"Oh, come on, Jamie," JR said as the two boys stood in the boathouse. "Have a little fun for a change."

"I'll pass on the fun," Jamie said. "I'm already in deep water for wrecking the car."

"You said that your Dad took care of that. All you have to do is pay him back."

"Which is even more of a reason I can't go with you guys. I couldn't pay my way and pay Dad back for the car."

"You can take all the time you need to pay Tad back for busting up the car. This concert is only playing for one night."

"Sorry, JR," Jamie said. He stood and began pacing the boathouse.

"There's got to be some way that you can come with us."

"Yeah, if the tickets were free." JR raised his eyebrows and bit his bottom lip. "They're not free, JR."

"I'll pay for your ticket, just come with us."

"Then I'll owe you too. I'll be paying off debt until I'm 90."

"Merry Christmas," JR said. "You've got the tickets and you don't have to pay me back. Just get your folks to let you go."

"I don't know," Jamie said. "I don't think Christmas is a good time to leave Dad alone."

"We're not going for a week, it's only one day. He won't even miss you. We'll be home in time for Christmas and Jake's birthday."

"I'll give it a try, but don't count on anything."



"Oh, Tad," Ruth Martin said as she hurried around the kitchen. Tad held a mixing bowl and a wooden spoon, putting almost no effort into stirring the contents. "You're getting flour all over the floor."

"Sorry," Tad said, placing the bowl back down on the counter. He ran his finger around the inside of it and then licked off the creamy batter.

"What's bothering you?"

"It's nothing," Tad said. He couldn't be the one to break the news to his parents about Jake. "I just have something on my mind."

"This is more than just a little something. I know you, Tad."

"Really, Mom," Tad said, putting his finger back in the bowl. "It's just something I need to figure out on my own."

"You're sure?"

Tad nodded. "Yeah," he said. "You know what I could use your help with though? Finding a Christmas slash Birthday present for Jake."

The doorbell rang. "I'm sure we could figure something out," Ruth said as she walked to the front door and opened it. Standing outside, her scarf wrapped tightly around her neck and arms folded across her chest, was Greenlee. "Greenlee, come in," Ruth said. Greenlee stepped inside from the cold, untying her scarf. "Let me make you a cup of coffee."

"Thanks, but no," Greenlee said. "I can't stay long. I was hoping maybe Tad was here."

"Someone beckoned?" Tad said, coming out of the kitchen. "Greenlee. What's up?"

"Do you have a minute?" Greenlee asked.

"Sure," Tad said, approaching her. "I'll be right back," he said to Ruth as he grabbed his coat. He and Greenlee stepped outside. Tad pulled his collar up over his ears.

"You haven't seen Jake today, have you?" Greenlee asked.

"No," Tad said. "Why, he's not at home?"

"Or at the hospital. I couldn't think of anywhere else he might be. Did he tell you anything?"

"He didn't say a thing to me," Tad said. "I'm sure you have nothing to worry about."

Greenlee pushed her hair behind her ears. "He's never been this way. We used to be able to tell eachother everything, but now...I can't..."

"Listen to me, Greenlee," Tad said, taking hold of Greenlee's arms to steady her. "I'm sure everything is fine. Now you've never been like this before."

"I've never had to deal with something like this before."

"You're going to make yourself paranoid." Tad paused. "Deal with something like what before?"

"I don't know!" Greenlee said. "I don't know. I finally found somebody who I love more than anything in the world... and I thought that he felt the same way about me..."

"He does, Greenlee. Look what you're doing to yourself. Take it easy. Jake has everything under control."

"What exactly does he have under control?" Greenlee asked. He didn't answer her. "Tell me, Tad. Is deceit a part of the criteria for being a member of the Martin family?



It was a long drive. In some ways too long, and in others not long enough. Finally Jake had arrived, to his own surprise. He stepped out of the car and slowly made his way to the door, pausing for a long time before knocking.

Maybe there would be no answer, he thought. Then at least he could have the excuse that he tried. That he gave it a shot. But if there was no answer, then Jake's future would be over. This was his last hope, his only hope.

Jake brought his hand up to knock on the door again, and was in mid swing when the door swung open.

"I need your help," Jake said.

"My, my," David Hayward stood in the doorway, a strange smirk on his face. "How the mighty have fallen."