Chapter 34
Brook Lynn and Dillon were talking in the foyer.
"I have to get back to the Haunted Star," Dillon said. "Tell my mom I said good-bye."
"Um, Dillon? Shouldn't you do that yourself?"
"Yeah probably."
"So why the hesitation? Your mom isn't all that bad, Dillon."
"Hmph. She's not your mother."
"No, but she IS my grandmother, and I don't know. Today I saw a different side of her. I am kind of looking forward to getting to know her better."
"So," said Dillon. "You and her…You know?"
Brook nodded. "I think it could be fun."
"Congratulations…I think," he laughed.
Ned walked in. "What's the celebration about?"
Brook answered, "I talked to Granny."
"And…?" Ned asked.
"We're going to try and have a normal relationship," Brook laughed.
"Mother? Normal? Relationship?" Ned laughed. "Yeah right."
"Aw come on, Dad. I think it will be neat."
Ned warned his daughter, "Be careful. If anyone is going to get hurt, it's not going to be your grandmother."
"Granny already warned me. It's a risk I'm willing to take especially after today."
"All right," Ned agreed. "Just watch out for yourself. Mother isn't going to."
Dillon became disgusted. "All right! Ned…You and I…We need to stop this."
"Stop what?"
"Bad-mouthing Mom. One minute I'm defending her. The next minute, I'm—"
"It's well-deserved, Dillon."
"Not now it's not. We need to come to her defense more often. Don't you realize Mom could get hurt just as much as Brook?"
"Whoa, whoa. Are you saying I'm going to screw something up?" Brook asked.
"No, not at all. But I don't think it's fair to assume my mom is not going to get hurt. She pretends to be strong, but I don't know…I…," Dillon sighed. "She loves you, Brook. I know she does. Are you going to be able to love her back? Not as a friend, but as her granddaughter."
Brook paused. "Don't we automatically love each other?"
"That's how it goes," Ned stepped in. "Most of us in this family don't show it very often."
"I think Granny's afraid to. Maybe the rest of you are too."
Ned and Dillon exchanged glances.
Chapter 35
Monica and Alan continued talking in their bedroom.
"We shouldn't have lasted this long," Monica said.
"I don't understand you."
"And I don't understand you," Monica said sincerely. "We can no longer be together."
"That's nonsense. You asked for a divorce 2 months ago. How come you haven't followed through?"
"Because you are still recuperating. Remember, AJ, our son? He shot you in the back, remember?" she repeated.
Alan stated, "It was out of desperation. Our son would have never done that."
"Wake up, Alan! Our son did!"
Alan shook his head. "So you're serious?"
"Oh, I've been serious."
"All right," stated Alan. "When are you going to act like you are?"
"Right now."
"You can't wait one more day? Do I need to remind you—?"
"I know Lila's been gone for a year! And I am just as upset about it as you! But I'm still going to call that damn lawyer!"
"My mother would want us to work out our differences."
"Your mother would want us both to be happy, and Alan…I am not happy. Not with you."
"Monica, please."
Monica shook her head and sighed. "I apologize, but this is what I have to do. It'll be best for both of us. You'll see."
"Just give it one more day."
"No. The sooner I follow through, the sooner I can throw you the hell out."
"No can do, Monica…Not according to our contract. The house is only yours if you stay married to me." >
"Well," Monica said. "Looks like I'm losing the house because there is no way in hell that I am staying married to you."
> This may or may not be accurate; I don't remember the exact terms.
Chapter 36
Ned walked up to his mother's room.
"Mother?" he said quietly. "May I come in?"
"The door is open," she whispered.
Ned entered. "Should I be afraid? That was certainly not too difficult."
Tracy looked into Ned's eyes. "Darling, are you here for any particular reason?"
Ned nodded. "I'd like to apologize."
"For?"
Ned sighed. "My behavior. It was unacceptable. I'm sorry."
"All is forgiven, dear," she said.
"Mother, you are um…are you…Mother, are you all right?"
Tracy responded, "I have to be. We all do."
"But it's all right to be upset. You lost your mother. The tragic memories of that day are not going to just disappear."
"Of course not," Tracy replied.
"So why not admit that you are hurting inside?"
Tracy's eyes began to tear. "It is what I once told Dillon: I'm strong. And I need the family to know that."
"The family is just as upset are you are. Why are you hiding the fact?"
Tracy became angry. "Did you not just hear what I had to say?"
Ned answered, "The family does not expect you to be strong right now."
"Ned, darling, I'm going to ask that you leave."
"So much for having a conversation that actually led somewhere," he muttered on his way out.
Tracy thought for a moment before calling out, "Ned…"
Ned turned around. "Mother?"
Tracy covered the lower half of her face with her hand.
"Are you sure you're all right?" he asked.
Tracy shook her head. She removed her hand. "I…," she croaked. The tears started to fall.
Ned walked over and hugged his mother.
"Shhh," he told her. "Shhh."
"I miss her, sweetheart. I miss her."
"Shhh. I know," he responded. "I know."
PREVIEWS FOR CHAPTERS 37 AND 38:
Monica is about to call a divorce lawyer as Emily enters the room.
Dillon and Brook Lynn join Ned and Tracy; Dillon's actions surprise Tracy.