Monday rolled around and Diane picked Nora up to go to lunch.

"Do you ever miss Seattle?"

"Sometimes, but I love our life here."

"Sam tells me you had a radio show back there."

"Yeah, but it was short-lived. Frasier has asked me to be a guest on his show, but I always turn him down."

"Why?"

"I don't know how do to a radio show where I'm not ridiculing everyone. That sounds awful."

"You have had a tough life and sometimes people can't figure out who there are because of that. I think once you and Frasier got together that you started to find yourself."

"Maybe, thank you, Diane."

After lunch, the women went shopping for a bit before going home to get their children off the bus.

"Hey sis, how was lunch?" Sam asked Nora when she arrived at work.

"It was really great. Diane helped me with a few personal issues and we went shopping."

"Great, I wonder what our Visa bill will be?"

"Don't worry," Nora smiled, "we basically browsed and talked."

"Hey, I forgot to tell you but we have a private party who rented out the bar tonight."

"Someone rented out the bar?"

"Yeah"

"This bar?"

"Yeah, am I not getting through here?"

"No, it's just odd to me that someone would rent out a little hole in the wall for a private party."

"Boy, if you weren't my sister I'd be offended. I'd also be offended if it weren't true."

Nora laughed, "what's the party for?"

"Some reunion," Sam said, "the Smith family."

"Well that narrows it down," Nora joked.

"Yeah, such a common last name."

Rebecca, Woody, and Carla were also working at that party.

"I'd like to propose a toast," one of the guests said, "to our brother and leader who is returning to us after decades away. Welcome home, brother John."

Just then a man about Sam's height, dark-haired, and average body walked in, "oh my God," Nora said in shock.

Sam saw the color drain from his sister's face, "what's wrong?" Nora didn't respond, "I'm gonna take her to the office," Sam told his coworkers before ushering his sister into the office. "Okay, now tell me what's wrong."

"That man," Nora began to panic, "I know him."

"The one that just walked in?"

"Yeah, and I can't go back out there."

"Who is he?"

"Our father."

Sam stood there in shock, "I thought he was dead?"

"That's what I was told, but that is him. He's older than the pictures I've seen, but that's definitely him."

"I believe you, but this is messed up. What do we do? I have a mob party in my bar. What's with the name anyway, John Smith?"

"It's his alias. He picked it to do his 'business' because it's such a common name."

Carla walked into the office, "hey, I, umm, hate to break this up, but we have a bit of a problem."

Sam pulled Carla into the office and shut the door, "I'll say, that's my birth father out there with his mob buddies."

"What I have to tell you is worse," Carla said.

"Did you just hear what I said? How could it be worse?"

"I'm pretty sure that the old broad who walked in after your father is your mother."

"What?!" Nora was beyond panicked now, "she's in prison."

"I didn't say it was here, but I'm pretty sure it is," Carla said.

Sam peeked out of the office door, "Shit! It is her!"

"How does she keep pulling this off?" Nora was baffled.

"Look, I don't think either of you should go back out there," Carla said.

"We can't leave the three of you out there alone," Nora responded.

"I think as long as they don't see you, things won't escalate. I think we just need to get through the party. If we call the cops then the bar will become a crime scene."

"Carla has a point," Sam said, "okay, but if it looks like you need the cops, come back in here and tell us." Once Carla left, Nora went to sit on the couch, "you okay honey?"

"It's been six years and my life has been going so well. Now she's back to ruin it," Nora started to cry.

"Hey, I won't let her ruin your life. You're safe with me."

A few hours later Carla told the two from the other side of the door that everyone left.

"I'm starving," Nora said.

"Why didn't you guys eat the snacks in the back?" Carla asked.

"Because," Sam started, "we didn't think of that."

"Well, everything is all done," Rebecca said.

"Thanks for everything," Sam said, "I'll see you all tomorrow. I'll lock up."

"Sam, I'll take the register to the office and close it up," Nora said. Sam went with her to help so that they could go home and eat. Once they were done, they left the office and found two people in the bar.

"Well, look if it isn't our children," the woman said.

"I thought Carla locked the door?" Nora retreated into Sam's arms.

"You should know by now Nora that it's not difficult for me to sneak in anywhere," the woman said.

"Look, we don't want any trouble. We just want to go home and pretend we never saw you," Sam told them.

"You know, I picked this bar because it was yours and I wanted a chance to meet my son," the man said as he walked closer to Sam. Nora retreated further into Sam's arms and Sam tightened his grip on his little sister. "I don't want any trouble either. I know you both have wonderful lives and that's what I always wanted. That's why I insisted we give you up, son."

"What about me?" Nora found the courage to ask.

"Your father had faked his death before you were born, so I made the decision to keep you so that I wouldn't be alone," the woman said.

"You know, there are a few things I need to say," Nora started and left the safety of her brother's arms. "Do you know how she treated me?" Nora asked her father. He shook his head, "she paid your goons to beat me whenever I had 'sinned'. Seven years ago she sent two to my apartment and they nearly killed me. When they didn't she sent one to shoot me, and when I survived that, they came here to try again. She even had them break her out of prison. Apparently twice," Nora continued, "by the way, those people didn't pay me to leave town. They helped me to escape the hell I was living in."

The man turned to his wife and looked genuinely shocked. "Why?"

"Because she's a sinful tramp who needed to be taught a lesson."

"There isn't one person in that organization who would treat Nora that way. Where did you really find those men?"

"You're right, no one would help me, so I found two ex-cons who would. I threatened everyone in your 'organization' to get them to back off. By the way, Sam, those 'friends of your fathers', they are actually my connections."

"Wait, those people here aren't your mob connections?" Nora asked.

"Mob? Who said I was in the mob?" Nora and Sam pointed to the woman, "You really are insane. I'm not in the mob. She," he pointed to his wife, "is the one with connections. That's why I faked my death. I didn't even know she was pregnant when I left. I would have never left you."

"Then what's your organization?" Sam asked.

"Mulhern and Smith Alcoholics Assistance Organization, we're like A.A., but it's for people who aren't comfortable having in-person meetings yet. We call them and have meetings on the phone. We also run several mechanic shops, and that's who was here tonight. Some are alcoholics, but they were kind enough to agree to have the party here so I could meet you. The money I made came from investments I have made over the years. We have a mechanic shop where we hire alcoholics who are having trouble with employment."

"I did not see that coming," Sam said.

Just then the police entered and apprehended Mrs. Mulhern. "Look, I'm sorry for everything. Here's my information. Have me checked out and decide what you want."

"You live here?" Sam asked looking at the card.

"Yeah, we just opened a business here. Anyway, it was nice meeting you both. Sam, you have a nice place here." The man left the bar and his two children stunned.

"What the hell just happened?" Sam asked still looking at the door.

"I have no idea."