A/N: Sweet160717, Fitz can be a nerve-wrecker and, at times deserves a good cussing out. LOL. It seems like a lot of reviewers want to cuss him out or give him a smackdown. Dendardendan, you want to kill Fitz, too? Fitz wasn't trying to manipulate Olivia, he really understands Asha's suffering because he suffered too after Charlie tried to kill his family. Ben needs to reassess his priorities. It seems like Olivia knows her priorities, and they are her husband and children. Dispatcher652, yes, Fitz is trying to do right by Asha, but should he try to do it alone or discuss it with his wife. It was appropriate for Asha to tell Fitz that Cena was swimming in the deep in. And, yes, she did not want her friend to die like her mother has died. But, the Tattler moniker was established for Asha many chapters ago. So,you think Gwendolyn and Olivia are hypocrites because of their village comments. Is the one more important than the whole? Olivia recognizes that she and her husband are in over their heads. Emma, you're right, a relationship cannot last without trust. But, who's at fault here? Hmm? Coralsue3, it's late July in Church Falls and Fitz needs to decide soon if he is returning to city council. Stay tuned. Alexindigo, remember, Olivia wanted more babies after they had Jolie. Is Marion insecure or does she have valid reasons for breaking up with Ben? "'Maura and Gerry raised Fitz and Nora, and look how screwed up they turned out.'" Too funny. IAMASCANDALLOVER, you're right Cena is a little girl, but she is not thinking about the love her father showered her with in the past. Children only think about the present. The Grants are in a bind, and I'm glad this story is provoking conversations. Thanks for the nudges. Olitzlives19, you know Fitz likes more than hugs. Dakidd, you're right, Olivia and Fitz need to establish the rules for their home, but they have not been on the same page about the Asha matter. That's the problem. You think Bennie should let Marion go? It seems like has let Ben go. Yaspartame, fico feliz que esteja gostando da história. Obrigado por ler e rever. Monica, Chapter 64 was a turning point for our characters. Asha is jealous of Cena, although she does not understand her feelings. We'll see how Fitz and Olivia handle her jealousy and tattling. Asha was displaying something different than impatience with Jolie when she snatched Freddy away. Freddy is the last memory Asha has of her mother and she does not want Cena or Jolie to break the robot. It would be like another death for her. Keep in mind, these are children and they don't have the language skills to express their feelings, so they will act out at times. Fitz will definitely make amends with his Princess. We'll have to see if Fitz decides to return to city council. Cena and Asha's friendship begins to mend in Chapter 65. Ty is going to open up some interesting cans of worms when he comes to Church Falls. This latest argument seems like the last straw for both Ben and Marion. Scandalbrenda5, Olivia and Fitz continue to repeat the same mistakes because they have not consistently practiced what Avril taught them. kelleekellkell, I agree, both Ben and Marion have a hand in the dissolution of the relationship. Glad you're still enjoying the story. Cleo Griffith, I see you will never like Marion. Haha. Fitz' attention to Asha is a bit over the top, but Olivia always knows how to give him a wake-up call. She knows how much she is going to tolerate. Freddy the Robot is special to Asha because it was the last gift her mother gave her. Let's see if Asha's grandmother is as bad as Chuck said she is. Guest 1, is Asha the problem or are the Olivia and Fitz, the adults, the problem? Have they not yet learned how to communicate and make major decisions together? Did they not learn anything from Avril? Sheesh. We'll see if Barbara Anne is a good person or not. Stay tuned, Ty Granger will be showing up soon in Church Falls. Guest 2, the Grants have a security system, but no cameras.
Thanks for all the reviews and sorry for the late update. I apologize for any typos, my eyes are tired. Tell me what you think. Here we go!
Chapter 65. Dear Diary (CURRENT)
Bowtie's dog tags jingle as he dashes down the long foyer hall, barking at the woman standing on the doorstep. Olivia looks down at him and frowns, thinking he never barks at anyone. Barbara Anne steps when the vicious beast bares its teeth. She wonders if having a dog is a requirement for living in this neighborhood. As Fitz plops another piece of cheese into his mouth, he crinkles his brow when he hears Bowtie barking. He quickly wipes his hands on the kitchen towel and walks from the kitchen to investigate what has the family pet so agitated.
Well – well - I guess the world has changed. Barbara Anne thinks when she sees Fitz walking down the hall.
"What's the matter boy?" Fitz asks, trying to calm the dog, but Bowtie continues to bark at the stranger. "Sit down", Fitz commands with more force, and the protective canine retreats on its hind legs, continuing to growl at the woman.
"Liv - is everything all right?" Placing his hand on her shoulder as he stares at the odd-looking woman.
Although this is the moment she has been waiting for, Olivia is dumbstruck. She cannot seem to speak. Her mouth opens and closes but no words come out. Fitz frowns and steps in front of his wife.
"May I help you?" Looking at the woman curiously.
"As I was saying to your wife – she is your wife – ain't she?"
"And you are?" Folding his arms across his chest.
"My name is Barbara Anne Forrester, Kelly's mother - a pleasure I'm sure", extending her leathery brown hand to Fitz, who reluctantly accepts the handshake. "It's awfully warm out today - it seems like we're going to have a hot summer this year", fanning her face with her hand.
"I'm sorry — please come in – come in", Olivia says, finally finding her voice. Bowtie resumes barking when the woman steps into the foyer.
"Upstairs, Bowtie", Fitz commands, pointing his finger in the direction of the staircase. Bowtie growls once more at the woman before trotting up the hall and stretching out at the foot of the staircase.
"He sure is a anxious one", Barbara Anne remarks, glaring at Bowtie down the hall.
"I assure you – he's harmless. He's not usually like this", Olivia says.
That's what they all say until the mutt bites someone.
Imagining what one of these big fancy houses might look like inside is one thing, but actually seeing the grandeur is a different story. For the past two weeks she has been mentally preparing for the day she would finally meet the Grants. But, there are certain things for which one cannot prepare, especially if one has not had prior exposure.
She cannot control her gawking, the two-story foyer and sweeping staircase at the end of the long hall are nothing less than breathtaking. She gasps when she looks up and sees the chandelier hanging from the two-story foyer ceiling. It is not one of those gaudy crystal-laden fixtures that people buy in an attempt to showcase their wealth, it is simple wrought-iron design that demands attention, without the need for comment. The long hall is a virtual art gallery, with paintings of all sizes hanging on the wall. The place reeks of money in an understated we-don't-talk-about-money kind of way. Her senses are on overload and the words fall from her mouth before she can think.
"That sure is a pretty picture – all of 'em – but I really like that one", pointing to the oversized frame hanging on the wall up the hall. Fitz and Olivia look in the direction in which the woman is pointing.
"We got it in Greece – while on our honeymoon", Olivia says, smiling reminiscently. The picture has special meaning for them.
"Pretty – really pretty."
"Mrs. Forrester – please - come into the living room – have a seat", Olivia says, motioning her hand toward the space where strangers are seated. Family and friends walk freely into the private places of the house.
"Call me Barbara Anne - please", locking eyes with the vigilant dog down the hall before entering the living room.
"I'm Olivia and this is my husband, Fitz", looking at her husband who is leaning against the door jamb with arms folded across his chest. Barbara Anne and Fitz nod at each other. She does not know who makes her more nervous, his cold blue eyes or the dog waiting in the hall to attack her. She wants a drink or something stronger to steady her nerves.
"Would you like something cold to drink, Barbara Anne?"
"That would be real nice, Olivia. Thank you."
"Water - iced tea - or lemonade?"
"Lemonade would be fine - please", displaying her best manners.
"Babe - can you bring us some of that lemonade you made this morning?"
Fitz nods, turns on his heels, and walks up the hall where Bowtie is now standing with tongue hanging out and awaiting orders.
"Sit, boy", Fitz says as he walks into the family room then into the kitchen.
XXX
Barbara Anne is acutely aware of her surroundings and that old feeling of not belonging takes hold. These people are not like those in her social circle, they are educated and refined and they make her nervous, and when she is nervous she has a tendency to babble.
"You have a lovely home, Olivia", her jaundiced eyes scanning the room as she carefully sits down on the chair situated across from the sofa. She cannot remember if she already commented on the splendor of the home; she is nervous. She wonders if Olivia thinks she is babbling.
"Thank you", Olivia smiles politely.
"It looks like you gonna be delivering soon. How far along are you?"
"Actually - we have four and a half months to go. We're having twins."
"Twins - good Lord."
"Yes - we're due in December", Olivia says, smiling and rubbing her stomach.
"We? Back in my day women didn't talk about no we. The woman did all the hard work and the men - well they got bragging rights – that's if they stayed around long enough." Olivia arches her eyebrow.
"Well - Fitz has been in the delivery room each time - cheering me on. It can be a little annoying when the labor pains are hitting - but I wouldn't want it any other way."
"How many more children do you have, Olivia?" Beginning to feel more comfortable with the lady of the house.
"Two girls."
"My - my. Believe me when I tell - you're going to have your hands full with four children", chuckling lightly.
"We love our children", Fitz says.
The smile disappears from Barbara Anne's face and she withdraws when Fitz returns carrying a tray with a pitcher of lemonade, tall ice-filled glasses, a bowl of sugar, and cocktail napkins. He sets the tray onto the coffee table, fills a glass with lemonade, and hands it to Barbara Anne. She accepts the glass with a smile that he does not return.
"Lemonade, Liv?"
"No – thank you, babe." Fitz sits on the sofa next to his wife and crosses his legs.
"You have such a long driveway - it must be a mile long. It took me forever to walk up to the house.
With elbow bent on the sofa arm and chin resting on clenched fist, Fitz stares at Barbara Anne.
"Ooh — this lemonade is nice and cold — but I'm going to need a little more sugar — if you don't mind", picking up the long, silver spoon from the tray. Fitz and Olivia watch as the woman scoops five or six spoons full of sugar into the glass then stirs the mound that has settled at the bottom.
"That's better. I like my lemonade sweet."
"Can we get you anything else, Barbara Anne?" Olivia asks.
"No – no – this lemonade is just fine – just fine. It's really good - not like that store-bought stuff in those plastic bottles." She is babbling again.
Olivia smiles politely at the woman.
"You are some hard people to catch up with. I come here a few times over the last two weeks - but no one answered the door. I saw some workers carrying things in and out of the house – not one of them could speak a word of English — couldn't understand a word I said. But that neighbor of yours and his old dog sure kept an eye on things for you – they watched me like a hawk. Yes – they did", bringing the glass to her lips again.
The pronouncement gets Fitz' attention and he looks at Barbara Anne, realizing she is the woman Harry said was snooping outside the house while they were at the lake.
"We were away for a few weeks - at our lake house. We were having some renovations done around here and didn't want the odors to affect the babies", Olivia says, rubbing her stomach.
"Oh — you have a lake house — too?"
Fitz clears his throat, signaling to his wife that she is sharing too much information with the stranger.
"It's just a small place we like to go periodically - to get away to from time to time." There is nothing small about the lake house, Fitzgerald Grant made sure their home away from home was as well appointed as their primary home.
"That must be nice – to have a place where you can go to get away."
"Barbara Anne – we're so sorry for your loss - Kelly was a good person. Her death was a surprise to all of us", Olivia says, empathy filling her voice. Barbara Anne sets the tall glass onto the coaster and looks at Olivia with sad yellow eyes.
"Olivia - I come to town to visit my oldest child - instead I find out that my Kelly is dead", picking up one of the linen cocktail napkins from the tray and dabs her dry eyes.
"Barbara Anne — we tried really hard to find you and Kelly's siblings — but we had to move forward with the funeral service. We couldn't wait any longer. I hope you understand."
"Of course. Of course. We are all scattered around like leaves on a autumn day. I just really appreciate you taking care of my Kelly in her final days."
"It was the least we could do."
"I'm so glad you left your phone number and address with that superintendent. If you hadn't - I wouldn't have a clue about what happened to my Kelly." Fitz shifts uncomfortably on the sofa cushion.
"We knew you would want to know what happened."
"Such kind people — good — generous people", Barbara Anne says. I tell you this is the best lemonade I ever had. My momma made good lemonade — but I swear this is better than hers. Maybe it's the fresh mint", stirring the sugar again.
"Barbara Anne – is there anything we can do for you?"
"Yes, Olivia – you can tell me what happened to my Kelly? How did she die?"
Olivia looks at Fitz.
"Barbara Anne – I'm sorry to say that Kelly died from a drug overdose", Fitz says flatly.
"Overdose? My Kelly never used drugs. She never even took a sip of liquor – although I tried to give it to her once or twice", she sniggers as if she is letting the couple in on a secret.
"I'm so sorry, Barbara Anne", Olivia says sympathetically.
"Lord, Lord - what did my child get herself into while I've been gone?"
"And – Barbara Anne", Asha doesn't know how her mother died", Olivia says softly.
"And she never will", Fitz says forcefully.
"Asha?" Looking at Olivia with confusion in her eyes.
"Your granddaughter", Fitz says through clenched teeth. Barbara Anne looks at Fitz and nods, thinking he is going to be a problem.
"Yes – my grandbaby – of course. How is she doing? Where is she?" Glancing around the room as if she is looking for the little girl.
"She's with our daughter – visiting family. They aren't expected to return home until tomorrow." Olivia looks at her husband wondering why he would lie to Barbara Anne. They are planning to pick up the girls from Abby and John's house after their dinner date tonight.
"That's too bad - I ain't seen little Asia since she came out of Kelly's womb. Fitz and Olivia look at the woman thinking it is odd that the woman does not know her granddaughter's name. "I'm sure you'll be happy to get my granddaughter from underfoot."
"We love having Asha here - she's not a problem at all", Fitz says sternly, reaching into his pants pocket and pulling out a copy of Kelly's Death Certificate. "Here's Kelly's Death Certificate - the cause of death is listed.", he says, handing a copy of the document to the seemingly distraught woman. Barbara Anne scans the document and dabs her eye again.
"Barbara Anne, Kelly is buried at Mount Laurel Cemetery - in the city. I'm sure you'll want to visit her while you're in town", Olivia says.
"Yes – of course. I'll be going over to the cemetery tomorrow to say my final good-byes to my firstborn", dabbing her eye again.
"Will you need transportation - can we — "
"No — no, Olivia -that's so kind of you. I know where Mount Laurel is", punctuating her words with a few sniffles.
Olivia feels sorry for the woman. She cannot imagine what it would feel like to think you are going to visit your child only to find out that she is dead.
"You've done so much for my child. Tell me - how do you good people know my Kelly?"
"We work — worked — together - at Bryson's Foods."
"Worked together? The last time I talked to my daughter she was working in housekeeping", thinking Olivia Grant hardly looks like the kind of woman who cleans toilets and wipes up behind other people.
"Kelly was well liked by everyone at Bryson's", Olivia says, ignoring the inference.
"I see. I see", playing with the napkin on her lap. "Olivia - since you and my Kelly worked together – maybe you can help me with something."
"Of course - what is it?" Olivia asks eagerly.
"Does that company give their workers a life insurance policy? I understand most companies give their people a life insurance policy these days."
"I – I don't know - I suppose", Olivia stutters, taken aback by the question. Fitz squints at Barbara Anne.
"Well - I'll go down to that Bryson place tomorrow – after I leave the cemetery of course - and see what I can find out. This lemonade sure is so good", bringing the glass to her lips again.
"Let me know if you want me to call someone at Bryson's for you", Olivia volunteers.
"That's so kind of you, Olivia – but I'd like to go see where my Kelly worked. By the way - that superintendent told me you cleaned everything out my daughter's apartment – did you happen to come across any bank accounts or another life insurance policy? I'm sure Kelly had a little money put away – working for a company like Bryson Foods."
Fitz looks at the woman in disbelief, thinking she is more interested in finding out if her daughter left behind any money than she is in finding out how her granddaughter is coping with the death of her mother.
"We saw nothing like that", Olivia says, looking at Fitz, who remains silent. "We simply got a few things we thought Asha would want. We took nothing else."
"Of course. Of course", Barbara Anne says, filling her glass with more lemonade. "Well - I'll be back the day after tomorrow to take my grandbaby home with needs to be with her family now that her mother is gone", spooning more sugar into the glass. The comment spurs Fitz to speak.
"Barbara Anne - I'm sure Asha would love to visit with you — get to know her grandmother in time."
Olivia looks at him and Barbara Anne can see with her jaundiced eyes that her granddaughter is a bone of contention for the couple.
"She will be coming to family, Fitz. Asia would want to meet her family - she has cousins about her age."
"Of course", Olivia chimes in and Barbara Anne smiles at her.
"I'm sure you would agree that uprooting her again so soon after losing her mother is not in her best interest. Asha has had a difficult time since Kelly's death. Perhaps it's best if she stays here a while longer— in familiar surroundings."
"Fitz - sometimes you just have to rip off the bandage. My granddaughter will be fine in no time", says Barbara Anne with a wave of her hand.
Fitz stands abruptly and Olivia looks up at him with surprise.
"If there isn't anything more we can do for you today - my wife and I have an engagement this evening - we need to get ready."
"Of course. It was a pleasure meeting such kind and generous people. Thank you for taking care of my Kelly and grandbaby - and thank you for the lemonade. Take care of those babies, Olivia", smiling at Olivia's stomach before following Fitz down the hall.
"Good-bye, Barbara Anne", Olivia says from the sofa as she tries to contain her annoyance with her husband.
XXX
"Good-bye, Barbara Anne", Fitz says, beginning to close the door.
"I'll be back on Wednesday for my grandbaby, Fitz", her jaundiced eyes staring into his ice blue eyes. Fitz closes the door and hurries back to the living room.
"We have to get over to John and Abby's and get the girls. I don't want that woman showing up there trying to take Asha."
"Take Asha - why would she do that? She doesn't know where John and Abby live."
"We don't know what she knows. Let's go."
Olivia sighs, rolling her eyes as she struggles to stand to her feet. She hopes he is not having second thoughts about letting Asha go live with her grandmother.
XXX
Olivia stares at her husband with annoyance as he repeatedly presses the doorbell. She was looking forward to having dinner in the city tonight while the girls spent the day with Ethan, but her husband is too shaken by Barbara Anne's visit and is no longer interested in going out to dinner. Abby stomps down the hall wondering who is leaning on her doorbell. She swings open the door, loaded for bear.
"What the hell are you two doing here? I thought you were going to the city for dinner tonight."
"Where are the girls, Abigail?" Fitz asks anxiously, pushing his way into the foyer.
"Upstairs — playing with Ethan. What's going on, Fitzgerald?"
"Where's John?" he asks, glancing around like an animal preparing to attack.
"In the laundry room — folding clothes ", Abby says, watching with surprise as her brother-in-law hurries up the hall.
"What's going on, Olivia?"
"I'll explain", Olivia says, shaking her head in frustration.
XXX
"What the hell are you doing here, brother? I thought you and Liv were going to paint the town tonight?" John asks as he finishes folding one of Abby's bras.
"Something's come up. We need to talk."
"Okay - go get a drink while I put in the next load of clothes. Abigail has me doing the laundry - I don't know why the hell we have Irma if I have to do the laundry."
After filling the washing machine with the next load of clothes, John walks from the laundry room in search of his brother.
"What's going on, Fitz? Where's Liv?" John asks as he enters the family room.
"Upstairs - with Abigail. We have a problem."
"Have a drink. Sit down." Fitz waves his hand in the air.
"Asha's grandmother showed up at the house a few hours ago", running his hand through his hair.
"You knew that a family member might show up at some point, Fitz", sitting down on the sofa and watching his brother pace around the room.
"Something's not right about that woman, John."
"What do you mean?"
"She wanted to know if Kelly left any money. She's going to Bryson's tomorrow to check if there is a life insurance policy."
"It's natural for survivors to ask about those kinds of things, Fitz."
Fitz shakes. "It's more than that – she didn't ask about Asha until Liv mentioned her. Hell - she didn't even know her granddaughter's name. There's something about that woman that doesn't feel right. She's creepy."
"Did she ask you and Liv for money?"
"No."
"Then there's nothing to worry about. She has every right to take her granddaughter, Fitz - regardless of the creep factor. But - if she does ask for money – go to the police right away. - you can't let her extort money from you."
"Daddy", Cena squeals, running in the room toward her father.
"Uncle, Fitz", yells Ethan.
"Hey, buddy", smiling down at his godson and tousling his hair.
"Baaba, Ethan showed us his turtle and Cena touched it. She said it was hard. I didn't touch it."
"She did?" Swooping up the wide-eyed little girl and pecking her on the cheek.
"It is daddy. Chester's shell is hard - and cold – too", looking up at her father.
"We better get going", Olivia says, walking into the room carrying a sleeping Jolie.
"Give me Jo so I can put her in the car seat", Fitz says, lifting the sleeping girl from his wife's arms.
"I'll talk to you tomorrow, Olivia", Abby says, pecking her on the cheek. "Okay crumb snatchers — get out of my house."
"We love you Aunt Abby", Cena screams, giving her aunt a hug.
"You tell the best stories", Asha says, hugging Abby, too.
"Out — out, rug rats. You're ruining my reputation."
"Bye, Ethan", the girls say in unison. Cena and Asha run out the house giggling because they know Aunt Abby is more bark than bite.
"Good night, Liv", John says sympathetically as he pecks her on the cheek.
"Good night, Abigail", Fitz says, pecking his sister-in-law on the cheek before hurrying outside to the truck.
"Good night, Fitzgerald", Abby says, shaking her head and thinking Fitzgerald and Olivia have gotten themselves into a royal mess.
XXX
Olivia sighs when the steam floats into the bedroom when he opens the bathroom door. Once again he has forgotten to turn on the exhaust fan.
"I don't want to judge Barbara Anne, Fitz."
"I'm not judging her. I don't trust her – but I'm not judging her", he says, digging into his drawer for a pair of pajama pants.
"You have to be open to giving her a chance, babe."
"The woman doesn't seem forthright, Liv. And - I'm not convinced that Asha will be safe with her. Did you see her eyes? I don't think she's healthy."
"What will it take?" she asks tiredly.
"What do you mean?" Letting the towel wrapped around his waist drop to the floor.
"What will it take to convince you that Asha will be safe with her grandmother? What does Barbara Anne have to do to satisfy you?"
He gives her a dumbfounded look as he steps into his pajama pants. He has not allowed himself to consider that Barbara Anne Forrester may be a good person. After all, Chuck said she was a horrible mother.
"Let's suppose that Barbara Anne is who you think she is - then what? John already told you that Asha's family has rights to her. We don't. You don't."
"I'm not going back on my promise, Liv. Our family is everything to me. I just — "
"You have to let go, babe. Barbara Anne seems just fine. She may not be what we were expecting – but that does not mean she won't be a good grandmother."
He climbs into bed, kisses her on the cheek, then on turns off his lamp. He is done talking about Barbara Anne today.
XXX
For the next 45 minutes Olivia sit up in bed watching her husband sleep. She knows he is a good man and only wants to make sure that Asha will be safe with Barbara Anne, but she does not know how he is going objectively determine if Barbara Anne is acceptable. She expels a heavy sigh then quietly crawls out of bed and walks toward the massive walk-in closet and the room. She flicks on the lights and stands in the doorway, looking up at the shelf that holds her many boxes of hats. She shakes her head thinking life is so fragile. She looks over at the oversized canvas tote bag hanging on the hook on which she placed it when they returned from Kelly's apartment. She expels the lungful of air, grabs the tote bag from the hook, and turns off the closet lights. She looks over at her sleeping husband and quietly exits the bedroom.
Olivia turns on the lights in the study and her mouth forms into a slight smile when she sees Fitz' old cable cardigan sweater draped over the arm of the chair. She walks across the room, sets the tote bag onto the desk, and brings the sweater to her face. She inhales deeply; it smells like him. She slides her arms into the sleeves, her four-and-a-half-month pregnant body now fills the oversized sweater. She feels warm and safe.
Sitting at the desk, Olivia pulls the faux leather book from the canvas tote bag and stares at it for a long while. Since cleaning out Kelly's apartment, she has quietly wrestled with whether she should peer into someone's private thoughts without being invited. After a few weeks of contemplating, she finally landed on not violating the privacy of someone who has died. But, tonight she has changed her mind, she needs answers. She needs to try to find out if her husband's concerns about Barbara are valid or not.
Oliva opens the book and smiles when she reads the first salutation. She remembers starting each page the same way when she was a teenager.
XXX
Dear Diary,
"I'm three months pregnant and I don't know what to do. I'm scared because I barely make enough money to take care of myself, let alone a baby. I never wanted children; Barbara Anne is the cause of that. Ronnie is acting ignorant again, he never wanted children either. He packed his shit in a black trash bag and left this morning. He said he has a new girlfriend who don't have any children. I want to get an abortion, but I don't have any money. I guess I'm going to be a mother.
XXX
Dear Diary,
I called Ronnie to let him know he has a daughter, he said nothing; he just hung up the phone. I'm so tired of scrimping and pinching and sacrificing; and feeling humiliated, ashamed and even angry that I'm poor. I don't want my life to become my daughter's life. She deserves better.
XXX
Dear Diary,
Asha is two and is growing like a weed. She loves stacking her blocks and trying to count them. I think she is too young to know how to count, but she seems to be trying. I love my daughter and can't imagine life without her. I'm so glad I didn't have an abortion. I heard that Ronnie got locked up again for selling drugs.
XXX
Dear Diary,
I. Love. My. Job. Can you tell that I'm smiling from ear to ear? I started working at Bryson Foods today and I am so excited to have a good-paying job with benefits. I'll be cleaning the executives' bathrooms, but that' all right. Miss Deanna is my new supervisor, she seems nice. She had Rhonda, the other housekeeper, show me where all the supplies are kept. I smiled when Rhonda gave me three navy-blue smocks with Bryson Foods embroidered on the right side and my name tag on the left side. To celebrate my new job, Asha and I baked her favorite chocolate chip cookies and ate vanilla ice cream. This was a wonderful day.
XXX
Dear Diary,
Asha and I moved into our new apartment today, it's not much, but it is better than the place we were living. It's still a one bedroom and we still have to share a bed, but that's okay for now. If I work hard enough at Bryson's, maybe Miss Deanna will give me a promotion, then I can get a two-bedroom apartment. Tonight, my daughter and I baked chocolate chip cookies in our new apartment and they smelled so good.
XXX
Dear Diary,
Asha is so excited about her new friend Cena Grant. She met her at dance class. She asked if her new friend could spend the weekend, but we don't have enough room for sleepovers. The disappointment in her eyes was heartbreaking.
XXX
Dear Diary,
Cena invited Asha to her birthday party at her family's lake house in the mountains. Asha is so excited, that's all she talks about every night at dinner. I don't know what a lake house is, but I guess the Grants must be rich if they have two houses. I'm going to skip lunch a few days this week so I can buy a really nice birthday present for Cena. But that's all right, I want my baby girl too to be proud when she goes to that the party.
Olivia brushes away the tears with the back of her hand.
XXX
Dear Diary,
Asha's friend, Cena and her family, were in a car accident on the way to their lake house. I explained to Asha the best I could what happened. She is so sad. I pray the Grants will be all right, they seem like nice people. The news reports say Fitzgerald Grant is a famous negotiator who just won the election for city council president. I didn't vote for him. I didn't vote for anyone - too busy.
Olivia smiles.
XXX
Dear Diary,
Olivia Grant started working at Bryson's today, I was surprised to see her there. No, I was embarrassed she would find out that I cleaned toilets for a living. Olivia is an amazing woman – smart and articulate. She's everything I'm not. Our daughters are friends, maybe we can become friends, too. That probably won't happen, we're from two different worlds. I hope Asha will grow up to be like her.
BTW, I think Olivia might be pregnant. She spends a lot of time in the bathroom when she comes to the office. I heard her puking one day so I didn't go inside.
XXX
Dear Diary,
Asha is beginning to ask about her father. Her new friend, Cena, has a father and she wants one too. How do I tell my little girl that her father who never wanted anything to do with her is dead? Ronnie was killed in a knife fight in jail. I feel nothing.
XXX
Dear Diary,
The new Chief Operating Officer started working at Bryson's today. He's a big man, around six feet -five. Although he's always smiling, I don't trust him. His smile just doesn't seem real. He is overly nice. Barbara Anne didn't teach me much, but she always said not to trust anyone that is too nice. Speaking of Barbara Anne, if I see that woman it would be too soon. She ruined my life and I don't want her anywhere near my daughter. She always has some half-ass hustle going on – always trying to get paid. All she cares about is money, men, and getting high. She ruined my life and my sisters and brother. I don't want her anywhere near my daughter. She makes me sick.
Olivia sets the diary onto the desk; she has found what she was looking for. Kelly did not want Barbara Anne to have any contact with Asha. She sighs, because this information only complicates things. She wonders if she should tell Fitz what she has learned. Perhaps she should not tell him, he has not mentioned the diary to him. She shakes her head; she is tired of all the lies and secrets she has been forced to keep since Kelly died. She picks up the diary and continues to read, she needs to learn more about the woman who has more influence on her family than she likes.
XXX
Dear Diary,
I can't stand that new Chief Operating Officer, I hate the way he leers at me. He gives me the creeps. One day last week when I went into the men's bathroom to clean, I heard him masturbating in the shower. I quietly closed the door and went down the hall to clean the women's bathroom.
XXX
Dear Diary,
I went to the doctor today for a follow-up appointment, he did a few range-of-motion tests and told me my arm is healed. He signed my Certificate for Duty paperwork. I can go back to work, but I don't want to. Nothing has been the same since I broke my arm.
XXX
Dear Diary,
I no longer feel like I have control over my own body or anything else in my life. I'm scared it might happen again. Asha is spending too much time at her friend Cena's house. I have to put an end to that friendship. I don't want to lose my daughter to Olivia and Fitz because they can give her everything that I can't. This is the only thing I can control.
XXX
Dear Diary,
I. Hate. My. Job. Asha is miserable, Olivia says Cena is miserable. I'm miserable, everyone is miserable. Nothing has been the same since that day. I've thought about telling Olivia, hoping maybe she would talk to Miss Deanna or Mr. Bryson. Nah – that won't do any good, people like that stick together, protect each other. Besides, I can't risk losing my job.
Olivia crinkles her brow, wondering what Kelly wanted to tell her.
XXX
Dear Diary,
I paid a $30 co-pay to see that stupid doctor today and he didn't want to refill my prescription. He said my arm is healed and I shouldn't be in pain any longer. How the hell does he know if I am in pain or not?He gave me the prescription but told me this was the last one he was going to write. He handed me the script and quickly scribbled the name and address of an addiction clinic on a sheet of paper. I threw the paper in the trash on the way out his office. I'm not a damn addict.
XXX
Dear Diary,
I can't afford to keep buying those pills down on the corner. I won't be able to pay my rent and buy food if I keep buying them. My baby needs a place to live. I don't want her to live in a shelter. Asha is smart, she is beginning to ask why I go out late at night and why I don't want to bake cookies anymore.
XXX
Dear Diary,
Asha said she is scared when I leave her home alone at night. I didn't have much money left over from this paycheck, but I bought her a toy robot today to keep her company when I go out to buy my medicine. That's the least I can do for her. She named the thing Freddy.
XXX
Dear Diary:
Since I can't afford to buy the pills anymore, the "salesman" suggested a less expensive solution to my problem. I never liked taking needles, even when I had to have blood work done. Heroin helps me to forget my life.
It's getting harder and harder to keep it all together. I've been missing a lot of time from work, but Miss Deanna doesn't complain. I hear Rhonda has been complaining about having to do her job and mine too. I have to get it together. I think I'll let Asha be friends again Cena. I don't want my daughter to see me like this.
XXX
Dear Diary,
Thank God for Olivia and Fitz, they agreed to allow the girls to be friends. They are good people. I hope they don't suspect anything. I have worked so hard not to be like my mother, but it seems like I was destined to repeat the Forrester curse. I pray to God that by living with Olivia and Fitz, Asha can break the curse. They can give her things I can't. They can show her a life I don't know anything about.
Dear Diary,
I forgot to call Olivia to tell her what time to bring Asha home. I fell asleep.
XXX
Dear Diary,
I wonder where Asha is, I haven't seen her in a week. I want to see my baby. I'm going to sleep now.
XXX
Olivia slams the book shut and tosses it onto the desk, she cannot bear to read anymore of Kelly's sad life story. She shakes her head, wondering if she could have done anything to help Kelly. The guilt settles in and she is exhausted. She reaches to turn off the desk lamp and stops when she sees the edge of a page peeking through the back of the book. She opens the book and slides out the pages. She slowly unfolds the pages and begins to read.
Dear Diary,
I was raped at work today.
Olivia's eyes widen; she is no longer breathing. She reads the sentence over and over, trying to process the six matter-of-fact words.
I hate that bastard for what he did to me. I didn't like him the first time I saw him. There are some people you can tell right away that they are no good. Every time I went to clean the men's restroom he pretended he did not hear me knock on the door and call out housekeeping. He wanted me to come in and find him masturbating. I can't count the number of times I ran from the men's bathroom after I walked in and found him jerking off. I could always hear him laughing as I ran down the hall, but there was no running today.
When walked into the bathroom, he walked from the shower wearing nothing but that stupid ass grin. I tried to leave, but he pushed my cart against the door, blocking me from leaving and anyone from coming in. I begged him to let me go, but he only laughed harder. I fought him as he pushed me toward the shower, but he was too strong. He said if I didn't give him what he wanted he would have Miss Deanna fire me. He said he would tell Miss Deanna he caught me stealing the expensive personal products. I told him I had a daughter and begged him to stop. He didn't care.
He twisted my arm so hard while he made me pull down my pants and underwear. He made me touch him until he was hard. I will never forget the sound of him grunting like a pig as he thrust inside of me. I thought he was going to rip my insides apart. And when he was finished, he threw me down on the wet shower floor like I was trash. That's when I broke my arm. I stayed on the floor crying while he got dressed. I told him he broke my arm, but he didn't care. He pushed the cart from against the door and told me to clean up the mess. I don't know how long I was on the shower floor curled in a tight ball, but it must've been a while because Miss Deanna came looking for me. She thought I slipped and fell while cleaning the shower. I didn't tell her what really happened. I need my job. Miss Deanna drove me to the hospital.
The doctor in the emergency room said my right femur is broken and I'll be out of work for at least three weeks. The pain is excruciating so he gave me a prescription for some pain pills. I had to pick up Asha from dance class, so I didn't get a chance to take a pill until now. All the pain has gone away.
I feel so ashamed, helpless, defective. Maybe I did something to encourage it. I no longer trust anyone. I don't feel anything.
XXX
With tears streaming down her cheeks, Olivia stares at the crease that demarcates the top of the pages from the bottom. She cannot believe what she just read. Kelly was raped at work. The broken arm, the pills – everything now make so much sense. She feels guilty again, then she gets angry. She grabs the diary and loose pages from the desk and hurries from the study.
"Fitz – Fitz. Wake up Fitz", sitting on his side of the bed and shaking his shoulder.
"Hmm?" He mumbles still half asleep.
"Fitz – wake up." The urgency in her voice cause him to shoot up in the bed.
"What – what is it? Is everything already? Do you need to go to the hospital?" Searching her face in the moonlight room.
"Read this", turning on his lamp and pushing the pages toward him. He stares at her; her words do not make sense to him.
"What's that?" His voice scratchy from sleep.
"Pages from Kelly's diary. Kelly was raped, Fitz."
He stares at her for a moment, trying to process what she said. Then he slowly reads every word that describes the crime.
"My god", running his fingers through his hair.
"What are we going to do? This explains everything. This explains why she was on drugs. This explains why she died. That bastard raped her."
"Slow down, Liv - this could just be the rantings of a sick person. Look at this – these pages don't have dates on them."
"I know Kelly is telling the truth, Fitz. I have to do something about this. He still works at Bryson's. He could be doing it to other women."
"What do you mean you have to do something about this? You can't prove anything. This will never stand up in court." Tossing the creased pages onto the bed.
"I'll talk to Fred – I'll tell him what he did to Kelly."
"And you expect Fred to do what – fire one of his top executives based on the words of an employee who overdosed in one of his shower's at work? He won't risk a lawsuit."
"I can't let him get away with raping her. We can hire detectives to check into his background. We can –"
"You're going to let this go."
"Let it go? You wouldn't be so quick to say let it go if he assaulted someone you cared about. You'd use every legal tactic you can think of to put him in jail - if not under the jail."
"We're going to burn this diary and these pages. Asha will never know."
"Burn it – are you crazy? That's the only proof we have", standing to her feet and glaring down at him.
"One – it's proof of nothing. Two - if you pursue this the media will get hold of it - it'll be a scandal. The lawyers will drag Kelly's name through the mud. Everything will come out – including how she died. We said we wouldn't allow Asha to find out how her mother died."
"This isn't fair that he gets away with raping her. He's a sexual predator, Fitz. He ruined Kelly's life. She deserves justice."
He climbs out of bed and stands in front of her, trying to calm her down. "Life isn't always fair, Olivia", gently massaging her shoulder.
"But –"
"You have to stay focused. This is about that little girl down the hall who doesn't know a damn thing about drug overdose or rape. What she does know is her mother is dead and she is alone in this world."
"How many secrets are we going to have around here, Fitz - because they're beginning to pile up?"
"Can we just get through tomorrow with Barbara Anne?"
"Then what?"
"I don't know - dammit." And that's the rub, he knows he does not have a legal leg to stand on if Barbara Anne decides to take Asha. He can delay it for a while, tie her up in the courts, but she will eventually take Asha. "Can we please just take this one step at a time? Can we just get through tomorrow? The important thing right now is to handle Barbara Anne."
"Fine", she says angrily, stomping to her side of the bed and crawling under the covers.
"Did you read anything in the diary that would give us a clue to whether Kelly would want Asha to live with her grandmother?"
Olivia remains silent as she stares out the window at the moonlight sky.
"Liv – did you read – "
"She hated her mother for ruining her life. She never wanted Asha to have anything to do with her", she replies in a staccato tone. Fitz slowly nods his head; he knew the woman was a viper.
"We just need to get through tomorrow, Liv."
Olivia remains silent as she stares at the reddish hue of the late July moon thinking she does not believe him.
XXX
When you have lived the kind of life that Barbara Anne Forrester has lived, you become adept at sizing up people and situations, and right now she can see there is tension between the couple. She would bet her last dollar that her granddaughter is the cause of the tension.
"It's another hot day - but it's nice and cool in here", smiling at Olivia. Olivia turns her head and Barbara Anne knows something has changed since the last time she was here.
"Fitz – you wouldn't happen to have any more of that homemade lemonade? I sure could use a glass."
"No", Fitz says sharply. He was not fooled by her feigned obsequiousness the last time she was here and he certainly is not falling for it now that he knows how Kelly felt about her.
"I see. Well - I'll just be taking my granddaughter and we'll be on our way. Will you please send her down?" Maintaining her politeness. Olivia looks at her husband.
"What. Do. You Want?" Leaning forward and staring into the woman's yellowed eyes.
Barbara Anne's mouth form a wicked smile.
"I want my granddaughter, Fitz", she says in sugary tone.
He has seen this position taken many times when sitting at the negotiating table; people pretending to want one outcome when in fact they want something totally different.
"I'll ask you one more time -what do you want?"
Barbara Anne leans back in the plush chair and crosses her legs the way he did the other day.
"I see you got a little street smarts in you, Fitz", a slight smirk forming on her lips.
Fitz glares at the woman with disdain.
"I want my granddaughter or anything else you might want to give me", glancing around the well-appointed room.
"And what is that something else?" Fitz asks, beyond annoyed with the woman.
"Everything is negotiable, Fitz – you know that. Ain't that what you do? I read all about you online."
Olivia's eyes dart back and forth between her husband and the awful woman and Fitz is unshaken. He continues to stare at the woman.
"People like you make me sick. Just because you have a little money you think you can push people like me around. Well – that ain't gonna happen today. Asia is my granddaughter - she's my blood."
He learned long ago to let the opposition rant. In time they will reveal what they really want.
"How much is my granddaughter worth to you and the missus?"
Olivia gasp and Fitz jumps to his feet.
"Get out of this house. Now", pulling Barbara Anne from the chair. "How dare you come here and try to sell your own granddaughter. What kind of woman are you?"
"Get your hands off me", Barbara Anne snarls, snatching her arm from his strong grip. "Yeh – just what I thought - you the one who got her spoiled. I know it wasn't you", glancing at Olivia. "You got her living up in this big house and going on vacations. You got her thinking she somebody she ain't. Well — she ain't nobody – she's my granddaughter."
Fitz pulls Barbara Anne by the arm from the living room.
"You gonna have enough on your hands with four screaming children around here, Olivia. Mark my words – soon you'll be drinking and popping pills just like me and Kelly", she yells as Fitz pulls her down the hall.
"Get out", Fitz snarls, snatching open the door.
"That girl's my blood — not yours. Don't you forget that. If you want to keep her in this pretty house then you better come up with $125,000.00 or pack her little suitcase because she'll be leaving with me. And tell her I don't want to hear no crying - I'll teach her to keep that mouth shut."
Fitz slams the door in the vile woman's face.
"I know my rights, Fitz - don't make me have to bring the law here to get what's mine. You have two days – the clock is ticking", laughing maniacally as she walks down the steps. Olivia finally makes her way to the foyer in time to see Fitz pushing Barbara Anne out the door.
"What does she want?" She asks nervously.
"She wants to sell her granddaughter - for $125,000.00." Olivia brings a hand to her lips
"She's going to take Asha."
"Over my dead body."
XXX
Olivia and Fitz were unusually quiet at dinner, but the girls did not seem to notice. Since they returned from the lake house Cena and Asha seemed to have rekindled their friendship, chatting it up like old friends. Jolie tries to join in the older girls' chatter as she sits in her highchair kicking off her socks. Fitz looks at the socks on the floor and decides he does not have the energy to slide them back on his daughter's feet.
"Daddy – can we have ice cream tonight?"
"I want chocolate", Asha screams.
"I want strawberry", Cena yells.
"No ice cream tonight, girls. It's getting late – time for bath and bed."
"Aww", the girls whine.
The dinner dishes have been washed, the girls have been bathed, and the bedtime stories have been. Fitz is mentally exhausted as he walks down the hall to their bedroom.
"Do you want me to do that?" He asks when he sees his wife contorting her body trying to apply cream to her leg. She turns and looks at him with tears in her eyes.
"I made a mistake. You were right all along - Barbara Anne is an awful person. I understand why Kelly wanted nothing to do with her."
"I won't let Asha go with that woman, Liv."
"If I hadn't left our contact information with the superintendent none of this would be happening."
"I don't want you getting yourself worked up over this. Sooner or later someone was going to come looking for her", sitting on the bed next to her.
"We only have two days, Fitz."
"I know", pulling her onto his lap. She lay her head on his shoulder thinking about the vicious things Barbara Anne said.
"There's no love — no connection. There's only greed and selfishness. What are we going to do?"
"She doesn't want Asha - she wants money. So - that's what we're going to give her to go away."
"We can't do that, Fitz. We can't pay that woman money. A person like that will come back for more.
"I'll make sure that doesn't happen."
"How?"
"This is what I do, Liv."
"And you're very good at it - the best - but you're emotionally attached."
"Get some sleep - I'm going down to the study", pressing his lips to her cheek.
XXX
Gerry's flight landed over an hour ago and he has no idea what to expect when he arrives home. He and his wife were not in a good place when he and Nora left for Portland. He unlocks the door and pushes it open with the toe of his boot-covered foot. When Maura hears the front door open, she hurries from the kitchen to greet her husband.
"Gerry – you're home", wrapping her arms around his neck and placing a welcome-home kiss on his cheek. Crystal blue eyes filled with surprise, Gerry stares at his wife wondering what has gotten into while he was gone. This certainly is not the greeting he expected.
"Slow down, Maura", bending to set his suitcase against the wall. "Are you alright? Has something happened?"
"Why would you ask that? Everything is fine."
"You just seem so – so different", looking at his wife closely.
"Can't I be happy to see my husband? It's been weeks."
"It's been 10 days, Maura. Have you been drinking?"
"Come in and sit down, Gerry. Can I get you something to drink?" Guiding him down the hall toward the living room.
"An Arnold Palmer would be nice."
"One Arnold Palmer coming right up", Maura says in a sing-song voice. "Put your feet up, Gerry – relax", calling over her shoulder as she walks into the kitchen.
Gerry looks around the room for the mail, he has a lot catch up on since he has been away. He did not plan to stay in Portland as long as he did, but he needed to make things right with Nora and he was not going to rush it.
"Here you are, Gerry", Maura says, grinning like a loon as she hands him the drink. "Can I get you anything else?"
"What the hell is wrong with you, Maura. Why are you being so damn solicitous?"
"Oh - sit down, Gerry. Dinner will be ready soon."
XXX
With fingers tightly intertwined, Fitz and Olivia sit on the sofa in silence, waiting for the extortionist to arrive. The past two days have been nothing less than nerve-wrecking. They have no idea if Barbara Anne has changed her mind or if she will demand something more.
"Are we doing the right thing?" Looking up at his profile.
"It's the only thing to do", he says with conviction.
"Do you think this will be the end of it? Will anyone else come threatening to take Asha away?"
"Asha's father is dead – Chuck verified that. I have a copy of the Death Certificate. Barbara Anne is Asha's legal next of kin - once she signs the release agreement she will relinquish all rights. After today, we'll never see that woman again."
"Will the agreement hold up in court?"
"Yes. Gregory reviewed it – made a few changes. It's ironclad."
"How do we know she won't come back to Church Falls?"
"I'll hire someone to keep an eye on her - alert us if she returns."
"I just want this to be over. I don't want anything to happen to Asha. Kelly wanted better for her."
The doorbell chimes and Olivia look at him with worry in her eyes and brings her hand to his lips.
"Wait here – I don't want you around that woman. This won't take long."
Olivia looks over at Jolie and Bowtie sleeping on the floor and rubs her belly. She hopes Barbara Anne has not changed her mind.
XXX
Fitz glances up the long staircase before opening the door, Asha and Cena are upstairs playing and he does not want them exposed to Barbara Anne. His swings open the door and his frown deepens when he sees the eagerness in the woman's jaundiced eyes.
"Good afternoon, Fitz. You got something for me?"
Bowtie jumps up and runs down the hall barking when he hears the familiar voice. The girls run from Cena's bedroom to see why the dog is barking. Fitz pats Bowtie on the head to calm him and the dog stands next to Fitz, growling at the woman.
Like prisoners peering through the bars of their prison cell, Cena and Asha sit on their haunches with faces pressed against the spindles. They are trying to see what is going on downstairs in the foyer.
"Who's that?" Asha whispers, her small mocha-colored hands gripping the spindles.
"I don't know, she's never been here before ", Cena replies in a low tone.
"She looks scary", Asha says, and Cena nods her head.
"Daddy is so mad."
Needing to get a better view of what is happening below, Asha, holds onto the railing and stands, causing the hardwood floor to creak. Fitz and Barbara Anne look up and the two girls gasp when their eyes connect with the scary-looking woman's yellow eyes.
"Hello, little girls", Barbara Anne says, revealing her crooked teeth. The two girls hold each other's hand tight when the woman looks at Asha.
"Is that? She looks just like her momma", stretching her neck to get a first look at the granddaughter she does not know. Fitz steps in front of Barbara Anne, blocking her view.
"That yella one is yours – I can tell. Same cold - blue eyes."
"Girls - go play in your room until I call for you", Fitz says, looking up at the two pairs of wide eyes.
The tone of his voice does not invite questions or hesitation, so hand-in-hand, the two eavesdroppers take off running down the hall toward Asha's room.
XXX
"This is the last time I ever want to see you in this life", sliding open the table drawer and pulling out a fat envelope. Barbara Anne unashamedly licks her lips at the sight of what she assumes is her payday. The thought of getting more money than she has ever seen in her life, or will ever see again, excites her as much as crack cocaine. Her bony hand reaches for the envelope and Fitz snatches it back and her sallow face grimace at him.
"Sign the papers, first", Fitz demands, placing the release agreement on top the cash-filled envelope.
"Of course,", rummaging through her tattered purse. "I seemed to have misplaced my writing implement", smiling at him angelically.
Fitz rolls his eyes at the woman as he slides the Mont Blanc ink pen from his pocket. Barbara Anne grins at the expensive ink pen.
"Nice. Rich people always have nice things", setting her purse on the foyer table. "There sure are a lot of pages here", scribbling her signature on all 36 pages of the contract.
Fitz flips through the document, examining the signature on each page, then place the document in the table drawer. Barbara Anne tries to drop the expensive ink pen into her purse, but he snatches it from her hand and shoves the envelope toward. The snaggle-toothed woman's grin widens.
"Now go away – and don't ever come back."
"You don't mind if I count it - some people can be so dishonest?"
Her bony fingers quickly swiping the stack of bills, nodding with satisfaction that she just scored an easy $125,000.00. She presses the white envelope to her dry, cracked lips and closes her eyes.
"I knew that no-good daughter of mine would pay off one day. She thought she was better than me — wanted nothing to do with me. Well she ended up just like me — but worse. You can't escape your roots, Fitz - you'll find that out soon enough."
"Get out of my house", grabbing the woman by the arm, forcibly escorting her toward the door. Bowtie barks at the woman.
"No need to get all gangsta, Fitz - I got what I came for — there ain't nothing else here for me. Hell - I never wanted the five I had."
"If you ever come back here I'll —"
"Yeah - yeah - yeah", waving her hand dismissively in the air as she walks down the wide concrete steps. "And put a leash on that mutt", she calls over her shoulder as he slams the door.
Relieved that the payoff is over, he exhales and runs his fingers through his hair, hoping this is the last of Barbara Anne. He looks up when he hears the girls running down the stairs.
"Who was that, Baaba?" Asha's big brown staring up at him for answer.
"Nobody", brushing his hand over her cheek.
"She looks scary, daddy", grabbing ahold of his hand.
"Scary", Asha repeats, grabbing his other hand.
"Who wants ice cream?" Plastering a fake smile on his face.
The two girls look at each other and scream. They are going to have ice cream, and before dinner. They never have ice cream before dinner. He smiles as he watches his girls run down the hall with Bowtie trotting behind them. They will never know the extent he will go to protect them.