Lita was laughing when she caught up to Morrison in the crowded hallway.

He turned. "What's so funny?"

"Stop a minute." She started to smooth his hair into place. "You look like you just stuck your finger in a light socket. Your hair is sticking up all over." She finished patting his hair down.

He laughed as his face reddened. "I'm glad you caught me before I walked into math class."

"It might've destroyed your reputation," she said dramatically.

He laughed again. "I just hope no one saw me."

"So, how was the test?" she asked.

He made a cutting noise as he ran his finger across his throat. "I bombed it."

"It wasn't that hard."

"Maybe yours wasn't, but don't forget, you're the brain in math." He grabbed her arm. "And English, science, French . . . "

She playfully punched his shoulder. "I'm not that brainy."

"Sure," he teased.

"Well, I could tutor you," she offered.

"Didn't we try studying together before?"

"We'll just try harder. You don't want to go to summer school."

He shuddered. "No way!"

They stopped at Lita's locker, where she dropped off a book and picked up two more.

"Hi, guys!" Heather Miller waved. "Wait up!"

Morrison and Lita watched Heather make her way through the crowd. "I forgot to tell you what I heard this morning," he whispered.

"What?" Lita asked her curiosity piqued.

"I'll tell you later," he answered as Heather reached them.

"So what have you been up to?" Heather asked them.

"Not too much," Lita replied. "My Mom's planning Serena 's graduation party and all that stuff." She yawned. "And I'm trying to get ready for finals. What about you?"

"I'm getting ready to move."

"When are you leaving?"

"Right after finals."

"Your mom must be upset. She's lived here her whole life."

"So where you moving?" Morrison asked.

"Washington."

"D.C.?"

"No, the state," she answered.

"Where?"

"A little town near Seattle."

"Oh." He smiled. "You'll love it there."

"I hope so."

"So, have you been seeing anyone special?" Lita asked.

Heather's face reddened. "Sorry, I gotta go," she quickly said. She rushed down the hall and soon disappeared into the crowd of students.

"What's with her?" Lita asked as they walked down the corridor. "Does she think she's better than everyone else because she's getting out of this crummy school?"

"That's what I wanted to tell you," Morrison said. "She's pregnant."

"What?" Lita exclaimed, caught completely off guard by his announcement.

He stopped. "Here's my class."

"Morrison, wait!" Lita yelled as he entered the noisy room. She wanted details.

"I can't. If I'm late one more time, I'll get detention. I'll see you after school."



Irene knocked on Lita's bedroom door.

"Come in!"

She smiled at her youngest, sprawled out on her bed with books and notebooks strewn about the room. "Busy?"

Lita rolled onto her back and stared up at the ceiling. "Heather's pregnant."

Irene blinked in surprise. Lita never had been one to beat around the bush. When she had something to say, she just came out with it. But this news shocked Irene.

"I can't believe it," Lita continued. "I know we aren't as close as we used to be, but I thought she would've confided in me."

"Are you more upset because she's pregnant or because she didn't tell you?" Irene sat on the edge of the bed.

"Oh, I don't know." She looked at her mother. "Both, I guess. It's just stupid!" She punched a pillow. "She used to always say that she would never get involved with sex like a lot of the girls in school. Now she's just like them!" Her voice was filled with disgust.

Irene wasn't quite sure what to say. She quietly observed her daughter, silently thanking God that Lita wasn't in the predicament Heather was. "What did she tell you?" she finally asked.

"Nothing. That's just it." She sat up. "She has everyone believing she's going to some fantastic new school."

"She never told you anything? Then how do you know it's not just some terrible rumor?"

"Because Morrison told me."

"How did he find out?"

Lita punched the pillow again. "You know how guys are. Supposedly Heather messed around with a few guys. They told Morrison in gym class."

"Boys tend to brag whether they actually scored or not." She ran her hand lightly over the bedspread. "I wouldn't be too hard on Heather, at least until you know the facts," Irene cautioned.

"And if it's true?"

"Then she's going to need your friendship more than ever."

"But, Mom, I don't want her to think that what she did is okay. It wasn't just one guy!" She threw her hands up in disgust. "You should see how some of the girls in school act--like it's an honor. I can see if you made a mistake, but it's still stupid. She didn't care who she was with and even if she only did it once, you'd think she would've used some kind of protection."

"I know, honey, but I still think you should be nice to her. Who knows? You might just make the difference between her getting her life back on track or her continuing this life style. Think about it."

Lita sighed. "Yeah, but it still makes me mad. I don't know what to say to her." She let her breath out in a rush. "And how do I bring it up since she doesn't think anyone knows?" She looked at Irene.

"Just tell her you heard some rumors and take it from there." She patted Lita's hand. "Come on and get ready. We're going out for dinner, remember?"

"Thanks, Mom."

"For what?"

"For listening."

Irene smiled. "I'm glad you confide in me, Lita. You don't know how that makes a parent feel."



"Need any help, Mom?" Serena asked.

Irene grabbed a dishtowel and wiped her hands. "No, I think I have everything under control." Turning to Serena, she asked with a smile, "Are you all set for graduation tomorrow night?"

"Yes," she grinned. "And especially since Darien is home."

"How'd he do this year?"

"Good. He said it's tough, but he'll make it." She lightly ran her fingers over the counter top. "We're going to go out tonight."

"So what else is new?" She winked as she saw the sparks of love shining in her daughter's eyes.

"We won't be late, though, because I have too much to do tomorrow." She picked up a raw carrot. "So, is Ken coming to my graduation?"

"No," she answered softly.

"Why?"

Irene picked up on the hurt in Serena 's voice. "It's not that he doesn't want to," she explained. "We just felt it would be better if he didn't come around this weekend with your father in town."

"So? Dad doesn't have any right to control your life."

"It's not that. You know how critical he is. I don't want anything to ruin your day."

"You mean because he thinks he's the most important person in the universe." She bit into the carrot. "He just better not say anything to Darien."

"He's not going to approve of anyone you get involved with." She observed Serena 's approaching dark mood.

"He thinks he's right about everything. I can't even talk to him," she said, exasperated.

"He is your father. I don't know what to tell you," Irene answered. She knew that her reply was inadequate, but Serena was at the age where she had to set the terms for whatever relationship she and her father would have on an adult level.

"Some help you are," Serena snapped. "You don't even care about my feelings. All you care about is yourself!"

"What did you say?" Irene asked sharply. "It's not my fault. I can't control his actions. I just tolerate him and I certainly don't intend to let him interfere in my life. And as for me not caring about your feelings and only thinking about myself, that is the cruelest thing you could ever say to me." Tears sprang to her eyes. "It makes me wonder why I even try sometimes."

"You never listen!"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"If you would've listened to me, you would've never married Alexander!"

"Serena, we all make mistakes. I thought I was giving you and Lita a normal family. I didn't know things would turn out as they did. I certainly wouldn't have married him if I had known what type of man he really was. But I got us out of it, didn't I?"

"Yeah," she muttered, "but you really have bad taste in men." Her voice was icy. "We had to go through hell before you left him!"

"What is the matter with you?"

"Nothing. Just leave me alone." She stomped out of the room.



"I don't know what to do, Amy," Irene confided. "I feel like everything is falling apart when it should be coming together."

"You've got to take control. Serena is an adult now and she's frightened. Look at all the changes about to happen in her life. If she has a problem with her father, then she needs to confront him. She can't push it onto you," she said firmly. "You have a good relationship with your daughters and you're a good mother." She looked at her friend closely. "You've always been there to fight their battles for them. Now that you're starting to let go and let them stand on their own, they tend to resent you for it. They want their independence, but they also want you to clean up their messes. They're torn between two phases of life."

"It's just so frustrating. The more I do, the less I feel appreciated." Her voice echoed the defeat she felt in her heart. "I feel like a failure."

Amy patted her hand. "Did anyone ever say being a parent would be easy? Just remember that you've done your best. You've done more for those girls than most parents would do. And deep down, they know it, too."

"I feel like we're drifting apart."

"No, you're just entering a new phase. And they probably have their concerns about Ken."

"I suppose you're right," she answered slowly, "but they barely know Ken."

"Maybe they feel pushed out of your life."

"I certainly hope not."

"Could be since they're getting older they think you're replacing them with him."

"I want him to join our family, not replace anyone."

"So plan an evening with just the four of you. Let them see how he treats you."

"Things are hectic right now with Serena 's graduation."

"Wait a couple of weeks," she suggested. "Is Ken coming to Serena 's party?"

"No."

She raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Why?"

"Gene is coming out for the weekend. I don't want to give him any more fuel to use against me."

"Irene, when are you going to wake up and quit letting your past rule your future? You made two bad choices with men, but now you have a chance for happiness. What are you afraid of?"

"I'm not afraid of anything." She clasped then unclasped her hands. "Maybe I am. I don't think I could take any more rejection. Gene puts me down all the time. No matter what I do. But never to my face--he tells the girls."

"Then they have to stand up to him and let him know they aren't going to tolerate it any longer."

"I know you're right," Irene agreed. "I'll just be relieved when this weekend is over. I want it to be special for Serena."

"It will be," her friend assured her. "And I'll be there to give you moral support." She smiled. "Let's go out to the kitchen. I've got some new recipes I want to copy for you."



"It's been a long time since I've been here!" Heather exclaimed. "I like your new wallpaper."

"So, how have you been feeling?" Lita asked.

She shrugged. "I don't know--tired. But I really crammed for finals. At least I passed everything."

"When are you leaving?"

"Next week." She plopped onto the bed.

Lita sat next to her. "I feel bad that we drifted apart this year." She looked into Heather's eyes.

"That's okay," Heather answered as she directed her gaze away from Lita's penetrating glare. "I guess we just went in different directions. But I'll always consider you my best friend."

"Why?" Lita asked, surprised.

Heather smiled shyly. "Because you're so honest. Some of my new friends only say things they know you want to hear because they don't want to offend you in case they need something from you later."

"So why do you hang out with them?"

"I wanted to change my image." She laughed bitterly as she lowered her eyes and stared at the print bedspread. "I guess it worked, but not the way I had hoped it would. I just wanted to be cool." She ran her hand over the fabric. "I was stupid," she muttered.

"You'll have a chance to make a fresh start when you move."

"I suppose."

"You'll meet all kinds of new people," Lita said enthusiastically. "Maybe you'll even find a great new boyfriend."

"I don't think so," she said in a low voice. "You're lucky. Morrison's the greatest." She finally raised her eyes. "I was wondering about something."

"What?"

"Have you and Morrison ever done it?"

Lita's face reddened. "Of course not! I'm not that stupid--" She abruptly caught herself when she saw the ashamed expression come across Heather's face. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that," she feebly apologized.

"Why don't you just tell me you know?"

"Know what?"

"Lita, quit playing games. You wouldn't be apologizing otherwise." She looked at her friend sharply. "That's why you asked me over. Do you want to know the details?" Her voice was cold.

"I don't know what you want me to say. Why didn't you tell me?" she asked. "Look at all the secrets we've shared. Why couldn't you just tell me instead of letting me find it out from the school gossips?"

Heather started to cry. "Because I didn't want you to think I was a slut and look down on me," she answered in a cracked voice as the tears flowed freely from her eyes.

"I would never think that! I just can't believe it happened to you. You always said you were going to wait."

"I know," she sniffed. "I was stupid. What did I prove? It certainly didn't make me cool or better liked, except maybe by the guys." She wiped the tears from her cheeks. "And now none of them will even talk to me."

"I'll always be your friend, Heather," she said softly. "You can count on me."

"Thanks," she sniffed.

Darien put his arm around Serena 's shoulder. "So are you nervous about tomorrow?"

"Not really. I just don't feel like dealing with my Dad all weekend. He gets on my nerves. Nothing I do ever makes him happy. And he never likes anyone." Her voice was filled with exasperation.

"At least I'll finally get to meet him."

"That's what I'm afraid of."

He laughed. "I'm a big boy. I'm sure I can handle it."

"You don't know how he is," she said frustrated. "He can twist the smallest thing anyone says and make it come out bad."

"So, I won't let him." He stroked her bare arm. "You haven't seen him much, have you?"

"Fortunately, no. You'd think he'd be proud of Lita and me and spend the little time we see each other having fun. But no, he has to constantly nag us. The worse part is that he thinks he's perfect."

"Maybe he's jealous."

"Of what?"

"I don't know. Because your mom got to raise you? Maybe he feels left out of your life," Darien reasoned.

"It's his own fault. He's the one who dumped us."

"Don't worry. Just relax and forget about him."

"It's not easy. Just thinking about him makes me angry."

"Is your mom nervous about him coming?"

"Not nervous. He dumps on her the same way. Only not to her face, but to Lita and me. He gets our whole family upset. I don't know--it's hard to explain." She laid her head against his shoulder.

"It sounds like there's more bothering you."

"I had a fight with my mom."

"Why?"

"Because of Dad."

"I'm sure she knows you're under pressure and don't really mean it."

"That's not the point! It's what my Dad does. He doesn't even have to be around to cause trouble."

"So? The fight with your mom can't be that bad," he said.

"It was. I said some stuff I shouldn't have."

"Don't worry about it. Your Mom's cool. She knows deep down you don't mean it."

She squeezed his arm. "How come you always make me feel better?"

"That's my job," he grinned. "Now let's forget all about your Dad and think of something else to do."

"Like what?"

"Well, I have a suggestion." He leaned over and tenderly cupped her face in his hands. His lips eagerly sought hers.

"Why doesn't my mom care?" Lisa asked, staring into Irene's eyes.

Irene looked into the red-rimmed, tear-swollen eyes, her heart breaking for the pain this child was suffering. "I wish I could answer that for you, honey," she said softly. "But try to remember how much your Dad loves you."

"I do, but I miss my mom. We're supposed to be sharing these years. She's supposed to want to be with me. A mother just doesn't walk out on her kids." She dabbed at her eyes with a soggy tissue. "Could you just walk out on Serena and Lita?"

She couldn't, nor could she understand how Mrs. Zaker could have. But she needed to find the right words to make this girl feel better, not worse. "Sometimes people make the wrong choices, Lisa. They may feel they're doing something in the best interest of their children, when in reality it's the worse possible mistake of their lives."

"But I want her to be here for my graduation."

"Did you tell her that?"

"Not in so many words, but she should know."

Irene frowned. "Lisa, how has your relationship with your mother been since she left?"

She swallowed hard. "Not good."

"Do you talk to her much?"

"Not really. Why should I? She walked out on us."

"Maybe that's part of the problem."

Lisa's eyes grew wide. "Are you taking my mother's side?"

Irene patted Lisa's hand. "I'm not taking anyone's side," she said gently. "I don't know your mother, so I have no way of knowing why she may have left her family."

"What do you mean, then?"

"She might be waiting for you to include her in your life. Maybe you should ask her why she left and hear her reasons. You admitted that you don't talk to her often." She squeezed Lisa's hand. "It could be that she's afraid to ask you to accept her back into your life."

"Why should she be afraid? She's an adult."

"If your conversations with her are tense, she probably feels that you've already rejected her. No one likes to feel rejected, Lisa," she said softly.

"Are you trying to tell me that my mom might want me in her life, but she's too scared to tell me because she's afraid I don't want her?"

"It's a possibility," Irene answered.

"But what if I start being nicer to her when she calls and she still doesn't care? What if deep down she never cared?" Lisa asked worriedly.

"I doubt that, but even if that's the case, then at least you'll know you tried."

Lisa's eyes clouded again. "I feel bad that I kept going on and on about graduation and never asked her to come." She searched Irene's face for the answers to her questions. "Do you think that's why she said she had to work and couldn't get off?" she hopefully asked.

"There's only one way to find out," Irene replied with a smile. "She may have been waiting for you to invite her, but instead you've been upset because she didn't tell you she'd be here."

Lisa's face fell. "There is no way she'll be able to get here for the ceremony even if she does want to come. She probably wouldn't be able to get a flight."

Irene was thoughtful for a moment. "If she decides to come and can't get here in time for the ceremony, you can show her the video and she can, at least, still see you in cap and gown."

A smile broke across Lisa's face. "I don't have anything to lose," she said brightly.

"No, you don't."

"Thanks, Mrs. Copeland."

"You don't have to thank me, Lisa. I only want to see you happy."