Rosie texted Noel. 'We have landed. On our way home.'

Nolan texted back 'Glad you have landed safely. When can I see you?'

"Can Nolan come over tomorrow?" Rose asked her dad

"You get all the homework done you were given from the days you missed?" Dave asked

"Yes." Rosie said pulling on her lip with her teeth.

"Rosie." Dave said

"Yes?" Rosie asked

"I'm going to give you a chance to change your answer. Is your homework done?" Dave asked

Rosie let out a breath. "No. I have done some but not all. I can finish it tomorrow night after hanging out with Nolan."

"No. You will do it before." Dave said

"Oh come on!" She said

"I could tell you that you cant see him at all before school on Monday." Dave warned

Rosie crossed her arms and said nothing else.

Dave pulled in to the driveway. "I know when you are stressed out and overwhelmed with life you tend to get snippy. And I usually give you some space to work though that for a few days. And I will do that this time as well. But don't lie to me. I have made it perfectly clear from the beginning that I have no issues with you dating, having friends. Being a teenager. But school is your priority. So that means homework gets done first. Am I clear?" He asked

Rosie took and breath and nodded. "Yes."

"Okay. Get your homework done tonight. Or tomorrow morning and you can see Nolan after." Dave said

"Okay." Rosie said.

They both went inside. Rosie texted Nolan. 'You can come over tomorrow afternoon. I have to get homework finished first.'

'Okay. I'll come over around 2?' Nolan texted back

'Okay. Sounds good.' Rosie sent

She threw a load of laundry into the machine and went and showered before sitting down to work on the homework she had left.

Dave showered as well before getting back on his computer and continuing on his book. He had a deadline, and it was coming close.

He texted Aaron 'We are back. And Rosie got a lot of answered. And a lot more doors opened to learning about her mom.'

Aaron saw the text. 'That's great.' He sent back

'Yes. But I think its a lot for her to take in as well.' Dave said

'Well. She has been through hell and come out of it who she is so I think she can probably get through this too.' Aaron said

'Yes. I just wish I knew how to help her though all this.' Dave sent

'All you can do is be there for her.' Aaron sent back

'Does she seem to need to talk and not talking to you?' Aaron sent

'I don't know. I think there will always be things that teenage girls wont talk to their dads about.' Dave sent 'Wish she had her mom to talk to.' He sent

'Would a woman who thinks of her as a niece do?' Aaron asked

'Couldn't hurt to try.' Dave sent.

Aaron called Emily and asked her to call Rosie that she might need a woman to talk to.

Emily saw that Rosie was online, so she went to start a video chat with her.

Rosie was working on homework when her computer started ringing. She saw it was Emily and she answered.

"Hey Em." Rosie said

"Hey. How are you?" Emily asked

"Tired." Rosie said

"Saturday afternoon and tired huh?" Emily asked

"Yeah. Did anyone tell you my dad and I went to California. So, I could try and get some answers." Rosie said

"Yeah. Uncle Aaron mentioned. How did it go?" Emily asked

"Got some answers. And a shit ton more questions." Rosie said

Emily nodded. "Want to talk about any of it?"

Rosie told Emily everything that had happened.

Emily listened. Surprised at some of the things that had been found out. "So, you have family from your moms side who want to get to know you. That's great right?"

"Yes. Its amazing. But where is my mom's ashes?" Rosie asked. "If Beatrice got them. I probably will never know."

"Don't worry about what you don't know right now. Just get to know your grandfather and cousin." Emily said

"I want to know my mom…" Rosie said

"I know. I'm sorry you don't get that chance. But I'm sure your grandfather can tell you thinks about her." Emily said. "And your dad."

"Yeah. But my grandfather didn't see her from when she was eighteen on… And my dad knew her for less than a year…" Rosie said "There is a lot of years between those times."

"Someone had to know her during those times. Maybe you could try and figure it out. I could see if I can use some of the resources at my disposal." Emily said

"Isn't that against the rules?" Rosie asked

Emily shrugged. "I'd have to get caught."

"Thanks Emily. But I don't want you risking your career." Rosie said

"That would be a choice I would be making. Not something you need to worry about. What was your moms name?" Emily asked

Rosie shook her head. "I wont tell you that."

"I can figure it out on my own." Emily pointed out

"Are you trying to get fired?" Rosie asked with a chuckle

"Like I said. Id have to get caught." Emily said

"And if you got caught and lost your job I would feel guilty. Because you did it for me. Please don't." Rosie said

"Please don't what?" Dave asked. Rosie hadn't heard him come up the stairs and to the door of her room.

Rosie jumped. "Dad!"

"Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you. Who are you talking to when you are supposed to be doing homework?" Dave asked looking over her shoulder

"Hi Dave. My fault. I called her." Emily said

"Hello Emily. What is my daughter asking you not to do?" Dave asked

"Nothing you need to worry about." Emily said with a smirk

"If it concerns my daughter it concerns me." Dave said

"Your daughter isn't doing anything wrong." Emily said

Rosie looked down.

"Really? So, my daughter saying she would feel guilty because of the loss of your job if you did whatever it is?" Dave asked.

Emily let out a breath.

"I might not have much I could say that would change your mind, but I can call Aaron and tell him something is up. I'm pretty sure he could get it out of you." Dave said with a small chuckle

Emily chuckled. "I mean he might be able to. If he was in person. But there is a large ocean between us."

Rosie giggled.

"Rosie. What is she planning to do?" Dave asked

"I plead the fifth." Rosie said

"I thought Emily said you weren't doing anything wrong?" Dave said

"Well…. I wouldn't be." Rosie said

"So. Pleading the fifth doesn't apply. Try again." Dave said

"Dave. Don't put this on her." Emily said

"One of you will tell me. Because maybe Rosie wouldn't be doing anything wrong. But Emily I care about you too and sounds like you would be." Dave said

Emily let out a breath. "Your daughter has the right to get to know as much about her mom as possible. Agreed?"

"Yes. Completely agreed." Dave said

"And she mentioned meeting her grandfather. But that he didn't really know her after she was eighteen. And you met her what was she in her thirties? And you knew her for nine months?" Emily asked

"Yes." Dave said

"So that is a lot of years. Where there had to be someone who knew her. A best friend? A previous partner. Who could tell Rosie about who she was." Emily said

"Yes." Dave said

"So. I offered to see if I could find someone who knew her." Emily said

"Ah. Using resources that you shouldn't be?" Dave asked

"Like I told your daughter. I'd have to get caught for it to be a problem." Emily said

"I told her I don't want her risking her career for it." Rosie said

Dave nodded. "Good. Because I have a name of her best friend."

Rosie looked up. "You didn't tell me."

"She came around pretty often when you were a baby. Than she met a guy. I knew he was abusive. And I tried to help her get away from him. But she refused and told me I didn't know what I was talking about. And she left about three months before you disappeared. She and her boyfriend were the first people I suspected. And I told the police. She was understandable hurt. Told me that I was an awful person for thinking she would ever do anything to hurt you or take you away from your dad. I know she left the guy a few years later. But she never contacted me again." Dave said. "I tried to contact her about six months ago. So, you could talk to her. I found her on social media. But she never responded. I didn't want to tell you and get your hopes us." Dave said

"Maybe I can try messaging her myself?" Rosie said

"I'll give you her name. Let you try." Dave said

"Okay." Rosie said

"No need for you to break any rules." Dave told Emily.

Emily nodded. "Okay. If I don't need to. I wont."

"Thank you for the offer." Rosie said. "I appreciate you wanting to help."

"Hey. Least I can do for my niece." Emily said with a smile.

Rosie smiled

"Can I trust that this wont get back to Aaron?" Emily asked Dave

Dave shook his head. "Nope."

Emily sighed. "Okay."

"Dad. You really don't need to tell him. She's not doing it." Rosie said

"Its okay Rose." Emily said with a smile. "He can tell him."

Rosie nodded. "Okay. Thanks for listening."

"Always here to listen. Always." Emily said, "I will let you get back to your homework."

"Okay. Bye." Rosie said

"Bye Emily." Dave said

"Bye to you both." Emily said and the call was ended.

Dave took a pen and stick note pad from Rosie's desk and wrote down a name and stuck the note to the back of her desk with a bunch of other notes that Rosie had to herself. "That's your mom's best friend."

"Thank you daddy." Rosie said

Dave kissed her head. "I should have given you the name sooner."

"Its okay. I get you were trying to protect me." Rosie said

"How's the homework coming?" Dave asked

"Almost done. I think I'm done for tonight. I will finish tomorrow morning. Nolan is coming at around two." Rosie told him.

"Okay. You hungry?" Dave asked

"Yes. Craving a good chicken salad." Rosie said

"We can make that. Come on." He said

The two of them went down to the kitchen and took out the things needed and made some chicken ceaser salad for dinner.