Chapter Twenty

The interview with Mr. Fredricks went relatively smooth. Sam explained how she acquired Jasmine in terms that were understandable to the principal, but not so clear to the child. The principal was very surprised that a couple would just drop their child off at a hotel and whisk away without an afterthought, as was everybody at the Montecito. But, just like her friends, he offered her all the help that she'd need, even offering to pick her up and bring her home from school if Samantha couldn't do it.

"My main concern is that the child gets the education that she's entitled to having," he stated. Sam couldn't agree more, a consistent routine was the best thing for both Jasmine and herself. When asked if she had any family support around, Samantha Jane stated that she had no family, but she had a circle of friends who were very supportive and encouraging. She went on to explain that Jasmine has been exposed to all of her friends and that she really likes them and they really like her.

After an hour, Samantha successfully had Jasmine enrolled in school.

"But I want to stay with you and I want Mr. Ed to teach me how to play poker."

Samantha couldn't help but laugh softly, "You have to go to school, Jasmine, it's against the law if I don't take you, and you don't want me to go to jail, do you?"

Jasmine sighed as she shook her head no. Sam smiled as she tucked a raven curl behind the girl's ear, "Don't worry, okay? There will be plenty of time for Mr. Ed to teach you to play poker, I promise."

The girl nodded and smiled as she hugged Sam, "You won't leave me here forever, will you?"

Sam pulled back and looked at her, "I promise you that I will be back at 3:15 to pick you up."

Jasmine nodded as she reluctantly went over to the waiting principal and took his outstretched hand. Samantha sighed as she watched the girl walk down the hall.

"How does Hawaii strike you?"

Jillian's eyes opened as she looked at her husband standing in the door way. "Hawaii?"

"Yeah... You know... 50th state in the US... all islands... became a state in 1959... main crop is pineapples."

Jillian rolled her eyes, "Yes, Ed, thank you, I know what Hawaii is. What about it?"

Ed walked into his wife's room and sat down on the foot of her bed. Reaching a hand under the blanket, it searched until it found her foot and then curled around it. Caressing her ankle gently, he looked at her, softly, "That's, um.. where I thought maybe you'd like to... you know.."

"Die?"

Her husband blinked at her bluntness and sighed softly. "I should have taken you a long time ago."

Jillian quietly in agreement, "Yes, you should have. But we had this pesky little thing called life that we had to live. I don't blame you for anything, Eddie. And I don't want you to either. I do not want you to sit around saying, 'I should have done this,', 'I should have done that', 'I should have taken her there...'. You have been a wonderful husband to me. You have been my best friend and you've been the finest lover I've had."

Ed couldn't help but blush at her last remark, running his hand up her calf, he sighed deeply, "I don't think Delinda should come. I wouldn't be able to cover up as well if she were there."

Nodding in understandment, his wife sighed, "Yeah. I know. When do you want to leave."

"Soon, before I lose my nerve."

Jillian sat up and wrapped her arms around his neck and nodded, whispering softly, "I love you, Ed."

Wrapping his arms around her waist, he kissed her softly and nodded, "And I love you."

The two remained silent as they held each other.

"Ed's planning something big with Jillian."

Mike glanced up and saw Danny leaning against the lip of his desk, "What makes you say that?"

"I went into his office..."

"Whoa, hold up... You went into Big Ed's office when he's not here without him knowing?"

Danny sighed, "I needed some paperwork that he had."

"So you rummaged around through his things?"

"Mike, would you just shut up long enough to let me finish?"

Mike sighed in defeat as he sat back, "So spill."

"I found this."

Reaching out, Mike accepted the stapled stack of papers and his eyes washed over it, whispering softly, "No shit..." Glancing up at his friend, he asked, "Where'd you find this?"

Danny sat down, softly, "It was under the paperwork. Normally I wouldn't have given it a second thought, but the banner was pretty noticeable."

Mike nodded. Danny was right, the banner was a green box with bright yellow words saying "How to assist in death with dignity". Sighing deeply, he handed the papers back to Danny, "Put these back where you found them, man. We don't want to get tangled up in this."

Danny nodded and sighed, "Yeah, I know, I'm just worried."

"Look," Mike paused as Mitch rolled by and both men gave him a smile. Lowering his voice, Mike continued, "Ed wouldn't do anything unless he and Mrs. D have agreed upon it. I mean, they have Delinda to think of, he wouldn't do something to her mother unless she wanted him to do it. It's none of our business, Danny Put them back."

Danny wondered when he started to take orders from Mike, but sighed and nodded and went to do what was told of him.