"Thank you, Cath."

Catherine kissed his cheek affectionately. "You're welcome."

"What about you, my love? It's time to take a shower and then take your medicine. Let's go?" Catherine said to Lyla.

"Let's go!" Lyla replied and held out her arms so Catherine could take her in her lap.

"Aren't you coming with us?" Catherine asked Steve.

"I'm going for a swim. I won't be long," he replied.

"Okay."

Catherine took Lyla to shower and Steve went for a swim to clear his mind. "Shall we pick out the clothes you're going to wear?" Catherine asked the girl and led her into Caroline and Lyla's room.

"Carol, I'm going to take a shower and I came to get my new pajamas. Have you seen my new pajamas? Mom bought them for me."

"No," Caroline replied with indifference and that made Catherine very upset. She opened her closet and removed all of Lyla's clothes and put them in a bag. "I'll take your clothes to my room, dear."

"Why Mommy?" Lyla didn't understand.

"Because I love you and I want you close to me," Catherine replied.

"Are you going to put my clothes next to Liz's clothes?"

"Yes. That's good isn't it?"

"Yes mommy," Lyla replied.

When Steve got out of the ocean he walked into the house and went straight to the bedroom. He saw the suitcase on the bed and called for Catherine. She came out of the bathroom with Lyla on her lap. "I'm here," she replied.

"Where are you going?" He asked angrily.

"I'm not going anywhere," she replied and pointed to her suitcase. "It's Lyla's clothes. I'm going to put them in our closet."

"Why?" he asked.

"Can we talk about it later?" She signaled that she didn't want to talk to him while Lyla was there."

"Okay," he replied.

"I'll call some restaurant and order dinner, Steve. Neither of us can afford to go to the kitchen today. It's been a bad couple of days."

"Sure, Cath. I'll get out of these wet clothes and be right back," he said as he grabbed a towel.

Catherine dressed Lyla and gave her the medicine. "What do you want to eat for dinner, dear?"

"Chicken!" Lyla replied enthusiastically.

Catherine put both hands on Lyla's face and kissed her forehead. "Okay, let's order chicken then."

At dinnertime Steve told Caroline to go get Don. He sat down at the table with the family and questioned Steve. "How is Lyla's situation going to turn out?"

"Everything is going to stay the same as it always has been. My daughter stays here with me," Steve replied.

"Your daughter?" Don gave a sarcastic laugh and Catherine had to master her feelings not to react to Don's teasing.

"Want some more chicken honey?" She asked Lyla.

"Yes mommy," Lyla replied and Catherine took her plate.

Steve also ignored Don and continued to eat.

After dinner, Steve sat on the porch and Catherine went right behind him. "Steve, I'm going to the bedroom, I'm feeling a pain in my back."

"I'll be right there, Cath. I'm just going to stay here for a little while and then I'm going to go to the bedroom and massage your back, OK?"

"Okay," she understood that he wanted some more time alone. He had already done that in the afternoon.

Catherine went into the bedroom and took Lyla with her.

Steve was alone and thoughtful when Caroline slowly approached. "Dad..."

"What do you want, Caroline?" He asked after a long sigh.

"I want to apologize," she replied.

"I am very disappointed in you. I could have expected anything from your brother, but not from you."

"Forgive me," she insisted.

"Have you ever stopped to think that your sister has feelings? The fact that she's a child doesn't stop her of feeling when someone doesn't like her. Did you also ever think that Catherine left everything behind to come and live with us? She takes care of you when I'm not around, she cares about you and Don even though you don't deserve a second of her concern."

"I know that and I like my sister" Caroline replied.

"Then why did you join Don in saying absurd things and immediately go tell your grandmother and your uncle and your aunt?"

"I don't know, I'm sorry. I can't stand not talking to you, Dad."

"Then change your attitudes toward me and your sister and Catherine!" Steve ordered. He was angry.

"Okay Dad. Can I give you a hug?"

"Yes," Steve replied in a serious tone but returned her hug. "Don't let Don's bitterness contaminate you. You're bigger than that."

"Okay Dad."

The next day Margaret went to Steve's house and had a meeting with him and the children. Catherine said she would go to the room to leave them alone, but Margaret stopped her. "You can and should stay here with us, Catherine."

"Okay. Thank you Margaret." Catherine sat down next to Steve to listen to Margaret.

"Well, I came here to tell you that your grandfather and I have had a long talk and we have decided to divide up your mother's share of the inheritance," Margaret said to Don and Caroline because Lyla was playing with a doll and didn't understand what her grandmother was talking about.

"But the inheritance would be ours anyway, wouldn't it?" Don said to his grandmother.

"Not while your grandfather and I are alive. But I decided to move that process along and did as I think your mother would have wanted me to do," Margaret said to Don and then looked at Steve. "You're going to be the trustee of that inheritance, Steve. They're not going to touch that money until after college. My husband and I are going to fund their college and we're also going to fund our little girl's surgery," Margaret pointed to Lyla.

Don didn't agree with his grandmother, "That's not fair, Grandma."

"It's more than fair. I intend to be alive at your graduation, and maybe even Lyla's. Then be satisfied," Margaret told Don firmly.

"What about you, Carol? Any problem with that?" Margaret asked.

"No, Grandma. I trust my father."

"Fine," Margaret replied to Carol.

"Would you take a cup of coffee, Margaret?" Catherine asked.

"I will if it's not a bother to you," Margaret replied.

"Oh, no. I'll get it ready in no time," Catherine replied to her.

"And where is Rose?" Margaret asked.

"I gave her the week off. Her wedding is Saturday," Catherine replied.

"Saturday now? I have another wedding to go to and I think I got the dates mixed up. It was good of you to let me know, I'll be there for sure. I really like Rose.

"So do we," Steve replied.

"Grandma, I have a beautiful new dress to go to Rose's wedding," Lyla said to Margaret.

"Really? I can't wait to see you in that beautiful dress, honey. And I'll wait for you at my house next Monday. What do you want Grandma to prepare for snack?"

"Chocolate cake," Lyla climbed up on the couch and hugged her grandma. "Love you grandma."

"I love you too," Margaret kissed Lyla's cheek.

"Can I go to my room?" Don asked his grandmother.

"Ask your father, Don." Margaret said to Don and the boy then looked at Steve.

"Go," Steve replied.

Catherine prepared the coffee and then served it to Margaret with a slice of pie. Some time later Margaret left and Steve and Catherine walked her to the gate.

"Goodbye and come back anytime," Catherine told her and Steve agreed.

"Thanks. See you at Rose's wedding." Margaret left and Steve slipped his arm around Catherine's shoulder and kissed her temple.

"You're a great hostess, you know that?"

"Thank you," Catherine replied and smiled. "She did what she promised. Your brother-in-law and your sister-in-law won't want to take Lyla away from you if they can't get her inheritance."

"Did she tell you she'd do it?" Steve asked.

No, she didn't say what she was going to do. She just said she'd make sure no one took Lyla away from us."

"And she only did it because you had the courage to go over there and talk to her. I love you," he said.

"Love you too sailor. Liz and I love you."

PS: Thank you for your review in the previous chapter.