Chapter 20

Lexi rolled the pearl necklace between her index finger and thumb, appreciating the feel of the fine jewels against her fingertips. She quickly dropped them back inside her small crossbody purse that was hidden beneath her sweater, then took a seat at the bus stop. The sun was just beginning to rise, but the light mist from the early morning fog brushing against her face sent a chill down her spine. Or was it the dread of what she was about to do?

She rested her back against the black metal bench, glancing to her left to look down the street. She had left her mother a note explaining that she had a client who worked the nightshift and she wanted to clean his apartment early so she would be home in time for Beverly's bridal shower. She always hated lying to her mother; no matter how often she did it, it never got any easier. She had been trying to think of another way out of the dilemma she was in, but she always came back to the same conclusion – what she was about to do was the only way to ensure the safety of those whom she loved the most. This was the only way, her only choice.

Watching the early morning traffic driving past her in the dimness of a new day brought back so many memories, none of them good. She tasted the bile rising in the back of her throat and swallowed hard to force it back down. Finally, she heard the chugging of the city bus making the turn onto her street. The squelching sound of the worn-out brakes combining with the smell of diesel fuel sent her mind reeling back to the days when she was returning to her apartment with a small bundle of cash for a night's work – most of which she would have to give to her pimp, Ricardo. She stood up as the bus doors opened, her mouth going dry and her stomach lurching as the memories flooded her mind and body. She instinctively crossed her arms, allowing her to secretly secure her purse a little tighter, then stepped on board.

The bus held only a few passengers, none of whom made eye contact with her. She dropped her coins into the box and took a seat beside a window. As the bus pulled back into the early morning traffic, she leaned her head against the window and closed her eyes. Soon it would all be over.

As the bus lumbered down the streets, the buildings became more dilapidated; the streets contained more potholes, and the sidewalks began to fill with people marginalized by society. There were a few homeless men lying on benches, drunkards staggering between buildings, and prostitutes congregated at busy intersections. It was an area familiar to her.

When the bus made a stop near a 24-hour liquor store, she exited and headed for the back door of a nearby tattoo shop. What she needed could be purchased here – but only with cash or trade. She just hoped she had enough in her purse to make the exchange.

E!

Inside the seedy tattoo shop, the artist hung the closed sign between the burglar bars on the glass front door of his establishment. He normally used the hours between dawn and noon to catch up on his sleep. Mid-week tended to be a slow time for his craft, but the previous shift had been unusually busy for the portion of his enterprise that was a legitimate business. But it was the backroom deals that filled his pockets with cash and an assortment of other items of value. He was peeling off his black sleeveless tee shirt, the one that allowed him to show off the skull and crossbones tattoo that covered his muscular left bicep, when he heard the signal – two sets of three swift knocks on the backdoor, the entrance to the area he had turned into a studio apartment.

Quickly, he pulled the tee shirt back over his head, using one hand to scoop his shaggy dark curls from inside the shirt collar and allowed them to fall back down along his shoulders. He took a quick glimpse of his image in the wall mirror, taking the time to wax his handlebar mustache with his thick fingers, then opened the back door.

He used his large physique to block the entrance, propping his forearm against the doorframe. He needed to maintain his reputation as a rough and rowdy man who never picked a fight, but had ended plenty of them, sending more than one aggressor to the city morgue. No jury had ever convicted him of being guilty of anything other than self-defense.

He squinted down at the dark-haired waif standing before him with a hint of recognition in his eyes.

"Yea… What can I do for ya?"

Lexi gulped at the sound of the gruff voice, her heart feeling like it was tap dancing inside her chest. "Bones? It's me… Alexandria."

The man whose dark assortment of tattoos left no doubt as to the origin of his nickname, allowed a grin to sneak up on the right side of his face, revealing a shiny gold cap where his incisor was once located, a casualty of a bar fight many years before. He knitted his eyebrows together. "LaRue?"

"Yea… I… I need a favor."

The giant of a man looked down both sides of the back ally, needing to convince himself that she was alone. "Thought you got killed or somethin'."

"Must have been the 'or something'… 'cause I ain't dead," Lexi replied.

"So, I see," he retorted, eyeing her suspiciously. "You go rogue?" He asked, again using his dark eyes to scan the alley. He knew that if she was working without a pimp, she could be in great danger.

"Kind of," she spoke up, pulling her sweater tighter around her shoulders. "May I come in? I swear, I'm alone."

The hulking man stepped aside, silently inviting her inside and quickly locking the door behind him. "You wired?" he asked, turning on the bright overhead light.

Lexi had anticipated the question. She quickly stripped off her sweater and Boho-style olive green blouse. She turned around slowly, allowing him to scan her clad in only her bra from the waist up.

"A'right," he replied, satisfied that she was being honest with him. He quickly extinguished the fluorescent lighting and turned on a couple of lamps, preferring the dimly lit room as it better suited his personality and mood. He waved an arm towards the small wooden table with a couple of mismatched chairs. "Have a seat and tell me what's goin' on."

Reaching for her clothing and purse, her hand was quickly gripped tight to stop her movement.

"Nu-uh… I prefer this view," he said, running the back of his stubby fingers down the silky skin of her bare upper arm.

Lexi shivered, but maintained her composure. "Ahem," she cleared her throat, trying to take a seat at the chair nearest her only point of egress from the dingy room. The chair was quickly jerked away from her, leaving her with no choice but to sit in a position that allowed him to use his body to block the exit. She swallowed hard. She could do this. "Um… You know that Ricardo is in jail, right?"

Bones reached for a hand-rolled cigarette, retrieving a lighter from a basket in the center of the table. He flicked the metal lighter, an orange flame glowing tall in front of his face. He inhaled a deep drag, puffing out a smoke ring that drifted like a ghost across the table between the two of them. Clicking the lighter closed, he tossed it back into place, drawing another drag from the unfiltered cigarette before resting it between his fingers.

"Yea… I heard you was the one that got 'im locked up… Any truth to that?"

"Some," the nervous young woman replied. "I didn't mean to… I mean, I didn't set 'im up or nothin' like that," she replied, easily slipping back into her street accent.

"Hey, ain't no skin off my ass, ya know?" He said, continuing to stare at her small perky bosom. She was nervous and he liked it. He could tell she was breathing rapidly. "He's a cocky son'bitch," he laughed, lifting the cigarette to his mouth again. "Smoke?" he asked.

"Um, no thanks. I, uh… Anyway, he's gettin' out in a few weeks and," Lexi looked away from him, hating the way his eyes were undressing her even further. "Well… he says I gotta pay a ransom to get back in the stable."

Bones grinned wickedly. "Is that why you out workin' rogue?"

"I actually found a legit job," Lexi began, but quickly tamped down her pride. "It just don't pay enough for me to pay my ransom once he gets out. I mean, I don't have 'nough time to make the money I need so…"

Bones snuffed out the remainder of the cigarette. "What do ya need from me?"

"Protection."

"Protection?" He asked, a snicker escaping from his chapped lips. "You know I ain't in that part of the business."

"I know," Lexi replied. "I want to work solo until he gets out. That way I can keep all the money, but there's too many men out there lookin' to add another girl. I ain't wantin' to choose up. I just want to work alone between now and when Ricardo gets out so I can pay him the money to get my place back."

Bones leaned his forearms on the table, moving his face closer to hers. "You needin' a piece?"

Lexi relaxed a little, knowing that he understood what she needed. "Yes, something small so I can keep it in my purse but big enough to get me out of a jam, if needed."

Bones pressed his lips together tightly. "You need a small weapon with the serial number filed off. Somethin' that you can keep loaded at all times."

"Yes… exactly. You got anything like that?"

He leaned back in his seat, realizing that he had what she needed… and she had what he wanted. "Cash or trade?"

"Depends on how much," she replied, watching him lick his lips.

"I see… You goin' by Ric's street name for ya, or do ya need a fresh ID, too?" His mind was reeling. He knew exactly what she needed to stay somewhat safe and have a chance against the vice cops that worked these sordid streets. He also knew that his price was rising. And her desperation was having quite an effect on his lower anatomy.

"I need another name. Pigs know the LaRue name and that I'm s'posed to be dead… I'll need somethin' new."

"It'll cost ya, but I can hook ya up."

Lexi thought about the $180 dollars she carried in her purse. She had wanted to go by Mike's apartment first to drop off the pearls, but she had been too afraid that the money she had saved wouldn't be enough to get her what she needed. She only had three weeks left to make this work. The pearls were her guarantee to get what she needed.

"How much?"

Bones looked at her. "How much is Ric's ransom?"

"$300."

"Do you got that much in that little purse of yours?" he asked, knowing she probably didn't.

"That's why I need to get back out there," she explained, skillfully dodging his question. "I don't have that much saved up yet, and I'm runnin' out o' time."

"Nah… With what you got to offer, you can make that in no time," he grinned again, knowing he was making her feel uneasy.

"I know… but I can't go back out there without some kind o' protection and I can't let Ricardo down… He'll…"

"Oh, I know what he'll do," Bones spoke up, opening the pouch of tobacco and rolling papers. "Hell… he's hired me to do it for him a few times… It gets uuugggly if you don't pay up."

"I know… And I want to pay up… So… that's what brings me here."

"I can get ya a decent piece that the cops can't trace. That also means it can't get traced back to me. If ya get in a bind… just throw it down. Your fingerprints are on record so if ya get caught, that's jus' your tough luck, understood?"

She nodded her head.

"Now, I got a few student IDs from New Mexico State that'll work for ya. That'll cost extra, but it'll give ya a clean record if ya get arrested and they run your ID." He stood up, heading for a desk with a library card catalog box on top. He quickly thumbed through the cards until he pulled out two white paper cards that had been laminated. "You want short hair or long?"

"Doesn't matter," she replied, uncaringly.

He pulled the first card, tossing the identification onto the table in front of her. "You are now Gabriella Gomez," he laughed. "Ironic, don't ya think?"

Lexi picked up her new identity, staring at the pretty face that looked back at her. "No other last name?"

"Hey, Ric will love it that you took his last name as your new street name," he laughed, then pulled his keyring off a hook on the wall. He stared back at her. "Stay put."

Lexi stared at the student identification, determined to commit her new demographic information to memory. She heard the clanking sounds of locks and doors. His heavy footfalls announced his return several steps before he entered the room. He gently set down a small box of bullets and a small revolver.

"$225."

Lexi gulped back the dread that had been crowding her like a shadow. "I… don't have that much."

"C'mon… I know you came here prepared to get what you need. Now… what do ya say?"

E!

Mike slipped his key into the lock of his apartment door and gently turned it. His mind had been reeling since leaving the station. Had Lexi returned the pearls? His anxiety level had risen with each step he had taken to his second-floor apartment. As soon as he entered, his eyes went immediately to the bowl in the foyer and his heart sank. It was empty.

"Damn it, Lex," he cursed, closing and locking the door behind him.

His heart ached for the missed opportunity. He had been hoping he would be able to call Roy and let him know that Joanne's grandmother's pearls were in his possession. Now he feared that Joanne would confront Lexi at the bridal shower later this afternoon. If that happened, then the shower, the bachelor party, and the wedding may all be tainted by anger and mistrust. Why, he wondered, hadn't she returned the pearls? He had no doubt she had them.

Mike ran his hand down his face, grimacing at the stubble growing along his lower jaw. He carried his duffle bag to his bedroom, emptying it into his clothes hamper. He quickly stripped off his street clothes and headed for the shower. Although the previous shift had not been especially busy, he needed to let the hot water run over his shoulders to release the tense muscles.

Half an hour later, he was cleaning up his breakfast dishes. He hadn't been particularly hungry. He scraped the scrambled eggs into his garbage can, then returned the dishes to the sink. He ran hot water into the sink with a few drops of dishwashing liquid. He stared at the bubbles that began to form. He hated being caught between the proverbial rock and hard place, which left him with no choice but to betray someone he cared for deeply. If he allowed Lexi to continue working as a housekeeper for his landlady, then he was betraying Ms. Higginbottom's trust. But if he alerted her to Lexi's recent behavior, then he was betraying the trust he had worked so hard to build with Lexi. He was truly in a no-win situation. Turning off the water, he released a deep sigh. It was Lexi who had ultimately left him with no choice. Being a man of integrity helped him make his decision easily. He had to do the right thing.

He dried off his hands on a paper towel, then headed for the door. He needed to talk to Ms. Higginbottom.

E!

Lexi stepped off the bus a block from Mike's apartment complex. She still felt nauseous, but she had an apartment to clean before she could head home. At least that part of the note she had left her mother was the truth. As she rounded the corner to enter the complex, she saw Mike talking to Ms. Higginbottom. She hesitated for a moment, feeling a sense of relief when he stepped inside the older woman's apartment. She quickly made her way to her destination, thankful to have avoided a confrontation with him.

Inside the manager's apartment, Mike felt his head begin to throb as he relayed what he knew to Ms. Higginbottom.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Yes, ma'am. I mean, she hasn't admitted to the theft, but no one else had the opportunity," he explained. He didn't elaborate on Lexi's past. To him, it was irrelevant to the situation.

Ms. Higginbottom began to tap her fingers on the armrest of her chair, obviously trying to decide on her next course of action. "I thought she was being paid a fair wage for her services. I don't understand why she would steal."

Mike pressed his lips into a thin line, never responding to her statement.

"Well, if you're sure she's guilty, then I don't have a choice but to let her go, do I?"

The engineer felt his stomach tighten. He knew that if Lexi lost her job, it would only hasten her downward spiral. "I don't know what to tell you, Ms. Higginbottom."

"Well, I guess you've told me enough." The older woman pushed her graying hair off her forehead. "I guess I'll have a talk with her. She should be finishing up at Mr. Trione's apartment," she added, reaching for her address book and thumbing through her tenant phone number list. She looked back at her young friend, seeing the anguish on his handsome features. "I appreciate you bringing this to my attention, Mike. I know it must've been difficult for you."

"Yes, ma'am." He stood up, feeling like he had just sentenced Lexi to her doom. "I guess I'd better go. I need to pick up my dress uniform for my friend's wedding tomorrow, and I have a few other errands to run before all the stores close for Thanksgiving."

Mike slowly walked out of his landlady's apartment and headed for his truck. How was he going to explain this to Marco? The man didn't even know that his sister had stolen Joanne's heirloom jewelry. He just hoped he could keep his lineman from finding out the truth until after the wedding. Marco deserved happiness, and his sister had caused nothing but heartache over the last five years. Perhaps everyone would have been better off if he had never rescued her. He walked into his apartment regretting having that thought. Had he never gotten Lexi off the streets, then Marco and Beverly would never have met. At least something good had come out of this situation… but then again, without Lexi, Joanne would still have her pearls.

It was noon before Mike finally made his way back to his apartment. He carried his dress uniform over his shoulder and had a pocket full of money. The A-shift from Station 51 had decided to take up a collection for Marco and Beverly – a financial gift to ensure they had a very nice honeymoon. Although only the A-shift would be gathering with the groom tonight, the other two shifts and several men from other stations who had previously worked with Marco had all joined in on the gift. Mike had been tasked with collecting the donations to be presented to Marco tonight. It had taken longer than he had anticipated.

He closed the door behind him, tossing his keys into the bowl in his foyer as was his common practice, but an unexpected sight made him nearly drop his uniform. He quickly tossed the garment across the back of his recliner to free up his hands to examine the contents of the bowl – a long string of pearls with matching dangle earrings.

"Well, I'll be damned," Mike cursed.

Then a sinking feeling formed in the pit of his stomach. He had already alerted Ms. Higginbottom to Lexi's nefarious behavior. Was it too late to try to stop her from firing Lexi?

He rushed to his phone and quickly dialed his landlady's number, whispering to himself. "C'mon… pick it up." He was afraid that she had left her apartment to search the complex for her wayward housekeeper. He was about to hang up when he heard her answer the phone.

"Hello?"

"I'm so glad I caught you, Ms. Higginbottom. I wanted to let you know that the missing jewelry has been found," he blurted out. He was careful not to deny Lexi's guilt, hoping that Ms. Higginbottom would simply infer that the jewelry had been misplaced by the owner.

"Oh…"

Mike caught the hesitation in her voice and wondered if she was still considering firing Lexi. "Ms. Higginbottom… is everything okay?"

"Ahem," the woman cleared her throat. "Thank you for letting me know. I appreciate your honesty."

Before he could ask about her plans for Lexi, he heard Ms. Higginbottom hang up, leaving him feeling like he had done something wrong. Lexi had returned the stolen jewelry, but what was going to become of her job? He had hoped that Ms. Higginbottom might be willing to give her another chance, but the telephone conversation left him thinking otherwise.

He didn't have time to contemplate the odd conversation with Ms. Higginbottom. He had to inform Roy and Joanne that the stolen pearls had been returned.

Inside Ms. Higginbottom's apartment, the older woman looked at her young housekeeper with sorrowful eyes. A few minutes before Mike's phone call, she had seen Lexi carrying a small bag of garbage to the dumpster. She had motioned for Lexi to come inside her apartment, not wanting a confrontation in the courtyard where residents might overhear them. Now, Lexi stood with her head hanging down, her eyes downcast.

Ms. Higginbottom could tell by the look on Lexi's face, that she had recognized Mike's voice. "I never meant for you to overhear that conversation, Lexi. I hadn't planned on telling you who had filed the complaint."

Lexi stood stoically, feeling as if her life was unravelling in a way she had never expected. She silently berated herself… not for taking that which did not belong to her. Instead, she gritted her teeth together. How could she have been so careless as to trust a man? She had been so determined to return the pearls, that when Bones had suggested a trade in exchange for the balance of what she owed for her weapon and new ID, she had actually taken him up on the offer, trading what little dignity she had left instead of the pearls.

She rubbed the bruise that had formed on her right wrist. Bones had been rough, but she had expected that. Once the transaction was completed, she had nearly vomited. But it was over now. On the other hand, Mike had told her where to leave the jewelry and he would take care of the situation with the DeSotos with no questions asked. Instead, he had rushed to judge her and do what he could to destroy her. At one time, she had considered Mike to be as kind and trustworthy as her own eldest brother. But now she knew the truth. She couldn't trust him. So, was there anyone in whom she could place her faith? The answer shot through her like a bolt of lightning. There were only two people she knew she could count on for her future… herself, and Gabriella Gomez.

"I'm sorry this didn't work out, Ms. Higginbottom."

"Nonsense, dear," the older woman replied. "I think this was all just a big misunderstanding. You do good work, Lexi. I'd like for you to stay on."

"Really?"

"Of course. Let's just forget this conversation ever happened, alright?"

"Yes, ma'am. Thank you." Lexi nodded her agreement with a smile, her face in stark contrast to the coldness she was feeling in her heart. She didn't bother telling her employer that she would only be available a few more weeks. It didn't matter. She had learned a long time ago that she was nothing more than a commodity – disposable and easily replaced.

E!

It was early afternoon when Joanne pulled her station wagon up to the curb in front of the Lopez residence. She shifted into park but sat staring at the older two-story home for a moment. She was stillreeling with the news that her pearls had been returned, so much so that she had insisted on Roy going to Mike's apartment to retrieve them immediately.

Now she sat staring at the home of the young woman she knew had violated her private space. How was she going to react to seeing Lexi for the first time since the theft?

"C'mon, Joanne," she mumbled to herself, grabbing her gift and shouldering her purse. "This is all about Beverly, not Lexi." Then she hesitated, lowering the gift back to the seat and opening up her purse. She had promised Roy that she wouldn't create a seen at the shower by confronting Lexi… but she hadn't promised him anything else. She quickly removed her gold hoop earrings, setting them in the empty ashtray beneath the car radio. Quickly, she removed her precious pearl earrings from her purse and put them on. She was still very angry and hurt by Lexi's actions. In some small way, flaunting the jewelry in front of the other woman felt like vindication.

She was greeted on the front porch by Bri, the younger woman was all smiles.

"Hi, Joanne. It's so nice to see you again," Bri said, opening the front door.

The smell of fresh bread baking along with a mixture of various sweet, spicy, and fruity smells wafted from the kitchen. The living room was decorated with yellow and white paper wedding bells, streamers, and flowers. The kitchen table had been moved into the living room and was covered with a white tablecloth. There was a fruit platter, various sandwiches, dips and tortilla chips, among other food items. A punch bowl contained a yellow fruit punch accented with an ice ring full of fruit.

Joanne added her gift to the others that were on the coffee table. "This is all so beautiful," she told the house matriarch and hostess of the shower.

"Thank you, Joanne," Maria replied with a huge smile on her face. "We'll leave the decorations up for tomorrow. All we'll need to do in the morning is set up the chairs in the backyard and add flowers to the arbor."

Lily and Iris smiled at each other, but it was Iris who spoke up. "They're ready to go. We're going to stop by the shop on our way here early tomorrow morning and pick them up. They need to stay in the refrigerator overnight."

"And I'll be here early to help," Jo replied.

"I'll be here, too," Bri added.

Caroline poured herself a cup of punch. "Well, I can't promise I'll be here early. Once I get Corrie dressed, I don't want her to get dirty. We'll probably be showing up just in time," she chuckled.

Lexi overheard the conversation as she came walking down the stairs. It had taken her nearly an hour to clean up from work and to get Antonio down for a nap. "I know what you mean, Caroline. It'll be a chore to keep Antonio clean, too."

"Those two will be the main attraction of the wedding," Beverly chuckled, her face glowing with happiness as she took the seat nearest the display of gifts.

Joanne tasted bile in the back of her throat at the sound of Lexi's voice. How could she behave as though nothing had happened? She nodded her agreement to Beverly, then moved toward the food table and began preparing a plate. She had to do something to keep her mouth busy so that she didn't say something she might regret later. With her plate in one hand and punch in the other, she found a seat strategically located directly across from where Lexi was sitting. Resting her plate on her lap, she used her free hand to curl her hair behind her ear, intentionally exposing her earring.

Lexi caught a glimpse of the earring Joanne was wearing and gulped. She could tell by the way the other woman was staring at her that she knew Lexi was the one who had taken – and returned – the stolen property. She quickly looked away, pretending to watch as Beverly began opening her gifts. She had mastered the art of the proverbial poker face. She could easily make her face unreadable by even the best psychotherapists in the business. It was a skill that had kept her safe many times because predators – even human ones – were able to read fear on the faces of their victims. Having an unreadable face had kept her from being killed more than once.

Joanne watched as Lexi refocused her attention, seemingly unmoved by the pearls. This lit a fire of rage inside Joanne that was not easily snuffed out. She forced a smile on her face as Beverly opened the gift from Dixie McCall – a large crystal vase. The woman had impeccable taste. "That will look beautiful with your bridal bouquet in it. You can place it on the table with your wedding cake tomorrow," Joanne announced, scarcely aware of what she was even saying.

By the time all the gifts had been opened, Joanne was seething. She barely heard Beverly thanking her for the monogrammed pillow cases she had given the happy couple. Bri noticed how distracted Joanne had become and how the older woman had stared as Lexi left the room to go upstairs to check on Antonio. As the other women were milling about, perusing through the gifts and filling their plates with more goodies, Bri took a seat beside Joanne.

"You seem distracted… Is everything okay?"

"I guess," she said with a soft smile. "It's just been a rough few weeks."

"I'm sorry, is there anything I can do to help?" Bri asked.

Joanne's smile genuinely warmed up. How was it that Bri and Lexi had come from such similar pasts, and yet, Bri was caring while Lexi was cold and calloused? "No, I'll be okay. It's just that…" Now was her chance and she couldn't stop the words from flowing from her mouth, no matter what Roy had asked of her. "Well, I had some jewelry stolen a few weeks ago and… It got returned today. I guess I should be happy but… the thief won't be punished and… it just seems a little unfair."

Bri took one look at the pearls Joanne was wearing. "I'm sorry, Jo. I know how life can be unfair at times. I'm glad you got them back." She looked around the room, realizing that Lexi was still upstairs. "Um, excuse me."

Joanne watched Bri head for the stairs. Perhaps she was going to talk to Lexi about what she had done. She took a cleansing breath knowing that if anyone could get through to Lexi, it was her best friend.

Joanne stood up, seeing Maria beginning to collect the crumpled paper scraps and adding them to the overflowing garbage can. "Let me help you with this."

"Thank you, Joanne. I'll just go get another bag and check on the pastries in the oven. It's the last batch I have to make for tomorrow," Maria said with a satisfied smile.

While Joanne was tidying up the area around the coffee table, she saw Antonio coming down the stairs. She recognized the distressed look on the youngster's face. He was rubbing the sleep from his eyes when she walked over to him. "Hey, there. Have a good nap?"

He shook his head negatively and looked like he might cry. "Momma and Aunt Bri are fighting," he groaned.

"Uh-oh," she grimaced. "I'm sure it's just a little misunderstanding. I'll go check on them and we'll get Aunt Rebecca to fix you a plate of snacks, okay?" She saw the little boy's face light up. "Rebecca? We have a little man over here who woke up hungry from his nap."

Rebecca Stanley grinned at the sight of Antonio walking towards her. "C'mon, Ant. Let's see what we can find good to eat. I think the ladies left enough for you," she said, rubbing the little boy's head.

Joanne went up the stairs quickly, hesitating at the sounds coming from Lexi's bedroom. It was the unmistakable sounds of two women trying to argue in hushed voices.

"Why can't you admit it, Lex. Those pearls you said Mike gave you were really Joanne's, weren't they? That's why you never wore them."

Lexi stared at her former friend. "Why are you bein' such a bitch? This has nothing to do with you!"

"Because I'm your friend. And Joanne is my friend, too. How could you do it, Lexi?"

Joanne couldn't stop herself. She pushed through the bedroom door, unannounced. "I'd like to hear the answer to that question," she said. Looking back and forth between the two women.

Lexi looked up, stunned that Joanne had intruded into her bedroom. "Both of you, get out of my room."

"Oh, are you feeling like your privacy is being violated?" Joanne asked, sarcastically. "You know that I could have you arrested, right?"

"For what? I didn't do anything," she replied, feigning innocence. "Besides, you've got your precious pearls back."

Joanne felt the venom spewing and felt helpless to stop it. "Only a pathetic excuse for a human being would steal something from those who have tried to help her."

"I don't NEED your help, Joanne! I can make it just fine on my own!"

"Oh yea? Then why'd you take them?" Bri asked, crossing her arms.

"Go to hell," Lexi spat out.

"Lived there for five years, sister… same as you," Bri shot back. "The only difference is that I'm out for good. I ain't goin' back on the streets. Can you say that?"

Joanne's eyes widened. "Is that what you're planning on doing? How could you do that to your son?"

"What I do with my life is my business," she exclaimed. "Besides, what's the difference in me going back out on the streets and me being arrested for theft of property? Either way, I'm taken away from Antonio. So, if you want to have me arrested, then go ahead, Joanne." She glared at the other woman, knowing she was hitting her where it hurt the most. "Go ahead and explain to Antonio why his mother can't be with him. It'll be YOUR fault that he loses his mother again."

"No… It'll be his mother's fault… and it always seems to be the children who pay for the sins of their parents." Joanne stepped closer to the younger woman, ensuring that Lexi heard every word she was about to say. "But let me assure you of one thing. If you leave that child and go back to selling yourself, I WILL do everything in my power to make sure you can never have the chance to hurt him again."

"You think I'm afraid of jail?"

"You're afraid of something," Joanne shot back.

"I know what you're afraid of," Bri added, remembering Lexi's reaction in the DA's office when Bri had almost told the prosecutor about Ricardo Gomez's secret. "And if you go back out there, I'll make sure the DA knows the truth."

Lexi felt her nostrils flaring in anger at Bri for her comment, but she skillfully deflected Bri's comment by keeping her attention on Joanne.

"You can't prove a damn thing, Jo. So, you'll just look like a fool signing a warrant for my arrest for stealing something that YOU have in your possession." She scoffed in the face of the older woman. "Do you know how many times I've been arrested? All it takes is a few minutes in a back room and the charges will be dropped," she laughed. "I know how dirty the LA cops are and I know what they like," she smirked. "So, don't threaten me with arrest."

Joanne was seething. She narrowed her eyes. "There's still some time on the statute of limitations. It's not a threat, Lexi. It's a promise."

A soft knock on the door made all three women adjust their facial expression. No one else needed to know what had just occurred.

"Is everything alright?" Beverly asked, peering into the room through the partially opened door.

"Yes," Joanne announced, quickly recovering a sense of decorum. "I was just admiring the dresses you picked out for your bridesmaids," she added, turning to look at the floor-length gown still hanging on the back of Lexi's closet door. "I think Bri and Lexi will look beautiful standing with you tomorrow."

"No one will be as beautiful as the bride," Bri piped up, not wanting to alert her friend to the tension between Joanne and Lexi.

Beverly's blush colored her face. Joanne decided to use the pause in conversation as her cue to leave.

"I guess I need to be heading out. Roy has the kids and I'm sure he doesn't want to be late for Marco's bachelor party.

Joanne said her good-byes and promised to arrive early the following morning to assist with the final bit of decorating for the wedding. All the way home, she replayed the events of the bridal shower. Lexi had not only stolen from her, but she had also looked her directly in the eyes and lied about the theft. For what purpose had she stolen the jewelry? And what about Bri's comment? What was it that Lexi was so afraid of and why did the DA need to know?

By the time she pulled the car into their garage, she was more confused than ever, and she couldn't stop the feeling of dread that had settled into her heart. She couldn't help but recall Antonio's wish for a Daddy for Christmas… and now she was wondering if he was even going to have his mother around by then. Would he be better off without Lexi in his life? The young mother's words were haunting Joanne's thoughts… If she filed charges against Lexi, Antonio could lose his mother while she spent time in jail. Could she live with those consequences of her actions, even if Lexi was ultimately to blame? She pushed those dark thoughts aside and decided to focus only on the upcoming wedding. It was time to celebrate the joyous occasion. It wasn't until she walked into the house and caught the look on Roy's face that her heart sank into the pit of her stomach. In her worry about the confrontation with Lexi, she had completely forgotten to put her gold hoop earrings back on… and now Roy's face was turning red as he saw her wearing the earrings he had expressly forbidden her to wear to the shower.

E!

Johnny glanced to his right at the seething man sitting in the passenger's seat of the Rover. "Please tell me you aren't going to be this pissed off when we get to Cinders," Johnny stated, staring at Roy as he drove them towards the familiar bar.

"I just hope Lily will be a better wife to you than Joanne is to me," the older man groused.

"What?"

Roy shook his head, letting his partner know that he was not interested in talking further about the matter. "Nothing."

Johnny splayed his right hand over his chest, steering with his left. "This isn't nothin'," the junior medic piped up. "C'mon, I know you, and this is something big."

"She disobeyed a direct order, alright?" Roy spat out. He could feel the vein in his left temple pounding as it bulged.

"Are we talkin' about Jennifer or Jo?" Johnny knew very well that Joanne was the topic of the heated conversation but still felt he needed to make a point. "Joanne's a grown woman. She doesn't have to obey you, Pally."

"Do you know what she did?" Roy began, not giving his friend time to answer. "She deliberately wore her grandmother's pearl earrings to Beverly's shower this afternoon! I specifically told her not to because I didn't want her stirring up anything with Lexi, but she did it anyway!"

Johnny returned his attention to the road ahead with a low whistle. "Oh."

"Yea… Oh, is right. Now I've got to face Marco for what would have been a very pleasant evening but he's going to be pissed as hell at me for what Jo did!" The man leaned his head against the head rest. "I can't believe she did it," he mumbled.

"Well, not to state the obvious, but I believe it was Lexi who did it. Joanne has a right to wear what she wants, so if it offended Lexi, then that's because-"

"I know, Johnny. I get it, alright. Just… Just let me be mad for a little while, okay?" Roy said with an angry huff. He had not inquired about the events at the shower. He had been too angry at Joanne to have a rational conversation with her. Now he wished he had taken the time to find out what had happened. If he had done that, at least he wouldn't be caught off guard by whatever Marco was about to say to him.

E!

Inside Cinders, Hank and Mike sat at the large round table in the back room, counting out the money that had been collected from Marco's firefighter family.

"Three hundred and eighty-four dollars. Can you believe it, Cap?"

Hank smiled, reaching for his wallet. "I'll make it an even $400," he said, tossing the additional bills on the table.

As Mike put the bills into denominational order, smallest to largest, he didn't notice musing as he stared out the window. The older man was reminiscing about the night he had gotten drunk and been taken home by his men. He had blamed himself for losing a lineman under his command and had chosen to bury his grief in the bottom of a bottle.

Hank scrubbed his face with his hand as he recalled the events that followed that night. He nearly lost both of his families. No one would have blamed his wife if she had divorced him and moved away with the girls. And his crew had every right to have filed grievances against him for his on-duty behavior, especially Chet. Instead, they had rallied around him, forgiven him, and he had been restored completely – back with his crew, and especially with his wife and daughters. Therapy had helped him and his family recover those dark days and he had so much to be thankful for… Now he hoped that his senior lineman would have a marriage as strong as the one he now shared with his beautiful wife, Becca.

"Okay, fellas," Glenda announced, walking into the room carrying an enormous tray. "Here's peanuts, pretzels, sandwiches, and extra napkins. When everyone arrives, I'll bring out the nachos, icy mugs, and pitchers of draft beer. Can you think of anything else?"

"Sounds like you've got it all covered, Glenda. We really appreciate everything you're doing."

"And I've got the phone numbers for a couple of designated drivers who have offered their services, should the need arise," she said, patting the back pocket of her jeans. A few retired firemen had found a way to continue with the fire service by volunteering to be designated drivers any time a fellow firefighter needed it. She had already alerted a couple of them to be on call for the night's festivities. Ever since her firefighter husband had died while on duty, she had taken it upon herself to make sure that the men who patronized Cinders made it home safely.

"Thank you, Glenda," Mike added, nodding a greeting to 51's medics as they walked into the room.

"Party started already?" Johnny asked, hoping his jovial mood might lighten the atmosphere for his partner.

"Can't start without the guest of honor," Hank tossed out, watching as the door closed behind the exiting waitress.

"Chet's bringing him, right?"

Johnny was relieved by the normal sound of Roy's voice as he asked the question. It was Hank who answered.

"Yes… and that twit better not pull some stupid stunt," the senior man chuckled.

"You callin' Gage a stupid dunce, Cap?" Chet laughed, ushering the man of the hour into the room. He had only heard part of his captain's comment, but his misunderstanding had brought a round of laughter from the assembled men.

Johnny slapped Marco on the back, encouraging the groom towards the table that had been set up for them. "Ain't too late to back out, ya know," he suggested, picking up a plate and handing it to Marco.

Marco accepted the proffered plate and began piling it high with sandwiches and pretzels. "I'm not backing out… not now," he grinned under his mustache.

"Nachos and beer are here, fellas," Glenda announced, entering the room. She set down the tray and began unloading the items. She had set up the food on one table so the men would have room for their beer on the large round table. When she had finished, she looked around the room. "Congratulations, Marco. Your future wife is one lucky lady."

"I'm the lucky one," Marco said, his face glowing.

With his plate full, he took a seat at the table beside his captain while Hank began filling mugs with the ice-cold brew. Johnny filled two plates with food, passing one to Hank as he took his seat at the table beside his partner. He gave Roy a knowing look and was thankful when Roy offered a soft smile. Marco hadn't said anything about the events of the afternoon, so maybe the shower had not gone as badly as Roy had imagined.

"So, Roy, Cap… any words of wisdom for me?" Marco asked, shifting his eyes between the two married men sitting at the table.

"Two words," Hank said, holding up two fingers. "Yes… Dear."

"Three words," Roy added, mimicking Hank's gesture with his own hand. "Whatever you say."

There was a round of laughter and a few comments of good-natured ribbing as the men enjoyed themselves. When there was a lull in the conversation, Chet was the one who broke it.

"So, what's it like to be able to have sex whenever you want it?" the jovial lineman questioned the two married men.

Roy coughed into his closed fist while Hank leveled his junior lineman with a look reminiscent of the face he often gave Chet just before he ordered him to latrine duty for something the Phantom had done. "We'll let you know when we find out," the senior man deadpanned.

"Yea… both of you," Roy added, waving a hand between the two linemen. "Hell, all three of you," he added, waving his hand in Johnny's direction, "are about to have your sex lives come to a screeching halt," he chuckled.

"Are you trying to tell me that Mike here will be the only one gettin' any action once we all tie the knot?"

Both married men gave resounding affirmations while the quiet one of the crew felt a wave of heat coloring his face and ears. The engineer chose that moment to take a bite out of his sandwich so he wouldn't have to respond to the comment. As all the men began to discuss their significant others, he realized that he had never felt lonelier in his life. Tomorrow's wedding was only going to serve as another reminder of his life as a bachelor. He had always presumed that by this point in his life, he would be married or at least heading in that direction. He had also hoped to be a father. Was he doomed to spend the rest of his life in quiet solitude in a one-bedroom apartment while the rest of his friends moved on with wives and kids? With whom would he spend his off time once all the other men were married? As his mind drifted farther and farther into what seemed to be a bleak future, he had to ask himself… was it time for him to leave Lexi in his past and move on without her or Antonio? And if so… how?