February 16th, 2004

Randi sat in front of the cash register. It was so god damn slow today it wasn't even funny. She had sold one item today. She really needed to get the new designs done so she could have a new line of clothes on the shelves by spring. She pulled out her sketchpad and pencils.

"Maybe a nice sundress." She mumbled to herself. A few customers walked in, but Randi busied herself. Someone laughed upstairs causing Randi to drop one of her coloured pencils. That laugh. She knew that laugh from somewhere and it wasn't good. Randi took in a deep breath and peered up to the second floor. She didn't see anyone she recognized.

"Excuse me." A woman put some items up on the counter.

"Oh sorry." Randi rang up the woman's order and slid it into a nice back; "Have a nice day." The woman left and a couple stepped up to the counter. Randi looked at them and her blood ran cold. The man. The man standing in front of her…. He smiled at her. "Ch-Charles…"

"So you remember me." He chuckled. How could she forget him? He was the man that almost killed her and Ireland when she was pregnant with Ireland. She had a scar over her breast that reminded her of the attack every single day.

"Th-They let you out." She whispered. Charles nodded.

"Yes they did. I'm a free man now. I'm free to go where ever I please." He said. "You look a lot thinner now. Had the baby?"

"I've had two." Randi mumbled. She was in shock. Here he was standing in front of her and no one warned her that he was being released. "You're not in jail."

"Smart girl." Charles leaned over the house causing Randi to jump.

"Leave her alone, Charlie. Let's go." His bimbo girlfriend said.

"In a second." Charles smiled, "You're still scared of me aren't you?"

"Get out of my shop." Randi whispered. "You are not allowed in here."

"You can't tell me where I can and cannot go." He said.

"This is my shop and I have the right to refuse business to anyone I chose." Randi said.

"You're trembling like a leaf." Charles smiled, "I knew I still scare you."

"Get out." Randi whispered. "This is harassment."

"Lord, wouldn't want you to call you police or anything on me." Charles smiled. "I'll leave, Randi, but just remember I'm free. I'm in Chicago and I plan on staying. Every corner you turn you could bump into me."

"Charlie, jeez, come on." His girlfriend tugged him out. Charles laughed.

"What? I was having fun." He chuckled as he left. Randi stood there, staring at the door.

"Oh god." Tears started to roll down her face.

* * *

Randi walked into the house still shaking. She walked down the hallway and into the living room where Dave was watching TV.

"Hey." He mumbled. She didn't answer. Dave looked up, "What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost." He stood up and walked over to his trembling wife.

"H-He came to the sh-shop. He's out. Th-They d-didn't tell me he's out." She whispered.

"Who?" He asked.

"Ch-Charles." Randi whispered. Dave stared at her. He hadn't heard that name in a long time.

"He's out?" He asked.

"Nobody told me he was out!" Randi cried. Dave gritted his teeth.

"I won't let him touch you, Randi." He said putting his arms around her, "I'll talk to our lawyer and see if there's anything we can do."

"I don't want him in the shop again. I want him out of Chicago." Randi said.

"I'll see what I can do, Randi." He said, "I promise." Randi nodded.

"Just hold me, Dave." She said. Dave nodded hugging his wife tightly. He would kill that son of a bitch Charles if he ever saw him.

March 4th, 2004

One year. Lyric was one year old now. She was a big girl. Lyric bounced in her mother's arms. They were having a small party, just them, Elizabeth, and Ella. They had a huge party for Ireland's second and they just really weren't up to a huge party so soon after. Randi put Lyric in her hair chair and tightened the cream colour bow in her hair.

"There my baby doll. You look so grown up today don't you?" Randi smiled.

"Wic smells." Ireland said.

"She does not smell. I just gave her a bath." Randi frowned.

"Smells." Ireland giggled.

"Ireland, that's not nice. You need to be good to her. She's your baby sister and she looks up to you." Randi said.

"Wic short." Ireland said. Randi laughed and nodded.

"Yeah she is short." She said, "But you're short too."

"No." Ireland giggled walking out of the room.

"It's snowing pretty bad out there." Dave said as he stood in the doorway. Randi bit her lip.

"I hope Elizabeth gets here all right." She said

"She will. Don't worry." Dave said looking at his littlest daughter. "My! Look how gorgeous you are!" He grinned.

"Her car is pulling up." Randi said opening the door. The redheaded doctor soon got out of her car and pulled her daughter out. "Hurry up! You'll turn into a snowman."

"Its bad out there!" Elizabeth ran in with Ella on her hip.

"We were worried you weren't going to come." Randi said helping Elizabeth off with her jacket.

"I would never miss Lyric's first birthday." Elizabeth smiled. "Ella has been talking nonstop about it."

"You excited to play with the girls?" Randi asked. Ella nodded.

"Yes. Where Ireland?" Ella asked.

"I'm not really sure." Randi chuckled. "Go into the playroom."

"Okay." Ella pushed her strawberry blond hair off of her shoulders and dashed down the hallway.

"Could I offer you some coffee while I finish icing Lyric's cake?" Randi asked.

"God yes. I'm chilled to the bone." Elizabeth said.

"Dave! Put some more wood on the fire!" Randi cried going into the kitchen and she poured Elizabeth a cup of coffee.

"Thank you." Elizabeth said as she watched Randi put pink frosting on the cake. "A year old. She's getting big. Are you okay with it?" Randi chuckled.

"Yeah. What's not to love about your daughter aging?" Randi asked, "Okay. At times I do have trouble with it especially with Ireland finally starting to use the toilet." She said. Elizabeth laughed.

"Yeah. That transition is hard, but trust me, once they are potty trained and in preschool it's so much easier." She said.

"Oh I bet." Randi said putting a candle into the cake.

* * *

Dave shut the lights off as Randi lit the candle atop of Lyric's cake. She nodded as she brought the cake over.

"Happy birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy birthday dear, Lyric. Happy birthday to you!!" Everyone sang.

"Blow your candle out, Lyric." Randi leaned over and helped her daughter blow the candle out. Everyone clapped. "Good girl."

"I wanna fower." Ireland said.

"Lyric gets first dibs on flowers." Randi smiled looking at Dave.

"She's officially not a baby anymore." He said. Randi smiled at him. This was great! Their family was perfect.