April 5th, 2002

'Kate! Careful!' Carol shouted for what felt like the thousandth time. She and Doug were lying on sun loungers, as close to the kids' pool as they could get, while the twins splashed playful at the edge. Her heart had been firmly placed in her throat throughout the entire holiday as Kate's daring personality shone more prominently than it ever had at home.

Doug and Carol had decided to bring the twins with them on their honeymoon, as the thought of leaving them behind for three entire weeks was too hard to consider. And though it seriously limited the amount of alone time newly-weds should get to experience while on honeymoon, Carol knew they had made the right decision. For both girls were enjoying themselves so much, it made it all worthwhile. Already, at just two and half years old, Kate's great love of anything dangerous, including repeatedly jumping into the pool, had meant she hadn't stopped laughing the entire time. Tess too was enjoying herself as she got to wear all her rarely-worn summer dresses and she got to play at the resort's mini-farm all day long. Tess loved animals and, obviously, they seemed to love her too.

The intense sun of Barbados had changed both girls appearance also. Chestnut-golden strands had appeared in their dark brown hair, and both had severe tan lines on their arms, legs and the back of their necks. Honestly, Carol thought they could pass as Hispanic children and thanked the high heaven they had both inherited their dad's skin complexion rather than her own pale, freckled and un-tan-able one.

Almost five weeks had passed since the wedding, almost three of those spent in Barbados. They had to postpone their departure from Seattle to two weeks after the wedding as Tess had developed an ear infection which meant flying would be horrific on the toddler.

Now, however, they were coming to the end of their stay in Barbados, just two more days, and although she had had an amazing time, Carol was eager to be home again. For the real reason Mark and Elizabeth had not come to the wedding was revealed with a phone call to Haleh back in Chicago, days after the wedding.

Mark and Elizabeth had separated.

It transpired that after Ella's accident, Elizabeth had demanded that Rachel be put out of the house or she would not return there with Ella. Mark had been unable to put Rachel out, knowing that the teenager was having severe problems and knew he had to try and help her, which he could not do if she returned to her mother's. Therefore, Elizabeth and Ella did not return to the house after Ella was discharged and were now living in a hotel.

Carol's heart ached for her friends. Especially for Mark, who had been there for her through her worst times and who really deserved the happiness he had had when he had found love with Elizabeth. She was eager to return to Seattle, just to jump on another plane and fly straight to Chicago, to do whatever she could to help.

......

'How much longer, mommy?' Kate asked, not even looking up from her colouring book.

'About an hour, Squirt,' Carol replied.

'And then I can see Luke?' was the toddler's next question.

'Yes, then you can see Luke. He'll be thrilled you guys are home.'

'I miss ba-bar-dos!' Tess piped up. Doug chuckled from his seat next to Carol. 'Me too, Princess.' Tess smiled at him.

When both girls were sufficiently distracted by their colouring books, Carol turned to Doug.

'How soon do you reckon we can get to Chicago?' she asked.

Doug frowned. They had already had this argument a hundred times. Doug did not think flying to Chicago and bursting in on Mark and Elizabeth would help. He thought it would be much better to call them and see what exactly was going on and then just offer to come there, an offer he was sure Mark would turn down. Carol, however, took a very different view and Doug couldn't honestly blame her. Mark had helped her through a lot and Doug knew Carol felt as if she was indebted to him and she would not rest until they were back in Chicago.

'Well, do you want to bring the twins? How long are we going for? Do you have the holiday hours left from work? Have you even thought about all of this?' Doug asked.

Carol narrowed her eyes. 'I don't care, Doug. Work can wait and we'll be there for as long as we're needed and of course we're bringing the twins. We just have to get there!'

Doug sighed. 'Alright,' he conceded.

......

'Kate! Tess!' Luke cried through the glass doors, his little face lit up in excitement. Carol smiled and went to let him in and the three friends immediately hugged and ran off to play in the garden. Erin entered the kitchen and smiled awkwardly at Carol and offered a quick, 'Welcome home.'

Carol knew it immediately, she knew something was wrong, seriously wrong. 'What happened?' she asked.

Erin's smiled faded, not even attempting to pretend things were alright. 'You had a phone call yesterday. The machine picked it up but when I called over to check the house and water the plants, I saw you had a message. I listened to it in case it was something important...Carol, I think you should call someone in Chicago,' Erin explained.

Carol's heart dropped into her stomach somewhere as she ran for the phone, shouting at Doug to come downstairs from where he was unpacking.

Reaching the phone, she jabbed the message button and, instantly, the room was filled with a very familiar voice.

'Doug, Carol...it's Susan, are you there? ... Oh crap, the honeymoon... Well, I don't know how to say this..umm...Can you just call me as soon as you get back? It's important...'

Doug had arrived in the room in time to hear the message and looked questioningly at Carol.

Her hands had begun to shake and sweat. She knew that something awful had happened, she could tell by just listening to her friend's voice. Carol had heard the tears, heard how she stumbled over her words.

Grabbing the phone, she dialled Susan's number and waited for an answer. Doug stood a few feet away, looking as worried as Carol felt and Erin stood in the doorway, still, looking afraid.

'Hello?' a wary voice answered, eventually.

'Susan?' Carol asked.

There was a slight pause and then Susan broke down into tears.

'Oh, Carol!...It's Mark...'

I know it's a little on the short side this time, but it would have gone on forever if I didn't stop here. Hopefully, you won't be left in suspense for too long...