Passed the 150 chapter mark - wow!

Thanks for the reviews last week. It did make me smile how you all embraced Miranda's 'grown-up sleepover'.

Opps - I've also gone back and corrected the major error in chapter 148(The kids couldn't have been at Kendal's there's still a big tree in the way).

SPOILERS – this week – Erica has an unexpected visitor, Marissa prepares for the home visit and David introduces Leora to Pine Valley.

…

When Bianca stepped out of her mother's room she found Kendal on the phone.

Seeing Bianca's expectant look she covered the phone mouthpiece to speak to her younger sister.

"Bad news I'm afraid," said Kendal, "They don't think the tree will be shifted until tomorrow. So I'm booking us into the Yacht Club and Francois is going to stay at Will's tonight. Tad said he and Opal can look after kids for another hour if we need them too but I think we should collect them sooner rather than later."

"You seem to have got everything organised." said Bianca suitably impressed.

"Well, we can't have you sleeping on the streets after the day you've had." said Kendal, she stopped her conversation abruptly as she was taken off hold and the Yacht Club receptionist came back onto the phone.

"Yes, hello again… That's correct - two family rooms..." said Kendal. "Two adults, both with two young children, that's right."

Kendal covered the mouthpiece again.

"This is proving tricky apparently." she confided as an aside to her sister, before focussing once more on her phone.

"No I do understand that the storm has caused problems for a lot of people. Well do you have anything suitable for two adults and four children? We will share a bed we don't mind… The eldest child is eight, the youngest is three… Two of the children can go into a crib at a pinch, yes."

Kendal gave her sister an apologetic grin as the call continued.

"No if that's all you've got we will take it. A quad room with two cribs, that's fine. At this point a broom closet would sound good. My name, certainly..? Kendal Hart… Yes, that Kendal Hart… You'll have another look for us, thank you… and I'm back on hold."

Kendal grinned at her sister.

"Sometimes it's great to be Erica Kane's daughter.

…

With two adjoining double rooms successfully booked Bianca felt they still had a bit time to take a detour via Cara's room to introduce Kendal to the new baby.

They arrived to find Griffin pacing back a forth, Charlie in his arms bawling is eyes out.

"Well he's certainly got a healthy pair of lungs on him." said Kendal jokingly as they entered.

Griffin thrust the baby towards the two women as soon as he saw them.

"Take him; I just don't have the knack."

Bianca happily dropped her crutch and accepted the tiny bundle into her arms.

"He's such a wimp." said Cara teasing her brother from her hospital bed.

"I'm telling you babies don't like me." said Griffin.

"That's nonsense." said Bianca, but as if to prove her wrong Charlie stopped crying, and began to doze off.

"It's not you" said Kendal, sympathetically patting Griffin's arm "My baby sister has the magic touch."

She peered over her sister's shoulder to get a look at her husband's namesake.

"Hello Charlie." She cooed, before looking up at Cara and adding, "He's certainly got his daddy's chin."

"And you don't mind that I've given him Zack's name?"

"I think it's perfect." said Kendal's as she place her finger into the baby's tiny reaching hand. "I think it's wonderful."
"Do you want a hold?" Bianca asked passing the now restful infant to her sister.

Kendal gently took the tiny child into the crook of her arm. Charlie gave a protesting whine at leaving Bianca's embrace.

"What did I say." said Kendal, her voice now a whisper as she addressed the unsettled baby. "A magic touch."

She began to rock Charlie and coo-cooing to get him to calm down once more. Griffin was trying to help by pulling funny faces over Kendal's shoulder.

Meanwhile Bianca retrieved her crutch and moved to sit by Cara's bedside.

"And how are you?" she asked.

Cara was watching Griffin and Kendal an amused expression on her face.

"I'm fine." said Cara. "A little sore, a little drained. But it was worth it. I now have the most precious thing on the world."

"Yes you do." said Bianca with a grin.

Cara turned to Bianca,

"And how are you. I heard that they committed JR."

"I'm just glad it's all over." confided Bianca.

Cara nodded and smiled.

"It's been a long day." said Cara.

"It certainly has." agreed Bianca.

They turned back to watch the light relief of their respective siblings as they struggled to calm the crying baby.

"It's no good, he's not happy." sighed Kendal, Charlie was now bawling as much in her arms as he had been with Griffin.

"He's probably just hungry." said Bianca.

"He's just had a feed." said Cara.

"Then it will be the other end." said Bianca. "He maybe needs a diaper change."

"Back to you I think." said Kendal, quickly handing the child back to Griffin.

They all laughed at the put-upon expression on Griffin's face.

"Think of it as important life skill." joked Bianca.

…