Family Bonds: Book 2 of Sista

by Blackstar1979

Family Bonds the sequel to Sista. The the Superstars and Sistas have been through a lot that have carved out bonds where there were none. Will the past rip apart the bonds that have been forged or make them stronger? Reviews are welcomed as always.

9. Chapter 9 Who can you trust?

Chapter 9

Who can you trust?

The next morning at Ivey Mansion Joshua wakes to the smell of food cooking Angel was probably the culprit but just in case he put on jeans and a shirt. Angel was in fact cooking, he walked down the back stairs, stands on the last step just leaning against the wall watching her. He heard her singing one of the songs they were going to do a cover for. Sophie walked in the kitchen and says "Angel watch out Joshua is being sneaky."

Angel turns around and smiles "Like what you see Band-Lead?" he smirks and says always walks over to her looks down into her eyes, and kisses her. Sophie tells them to get a room as she tries to sneak a piece of bacon. "We have one and that's for breakfast and yes you have time for breakfast." Sophie mumbles about poking out the eyes in the back of her head. "Well JC is a mixture of Joshua and I so I may need and extra set." After breakfast Sophie says she really has to run. "Please be careful."

Sophie tells her back at both of them and runs out the front door. She has a meeting with Mark in Houston. Mark is on her porch. "Okay I wasn't going to be that late. It's your cousin's fault she fixed breakfast and wouldn't let me just snatch a piece and be on my way. I would have been in Houston by 10:15."

Mark stands from the chair he was sitting in. "Sophie did you have any other appointments today?" She checks her phone and says "Just a meeting with a very angry looking man that goes by the name of Undertaker. What's wrong Mark? You were your cryptic self in your request for our meeting." Mark asks can he come in for minute. "If you're hungry I'm sure Angel will feed you."

He walks in and heads straight for the kitchen. Angel sees him and asks him did he want anything to eat. "No, I'm fine I just wanted to come and say hello." He walks over and hugs her. She hugs him back and asks is he alright. "Yeah, thanks for all you have done for me and accepting me as part of your family." He then walks out the kitchen he just wanted to see her for his self.

Sophie invites him into her home office, he takes a seat but doesn't stay in it long "I have done some research and I found the little fucker's last name that groped my daughter to the point she has friction scars on her damn bikini line." Mark paces and tells Sophie what Janet told him last night about the attack and the threats. He hands her a list of the bullies that Janet named. Sophie looked as mad he was as he listened to and watched his girl fidget next to him. "I need a few things from you. I need to remove Megan as Legal Guardian." Sophie looks shocked. "Long story really short it recently came to my attention that her style of parenting is dangerous to her health fucking with my little girl. She is to release my daughter's paper work and any belongings of Janet's. Janet's school address is to be changed to my home address. You said you don't do criminal so I figured I'd come to you before I just start killing people."

Sophie put the list he gave her in front of her and types on her computer as she speaks. "Okay wow I have a few questions and then we can get started no wonder you asked me what I had to do today. Since this was something you and Megan worked out and you did it to keep Janet's grandparents from trying to raise her. Was there a court involved with your arrangement?" He says not the way she makes it sound. He spoke with Megan with his old lawyer present and they drew up an agreement he also went to the school and told them the situation after Nina passed. He hands her the agreement. "Okay so you didn't wave or terminate you parental rights. Megan is more of a Contact than a guardian when it comes to the school system. Janet is under your insurance, and you provide her with an allowance. This makes it way easier. Megan has permission to do things not a legal binding right. As far as the property see if Logan will help if not we can put in a civil suit to reclaim the property owned by you for Janet I would need receipts for any big ticket items. How long has Janet been with Megan?" Mark tells her four years. He sits down holding his head in his hands.

"Also do you have a plan for how Janet is going to go to school? I just don't want you to snatch her out of school with no contingency plan you don't like Grandville South Middle school is there a fast track program in Pittsburg Texas? If not here" Sophie hands him a pamphlet. "I will say it is safe to assume you will be returning to work so here is a question. Have you given any thought to asking Paula to adopt Janet since you guys are married? It would just make things like this a non-issue."

He looked through the pamphlet. "When will this place be open? It looks great. I don't want her with seniors. If she tests into college this will be an issue. My girl is brilliant when it comes to numbers and books, but I'm worried that if she does test out of high school at age 13 she will not be socially ready for a transition that big."

"The school already exist It was renamed the Nana Barnet Academy this year but it has been a highly recognized institution for over 19 years. It has a fast track into an Internship/ Externship program that is sponsored by Ivey accounting. If Janet is a seriously hard worker she could pull off a full CPA in less than 3 more years. This program isn't run like a high school. It is an Academy she would still be the youngest to get in but there are rules that would protect her from interactions outside of a class room setting. Also after graduation since the funding comes from Ivey Enterprises she would rank high on getting hired by one of the organizations affiliated with us or work for Ivey Enterprises in the position she would intern at. Her Intern/Externship would be a paid position within my office as assistant to our lead accountant." He asked what the name of the school was before the rename. "It was the South Grandville Academy of Science & Mathematics."

They had sent Janet and application and she said she would finish where she started. Megan had bashed the school in Grandville South and he'd trusted her. "The school is here? That would be one hell of a commute every day. Eight hours of her day would be spent traveling. Okay I'm sorry I'm jumping ahead of myself she hasn't even got in and I'm talking about travel. Don't mind me I'm kind of riled right now."

Sophie had purposely saved this topic for last while she thought of an avenue of attack. She stands crossing her arms over her chest "Yeah I can tell, um this list of girls and this Christopher Joseph Price and Bobbie Josephine Price aren't the children of the C.E.O of Price Cola, Mr. and Mrs. Chris Price, are they? These other children are the offspring of their friends." He says yes and asks can she do anything. "You damn right I can do something. That little puke stain has messed with just the wrong person. When we are done with Bobbie and Christopher their parents won't have a pot to piss in or place to throw it. As for what I'm going to do I can't touch this case." He springs to his feet about to say something "Yet. From what you told me this is Criminal Harassment. I will help the D.A. build their case. Also the girl isn't free and clear either we will sue civilly but I want that little asshole to go to jail. His parents should have taught him cause and effect better because fucking with my god niece just affected his freedom. " Mark sits down "Generally, criminal harassment entails intentionally targeting someone else with behavior that is meant to alarm, annoy, torment or terrorize them. Not all petty annoyances constitute harassment. He went to damn far from the time he put his hands on her. So if we are done you have some leg work to do about the talking to Logan and deciding on what your next course of action will be about Janet's schooling. I have a Judge and a D.A. to wake up their not going to be too happy with me but they'll get over it." Mark gets up and shakes her hand thanks her and leaves a little lighter in sprit and a lot more focused.

Angel and Joshua get ready to head to Dallas they had a meeting with her father and the bands under his US LEGNA label. They stand in the atrium "Joshua, I want you to have something but before I give it to you please know the personalization was done before we had our talk."

Joshua stands staring at her. She tells him to close his eyes and walk with her. "Angel what did you do?" She tells him to keeps his eyes closed. They were heading towards the garage Images of something tagged with his name plastered all over it makes him squeeze he eyes close tighter. She tells him to open them. His eyes bugged out as he sees the raised Dodge Titan Truck. "Angel you said you sold my car and bought me another one baby there is no way my tin can was worth half of what this truck cost. I love it and I'll pay you back for whatever you put into it. Where's the personalization?" She had been smiling but now she looked hurt. "What?"

Angel hands him the keys to his gift. "It's a gift Joshua. Your tin can was sold to a fan that came and picked it up saying he was going to fix it up and drive it around. He gave me $1,500.00 for it. I know you like my truck and I wanted you to have something that I know you had been saving up to get yourself. Then with the wedding and everything I was going to try to get it for you for a wedding present but when your car was messed up I didn't want to wait anymore. What I did with some of the money from the sale of your car is get you this." She hands him a new phone. Bobby said that the police wouldn't release your phone so I had your number switched to this one. I don't want you trying to pay me back. The fact that you're well enough to enjoy this is my payment. I love you so much."

"I love you too" He kisses her, his Angel had got him a truck the one he had been looking at. He walks around the truck looking like a little kid. He spots the Personal Touch symbol under the Ram on the tailgate. He then turns to her and snaps a picture of her. "Ah. Now it's my phone." He put her picture as his home page. "I'm driving" She climbs in the passenger seat.

"What do you think about the Personal Touch on back?" As they go down the hill and pull into Candy's driveway. He turns to her and tells her he loves the truck and the symbol. "I'm glad"

Candy comes out and pulls her sunglasses down her nose. As she gets to his window she says "Nice, now that you have an automatic transmission can I drive? He says no his toy. She gets in the back seat and mock pouts "Meanie, oh nice seats." On the seat cover on the back of Joshua's seat she reads the words (I Lead.) "Okay that's arrogant" Joshua meets her gaze in the mirror asking her what she is talking about. "On the back of your seat it says, I Lead" He looks over at Angel who has a smirk on her face. "Hey Angel I love your top that is so cute."

Angel was wearing the shirt Joshua had worn to the Last Ride on his birthday. Joshua stretched it by wearing it because it was the only shirt in his office that did not smell like Vivian. He washed the cheap lipstick off of him and put on an Ed Hardy Long sleeved black shirt. "Thanks, I told you I'd be able to wear it longer."

He looks over at the shirt. As they pull into LEGNA. He smirks "Now Candy here is payback for the arrogant Meanie comment. You've seen this shirt on both us who rocks it best me or my baby." He figured he would have fun with his buddy. Two of the most important women in his life were right here in his truck. His soul mate and the girl that he'd kind of adopted into his life as a little sister. She'd started off as one hell of a waitress working for his Dad. When he started Davenport Lightening it was just him and Candy. At first he thought she liked him but it became real clear that she didn't like him in anything other than a friend which was good because she was one of the guys. Sort of speak she knew more stuff about "guy stuff" better than some males he knew or she chose to articulate it better. She could also get away with more shit with him because they knew where the line was and neither of them tried to cross it.

"Hmm which one I'd have to give it to her bro. That night the shirt was just so you wouldn't have to come in looking like Tarzan cause there was no way in hell I was letting you out of your office in the Viv infected shirt. It could have been worst you could have had to break the glass and wear your Davenport Sound Tech shirt." He cringed that was the first position he had ever worked for The Davenport. Michael had hired him to give him something to do other than sit around the house waiting on college to start. Angel had went to college in New York it seemed that she had graduated and ran off. Her best friend, kind of threw himself into his work and school. "You looked like a boy band lead" They all laugh because even when he was younger he never did like boy bands. Hanson would never have been on his music list. She didn't know they went back as far as Jr. High. She knew of Angel in high school but Angel was an Ivey and a senior and Candy was a freshman from North Grandville. He talked about Angel so much Candy started grabbing magazines and listening to the band she then became a fan out of listening to what was mostly on his playlist. When Angel showed up at the club and he brought her up on stage Candy knew who she was and that something wasn't right. When the big guy knocked Joshua out Candy had run to the back to get Deon. She was a firecracker but she wasn't about to go up against a 7 foot tall 300 pound guy that looked like he could eat her for breakfast and still have room for a snack. That night Joshua was pissed that he'd been embarrassed in his own club. He'd went to her house and that's when Joshua first told her how he really felt about Angel as he lay on her floor staring at the ceiling. When he announced that he was getting married Candy was super excited and he was in a better mood and easier to work with. Now she got a chance to rock with her bro and the only female that saw past the colorful way she chose to express herself. They were her couple. She wished her and Deon could be as close but he seemed to be pulling away from her. She tucked that thought away for later and put her phone on silent it was time to work.

They enter LEGNA Jonathon calls them into the mini auditorium. They come in and it's almost standing room only she spots Deon he'd saved two seats the third was taken. Joshua stood against the wall saying for them to have a seat.

Jonathon walks out on stage with the older Blonde he called his business partner Gloria. "I have a bit of news for all you. As you know this location was to be headquarters, the second building will not be built here." The US Company started throwing question at him. The look on Angel's face was that of hurt. She asked was he just going to close LEGNA USA. So his son had managed to keep his secret. Another band lead said after all the work they had put into putting together a grand opening show how could he just close his doors on them. Candy asks was it because of the leasing issue he had. "Partly, but I have found a better solution. For the following Bands a bus is being personalized for your travel to and from session and to your performances. He names off 15 bands and all 9 of the single artist. Joshua, and Deon smirked Angel, and Vash looked confused Candy looked pissed. "The new location is being built by Conner construction. For most of you, the commute would be dyer to your vehicles because it is over two hours away. Our new location is in a town named Grandville South. This is the prototype of how it will appear." The shock and awe that went through the room lights a smile to his face. "For information purposes Gloria here will give you each a key card and you will activate the card and turn in your keys. This location is being closed faster than what I expected. By September this location will not be standing. The bank that owns the least has refunded the advance payment and have asked that we clear ourselves off the premises be September 4th." Sophie Ivey had returned his account to active. The Sharp Banking leasing Agent at least was giving him time to clear his things. "Most of you have a drop label date that will not interfere with moving. For the ones of you that have equipment please no longer store it here. For the bands that have session during this transitional period your co-worker my son has given us permission to utilize his space at a club he owns. There is also another location that has a stage that we may use. The name is the Last Ride Bar and Grill both of these locations are wired for sound. Your session will be recoded and sent to headquarters if there is any behavior that is deemed illegal or otherwise diminishes the image of LEGNA your band or your act will be pulled. For the bands and solo acts that I have named please go to studio one and await your key and session information.

Gloria walked off stage and headed towards one band lead she speaks to him in French the man lost the confused look and followed her along with the rest of the company into the studio. She was surprised to hear of the change, when Jonathon sent the plane ticket to the US, telling her to have Roger her assistant, step up and manage in her absence she asked how long she would be here. He'd told her he'd fired his assistant, and his support staff were not very happy with him so they threatened to quit, he fired them as well. The sound woman and the young man that ran video were his only support staff then when he received the notice that his account with Sharp banking was being removed and his building was to be knocked down no later than September 7th he called her and told her he needed her help. Gloria had thought he was calling about her slip of the tongue but he sounded so distraught and when she found out about the business's major overhaul she told him she was on her way. The truth was he didn't know how long to have her stay she would do her best to be as helpful as possible.

Jonathon asked Personal Touch into his office. One of the solo artists Ruby Clayton put her hand across her throat and points at Joshua. "Can't say I'm sorry to see you go but you'll bounce back Boy"

Candy grabbed Joshua and guided him out of the auditorium. Angel, Vash and Deon come out into the hall. Vash says "Joshua, don't sweat her ass. She got called into Jonathon's office and she is on her second and last strike. First strike she trashed a hotel room and her last strike that got her pulled into Jonathon's office this morning, was in an interview she told a reporter what hospital you were at. If it weren't for Jonathon hiring security you would have had reporters up your ass the minute you left the hospital. To say Jonathon wasn't pleased would be the understatement of the year. Her contract is in danger of be just a piece of paper. She has a meeting with his partner since he says she can be impartial where messing his kin he can't and won't."

Joshua says "The press or fans would have had a lot of issues getting close to us." He knew when Bobby wasn't visibly around Angel, his team was never too far away. A few cars had followed them here today. April Sharp had disappeared when Sophie went to confront her about messing with the business her husband was totally in the dark and said he would handle things. Evidently he got heated and took it out on Jonathon. Luckily Jonathon had already struck a deal on a property location. So with the refunded portion of the 6 month advance that he'd put on the Dallas location he hired Megan's husband's company to start clearing and building the location it would be done by Angel's birthday. Jonathon had told him not to say any of what he'd been told while they worked on yet another secret Jonathon was moving to Grandville and he'd wanted Joshua to help him in the new place. He wasn't far from Candy just down the street in fact in Angel's old house.

They enter Jonathon's office "Come on in" he skirts his desk the group sits in almost the same order they had when Scott was making things difficult those were the memories he would not miss in this office. His girl sat in front of him, to the side of her, sat his son Joshua, to her other side Candy which was the only difference Candy had been on the other side of Joshua. The other two Deon and Vash sat by the door as Deon and Scott had. Deon must have notice the similarity as well he picked up his chair and sat beside Candy. "You're more than welcome to come closer Vash. I can only speak for myself but I don't think you will be bitten." Vash moves on the other side of Joshua. That was better. "I've called you all in here because I have a few things to add to what I have told everyone. Your recording was to have a final song added and then we would select from the 12 songs the 10 we will put on the album. I have reviewed the songs, the release date has been moved because of this location's closure. I have spoken with my partner and she has agreed to help make this transition as smooth for meh as possible. You have one more song to add as a cover. Angela, I know you wanted your rendition of your rap song on the cd but I'd rather stick to the Hard/Soft Rock genre at least for now. This will be your official first album with this many original songs. If you want you can decide to either leave the 11 song selection or the last cover you played with I think it would fit as a secret track. That would be 9 original and 1 cover."

Angel didn't want Joshua angry at her because her father was asking her directly "Dad it's not up to me Joshua is the Band lead" Joshua turns to her and says he wanted to talk to her about that. "What is there to talk about this is your band?"

"It's our band. You have written most of the songs." She says she is not trying to cue anyone. That this band started out as his band Davenport Lightening, Jonathon interrupts her and says she would not cue anyone Joshua would still be band lead but instead of a backup vocalist she would be the Front-woman for the Band. Angel says she didn't want this to backfire. "Angel, especially right now with the fact that my voice has changed, I'm not ready. We have an earlier release party scheduled because we have an earlier release. At least next month our part will be done. We can all rest for a time I think for now the front woman idea is the best. I'm not handing you a band a saying go for it. I'm saying that you are a very important part of our sound. I don't want to have to hire in another guitarist right now and I'll work on getting either back to my tenor or give baritone a shot. This also solves your worry about getting to close to your delivery date. "

Angel looks at all of them "Do all of you feel this way?" Her answer was a yes in unison. Candy tells her that she was super excited this meant that they could devote more time to dress shopping and wedding things. "Dad the rap song was just a play session but Joshua and I had an idea for our one cover. It's The Story by Brandi Carlie." Jonathon told them that he would speak to a few people to make sure it was alright.

Paula, and Janet drive into Grandville South Mark had left so fast this morning he'd left his wallet which had his ID and master keycard which is why he was sitting on the front porch instead of letting himself in to Ivey Mansion his truck got him on the property but his keycard would have got him in the house. He didn't want Paula coming by herself and Janet didn't want to stay at the house so they grabbed lunch and headed to Grandville. Tracy had also called Paula and apologized for bringing Megan saying that if Paula wanted her to leave the bar she would. Paula had told Tracy unless she knew that Megan was crashing her baby shower it was not her fault and to not dare leave the bar in the hands of Bubba to manage. By the end of the conversation Tracy was back to her old self saying aye-aye boss lady.

Janet stared at her reflection in the side rearview mirror of her mama's newly renewed truck it was a gift from her dad. "Hey mama you never told me why you named your truck Billy." Paula tells her how the truck was a gift for Billy Rea a country singer. "Oh I know him. He was at the wedding." Janet looks back in the mirror and sees the same car. "Mama we're being followed." Her mama says she noticed it 2 miles ago zooms past a few cars and turns in round a bout. "He's still with us. Go around again like you're lost. Okay now I'm a little freaked out, he followed us around in a circle three times."

Paula hits the hands free button and says. "Call Harry. Hey brother of mine are you by chance having me trailed because of you know what?"

Harold heard the nervousness in his sister's voice. "No where the hell are you?" She says watch his mouth he was on hands free and Janet is with her. "Good afternoon niece, now PJ where are you girls?" Paula says they were 6 miles away from Ivey Mansion. "Okay can you get onto the property?" Paula says yes "Don't speed but go to that house and go inside. PJ don't hang up this phone until you get into that house. Janet I need you on a case for me. I need you to be my eyes. Can you tell me anything about the vehicle that is playing follow the leader with you?"

"Uncle Harry I know that is probably in some government guide to talking to children but I know this guy isn't supposed to be trailing us and saying things like follow the leader isn't helping." Harold tells her to calm down and just tell him what she sees. Janet takes a deep breath and says "It's a purple Charger I think it is last year's model. Mama why would someone be following us?" Paula says she doesn't know. They arrive and Paula tells her to get out of the truck take her key card and let herself in. Paula watches the gate close in front of the deep purple car. "Harry it is dark purple, at night it's going to look black." The car behind the gate turns the head lights up bright shining on her on as she gets out of the truck and briskly lets herself into her cousin's home. If she didn't know that the car couldn't go through the gate she would have been more afraid. Paula put her phone up to take a picture and the car speeds away. Sighing into the phone Paula says "He's gone I tried to get you a picture but he took off." Paula texts Angel and Sophie that Janet and she are in the house.

Angel, Candy, and Joshua came through the garage. Angel gives Janet a hug Janet doesn't let go and whispers one more. Angel gives her little cousin another hug when they separate Angel notices the nervous smile. Candy asks Janet if she wanted to learn the new song before it came out on the radio. She says sure, they go upstairs. Candy asks Joshua was his music room locked he says no need for that here. Joshua looks at Paula she was pale "Hey you need something to drink are you okay we have crackers and water."

Paula looked at him she'd been about to tell Janet to run when the door to the garage open into the house. "Do you have something a little stronger like a Coke?" Angel offers her a Canada Dry "Thanks" Joshua leaves the room to grab the drinks and Angel asks is everything ok? "Janet and I were followed by a purple Charger on the highway I noticed it but thought it was just going to Grandville South it looks like it would fit you know? I didn't want to scare Janet but when she even noticed and I hit the roundabout three times and the car just kept following me. I called Harold and asked him if he had sent someone to tail me" Joshua hands her the drink and glass with ice in it saying that they hadn't been in the fridge long. Paula thanks him. There is a slight tremor to Paula's hand as she drinks some of the ginger ale. "Harold hadn't sent anyone he just told me to come here. I'm pissed and afraid. Pissed because I don't know if this is related to the people that attacked you, all I know is that they were following me. I noticed them this time but I can't help but think that since they didn't advance that they were trying to learn my routine. That scares me because my child was in the car. Harold can't prove for certain that that organization just takes infants. They didn't advance and if it weren't for the fact they followed me into the city I would have thought nothing of it. I come here at least once a week, to take care of business. I hired more staff at the bar so Tracy doesn't have to close by herself. I keep thinking what if this isn't the first time I've been followed. At the end I came in the gate it's like they wanted me to see them for sure. They stayed parked at the gate and flicked their bright on when I got out of the truck to come into the house. They could see me clearly because I lifted my phone above the visual line of the lights to take a picture and they sped off."

Joshua gets up and sits beside her. Taking her glass and setting it on the table. His voice was hollow as he spoke and looked between his Angel and his future cousin. "From my experience don't put anything past them. Keep your alarm on at all times, when you're not in the truck your truck has a back seat and enough space for someone to fucking hide. This bitch isn't playing with a full deck. I foolishly thought since I myself am not carrying a child that I wouldn't be a target. I thought like you think their targets are pregnant women so learn your life lesson from my stupidity. They're not just after babies they'll try to use anyone they can if they can try to make you come out to save someone else they'll try it. I am not too worried about Mark because with as suspicious as I am he is even more so, because he has a very large fan base and seems to be able to read people quickly. Not too many people know that Mark carries a firearm. The only reason I know is because I saw it when he was fighting with Dave. He didn't pull it but I guess when you can beat the shit out of the guy why shoot him. I thought it was a carjacking until the guy didn't just ask me out of the car."

Angel had heard this but every time he spoke about it. It sent her right back to that fucking night. She rubs her stomach and gets up. She knew if they used Joshua to get to JC they wouldn't think twice about trying to use her little cousin Janet to get to Katie Jade. Angel sits on the other side of Paula picks up Paula's phone and hands it back to her from the coffee table. "Call Mark let him know what's going on. He was here this morning I don't know where he is right now." Paula calls telling him where she is and that she still has his card so call when he gets into the gate. He must have asked her to speak to Angel or Sophie. She says Angel is sitting next to her, and hands Angel her phone.

Mark was on his way back to Grandville South anyway he met up with Logan and got a lot of the stuff out of Janet's bedroom. Megan was not home she'd went on another one her calm down road trips. Logan was very cooperative and said he'd miss Janet but he understood and hoped that this didn't damage his relationship with Mark or the rest of the family. Mark told him this had nothing to do with him and if he left it that way there was no issue. "Hello little one, I'm on my way I was in such a rush this morning to meet up with Sophie that I left my wallet on the dresser Paula is safe inside with Janet correct?" Angel says yes. "You have been there for me more times that I care to recount Angel I am going to talk to Paula about this when I get there. Can Janet stay there I know Harold is capable and all that shit, but your home is one of the safest I know. He didn't send anyone to trail his own damn sister? Just until this crazy bitch is taken down?" Angel tells him yeah. "Okay like I said I'm almost there." Angel says she'll have Frank look for him and tell her so when he come in the gate she can just open the door.

Sophie comes in the back through the kitchen with Luke on her heels. "Look just drop it, if you want to break up just say the word." Sophie keeps walking. He was displaying some of the traits of Julius all his words touched her when he asked her has she reached an answer she shut him out and he kept talking. Yes she had said maybe, not yes, not, no about marrying him. Truth was she didn't know if she could spend another 10,000 dollars on another dress get her hopes up fully put her heart into this just to be let down again. In the back of her head this was too good to be true. She'd thought that about Julius. She power walked into the living room and stopped at the audience of Angel, Paula, and Joshua all looking like someone had come in a took their favorite toy. She had got Paula's text about being in the house and thought okay. That was strange only because she had a key card so Sophie didn't know why the message was needed it wasn't extremely late. Evidently something was up. Luke walks into her because she stopped so abruptly. He catches her before she meets the floor face to face. When she regains her balance she pulls away. He quickly lets her go. When he leans down and whispers for her to please not push him away and that he would never break up with her unless that was her wish. Saying he loved her but he wouldn't stalk her if she had fell out of like or whatever they had, just tell him and only then would he leave. She turns on him and his expression opens up to reveal that he looked at that moment as vulnerable as she felt. She mouths "We'll talk later okay." He nods. Turning around taking a breath she ask "Okay I've got a visit for The Undertaker this morning now I have strange text messages and you all looking like someone stole your favorite toy or something."

Angel gets up walks over to her sister she hadn't called Sophie if they were going to beat this chick communication was key. She hugs her baby sister. "Sophie we think April had Paula and Janet followed today. If not by her people by someone, and they made it very clear that they were following her."

Sophie looks at Joshua that night was fresh in her head watching him get back to his old self minus the change in voice he looked like he did before but something in him had changed. When he didn't think anyone was watching he just watched Angel and hung back like a shadow on the wall. "Have you told Mark?" Angel says yes and says she was sorry she didn't call her. "I wasn't alone but I understand your concern. I'm very careful especially during this time of day when the sun is going down."

Upstairs Candy and Janet play the melody of one of the songs Angel wrote that will be on the cd. Then Janet stops "Angel wrote this recently? Wow I mean it is nice but the melody is well sad. "

"Okay sad as in bad, or sad as in not happy." Janet says not happy, that it sounds like one of the songs Angel wrote when she was leading Angelic Impression. Saying she always had to turn to the next song because it made her sad. "Oh I think I know which one you're talking about it was on the second to last CD?" They both say track 13. "No this one isn't as um, dark as Fleeting Vision. I don't know if I shouldn't feel alone, or should get my head examined because I agree with you. I'm way older than you though, and sometimes I would have to turn from it too. This song when played by more than just a keyboard sounds really cool Joshua is going to play his violin. She wrote it before she joined so I think in part it was for or about a guy named Glenn." Candy covers her mouth remembering she wasn't just talking music with another fan this was Glenn best friend's daughter. "I'm sorry um so you excited about starting high school?" Candy sees that she stepped into it again when Janet excuses herself. The look on her face said it all. "Hey Janet high school can be a great place to meet new friends I met Joshua in High school he was two grades above me but we worked together at his dad's club."

"Candy if Joshua was 2 grades ahead of you that means you were a freshman when he was a senior did you know Angel?"

"I knew of her we really didn't travel in the same circles. Like I said I was a freshman they were seniors. The only reason I knew Joshua was because I worked at his dad's club." Janet asks did Joshua act differently in school than when he was at work with her. Candy smiles "No we were cool at the job and when he saw me in school he'd still speak. I learned a lot about Angel from Joshua after they graduated. Angel was his favorite topic I wish I had of spoke to her in High school.

"What was the reason you didn't say anything?" Candy said because Angel was an Ivey and that kind of put her out of most people leagues. Janet tells Candy "Our parents are the ones with or without money. We're kind of just along for the ride for the first 17 years"

"Okay where were kids like you when I was growing up." Candy says as she starts shutting the speakers and keyboards down. Janet asks what year. "Never mind smarty pants." Janet dose the math and says she was 3 or four years old when Candy would have been a freshman so she would have had to wait 3 years for her dad to have that talk with her. "Well at least I have it right in adulthood not only do I have Joshua but I have Angel as well I call them my favorite couple." Janet's phone rings.

"Hello?" She looks at Candy and turns around. "Aunt Meg you tricked me. Daddy wasn't going to hit me. That's not true. Why are you saying this stuff? Okay I'll look at it but that doesn't mean I believe it. I'll ask Mama. "I KNOW WHO MY MOTHER IS. Paula loves me and I love her she is my mama not my mother there is a difference." Janet pushes end and gets a text message. She looks at the picture her aunt had just sent. It was a picture with her Dad and Paula at the ranch her dad had built for her mother. The time stamp said 04/1999 but her Mother and Daddy's Marriage anniversary was December 20 of 1995. In the picture Paula sat on a chair and her dad was hugging her with a big cheesy smile on his face eyes and all. Like he looked at her mother. The message read:

Aunt Meg: Before you get totally brainwashed by your dad's fantasy take a look at this picture that was taken years after your dad married Nina your real mother. The affair was why your father wasn't at the house when Nina first got sick he was in a hotel with his present wife. P.S. If you hang up on me again little grown woman I'll tan your backside with my chain.

Janet had forgot that Candy was even in the room as she sat on the floor where she stood and just started crying staring at her phone. Candy asks her what's wrong. "I hope Megan is wrong, because if not I'll never forgive either of them." Janet shows Candy the picture and the message. "I can't even ask my dad I have to ask Paula because if I ask my dad and it's true I don't want to make him mad that I found out but if it is not true I don't want to hurt him."

"Okay I doubt this is true but if you have any doubt you should ask before you sleep on it and get yourself 10 times of crazy. You told Megan on the phone that Paula loves you do you believe it?" Janet nods and wipes her eyes and says that's why she scared if this is the truth since she really loves Miss Paula. "I don't know Paula well but I don't think she would be the type to be a home wrecker. Your dad seems pretty straight up cut out of the southern gentlemen cloth." Candy never before going to her bachelorette party as a guest hung in the Last Ride she thought it was a theme bar. Even when she turned 21 where most of the Grandville Social set rushed there. She was brand loyal to The Davenport she moved out of her parents' home at the age of 17 because of a pregnancy scare. Joshua had let her crash at his place and she slept in his guest room which she recently found out was his room. He would be gone when she woke in the mornings. She wondered where he slept. Maybe in his real guest room his parent's old room. They moved to Colorado and gave him the house when he graduated he got the ownership of the Davenport as a present when he graduated from college. He'd found her the house she now lived in. The original owner of the house had trashed it and was moving so he was going to sale for dirt cheap. She bought the house with the money she saved from her tips and checks. Joshua advanced her the rest of the money and she was able to pay the guy $11,000.00. One of the first things she did when she made enough to pay him back was write him a check for the five grand he'd advanced her. After Janet got up off the floor she asked Candy if she would come with her to ask Miss Paula. "You bet Jan let's go get this over with."

Mark had arrived and parked in the garage because he had not brought a cover for the back of his truck when he'd met up with Logan to get Janet's stuff out of the room and tonight it was supposed to rain. Logan had given him some mail address to Megan for Janet. Megan had went behind his back and told the Fast track Program that she was Janet's parent. She'd dropped Connor off her name and the letter came to Megan Callaway the parent of Janet Callaway. Logan was kind of pissed since this was news to him that Megan would drop his last name to trick the school system. The mail had come today, when he was helping Mark get Janet's things. Mark had read the letter and had mixed feelings.

To the Parent of Janet Callaway

Dear Mrs. Megan Callaway,

We regret to inform you, that Janet has missed 29 hours of core classes and ranked below a 5.0 in a major core class.

Fast Track Mathematics GPA 4.6.

As your Handbook states 5 hours of unexcused absence is the cut off. Where she would be retained Janet Callaway will advance into 9th grade but she will not be fast-tracked into college this year. She is hereby suspended from Fast track until her attendance and her Mathematic performance can return the level excellence we know she can achieve. Her general education packet will arrive soon after this letter.

There will be no appeal opportunity provided because by Janet's own admission in writing to all of her teachers informing them that she knew she had broken the contract. We have to set an example. We factored her age into this decision that is the only reason she will move into 9th grade. We have to make sure Janet Callaway understands that her decisions early in life can and will affect her educational future.

Signed Fast Track Coordinator

Timothy L Pierce Ph.D.

Megan had made it worse by having Janet write the damn letters. Janet would be crushed she had worked so hard and this wasn't fair. Yeah he was nervous about her going to college but he always wanted his girl to achieve everything she had strived so hard for. He'd found out that Fast Track was offered in Pittsburg Texas. If she was suspended from Fast Track she'd have to be in general core until she could prove that she was capable of maintaining perfect attendance for a whole damn school year before they would test her again. He sat in his truck and texted Paula telling her about baby girl not being able to fast track to college this year. Looking at the title at the top of the page Mark texted Paula the only Living Mrs. Callaway and asked her would she consider adopting Janet?

Paula had been about to call and ball Mark out for texting while driving until Angel said he was in the garage. After getting the second message about adopting Janet Paula replied she'd be honored to, that she loved her girl as if she were own. Paula understood why he was still in the truck he was pissed off and didn't want to be and asshole to anyone that didn't deserve it. She was about to go out there and sit with him when Janet and Candy came down the stairs. The way Janet addressed her shocked her. It was clear that Janet was upset.

Janet stood at the base of the steps Candy followed. Miss P was getting up to go somewhere. She didn't want to say anything in front of everyone. The words rushed from her mouth before she could stop them when she saw Paula leaving and not going towards the bathroom. "Miss Paula may I speak with you in the den woman to woman please" she turns to Candy "Alone" If it was true she didn't want anyone to know. She sees the shock on her mama's face. Paula says sure and walks into the den waiting on her. Janet looks around Angel, Joshua, Sophie and even Luke were staring at her like she had grown a tail before their very eyes. Candy whispered for her to keep it respectful and wished her good luck. "Candy, please don't tell anyone what I shared with you." Candy nods and says on her honor she would keep it in the vault and points to her head. Janet nodded and thanks her.

Paula was ten times of confused her baby girl had went upstairs to play a song and had come back down and addressed her like she had when she first met her. Janet walked in to the den and closed the door behind her. "Jan, are you okay?" when Janet asks her to please be truthful with her because she trusted her. Paula responded the only way she could. "Baby girl I'd never lie to you."

Janet pulls up the message and walks across the room. "Did you and my dad cheat on my mother?" She hands her phone to Paula who looked hurt the moment the words left her mouth. She watches as Paula smiles at the picture then gets angry while reading the message. "Please tell me. I love you but that'd be too mean of you guys" Janet swallows hard. "My mother loved my dad. He looks so happy with you. I thought he loved my mother"

Paula hands Janet back her phone and tries to blink back her own tears. Megan was now trying to break Janet's trust in her and Mark. "Janet, that's the year I went to the ranch after Mania. Your dad wasn't smiling for me he was smiling at your mother who was taking the picture. Nina wanted a picture of the person that got him to stop trying to work both jobs and pick one. Mark kept getting hurt in the ring because he was juggling two physical jobs. I told him if he didn't pick a job I would attempt to get him fired from bouncing he quit after suffering yet another injury and was angry at me for poking my nose in his business and jinxing him, he'd stopped talking to me. I'd missed the wedding. Nina was the one that told him if I had not of pissed him off he would have still been a bouncer. So I was surprised when she called me and said she was inviting me to their ranch in celebration of his newest victory. Janet please believe me, or at least talk to your father about it, because I would hate for you to lose trust and love in me over a lie. Mark was my friend, my coworker. He loved your mother with all of him. The only thing that could separate them did." As Janet walked into Paula's arms and put her head on her shoulder she started crying aloud instead of the silent hiccup and sniffle that she'd been doing while listening.

When Mark walked into the den Paula floored him when she told him why they were both sitting on the couch holding each other crying. It was official his sister had went past the point of no return. There was no way Megan could explain away turning an innocent picture into a lie that could change the way his child looked at him forever. Mark tells Janet the same story but from his point of view. He walks over and sits next his little family Janet turns and hugs him apologizing for hurting them both.

Mark looks his child in the eye "Baby girl Megan is angry at me for taking you out of her care and she must have returned to see your room empty. Don't let her moment of anger tarnish your trust in me. I've never lied to you. I loved my Nina and I would not have risked hurting her like that to cheat would be to live a lie and I'm no liar. You know how you say you love Paula because you have enough room in your heart to do so. Just like you baby girl I'll never stop loving Nina." Mark looks over at Paula "I have enough room in my heart for all of you. I gave my decision to remarry a lot of thought. Paula loves us both unconditionally if I stopped being The Undertaker right now she'd still love me just like you would, that's rare. Not many people get a second chance at true unconditional love. Hand me your phone." Mark blocks Megan and hands it back. "I'm glad you kept your word and brought this to our attention and didn't let it fester." Janet tells him Candy said the same thing. "Smart girl, Janet I have a question for you."

Janet looks up "Sir?" when her daddy asked her did she ever hear Aunt Megan call herself Mrs. Callaway? "Yeah and I said something about it when we were in my guidance meeting to sign the papers for Fast Track. I said don't you mean Mrs. Callaway-Connor. She messed up my hair and said kids say the silliest things. She made me feel like I was smart enough to be put in a special school but not smart enough to know the difference. The minute Doctor Peirce left the office she grabbed my hand hard and I had to run to catch up or be drug to the car. When we got in she told me I had almost messed up the whole process because she had forgot some paperwork you had signed. I said but he was going to think she was my mom. She said she was tired of me not staying in a child's place. I thought she was going to send me to my room. That's what you or mom would do if I say or do something out of line. That was the first time I got my rear tenderized as she would call it. When we got back to the house I went to my room. She told me I wasn't going to run her house because she had not given me permission to go in my room. I was totally confused, I said I didn't want to run her house. She grabbed me by my shirt front and pulled me over her knee saying she was going to take some of the smart mouth out of me. When she hit me with her table tennis paddle I tried to jump off her lap. That's when I found how strong she is. She put her elbow in between my shoulder blades and held me down. I screamed Daddy. She told me since I was so grown to shut up or she'd turn me upside down. I shut up." Janet gets up off of him and paced in front of her father. "When she let me up I told her my care bears and I were leaving and that if I found you first I would tell on her. She laughed at me and said that if I told that she had to tan my backside I would have to tell you that I was being disrespectful to adults and get it worse. Daddy I did lie to you before when you asked where my stuffed animals were and I said I had out grew them."

"Yeah I remember you came to mania with me. I was surprised because you didn't have your large blue one." After Nina died Janet his 9 year old had renamed the largest Care Bear she had Nina. "Janet what happened to you stuffed animals?"

"If I told you that Megan had set her on fire, then I would have had to tell you about me running away so I lied to you, to cover up my bad behavior and its punishment. That's why I was so happy when Pain and Panic came to stay at Aunt Megan's house when you were on the road. From the time they were puppies I'd sneak them in my room and cuddle with them." Janet wiped her face with the back of her hand. "They kept my bed warm and made it easier for me to fall asleep." Her dad asks did she say Megan set her damn toys on fire. Janet nods "Aunt Megan snatched her telling me if I was grown enough to run away I was grown enough to go alone. She said that I should be grateful she let me wear the clothing I had on. She patted me down to make sure I didn't have any money and told me to get out. I walked out the house and I had an idea of where the ranch was but it was going to be dark soon. I waited for a really long time just sitting on the back fence when I saw Uncle Logan go in the house I went back and knocked on the door and Uncle Logan asked me why I was outside after the street lights had come on. He sent me to my room. I just knew Aunt Megan would be back in but she didn't. The next day I asked her could I have Nina Bear back." Janet blinked her eyes rapidly. "Aunt Megan was so calm when she said I had abandoned my stuffed animals and she had euthanized them. I asked what that meant and she told me I was a smart cookie look it up. I looked up abandoned first and then euthanasia. I asked Aunt Meg how she could kill something that wasn't really alive." Janet wiped her nose with her hand and Paula offered her a tissue "I abandoned Nina Baer and Aunt Megan threw her and my other stuffed animals in the fireplace. Daddy how did you find out about the name has she been texting you too? Honestly, I think I have told you everything that I have done for the past 4 years I don't know why she keeps doing this why does she want you mad at me?"

Mark sighs. "She's mad at me, and her messages to you are supposed to make you mad, scared, or mistrustful of me and now with this newest stunt, mad at Paula. I don't know what else she could come up with but baby girl, I know a lot of time I'm on the road and I have messed up and trusted that you were in good hands. Then with the Racheal thing I put you in between a rock and hard place. For that I'm so sorry. Paula can you give baby girl and I a moment please?" Paula gets up and walks out the room closing the door behind her. Mark runs a hand down his face sighing. He was tired of being left in the dark until later when the rug was pulled out from under him. "Janet come over here we need to talk just you and me. I found out about the name because Logan gave me this." he pulls the letter out of his back pocket and hands it to her. He watches his little image of Nina read the letter he hadn't worked up a way to tell her so he figured direct was best.

Janet was counting on this so she wouldn't have to go back to Megan's house. She looked up at her dad's face. "Well you won't have to pay my tuition for Fast Track or College." She handed her dad back the paper. "Megan said I would fail" she looks at the floor then back at her father "Dad I'm going to do like you say I'm going to pull myself up by my boot strings. Since I failed at going to college I'm going to regular school and I'm not going to miss any days, because I promised mama and Katie that I would try my best at wherever I end up. I want to do like Candy not the almost having a kid part but the getting a job part. Megan always said that if she didn't put the chain to my butt I'd fail. Well I failed anyway, but I could work in a supermarket. I've been shopping with Angel, Candy, Natalie, and mama and no one ever asked us paper or plastic. Is that like Cash, check, or Charge?"

Mark burst out laughing. He thinks great threat Megan my girl had no clue what you were talking about ha. Janet looked away from him. "No baby girl never mind that. You have a few decisions to make. You could go to school in Pittsburg Texas prove that you are smarter than they think and next year try to test into College Track. Or, and I know you turned this place down before but it's really a good program and you would have Sophie backing you if you did well. You could be an accountant in about 3 years." The smile that lit his baby girl's face touched him.

"I don't remember turning down a school that could move faster than Fast Track. Dad, I could have a career in my dream job by 16." Janet gets up and struts around the den "Then I can tell the people put your paper in this bank. I could do investing for them and they could pay me by check, charge, or in money I won't discriminate. The only school I turned down was Grandville High School."

"It's not part of Grandville South's Public School System. It was called the South Grandville Academy of Science & Mathematics it's now the Nana Barnett Academy. I'll talk to Sophie and see what we can do." Janet put him back on track real fast when she asked was the fact she failed what he was keeping from Paula by sending her out of the room. "No come over here and have a sit down. I want to ask you a question and I want your honest answer. I don't want any surprises down the road. You've been here and you've been at the house alone with Paula. I feel I have failed to protect you from my two bad choices. I thought I could trust Megan, hell I thought I could trust Racheal and both of them hurt you in some way. Please don't lie to me or tell me what you think I want to hear. Has Paula ever said anything out of the way to you? Or put her hands on you in violence or in the name of discipline. I'm not trying to lose you over anyone."

Janet looks mortified "No daddy mama and I made a deal if I act up I have to call you. If I refuse I won't have to worry about calling anyone because she would call you herself, and for being disrespectful and telling her no she said I could keep my phone but she would take my battery. She also said I would have my tablet but she would take my charger. She's not as strict as Aunt Megan and not random like Racheal. I try harder not to do stuff that will upset her."

Mark watches his girl move just like Nina when she was having a serious discussion Janet turns and sits Cross-legged on the couch facing him she moves her hair out of her face. Even her next line was Nina all the way.

"Case in point, Mama told me to clean the guest rooms because Uncle Harold and his wife and son were coming. She said she was going to do it but she wasn't feeling good. There was something on TV and I would run and do stuff between the commercials well when she saw me sitting on the couch watching TV instead of cleaning the rooms. She gave me this look and asked was this going to be a phone moment. I said no and finished the room. She came in and looked and then out of the blue she gave 20 dollars saying she just didn't feel up to cleaning it herself and thanked me. It wasn't about the money it was more that she thanked me and said why I had to clean the room in the first place. I felt helpful like someone I love needed me for something. That's why I can't wait for Katie Jade to come out because all three of you will need my help." Janet rubs her hands together in excitement. "Daddy I love being back in a house where if you acted up it is a warning, a phone call, go to your room or get your technology taken, but no hitting. I can talk to Mama like a friend even about mom and not have to worry that I'm going to get popped in the mouth. If you just have to be married to someone other than mother I'd rather it be Paula she loves us both just like mom did. She also puts that goofy grin on your face the (I'm really happy) grin. I like to see you happy."

"She does make me happy. It also makes me happy to hear that she is the same sane woman even when I'm not around. I asked Paula and I'm going to ask you. Nothing has been put to paper yet but would you mind if Paula adopted you?" Janet asked if he loves her why would he give her away. Hurt confusion marring her expression "What? No, that's not what that means. As of right now Paula is my wife but she is not legally your mama. I don't want to leave you unprotected. Megan pulling that stunt with the name opened my eyes and made my skin crawl. There is one living Mrs. Callaway. I can't trust my sister in the event something happens to me at least I know that Paula won't be beating on you. This also protects you if something happens they won't have to track me down to get permission to do anything for you." Janet says she doesn't like to think about if something happened to him but she understood and she was fine with her mama being her mama legally. "Thank you baby girl"

The next morning Sophie gets up and gets in her shower. Luke had stayed until he just had to leave. Since he was in the middle of a work week he had the transit service come pick him up and take him back to the hospital. Mark had texted her that yesterday Megan had gone home found Janet's room cleaned out and texted Janet telling her some crap about Paula and Mark having an affair. Sophie was one of the fresh 21 year olds 4 years ago and she'd hung in Paula's bar because that was Julius's scene. Angel called her and asked if she could come in. "Hold on I'll be down in a minute is everything okay?" Angel said everything was fine she just was going to chit chat with her. Joshua was helping her dad with a secret project again and Paula was in the den in the window watching Janet play with the little girl she'd met from the other side of Cherry Lake. Mark had said he had a meeting with Logan but turned to go down the hill Candy was still asleep where she crashed last night. "So I was your last choice." Angel says no she didn't call until she was sure she was up. Sophie knew that Angel could see when her bathroom light came on. Her bathroom was a part of the original house when they built on to the house they didn't brick in the window. So by Angel's bathroom and Sophie's bathroom meeting back to back when the light was on in one of the bathrooms a square of light would shine through the wall where the sound proofing stopped. The window was thick so there was no sound. Looking at it you would not know it's a window. On Sophie's side it had a shelf for her towels. On Angel's side it was hidden by the mirror above her face bowl but since it was glass in front of glass the light came through unless Angel had her light on as well. That's how they knew each other was home when they were kids. "Okay I'm on my way downstairs" Angel says great she'd fix her some coffee.

As Angel starts the coffee Paula pretends to be a zombie and walks in saying coffee. Angel smirks and gets two more cups down. "Well at least you don't want to eat my brain. Here it's supposed to be chocolate flavored." Paula takes a sip and smiles. Sophie comes in to the kitchen and tells Angel all she had to do was fix coffee that smelled like a brownie and she would attract all kind of attention.

Candy walked into the kitchen and greeted everyone she had crashed in the downstairs bedroom. When she reaches for the cup in and Angel's hand thinking Angel was giving it her she was surprised when Angel didn't let go. Looking at the side of the cup Candy withdrew her hand. "Oh my bad that is clearly your cup." The cup was black with purple writing that read Keep Calm there is Coffee. It depicted a little tombstone that read here the lies the one that that got in the way. Angel pours her a different cup and hands it to her. They all sit at the table. "Hey girls I need some advice while we are not in mixed company. I figured all of you are either married about to be married or going with someone." Sophie looks away mumbling something. Angel and Paula asks what's up. "Angel, as you know or have figured out Deon and I have been together for a while and I know why his parents don't like me but now it seems like he's pulling away. I don't think I'm super clingy or needy but last night he was supposed to come and we were supposed to go out. His parents have moved and he now stays by his self but he still won't let me come over. This is the third date that he has blew off. He keeps asking why I still love him. I don't understand what he means. I mean we haven't had a fight or nothing. When I told him that. He says that I deserve better than him. He asked me why I would settle for him. I never said I settling for him."

Sophie says "if he is acting weird and saying stuff like that maybe he has something to hide. Julius started saying shit like that before he told me he had to find himself. At least if Deon is telling you now he isn't waiting until you have purchased a dress and set a date." Sophie excuses herself. Angel follows her "Angel just go back in there. I gave away way too much of my business in there." Sophie pinches the bridge of her nose.

"Sophie you are clearly upset about something and sis I wasn't here when the Julius thing happened but I'm here now. Has Luke done something?" Sophie says she is not going to talk about this in the living room with Paula and Candy just in the next room. Angel knew her sister liked to keep her personal life personal as much as possible. "Pick a room." Sophie tells her to drop it. "No pick a room, the den or you home office, or even your bedroom. Sophie I love you, and if you just have to get something out loud you know I'm here for you. If you don't want me to say anything that's fine but sometimes when you say stuff out loud instead of just in your thoughts it becomes clearer. "

Sophie tries one more time to dissuade Angel "You're marrying a guy that has carried a torch for you since he first saw you. That's wonderful but an expert in relationships you are not." Sophie thought maybe she had stepped over the line because Angel just closed her eyes and turns away from her. Sophie was about to apologize for hitting below the belt when Angel turned back around. The look on her face was a one of challenge.

"Nice try. You almost got what you think you wanted. Don't try to push me away. No my track record with guys is trash I admit that. I never said it wasn't. I also never said I was going to give you the perfect advice or any advice for that matter. Yes Joshua loves me and I love him. I'm not claiming to have all or any answers. Now, what is wrong? If you want to go in another room that's fine but don't close me out." Sophie says fine her home office and calls Angel bossy. "Me?" Angel points at herself.

As they walk in Sophie's home office she says "Yeah her too." Sophie takes a breath and explains how she is feeling about Luke and how he proposed and she didn't give him and answer. Angel raises her hand and asks why the hell not if she loved him and he loved her what was stopping her. Sophie gets up and paces her office. "Reasons okay, this is the anniversary of when I was supposed to be married to Julius. Luke is just as sweet as Julius was that scares me. I wanted to marry Julius I spent years in that relationship. I read all the self-help books that came to the book store about improving your relationship. I tried treating him like a friend. I tried calling him more I tired not calling him more. If it is in print I tried it. I got off the pill so we could start a family. He proposed and I said yes and we kept getting closer and closer to the date. Then I bought the dress." Sophie blinks rapidly before closing her eyes and reclaiming her wavering composer. "About a month before you came home, Julius came over and told me he loved me but he had lost who he was and he had to find him before we got married. He just wasn't ready anymore he said he needed more time. I had dieted and an exercised my way to my target weight for a dress and I was about to send out the invites. I hope you never have to feel the embarrassment I felt canceling a venue in New York. He suggested we hire one of the top wedding planners in the country. It was up to me to call her and tell her that we would not be getting married." Sophie wiped her eyes. Firming her lips she continues "We were going to be married by now." Angel says that was Julius's loss. As she gets up and walks over hugging Sophie. Sophie hugs Angel back as she gazes out the window she says "Angel I'm scared because I don't think I can do that again. Everything seems too good to be true with Luke. Somehow I turned Julius away."

"Sophie I saw how Julius acted around other people. Luke is himself all the time. What if this is your chance for happily ever after? Are you going to let Julius dictate how you choose to live your life? You are the strongest woman I know." Sophie tells Angel she doesn't know what she's talking about. Saying it was too soon. "You gave Julius years of your time. He wasn't your prince. He was a creep. I still want him to walk in busy traffic for hitting you. Yeah, you hit him back but if he did once he'd try to do it again. That I do know. At mom's birthday party he tried to get fresh with me. I pulled away and ran in the bathroom. He blamed it on the booze. Mom thought she saw me trying to steal your man and that's when she started saying how my gift and the party was poorly thought out and cheap. I left for two reasons number one yeah she hurt my feelings but I also didn't want to be near him." Sophie looks angry and asks Angel why this was the first she'd heard about this. "I didn't say anything because I didn't want mom trying to blame me or him saying I was trying to make a pass at him. I left, that way it wouldn't happen again." Sophie told her she should have told her. "Sophie if I had of told you, you would have made a scene and mom would have been right there to say that I was the one trying to seduce him." Sophie asked what happened what had mom saw. "When I went in the dining room to make sure the cake said the right year and stuff. I stepped back off of it so I could take a picture. Like we always do. I didn't even know he was in the room, I thought he was still out there with you. I stepped back into him and said excused me he didn't move so I went to step forward he pulled me backwards and said I smelled good enough to eat. You know I don't like to be touched so I tried to move as I said um I it must be the cake because I smell like inedible flowers. He sniffed me that's when I pulled away as hard as I could he ripped my shirt and that's when mom walked in. He said Angel I'm taken. Sophie I would never try to seduce your guy. I ran in the bathroom then when I came back out mom was on her this is cheap speech and I left."

Sophie understood where Angel was coming from she would have believed Angel over her mother and Julius. "Angel I would have believed you before Sophia or Julius. I know that Julius wasn't exactly in your target range as far as looks Julius was more Jock than rocker. It's good for Julius you weren't going with Joshua back then or he would have been thrown head first into the cake. Angel bites her lip trying poorly to hide a smile and says maybe. "Angel has Luke ever made a pass at you seriously?"

"Oh my god no. I maybe a little bias when it comes to Luke because of the fact that he saved Joshua. Sophie you've known Luke since we were kids you have had a chance to see what he is about as an adult. This is my view from the outside looking in. When you guys are together he doesn't feel the need to grope you in public. He's not threatened that you have male clients or even plutonic male friends, he's not threatened that you're smart. He's pretty smart himself. When he speaks to you he's respectful. He puts a real smile on your face. When we were out on the double date he didn't let his eyes wander. I was watching him. He looks at you like you're the only one in the room no matter how many people are in the room. I think I know, but do you love him?"

Sophie tells Angel about the little voice that says it's him and he's here and he fits. How they seem to fit so snuggly into each other's busy lives. "If you can see all that from the outside looking in he must not hide it well because it's true all of it. I haven't had to read anything to communicate with him. I don't have to act a certain way. He likes my sassy side, he likes my bossy side, he likes my goofy side, and he understands me. I don't have to draw him a picture except with some social norms but he's even improved with that. He's not put off like Julius was about me working. Julius would have flipped his shit if I had of told him that I now run Ivey Enterprises or even worse he would have tried to use me. It's not about money with Luke."

"Yeah I know what you mean. Being used is not a good feeling." Angel remembers how sometimes it felt like Braden treated her like a walking ATM. He was happy as long as she was buying shit. Sophie must have thought she was talking about currently. She said if Joshua was using her to dump his ass. "Whoa what? Wait no not Joshua. I remember how Braden made me feel used sometimes. I bought Joshua the truck as a gift that I was going to give him for a present and he threaten to pay me back. Joshua loves me and Luke loves you. This is only my opinion from what you told me and what I have seen. I think if you trust him, and you love him, you should go get your happily ever after. If you don't want to do it today because of what today would have been. Face chat him at midnight you know he'll be awake." Sophie says this is the most support she has ever got from Angel about a guy. "What can I say, I'm team Luke on this one sis. I think he is great for you."

That night at 11.30pm Sophie climbed in the back of a limo and rode to Sheldon Medical. She texted Luke that they had to talk. He asked about and she sent him a smiling emoticon saying he may like it. She texted Angel that she wasn't alone she was in an Ivey Transit limo and that she was going to meet up with Luke instead of the Face Chat idea. Angel texted her back good luck with a Giant smiling emoticon holding a four leaf clover. They get in the staff parking lot the driver gets out and opens her door. A camera flash goes off something tells Sophie to close the door she yanks it out of the driver's hand seconds later she is thrown to the other side of the limo as hard impact hits the car almost tipping it over. There was broken glass all over her. Keeping her eyes closed she holds her breath and froze when she heard the door open. Someone one touched her chest. A man said "fuck we blew it she's dead" another camera flash and the door is slammed. Sophie lets out the breath she'd held. Someone had thought they had killed her and taken her picture for what, proof? She lay on the long seat that she'd landed on face up. If it weren't for the fact that it was dark the guy might have seen her move when he slammed the door. She waited until she heard screeching tires and then silence. The driver must be dead he was standing where the car was hit. She heard a sound it sounded like screaming. She knew that voice.

Luke had told Sophie to come to the staff parking lot and he would let her in through the door nearest his office. They both valued their privacy. He'd stood in his window looking for the Limo with Ivey Transit on the back. He spots the limo. There was another car coming off the street too fast the driver pulled the door open and before Luke could leave the window the car smashed into the limo almost knocking it over. He charged out of the office down the hall out the back door a flash of light went off inside the car and a figure runs jumps in a the car that had bounced off the limo the car sped off Luke ran towards the limo someone was screaming he soon realized it was him. "SOPHIE NO SOPHIE NO SOPHIE… SOPHIE" the fucking limo was totaled. The driver's outfit was splattered all over the side. He screamed "SOPHIE" over and over as he ran to the other side. He pulled on the middle door it would be the largest. He stopped yelling her name and heard her cry of LUKE. He stuck his head in the space where the window used to be and asked her if she was hurt. She said she could move but was afraid with all the glass in her face. He breathes a sigh of relief she was conscious she was speaking so no glass had got in her mouth. More doctors ran outside this was the Staff parking lot. "I got you" Luke pulls on the door it doesn't open he slams his fist on the top of the door and pulls the door bracing his foot on the side of the car. The door came off in his hand. Dropping it he yells for one of the doctors that was checking to see if anything had hit his fucking Lexus. "Dr. Blair help me out here please"

They get Sophie out of the trashed Limo get most of the glasses off of her face and call the cops. Luke puts a surgical hair cap on her head so if there was glass in her hair it wouldn't fall in her eyes. Luke gives his statement. Sophie tells the police what happened from her point of view. Her story about holding her breath when she heard the door open the guy touching her and thinking she was dead and taking a picture made his blood run cold. The police gets the scene sectioned off and the driver is pronounced dead and taken away.

A text message is sent to Angel. She had signed up for text alerts from stores when they had new dresses in or for the bridal registry. Joshua was asleep she was waiting to see if Luke would be a part of the family officially soon. It was almost midnight. It was probably a sale that was starting or something she'd look at it and wait on Sophie's call. When Angel opens the text message and sees Sophie, she starts screaming. Joshua pounces out of bed on guard Angel was screaming and crying as she handed him the phone saying someone had killed her sister. Angel ran from the room Joshua looked at the message that was under the picture. The hunt is on 1 of 5. Joshua felt sick. This was fucking insane. He runs out the room he had to find Angel. He calls Luke he deserved to know. "Hey man I don't know how to tell you it's about Sophie." The phone is dropped he was about to hang up when Sophie got on the line. "Where are you oh my god? You okay? What the fuck on is going on? Please don't hang up Angel thinks you're dead." When Sophie says so does who tried to kill her Joshua screams "ANGEL" and runs down the hall. He'd almost run past Sophie's room until he heard crying. The door was open and in the middle of Sophie's bed lay Angel wrapped around her baby sister's pillow crying. Joshua pushed speaker phone "Please say something to your sister."

Sophie heard Angel and screams into the phone "I'm okay Angel can you hear me?" Angel rose up off the bed and snatched the phone. She tells Sophie she can hear and asked what happened, Sophie told her. Angel tells Sophie to please call Bobby and come home. "I'm on my way Bobby got word from the police and he showed up with Dad. I'll be home soon" Angel begs her not to hang up. They talk until Angel hears that all too familiar sound of the alarm saying (Front door Disabled.) and runs down the stairs with the phone still up to her ear she doesn't push end until she launches herself at Sophie almost knocking her in to Bobby. Luke comes in and so does Chase as he closed the door. He watches his daughters hug each other.

Bobby and his dad had been painting Chase's home when Bobby got an alert from the police officer he is dating, that he might want to get down to Sheldon Health that concerned Sophie Ivey. Bobby got to the hospital before the text messages started going out. He was so lucky that Chase or he had not looked at their phone before getting to Sophie. It was bad enough when Sophie said what happened their father looked like he was about faint. Bobby's reaction to her story was his reaction to most shit anger. First he yelled at Sophie for taking a trip without a tail that all she had to do was tell him and he could have 10 fucking cars following her. When Luke backed him up and told him to stop yelling at her and asked hadn't she been through enough? Bobby's anger went where it supposed to be at the person or people that tried to take his sister's life. He called in the local STOP team as back up while 14 vehicles surrounded his Hummer as he drove Sophie, Luke, and his farther to Ivey Mansion the tail wasn't allowed on the property so they all parked stakeout style up and down the hill.

Candy walks out takes one look at the scene before her and runs over asking what happened. Sophie was now dressed like a nurse she'd had on a designer dress she was red and blotchy and Angel was all red and blotchy as they stood in the atrium hugging each other. Angel turns to her and tries to say something but she kept repeating "I thought"

Chase, Luke, Bobby, and Joshua call her into the kitchen with them. "Okay, she thought what that has her babbling like that?" She walks over and get in Luke's face. "Sophie left here in a designer dress I can't even begin to pronounce to come tell you something. Why the hell is she dressed like she going to help you perform surgery?" Joshua pulls Candy out of Luke's face and tells her about the text message. "Oh my God who's the other 4? This has to be related to the people that kidnapped you. All of them get a text alert. Bobby reads his and tells Chase he'll handle this. Someone had sent the picture and a pic of the Limo along with a story to the local news and in a town this size of 21,000 people. Bad news especially about the direct offspring of Chase W Ivey traveled at the speed of fucking light.

Sophie and Angel had finally made it to the couch. Sophie was freaked out but also pissed. By the fact that they sent the text message to her dad and to Angel she knew who was behind it, and that bitch had not come out of hiding. She wanted that bitch to hurt, she wanted her to feel the fear and pain she had caused. Angel had finally stopped shaking she was now sitting on the couch only because Sophie had told her she was okay and they should move from the door.

Both of their phones chimed with a text alert, and Angel shakes her head slowly and says just above a whisper. "I don't want to want to open another message tonight. When I opened the message and saw you I was scared but I thought it was like with Joshua, I was coming. I read the message and I didn't even know where you were. There are 10 miles between here and the Sheldon Center. I only made it as far your room I got dizzy and I didn't want to fall down the stairs. I thought they had taken you away from me. Unlike with Joshua I wasn't even given a choice." Angel tears up again and hugs Sophie "I'm so glad you're alive."

The house phone rings. Sophie had opened her text alert for the local news and now Grandville thought she was dead. As the night went on Sophie wished she would have just called Luke or face chatted him. Tonight was a complete fucking disaster. Sophie says "Angel a lot of people are going to think what you thought tonight. Sharp sent the pictures and a story full of spin to the local news. I need to answer the phone" Angel lets her go Bobby walks in and grabs the ringing phone, tells the reporter that Sophie Elaine Ivey is alive and there will be a press conference soon. Sophie thanks Bobby and then turns back to Angel Sophie speaks in a hollow tone of voice. She didn't know if she was trying to convince Angel or herself. "I'm okay. I was scared too that was the first and hopefully only real crash I have ever been in. I'm just glad I didn't drive my little ass car. If I hadn't of pulled the door closed that car would have hit me. It hit the limo so hard. I closed my eyes when the glass shattered. I held my breath when the door opened and a hand was laid right here." Sophie touches her chest "I probably would have been kidnapped if they hadn't believed I was dead. I don't know if they just left or they heard what I heard and that was Luke screaming my name."

The door opens Angel and Sophie look to see who was coming in thinking Jonathon had heard and come. It wasn't Jonathon. Angel stands when Sophie does. Julius runs in the house and grabs Sophie kissing her and feeling on her face. "Oh baby I heard that you were dead and…"

Sophie had tried to push him off of her so when he wouldn't let go of her face and he kissed her again she bit him. He puts his hand to his bottom lip. "Hey what was that for? I was glad to see you alive. Shit that hurts. " She asks him for his master pass key. "Babe, tonight has opened my eyes I want to marry you. I'll buy you another ring and I'll buy you the dress. All you have to do is show up. What do you say?" He franticly grabs one of Janet's plastic rings off the coffee table and gets on one knee and asks "Will you marry me?"

Luke walked in the room and his mouth fell open at the sight of another man proposing to his lover. Until Sophie started to speak. "What do I say? I have a few questions then I will give you your answer. If you thought I was dead, why you are here, using a key code from when I trusted you enough to let you live in my home? Were you coming to make another pass at my sister? You're so quiet. You say thinking I was dead opened your eyes. If it was true it would've been too late."

"Look, Yeah I came to comfort Angel. He looks over at Angel "I've never a made pass at your weird ass." He looks back up at Sophie "Babe you got to believe me whatever she told you she's lying. When I saw that you were okay that is what opened my eyes you're so important to me. I messed up but I realize that. I'm ready I never stopped loving you. I'll even try to get along with your sister. I'm willing to move in. I'll talk to you more. Trust me, I'm not even tripping anymore that you make more than me we can get married and have loads of kids just like you wanted and I'll raise them I'll even be a sexy house husband." Angel snickered and covers her mouth. Julius glares at her "Then by the time you retire hopefully your sister will have found someone and moved out."

"I thought you were my prince. I loved you. You came here tonight to see if you could get lucky with my sister. Trust me, Angel doesn't even like you, and I don't need a house husband. It took me a lot of tears and a lot of anger, but I'm not going to let you destroy my chance at a happily ever after. You pushed me away. I am so over you. Give me my key card and get lost." He gets up then looks behind her Sophie turns and sees Luke standing in the doorway. Julius tells her she can have her keycard back she turns back to him he hands her the card. At the last minute he grabs her and pulls her up by her collar tries to kiss her on the mouth she turns her head he kisses her cheek. She slaps him and he slaps her back before she got a chance to get her lick back Julius is yanked backwards and drove to the floor by Luke who had run across the room when her ex tried to kiss her. Luke had Julius pinned to floor. Julius threatened to beat his ass.

Blue eyes meet hazel as Luke glares at the son of bitch that had kissed and struck his lover. This was the piece of garbage that had put indecision in Sophie's eyes when he'd proposed. Luke moves his arm up under Julius's throat and growls "Listen to me. I'm going to let you up you're going to walk out of that front door. I'm not having that great of a day. If you strike at me I will break every bone in your fucking hand. Now get out of my sight before you piss me off." Luke gets up Julius gets up holding the back of his head where it had hit the floor when he was taken down. He backs out of the house calling Luke a nut.

The gate opens and a car whips past as Jonathon's Range Rover speeds up the drive. He saw the doctor go into the house and runs up the steps into the house he'd been watching an old western and the news feed that flashed across his screen sent him in to his car an up the hill. Jonathon runs in and his mouth drops open in shock. His girl was in her night gown sitting by Sophie who was dressed like a nurse. He scratches his head he knew what he saw on the screen he knew what he heard. "Okay I'm glad you are not hurt but the fuck is going on?"

Authors note: Okay reader Julius or Luke? Here's another question do you think Mark will ever be able to trust Megan again? Feel free to review :End Note