While the Martins were having dinner with their guest, London was attending a charity benefit across town. She wasn't too interested in socializing however, as her mind was still on Mikayla's misfortune. So after making a generous donation and posing for a few photos with various dignitaries, she quietly exited the event.

In the back of her limo, London tried to think of the best thing she could do to help the singer. The girl's plight really struck a nerve with the heiress, as it reminded her of the brief time a few years ago when a huge business deal had gone wrong for her father and all the Tipton assets had been temporarily frozen. That was the only time in London's life that she had not been able to access to her vast family fortune, and living as a 'poor person' had been quite a trial.

But when that happened, I still had my friends to help me, London thought. I could never have gotten through it on my own.

With her friends on her mind, the heiress naturally thought of the one person that she could always turn to when she had a problem. She decided that going to him for advice should be her next move.

If anyone were to make a list of the things that Marion Moseby truly loved, the Tipton hotel in Boston would certainly be included. He'd spent most of his adult life there and was very happy to be back in his position as hotel manager after spending months out at sea on the S.S. Tipton. It hadn't been his idea to work on the cruise ship, but Mr. Tipton had personally selected him for that assignment. The reason for his selection had little to do Moseby's managerial skills (superb though they were) but instead was based on his successful history of looking after Mr. Tipton's daughter.

And frankly, London had been a major factor in helping Moseby tolerate the time away from his beloved hotel. Because even though the heiress could sometimes annoy him terribly, she also held a permanent spot high up on the list of things that he truly loved.

Nonetheless, Moseby was so glad to be back at his preferred job that he had gotten into the habit of working far later than he needed to. Thus he was still in his office that evening when London arrived back at the hotel, and that was where the heiress sought him out.

"Hey Moseby," she said as she walked in. "I need some advice."

"London," he said in a patient tone. "Haven't we discussed knocking on my door first before entering?"

"Oh, sorry." She began to turn back to the doorway. "I can go out and come in again. I'll knock first this time."

The hotel manager shook his head. "Never mind. Just remember the next time." He motioned for her to take a seat. "Now, what kind of advice do you need?"

London sat down and got ready say what was on her mind, but was distracted when she spotted a new addition to Moseby's office. On top of the desk was a framed picture of a woman, a striking redhead that the heiress thought she recognized.

"Is that a picture of Miss Tutweiller?" she asked even as she looked closer and saw that she had correctly identified the woman. "Why do you...ooohhh." A smile spread across her face as she guessed the implication of the picture. "Are you and she-"

"Now, now..." Moseby cut her off. "You didn't come in here to discuss Emma...uh, Miss Tutweiller."

The use of the woman's first name convinced London that there must be a major romance going on between Moseby and Tutweiller, who had been the teacher supervising the semester at sea program on the S.S. Tipton.

"London," he said, with a mild tone of warning.

"Okay, I won't ask about her," the heiress conceded. "For now."

Inwardly groaning at the thought of London's future prying, Moseby again asked her what kind of advice she was looking for.

London proceeded to explain the situation.

Up in the Martin family suite, everyone was finishing up their dinner. Mikayla could now definitely say that Cody had not been exaggerating his culinary skills. The dinner was one of the best she'd ever had. But as impressive as the food had been, Mikayla had been struck even more by her hosts. They'd all made her feel very welcome and were wonderfully friendly, yet it was the way they interacted with one another that she couldn't get over.

All her life, Mikayla had never been treated like a normal girl. Her family had never shown any of the closeness that was so evident among the Martins. And since she'd never had any real friends, she'd never been able to visit another teenager's home before and experience what a normal family was like.

This was the first family meal she'd ever been to.

"Dinner was excellent, honey," Carey told Cody.

"Yeah, you did okay," Zack added with a smirk, apparently unwilling to give his twin a compliment in front of company without adding a dash of sarcasm.

"It must have been okay," Cody replied. "You asked for seconds about...what? Four times?"

"Hey, can I help it if I have an athlete's appetite?" Zack shot back. He then turned to Mikayla and gave her a winning smile. "I don't want to brag, but I'm the best free throw shooter on my school's basketball team."

"Really?" Mikayla asked.

"Yep, I'm pretty much the team's most valuable player."

"Zack," Cody said as he stepped over to begin cleaning off the dinner table. "Our guest has just had a nice dinner. She doesn't need any of your baloney."

Mikayla had observed the two brothers kid one another all throughout the meal. Yet for all their verbal sparring there was also an undertone of affection.

"Now Cody," Carey said. "Don't give our guest the wrong idea. Zack is an excellent free throw shooter. And Zack, you need to get up and help clean off the table."

As Zack begrudgingly complied, Carey led Mikayla over to the couch and sat down next to her.

"I know you're going through a very rough time right now," the older woman said. "And I know we've just met, but I want you to know that we would be happy to do anything we can to help."

Having been in show business her entire life, Mikayla was used to people older than her saying all sorts of nice things and making wonderful-sounding promises...but this moment with Carey was something new. The young singer had never had an adult speak to her with such sincere warmth. Hearing those few words, spoken in that tone, was the closest Mikayla had ever come to feeling what it was like to have a mom.

It was no wonder she began to cry.

Carey put her arms around the girl and spoke softly. "It's okay, sweetie. Let it out."

Mikayla collapsed against her and wept.

To be continued...

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