Authors Note: This chapter is shorter than my others but it is merely a bridge form later happenings. Please read and review it helps me a lot. I want to thank my muses and all my sistas that have helped me. Without you I wouldn't be able to do this thank you all: End Note
Chapter 12
Someone to Watch over Me
In Dallas, Jonathon steps into the studio under the microphone and points to the woman up in the booth to start the music he was going to sing for his Angel's wedding reception. He had not sung the song before and was having an issue, his accent kept getting in the way. "Let's try it one more time, if I can't sing it, I can't sing it."
Gloria walks into the booth and hears Jonathon getting frustrated. He really wanted to sing this song to his baby girl. The issue was he was trying to sing it exactly like the artist. Jonathon Leonel McBride was a lot of things but an American country singer he was not. Gloria leans into the microphone to communicate with Jonathon as she signals for the woman to stop. "Okay, stop the music, Jonathon I have to tell you this. You are not going to be able to emulate his sound. I've heard you sing before this isn't you. The words are special to you. Number one, lose the fake country drawl and don't ever pick it up again." He starts yelling at her. The sound tech looks as if she is about to run since he is yelling into the microphone. Gloria walks out of the booth and into the studio she signals for the woman in the booth to take five. "You are trying too hard to sound like Sugar land. You don't. Now you can stand here and yell at meh. Or you can take my advice. You hired meh to do this to our clients, because you said I'm fair and I know what I'm doing. Let meh help you make this special for your Baby girl on her big day."
"What do you suggest I do sing it in Irish?" He says sarcastically. She says that's a thought but not the one that won in her head. She tells him to read the words without trying to sing them. He recites the lyrics by memory with no mistakes. "I don't have a problem memorizing the wording. My problem is keeping with his tempo. I'm not exactly a mush mouth when it comes to singing, but country seems to be kicking my ass." He sighs pushing the equipment back into the ceiling. "Maybe I've been behind meh desk too long." He walks towards the door singing the words unhampered.
Gloria got an idea and hoped it worked. "STOP! That's it, John no music, close your eyes where you stand. Do you trust meh?" he nods his head. "Okay, picture your girl dancing in the arms of your new son in law. This song is saying a lot more than what you are giving it credit for. Do you have your girl in your head?" he nods "Now sing the song just like you would if you were watching them dance across the floor sing to your girl but to her beau as well" he sang the first verse in his deep accented tenor. Gloria cued the woman that was coming back into the booth to record. He finishes the song and opens his eyes. When he asked her was she sorry she asked him to sing it without music. Gloria was dumbstruck. "You sound wonderful when you're not racing a prerecorded track. You can sing it like you just did, but with a live band. They will speed up or slow down to match you instead of the other way around." He was happy again and surprised her by kissing her on the cheek thanking her as he walked out of the studio. Gloria blushes beet red like a school girl.
Jonathon stopped outside the studio. What the hell was he thinking? He clears his throat and reopens the door she must have been very angry her face was red. "When you have a moment, come to my office please." She says she's free until 2 this afternoon. Walking into his office Gloria follows him. Skirting his desk he sits in front of her. "Please forgive my inappropriate behavior back there. You are a very important part of this company's success and I would never want you to feel that I was trying to disrespect you in any way. You have helped me solve a problem today that I am grateful for. Here take this card and have dinner one meh please. I assure you that will never happen again. "
He sat at on his desk at attention. He'd told her to come to his house when she landed and she had. What he did not tell her is that he no longer lived there or would not in a short time. The first night walking around the condo she expected that he would fulfill one of her little fantasies and come through the door. "Jonathon what do you expect I'm going to do, run off or something? It was a peck on the cheek. With you I know it was nothing more than you being happy that a problem was solved. Here take this guilty card back please. I'm not going out to an eatery by myself sitting alone at a table for one no thanks. To answer your statement back there you're welcome. Are you still coming to get more of your things from the condo tonight?"
Jonathon rubs his hand on the back of his neck and takes the card she held out to him. "I don't know if this is a plus or minus in your book but what if I take you out to dinner?" She asked would it mean that much to him. He nods. He wanted to speak to her about something not related to work. She agreed and asked in her usual business tone where he wanted her to make the reservation. "Your choice"
That night Jonathon picks her up from his condo. When she walks out of his bedroom in a red shimmering form-fitting cocktail dress his jaw dropped to the floor. She was not playing fair. She was trying to kill him. His mouth went dry. He puts up a finger and walks into the kitchen and drinks a few glasses of water. She had better watch herself. He had been trained by his da to be a gentleman but no man was without wolf and any man that claimed to be, was lying to himself. Maybe he was looking at this wrong. Maybe that was all she had with her. He was older than her by at least 6 years.
Gloria stood in the living room. She hoped she wasn't making a fool of herself. He emerges from the kitchen. "How do I look?" He smirks at her and tells her she knows. She smiles up into his darkened green gaze. "That I do, but humor Meh" He says If she was going for innocent she failed. If she was going for drop dead gorgeous it was a flawless victory. "Thank you." He asks is he under dressed for the place she has selected. "No you are fine." He looked doubtful. "Trust meh have I ever steered you wrong?" he shakes his head.
They head to the restaurant. Everything was wonderful until the stage lit up and an announcer walks on stage and says that it was open mic night. Gloria rises Jonathon grabs her by the hand. "Where are you going?" She tells him to come up with her. "Are you Insane? That's it you've lost your mind." When her face falls and she demands that he unhand her he lets her go and realized that he'd hurt her feelings. Twice in one day what the hell was wrong with him? He was usually in control of his thought to speech ratio. "What do you want to sing?" She smiles and grabs his hand pulling him through the throng of people. She has him sit at the piano. It was a player piano "Nice touch considering I don't play piano."
Gloria presses the remote and the piano starts playing. She watched his eye brows raise into his hairline as recognition dawned on him that the song she was about to sing was (Someone to Watch over Me). She hops up on the piano by the end they are eye to eye with her holding the last note. She then slowly leans further over the edge of the piano and kisses him on the mouth. He stiffly stands and helps her off the piano. They take a bow and walk back to their seat. He sits across from her with his pointer and middle finger over his lips. "Are you going to say something? Or are you going to continue to sit there staring at me like I just sprouted black wings or something?"
Jonathon moves his hand to the table and she rubs the back of it in small circles. Her touch was driving him crazy. "I don't know what to say. I was going to speak to you about the instances that I believe you were having a slip of the tongue. We get here tonight as my apology for kissing you on the cheek and you kiss me on the mouth. You are my business partner. If you continue caressing me you will generate a response that I don't think you are quite ready for." In a husky voice she asks does he want her to stop. He smirks at her and growls "You trying to kill meh?" she shakes her head no. He raises his other hand to signal for the check. The check comes and he withdraws his hand from her to sign.
Without her touch he could think more clearly. He drives her back to the condo. They now sit across from each other. Jonathon knew she had a few drinks before going up on stage. He didn't want to give in to his wolf instincts that were telling him to take her right here on the sofa. If she woke sober in a few hours and hated him for it. That would surly damage their working relationship. "Gloria we have a great working relationship. I just don't want to jeopardize that."
"Is that a cop-out for you don't really feel anything for me?" Gloria says as she crosses her legs.
Was she kidding of course he felt something for her? He tried to analyze away anything that pointed to her liking him for more than a business partner, because he didn't want to be wrong and embarrass himself or cause a rift between them. "I don't have to cop out of anything. You had a few drinks which is perfectly okay, I just don't want you to regret your decision if anything where to happen tonight. As for how I feel about you. I think it wise for meh to leave while my brain still works." He stands heading to the door.
She stands "John yes I had a few drinks, but that is not why I kissed you. I want you to think about something before you go. I think I have always had a liking for you and to my knowledge I have never let it affect my ability to work until tonight. When you invited me to your home I thought perhaps you felt the same way." She sighs "Will you stay here tonight so we can talk? We are two consenting adults nothing has to happen I won't pounce on you if that is your fear." He stopped with his hand hovering over the doorknob.
Jonathon turns around smirking at her. It was time for him to take some sound advice from Paula and his therapist. His Starting-Over group and single sessions were for a situation like this. He discovered he did want to give love another try. He finally saw his failed marriage from a distant prospective. He put up with a lot from Sophia she manipulated the weaker parts of his personality. He learned that is a risk when you let someone that close, but he also learned if you close yourself off from everyone or attempt to, you end up alone. At one time that is what he would have claimed he deserved but not lately. He walks back to the sofa and sits on it. "Gloria when you say always I find it hard for me to believe I did not notice. You are a very smart creative woman. You have never behaved in this manner around me before. If what you had was a crush the kiss should have dispelled or took the mystery out of it smashing it to bits." She says she had to try and she thought if she did that she would answer her own question. "Did you answer your intrigue?"
She offers him a drink he puts his keys on the coffee table and says sure. Gloria fixes him his favorite drink. An Old-Style Highball he loved aged Rum and it showed when he takes his first sip and grins at her over the top of the glass. "Jonathon when I first came to store front answering a job description with a company with no name it felt right at the age 20. My da thought I was a total idiot, that you were some kind of scam. I told him well he pays and hasn't asked me to peddle anything. Watching you build a company against all the crap that you had to go through. I didn't lie in my interview. I had always wanted to be part of every facet of a business and you gave that to me. I know how the entry levels feel and the folks in publishing and the levels most everywhere. You gave me the tools to be good enough to partner with you. You'll never understand what that does for a girl. Aside from the job it started on our first trip."
She offers him another drink he accepts. Alarm crosses his features as he tries to remember anything that would have remotely been not appropriate on their trip to London. "You were engaged on our first trip and newly 21. Oh Gloria I hope to God I'm not the reason your marriage didn't work. I don't believe I did anything to compete with your beau. That went south for you quickly please tell me did I have anything to do with that?"
Gloria was horrified that he would think that. "Oh my goodness no John you saved my life, Victor was my mistake. I was sheltered and fell for his upper class polish, I learned of his rage that is what made me fall out of love with my college sweetheart. I am just lucky that it only took once for me to learn my lesson some never learn until it is too late. The night I showed up at your home, because Victor had pushed me out of his car after an argument, you could have turned me away. I had only worked for you for 2 years, but you didn't you helped me when I so desperately needed it. If you remember Victor tried to have me killed instead of giving me the divorce. If it weren't for the fact that I had a career, I would not have had the money to hire the barrister that exposed him. I have seen you with and without your professional polish. My feelings for you grew that much more every year. I was mostly enamored with you at first. I then fell in love with your mind, and when you smiled it used to be so rare but so welcome a young girl's crush." She sits back in her seat "I've said it in my head a million times since I've gotten older. I love you Jonathon Leonel McBride and I mean it every time."
He puts down the glass and leans forward in his seat watching her she didn't look away her look was not of challenge. "I won't sit here and say I love you just because you have said it. I care for you a great deal. Gloria you tell me that you love me. That is not even possible you know nothing about me other than my professional side. I'm old school, I don't do table top romance. I may be looking for something that doesn't even exist anymore." Gloria gets up and paces the floor in front of him. When she starts telling him how she knew him better than he gave her credit for he was doubtful at first until she really started telling him things that he thought he had hidden very well. When she touched on his fear of failure in a relationship she pointed out that she had some of the same fears but was tired of pretending he did not affect her. She suggests they get some sleep. He goes in to the second bedroom he tell himself if he is wrong he will go back to his second room he walks into his bedroom she pulls the covers back for him in invitation with a small smile on her face. When he climbs in she curls around him with her head on his chest. She starts stroking his chest he takes her finger and lightly nips it with his teeth. She giggles and moves her other hand lower. "That's it little one, tonight you're going to learn why not to invite wolves into your bed." At first it is playful touching it soon escalates to two lonely souls joining in an age old dance of mating.
The next morning at Sheldon Medical Candy wakes with a start, someone was touching her hand. Please be Deon or Joshua she thinks to herself as she opens her eyes. He asked how her vision is today. "I can see clearly. How do I sound to the outside world?" he tells her she sounds like her. He knew she worried about if the slurring would come back. He leans closer and tells her while meeting her eyes to please don't ever try to take herself from him again. She breaks eyes contact by looking down at their hands. At least he was still here.
"Please don't shut me out, you are family to me. You scared the living fuck out of me. Please, look at me and promise me that you won't try this anymore. If you feel scared, confused, or sad, or depressed, or just need someone to talk to, you know my number, or hell I live right down the street. You have the code and the guard knows you on sight. Never again Candy Rabinenvitch, promise me that you will never again try to take yourself from me." Candy looks back up meeting his eyes when she tells him that Roman had come to the house. Something made him not comment she continued by telling him how Deon thought she cheated willingly and that he'd left her after she told him the answer to what he asked. Joshua stands she begs him not to leave her here alone saying she promises she won't try anymore. She looked on the verge of tears. Joshua sits on the side of her bed and hugs her gently "Whoa, Please don't cry, I'm glad that you said you won't do that anymore but I would never leave you here alone."
The words tried to choke her as she said them. "Deon left me, and now he's telling people what I said. It's like he wants Roman to come after me. I apologized to him, and I know that, I'm sorry doesn't fix a lot but I truly am sorry. Something told me not to open the door I didn't listen. "
Joshua slowly lifts his hand up to her face and wipes away a trail of tears. He swallows hard at seeing the thick band of fear and guilty sorrow on his best friend. "Stop, you opened the door. Roman attacking you wasn't your fault. Deon is out looking for him right now. Unless he told you it's over or you want to end it Deon didn't leave you in the sense you're thinking. As for whom he's told you're looking at him. You have nothing to worry about if Roman so much as tries to come near you again I'll fillet his ass."
Days later Luke is ready to release Candy her being in shape was a huge plus. She reported Roman to the police. No one had seen him. When she reported him Joshua, Deon, Angel, Luke, and Sophie were in the room with her. She wanted out of the hospital but was afraid to go home. She now sits in Deon's bedroom as he helps her out of her street clothes he'd ran a bath for her. He was no longer distant he was the polar opposite. He'd returned to the hospital after not being able to find Roman and they spoke to each other not at each other. Luke had upgraded her birth control disc and re-implanted it. She was thankful for so much. She was thankful mostly to God for not letting her take her own life. She was also glad she wasn't pregnant by Roman. Deon's remodel to his parent's home had a better security system than at her home. It was the best Idea because most people didn't know that Deon did not live with her.
Joshua and Angel head to his old house now that Candy was out of the hospital safe at Deon's place they had lots of stuff to do. Angel suggested they go talk to his parents since he'd woke in a cold sweat this morning from yet another powerful nightmare. He agreed that it was time.
Sally was quite surprised to hear that Joshua was on his way. He said they had to talk. He sounded tired Michael had asked her a few days ago why it seemed that Joshua had suddenly just stopped coming around. They'd sold the house in Boulder CO and had a little over half of what it would take to cover Michael's procedure since his insurance refused to cover it saying that since he went outside of the network they could not cover such a risky candidate and that Sheldon Network was a separate network. It almost broke her in two when Michael said he was afraid that he would leave them broke if it did not work and maybe he should not try it at all. She had researched it and found out another reason why the Sheldon Network was not his insurance's favorite and it pissed her off in essence their success rate was too high most if not all of their patients did not need regular medication after certain procedures were performed. Michael's CO Doctor called it cancer. Dr. Sheldon said it was a growth that was growing and that is what put Michael at risk.
Cassandra hoped Joshua had come to his senses she had a secret their dad may get his wish that the entire family be together. The court case that landed Bradley in prison was overturned his attorney called out the female judge in appeals court for neglecting to admit she had a previous relationship that went south with Bradley. Her big brother was a free man. He'd called her and asked about the for sale sign on the CO house she'd told him that they once again lived in Pyramid. He apologized for attacking their old man and robbing the house. He sounded much better now that he had sworn off drugs. She gets a text asking her to come get him from the airport. "Mom, dad I have to go I'll be back" she dashes out of the house before they can question her.
Joshua pulls in front of his old house. Angel looks at the house then back at him. Taking his hand from the ignition he gives his keys to her she puts them on her belt loop. "You okay?" He nods as they get out of his truck. He rounds the truck and they head to the door holding hands.
The door opens before he even knocks. Sally stands there and looks at her son and her soon to be daughter-in-law. Joshua looked tired and Angel was showing more and more every time she saw her. "Come on in dears." they move into the house passed her holding hands and head to the den. Joshua looks around for something. "If you're looking for the surprise party committee your sister just left and your father is asleep. Come to the kitchen I'm preparing lunch." After a brief pause they follow her into the kitchen and sit at the breakfast bar. "I'm glad you've come I have wanted to speak to you ever since you came to get your things. Joshua I'm sorry for the trouble that I put you and Angel through, I'd do anything to erase the fact that it ever happened. Since I can't I must say I am sorry for attacking you."
He shrugs looking down at the table and says "That escalated way too quickly. I just can't help but to think that for some reason there was more to it." Joshua lifts his gaze to Sally's and says "I've been through worse but not from you or at least I hadn't. It wasn't the blows as much as the fact that it was you beating on me like her." Joshua's eyes narrow as she catches on that he had just compared her to his bitch of a mother. "The only difference was your hands were open." Angel is pissed all over again she had not made that connection. He goes on to say "I'm sorry dad is so sick but there's really nothing that I could have done."
Feeling defensive and guilty Sally tells Joshua he's being over dramatic. Angel gets up. "I was in that room shortly after you attacked your own son. You didn't see Luke have to put him back on the full oxygen mask. You didn't see his anger, his confusion, or his pain. So don't you even dare make light of his feelings. You the woman that claims to love him so much."
Joshua tugs Angel's arm as he asks her to please sit down. He didn't need anything popping off in the kitchen. Angel sits back down and says to him that she just hated when people tried to devalue other people's feelings. Sally says "Well I've done all I can do I've apologized and you come in here throwing in my face that I'm like the woman that put you in the hospital all those years ago. I didn't put you in the hospital."
Angel says "that's true you didn't put him the hospital but beating on him sure as heck didn't help him get out any faster." Sally wipes away tears.
Joshua looks up at her and asks one of the questions that had burned his lips every time he had that fucking nightmare. "I have two questions. "First have you ever lost it like that on your real children?"
Sally looks at her youngest as she softly says. "You are my real child as well but, no." He didn't seem surprised by her answer. She had not thought of that until he asked because other than slapping Cass the night Angel landed in the hospital she had never struck any of her children. "You said you had two questions." She was determined to answer his other question it couldn't be worse than the one he'd just asked.
Joshua gets up Angel gets up with him. They head towards the den door. He turns and faces Sally Lu Davenport "You kept screaming it was my fault, I noticed not once, at least while I was awake did you blame Brad. The question is since you believed it was my fault what were you trying to do? I begged you to stop. Were you trying to just finish me off since I was in your eyes the reason your husband is dying. If so what stopped you?" Angel puts her hand over her mouth.
Sally was wrong this question was 10 times worse. Sighing she tells them what happened from her point of view. "At that moment I thought it was your fault that I was going to lose my husband because you didn't stop Brad when Cass called you. I just lost it, and when you passed out I was so scared. Then the doctor came in before I could even attempt to wake you." They head towards the den without a word. Sally felt it necessary to continue speaking even to their backs as they left the kitchen. "I do have news. Your father has a chance the same doctor that worked on you has agreed to help your father. Vash came by and made me realize just how wrong I was because none of it was your fault. I can't even begin to tell you how sorry I am. Can you ever forgive me?" Joshua stops and turns around in the den doorway. The back door opens before Joshua has a chance to speak.
"Joshua It's good to see you bro." Brad says as he walks in with Cassandra. Joshua tells Angel to go get in the truck. She continued standing near him saying she was not leaving him in here alone. "Hey aren't you going to introduce me to my new little sister-in-law?" Brad had been clean for 47 days he was happy he was free. He eyes his younger adopted brother and the redhead standing next to him. He then walks over to his mother gives her stunned face a kiss and hugs her she hugs him back stiffly asking when he got out and how. He's cut off by Joshua.
"He's who you should have been pounding on but oh that's right they're yours. I'm out of here. What is this any way, some kind of set up?" Joshua asks looking to Sally and Cassandra.
"Nah you'd know if it was a set up I would have demoed your ride. Relax no one's out to get you bro." He directs his next statement to Angel "He's a paranoid nut case are you sure want to marry him?"
Brad starts walking towards his father who is standing behind Joshua and his redhead who glared at him. Michael draws everyone's attention when he says. "That's far enough Bradley" Joshua tenses at Brad's nearness.
Joshua turns and hugs his father "I'm glad you have a chance to get better Dr. Lucas Sheldon Is one of the best. We were just leaving." Joshua grabs Angel's hand and they walk out of the front door. In the truck Joshua feels his belt loops for his keys. Angel tells him to please calm down she then hands him his keys and he for once doesn't drag race like a mad man as he heads back towards Grandville South.
Cass stands at the back door and watches her younger brother drive off. Michael eyes Brad and walks further into the kitchen taking a seat at the head of the table. Sally takes lunch out of the oven and offers her children some. They all sit down to have lunch. "Joshua seemed upset do you have any idea why Sally?" Sally shrugs and does not meet his eyes.
Cassandra would speak to Joshua later right now she wanted things back the way they used to be before Joshua even came on the scene. "Hey let's not talk about him. Daddy aren't you glad to see that Brad is out and the best news is that he's not on drugs anymore right Brad?"
"47 days clean. Dad I know I have done some really messed up stuff and I promise you it will never happen again." Michael says until he can trust him again Bradley is not to be in the house alone. "Cassandra told me about what happened after the cops took me away. She also told me about how you want us to be closer and why. I do hope your procedure is successful. Mom, I'll talk to Joshua, you attacking him was my fault. It's probably good he didn't come after me considering most of the time I carried a gun." Sally asks was he armed the last time he was at the house. "It was in the car I was driving. I didn't bring it inside because I thought it would be an in and out mission. Come in get the cash and leave."
Michael was furious at all of them. He gets up and slowly walks out of the room. His wife had attacked his son. His other son was running around with a firearm while on drugs. His daughter still didn't get it. He walks back into the kitchen and hands Bradley 150 dollars. Brad looks up at him and takes the money. "Get out of my home. Stay the hell away from my son." Sally tells him that goes against him wanting the family to be closer. "Sally you of all people should not speak about our family becoming closer. You must have lost your mind. I know I call you fruit bat in jest but if what he just said is accurate I think your curlers are too tight. You expected Joshua to what exactly, play superman, and get himself killed?"
Joshua drives back to Ivey Mansion and just sits in the truck. As they listen to his truck go into cool down mode Angel tells him that Sophie had sent them a text inviting them to her engagement dinner when he tells her to go that he didn't feel like being around people right now. She undoes her seatbelt turns to him and tells him that if he wasn't going she wouldn't either because she loves him and would not leave him alone. She says how he has helped her through so much and she wouldn't feel right leaving him home alone to ponder and drive himself nuts over his visit with the Davenports. He knew Angel was much closer to her family than he ever wanted to get with his. He knew how she felt about missing so much already before she came back to Texas. "I'm really touched that you would do that for me, I'll go I know how you feel about missing events in your sister's life. Where and when is it?" her whole face lit up with a smile as she kisses him. He loved seeing her happy.
She says "It is at 8 tonight in the Ivey Towers ballroom. Luke wanted to make sure everyone knew. Chase hasn't been told and we know from experience with my dad that's not good to keep letting time pass without him knowing." Joshua agrees.
Sophie was nervous the last time she'd got this excited the end result was a bust. She'd told her father and it hadn't happened. She guessed that's why she hadn't told him yet. He was invited to the dinner she'd hand delivered his invite. Now she stands looking out of her office window her phone rings. It's Luke's ringtone which is the song he sang when he first proposed. "Hey there are you on your way?" he tells her he's in route now and that he hated being late but he had a meeting in Oklahoma that ran over. "Well If I know you you're giving Ivey Transit service a hell of a time." He chuckles she knew it. Luke in business mode was no laughing matter she was glad she didn't work for him, but the same in some instances could be said about her. They both were running the family business there was a lot of pressure that came along with filling the titles they had earned. He tells her that he's just entered the city. "Okay, see you soon."
Paula and Janet head into the ballroom it was huge Janet turned around in a complete circle. "Wow if this is the dinner to just announce that they are getting married, can you imagine the wedding." Natalie and Ian had come to Grandville since Harold had another case he was working that had him outside of Texas for tonight. Natalie finds a seat along the wall and pulls Ian over to sit with her. Paula and Janet walk towards the middle of the room where a greeter shows them to a table. Candy and Deon walk in and are showed to the same table. Candy asks Paula could they switch seats so she could sit not with her back to the door. They trade seats as Paula reassures her that everything would be fine.
Jonathon pulls up with Gloria they walk in together. Chase was in the lobby and walks over greeting them both. "Do you know what this is about?" Jonathon had been asked not to tell Chase he felt wrong for saying he didn't know and Chase didn't believe him it was in the older man's gaze. Angel and Joshua enter the lobby. Jonathon excuses himself and he and Gloria walk over to greet his girl. Chase wanted answers walking over he asks Angel for a moment of her time. She says it's nothing bad to please just come into the ballroom.
Everyone is quietly talking amongst themselves when Sophie comes in with Luke they announce their engagement everyone but Chase applauds. Angel who is watching the look on Sophie's face elbows Chase he gets up and walks out of the ballroom. Angel gets up and goes to find Chase. He wasn't hard to find he was standing right outside the doors. "Daddy you mind on telling me why you just left like that?"
"Angel, this really doesn't concern you. You haven't been down this road with Sophie before. I don't want to see her hurt again." Chase says as he rigidly stands at the door.
Angel says "you don't think that hurt. Seeing you walk out like that? If you are talking about the Julius engagement, that was a bad idea from jump. Luke cares for her and proves it with his actions not just his words. Julius was a worm." doctor Lucas Sheldon Sr. walks out into the hall asking to speak to his friend. Angel is about to walk back into the ballroom when she gets a text message, sighing she reads it, and walks over taking a seat in one of the stuffed chairs of the lobby.
Evie: Angel we have both said things we did not mean. If you didn't, I did. I am so sorry that I accused you of giving away my secret or trying to steal Jeffery. I know you said you never wanted me to contact you again but you're my sista. I heard about Sophia I'm sorry for your loss. I'm in town and want to see you. There is so much going on. Right after you hung up Jeff admitted he had led me to believe you had told him my secret. I should have trusted you. So much was said I hope you can forgive me.
Angel bits her bottom lip and her fingers flew over her screen as she told her ex-friend just how she felt.
Angel: Evie I don't know if I can. I thought you knew me and knew what I stood for. Why after all these months do you even want to talk to me? I heard about Jeffery my condolences, but it really hurt that you would accuse me of wanting to be pushed around. He scared the living shit out of me and you made it sound like it was something I wanted. Or like he was someone I wanted you compared me to Lady. I tried to tell you then, that I had not told him and you took apart what I said and spun it to fuel your angry fucking delusion.
Evie: Angel you won't give me a second chance? I'm sorry I hurt your feelings but it's just not even fair you forgave Braden and Sophia and all these people that fucked you over on purpose multiple times and you won't even give me a chance. I made a mistake yes a gigantic one but a mistake none the less.
Evie had a point she had forgiven many people and Evie really hadn't done anything but fall for a very deceptive trick. The belief of betrayal is a hard pill to swallow. Jeff had set her up then went and got himself killed. Angel didn't care for, or about, Jeff but he was Evie's baby's father and she would try to be there for her girl. She also wanted to tell Evie that this was it. There was no strike 3.
Angel: Okay you have a point. Evie you have been my friend since camp. It was a mistake caused by a lot of miscommunication and deception I forgive you. I want this to work out between us but Evie. No more if it happens again, there won't be a third chance. I have to go I'll talk to you later.
Evie: I understand and it won't happen again. Goodbye for now sista.
Angel walks back into the ballroom Chase had returned to the room along with Luke's dad. Everything seemed to be going great once more. Angel meets Sophie's gaze as she takes her seat. Sophie announces that she had picked her maid of honor. She picks Angel, Luke announced that his best man is in the audience as well Trent Shelly M.D. a tall blonde mid 30s male stands up and tells Luke he is honored. Luke tells him it's only fair considering he was the only guy in their med school class that didn't befriend him just to get a job in the network upon graduating.
Trent walks over to Angel's table "Angela Ivey looks like we both have a very important mission." Angel looks up at him and agrees calling him Doctor Shelly. "You can call me Trent may I call you Angie?" Joshua eyes the guy and looks back at the look on Angel's face she hated for people to call her Angie. "I'll take that look as a no. Angela it is" He walks back to his table before she can offer for him to just call her Angel.
The dinner ends and everyone starts leaving. Candy, Paula and Janet are chatting with Angel while Joshua, Ian, and Deon go to get the vehicles. "Okay I don't know him but the guy Luke picked is really rude. He just kind of did an about face when he saw that you didn't want to be called Angie. He's checking you out" says Candy as she watches the blonde man walk out of the ballroom and stare at Angel when Angel turns around he smiles takes a picture of her says he knows it will last longer and walks out the lobby doors. "He had better watch himself, there is only so much weird or rude behavior before Joshua snaps off on his butt." Says Paula, Angel agrees as she hugs herself.
The next week Evie wasn't excited about having to go pick up Roman from the airport but it was part of her job and with her car being set on fire by Matt at least she got to drive Roman's car. He had not apologized for man handling her and he still had the video. She didn't want her Jyrki to get in trouble he is married and they both were drunk. Roman had revealed that he wasn't even mad that she had sex with someone other than him, but that she had slept with someone in their bed. With all he did to her that night he had not had sex with her just washed her and tied her to her bed. "I have a meeting with my friend I took your advice and texted her and she has agreed to give me another chance." he sits in the passenger seat and says nothing. He was so moody sometimes.
Roman looked over at her he'd reviewed his surveillance recordings and had heard her speaking into her texting program to her friend. "Sounds like you have everything you want." She says her friend was going to be shopping for a dress. Roman rolls his eyes. "Yeah well I'll have to drop you off I told you to rent a car for this week I'm driving my car to Nashville to meet up with the tour this afternoon after I get some sleep. As a matter fact pull over I want to drive." She pulls over and gets out he does the same and gets in the driver's seat as she is about to grab the passenger side handle he drives off leaving her on the side of the road. He calls her as he is leaving town. "You tried to set me up you forget I can watch you even when I'm not around. So when you get back to the house empty handed apologize for my absence. Goodbye Evie."
Angel and Joshua lay in bed today Angel was going to try to find a dress. She looks over at her lover meeting his hooded gaze. "You didn't sleep very well last night are you sure you still want to go shopping with us?" He tells her after her last dress attempt there was no way he was not going. "We aren't going back to that place."
Hours later Angel, Joshua, Candy, Deon, Sophie, Paula and Janet load into one of Ivey Transit's limo in search of a dress for Angel. As they wait for Bobby's men to catch up Angel gets a call. "Hello? Hey slow down Evie. What happened are you okay?" Sophie looks at her and makes a face rolling her eyes. Angel looks away from her sister but when she meets Paula's gaze she gets some of the same. "No we haven't left yet. Do you know where you are? Um hold on" looking back at Sophie Angel asks "Sophie do you know where Commission Drive is? Evie has just been put out on the side of the road." Sophie tells her it's not her job to go get involved in that's girl's drama. Angel hits mute and in a pleading tone says "Sophie I get it but you have to understand. She's been our friend since camp and she's in trouble. She's pregnant and I know I'm not the one that put her out of the car if it was me I would want someone to come give me a hand. Do you know where she is?"
Sophie made it no secret that she did not like the fact that Angel was letting someone that hurt her before, back into her life. It seemed that nothing ever changed ever since camp there was always drama surrounding Angel's flaky friend. Watching Angel fiddle with her earbud cord Sophie sighs she'd make it clear that she was not doing this for Evie she was doing it for Angel. "Yeah I know where it is but please don't get it twisted, she's is more your friend than she is mine. I'll take Paula you can have Evie. We are going that way tell your friend to be ready to get picked up."
Angel relays the message and hangs up. Joshua asks what was up with Evie. Janet says that Evie used to do stand in as drummer when Angelic Impression used to play small venues that Braden Storm would not. Angel shuddered at the mention of Braden's name. Joshua runs his thumb over the back of her hand. Sophie adds that Joshua may remember Evie since she went to school with them. Angel speaks up "Not really Evie was mostly in Finland, she graduated from Grandville High her mother was a part of the GSSEC her father stayed in Finland so for 6 months she would stay in the states at the house across the street from our old house and for 6 months she would go back to Finland. Her mother was put out of the GSSEC when Evie was a freshman so for a few years Evie stayed in Finland year round. She wanted me to come with her sophomore year, but I couldn't I thought that if I was allowed to go for a visit that I wouldn't get the letters from my father anymore that Chase used to slip me among other things. She was disappointed but she understood." Joshua gives her a squeeze saying he for one was glad she decided to stay in the states.
Sophie chimes in "Yeah I bet you are you would have had no reason to hang out at our house." Joshua just hugs Angel tighter to him. They pull up at a gas station and Evie stands biting her thumb nail her long raven hair creating a curtain on each side of her pale face. "How far along would she be by now?" Joshua could tell Angel was shocked not to see a baby bump.
Angel stared at her friend the whole miscommunication with Evie and Jeff was over Evie being pregnant and asking her not to tell Jeff that she was going to a doctor for fear that he would reject the baby. "Well she would be close to 7 months now I don't get It." the driver gets out and opens the door. Evie gets in and all stare at her. Angel introduces her to the group and her to them. A sinking feeling hits Angel had her friend lost her baby? Angel had to ask "Oh Evie what happened to your baby you didn't miscarry because of what happened to Jeff did you?"
Evie looks at her clasped hands in her lap seeing Angel with a baby bump made her want her situation to not be what is so much more. She looks back up into her friend's eyes. "I may not be able to have a child. When I went to my appointment I found out that what I felt was a dysfunction of my reproduction system not a baby." Evie felt exposed and still raw from the experience. "I spoke to Jeffery moments before he crashed. He was so angry at the others for mistreating him for his treatment of you. My last words to him while he was alive were said in anger. I thought I had a chance to speak to him while he was in hospital, so much was said in those moments before he crashed. I wanted closure one way or another, but he never woke up, we had not a chance to speak. I'm sorry I have avoided this train of thought for a time it still hurts. Matthew blames me to the point he is after me." Evie covers her face as tears escape from under her eye lids.
Paula watches as Angel comforts the girl but Paula had heard the little dig the girl had put out about Jeff being angry because of Glenn and Mark's treatment of him for messing with Angel. Paula saw Angel after she had escaped her own bedroom via the balcony. Her cousin was terrified Paula still believed Jeff deserved the guys going upside his head for messing with Angel. It came out in the news that Jeff was abusing painkillers and sedatives it was his choice to drive while intoxicated. Paula pulls her phone and texts Sophie.
Paula: Did you hear the dig at Angel for Jeff dying? This little girl didn't see Angel's reaction to Jeff scaring her and trapping her in her bedroom. Keep an eye on her.
Sophie: I sure will. If Matt Hardy is after her she really doesn't need to be traveling with us.
Paula: I agree but its Angel's choice. Don't this heifer have friends in Grandville besides Angel that she can go hang with. I wonder who dropped Evie's ass off 3 miles from the airport."
Sophie: Good question and I aim to find out the answer. This chick showed up at my door a few weeks ago and I told her to go scratch. She wiggled her way back into Angel's life with some crap about how Angel forgave mom all those times. Angel showed me the text and if it were me, I would have said yeah I learned my lesson about forgiving people and left her ass alone, but you know Angel she'd give a dog that bit her a second chance. It kind of pissed me off to see that Evie would use our mother and even Angel forgiving Braden all those times as a vehicle to get back into her "friend's good graces" I hate guilt trips.
Paula: Well Angel is on this Karma kick because she feels lucky that with all that has gone on JC is still doing well. I believe in karma too and this girl hurt Angel I don't think karma will work as fast as Joshua if it happens again. He hasn't stop staring at Evie since she got in the car. You can see the wheels spinning in that head of his.
Sophie: If Evie hurts Angel again, Joshua will have to be second because I'll get involved. I warned Evie if she doesn't heed my warning she will have signed up for the ass whooping I'll hand her.
Paula: I hear you and agree. I want to talk to this girl alone and see where her head is. We don't need another Megan fiasco on our hands just because she can't have a kid.
They arrive at the first place on Sophie's new list this place came highly recommended. Taking a deep breath Angel gets out of the car Evie gets out and looks at her with question in her gaze and asks why she seemed nervous saying it was shopping yes for a wedding dress but shopping none the less. Angel didn't elaborate on her past experience she just said it was a big decision. Evie had a knack for being a bit judgmental about Angel's reaction to her surroundings. Evie was a stronger personality and telling her what she would have done in a similar situation would only make Angel feel worse about it that she didn't do more. Changing the direction of the conversation Angel says to Sophie "well if this place works out maybe we can find your dress." Sophie's expression softened into a smile for the first time since Evie got in the car.
They walk inside the boutique and it is rich with open bright colors were so inviting. The woman that greets them is patient with Angel and even lets Sophie back with her to help her in and out of the dresses. The first dress is a long number with lace on the sleeves. Angel steps up on the pedestal and smiles at Joshua who's mouth dropped open. Paula gives her a thumbs up leans over and whispers something in his ear and he closes his mouth but his eyes still gave him away. "What do you think Evie…? Janet?" Evie said it's a lot of white. Angel knew where this going. "It's a wedding dress, I wanted traditional, do you like it?" Angel suddenly felt exposed as Evie makes a face.
Evie didn't want Angel to just go with the flow if it wasn't really what she wanted. She remembers Angel laying on her roof telling her about her dream wedding. "What about your plan of getting married in a black dress since your parents' marriage was traditional and failed you even said that your mum didn't wear all white when she married Chase so tradition was overrated since their marriage worked." Evie knew she had slipped up when Angel's smile became tight as she stepped off the stand and just walked to the back.
Angel felt like she'd been slapped. She was 12 for goodness sake her mother was a nut and her father was across the sea. The Look on Sophie's face when Evie spoke of how she'd said Chase's marriage worked. Sophie asks what she really wanted and that now was the time to tell it. "Sophie, I really want a traditional wedding well, as traditional as I can make it." Angel touches her belly through the silk of the dress. "What she said out there it was something I said when I was mad at Sophia it had nothing to do with Chase. I was 12 and it was usually said when I was hiding from mom on the roof outside my window at the old house. I never said it was a secret but wow the things people remember." Sophie asks is she done. "I guess" Sophie tells her she understood how Angel felt some type of way about her parents splitting up. "Yeah but without Chase I would not have had a Sophie and there is no guarantee that mom would have stayed with my father. Hell Sophia was a bowl of Fruity Pebbles when I was five, whether she remarried or not she would have still been crazy. I honestly don't think I would have survived her as an only child." Angel hugs herself Sophie changes the subject and asks her about the next dress. She helps Angel change dresses they walk out Evie stays quiet this time. The owner says it looks even better than the last dress and this one had more give. In a less excited fashion Angel asks how she looked. Joshua and Candy get up walk over to her telling her she looks great. She eyes Evie who rolls her eyes and says she had said enough. Paula gets to her feet and says it was longer than the first one in the front and that she might want to think about being on the beach in all that material.
Evie says "I thought I could, but I cannot hold my tongue, you're going to have a wedding on the beach in September, sista you'll be cold. Was this your idea Joshua? What are you trying to make a mommy and child Popsicle?" Joshua turns back to her and tells her that it was Angel's idea and it had since changed since the announcement went out, but if she believed it would be to cold she could always not come. "You'd like that too much." Joshua starts to tell her exactly what he'd like her to do.
Angel impulsively covers his mouth with her hand "Stop, please, just stop, both of you. Evie the wedding is on a raised platform on the beach the flooring will be heated the reception is in a hotel ballroom." Evie says nice of Angel to let the maid of honor know. "Evie you're not my maid of honor Sophie is. Candy changes the subject and asks was this the last dress. The owner says no they had some more that would not be as long in the front unless Angel really wanted the front to touch the floor. Angel says "No I still have to get to the platform." Angel half smiles and walks back to the back.
As Joshua, Candy and Paula take their seat once more Candy turns to Evie. "Hey Evie is it what's your deal?" Evie says she doesn't follow. "I bet you don't your making Angel uncomfortable, Stop it."
"I just don't want Angel to just put her own dreams aside trying to impress her sister. This fairytale-ish wedding is something I would expect from Sophie not Angel." Paula speaks up and asks Evie to step outside for a minute. They walk out into the sunshine. Evie looks down at the little blonde woman. Sighing she says "what did you want to talk about?"
"Look you are really starting to annoy me. The reason that is, is because you keep making Angel uncomfortable you are not to pass judgment on what she wants just because it doesn't match some dark wedding you envisioned. Angel has sat down with Candy, Sophie and I and told us what she wants and how it is to look when was the last time she told you how she saw her wedding was she even engaged at the time?"
"No but we were preteens. She told me that I would be her maid of honor she is going back on her word. I don't get it. She has forgiven me and all is well I came to help. I don't even know why Joshua is here it should be a surprise for him to see what she walks down the aisle in."
Paula had heard more than enough. "Look Evie, Angel forgave you but that doesn't give you free rein to go nuts. You two aren't preteens anymore so stop with the trips down memory lane the first comment out of your mouth about the failure of her parent's marriage was hitting below the belt. You have no clue what you stirring up those girls have been through hell so that topic, strike it from your vocabulary. I don't know why you have chosen this time to guilt trip Angel into forgiving you. Oh don't look surprised I heard about how you compared yourself to Sophia and Braden saying that you weren't half as bad and deserved a second chance. You have your second chance but that doesn't mean everyone is going to move aside. I was at Ivey Mansion that night Angel spoke to you and ran from her own home emotionally in pieces. If you can't deal then leave because honey I'm telling you, that's my cousin in there, and she deserves the best from all of her friends. You don't want to be a real help fine, leave but if you continue to be a hindrance you're going to have to deal with a lot of people that really do care, and I'm one of them. Are we clear?"
The older woman was very intense. "Yes. I didn't see it like that but if this is what she wants now and you are sure that she isn't just giving in to someone else's idea. I will not hinder her decision. She forgave me because she is a good person. That still doesn't explain why Joshua is shopping for dresses with us. I don't think he cares for me all that much." Sophie pokes her head out and says that Angel is out with the third dress. "We will be right there." Sophie rolls her eyes and says she was speaking to Paula. Paula says that an understanding was reached.
They renter the boutique and Angel stands in a dress that was not too long in the front and not to fluffy for her frame the sleeves were made of lace. She beamed until Evie walks back in Evie smiles at her friend and tells her it looks wonderful on her like it was made for her. Joshua says he never thought they would agree on something but he had to agree with Evie.
"What are your colors for your bride's maids?" Angel tells her white and teal. "Wow that is not what I expected you to say but this is your big day." Angel asks Sophie to show Evie the dress choice for the bride's maids. "You think people are going to wear this? This dress is too white it will wash me out." Angel walks back to take the chosen dress off. Janet tells her that she's the palest person in the wedding party and the dress looks fine on her. "You're a child you would look good in rags with a belt. Aren't you too young to be a part of the wedding party?" Janet tells her lucky for her it wasn't Evie's wedding so it wasn't Evie's choice. Evie gets in Janet's face Janet flinches when Evie points at her "You don't have to be rude it's not lady like."
Paula walks over pushing Evie's hand down out of Janet's face and tells Evie "Back off and keep your damn hands out of her face before I break them for you." Paula wasn't about sit here watching a fucking adult get in her girl's face. Angel soon comes from the back and they all leave. When they get back in the limo Janet makes sure to sit between Paula and Sophie.
As they drop Joshua off at the Davenport they continue on to a cake tasting that Sophie had arranged. Angel asks "So Evie who put you out on the side of the road?" Leaving out his name and the real reasons she assumed he was angry she says what happened. "That creep, you went to pick him up with his car and he asked to drive then drove off before you could even get in? You poor girl. Do you think he will have calmed down by the time you get home?" Evie says she doesn't know but at least she will be home. Angel noticed a very strange thing. Evie neglected to say who her boyfriend was which was very odd since she usually couldn't wait to show off her latest relationship. "Evie, who is your boyfriend"
"It's kind of complicated he is a wrestler and I know how you feel about those since the way the guys kept treating you from Mark not trusting you, and Jeffery scaring and setting you up." Angel drops her head. "Angel I am in an open relationship with Roman Reigns. He…"
At the mention of his name Candy shudders and speaks up "Just drop me here. I can catch a cab back to where I'm staying. Matter of fact this is pretty close to the Davenport. Driver, please pull over." Sophie says that's why Roman was with her when she came to the house demanding to talk to Angel. Evie looks at Candy, the blonde looked very uncomfortable.
Angel didn't want Candy to leave. "Candy he's not going to be around us. Please don't leave." She says she was no longer going to stay in the presence of Roman's partner and to please never let this woman know where she was staying. She just couldn't stay she hoped Angel understood but she really had to go. The driver pulls over to the curb of the decorations place they were headed to and Candy hops out and runs off down the sidewalk.
Evie asked was Candy and ex of Roman's and was that why it seemed that they did not get along well. "No Roman attacked Candy and she pressed charges against him, the police have been looking for him. So he is in town now right?"
Evie was now pissed. "You mean I lost my right to drive his new BMW over some chick I don't even know getting felt up by my mate. She is the reason he is so angry at me the police were at my door and I guess he has been watching the house. Great just great I get put out like rubbish on the side of the road over something I had nothing to do with." When she meets Angel's eyes she expected to see sorrow or some emotion other than anger directed at her. Sophie tells Evie if she wasn't so self-absorbed she would notice that Angel wasn't listening anymore and was trying to comfort her friend. She finishes with the fact that Evie wanted a relationship with the Shield leader Candy did not.
Angel didn't want to say too much she hoped she didn't say too much already. All she wanted to do while Evie was talking was be with Candy. She puts her earbuds in and calls Candy's phone. Candy was really upset and understandably so. Please answer this phone. Angel thinks to herself. Candy answers. "Candy, are you going to be okay? I had no I-clue who she was dating. Roman, no he will not be at my wedding. Okay girl just wanted you to remember that I'm here, if you want or need to talk. Where are you? No I would never tell anyone, oh okay at least I know you're safe now. Okay I will call you later." Angel ends the call this was a fine mess.
Joshua is about to leave The Davenport when Michael walks into his office. "Joshua, do you have a minute?" Joshua looks up into his father's eyes he then looks behind the old man just in case this was another set up. He says sure if they can walk and talk he had a lot to get done. "Your mother and I are the only ones coming." Joshua's partially suspicious look that he usually reserved for Cassandra and Bradley was now directed at him. "Son, I had no idea that Sally attacked you. I want you to know I in no way blame you for not risking your own safety trying to confront Bradley you came while I was in the hospital. I can't even begin to tell you how much that meant to me. I can't speak for everyone but son from the day you came into my home you were my son. I am amazed at the man you have become, a lesser man, would have turned his back on us the moment he turned 18." Joshua tries to say something. "Please don't stop me until I'm through, the fact that it took you almost 20 years to be done with us I can't blame you." Sally knocks on the door asking can she come in.
Joshua looks at his father, and his mother. His father thought he left for good and in a way he had. It had been two weeks since he excused himself from the den hallway and left. His nightmares had not gotten any better. It was time to put this to rest one way or another. "Look dad, Sally, I didn't turn my back on anyone. Sally you were not thinking clearly I get that. I wish I could say no problem and move on but I would be lying. What I can say is that I forgive you. I give, I can't sleep and it's starting to put a strain on my work. So call me selfish because I forgive you for my piece of mind not your own. As for trusting you like I once did that may take some time. That is the best I can give you."
Sally looks at her youngest son. He did look tired and this whole ordeal was her fault the fact that it bothered him to the point he forgave her was bitter sweet. She knew with his trust came his love. The fact that he didn't want Michael to think he'd turned his back on them was a relief Michael and Vash was almost as mad at her as she was at herself. Tears stung Sally's eyes as she hugs Joshua, thanking him. He tenses until she steps back. "I promise you both that will never happen again."
Joshua meets her gaze "If it does I'm done. He hands her a tissue from the box on his desk. He still hated to see her cry. He still cared he still felt wronged by her but he loved his mother. Vash made him see that's why it affected his sleep so much. Vash had basically had a long talk with him when he first walked in today. The drummer and family friend had said that he was angry because it was Sally but before Joshua could get going on that, Vash asked him had he ever in his life did anything that he regretted and wanted to take back but couldn't, or was he perfect. Joshua knew he was nowhere near perfect, no he'd never went as far as Sally but he had some skeletons in his closet. When Vash asked him did he want to cut all ties with the entire family he immediately said no Vash told him then he would have to either forgive her for her or for him Joshua chose for himself.
The next day Paula and Janet return to the house with Natalie and Ian. Harold had them followed and no one trailed them but his men. Mark had another business trip. Paula wanted to start on the new bar. Janet texted her friend Vicky from Houston, who asked her could she come for a visit. Janet walks into Paula's new office and stands awkwardly in the doorway. "Um momma, can my friend Vicky please come for the weekend? Her dad and stepmom are fighting I'm like, her only friend." Paula tells her sure if it is okay with her dad and stepmom. Janet scoffs and says "He won't care. She just got back from summer school in Maine and had to catch a cab home because he and her stepmother forgot to go get her from the airport."
"How is she going to get here are we picking her up or what?" Janet says the dad would drop her off. "Okay well then it's settled clean your room before she comes." Janet gets the biggest smile on her face it was good to put a smile on her big girl's face. "Is your friend Katie back from camp too?" Janet says yes but she didn't want to be greedy "baby girl it's not greedy to want to see your friends. If Katie's mom is okay with it she can come too."
Janet couldn't believe her ears or her luck. Her aunt Megan never let her friends come over she didn't like Vicky because she was two years older than her. Her momma was not only letting Vicky come but had invited Katie this was shaping up to be a great end of summer after all. Janet does a happy dance and thanks her momma as she texts with lightning speed to her friends.
QUESTION? To the readers: Would you have forgiven Sally after all that has been said and done? Hope you enjoyed this chapter.