Psychological studies have shown that moving from one home to another and planning a marriage are two of the most stressful live events known to mankind. The past week's events had proven those studies to be accurate. Chloe would have lost her mind several times over, had it not been for Lucifer's support.

"Support" probably understated his role. While she focused on the marriage planning, Lucifer had taken on the tremendous efforts associated with selling Penelope's house, buying the new home, taking care of move-in repairs and interior decorating, and making sure everything that needed to be moved was, in fact, moved. It helped that he didn't mind spending money on assistants to make sure all the myriad tasks were properly handled.

Chloe had offered her opinion on some minor tasks associated with the new house, such as interior paint (she asked that everything be painted in various shades of off-white, even though Lucifer's interior designer had argued for bolder colors) and whether Trixie needed a new bed (she did). Most everything else she left up to Lucifer, trusting in his taste. After all, she reflected, I can always change things later.

Chloe also noticed that Lucifer and Trixie had been talking a lot, which she felt was a good indication that their soon-to-be-formal relationship as step-father and step-daughter was starting to blossom. Although she was curious about what they were talking about, she resolved to let them build their relationship without her interference. If it was something important, she was confident that one or both of them would get her involved.

Meanwhile, she had enough to worry about. Between running Lux and planning the wedding and reception, her days were filled with phone calls and in-person consultations. She was so busy that she hadn't had a chance to catch-up with either Linda or Ella. She hoped they understood.

By Thursday, she was tired—and the weekend was still in front of her. But when her phone rang and she saw the call was from Penelope, she picked up at once.

"Hi, Mom," she said. "How goes the pre-move sorting?"

"Oh, that's going fine," she said. "Lucifer's people have been a big help. But that's not why I'm calling. Trixie came home from school today crying, and has been locked in her room ever since. She says she doesn't want dinner, that she's not hungry. I thought you might pop over here and talk to her."

Chloe had a million things to worry about, and she didn't really have the time to head to Malibu. On the other hand, this was her daughter. With no hesitation, she said, "Of course. I'll be there in about an hour, depending on traffic. Should I bring dinner?"

Penelope thought about it. "Maybe not, dear. But perhaps … a piece of chocolate cake?"

"I'm on my way." Chloe texted Lucifer. Trixie crisis. On my way to Malibu. Will see u later.

She hadn't gotten into her car before her phone rang. It was Lucifer. "Hello, my love," she said. "I assume you received my text?"

"Indeed," he replied. "Any Trixie crisis is a Lucifer crisis. What may I do to assist?"

She smiled at his words. She loved how he seriously he now took his responsibilities toward Trixie. "Honestly, I'm not sure what you can do. According to Mom, she came home from school today crying. We don't know why. I'm on my way over to try to find out."

"Ahh," he said.

"'Ahh,' what?" she replied. "Lucifer what do you know?"

"I believe I know the source of Trixie's emotional crisis," he said. "Obviously, a teenage girl may have many reasons for being upset. But I do believe I understand the origin of this particular situation."

By this time, she was getting on the 10 freeway, heading west toward PCH and Malibu. "Do you want to enlighten me?"

"Well, it concerns a private conversation that Trixie and I had last Saturday. About young Edward, her erstwhile boyfriend."

"Are you saying that she's upset with Eddie? Why? Did they breakup?"

"No, it's not that," he said. "At least, not as far as I know. In fact, I believe their movie date last week was quite enjoyable for both of them."

"Oh, really," she said. "And you know this how?"

"Well, you know I will never lie to you. But on the other hand, sometimes you ask me questions to which I believe you really don't want to know the answers. This may be one of those times."

"Lucifer, what did you do?"

He sighed. "Nothing, really. I just had a couple of people in the theater last Saturday. That's all. A simple security precaution, really. That's all it was. Quite unobtrusive, let me assure you."

"And they reported everything back to you." She shook her head. Trixie would be furious if she ever found out.

"Well, yes," he replied. "But that's not all. Trixie and I chatted on Monday about … things. Several things involving the move. And I may have asked a few innocent questions about Edward. I have the distinct feeling that their relationship may be moving from the 'friends' phase to the 'more than friends' phase. As our relationship once did."

"Lucifer, she's still only thirteen years old!"

"Of course! But consider: you and I. We took a full five years to move our relationship from where it started to where it is now. In five years, Trixie will be eighteen. An adult, capable of making her own decisions." He paused. "Well, still too young to drink or gamble, at least in California. But I expect we'll be making several trips to Europe during that time."

"Lucifer, what else do you know? I'm on my way to deal with her crisis, and you need to help me. Information helps me. So give."

He hesitated. "Well, I strongly suspect she may have found out that Edward is moving away from Malibu, just as she is."

"Oh," was all she said. If Trixie felt as strongly about Eddie as Lucifer intimated was the case, then hearing he was moving away could have been the shock that sent her to her room in tears.

"Indeed," he continued. "She may be thinking about the strain on their budding relationship from a lack of geographic proximity."

"I don't know how much I'll be able to help her with that," Chloe said. "If he's moving, he's moving."

"Well, you might ask her to find out to where he's moving," Lucifer offered. "It might not be as stressful as she thinks."

"Okay. That's a good suggestion. If Eddie is the crisis and it's about him moving away, then knowing where his family is going will be helpful. At least they'll be able to stay in touch. Gotta go now."

Chloe came off the freeway and stopped at the first light on PCH. As always, traffic was backed-up at the lights. It was going to be bumper-to-bumper for the rest of the trip into Malibu. As she waited at the light, she had a sudden suspicion. What has Lucifer done?

#

She arrived at her mother's beach house, gave Penelope a quick hug, and then knocked on Trixie's door.

"Go away," was the response.

"Hey, Monkey," she said. "It's Mom. Can I come in?"

"I don't want to talk to anybody right now!"

"Right," Chloe said. "I get that, honey. I really do. But sometimes talking to somebody else helps."

"There's nothing you can do, anyway."

"Maybe. Maybe not. But if you don't talk to me and tell me what's upsetting you, then there's no way I can help."

Chloe heard Trixie blowing her nose. A few seconds later, the door opened.

"Okay, you can come in," Trixie said. "But there's nothing you can do."

Chloe hugged her daughter, who then burst into tears again. She led Trixie to the bed and they both sat down. Trixie blew her nose again and wiped away the tears.

"Tell me, Monkey," she said. "What's going on?"

"It's Eddie," she said. "I just found out that he's moving away. His family is leaving Malibu."

Lucifer had been right. Why did Chloe suspect he knew more about this situation than he'd said to her?

"Oh, honey," she said to her daughter. "I know that's hard to hear. But you know, people move all the time. In fact, you are going to move to Beverly Hills next month, right? How do you think Eddie felt about that?"

Trixie shook her head. "Not the same thing. Lucifer promised—"

"Promised what?"

"Lucifer promised me that I could keep going to school here, even after we moved! He said that Eddie and I would keep going to the same school." She started to cry again. "And he lied!"

"Honey, you know Lucifer doesn't lie. I'm sure he meant it. But sometimes … sometimes he can't control everything."

"He told me to trust him, and now Eddie is moving away!"

Chloe remembered what Lucifer had said on the phone. "Do you know where his family is moving to?"

Trixie shook her head. "No. I was so upset that I forgot to ask."

"Well, I think that's important information, don't you, Monkey?"

She nodded.

"Well, how about you find out?"

"What, call him?"

"Call or text. Whatever works best."

Trixie picked up her phone and started to type. Where U moving 2?

The phone vibrated with an incoming message. Trixie read it and started to cry again. She dropped the phone, but Chloe picked it up and read the message. Beverly Hills. Going 2 finish year here & start at Bev Hills High next year.

"Oh, Monkey," she said. "You and Eddie will be going to the same high school."

Trixie nodded. "Can we both finish the year here?"

"I'm sure that can be arranged."

Trixie wiped her eyes and smiled at her mom. "We're both moving to Beverly Hills," she said. "We're going to be going to the same high school."

Chloe looked at her daughter. "Think back on what Lucifer said to you last Saturday. What were his exact words?"

"He said that I could keep going to the same school as Eddie."

"Right. He didn't say which school, did he?

"No," she replied, thoughtfully. "He didn't. He just said it would be the same school."

"Seems to me that Lucifer kept his word. Somehow. I don't know how he did it, but you're both going to be going to Beverly Hills High next year."

Trixie hugged her mother. "I love you both so much!" Then she opened her bedroom door and spoke to Penelope. "What's for dinner, Nana? I'm starved."

#

On the way home, Chloe called Lucifer. "Okay," she said. "You were right. Eddie is moving. And you obviously knew where he was moving to."

"Well, yes," he replied. "I may have had some knowledge of the situation."

"What did you do?"

"I kept my word to my soon-to-be step-daughter. She wished to continue to go to the same school as Edward, and I arranged for that to happen." She could feel his smile of pride over the phone. "Problem sorted."

"How did you do it?"

"Really, it was not a serious problem. I simply purchased a home near to us, in the same school district, then I had my agents call Edward's parents and suggest a deal involving a tax-free exchange of homes, along with some additional incentive compensation thrown in to 'sweeten the deal'. It truly didn't take very much convincing, as their new home is nearly an hour closer to Edward's father's law firm."

"Oh, Lucifer, I don't know where to start" she said. "You can't keep doing this! You can't keep smoothing Trixie's way for her. You can't keep catering to her every wish and whim. She needs some bumps in her life, otherwise she won't know how to deal with problems when she's an adult."

"I gave her my word."

"Yes, I know you did. But next time, check with me first, okay?"

"Very well," he said. "On the other hand, she asked me not to discuss this particular issue with you. If I had told you, then I would have violated her confidence."

She nodded. "True. I don't want that. But you can't keep spoiling her! How much did this little exchange cost you?"

"Not so much, really. And now we have a second home in Malibu, so Trixie will be able to continue attending her existing school. As Edward will do."

"Wait, what? Second home?"

"Well, I needed to sort Penelope's situation as well, didn't I?"

Chloe had a sinking feeling. "Lucifer, what did you do?"

"Rather than worrying about some stranger living in your family home, I simply purchased it. Through a corporation. All cash offer, well above appraised value. Now the home remains in the family, and Penelope can move into her guest house at her leisure. Again: problem sorted."

She couldn't help but laughing. If only the marriage planning problems could be so easily handled! Maybe they could be …

"Lucifer, now that you've sorted everybody else's problems and concerns, do you think you can help me with mine? I'm having some challenges with the marriage planning."

"Oh, yes. Of course! Your problems and concerns are now priorities for me."

"Okay. I'll be back at Lux in about 30 minutes. I have to see to some things in the club, then I'll be upstairs after. Let's talk then."

"Have you dined this evening?"

"Well, I had a slice of pizza with Trix and Mom. I could do with a light dinner."

"Consider it sorted. As will all your other concerns be sorted soon!"

"Looking forward to our talk."

"As am I," he said. Then he paused. "And I'm also looking forward to what we will do after our chat."

She smiled. "Consider it sorted."