Thursday morning
Kimberly woke up in the guest room. Karen had been on her to officially move into the room, make it her own as it is her room from here on out and she is not just visitor for the weekend. She quickly got dressed and went downstairs to breakfast.
"Morning Kimberly!" The Scotts all called out in unison.
Kimberly blushed as she took her seat at the table and reached to grab a piece of toast from the basket in the middle of the table.
"Now, Kimberly; please tell me you are going to eat more than just one slice of toast." Morgan teased but in a stern voice to warn her that she had better grab something else.
Kim just nodded and dished up some eggs.
"Kimberly you do remember that after school today, you have to go to your father's house." Karen reminded her.
"I know, but can't I just stay here this weekend." Kimberly begged.
"I'm afraid not, your father still gets his visitation weekends with you. But don't worry; you will be back Monday when school lets out." Morgan told her.
"Kimberly is there a reason; you don't want to go to your dad's?" Karen asked.
"No, it is just that it is so soon after Mom's death; that I'm not ready to face him yet. I mean he didn't even come to the funeral, you would have thought that at least he would at least of come to the funeral to support his only child. But no, he didn't. I guess I don't mean enough to him."
"Kimberly, that isn't true. I am sure that Anthony wanted to be there for you, but couldn't make it." Jake said before looking at his watch. He got up from the table, "I will see you all tonight and Kimberly I will see you Monday night. Have fun this weekend."
"I think it time you two get to school. We will see you Monday night." Morgan said as he gave Kimberly a kiss on top of her head.
That night
Kimberly walks into her father's 2 story house. She often wondered why he needed such a big house, when it is only him here and she doesn't stay her often enough to count.
"Hey good, you're here." Anthony Hart said as he came down the stairs carrying a suitcase.
"Your leaving again." Kim commented sadly.
"Yes baby, I am. Something just came up and I have to go out of town."
"Oh, when will you be back?"
"I'll be back before you have to go back to the Scotts. There is food in the refrigerator and money in the envelope in the cupboard if you want to go to the mall. I have to go and catch my plane." Anthony said giving his daughter a kiss on the cheek. "Oh and remember, this is our secret."
Kimberly waved sadly as she watched her father leave. She went into the kitchen and opened up the refrigerator to get something for dinner. As she stared into the fully stocked refrigerator, she realized she didn't feel like eating. She opened up the pantry cupboard to see the money; he always leaves for her when he leaves her alone during her weekend with him. The envelope held 500 dollars in all twenties. Angry and frustrated she threw the envelope on the table and went to bed.
Command Center
Alpha, Zordon and Caroline watched the whole thing on the viewing globe from the time Kimberly opened the door to Anthony's house till the time she went to bed. Caroline was fuming with anger the way her ex treats their daughter.
"I knew Tony always seemed to have more important things to do with his time than spend it with his own daughter. But I never knew that he leaves her there alone for days at a time. She would be much better off if she was still with Care-Bear." Caroline complained.
"HE DOES LEAVE HER ALONE ALL THE TIME. I USUALLY WATCH HER WHILE SHE IS THERE JUST TO MAKE SURE SHE IS OKAY AND THAT RITA AND ZEDD DON'T ATTACK HER WHILE SHE IS THERE ALONE." Zordon told her.
"I'm glad that you do look after her, I just don't understand why she never told me." Caroline replied.
"SHE NEVER WANTED TO CAUSE ANYMORE TROULE BETWWEN YOU AND HIM."
"She is a child, a teenager. That isn't a decision for her to make. That is too much pressure to put on a child. Now that I know about it, I can't do anything about it because I am dead."
"CAROLINE, DO NOT WORRY. SHE WILL BE OKAY; YOU CAN CONTINUE TO KEEP AN EYE ON HER."
Next morning
Kimberly got up, took a shower and left. She is actually glad to go to school. She got there 2 hours early and waited for her friends at the Youth Center.
"Hi Ernie!" Kim said coming up to the bar.
"Well hello Kimberly, your early aren't you."
Kim just shrugged.
"He left again huh? Did you even eat this morning?"
Kim shook her head.
"How about I make you an omelet?"
"Okay, thanks Ernie."
An hour and a half later, her friends come into the Youth Center to hang out before they have to actually go to class.
"Trini, you want to come over this weekend for a sleepover?" Kim asked hopefully.
"He left again, didn't he?" Jason asked.
"Yeah about 2 minutes after I arrive." Kim admitted.
"So I guess were doing the sleepover thing again this weekend." Tommy said.
"Yeah, let's see; whose house is it this time." Jason said as he stopped for a second to think. "Billy's house, and Billy you can tell your dad that you are the staying the weekend at Zack's house. So our bases are covered."
"We're just lucky they never check up on us." Tommy admitted.
"I have the device installed so if they do check up on us, it will be rerouted to the phone I bring with me to Kimberly's." Billy admitted.
"So our bases really are covered." Tommy said.
"Thanks guys." Kimberly said with a smile.
"Don't you know; we will do anything for you." Zack teased.