A/N: I really don't have much to add to this author's note. Interesting twist there with Mollie's parentage. I had planned for her parents to be someone else entirely but it made sense to do it the way I did. Anyway, this chapter is mostly about Halle and Ty and their return from their road trip. And the annual Independence Ball. I have reached the halfway point! Yeah! Ok enough stalling. Here is chapter 11! Which is likely to be the longest chapter.
Chapter 11: Simply Halle Morris
Halle and Ty arrived in Hidden Rocks very early on the fourth of July. Most of the town was sleeping when Halle and Ty parked Halle's car at the park, a few hundred feet from her house. They sat in the car and watched the sun come up over the mountains. Halle's thumb rolled over the new silver ring on her left hand. She and Ty had been married, legally for going on a week. She was now Hallelujah Renee Morris. Just saying her new name over and over put a huge smile on her face. Halle was happy. She knew her parents, brother and sisters were going to freak out but she could handle it. She had hoped to call Jesse beforehand to warn him. They had called Ty's mom before they left Vegas to tell her what they had done. Lillian was happy for them, but had wished they hadn't been so spur of the moment about it. She promised them a big party when all of Ty's brothers could be there.
Once it was bright enough out, Halle and Ty left her car in the parking lot and walked the seven houses to her house. Halle had a strong grip on her husband's hand as she eased her key into the lock of the front door. For it being eight in the morning the Valmont house was strangely quiet. Halle was almost certain that her family wasn't even home, that they had gone up to the lodge early for the festivities. She set her bag down on the floor by the stairs and wandered farther into the house. She and Ty soon found themselves in the kitchen with Jesse sitting at the table munching on a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios, Froot Loops and Apple Jacks.
"Emptying the pantry?" Halle asked.
Jesse jumped a few feet in the air, knocking over his glass of juice. "Bugger! Scare me to bloody death, why don't you!" he exclaimed.
"It's nice to see you too, ass," Halle teased.
"When did you get home?" Jesse asked, cleaning up the spill.
"Very early this morning. We watched the sunrise from the park," Halle answered. Ty hung back trying to find a way to introduce himself to Jesse. The pair had met once at Emma's party. "Is anyone else here?"
"Mother, Dad, Claire, Joanna and Jenny are at the lodge, have been since yesterday. Mum's been spending days and nights there getting everything ready for the ball."
"Oh yeah. That is tonight. Mum wouldn't happen to have an extra tickets lying around, would she?"
"On her desk. Are you going to tell me where the hell you've been or are you going to make me bloody guess?"
"All over," Ty answered for his wife. "Most recently we were in Las Vegas."
"Did you?" Jesse questioned.
"Did we what?" Halle countered. "Don't be like this Jesse. Just say it."
"You got bloody married, didn't you? Bugger bloody hell, Halle!" Jesse exclaimed.
"Please you're just pissed because you and Emma didn't do it first!"
"You're going to crush Mother. You know that right?" Jesse sighed. "This could very well do her completly in."
"Because she wants to plan and control every aspect of my life. I think not."
"Halle you're my sister, my twin. But I can't be the one to back you up this time. You and Mother can fight this one out on your bloody own."
"I wasn't going to anyway. Jesse this is my husband Tyler. Ty this is my twin brother Jesse."
Jesse stood up from the table and the two young men shook hands. They looked each other over. "It's nice to finally meet you," Ty said. "Halle talks about you all the time."
"Wish I could say the same," Jesse said. He wasn't trying to be rude. He was just upset that he was right. Of all the stupid, insane, life-altering things for Halle to do. What could have possesed his stable sister to marry this wanker? "I would love to stick around but I have to get to work. I'll see you both at the ball."
Jesse tossed his dishes into the sink and left the house. The front door slamming echoed in the entire house.
"Well," Ty sighed. "That went well. If he's that upset what are the rest of your family going to say?"
"Take that and multiply it by infinty and we may get out of the ball alive. Speaking of which, dear hubby of mine, would you like to attend?" Halle stood on her tiptoes to give him a soft kiss.
"Do I have to wear a suit?" he asked, kissing his wife. "Not just the fake tux shirt I wore at our wedding?"
"Yeah. This is a majorly formal event. The most formal of all Hidden Rocks events since my coming-out ball." Halle's face scrunched up when she thought back to that awful evening. "I'm sure any of Jesse's friends would be happy to loan you something for the night. We could even raid Jesse's closet. Being the boy-toy of Emma Ross, he tends to dress nicer than most guys."
"I'd feel weird wearing your brother's clothes," Ty said. "I don't think he likes me."
"That's because we kind of shocked the hell out of him. Give him some time up at the lodge and he'll come around. He may be the only one to come around in my family. My other best friend Mollie will just find this overly romantic and will want to know everything."
"She's the one who's is dating your ex Casper?" Ty asked, trying to get Halle's friends straight.
"Yes. She may be the only one to see things the way we do. I meant truly what I said in Vegas. I will love you forever and a day Tyler Morris. "
"As will I Halle Morris," Ty replied, kissing his wife again. "With everyone gone, we have the house to ourselves."
"That we do," Halle said, wrapping her arms around Ty's neck. "I can introduce you to everyone later."
Emma was the first to see Jesse when he arrived at the lodge. She had a feeling that something was very wrong because Jesse always stopped to see her before going down to the hiker's outpost. They would catch up for a moment, make lunch plans with the rest of the gang and then part with a kiss. He just walked past her at the front desk without even looking up. Emma, being Emma can't stand to leave things alone, followed after him, making an excuse that she had to deliver a message from Mollie to Casper.
She found Jesse at the hiker's outpost with Marc. He was tying his boot up and looking over the map of the hike he was taking the guests on that morning.
"Jesse?" Emma called to him. "Jess is everything all right?"
"Not now Emma. I have to get ready for this hike," Jesse said, his voice colder than he intended it to be. "I'll talk to you later."
"Jesse, you tell me everything. What is going on?" Emma pushed.
"Emma, for once in your life, mind your own bloody business. This is not about us. I don't want to talk about it so could you please just, bugger off?" Jesse snapped.
Tears welled up in Emma's eyes. Jesse had never, ever been harsh or cold to her in their entire relationship. Something was off and Emma knew that if she pushed any farther Jesse would shut down and push her away more. She turned on her heel and took off for the docks. She would try again later.
"Bugger me. Dude, what the hell was that?" Marc asked his friend.
"Do you ever get tired of Emma pushing all the time?" Jesse asked. He paused for a moment. "Did you just say 'bugger me'?"
"I've been hanging around you too much, I guess. Emma has always been a nosy person. The way she sees it everything that has to do with her friends is her business. What is going on though?"
"Halle and Ty got home this morning," Jesse said, sighing.
"Where have they been hiding? Jo's talked to Halle once while she was gone but Halle never disclosed a location."
"All over the western US but most recently they were in Vegas."
"They're eighteen. What the hell could they do in Veg-Oh my God! They didn't!"
"They did."
"Bloody, bugger hell! Can I tell Jo?"
"Ah, hell no!" Jesse exclaimed. "Jo will tell Becca, who'll tell Matt and you know that boy can't keep his mouth shut for nothing. It'll get all over town in a matter of minutes. This is something that Halle has to disclose all on her own."
"Of all my friends, I really thought you and Emma would be the ones to do the whole getting married in high school thing," Marc said.
"I don't think there is going to be a me and Emma for very much longer," Jesse sighed.
"What makes you think that? Jesse, that girl loves you. Always has, always will."
"Then why is she spending so much time with Cohen Atwood?"
Emma walked down to the lake to finally take Mollie's message to Casper. Why she didn't just call Casper on his cell way beyond Emma. She was trying to figure out what caused Jesse to lash out at her like he did. Something must be going on. Maybe he knew. Maybe Jesse knew about her and Cohen. She would have to make him see that there was nothing going on with Cohen. They were just talking.
Emma had grown tired of the looks and stares she had been getting in town. The population was abuzz about Jeffery Blythe's escape. Doors were locked all over town. Cars were triple checked. Nothing was the same. Emma hated the stares. She hated the "poor little girl" whispers that happened when she passed by a group of people. She went to her car and drove up out of town. She drove up and to her favorite spot in the entire area. It was a small senic turnout off the highway that let you look down on the valley that circled the community of Hidden Rocks. On a bright and clear day Emma could just about make out her own house.
The nightmares had been getting worse. Ever since the call came that her father had escaped Emma had barely slept. She kept seeing him all over town, at her favorite places even at the house. At first all the nightmares were vocies calling out to her. As the days edged on they got worse. Instead of vocies she was seeing their faces. The faces of the women that had been murdered by her father's own hand. Now Emma could barely close her eyes without seeing the faces. Dead, cold, restless faces. Out here, away from everything was the only time that Emma was ever at peace.
"Don't you know it's dangerous to be up here all by yourself?" a voice behind Emma said.
Emma jumped and looked behind her and looked up at a boy on horseback. It was Cohen Atwood. A very different Cohen Atwood than she knew at school. Gone was the shaggy, greasy black hair. The black leather jacket was replaced with a plaid shirt. The grungy beanie was replaced with a red bandanna. The lip ring was missing as well. The boy on the horse bore a very small resembelence to the boy that Emma knew.
"Who are you and what have you done with the real Cohen?" Emma teased.
"The Dark Ages called, they want their cliched question back," Cohen retorted. "I thought you dug the pretty boy look."
"Not on you," Emma smiled. "Looking like this you lose all your badass appeal. What are you doing out here anyway?"
"I work for Old Man Spencer every summer on his ranch," Cohen answered. "He doesn't care for the grungy look. So I cut my hair off and take the lip ring out for the summer. What are you doing out here?"
"Getting away from the insanity that my wonderful past has drug up again. My father escaped from prison."
"Yeah. I heard about that. How are you doing, honestly?"
"You are the first person to ask me that," Emma sighed. "All everyone tries to do is tell me everything is going to be ok."
Cohen got down off the horse and tied it to the fence. He walked over to Emma's car and sat on the hood with her. "I'm scared that he's coming after me. That he's going to do to me what he did to all those other women." Emma's chest heaved as the fearful thoughts invaded her mind. "I keep seeing their faces."
"Whose faces?" Cohen asked, quietly. He twiddled his thumbs in front of him not sure if he should put his arm around Emma in comfort or leave them where they were. He chose the latter. "Whose faces, Emma?"
"The women he killed. I see them everywhere. Cohen I am losing my mind. I hate that I let him get to me like this."
Emma's tears were falling harder now. Cohen had never seen bitchy, supreme ruler of the high school break down like this. It was a new experience that he wasn't sure he knew what he was supposed to do.
"You're not losing your mind Emma," he said. "I have a good reason to hate you Emma. My cousin was Ashley Pagen."
"What? Why on earth would you tell me that? Do you want me to feel worse than I already do?"
"God, Emma. No. That wasn't my intention at all. I just wanted you to know that there is someone else in this miserable little town is as angry and hurt as you are."
Emma wasn't sure if it was the stress of everything that was going on or if she really wanted Cohen in that moment. She moved closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder. His shoulder was warm and comforting. The next thing she knew her lips were on his and his kisses back were filled with as much longing as Emma's were.
"Maybe I was wrong. Maybe you are ready for me," Cohen whispered. He kissed Emma again, filling his hands with her short, almost purple hair. He would never have admitted it, but Cohen Atwood had dreamed of this moment for years. Emma yearned for Cohen but her head and her heart made her pull away.
"I have to go," Emma said softly. "Jesse will be worried."
"Why on earth are you still with that jackass?" Cohen grumbled. "You deserve better."
"Jesse has always been the perfect gentleman," Emma argued.
"I'm sure. You, Emma Ross have played it safe for entirely too long. Isn't it time you distanced yourself from those goody-goodies you insist on hanging around and started living the life you want?"
Emma slid off the hood of her car. Cohen had a point. There was a part of her that longed to live outside the accepted norm. Live outside the conformed box that Mollie and the other's so cherished. Maybe it was time for her to break away and become someone entirely different. Hurt feelings be damned.
"And you want to be the one to teach me all this oh mighty Zen master?" Emma quipped.
"If you want me to," Cohen answered. "You need to live on the dark side for a time."
That was two weeks ago. Emma hadn't talked to Mollie since she got back from New York. Mollie had been with her family since she got back. She had been living on the dark side. After she got out of work at the lodge she would beg off from Jesse and the others and would meet Cohen and they would talk, make out, talk. It was nice to have someone around who hated her father as much as she did. Cohen talked about his cousin, at least what he could remember. Emma was glad to get to know the real Cohen. He was much different than she ever gave him credit for.
Emma dipped her foot in the cold mountain water, pulling herself from her thoughts. She had to make things right with Jesse. It was the top priority in her book. It was going to be very strange for her to be around both Jesse and Cohen at the ball that night. She never wanted her life to become a Rhianna song. Sadly she was the main character in Unfaithful.
Marc and Jo had hoped to spend a good majority of the afternoon together before breaking off to get ready for the ball. Well, that was the plan. Once they got to the lodge their jobs took over. Marc and Jesse had guided hikes up the ying yang. Jo and the other servers were working double time to finish prepping for the huge dinner that night. They saw each other maybe once. Let alone enough time to make plans for the ball. Thankfully Mrs. Kingsly allowed the girls who worked at the lodge to use the salon and spa to get ready. The girls kept their gowns in Amy's office, hainging in their dry cleaning bags in Amy's large closet. Landon's office housed Casper, Jesse, Matt and Marc's garment bags. Unlike the girls the suits were laid over chairs, haning off the basketball hoop on the door.
Jo and Becca enjoyed working side by side in the dining room. Taking a waitress job was a huge step for Becca. Being deaf, even with the cochlear implants she still had trouble fully understanding the guests' orders. Her first day had been a complete and total disaster. She had dropped a salad, be it she dropped it on Matt, she still dropped it on a guest. Her first three tables got each other's drinks. Becca was sure that June, the head server was going to fire her that first day. Jo saw how Becca was struggling and tried to help her the best she could. Jo spoke to June for Becca and got Becca bumped from serving to hostessing. Life at the Lang Lodge ran much smoother for Becca after that.
"Which dress are you wearing tonight Jo?" Becca asked her best friend as they were setting the tables in the dining room.
"The black one Mom bought me in Paris last winter," Jo answered, fixing a fork that was out of place. "The halter with the low back."
"You look great in that! Your mother has amazing taste in clothes," Becca replied.
"What are you wearing?" Jo asked.
"The hunter green lace dress Mama made for Winter Formal," Becca answered. "Would you do my hair?"
"Want me to straighten it or leave it curly?"
"Leave it curly. Matt likes it curly."
"How are things between you and Matt these days? I notice his truck is free of scratches or dents."
"He's trying," Becca sighed. "It's been hard Jo. I want so badly to trust him but I can't get the cheating out of my mind."
Jo nodded. She wanted to say the right thing for her friend. She couldn't relate to Becca's struggle with Matt's indescrison because Marc had never cheated on her. She couldn't even give Becca advice on what her moms would do because Kennedy and Reed had been together forever and very rarely did they fight.
"Well Becca, I really don't know what to tell you. I will tell you to let him keep trying. There is nothing wrong with that. Nothing at all."
The girls shared a look before going back to work. June told them that as long as the tables were set and ready before 4:30 they could go. It was slowly creeping up on 3:15. They still had the glassware and centerpeices to set out on 150 tables. Jo looked up at the clock and urged Becca to continue to setting.
Maddie and Frankie had driven to the rehab center that Dr. Kingsly was at four dozen times since they arrived in Denver a week ago. At first Maddie would just drive by it and not turn in. Then she drove into the parking lot and then drove back out. Finally she driven into the lot and parked the car. It was the getting out of the car part that Maddie was having trouble with now. She wanted to see her father and what better day to do it than the Fourth of July.
"You have to go in sometime," Frankie said. They had sat in the car for almost an hour. "Chica, I'm right here. I won't let you go through this alone. I'll walk in with you. You just have to take the first step."
Maddie nodded and grasped the handle on the car door. She pushed it open and stepped out. Frankie did the same. He walked around and took her by the hand. Together they walked up to the front door and stepped inside. The inside lobby was filled with all kinds of patriotic stuff. Red, white and blue covered every surface possible. Maddie held tight to Frankie's hand as she stepped up to the nurse's desk.
"May I help you?" the nurse at the desk asked.
"My name is Maddison Kingsly. I'm here to see my father Dr. Eric Kingsly," Maddie said.
"There isn't a Dr. Kingsly who works here, miss," the nurse replied.
"He's a patient. Dr. Kingsly is in the burn unit Claire," the nurse behind her said. "Come on back, hon. I'll take you to see your daddy."
The other nurse buzzed Maddie and Frankie through the door. Gloira Rueben had been working at the rehab center ever since Dr. Kingsly had been burned. This center specialized in burns. Dr. Kingsly was getting the best care anywhere. When he was feeling well enough to talk, he and Gloria would talk for hours. All he talked about was his beautiful daughter Maddie.
"Your daddy talks about you all the time, missy," Gloria said. "I know it's been awhile but you remember you have to wear the sterile gowns inside the burn unit. The slightest germ could cause disaster with the new healthy skin."
Gloria got out two sets of sterile scrubs. Frankie tucked his dark curly hair up under the cap. He helped Maddie tied up the back of the gown before Gloria put their gloves on. She stopped the pair outside Dr. Kingsly's door.
"No coughing, no sneezing and do not touch anything," Gloria said, sternly. "If Dr. Kingsly needs a nurse for anything press the red button by the door. Touch nothing else. When you have finished visiting press the red button twice and I'll come let you out. Do you understand?"
"Yes ma'am," Frankie and Maddie answered. Gloria pushed the door lock, opening the germ free room. Maddie stepped through first and Frankie followed. Maddie walked up to her father's bed. It was very hard for her to look at her father. She tried to remember him before the fire.
Eric Kingsly was a very handsome and charming man. He had such a way with his paients that made every other doctor in town seem like the biggest jerkwad in town. He had neatly trimmed black hair and dark brown eyes that became so animated when he talked you couldn't help but fall in love with him. Now the fire had ruined his perfectly chisled face. Burns, in various stages of healing, covered his entire body.
"Daddy?" Maddie said softly. "Daddy, it's Maddie. Are you awake?"
Eric's eyes blinked softly as he recognized the voice of his daughter. The burns to his throat and the smoke inhalation that he suffered made it very hard for him to talk and breathe. He only spoke in hard to understand rasps.
"Ma-a-add-dd-iiee?" his voice questioned.
"Don't try to talk Daddy," Maddie said, sitting next to his bed. "I'll do all the talking. You just rest."
Maddie began to talk. "Summer vacation started. I'm going to be a senior this school year Daddy. I miss you a lot Daddy. I'm sorry I don't come to see you more. It's just-just that I don't want to remember you like this. I want to remember you before the fire."
Maddie talked to her father for about an hour. She told him everything that had happened that year. She could have sworn she saw him smile when she told him about the Porshe and painting it bright pink. He was the only person besides the boys at the garage who knew about her racing. She told him about Casper and about Mollie.
"I used to hate her Daddy," Maddie said. "But now I think she's ok."
She could tell that he was getting tired so she quickly finished telling him everything she wanted to. Knowing she could get in major trouble with Gloria, she bent over her father and kissed his forehead, softly. "I love you Daddy. Be at peace."
Frankie slipped his arm around Maddie's waist and they buzzed the red button twice. They took off the scrubs and dropped them in the bin. Maddie thanked Gloria for her time and then they left. Before she left, Maddie left her cell phone number as a contact in case something happened to her father. If they left right then, she and Frankie would just about make it up to the lodge for the fireworks. After stopping at their hotel to collect their things, Frankie was driving Maddie's car towards the Wyoming border. They had just got to the outskirts of Cheyenne when Maddie's phone rang. Maddie didn't recognize the number but answered it anyway.
"Hello?" Maddie said.
"Miss Kingsly," a soft southern accent began. "This is Gloria at the rehab center."
"Yes. What's wrong?" Maddie asked, her voice catching. Noticing Maddie's distress, Frankie slowed down and pulled to the side of the road.
"Your daddy, Dr. Eric Kingsly, just passed on," Gloria said, her voice trying to hide her sorrow. "The burns to his chest had constricted his heart and it finally decided that it had enough. He closed his eyes and sighed. He wasn't in any pain."
Maddie gasped and tried to control her tears. "Thank you for calling me so quickly. Please call my mother Ariel. She will be the one to make the arragnements."
"It was a good thing that you came in today, Maddie. We didn't think he would make it this long," Gloria said. "He would talk about you all the time when he was having a good day."
Maddie thanked Gloria for calling again and hung up before her sobs tore her apart. Maddie let out a heartbreaking scream that shook her little Boxer. Frankie got out of the car and opened her door kneeling next to her. She threw her arms around him and he held her close.
"I am so sorry baby," he whispered. "We don't have to go back yet. Tank don't need me as much as you do."
"Just hold me, Frankie. Make it not true. Make it not true."
Mollie sat in her room staring up at the celing processing everything that had transpired during her latest trek to the big city to visit Gavin and his family. She wasn't hurt or angry that her family hadn't told her about her and Gavin's real relationship. Thinking back on the matter, everything made perfect sense. Gavin always trying to act like her father when Jack was gone, the way she and Gavin looked more alike than the rest of the family.
Gavin took Mollie out to lunch, just them one afternoon. The afternoon after she and Casper had talked. She could tell something was off with her brother. He was acting stranger than normal. He took her to their favorite place in the entire city, Majorca. There they shared a plate of fried calamari and shrimp.
"Mollie there is something I need to talk to you about," Gavin said.
"What is it Gavin?" Mollie asked, dipping the calamari into the garlic butter sauce.
"There's something about our family that we haven't really told you about. I have practiced saying this to you for weeks, months, years even. Everytime I get close I chicken out. Mollie, you are not my baby sister."
"Big brother say what?" Mollie teased. She and Emma enjoyed watching Hannah Montana for the sheer mockability of it.
"I am being very serious here, Mollie. You're not my sister. You're my daughter."
Mollie stared at Gavin with the same blank stare that Casper had given Jack. She was counting on her fingers trying to figure it out. She was frustrated and confused. Gavin took her hands in his, calming her down.
"Let me explain Mollie. When I was sixteen, we were in Denver. I met this girl, we got serious and she got pregnant. We went back and forth about terminating the pregnancy and we finally decided to keep the baby, you. Jamie kept you with her until one morning Stephen found you on our doorstep in your carseat. She had run off and left you with me. I decided then that I would raise you by myself. With Mom there to help me while I was at school, I did both. I was a good student, good father. Jamie came back once just before we left Denver. She wanted you back and I wouldn't let her have you. You were my daughter. We fought over you for months. Dad finally decided that I should take her to court and prove that I was the better parent for you. I won and Jamie hasn't seen you since you were a year old. I don't even know where she is anymore."
"So why am I not with you, if you wanted me so badly?" Mollie asked, trying to understand.
"My original plan was to take you with me to college. I was going to go to a local school, major in architecture and raise you myself. Just to see if I could get in I applied to Caltech. When the acceptance letter arrived, I was so excited that you and I danced around our attic apartment of the Denver house for almost an hour. I then made the hardest and best decision I could have. I chose to give you up for adoption so you and I could lead very full and happy lives. Mom had grown so attached to your sweet smile and everything about you that she couldn't bear to have you go to some stranger. So one night just before graduation, Mom, Dad and I sat down and drew up an adoption contract. They would raise you and I was to watch from the sidelines as the big brother. It hurt for awhile, but I got used to it."
"Does Amy know that I am your daughter?" Mollie asked. She was taking the news better than anyone would have thought. Somehow deep down she always known.
"I told Amy when we first started dating during our junior year of college. She understood why I had done it and supported me. We even talked about after we were married bringing you to live with us. By then you were eight and happy and I didn't want to uproot you more than Pop did with his job. I couldn't take you from Mom either. So you stayed where you were."
"Gavin, I understand. You will always have a role in my life, just as you always have. You may be my father but you're not my Dad."
"I know Mollie. Does anything really change for us?"
Mollie laughed. "No, but you could be a little nicer to Casper. He really likes me."
Mollie laughed a bit more from the memory of that afternoon. She had more fun saying silly things like her brothers were also her uncles and her nephews were her half-brothers. She then compared it all to a cheesy soap opera storyline. She rolled over on her side and looked at the framed photo on her side table. It was the picture of Casper she had taken at camp. They hadn't had a lot of time to be together since she got back. He was so busy at the lodge he barely had time to eat. When he did finally take a break he would call her and still not eat.
Out of the silence in her room Mollie's Sidekick began to sing. The ringtone she had for Casper was a voice note that he had recorded one night of him saying, "Mollie. Mollie, Mollie, Mollie. It's Casper. Answer your phone or I'm just going to keep on saying your name over and over until you pick up." She smiled and answered her phone.
"Hi Casper," Mollie said. "Finally decided to take a break?"
"More like was ordered away from the lake by my dad. What are you up to?"
"Mom was having a good day so we sat out on the veranda and played canasta for a few hours and then moved on to Scrabble. Hunter, Bryan, J.D, Bastian and Dad are at the fireworks stand loading up for the 17th annual Mollie Hannah Reynolds birthday fireworks spectacular."
"Crapoli! That's today?" Casper teased.
"Since when do you say 'crapoli?"
"Since I started seeing you and quit swearing," Casper laughed. "Happy birthday Mollie."
"Thank you Casper. What did you get me?"
"Who says I got you anything? You're saving me a dance at the ball tonight right?"
"Of course. It'll be a good one too. So you don't clash with me wear your black suit and the silver tie. Mommy Amy bought me a really awesome dress from one of her designer friends. You're going to love it."
"You could wear a burlap sack and you would still be the best looking girl there," Casper said. He looked over to the dock and saw that Matt was having an overload of guests coming at him. "I have to go. Matt's about to get thrown in the lake by a bunch of unhappy guests. I'll see you tonight."
Casper hung up quickly and ran for the docks to save Matt from impending doom. They only had another hour or so before they were released to get dressed for the ball.
Mollie laughed as she floated around her room. Her step-mother/sister-in-law Amy was a small time fashion designer with her own small shop. Amy was very skilled in formal gowns. Most of the gowns that Mollie wore to the school dances were all ones that Amy had made. For her birthday Amy took her to one of her designer friends and they made her the most beautiful gown. It was a strapless floor length gown in a dark green. The back was a lace up with silver ties. Silver embroidery scrolled around the top and bottom on the gown. Sliver organza pleats came out of the sides and back of the dress. It was the most beautiful dress that Mollie had ever owned.
A knock came at her door and Katherine, stuck her head inside. "Do you want me to curl your hair and help you lace your dress?" she asked.
"That would be nice Mom," Mollie replied.
There had been something weighing heavily on Katherine's mind now that Mollie knew the truth. She was afraid that Mollie would want to leave Hidden Rocks and go back to New York with Gavin and Amy. Mollie and Katherine were so close that Mollie knew just by the look in her mother's eyes that something was very wrong.
"Mom, what's wrong?" Mollie asked.
"Are you happy here in Hidden Rocks?" Katherine asked.
"I love it here Mom," Mollie answered. "Everything I know and love is here. Why do you ask?"
"I'm worried that you won't want to stay here now that you know about Gavin."
Mollie turned around to face her mother. "You and Daddy are my whole world. You are my mommy. Not this Jamie or even Amy. You. You were the mommy who held me when I would scrape my knee chasing after the boys. No one even compares to you. I love you." Mollie hugged her mother and held her tight. "I love you, Mommy."
The Lang Lodge was a bustle of activity. Landon and Amy greeted their guests at the door of the dining room. They knew everyone by name and greeted them warmly. The mayor Franklin Thompson and his family arrived and were led to their VIP table. The Thompsons were the oldest and most respected families in Hidden Valley. Franklin's great-great-great grandfather was part of the founders of Hidden Rocks. Jarvis Thompson was the one who came up with building the town around the lake and is credited and cursed for the even/odd sides of town. The Thompson clan liked to joke that Pop-Pop Thompson would have found Highway 16 running through the odd side of town very funny.
Also sitting at the Thompson's VIP table were Edward and Kimberly Montgomery, Matt's parents. The Montgomeries had their names on more buildings in Hidden Rocks than the Thompsons'. Edward was in real estate and land development and his wife Kimberly was a famous photographer. The Montgomery house in Hidden Rocks was wallpapered with shots of Kimberly and Edward with various famous people. Kimberly's closet is full of clothes and gowns given to her by the celebrities she's worked with. The deep purple gown she wore to the ball was designed just for her by Project Runway designer Christian Siriano.
Once all the guests had arrived in the dining room, Landon and Amy Lang made their annual welcome speech to their friends, neighbors and lodge guests. Landon was the first to speak.
"Mayor Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery, honored guests, friends and neighbors, welcome to the eighteenth annual Lang Ski and Hunter's Lodge Independance Ball. On behalf of my family; my wife Amy, our children; Oliver, Greta, Casper and Kent, enjoy your meal, the music, dance and fireworks to come."
Amy took the microphone from her husband and continued the thank yous."All this tonight could have been possible without the tireless efforts of the lodge summer staff, generous donations from the local businesses and all the support from our friends and neighbors. Earlier this evening, before everyone arrived my son Casper came to me with an idea that I thought would be most rewarding for everyone here. To explain it better, Casper Lang."
Casper joined his parents by the balcony. The doors were closed and the curtains drawn. Many of Casper's friends were quite puzzled by what was going on. Mollie most of all because all of her brother's had vanished just after the family arrived at the lodge.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Casper began. "Just this afternoon I had a crazy idea for a fundraiser for the Wyoming chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Tonight we are going to have an auction, not of goods but of services offered by the young men of Hidden Rocks. Get your checkbooks ready because here is our first young man." Casper flipped the stack of notecards in his hands and nodded to his parents. Landon and Amy opened the doors to the balcony and out stepped Matt. "Our first young man up for bid is Matt Montgomery. Matt is currently the Student Council President of Hidden Rocks High School. He has a four point zero grade point average and is an avid sailor. Matt is offering one week of sailing lessons here at the lodge. Starting bid is twenty-five dollars."
Thus began the first annual Make-A-Wish Foundation Willing and Able Auction. Matt was bought by Greg Luzon's dad for 250 dollars. Marc was bought by Dr. Constable to repaint her office building. The Reynolds boys were bought as a unit by the town recreation committee to run the summer little league teams which were still without a coach. The football team, including Marc and Sebastian were bought by the ladies group at Mollie's church to help with delivering meals to the elderly in town and for the basement refinishing. The auction raised 2,675 dollars for the foundation.
Dinner was served and soon people were moving from their tables to mingle with the other guests. Emma managed to pull Mollie away from her family for a girls only dessert with Jo and Becca. Halle still hadn't made an appearance at the ball. Jesse was starting to get was driving the rest of the family crazy at dinner by always looking over his shoulder to the door.
"What are you looking for mate?" his father asked.
"Noting," Jesse answered.
"Nothing," Jesse answered.
Just as Jesse turned back he saw a flash of the door opening and his sister and her husband walk in. Halle was wearing the same green dress she wore to Winter Formal. Jesse recognized his other suit on Ty. The double doors that led from the dining room to the ballroom was opened and the music began. People were pairing off and moving fluidly to the dance floor. Halle and Ty mixed in with the crowd without Frank and Anita ever seeing them. Jesse moved through the crowd to get to his twin. He caught Halle by the elbow and pulled her to a corner.
"Ow! Jesse! Let go!" Halle whined. "What the bloody hell has gotten into you?" She smacked her brother once on the shoulder.
"Look, I just wanted to tell you that I overreacted this morning. I am very happy for you Halle. I will stand by you when you tell the parents," Jesse said, quickly.
"Thank you Jesse," Halle said, hugging her brother. She saw Emma staring intently at them. "There's someone behind you who is needing your attention."
Jesse released his sister and turned to look at his girlfriend. He had really screwed up that morning. He was cruel and Emma didn't deserve it. He walked over to her. "Dance with me?" he asked.
Emma nodded, taking his offered hand. Jesse pulled her close as the song Somebody to Love by Queen played. Their friends danced around them, laughing and having fun. Jesse had something he wanted to say and was trying very hard to find the right way to say it. He swallowed, took a deep breath and just started talking.
"Why have you been avoiding me?" Jesse asked.
"I haven't been avoiding you Jesse," Emma answered, quickly. "We've both been so busy and preoccupied lately that it's just hard to hang out. Maybe once things calm down and they catch Jeffery everything will be all right."
"Or if you quit sneaking out to meet up with Cohen Atwood out at the turnout," Jesse snapped.
Emma stopped and looked at Jesse as if he had slapped her. "Who told you that?"
"Wrong answer, Emma. I can deal with a lot of things but I won't be strung along while you shag around with someone else. I thought you were better than that."
"Is that what you think I am doing Jesse? Shagging with Cohen up at the turnout? You can go to hell." She started to walk away from Jesse, but he caught her by the arm and pulled her back to him. "Let go of me Jesse."
"You don't get to be the one to walk away. I hope you and Cohen have a wonderful senior year together. I hope it's everything you dreamt it to be. Goodbye Emma. By the way, Halle got married."
Without another look Jesse turned and walked away from the longest relationship he had ever had. If there was one thing that Jesse would not be, he would not be the fool. As far as he was concerned Emma could just vanish from his life and he wouldn't care. He was stired of being her lap dog anyway. He was free and he was happy, giddy even.
Casper had been trying to steal his girlfriend away from her family all night. He had her birthday present in his jacket pocket ready to give to her. Every time he tried to get to her another of her friends or memebers of her church would snag her away. Casper had planned the whole moment from the song to what he was going to say. The only problem he was having now was executing the plan. He sighed a bit of frustration and wandered up to the DJ stand. He took the microphone and signaled the DJ to turn the music down.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please?" he said. "It is a very special girl's seventeenth birthday today. Will everyone join me in singing Happy Birthday to Miss Mollie Hannah Reynolds?"
Mollie had never been more mortified in her life. Casper spotted her and waved for her to come to the middle of the dance floor with him. Everyone at the ball sang Happy Birthday to her. Casper then gave the DJ a thumbs up and he played the song that Casper had pciked out for them to. The opening bars of At the Beginning started to play and Mollie smiled brightly.
"I love this song," Mollie said, smiling.
"I know you do, Mollie," Casper whispered into her ear. His hand dipped into his pocket and her pulled out the bracelet her bought for her. "Happy birthday."
He dropped it into her hand and closed her hand around it. Mollie opened her hand and looked at the very beautiful and very expensive bracelet. She gasped as she looked it over. "Holy Crapoli! Casper this is beautiful! Thank you!"
Mollie threw her arms around Casper hugging him tightly. He pulled away first and gave her a soft kiss. For once it wasn't Casper wanting more. Mollie pressed against him kissing him with more passion. Not wanting to push his luck with Jack, Casper pulled away first. Mollie looked down, almost like she had done something wrong.
"Mollie? Mollie, look at me," Casper whispered in her ear. "Your dad is watching."
Mollie blushed and giggled. She took Casper's hand and they walked over to her parents. Casper shook hands with Jack, thanking him for coming and for purchasing a few of the other football team members in the aucition. Mollie showed her mother the bracelet. Katherine gave Casper a thumbs up and a smile.
"Casper, you are welcome to join us for the 17th Annual Mollie Hannah Reynolds Birthday Fireworks Spectacular," Jack said. "We shoot ours off about two hours after the fireworks here."
"I was planning on it," Casper replied.
"Good becasue we need someone else there who can call the paramedics," Mollie teased.
"So Gavin almost burnt down the Denver house down once," Jack said. "And now every year we must be reminded of it."
Halle finally found a moment to go up to her mother with Ty. Just after Casper's happy birthday moment, Halle and Ty went over to her parents. Frank and Anita were chatting with Edward and Kimberly. Halle waited until her parents were done talking to introduce Ty to them.
"Mum, Dad?" Halle said, getting their attention. "There's someone I need you to meet."
"Halle, it's nice to have you home," Anita said, coldly. "Who is this?"
"Mum, Dad, this is my husband Tyler. Tyler, these are my parents Frank and Anita Valmont."
"YOUR WHAT!?" Anita shouted. "Hallelujah Renee Valmont, tell me you are joking this instant!"
"Morris. My last name is Morris now Mother," Halle said, keeping her cool. "And no, I am not joking. Ty and I got married three days ago in Las Vegas."
"Oh, of all the cruel and heartless things you have done Halle Valmont, this is the worst! How can you have married a boy you hardly know?" Anita yelled. Frank stood next to his wife saying nothing as loudly as a person could.
"Mother I am eighteen years old and don't need your permission to get married if I so choose to. I merely wanted your blessing."
"You won't get it," Anita said. "Well, good evening."
Anita turned from Halle and strode away. Frank stood next to his daughter trying to figure out the best thing to say. "Welcome to our family son." He went after his wife to calm her down.
"And I thought Jesse took it bad," Ty sighed. "She's going to hate me for life, isn't she?"
"For at least the first ten years or so," Halle joked. "Come on. The first fireworks are starting very soon."
"You have more than one firework show in town?" Ty askd, confused.
"One for the fourth and one for my best friend Mollie's birthday," Halle explained. "Last year they almost sunk Emma's dock with a artillery shell."
"So I'm taking my life into my own hands if I come to this event?"
"Yeah. Mollie hands out helmets, well actually pots, to wear as protection. I think this year, now that her dad is home I think things will be a little safer than normal."
"That doesn't make me feel any better," Ty said.
"Wasn't meant to. Come on, I want you to meet Jo and Becca!"
Halle drug Ty all around the ballroom having way more fun introducing Ty as her husband to her friends. Jo and Becca were giddy for her. Marc and Matt just gave Ty the guy nod. They would christen TY as one of guys on a later date. They'd have to plan with Casper, Jesse and Sebastian on the proper way to screw with Ty.
Mollie sat out on the balcony of her house watching the water on the lake. She spun the bracelet on her wrist. Her family had left the lodge just after the fireworks had ended. Jack and Katherine had gone home just before they started. Katherine started not feeling well and wanted to rest before they celebrated Mollie's birthday. Mollie didn't want to admit but she knew her mother was getting worse every day.
Mollie's gaze moved from staring across the lake to the precious stone bracelet on her wrist. Pearls, opals and pink sapphires. Casper knew her so well. She watched as he and her brothers set up for her birthday fireworks. It had been a strange last few hours. She hadn't seen Jesse since the auction. Emma had vanished just after the dancing had started. Rumors floated about that Emma and Jesse had broken up. Mollie couldn't be sure because she hadn't seen her best friend in hours.
Before the ball, Mollie had filled dozens of water balloons and left them on the balcony. She knelt down and picked up one rather fat one. "Fire one!" she whispered.
SPLAT! The fat, red water balloon landed on Hunter's head. Mollie laughed as he looked around trying to figure out where it had come from. Mollie dropped two more and they one just missed hitting Casper and the other bounced on the grass and exploded all over JD's shoes. Her laugh was just loud enough to get her caught.
"Just because it's your birthday doesn't mean we won't get you back, baby sister!" JD shouted.
"You can't touch me! I have two daddies that will kick your butts!" Mollie shouted back.
JD had no argument for that one. He just stuck his tounge out at his sister and went back to setting up the rest of the fireworks. All of Mollie's friends were invited to join in the festivites and Mollie never turned anyone away. Her friends from school and church were starting to arrive. Many of them had come directly from the lodge and were still in their formal wear. Becca, Jo, Matt and Marc made quite a scene when they arrived. Becca and Jo were piggy-backing on their respective boyfriends holding flaming sparklers.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOLLIE!" Becca and Jo shouted.
The two girls hopped off their boyfriends and ran to their friend. Mollie hugged them both and led them to the veranda and to the sodas. Matt and Marc joined the other boys at the fireworks. Becca was bursting to tell Mollie the good news.
"I know Halle will want to tell you herself but I can't keep it in anymore," Becca said quickly. "Halle and Ty got married in Vegas!"
"Holy Crapoli!" Mollie gasped. "I didn't think Halle had it in her to do something like that. Are they coming?"
"They left just after we did," Jo answered. Jo caught sight of Mollie's bracelet. "Wow! Did Casper get you that for your birthday?"
"He's such a good boy," Mollie said, looking over at him. "He's been so sweet. There's so much he's given up to be with me and I haven't done anything for him."
"Mollie stop," Jo said, sharply. "I have never seen a guy bend over backwards for a girl the way I see Casper doing for you. With all the crap that Maddie put him through being told up front what is and isn't allowed is good for him. Don't worry about it."
"Thanks Jo. Have you seen Emma anywhere? I haven't seen her since dessert."
"I don't think she's coming. She and Jesse got into a major fight at the ball. If he shows then Emma won't. The opposite for Jesse," Jo said. "I'm sorry to be the one to tell you."
"It's fine. Emma's been acting strange anyway," Mollie said. "I hope she comes. I miss talking to her."
Suddenly a loud honking sound could be heard coming from the dock. "Friends and family, neighbors and the twelve cops patrolling the neighborhood," Sebastian said through a megaphone. "Welcome to the 17th annual Mollie Hannah Reynolds Birthday Fireworks Spectacular!" He hit the echo button on the megaphone to make the last part of spectacular echo a few times. "We will begin the festivites with the telling of funny Mollie stories. First up is my brother John Daniel."
Casper had moved to stand next to his girlfriend. He slipped his arm around her waist, holding her close to him.
"This story begins when Mollie was about four. We had just moved to San Francisco. Bryan, Hunter and I were playing hide and seek with the other kids in the neighborhood. Sebastain was four and a half and was playing too. We were at the age when we didn't want our baby sister tagging along with her baby dolls and tea sets. So we tried to ditch her. Mollie wasn't having any of that. She does what any normal youngest child does...She tattles. Mom comes out and orders in her silent yet very scary way that we let Mollie play with us."
"Which they did for about two seconds," Mollie whispered.
"So I take Mollie up to her room and help her hide in her toy chest. Then we all took off leaving her there. When Mom didn't see any of us for awhile she got suspcious and came looking around the house. She saw Mollie peeking out of her toy chest calling for one of us. And that is the story of 'Mollie in a Box'."
Everyone clapped and Hunter spoke next. He told everyone about the time Mollie decided that she was going to run away and join the circus. She was seven at the time. She packed up her little suitcase and walked away from their house in Seattle. Mollie laughed as her brothers roasted her. She looked around and saw all of her friends standing around. Standing to the very back of the crowd Mollie could make out who she thought to be Emma. She removed herself from Casper's grasp and wandered back to where she was standing. Mollie had never seen Emma look as dishevled and hurting as she did in that very moment.
"Emma? Are you ok?" Mollie asked her best friend.
"I did something really stupid today, Mollie," Emma said, tears brimming in her eyes. "I cheated on Jesse. He found out and broke up with me."
"Oh Emma!" Mollie gasped. "What happened?"
Emma began to explain about everything in her life was spinning out of control and how she had met Cohen up at the turnout. She told Mollie about the things that she and Cohen talked about.
"I slept with him Mollie and Jesse found out! What am I going to do?" Emma sobbed. "I love Jesse. I always have."
Mollie held her best friend in a tight embrace. Mollie had no words to say to Emma. She wanted to call her all sorts of names that Emma herself had used against Maddie after Winter Formal. She wanted Emma to see the real wrong in what she had done not just the regrets. Mollie was very quiet as she held her broken hearted best friend. She finally came to the choice she knew everyone was going to have to make. Team Jesse or Team Emma.
"Em, you're my friend and Jesseis my friend. I can't choose between you. This is something you're going to have to figure out on your own. I can't help you," Mollie said, her own heart breaking as she made her choice. "I'm sorry."
Mollie turned to leave her best friend and rejoin the others for the rest of her party. Emma, feeling the most alone she had ever felt cracked into heart wrenching sobs and took off running for the safety and solitude of her own home. She slammed the front door and threw herself up the stairs and into her bedroom. She sobbed into her pillows as the fireworks and cheers sounded outside. She lifted her head once and came face to face with the photo of her and Jesse at camp. Releasing a scream from deep inside she threw the frame against the wall. Gathering herself Emma found a large box in the garage ans started filling it with pictures, letters, gifts; anything of Jesse's. By the time she was done there was barely anything in her room. Staring at her bare walls only made her more miserable than she already was. She had no one to blame this time but herself.