rapidly over the phone. She's much more chill with her assistant. This must be one of the actors.

"Fine. Goodbye." Manny tosses her phone to the side while Emma thumbs through a stack of posters.

"Fortnight Volume Four: Part Two?" Emma says the title like it's a question and it is a question because truth be told she can't believe how much money this franchise makes. Enough money to pay for this house and then some. Enough money for matching houses for all the Santos-Hoggart munchkins. Enough money so that Manny's children and their children's children can all have playrooms equipped with stacks and stacks of colorful cardboard bricks.

"We're going to pull out all the stops for this one," Manny says. "I have to top Part One's finale or the fans will tear me limb from limb."

"It was hauntingly beautiful when the bride's dress went up in flames after she crossed the cathedral's threshold," Emma concedes.

"How are you doing?" Manny asks. "Are you ready for our big day?"

Degrassi Community School's reopening was Emma's pet project to distract her from the divorce. It had been five years since a tornado tore through Degrassi Street, leveling the school and everything around it, including Spinner's Dot. Five stressful years of rallying and rebuilding and accepting that some things were just lost.

"I'm nervous, " Emma admits. "I feel like I'm forgetting something huge. This has to go right. I need a win."

"Hey! Because of you, the community has a school again. No more bussing all those kids to Bardell and making them wear those awful school colors. Everyone's coming for the reopening. This is the biggest win in the history of wins."

"I couldn't have done it without you."

"All I did was sign some checks. You made it all happen. Without Emma Nelson, there wouldn't be a Degrassi."

Emma soaks in the praise, but it's short-lived.

"Is that what you're going to wear?" Manny asks.

Emma wears an expression that can only be described as put-out. "Not if I can borrow something from your closet."

Manny smiles. "Deal."

Emma makes her way downstairs after selecting a form-fitting cocktail dress in panther blue from Manny's closet.

Jay looks up from the bar where he is slowly and carefully combing what looks like an actual bird's nest from his daughter's hair and lets out a long whistle.

"What kind of school are you running, lady?"

"A nice one," Emma says. "What are you doing to Faye's hair?"

"Getting the gum out," Manny says stiffly. "You know, the gum she's not allowed to have?"

Cary laughs, receiving a stern look from his mother in return.

Jay's cheeks redden as he wiggles the comb with more determination.

"Mom gets these at the salon all the time. Best to let Auntie Emma take over from here."

Jay doesn't argue.

"So, remind me again of all the craziness happening this weekend?"

"I have a few things left I need to set up at the school. Meeting with the faculty and press for a cover story on the school's reopening. Training volunteers to give tours. Alumni banquet tonight. Snake's award ceremony is tomorrow. And then Monday morning the first classes in five years will be able to start their Degrassi journey."

"And you're not worried that's too much for any one human to pull off?"

"I am now," Emma says just as the rest of the gum comes loose.