As minutes ticked on Beth found her eyes trail back again and again to the hanging clock. Each visitor brought her back to her feet and the attention of the product but it was like at the briefest lull, even in the seconds between a person leaving and another one stopping by, that her thoughts wandered back to what still needed to happen. The deal that Rio needed to pull off, what she'd gotten off the rails (and surely that wouldn't be the only factor standing between failure and success) but set back on track. Hopefully in time. After this shift came the evening, surely when it'd get done. If it wasn't already and Beth again turned on her screen, finding a few messages from her moms group. He'd never tell her even if it was going on, she knew, turning the screen off.

This was it. Today, then tomorrow – back home. Rio gave nothing away as they'd walked back to the immense hall, hadn't given her a clue as to where she stood with getting back. At no point she allowed herself to forget that this was what she'd come for and similarly she had no way to plug the sand from slipping in the hour glass. Her hands shook the woman in front of her, thanking for her for her time, wishing she had some idea of where she stood with Rio.

What remained from the afternoon and the evening was left of course, she comforted herself, and even tomorrow. Of course as naturally as she'd be itching to hear Rio's decision he'd be holding out on any clue.

Then of course, there was Karin. Not even as Alana she'd feel comfortable to confide with anyone about working for her. It wouldn't be Alana who'd be hired in any case. Was she really going to consider her offer? Going through the apprehension, the pros and cons silently was taking its toll. Even if she could stall for time, this wasn't something she wanted to keep for herself. She needed to get a second opinion.

Rio had left the expo about thirty minutes after they'd returned to the booth, offering for Beth to leave with him, but Beth declined. Intent to prove herself, she wasn't sure if she wasn't regretting it as she tidied the desk in front of her, since her focus wasn't there like she'd like, but at least she had a seat to sit on – Rio had insisted.

Three text messages from Ruby lit up her screen as she made her way to lunch.

"You want to keep me company while I eat?" Beth answered.

"Uh yeah, I'm waiting for my daily update."

Beth laughed. The two caught each other up, Beth avoiding any details with Rio from the night before – or from the interlude from earlier that day. What was she going to say when she wasn't sure what to tell herself? Other issues took much more immediate precedence.

"I'm sure you're not telling me to take this job," Beth said after she'd shared Karin's offer. She bit into her sandwich, absentmindedly watching a group of women, some in suits and a couple in jeans, huddled in the corner.

"I'm telling you not to say no without considering it. A new start. Isn't it time for Dean to follow you for your own business?"

Beth slowed down her chewing and swallowed. "You don't really mean that."

"Mean what? I'm just saying, when it comes to work – it makes sense for him to follow your lead when he's made a mess of it."

"I can't make him move to another state for that."

"Oh, cause he has so much going for him here?"

"He has a business."

Ruby made a disapproving noise but stopped there, perhaps sensing her point was made.

It wasn't that Beth hadn't contemplated a potential move when it came to Dean. She wouldn't make a move to put another city, let alone a state between him from his kids. She couldn't do that to him just like she couldn't imagine him doing it to her. Not that the idea of how he'd fit into her life made sense right now or that she was able to even touch it. But this wasn't just between her and Dean. She sipped on her soda.

"Look, don't get me wrong," Ruby continued. "There's no way that I'm loving the idea of you setting up shop somewhere else, but even if you don't take her offer – didn't I tell you to network? That's exactly what you did."

Wasn't even on purpose, but she had pursued something on her own, it was true.

"You think that's something you'd want to do?" Ruby asked, and Beth realized she hadn't responded to her last comment.

"Move away? I don't-"

"No, I mean uh, change fields."

Beth stared at her half eaten sandwich. People chatting around her, surely networking themselves. It hadn't felt so hard at the party but to keep doing it made her want to shut her eyes and imagine she was somewhere else. It probably didn't help that she'd been talking with people for the last few hours though.

Truth was that she enjoyed selling, having her saleswoman persona on, actually finding doing it as Alanna intriguing. But when she considered what it was like to stand with Karin and her contact, even before that all went to hell, well, when she thought of how she wanted to leap out of a store after a successful purchase, when Rio had her product upped-

"What do you think?" Beth turned the question over to Ruby. "Say I was able to find something for all of us to do, something we could all do," she said, hoping Ruby'd understand she meant legitimate work. "Do you think you'd want to leave the diner business behind?"

"B, if I can get something that takes me away from serving ungrateful brats food I'm all ears. But I'm not moving my whole family. I can't, not after finally finding the right specialist."

"Of course not," Beth shook her head emphatically. "I'd never ask you to."

"I know. I'm also not there to make a name for myself."

"Wish you were," Beth said, her brain reeling. She'd enjoy having her friend with her. But Ruby didn't need to be there to network for herself.

"Take care of yourself. Everything else will work out."

"We all need money," Beth reminded her.

"Don't worry about me."

Like there was a chance of that. "How am I keeping my eye on you if I'm in another city?"

"Even if Sarah has been doing better, I'd say I'd be asking Stan to consider a move, but now's not the best time," Ruby said, and Beth imagined her changing her cell phone to her other ear.

"He'd do anything for you. That has not changed."

"When are you coming back again?"

Beth let Ruby change the topic, knowing there'd be time to get back to it. "Tomorrow. Tomorrow afternoon."

"I can't believe it. I just gave you a ride there. How are you getting home?"

"I'll get a cab," Beth said.

"You're sure?"

"Yeah. Thanks."

"I hope it goes OK, all right? Be careful."

"I hate you."

"I hate your face."

Beth ended the call and took another bite of her sandwich. The way Ruby had brought up that point about Dean, well, she hadn't considered it in exactly that way. Not consciously. For Dean to follow her. He had done such a good job throwing everything to chaos – their marriage, finances, ownership of their house. That's why she was building something. That's why she was here, trying to get her family back on track. Without – possibly without him? Or possibly without him like it had been before, anyway. She couldn't dwell on these thoughts right now.

Far, far back in her thoughts a part of her held Rio's confession in one palm, tossing it to another. Regarding it from a safe distance, trying not to put an emotional price on it. What was she going to do with what he'd said? It didn't really matter. Nothing had changed except he showed to her how he was attracted to her. Making brief eye contact with another diner Beth looked quickly away as if her thoughts could be read on her face.

All right, she supposed, that attraction was returned. That at least she could admit to herself, just barely. If only she wasn't so lonely, because that's what this was about. If she'd sit with it for any serious period of time, she knew that this was nothing worth spending time thinking about.

Unlike Dean she remembered she was married, even if she wasn't at all sure what that meant. While it hadn't mattered to her husband, evidently, she couldn't just jump into something. It didn't mean that she'd easily pretend, fall back into the wife role. This time falling back into it wouldn't be enough. It definitely wouldn't help her family if she didn't take action to give her kids what they needed.

Just that also it was that, and she cleaned her hand from the sauce that had gotten on her fingers with her napkin, she'd seen how it could be different. Just glimpses, because again, Rio would never come out to something she'd pursue. But, objectively speaking, the way he had pushed her. Drove her mad with every second sentence that came out of his mouth but – he challenged her. Was impressed by her. The way his fingers, his lips – she didn't know it was supposed to feel like that. Maybe she'd just forgotten. But even with Dean, when it was good, and she knew it had been – it wasn't like that. And that she wanted nothing to do with really, so those thoughts were best snapped back shut immediately.

Rio came from a world that was very different from hers. She cleared the crumbs from her spot, tidying it for the next person. Even though he seemed as protective as her of who he considered family he'd chosen a different path to save them. Even if she'd look out for her family she'd never be able to make the choices he made. Right?

So what was she going to do with his confession? It was validating to know that he wanted her. As much as she'd felt he did, and heat spread in her chest at the memory. But it didn't change anything.

Most people would surely not complain but she certainly could get from place to place on her own. But Rio had texted her that she'd have someone come get her, and she couldn't help but wonder if it was because he knew that this way he could keep an eye on her. Fine, with what had happened the day before she could try to understand it but she wasn't a child.

Her expression turned a little sheepish when she saw that her ride was driven by Antonio. Had Rio told him what happened? No doubt he has. Antonio gave her the impression they were good friends but even as colleagues she'd imagine Rio would say something.

"Thanks for the ride," Beth said, putting her seat belt on.

"No problem," Antonio said and checked the rear-view mirror before returning to the lane. "Heard you've been busy," he said, his tone sounding more amused than anything else..

"Rio told you what happened," Beth looked out her window before turning her head to him.

"Oh yeah. He told me. You got spunk."

"You're taking it much better than he did," Beth said, not helping but feeling a bit flummoxed at the ease he was taking it.

Antonio brought the car to a stop in front of the traffic light and shook his head. "We'll get it figured out. Maybe you wanna help."

"How?" Beth asked quickly.

"What she doing here?" Rio snapped as Beth and Antonio walked in the room.

Walking beside the familiar doors with Antonio she'd recognized the path to Rio's room but she was still surprised when Antonio stopped in front of it. Only having caught a glimpse of it before, Beth surveyed the room casually as she'd stepped in behind him, feeling an inappropriate and hidden glee at the opportunity to see where Rio was staying. It had a similar layout to hers, except the hallway was more narrow and the room larger. It had more furniture too, chairs namely. A third was sitting on the couch and a fourth standing with his feet apart and his hands in his pockets next to the other seat. The room was just tidy, few signs someone was staying there. If this was the place where meetings were going on, she couldn't help but feel surprised. Even his bed was made. The boat did provide housekeeping services so she supposed he took advantage of it, though with how he was intent on privacy she wouldn't expect him to jump on the opportunity.

Antonio shrugged his shoulders at Rio's blunt question, like he hadn't been the one to suggest to Beth that she'd be there. He'd get her in the room, she figured. The rest was up to her.

"I asked him to come," Beth lied without hesitation.

"Yeah? How'd you know we're meeting?"

Ready to snap back at them, Antonio interrupted, "It doesn't matter," he sat on Rio's bed. "She's here."

The two men on the other side of the room exchanged glances.

"Hugo can't make it," Antonio said as Rio crossed his arms. "We need someone to sit with Josiah. We all got places to be," he motioned to the men in the room. Rio cocked his head slowly, still focused on Antonio bringing in an uninvited guest.

That wasn't what she wanted him to focus on. "I can do it." She piped up.

Rio rolled his face to her just as slowly. "Yeah?" He turned his arm out. "You don't even know what you're gonna do." He shot Antonio a quick look who shrugged from his seat on Rio's bed.

If she'd ask him to tell her he wouldn't, he'd play games, so Beth kept her eyes on his face, unyielding. He'd have to kick her out, though it was an image she could only two easily imagine.

Antonio had said it was to do with the deal Rio was trying to close, but perhaps out of loyalty didn't give her much details, leaving it to Rio. But- this was the reason that he'd brought her in, she could see by the silent encouragement in Antonio's face.

"No," Rio said firmly.

"We need a hand, man," Antonio spoke up.

"No," Rio repeated, directing his words at Antonio. "Whatcha gonna do? Drag yourself outta there if you need to?" He indicated her injured foot.

"I can take care of myself," Beth said carelessly. Sitting with Josiah? That sounded doable enough, but even if she wouldn't do that, she'd do something. She needed to.

"Yeah, remind me how that worked out last time."

"Remind me how you never made a mistake."

"Not like that."

"I don't want special treatment!" Beth raised her voice back at Rio.

Rio pushed the back of his lips with his tongue as Beth refused to look away.

"I need five minutes," Rio said, his eyes on her.

The man sitting on the couch got up reluctantly.

"Rio," Antonio started.

"Five minutes."

The three men shuffled out the door, Antonio glancing back at Rio before the door closed behind them.

Rio stood, leaning against the wall. If he had the problem, he should be the one to speak first, Beth thought stubbornly.

"How you say you're gonna do something and you don't know what it is?" Rio asked, his hands in his hoodie's pockets.

"I guess I don't think Antonio's going to send me on a suicide mission."

"Why, cause you best friends now?" Rio pushed off the wall and stepped towards her. His expression was a mix of indignation and mockery. "You don't know him."

"You do," Beth said.

If she expected that to dissuade him, it didn't.

"I don't want you there," Rio pointed his fingers to the ground. "I don't need you slowing me down."

"Doing what, sitting down with some guy?" He wouldn't even be around, she imagined, having a hard time imagining him being around the sidelines as something was going down.

He stopped. "Watcha gonna tell your kids?"

It was a low blow but of course her readied arguments settled silently in her mouth. What would she tell her kids if she got hurt, she heard the implication.

He took another step towards her, slower, and another, coming to a stop in front of her. The crackling didn't stop, hadn't stopped, not since she'd stepped in the room, but all she was focused on was getting the yes, that she was onboard.

"Just because I'm a mother of that it doesn't mean that I'm not useful," she said, angry at herself that she'd felt hurt by his words.

Rio jutted his chin at her leg. "You're hurt," Rio said unnecessarily, driving the point home.

Since she could remember herself she'd worn hats for other people. Nurturer, caregiver, problem solver, lover. To be a liability was nothing she'd wanted to be associated with and certainly not now.

In the end she left, Rio not budging, finding herself heading outside down the long hallways as if by instinct, drawn to get some air. Annoyingly her foot bothered her after she'd stood for a couple of minutes staring at the waves, cooling off, and she'd searched for a seat to rest her foot. She lifted her head up and stared at the sky. She wished she could pace but it was better not to exercise her bad foot if she didn't need to. So it'd be it. It'd be happening now and she could just hope it'd go by smoothly. Finally with some downtime to catch up on sleep too, just she wasn't sure she could even if she wanted to.

Emma called and she chatted with the kids, everyone except Jane who was across the street at Tanya's. Dean had assured her that she'd call her when she'd get home. Beth checked in with one she spoke with, making sure they at least got a head start on their homework. The day before she'd gone to the port she'd talked with Dean about it. After getting back on Sunday she wanted to spend some time just being with them, with at least some homework behind them. The back and forth between business and kids was a little strange, but what surprised her was that it didn't feel so strange.

Thankfully Annie had offered to help out with groceries. Beth suspected that it may have been at Sadie's suggestion. Not that Annie wasn't caring just – just seemed like something that post-it Sadie would be up to.

The wind was blowing harder and Beth shuddered. If she'd find herself in her room she may not leave. Maybe she'd just sit on the couch for a minute. It's not like she'd be relaxing… She got up and headed towards the entrance.

Her eyes closed, Beth rubbed circles into her temples. When the ring came it sounded muffled at first, like she'd dozed off. A blocked number, Beth noted, her nerves spiking.

"Hello?"

She was met by silence on the other end. She sat up in her seat and glanced at the screen, making sure the call was connected. "Hello?"

"What you doing?"

Sky diving, she wanted to answer. "Sitting," she opted instead.

"J's on his way. Can you meet him?" Rio asked.

"Sure."

"I just need you to drive with him. Stay with him. Go it?" He said with a strained voice.

Don't ask, she told herself, don't ask. She didn't want to question out loud why he'd changed his mind, just enjoy the fleeting joy of victory. Must've meant he was in a rough spot.

"I can still drive." She said stubbornly. She couldn't wait to be back at 100%. Her foot was bothering her, and she was pushing it, but just the idea that she was a liability, of needing to prove herself, egged her on to prove the opposite.

"Just do it," Rio said. "He'll let you know what's up."

There wasn't much she needed to do to get ready, just get some water. She could move mountains, even with an aching foot. A beeping sound called her back as she stood in the bathroom and washed her face. It must've been Josiah, she thought, as she returned to her phone. Chattering, dulled by the wall separating them, went on outside her window. Something about it was soothing. Must've been that it took her back to her own childhood family outings.

Expecting Josiah it took Beth a few seconds to register Annie's number on her screen. A missed call followed by Call me, call me messages with increasingly demanding emojis in a matter of a few minutes. What if – it was the kids? It probably wasn't or Annie'd avoid the cartoonish images but -

Beth dialed her back.

"About time," Annie said on the first ring.

"You called me three minutes ago."

"I know. It's important."

"The kids-" Beth's chest tensed.

"No, nothing like that. I just got news."

"What?" Beth pulled an arm out. "You sure it's not bad?"

"No, no."

Beth looked over the room. She was ready to go and hoped Annie would get on with it already.

"Listen, Ruby got this job offer."

Beth's eyes widened. "Really? That's great." She leaned against the desk, scrunching her face as her foot bothered her. Where'd she left her cane? Right there by the wall.

"Yeah, she was just here with the kids and she told me. Listen, it's actually an offer for all of us."

Beth shifted on the desk. "Doing what?"

"It's this new city program. Parent empowerment, mentorship thing. Never did college, financial hardship. You do this paid internship and they match you with an employer."

"So it's an internship," Beth clarified, only half focused.

"It's paid. It's a start. It's like a pilot thing, if it works they're gonna expand it. I think we should take it."

"Yeah, I – can we talk about this later?"

"Sure. What are you doing?"

"Nothing, just – was gonna do some shopping," Beth said, forever cautious about who may be listening.

"Yeah right, I bet there's so many places over in-"

"Annie."

"I just was talking with Ruby and – listen, this woman who spoke with her, she's doing well, you know? When she started she didn't even finish high school."

"Yeah," Beth put on her shoe as she balanced the phone against her ear.

"I mean, she's been in this program for a while. It took her five years to get to this job. I guess that's the catch. And like, I just wanted to tell you cause I talked to Ruby and I was thinking, like I know you're fine there but-" Annie paused, like she was choosing her next words carefully, which alone should've thrown Beth off enough. "Like, I know we're gonna miss uh – book club, I mean I know I'm gonna, I think Ruby's bueno never reading another book again, you know and this it sounds really cool. It's worth thinking about, right?"

Beth could imagine her sisters' eyebrows knitting together as she made that face, the younger kid's face with reverent hope that everything was going to work out.

Five years? So much could happen in that time. Her mortgage, kids' school fees, hell just the bills needed to be paid next week. These kinds of deals that Rio dealt with probably happened every week. And if they went well – she wouldn't need to wait.

"Does this always go like this?" Beth asked, her hands resting in her lap.

She'd recognized Josiah from the warehouse after she'd gotten hurt. He had helped her walk to his car. He really did seem young, wearing a dark sweatshirt that was a little too big.

"What?" He asked, scrolling on his phone.

"The waiting?"

"Yup. It can take hours," Josiah looked up and back to his phone.

They must've been sitting there for at least an hour. Beth tried to keep her eyes off her phone, focused on the street for movement. Cars, people. They were on the lookout, the building chosen carefully she supposed because it was situation on a seemingly deserted street and had one entrance on the side they were parked by. There had to be another entrance and she expected someone was keeping watch there.

Few businesses lined the street but some of those were boarded up and graffiti painted the walls of the building they were observing.

Annie's words ran through her mind as she waited. To pursue an interest. She wouldn't know what to study. Art was an area that always appealed to her in high school. But to really stop and imagine where she'd pursue her interests - the only vision she could imagine was doing what she'd done before. On a bigger scale. Maybe not doing this exactly, sitting here with a young man she didn't know well. But something about this - this type of work - attracted her in a way she hadn't expected.

A bright light lit up the car. Josiah swore and answered the phone.

"Yeah," he said, listening on the other end. "Where?"

Beth perked up, trying to make sense of anything but nothing could be made out from the other end.

Josiah motioned with his head for Beth to get out of the car. She opened her door, grabbing her cane. She didn't want to leave it behind even though it had helped to rest it after she got back from the expo.

Josiah crossed the street with her in tow. It was like Kenny five years from now walking a few steps in front of her. How'd he get involved in this? Did his mom worry for him?

Josiah stopped some feet by the entrance, glancing at his phone between observing their surroundings. Beth turned her head left and then right before slowing down the motion of her movements. Expecting someone to show up or him to tell her what to do, Beth's shoulders tensed each time she heard a rustling sound, but as minutes passed and nothing happened she couldn't resist asking.

"Why did we get out of the car?"

"I gotta do something. You staying with me," Josiah said, tilting his phone, like the orders didn't come from him. "Waiting for the call."

He cursed and Beth swung around to see what she had been dreading to see. A police car rolling towards them, riding slowly. Beth relaxed her shoulders and put her weight on her cane, sensing Josiah turning behind her and bending over.

She made eye contact with the police officer at the wheel and looked away casually, like there was every reason for her to be standing there. Certainly not doing anything she shouldn't.

The car drove by so slowly and she saw it stopping, coming to a halt right by them. She inhaled sharply, keeping a relaxed expression, and exhaled when the car kept on its path and drove away.

"It's gone?" Josiah asked.

"Yeah," Beth said, and Josiah let go of his shoelace and rose, his face pale.

It made sense for him to be nervous but something about his expression made it seem like there was something else going on, beyond what they were there for. "Is something wrong?"

Josiah opened his mouth, then shook his head quickly. "They're gonna be back."

"Should we go inside?"

Josiah shook his head once, tilting the phone screen towards him. "Gotta wait."

Beth turned her head to the corner where the police car had disappeared and glanced back at him, rocking on his feet.

"Go," Beth said.

"What?"

"Go," She repeated, indicating the building.

"We gotta wait," Josiah insisted.

"Wait inside," Beth said again, remembering how she'd cajoled her kids to wait inside rather than in the cold for a ride. "They can't be meeting on every floor, right?"

He didn't seem convinced. "What about you?"

"I'll be OK," she said firmly.

Hesitating between heeding his boss's orders – as she was sure was the case – or listening to what some woman he'd barely met was telling him, Josiah's head turned to each end of the street before his eyes met Beth's and she gave him a look, that yes she was sure.

He nodded and turned, disappearing into the entrance. Beth shifted her weight on her cane and relaxed her posture a little. Her body was still tense but it would make sense if she was standing in the middle of an empty street with broken lamp posts.

As sure as he'd anticipated, the police car returned, this time coming from the same direction it had turned into, riding on the sidewalk closest to Beth, coming to a stop next to her.

"Good evening, ma'am."

"Hi there officer." Beth said, nodding. "Just waiting for my husband," the words came out easily. "We came out from a show down on Evergreen street."

She'd seen the lights above the theater and crowds mulling around when Josiah and her had passed it earlier.

"Where's the guy you were standing with?" He said.

"I got a little turned around," Beth waved her hand then pointed her finger out. "There was a grocery store down the street, I had to get some – women's products," Beth said apologetically, as if she didn't want to admit it.

The officer followed the place she pointed. "Place been shut down for three years."

Of course it has. "I know, now" she shook her head placatingly. "I'm not from here. Had to see it," she said, talking about the show. Let everything go by smoothly, she thought, wishing that whatever was happening was over, close to it, that if it wasn't that nothing would take the officers' attention to what was going on in the building behind her.

The officer looked behind her and back at Beth's face. "You want to be careful to wander around like this. Your husband should've come with you." He took in her cane.

"My fault. We sat so long I needed to stretch out my legs. Didn't think it'd be such a walk."

"OK. You want us to wait with you until your husband gets back?"

The officer at the wheel said something to the man speaking with her that she couldn't understand. The man speaking with her replied and turned his attention back at Beth, who took her phone out, finding nothing on it but turning it on.

Her face broke into a grin at the empty screen. "He'll be here in five minutes. Thank you for your help."

The officer nodded at her. "Have a good night, ma'am."

Beth exhaled as the car drove away, glancing at it from the corner of her eye as it turned. Her hand was clammy on her cane but cold. Braving a peek at it, nothing from the walls of the building could hint at what was going on inside.

Should she text Rio? Josiah had the car keys even if she'd wanted to drive away. Was he all right? As she was making up her mind a car approached on the other side of the road. She straightened her posture and turned her phone on, ready to text, either that or to turn on her 'don't mess with me' tone and turned her face to find a familiar face. Antonio, nodding at her to get in.

A man stepped out of the car and Beth got inside, setting her cane between her legs, sandwiched between two men who she expected were Rio's coworkers. Antonio had smiled at her when he saw her. Rio sat beside him, acknowledging her when she'd gotten in. In the poorly lit car she could just about make out some redness and puffiness on his face.

The car rolled mostly in silence down the street. Beth tried to observe the men beside her for their expression. One of them seemed deep in thought, while another was scanning through news on his phone, and moving back and forth between shaking his head and laughing. When he did he'd quickly quiet down, holding his side, and Beth guessed he'd been hurt. Despite that and the bruises and cuts on his but his affect was calm, even giddy. Could his mood be a good sign?

She couldn't get a good look at Rio or Antonio's faces, and she missed Rio's eyes on her through the rear-view mirror as the man beside her shared a photo with her with what he was looking at.

No one was going to tell her anything and the silence was making her antsy.

"Where's Josiah?" She asked.

"He's cool," Antonio said. "Don't worry about him."

"He's on the boat?" She asked again, not completely satisfied with the answer. She'd only spoken with Josiah twice but just something about him – it cranked her mamma instincts.

"On his way back."

Beth leaned back against the hard passenger seat. "The car-"

"It's gone. We've done this before," Antonio said and the man who was staring out the window laughed and the two started teasing each other. Beth wasn't sure what gone meant, but just wanted to hope the cheery mood everyone showed – everyone apart from Rio – was a good sign.

As the car parked on the dock, the men said their goodbyes, the two men beside her leaving together.

"Still good on that ride, man?" Rio asked.

Curious about where Rio was heading to, Beth resisted the urge to ask. Something else was on her mind in any case.

"Sure. Alanna, what you up to?"Antonio asked.

"There's something I need to do," Beth said, searching through her contact list. Karin had given her her phone number while they had talked before. It was time for them talk.

The door still open, she made to leave when instead she sat up in her seat and leaned forward. "Are we good?" She asked Rio.

Beth could've sworn a smile touched Rio's lips before he looked away. Antonio's expression seemed confused looking back between them. After everything she at least needed to know that and she was going to push again when Rio muttered out. "Yeah. Yeah we good now," and finally broke into a real smile, his eyes meeting Beth on the rear-view mirror before he rewarded her with a short glance. His posture hardened a moment later as he said, "It don't mean-"

"We'll talk later," Beth finished, aware of Antonio, now looking more confused.

The deal went through, she thought with relief. But it didn't mean she got the green light yet. And now was not going to be the time she'd broach it.

Jumping up and down would've been the last thing her foot needed but she could've chucked the cane and ran back on the boat if she could. It was done! Renewed faith that this was going to end well - just maybe - lifted her head high.

She scoured the dining room, finding Karin sitting at the bar, wearing a bright yellow dress. It was easy to find her in a crowd, Beth'll give it to her. Even though it wasn't the only colorful outfit in the room she stood out. It wasn't that she was a complete stranger to the feeling, feeling that Beth confidence and ease as well in certain situations. But that same air that Karin seemed to exude, well, she wouldn't mind packaging it for the times that she felt off-kilter and needed a boost.

Still reeling off the adrenaline of the deal's success, Beth's steps were light. The image of cuts on Rio's face, the other man in the car, wasn't erased but she focused on the rush, that even if she wasn't there in the building she was part of it by association. She slid on the bar stool next to Karin who glanced up and back down at her smartphone. Beth shook her head at the bartender who'd made eye contact with her quickly.

"You look like you made a decision," Karin pressed a few buttons on her phone. Still holding it in her hand she turned to Beth. "I take it love won?"

Beth's tongue slipped between her teeth, having been ready to speak, as she paused to process Karin's words. The cuts and red bruises on Rio's face flashed in front of her eyes before she shook the image and nodded, her ready made speech put aside. She leaned her arm on the counter. "I'm staying with Rio. I want to keep working with him," she said truthfully.

Karin replaced the phone in her hand with a drink and lifted it to her mouth as Beth continued, "I appreciate the offer you made." She thought of the relief she felt in the car when she sat with Antonio and Rio, the tension she felt standing in front of the building, speaking to the officer calmly. "This is what I need to do."

The scenes of the last hour replayed in her mind. Waiting quietly in the car, speaking with the police officer, riding back to the boat. Even if, OK, it had been such a tiny role that she played in how it went down. But her mind was made even without it, even before it.

Karin nodded and tilted her head, pursing her lips. She seemed surprised. Her mouth drew to a smile that held some compassion that wasn't lost on Beth. "Love and business. Surefire way for both to go out of business," she tipped her glass knowingly to Beth.

Then she wouldn't have anything to worry about, Beth swallowed the reply. While he'd played bait and switch with her and wasn't a reliable steady partner to say the least – when it came to business she'd trusted Rio more.

"Love hasn't blinded me," she said. "I'm doing this because it's good for me." Even if whatever was going on with Rio would somehow lead to anything more, whatever it was – if she had entertained an errant thought over the past few days – no man could lead her without question. Not after Dean. Not even true love. She'd always have to trust herself first.

"It's OK," Karin said. "When you're tired of your adventures with him, and want to get back on the right path, you'll be looking for me."

"Maybe," Beth humored her. Even if Karin hadn't deceived her it was far more likely that she'd want to be her own boss. She was sick of working for other people.

"In the meantime, your boss may find himself with a little competition," Karin winked. "Buy me a drink?"

"I have to get back."

Karin nodded. "Let me ask you something," she said, tapping on the counter. "What do you do if Rio loses his spot in the business?"

"I just know that I need to stay with him."

She had faith in him. What had he talked with her about – flipping his game? He'd stay on top of his money. That she was sure of.

"Good luck, Alanna."

Beth's phone buzzed. Jane, she thought, without looking at the screen. Nodding at Karin and saying her goodbyes, she confirmed the caller and turned to leave, cautiously hurrying her steps back to her room.

"Sweetie? Hi, hold on just one sec, OK?" She said warmly into the phone.

One down, one to go. Now that she'd spoken with Karin came the real deal – talking with Rio. Finding out that now, with everything being behind them, that they – her, Ruby, and Annie – were back in.

Even if Annie had shared an opportunity earlier, even if it was safer and certainly smarter, she didn't have the time. She knew she didn't. She didn't have the years to try a new route, to fail and try something else. To try and fail and work for years to be able to comfortably support her children who needed money right now. It had little to do with the surge of joy that rushed through her as she closed the gap between the parking lot and the boat, the thrill of saying she wanted to keep working with Rio. That she knew it wasn't just him, it was what tonight had been about, what running her own offshoot off washing money was about. It'd pay the bills that much quicker. It made sense. Rio would have to be more open to the idea now.

But first, her daughter.

A/N

Zafira17: Thank you for your note! I hope you enjoy this chapter.