"It's you? That's amazing! You can keep it from being published".

"Jonathan, I cannot do that. I won't do that. I will not jeopardize my integrity for someone I barely know. I've worked really hard on this article".

"I've worked really hard at building a successful company. Do you want to see me lose all of that?"

"No, of course I don't. But I would be compromising my journalistic integrity if I hid facts in a story, or didn't report something based on the potential outcome".

"And if you do report it, I could lose everything for something I wasn't involved in. Like I told you, I purchased the conglomerate and only found out afterwards, when you started digging, that the company had been involved in illegal activities. That's not my fault".

"My article doesn't name you at all".

"No, but does it name Hart Industries?"

"Yes, only as the parent company over all the others".

"Then you might as well put my name in there, since I am the sole owner and founder of Hart Industries".

"Jonathan, this can't be the first time you've dealt with negative press. And it isn't my fault that you are dealing with it now, I was just doing my job. My assignment was to write an in-depth story about Moonrise Innovations and report the facts and that's what I'm doing. I will not alter the facts or hide the facts for anyone, that's not ethical".

"You know, I really hoped that because you and I had gotten to a better place between us that you would help me out here. I don't know what else to do or say to you to convince you that this is life or death for me".

"And I don't know what to say to you to make you see that there isn't anything you can do to keep me from reporting the facts. The facts are that Hart Industries purchased a conglomerate, and one of the subsidiaries of that conglomerate is accused of tax evasion, insider trading, and money laundering. Nowhere in my article will it say that you were the one who did it or authorized it."

"That's not good enough".

"Well, I'm sorry, that's the best I can do".

"I really expected more of you, you know. I really thought you were going to help me out."

"I'm sorry, Jonathan. I cannot do what you're asking".

"Is that why you wouldn't have dinner with me? Because you felt guilty about the fact that you knew you would be ruining my life shortly afterwards?"

"You can't be serious. Trust me, Jonathan. I don't sit around and think about you as much as you think I do."

She grabbed her purse and pulled out a twenty-dollar bill and tossed it on the table.

"You don't have to do that, I told you I would buy lunch and I will".

"NO thank you. Never let it be said that I took advantage of someone else. I'm sorry you are going through this, but it isn't my fault and I hope that one day you can see that".

She got up and walked out of the restaurant.

***Saturday***

Jennifer was at her house, packing her suitcases. It was hard to know what to pack and what to leave behind. She was planning on being gone for about 3 months, but it could be longer, it could be shorter.

She finally decided to take a break and get ready to go to Caroline and Patrick's.

She got to the house around 4, and pulled up and parked.

She rang the doorbell and waited.

Caroline came and let her in, and gave her a hug.

"Hey, you look a little down. What's up?"

"My best friend is moving to London, that's what's up".

Jennifer chuckled.

"Your best friend will be back, and there are these things called phones you know…. Where you talk into one end and listen with the other, and I do the same, and we get to hear each other…."

"I know. But it won't be the same. I'm just being emotional….don't pay attention to me. Must be the hormones".

"I'll be back before you know it, promise".

Savanna came running in then, and jumped in Jennifer's arms.

"Can I ask you something Aunt Jeffer?"

"Of course".

"You told me you were going on a trip. But mommy says it's longer. So, where are you going?"

"How about we sit down?"

They walked over to the couch.

"My boss at my work is sending me to London, and I am going to be there for close to three months. It's a trip, but it's not like the trips that you take with your mommy and daddy and Luke. This is going to be a trip where I work in London, and I live there for several weeks".

Savanna looked sad.

"So, do we get to come to your house and see you?"

"Not this time, punkin. But I promise, the minute I'm back in New York, I will call you and come see you".

Savanna snuggled with her for a long time. Caroline came and sat next to them.

"So, did Jonathan come over and rant and rave about me?"

"Not exactly. He and Patrick have been having lots of meetings though. Patrick is his lawyer, so that makes sense".

"Did you read my article this morning in the Times?"

"Yes, I did. I feel horrible for him".

The door opened then, and Jonathan walked in.

"Hi, Patrick is upstairs if you want to go up there".

"Hi Caroline."

He turned and saw Jennifer.

"Oh, you're here. Great, that's just what I need".

He immediately headed upstairs.

Caroline looked at Jennifer.

"What was that?"

"He called me at work the other day and asked me to go to lunch with him, he said it was a business lunch and he had to ask me something. So, I said yes, and went to meet him. And it turned out that my article was indirectly about him, and he wanted to ask me to not publish the article. I said no, so he asked me to not print his name or his company's name. I told him that would be unethical and that I wasn't going to do that. He got mad and insinuated that I felt that way based on the fact that he and I didn't get off to a great start. He said that he felt like that was the reason I won't have dinner with him. I informed him that wasn't the case, and left."

"So, what did you report?"

"I was assigned to look into Moonrise Innovations, and why people were filing claims against them. And in doing so, I uncovered the fact that they were doing some very illegal things, and also that his company is the parent company. I never once said that he himself was the one doing it and I explained that to him. He wanted me to scrap the article all together, and I told him no, that I wasn't going to compromise my journalistic integrity to keep him from suffering the consequences that come along with owning a company."

"Well, I'm not taking sides. I know you and I know that you would never hurt anyone on purpose. And I know him too, and I know that he worked really hard to get where he is."

"This isn't my fault, I was just doing my job".

"I think in time, he will see that".

Jennifer tried to put Savanna down, but she wouldn't let her.

"Sweetie, I cannot hold you all day long. You are going to have to get down sometime".

"No I'm not. I can come with you wherever you go".

"Well what about when I have to go back to my house?"

"You don't have to. You can stay here".

"I see. And what about when I have to get on the plane and leave for my trip?"

"You don't have to. You can stay here".

"I see. So, you are planning on making me stay by holding on to me all day?"

"Yes".

"Sorry kiddo, that's not going to work".

"We could try really hard".

She pulled her off her shoulder so that she could look at her.

"I tell you what. What if we get you a calendar, and we mark down the days that I can call and talk to you? And you can cross off each day in between until our phone call. And I will send you post cards and maybe a package or two, in the meantime".

"Ok. But I still want to sit next to you".

"That's a deal".

"Ok, so what do you want to do? We can order in, we can grill out, whatever you want".

"Whatever the guys want is fine with me".

"Well, let's go ask them".

They all went upstairs and sat on the couch next to the guys.

"Ok, so do you guys feel like ordering pizza or do you want to grill out? I can run to the store and get stuff if needed".

Jonathan rolled his eyes.

"Why don't we let her decide? She seems to take pleasure in deciding things for everyone else".

Jennifer took a deep breath.

"Whatever you guys want is fine with me".

"Oh, so now you decide to think of others".

"Jonathan, can we not do this right now? There are children present".

"Fine".

They kept talking and finally decided on Mexican.

Jennifer and Caroline and Savanna made a grocery store run, and then came back and started cooking.

Savanna was coloring on the table while Caroline and Jennifer made tacos, cheese quesadillas and guacamole.

After a nice dinner, where Jonathan refused to look at Jennifer, everyone was sitting on the couch.

The kids gave her some cards and drawings and Caroline and Patrick gave her a nice gift card.

"Thanks, you guys, this was so sweet".

"Ok, kids. Bedtime".

Savanna grabbed Aunt Jennifer's hand and she took her upstairs and tucked her in and read a few stories.

Savanna was just about to fall asleep when they were done.

"I love you, princess. I promise I will call you in a few days and I will be home before you know it".

"I love you too Aunt Jeffer".

She gave her several kisses and big hug and then Jennifer went back downstairs.

She helped Caroline clean up, and then all the adults went out on the deck to sit by the firepit.

They were all talking and laughing, and having a good time in spite of the fact that Jonathan was mad at Jennifer.

If someone who didn't know any of them had been watching, they wouldn't have been able to tell that he was upset.

"So, what are you guys doing in the week ahead?"

"Well, Savanna has a party at school, that I am going to help with. And Luke has two soccer games. And we have an appointment on Wednesday to check on the baby".

"And I will be busy rebuilding my company, what's left of it, thanks to you".

"Jonathan, that's not fair".

"Oh, it's more than fair. Your article with my company's name in it has cost me a lot, and will probably cost me a lot more."

"I told you, I report the facts and nothing else."

"You still could have chosen to keep my company's name out of it".

"What kind of journalist would I be if I had done that?"

"The kind that cares about other people, the kind that isn't selfish".

Jennifer got up and stormed inside.

Caroline came in a few minutes later, and found her coming out of the bathroom.

"Don't let him get to you, he's just scared right now".

"Yeah, well, I'm tired of him blaming me for his issues. Maybe he should be more selective about which companies he purchases".

"I agree with you. In time, he'll calm down and he won't be as angry with you and everyone else".

"Well, I better go. I have some more packing to do. I hope Savanna isn't too devastated when she gets up tomorrow".

"She'll be fine. She just loves you so much".

"I love her too. I am going to really miss all of you".

"Well, as soon as you get back, we will plan a mega coffee-pedi-dinner date."

"Sounds good".

Jennifer walked outside to the deck and told Patrick goodbye.

"See you in a few months".

She turned to Jonathan.

"Bye Jonathan".

He wouldn't even look at her.

She walked back inside and Caroline walked her to the door.

"Bye. I'll call you when I get there and get settled".

"I love you, be careful".

"I love you too, thanks for having me over".

"Anytime".

She walked to the car and drove home, staying focused on all that she had to do before her plane left the next day.

Caroline tried to talk to Jonathan in hopes that he would see that Jennifer wasn't to blame, but it was no use. He insisted that she didn't have to report about his company.

"This is why I never grant interviews, I never talk to reporters when they call me or hound me. It always leads to things like this".

"Jennifer wasn't trying to hurt you or anyone else. She was simply reporting the facts on an assignment she was given".

"So she says".

"Jonathan, would I lie to you? Come on, you have known me a long time. I have known Jennifer a long time. She isn't like that. Can't you just find it in your heart to forgive her?"

He hesitated.

"If I lose my company because of this, I don't think so".