CHAPTERS 5 AND 6

Chapter 5

Brook Lynn and Georgie were talking at Kelly's.

"Brook, are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, why?"

Georgie responded, "You don't look very well."

Brook Lynn paused. "My great-grandma Lila died a year ago today."

"Oh my gosh! I am so sorry," Georgie told her. "I can't believe that I forgot."

"It's so weird, you know? I hardly knew her, but it's like, I miss her."

"She was a wonderful lady, Brook."

Brook laughed, "Yeah, everyone keeps telling me that. I guess it's strange that you know her better than I do."

"Yeah," Georgie sighed.

"Just because my mom didn't want me around Granny," Brook said.

"Can't say I blame her," George said. "Tracy is a cold-hearted monster. I don't know how Dillon turned out to be a decent human being."

Brook looked at Georgie strangely.

"Oh," Georgie said softly. "I'm sorry. I know she's still your grandmother."

"No, no," Brook said. "Granny is one scary lady, but um, well—"

"What is it?" Georgie asked.

"I walked past her bedroom this morning. The door was opened slightly, and I heard her crying. It was really strange. And sad…"

"Oh," Georgie said.

"Do you think I should have gone in and said something?"

Georgie responded, "I don't know."

"Not helping," Brook told her.

Georgie smiled. "I try to keep my distance from that woman, unless of course she is upsetting Dillon, but she IS your grandmother. Maybe you should try talking to her later."

"Oh, that'll be fun," Brook said sarcastically. Then she sincerely said, "Maybe I should, though."

Chapter 6

Tracy's desk was stacked with papers. She wanted to sort through them but couldn't find the energy. Besides, she was too busy staring at a photo of her mother.

Alan entered her office.

"Alan!" she screamed. "Have you heard of knocking?"

Tracy knew that Alan noticed the photograph in her hand. She immediately placed it in a drawer.

"What were you looking at?" Alan asked, although he knew the truth.

"It is not important," Tracy responded. "Why are you here? I thought I made it very clear that I did not want to talk to you or the rest of the family today."

Alan did not respond.

"You were looking at a photo of mother. May I see it?"

Tracy bit her lip. Then she quietly removed the photo from the drawer and handed it to Alan.

"Here," she said softly.

"She's beautiful," Alan told her.

"I know," Tracy said. "Look, are you going to let me work or not?"

"Why don't you come back to the house?" he said while handing Tracy back the photo. "The whole family is there. Almost the whole family," he corrected himself.

"That is exactly why I refuse to go home."

"What?"

"Open. Your. Eyes. Alan. When was the last time the family gathered in one room?"

Alan thought for a moment and said, "AJ's death…the first one."

Tracy noticed the wave of sadness that had come over her brother, but she did not say anything.

"And the time before that?"

"Hmm?"

"When was the last time before AJ's death when the entire family gathered in one room?"

Alan did not answer.

"It was our mother's death, Alan. Why is it that?"

"Tracy, you're a Quartermaine. You know how this family works."

"Newsflash, Alan! This family does NOT work. Not anymore. Not without Mother."

"Now that's not true. We were falling apart way before Mother passed away."

Tracy stated harshly, "That is not the point." She continued, "Monica was right when she wanted to sell the house. We are not a family anymore. There is no reason we should all be living in that house."

"Then why are you still living there?"

"It's still my home, Alan. Just like it's yours, and Father's, and—"

"Actually, it's Monica's house."

Tracy rolled her eyes. "Now is not the time."

Alan swallowed. "Will you please just come home?"

"For what?"

"How about for whom?"

"Excuse me?" Tracy asked.

Alan said, "I want you home. Ned and Dillon want you home. Father wants you home."

"What about what I want?"

"Tracy, stop and think. Could you maybe do something for someone else at one point in your life?"

"You're criticizing me. Out of all the days to criticize me, you choose today."

"I am not criticizing you."

"You are too!"

"Tracy, are you honestly getting any work done here?"

Tracy did not respond.

"Are you?

"I will."

"No, you won't. You are going to continue admiring our mother's photo, and that is all right. But admire it at home. Admire it with the family."

Tracy just stared at Alan.

PREVIEWS FOR CHAPTERS 7 AND 8:

Ned is surprised that Brook Lynn came home to see Tracy.

Lois has plans for the entire family.