A/N: Thanks for your reviews!

Chapter 84-Chasing Pavements

Late Tuesday afternoon, the door of Johanna's office opened, pulling her attention away from the file cabinet to meet Sharon's gaze.

"You have a visitor," Sharon stated.

Johanna's brow rose. "A visitor?"

"Yes…not a client."

"Is it my mother?" she asked, fearing that Naomi had come for an in-person confrontation about her ordering the flowers the night before with her father…and without her input.

"No."

"Then who is it?"

"Based on the name she gave me, I'm guessing it's your soon to be mother-in-law," Sharon remarked.

"What name did she give?"

"Elizabeth Beckett."

Johanna sighed, just when her week had been looking up. "That's her."

"Your future holidays look bleak if that's who you're going to be looking at across the table," her secretary remarked.

Johanna's chin jutted upwards; Sharon had been snarky with her every chance she had gotten since the day before which is why she had been keeping the office door closed. "At least I'll only see her on holidays…unlike your mother-in-law who barges into your house on any given day she pleases."

"At least she's never tried to poison me," Sharon retorted.

"Give her time…she hasn't met all of your faces yet," Johanna shot back.

"What the hell does that mean?"

"You know what it means."

Sharon shifted on her feet, her jaw tightening. "Do you have something you want to say?"

"Yeah, I think I do," Johanna replied. "You've been acting like a bitch ever since we went dress shopping. I know you don't like the color I picked. I know you don't like the dress I picked. Well guess what, it's my wedding and I get to make the choices, not you, not my mother. Now if your dress is going to distress you so much that you can't function as a normal human being, then by all means, drop out and I'll replace you, because I think that's what you want anyway, so just say the word, Sharon, and we'll be done with it."

"I didn't say I wanted out of your wedding," she said sharply. "But I do hate the color. I do hate the dress and I still don't think Maggie deserves to be maid of honor!"

"Well, again, not your decision, it's mine. I didn't feel that Phil's teeny bopper sister deserved to be your maid of honor, especially after you had done given me the job and I had bought the ugly dress you had picked, but you kicked me out anyway and gave it to her so don't go acting like you're some authority on wedding etiquette. You haven't been the friend to me that you used to be…but Maggie has. Maggie got the job, you didn't, so suck it up and either be happy to be a bridesmaid or get out. That decision is yours; all I ask is that you don't wait until the last minute to make it. Now for the last time, I will make the decisions for my wedding. If you're going to remain in my wedding, you will wear the dress I chose and be happy with the place I gave you. Now this topic is closed, do you understand?"

"Yeah, I understand. You're not the friend you used to be either, you know that?"

Johanna held her gaze. "Because you've made it that way, Sharon. Over the last year and a half, I've seen you turn into someone I barely know and it's disappointing to say the least but I figure if that's what you want, so be it…but I don't have to let you walk on me just prove some sense of loyalty to you. Now this conversation is over. When you want to act like yourself again, then we'll talk."

"What do you want me to do about your guest? She has a kid with her," Sharon said, her tone sharp.

"A kid?"

She nodded. "A girl, blonde hair, maybe about seven years old. What do you want me to tell them?"

Johanna pondered that for a moment but figured there was really only one answer that she could give. "Send them in, I may as well see what it's about."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, why wouldn't I be?"

"Well we all know you two don't get along. You'd think you wouldn't want to cause a scene at the office," Sharon replied.

"I'm not afraid of her, Sharon. She gets as good as she gives and I don't care who knows it. I don't have any more clients coming in today so I don't feel a need to worry about whatever it is that she's here about."

"Alright," Sharon said, her tone hinting that she thought she was making a mistake.

Johanna rolled her eyes and turned back to the file cabinet to finish putting her files in the drawer. She was making her way back to her desk when the door opened once more, Elizabeth slipping through it with Angie's hand in hers.

"Took you long enough to let us in here," Elizabeth stated.

"I apologize," Johanna replied. "My secretary is long winded and full of unwanted opinions."

"Miss Jo!" Angie exclaimed before Elizabeth could speak.

She smiled. "Hello, Angie. I think you've gotten taller since the last time I saw you."

"I haven't seen you in a long time," Angie lamented.

"I know, we'll have to make sure it's not such a long time again. Are you out of school now?"

"No, but Grandma came and got me," she replied. "School is over next week."

Johanna nodded. "What brings you and your grandmother by today?"

Elizabeth's blue-grey gaze was somewhat icy as it usually was when she looked at her. "Angela wants to be a flower girl in her uncle's wedding. Since you're so eager to be an aunt to these children, I expect you to begin the job by accommodating Angie and giving her the place she wants and rightfully deserves as the niece of the groom."

"I see," Johanna said as she perched on the edge of her desk.

"Grandma says I can be a flower girl," Angie remarked.

"Do you want to be a flower girl?" Johanna asked.

"Yes! I want to wear a pretty dress and have flowers in my hair," Angie said excitedly. "Can I be one, Miss Jo? I'll be a good flower girl, I promise!"

"Oh I'm sure you'd be a wonderful flower girl," Johanna remarked. "You were the first person we thought of for the job…but we were told no. Have your parents changed their minds?"

"The decision has been made," Elizabeth stated. "It's what Angie wants and she shall have it…she has more right to the job than anyone. She is Jimmy's first born niece."

"No one is disputing that," Johanna replied. "I just recall how against it Michael and Natalie were…and how much it hurt Jim."

"They don't matter," Elizabeth stated. "I've made the decision for them and I've accepted the responsibility for it. Now, you want to be this child's aunt so badly, you make her a flower girl like she wants."

"Can I be a flower girl?" Angie asked once more.

"It depends on your grandmother," she replied, seeing an oppurtunity to try and get exactly what Jim had wanted.

Elizabeth's brow arched. "Meaning what? I just told you that I made the decision."

Johanna met her stare. "Meaning we want both girls."

Elizabeth's jaw tightened. "You know very well that Michael and Natalie aren't going to allow Alicia to be a flower girl."

"I think you can change that," she replied. "After all, you do rule the roost, Mrs. Beckett…and if you've made the decision once than surely you can do it again. We want both girls."

"I can't guarantee that!"

"Oh I think you can…clearly you guaranteed it in advance for one of them."

"So what are you saying, if it's not both of them, you won't take Angie?" Elizabeth asked.

Johanna shook her head. "No, I wouldn't hurt Angie like that…but I think you can accommodate your son by making sure that both of his nieces are walking down that aisle."

"They think she's too young!"

"I don't," she said firmly. "I believe she'd do just fine and Angie will be right there with her as will my little cousin. Angie, you would help Alicia be a flower girl, wouldn't you?"

Angie nodded. "I will help Alicia. We can both wear pretty dresses. Can I be a flower girl, Miss Jo?"

Johanna nodded. "Yes, Angie; Uncle Jim and I will be happy to have you as a flower girl…and we're going to be happy to have Alicia be a flower girl too because Grandma is going to make sure it happens…aren't you, Mrs. Beckett? Just like I'm going to make sure the girls have the roles that are rightfully theirs along with my little cousin who had already been given the job when we were rejected."

Elizabeth glared at her. "Yes, I'll see to it that you have both girls."

"Wonderful," she said with a smile. "I need to get the dresses ordered soon. When will Angie be out of school?"

"Next Wednesday," Elizabeth stated.

"Alright, I have a slow day next Friday and I'm planning on only working a half day so that I can get some things done. I'll make sure that Jim keeps you up to date about that, seeing as how I expect that you'll have the girls at your house that day so that I can pull up out front and pick them up. Once we're done, I'll bring them back to you; and don't worry, I'll blow the horn so you can come out and get them. I won't dare come to your door knowing how you feel about me being in your home."

"Very well," she said firmly. "As long as Angie gets what she wants."

"Angie will have what she wants and so will we," Johanna replied, her gaze drifting to the little girl; wondering why it was suddenly so important to Elizabeth that Angie would have what she wanted. "You have such a good grandmother that she makes sure you have what you want."

Angie nodded. "I thought she didn't like me but maybe she likes me a little since she got me out of school and said she'd make me a flower girl."

"I'm sure your grandmother loves you very much," Johanna told her.

"I do," Elizabeth said, her tone firm.

"Does that mean you'll come to my graduation at school?" Angie asked.

"What graduation?" Elizabeth asked. "You're only finishing first grade."

"Everyone gets to graduate this year," Angie replied. "My teacher said so."

"That will take all day!"

Angie shook her head. "The big kids get their graduation on a different day. Me and Danny and Mikey get to graduate on the same day. Are you going to come Grandma? You didn't come to my play."

Elizabeth sighed deeply; she was going to pay for missing that damn play. "I'm sure your parents are going to be there."

"No, they're not. Daddy has to work and Mommy never comes cause she says Alicia is too little."

"She uses Alicia for her excuse for everything," Elizabeth remarked. "She's just too damn lazy to teach that child how to behave in public…and too damn lazy to find a babysitter if she's so worried about it."

"Will you come, Grandma? Please?"

She didn't really want to; the last thing on earth she wanted to do was sit in a school auditorium as an endless number of children from nursery school through second grade graduated…and for that matter, why did they even have to graduate? It was ridiculous and she hated to be a part of something ridiculous. "We'll see, Angie," she said instead.

Angie frowned. "That always means no. No one ever comes to see me at school. Everyone else has someone come for them but no one ever comes for me."

Johanna's heart broke as she surveyed the scene. "When is your graduation, Angie?"

"Tuesday," the little girl answered.

"Do you know what time?"

"My teacher said it's at one o'clock and when it's over, we can leave with our family if they come, if not, we'll wait for our bus."

"Listen," Johanna said gently. "If Uncle Jim and I can slip away from work that day, we'll come see you graduate. I can't promise until we look at our schedules but we'll try, okay?"

Angie smiled. "Okay, Miss Jo."

"You're going to go sit through a grade school graduation?" Elizabeth said with a huff.

"If I can work it out, yes, I will…as you've mentioned, I am anxious to be an aunt to these children so I should start being at these events in their lives…especially when their parents can't seem to find the time. I'm sure I'll see you there, won't I? You're going to be there to support your grandchildren that you love…right, Mrs. Beckett? After all, if making sure Angie gets what she wants is so important to you, than surely you're going to show up for her and the boys on Tuesday, aren't you?"

She glared at her. "I'll be there."

Angie beamed as she looked up at her grandmother, squeezing her hand as she did so. "Really, Grandma, you're going to come see me graduate!?"

Elizabeth breathed deeply, resigning herself to the idea. "Yes, dear, I'll be there."

"That makes me so happy," Angie declared as she wrapped her arms around her grandmother's waist in a makeshift hug.

The gesture caught Elizabeth off-guard and she froze momentarily before catching the pointed gaze that Johanna shot her, clearly judging her if she didn't return Angie's affection in some way. She gave the girl a quick squeeze, rubbing her back for a moment before retaking her hand. "I'm glad you're happy, Angie."

"I didn't realize that Danny was in school already," Johanna commented. "I didn't think he'd be in kindergarten until the next school season."

"The school began a nursery school program," Elizabeth stated. "Natalie took the opportunity to be rid of him instead of teaching him his basics at home."

"That's a shame," she couldn't help but remark. "I hate to see kids sent to school before they have to be…seems like rushing them into growing up in some way."

Elizabeth nodded. "As much as I hate to agree with you about something…you're right. Danny should've gotten to spend this year at home like his siblings did when they were his age. All that teacher does is complain that he doesn't play with the other children enough in her opinion but Danny's always been a bit independent and likes to play on his own."

"I wish I had that luxury as a kid…I always had to play with my sister whether I wanted to or not," Johanna remarked.

"Why?" Elizabeth asked, although why she was prolonging conversation with the woman, she couldn't understand. She'd think she was interested in her and she wasn't…so why the hell was she continuing this conversation?

"Because my mother said I had to…she was a firm believer in having us glued at the hip. I took dance, Colleen had to take dance. I wanted skating lessons, she had to have skating lessons too. I wanted to be in school plays, she had to sing in the chorus. I did cheerleading, she did cheerleading."

Elizabeth frowned. "Did she go to law school too?"

"No, she's an interior decorator."

"Why didn't she make her go to law school with you?"

"Colleen didn't have the grades for law school…and to tell you the truth, my mother didn't want me to go to law school."

"Why not?"

"She wanted me to be a teacher."

"What did your father want you to be?"

"Whatever I wanted to be. I told him I wanted to be a lawyer and he encouraged me to follow through on it," Johanna answered, her gaze dipping to Angie once more. "What do you want to be when you grow up, Angie?"

"I think I want to write stories when I grow up," Angie replied.

Johanna smiled. "You want to be a writer? That's wonderful. Maybe you'll write some good books for me to read."

"Why do you want to be a writer?" Elizabeth asked.

Angie looked up at her. "Because they tell me stories I already know in school…so I make up my own in my head when they're reading the ones I already know. Mikey can draw good so maybe he can draw pictures for my stories."

"That's a great idea," Johanna replied. "You can write new stories for kids when you're older and Mikey can illustrate them."

"I didn't know you had that much imagination," Elizabeth remarked, clearly startled that her granddaughter was smarter than she had thought.

"I know what that means," Angie replied. "Imagination is that thing that helps you make up stories or draw pictures or make songs. I make lots of stories in my head…sometimes I make stories for my Barbies. I just got to learn to write more words so I can write my stories on paper."

"You're a smart girl," Johanna told her. "I'm sure you're going to be a wonderful writer one day."

"You never told me any of this before," Elizabeth said as she looked at her granddaughter.

"That's because you don't ask me, Grandma. I told you that you don't talk to me…I wish you would. I like to tell you things when you're not yelling at me."

Elizabeth's jaw tightened and as she glanced at Johanna she could see the wheels turning in her head; figuring that there was more to this visit than just getting Angie the role of flower girl. "I don't yell at you all that much," she said firmly.

"You don't talk to me though," Angie said once more. "I like to talk to you…but you don't listen when I try…and sometimes Grandpa only wants to play with the boys. Everyone likes boys better, you know that?"

Elizabeth shook her head. "I don't."

"You don't?" Angie asked.

"No, I've got four boys and they're all a royal pain in the backside."

"You don't like Mikey and Danny better than me?"

"Of course not!" Elizabeth declared.

"I'm sure you're very special to your grandmother," Johanna stated. "You're her first granddaughter, that's something special."

"Is that true, Grandma? I'm special?"

Elizabeth gave a nod. "Yes, I was very happy when you were born. Aunt Maddy was the only girl I had until you came along. We've got too many boys."

"See," Johanna said. "You are special…and I'm so very happy that you're going to be a flower girl. My little cousin is going to be one too but I know you're going to like her and you'll be good friends at the wedding. She's a little younger than you but she's very sweet and I bet she won't mind if you tell her a story."

"What's her name?"

"Her name is Jackie. You'll see her when we go pick out your dress."

"I can't wait to get a pretty dress," Angie said excitedly. "Where's Uncle Jim? I want to tell him that Grandma made me a flower girl."

"Uncle Jim isn't in his office today, sweetheart," she replied. "He's in court, but I know he's going to be so happy to hear the news because he's always wanted you and Alicia to be the flower girls."

"I'm happy too," Angie declared as she beamed up at her grandmother.

"I'm glad," Elizabeth stated. "We better get going so that we don't keep Johanna from her work and I need to get you home to your mother. Tell her goodbye."

Angie broke away from her grandmother and hurried to Johanna's side for a hug. "Bye, Miss Jo."

"Goodbye, Angie. I'll see you soon."

"Miss Jo?"

"Yes?"

"When can I call you Aunt Jo?"

"After she's married," Elizabeth remarked. "She won't be your aunt until after the wedding."

Angie sighed a little and Johanna smiled. "It won't be too long of a wait," she told her. "The wedding is in August; you can call me Aunt Jo before you go into the second grade, okay?"

"Okay," Angie agreed.

She kissed her forehead. "Be a good girl, and I promise, we'll try to get to your graduation."

Angie smiled and hurried back to Elizabeth's side and retook her hand. "Give my regards to my son," Elizabeth stated. "I haven't heard from him."

"I'll tell him," Johanna replied as she followed them to the door. "Thanks for coming by."

"It doesn't change anything," Elizabeth said, fearing that an amicable conversation might make her think that she was bending to everyone's will.

"The thought never crossed my mind, Mrs. Beckett; believe me, I'm not gullible enough to believe that just because you called me by my actual name that it means anything."

"Good, because it doesn't," she said firmly.

Johanna smiled. "Don't worry…I know it's only for the sake of the child. I don't know exactly what inspired it or what's going on between the two of you but I'm not going to jeopardize her heart by asking unnecessary questions or thinking that one unhateful conversation means you've changed overnight. I'm not stupid…no matter what you think."

"I never said you were stupid."

"Then I'm sure we understand each other today," Johanna replied. "Thanks for coming."

"Thank you for seeing us," Elizabeth remarked.

"No problem."

Johanna walked them through the outer office, feeling Sharon's stare as she did so. Once her guests were gone, she turned to head back to her office.

"What was that all about?" Sharon asked.

"Nothing much; there was a change of heart and Jim's nieces are going to be our flower girls."

"Just like that?" Sharon replied with a raised brow.

"Just like that."

"I would've said no since they already turned you down."

"I'm not you," Johanna remarked. "I'm not going to break a little girl's heart just because her parents want to be petty.

"Maybe it's a setup; she's probably going to pay that kid to ruin the wedding."

"I don't think so," she replied. "Elizabeth can be hateful but I don't believe she'd drag a child into it."

Sharon scoffed. "Don't bet on it."

"Why would she need to use Angie when she knows how to come at me directly?" Johanna asked.

"New approach."

Johanna rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt on this one."

"I hope you're right because I'm not helping to chase any temper tantrum throwing kids at this wedding."

"No one asked you to, Sharon. What you need to do is get over your own pettiness about my wedding while you file the papers I gave you two hours ago that are still sitting on your desk."

"I'm not going to forgive you for making Maggie maid of honor over me," Sharon replied as she picked up the papers.

"I don't really care if you do," Johanna replied. "I forgave you for what you did at your wedding…but you know, I'm okay with being the better person."

Sharon scowled at her. "You just think you are."

Johanna shrugged. "You can believe what you want...just like I can make whatever choices I want."

"You're usually making the wrong ones."

"That's your opinion," Johanna said as she headed back for her office. "I have an opinion about some of your life choices too but I keep them to myself because it's your life, not mine. Maybe that's something you can work on while you file my papers."

Sharon gave her a glare but she merely smiled before slipping back into her office and closing the door. She didn't know what brought on this turn of events with the girls but she figured that she didn't need to know…all that mattered was that they got them and Jim would be happy.


Natalie Beckett was furious when she swung the door open to allow Elizabeth and Angie inside. "Who the hell do you think you are taking my daughter out of school without notifying me?" she asked.

"I waited until nearly the end of the day," Elizabeth remarked. "As for notifying you, I informed Mikey that I was taking Angie."

"You had no business taking her anywhere! You don't just go and pull my kid out of school no matter what time of day it is! Angie's job is to be in school and to make sure that Danny gets on the bus every day!"

Elizabeth favored her with an icy glare. "Angela is seven, she shouldn't have to parent her sibling. If you feel Danny is too young to follow direction from his teacher to get on the bus, then you shouldn't have shoved him into school already. Did he come home on the bus?"

"I got Danny on the bus," Mikey stated. "I went to his class and waited on him and he sat with me on the bus."

Elizabeth nodded. "Good; and you told your mother that Angie was with me?"

"Yes," Mikey replied. "I told her when we got home. I helped Danny cross the street just like Angie does…like I helped her do last year."

"Good, you've shown me that you're becoming a responsible young man," Elizabeth stated.

"Is that good?" he asked.

"Yes, it's very good. You did very well today and did everything I asked you to do and so the next time you come over for dinner, we'll have your favorite homemade macaroni and cheese."

"Really, Grandma!?" he asked, his eyes shining.

"Yes," she replied. "I'll even make extra for you to bring some home."

"Awesome!" he exclaimed.

"Can I have extra to bring home too?" Angie asked.

"Of course, dear, I'll make enough for all four of you to bring home extra…God knows it's better than that boxed garbage your mother gives you."

"I can't believe you!" Natalie yelled. "You kidnap my daughter from school and you think everything is fine."

"I didn't kidnap her! She's my granddaughter, I can take her somewhere if I want!"

"And just where did you take my kid?" Natalie demanded to know.

"We went to see Miss Jo," Angie exclaimed. "I'm going to be a flower girl!"

Natalie's jaw tightened as she eyed her mother-in-law. "We said no."

Elizabeth leveled her with a firm glare. "And I said yes."

"You don't get to make that decision!"

"I already did!" she yelled back as Alicia toddled into the room. "And Alicia is going to be a flower girl too."

"No, she's not!"

"Yes, she is. I already said she would be," Elizabeth stated.

Alicia moved toward her; her arms raised to be picked up. "Gramma," she said softly.

Elizabeth hated to be distracted in the midst of battle but she reminded herself that she was trying to do better as a grandmother so she reached down and picked up the toddler, managing to give her a small smile as Alicia's gaze met hers.

Alicia smiled in response, cuddling closer. "Gramma."

"She's too young to be a flower girl, we made that clear," Natalie seethed.

Elizabeth looked at Alicia. "You're a big girl, aren't you, Alicia?"

"Me big girl," she said with a nod.

"You want to be a flower girl in Uncle Jim's wedding, don't you? You and Angie will wear nice dresses and throw some flower petals, you'll like that, won't you?"

Alicia nodded. "Me and Sissy."

"Yes, you and Sissy will do a fine job, I'm sure."

"We said no!" Natalie exclaimed once more. "We don't want the responsibility of it, we have enough to do with four kids and we don't want people blaming us if Alicia cries or has a tantrum."

"I have never once witnessed Alicia having a tantrum," Elizabeth remarked. "She's a very sedate child; the most sedate of all of your children. I really don't see there being an issue with her behavior but if she does cry, that will be Jimmy and Johanna's problem for insisting on it, now won't it? I have faith in Alicia though that she will do just fine."

"Oh yes, she's so sedate that's why she dumped out the juice this morning all over the floor."

Elizabeth glanced at Alicia. "Did you do that."

"Juice yucky," Alicia said. "Throw away."

"I hope it was that yucky grape juice," Angie stated.

"It was," Natalie said firmly.

"Good, I don't like it," Angie replied. "Neither does Alicia…we told you we don't like it."

"And I told you that you'll get what I buy," Natalie retorted.

"Based on what I'm hearing, Alicia dumped out the juice so you wouldn't force her to drink it anymore," Elizabeth stated. "I don't take that as a show of ominous behavior. Now since the responsibility is too much for you, the girls will spend the night before the wedding with me and I'll get them dressed and ready for their roles."

Natalie scoffed. "I don't know who the hell you think you are, making decisions about my kids all on your own. We said no…and why should we want them in Jim's wedding the way he's acted all of these months all because they had to sleep in separate rooms at the cabin."

Elizabeth sat Alicia down and glanced at Angie. "Take your sister and go play in your room, Angie, start telling her about what you'll do as flower girls."

"Okay, Grandma," she said as she took Alicia's hand.

Elizabeth then looked to Mikey. "Where's Danny?" she asked.

"In his room playing with his trucks," he answered.

"Go play with him, please," she stated.

Mikey nodded and followed his sisters out of the room. She then returned her gaze to Natalie. "I don't think Jimmy's issue is so much the sleeping arrangements…I think it's the fact that you shoved your kids onto them for the duration of their stay because you saw the oppurtunity for them to be your built-in babysitters all day and all night."

"You're the reason we were there!" Natalie said hotly. "You're the one who didn't tell us they we there, you told us to go on up and there they are all over each other on the bank of the lake and my kids walked up on them which is why we wanted them to sleep in separate rooms and it didn't hurt them to babysit a few times."

"From what I heard, it was more than a few times and more than just an hour or two on each occasion. "I've been told how the kids found them, and while I don't like things like that going on in public, they were on private property and didn't expect anyone to be there…and maybe you shouldn't send your kids off alone to find people when you don't know what they were doing. Robert said that Jimmy told him all they were doing was kissing."

"Half dressed," Natalie scoffed.

"From my understanding, Jimmy had his shirt off because he was fishing, and the men in this family always run around without their shirts in the summer; and the girl had on a bathing suit top and shorts…which I don't find unusual if you're going to be near the water and you're thinking of going swimming or getting a tan as young girls do these days. My God, I'm no fan of her but kissing a man while wearing a bathing suit isn't going to scar the children for life; I mean they seem to be perfectly fine so I don't think they were upset about seeing two adults kissing. You and Michael took advantage of them, knowing that Jimmy can't often say no to his nieces and nephews and knowing that she has a soft spot for babies. You're always looking for an excuse to shirk your duty. Just like you use Alicia as your convenient excuse not to do things or attend school activities if you can. You didn't go on Mikey's field trip although I offered to take the baby for the day, but no, you claimed you couldn't go because she had an ear infection…like I don't know how to give a child her medicine. You didn't go to Angie's play because Alicia is 'too little'. You didn't go to Danny's Easter program because it was at Alicia's nap time. You don't want them in the wedding because Alicia is too little. You're not going to be at their little school graduations because once again, Alicia is too little. You're never there, Natalie."

"Neither are you!" Natalie shot back. "You're a piss poor excuse of a grandmother. Angie thinks you don't like her. Danny and Alicia are afraid of you and Mikey never knows what he can and can't do at your house. You're not affectionate to them. They don't like spending time with you. You don't know how to stop being a strict, overbearing, uptight bitch for even five minutes to play with them. Your own kids can't even stand you so don't criticize the way I parent!"

"I'll criticize you anytime I see fit," Elizabeth shot back. "I know all about my kids and what they think…but what they never understand or care to remember is that I had to be the one to lay down rules and enforce them because Robert refused to help discipline. He was too busy with his work and making contacts, too busy getting drunk and then feeling guilty so he'd do whatever they wanted and he let them get away with everything half the time. You all didn't know him the way I did back then…you all see the Robert of today, the loveable buffoon who does magic tricks and tells stories and is the suffering husband of the wicked bitch he married. You didn't see all the years when I had to do everything on my own while he was Mr. big shot businessman and the fun parent who had no rules. You all don't know that or see it or want to believe it, but I lived it! I had to do everything. I had to keep order. If I hadn't been strict those boys would've run wild and God only knows what they'd be now instead of men with careers that can support families. I know I'm not the most affectionate person in the world…it's how I was raised. My parents weren't big on affection, neither were my grandparents. It's hard to change that at this point in life but I do the best I can! Just because I don't hold those kids all day when I see them doesn't mean I don't love them! I do! As for my grandchildren, Alicia walked into this room and held her arms out to me to pick her up so I'm not buying that she fears me. Danny always tells me about his newest prized possession. Angie didn't hesitate to go with me today. Mikey does just fine when he's in my home, he knows what he can and can't do. Maybe I could do better…but so could you…because all you show those kids is that they don't matter enough to show up for. I'm not going to be the one they hate one day, you are."

"Then you watch Alicia every time there's a school function," Natalie retorted. "Then I'll be there."

Elizabeth scoffed. "No, you won't. I've offered to watch Alicia on several occasions and you always make an excuse of why you can't leave her…nor will you take her with you because she's your excuse."

"She doesn't need to go to school functions."

"Apparently in your mind she shouldn't be taken out of the house until it's time for her to go to school."

Natalie glared at her. "If school functions mean so much to you, why don't you go to a few?"

"I am. I already promised Angie that I will be at her graduation next week. In fact, I'm going to stop by and pick up Alicia and take her with me to show you that it can be done and that she's a well behaved child."

"You do that," she retorted.

"Oh I will…and these girls are going to be in their uncle's wedding."

"Then you take full responsibility for it!" Natalie yelled. "Because I'm not when we already made our feelings clear!"

"I have no problem taking responsibility for it! I already told you, they'll spend the night before the wedding with me, I'll get them ready and take them to the wedding. Johanna will let me know when she wants to take them to get their dresses next week, I'll come get them and she'll pick them up at my house and drop them back off to me. You won't have to lift a precious finger as usual, because you're nothing but a lazy, selfish twit!"

Natalie smirked at her. "Maybe Johanna will be a better daughter-in-law for you."

"I don't know about that," Elizabeth replied. "But I have a feeling she'll take better care of any grandchildren she gives me than you do!"

"Get out of my house," Natalie seethed. "And don't you ever take one of my kids out of school without my permission again."

"Oh I'm going, but first I'm going to go tell my grandchildren goodbye," Elizabeth said with a smirk. "I'll call before I pick up Alicia next week."

"I just bet you'll pick her up."

"That's a bet you'll lose," Elizabeth said before she headed for her grandchildren's bedrooms.


That evening as they ate the light dinner she had made for them, Johanna waited until Jim had swallowed the bite of the hoagie he had taken before speaking. "I had a visitor at my office today."

"Your mother?" Jim asked as he picked up his soda.

"No, she's been unusually silent," she replied. "I don't know whether to be relieved, scared or concerned."

"Probably scared."

Johanna nodded. "Yeah, that's the vibe I'm getting…it's probably not going to be pretty when she does break her silence."

"If it wasn't your mother, who was it?"

She took a sip of her soda and then smiled. "Your mother."

He paused with his sandwich halfway to his mouth. "I don't think I heard you right."

"You heard me right."

"My mother!?"

Johanna nodded. "Yes…she had Angie with her."

"Angie? She never takes Angie anywhere…except the Christmas party at church."

"Yeah, I got the impression that something was going on there but I didn't ask questions."

"Why did they come to your office? Were they looking for me?"

"No, they wanted me."

"For what?"

"Your mother came to demand that I, since I am so anxious to be an aunt to these children, accommodate Angie's need to be a flower girl in the wedding."

Jim favored her with an odd look. "My mother said she didn't want anything to do with our wedding so why would she want Angie to be a flower girl?"

Johanna shrugged. "I don't know. I asked Angie if she wanted to be one and she said yes and that her grandmother said she could be one. There was also a mention of how she thought her grandmother didn't like her but since she had gotten her out of school to bring her down and get her in as a flower girl that maybe she liked her a little bit after all."

"This sounds very odd," he remarked. "Very, very odd."

"I agree…but your mother looked like she was over a barrel somehow so I took the oppurtunity to not only grant Angie's request but also to demand that Alicia is also a flower girl…we'll just have three flower girls because I can't take it away from little Jackie."

"No, you can't take it from her after we already gave it to her…but what did Mom say about Alicia?"

"After a little subtle hardball, she agreed that she'd make sure Alicia is a flower girl as well."

"Seriously?"

"Yes…and she didn't call me any names. In fact, she called me by my actual name."

"This isn't good," Jim replied. "Not good at all."

"We're getting the girls, Jim; that's all that matters."

"Are we really or is this some kind of cruel joke she's playing?"

"I'd like to think that she only plays cruel jokes with adults and not an innocent little girl who already thinks that her grandmother doesn't like her."

"Don't bet on it; she told me there was no Santa Claus when I was four; she said I was getting too old for that nonsense."

"If she ever does that to our kid, I will kill her," Johanna replied.

"I don't doubt that, but the point remains, clearly kids are not off limits to her cruelty."

Johanna sighed. "Well…for the moment, I'm going to choose to believe that something happened that pressed her to do this for Angie and that she's not going to screw it up for her and have that kid become even more certain that she doesn't like her. Angie mentioned something about your mother missing her school play…and asking her if she was going to come to the little graduation they're having at school next week."

"I thought they only did that in certain grades."

"Angie said every grade at her school is having a graduation…even Danny, who I didn't know had been shoved into nursery school."

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that. I do remember Michael saying they signed him up. I think Natalie just wanted to shove him out the door with the others so she'd only have one kid at home."

"What does your schedule look like next Tuesday in the afternoon?"

"Tuesday is a quiet day," Jim replied. "Sally always makes sure I have a quiet day before a trial starts."

"Good…I checked my schedule and everything I need to do will be over by twelve if I don't take a lunch, which I won't."

Jim's brow furrowed. "Why? What's going on on Tuesday?"

"We need to go to Angie's graduation; the thing starts at one, she, Danny and Mikey are all on the same day."

Jim sighed a little. "Why do we have to go?"

"Because their parents aren't going…and your mother didn't sound very convincing about being there either when Angie brought it up. Angie said no one ever comes to see her at school. My heart broke for her…it's no wonder she doesn't feel loved."

"Why aren't Michael and Natalie going to be there?"

"She said her father has to work and Natalie said Alicia is too little to go."

"She uses that little girl as an excuse for everything!" Jim exclaimed.

"That's what your mother said."

"It's the truth."

"Yeah, I'm getting that feeling. Alicia's age is a great asset to her…gives her an excuse to say no to anything and everything. So if we can manage it, we need to go…someone has to show up for those kids, Jim. Hell even my father took a half day from work to see me graduate from kindergarten…someone has to be there."

Jim nodded. "We'll go…I'll let Andrew know too, maybe he can come too. It won't make up for their parents not being there but maybe it will help…and maybe since it was brought up in front of you, it'll be what my mother needs to motivate her to show up."

"We'll hope so."

"I still think this whole thing is fishy."

"I find it odd too but I'm going to take the win until I know otherwise," Johanna replied. "I know how much it meant to you to have the girls in the wedding."

"It does…I just don't know how this came about and what her part in it is."

"I don't know, honey…I didn't want to ask questions. Maybe you can ask the questions when we have them over for dinner Saturday."

"So you're still set on that?"

"Yes, I'm still set on that…so you're going to have to tell your father about it. I didn't want to risk the girls by bringing it up to your mother today."

"What exactly is going to be the point of this dinner?" Jim asked.

"To make your father shut up about clearing the air, so to speak," she replied. "They can speak their piece, I'll say mine, if they don't like what we have to say, they can be the ones leaving this time."

"I'm all for home field advantage but I just hate the thought of this. Every time we have a meal with my parents, it's a disaster and we end up fighting."

"We're not going to fight," Johanna replied.

"But it always ends up that way, Jo."

"Well we're not going to let it be that way this time," she said firmly. "I look at this as an oppurtunity to make ourselves clear about certain things…like the fact that we're getting married whether your mother likes it or not…that we view our relationship as a partnership, not something that's divided into 'woman's work or man's work' and that how we spend our time and money is our business as two grown adults who have jobs and don't live under their roof. That's what I'm hoping to accomplish, to get those points across and move on with life from there."

"You make it sound so simple."

"It is going to be that simple," she remarked. "Because I'm tired of feeling like I'm in a battle with your family…I had thought that except for your mother, that I was doing okay with your family but since we've gotten together officially that has changed…and I don't want to be in constant battle with them. I don't want you to always feel like you're in the middle. I just think we need to put our cards on the table."

"I feel like we already have, many times…and it just keeps ending up the same way."

"Because we allow it to end up the same way," she remarked.

"I don't see how you're going to change that," Jim replied. "You can't change her and as for my father, I don't know what his problem is lately but I figure eventually he'll settle down on his own."

"You're acting like I've started this idea of having dinner with them," Johanna commented. "Your father is the one who made the demand that we share a meal with them."

"That doesn't mean we have to do it."

"He's not going to let us alone until we do."

"That's why I don't go over there much, they can't harp about anything if they don't see me," he replied.

"Yeah, and when they don't see you, they blame me, Jim. So we're going to do it and get it over with…or at least I am, if you don't want to come, you don't have to, just tell them when to show up and I'll handle it on my own."

"Oh yeah right, I just bet I can't be here," he scoffed. "If you're going through with it, I have to be here whether I want to be or not."

Johanna favored him with a hard glare. "Can you just be supportive?"

"I'm supportive of you all the time."

"But you're taking today off?" she asked. "I mean it is your family that's being an issue, you'd think you'd want to get it taken care of."

"I don't worry about it," Jim remarked. "In my opinion, it'll take care of itself in time."

"Maybe it will and maybe it won't, but I don't want this hanging over me on my wedding day. I'd like to be happy on that day and not thinking about how half the groom's side of the room hates me, so can you just do this thing since your father is the one who demands it? Can we just do it and be done with it so I can be happy on my wedding day?"

"Johanna, it's not going to be a magical cure all just because you're going to host a meal and have it in your head that you're going to lay down the law."

"I never said it was going to be a cure all. Your father wants to do this and I'm willing to do it, in my home, for the sake of having some sort of peace or at the very least, knowing that I tried. This time, I'm going to have control of things."

"That's what you think," he scoffed.

She sighed and shook her head. "You know what, if it was something you wanted to do, you'd just constantly harp at me and guilt trip me until I gave in…which is how I've been at every meal I've had with your parents…so this time, you can suck it up and just go along with it like I've had to do."

Jim's brow rose. "Suck it up?" he repeated.

"Yeah, do you think you can manage that since you can't be supportive tonight?"

"How am I not being supportive!?"

"Because you don't want to help me do this!"

He blew out a breath. "They're not even here yet and we're already fighting, Johanna. Do you see what I mean?"

"We're fighting because you can't just say, yes, I'll call my father and let him know what time they can come over. Yes, I'll try to help you make our position clear during this dinner and no matter what we're not going to fight about it when it's over. But no, you can't do that…you think we can just avoid them forever and we can't. No, I'm not going to go into their home knowing I'm not welcome there, but since this dinner is something your father wants, I'm willing to meet him halfway by having it here in my home where I can be comfortable."

"Fine," he replied. "We'll have this stupid dinner. What time do you want me to tell them to come over?"

Her jaw tightened. "Saturday at five will be fine. If it's too much for you to notify him, give me the number for his office and I'll call him myself."

"No, I'll do it…I want to ask him why the change with the girls anyway."

"Don't go jinxing it; you'll break Angie's heart if she gets that role taken away from her."

"I'm not believing she's actually going to have it until she's been given a dress," he remarked.

"Boy, you're in a fine mood tonight," she commented. "I thought you'd be happy."

"I don't have blind faith in people like you do," he stated. "Especially people I'm related to by blood that have a recent history of being anything but supportive of my life choices."

She nodded. "Well don't have blind faith in me being available tonight for you to work your stress out on. I'm not in the mood and no, you can't get me there tonight."

"Don't worry, I wasn't even considering it."

"That's good because I won't be changing my mind."

"Fine. Maybe you'll change your mind about Saturday."

"No, not changing my mind about that either. It's going to be done. I need to make my new list for the wedding planning for this week too."

"What are the choices for that?"

"Finalizing the guest list, picking out invitations because they need to be ordered and sent out soon, looking at the options for the music and setting a time to get the flower girl dresses."

"That's not too bad. As for the music, can we just get someone that will play records? I'm not crazy about bands that play music with no words," Jim remarked.

"Neither am I," she replied. "I want music I know and that I can dance to."

"So we'll get someone who will play records?"

"Yes," she said with a nod. "I'll have to find some for us to check into."

"I can help with that," he offered, knowing that he had already started to dig himself a hole with his hesitance about the dinner she had planned.

Johanna's gaze lifted to his. "With the selection or helping to find people for us to consider?"

"Both," he replied. "I can ask around, see if any of my friends have any recommendations."

She offered him a small smile. "That would be nice."

"No problem…anything else I can help you with?" Jim asked.

Johanna worried her bottom lip for a moment. "Would you mind going over the guest list with me one more time one day this week? I'd just like to give it one more check before I order the invitations…and since that's one of the items on my new list, I'd like to do that."

Jim nodded. "Yeah, that's fine. We can do it tonight if you want."

Her brow rose. "Are you feeling alright?"

"Yes," he laughed. "Why do you ask."

"You're volunteering…without any hint of procrastination attached to it."

Jim shrugged. "I know…I'm just trying to help make this thing better for you."

"You already have been…we have created a hiding place at the movies."

He grinned. "Hey, I've enjoyed our repeat viewings of Smoky and the Bandit."

"Me too," she laughed. "I like it. If you really want to look at the list with me tonight, that would be great though…then I'll know we've gone over it and it's done and I can focus on choosing invitations and ordering them. Do you have any work you need to take care of first?"

"No, I already decided that I wasn't doing any damn work tonight…I had enough of it at the office."

"Mine can wait until tomorrow too. So…after I clean up from dinner, we can go over the list?"

"Yes, we'll go over the list, make sure everything is settled with that and then we'll just relax the rest of the evening."

"Sounds good," Johanna replied. The evening had felt like it was going to take a nosedive but he had turned it around for them and she was grateful for it. She didn't want to fight…and she definitely didn't want to squander his willingness to help with her planning.


Jim held out until Thursday afternoon to see if Johanna would change her mind about dinner with his parents…but much to his chagrin, she hadn't; and judging from the firm note in her tone that morning, a change of heart about the whole thing was completely out of the question. He sighed a little as he made his way down the hallway to his father's office. This whole thing felt like it had the potential for disaster…and for some reason, she seemed to want to run headlong into it. He didn't know why she got in moods like that; he had searched the calendar in her bedroom for that tiny little mark she usually put on the day she expected her period to be due, but he hadn't found any mark so he wasn't sure he could chalk this reckless idea up to hormones…and he wasn't stupid enough to ask that question out loud either. Another heavy breath crossed his lips, why couldn't she have just stuck to avoidance? Life was more peaceful when they were avoiding people who liked to pop their bubble and try to ruin things for them. He shook his head, oh well, there was nothing he could do about it…at least without causing a war in one way or another.

His father's secretary was on the phone when he approached but she waved him on to the door with a smile that he managed to return. Jim pushed open the door of his father's office and slipped inside, closing it behind him.

"Jimmy," Robert said as he looked up from his papers. "What brings you by son?"

"Well you're the one who wanted to have dinner…and Johanna has decided that you should come over Saturday at five."

"It's late in the week to be issuing the invitation," Robert replied. "Especially for a weekend."

"You know, you're sounding more like Mom every day here lately and it's not a good thing," Jim replied. "But listen, if you can't make it, it's fine. I don't see any reason to do this anyway. I told her it was ridiculous and will just cause more trouble anyway."

"Why would you say that?"

"Because every time we eat with you and Mom there's a fight…and then me and Johanna fight…and I don't want to fight with my fiancée, Dad…not about you and Mom, especially after everything that's happened up to this point. I don't see any good coming from this."

"What if you're wrong?" Robert asked.

Jim scoffed. "How can I be wrong? It's not going to change anything. Mom is determined to hate her…you haven't exactly been your charming self lately. Michael's been an ass…William was the king of asses. Madelyn's got multiple personalities…"

"Don't say that about your sister…she's just prickly like your mother."

"No, she's just become someone that I never thought she'd be," he replied. "But it doesn't matter…you all have made yourselves abundantly clear that you don't like my choice of wife and that she's not going to be welcome in this family. So, all I can do is try and shield her…but she wants to go running into this thing because you brought up that you wanted it done."

"That's why I want this to be done, Jimmy," Robert replied. "I want to reassure her that she is welcome."

"She's not going to buy that any more than I do," Jim remarked.

"Son, I know things haven't been great lately…but give us a chance to turn it around. As for Johanna, she's a big girl, she doesn't need you to shield her from anything."

"She's mine and if I can protect her from her feelings hurt any further, I will."

"I didn't suggest this with the intent of hurting her feelings. I want to make it better and I'll do my best to make your mother be on her best behavior…she's been a bit sedate this week so it might be better than you think."

"I don't know about that…but since I'm here, what was the deal with her showing up at Johanna's office with Angie?"

"Oh that," Robert said as he leaned back in his chair. "Angie thinks her grandmother doesn't like her so Lizzie was trying to show her that she does by giving her something she wanted. Angie wanted to be a flower girl in your wedding and your mother said she could be and that she'd talk to Johanna herself about it."

"How did Angie even know about the flower girl thing? I doubt Michael and Natalie told her."

"No, I brought it up at dinner the other night. Angie was wondering why she hadn't seen her Uncle Jim and I told her that you were upset because her parents wouldn't let her be a flower girl."

"So I'm guessing Michael's really pissed at me now?" Jim commented.

Robert shook his head. "No, he's busy being mad at your mother…and Natalie is furious with her since she granted Johanna's request of having both girls in the wedding and the fight they had about that among other things. Don't worry though, your mother has handled it; the girls will spend the night before the wedding with us and your mother will get them ready for their roles."

"Why did you even bring it up?" Jim asked.

"Because it was important to you to have the girls in the wedding."

"Yeah…but you haven't cared about it in all of this time so why bother now?"

Robert pondered his words carefully; he didn't want to bring up Frank's call, that could ruin everything and set off a whole host of other problems. "I just wanted to be able to do something for you, son. I know things haven't been great lately…and I just wanted to make it better somehow."

Jim shifted on his feet for a moment. "I appreciate that but I'm not holding my breath that it's actually going to happen since Michael and Natalie were so against it."

"It's going to happen," Robert assured. "Natalie's already told your mother that it will be her responsibility…and that it's on your heads if Alicia doesn't cooperate as a flower girl."

"We're not worried in the slightest about Alicia's behavior," Jim replied. "She barely makes a peep when she's around a group of people so I'm sure she'll be fine."

"I'm sure she will be too," Robert agreed. "I'm also glad that Johanna didn't mind your mother going to her office with Angie to demand the job for them."

"She wanted them all along just like I did. She loves them."

"I know…and hopefully this will show her that we are interested in having some family unity."

"No, all it showed her was that something was going on between Mom and her grandchildren but she wasn't going to ask questions about it and risk losing the girls."

"Your mother did have something to prove to Angie…and hopefully she did prove it; but the fact remains that I would like things to be a little more settled with everyone before the wedding."

"I'm not holding my breath for that either," he muttered.

"Maybe Johanna is since she's agreed to host a dinner."

Jim shook his head. "I don't think it's that. I think she has it in her head that she's going to speak her piece and wrestle away some sort of control over the situation but it's not going to be that way. Nothing is going to change."

"We don't know that unless we try," Robert replied. "Let's just try, Jimmy. I don't want you going into your marriage with this cloud over your head."

"The only clouds I'm thinking about being over my head are the ones in Hawaii in August," he remarked.

Robert smiled. "I know taking pictures isn't going to be high on your list of priorities for your honeymoon trip, but try to take a few anyway for me, I'd like to see them. I've never gotten over there and everyone says it's beautiful."

"We plan on taking pictures. Jo just bought a new camera last week and I have mine too. I'm sure she'll take a ton of pictures of everything we see."

"You should; you'll want to look back on those one day in the future," Robert remarked. "I wish your mother and I had taken a few more pictures while on our honeymoon."

"I don't think you've ever said where the two of you went for your honeymoon."

Robert smiled. "Back then it was your mother's dream to see California…so I took her to Palm Springs and while there, we also went to Los Angeles to look around for a day or so."

"I wouldn't have expected her to want to see California, seems unlike her…she enjoyed Tennessee so much when we went there years ago, I guess I always figured it was somewhere like that."

"Oh she talked about California all the time when we were dating. She loved reading about it, wanted to see it for herself one day so I made up my mind that I'd be the one to take her there," Robert said with a smile. "It was a wonderful time. What made you choose Hawaii for your honeymoon?"

"It's somewhere she's always wanted to go…and we had already agreed on wanting a tropical destination far away from anyone who knows us. Hawaii just seems like the perfect place…far away but not so far that we have to change money or learn the language…it's tropical…it's somewhere she's always wanted to go and I'd like to see it too. The thought of Hawaii is the only thing getting us through this planning mess some days."

"I'm sure you'll both have a wonderful time there," Robert replied. "As for this Saturday, you say five?"

Jim nodded. "That's what she said."

Robert nodded. "Alright, five it is. I wish she would've let me make it my treat at a nice restaurant though."

"We've had a public meal with Mom before, we don't want a repeat at this time."

"And I guess she doesn't really want to come to the house because it would be like returning to the scene of a crime?"

"Something like that," Jim replied. "You know what she said, it's her place or nothing."

"Home field advantage?" Robert asked lightly.

"That's what she thinks, but like I said, I don't think it's going to matter."

"Don't be so pessimistic, Jimmy…that's your mother's job. Things will be fine. Your mother and I will be there Saturday at five-thirty."

"You really think Mom is going to come?"

"I'm going to strongly encourage it," Robert replied.

"We'll see."

"We will," Robert said with a nod. "Any idea what the menu is going to be for the evening?"

"Yes, but I'm not telling."

Robert laughed. "Okay, I'll find out when I get there."

Jim glanced at his watch. "I better be getting back to work, Dad. I'll see you later."

"See you Saturday, Jimmy."

He gave a nod and turned for the door; for once in his life he was dreading the weekend.


That evening, Robert studied his wife as she stared at an invisible point on the wall, clearly lost in thought once more. She had been somewhat quiet all week, lost in those thoughts that she hadn't shared with him like she normally would. He was never quite sure what to make of a quiet, pensive Lizzie. She usually wasn't one to dwell silently and on those rare occasions when she did, it was usually over something that he had no power to fix but he liked to try anyway to restore her to her usual manner of chattiness.

"What's on your mind, Lizzie?" he asked as he laid his newspaper aside.

"Nothing," she said quietly.

"Must be something; it's been gnawing at you for days. What is it?"

Her lips pressed together in a thin line, a part of her unwilling to unburden herself.

"Come on, Lizzie," he coaxed. "You know you can tell me."

Elizabeth breathed deeply, her gaze drifting to an old family portrait on the wall. "The kids hate me."

"No, they don't," he replied. "They just don't like when you get in their business too much."

"They hated me before they had business for me to get into."

"That's not true," Robert insisted. "The kids love you."

She shook her head. "They hate me…they always have. They never say anything good about growing up with me. I've been told that my children can't stand me…and it's probably true. They never remember one good thing about me…all they do is find fault."

Robert sighed. "They love you, Lizzie…but you never were big on playing with them or going along with something they wanted to do…you didn't go for rule breaking once in awhile. You didn't want to have fun with them when they were kids."

Her throat constricted with emotion. "I played with my children when I could!"

"Once in a great while and never for long."

"Because I couldn't! I always had meals to fix and laundry to tend to and cleaning to do. I couldn't play all day!"

"No…but maybe you could've made more time than you did. Maybe you could've loosened up sometimes and not been so strict."

"I had to be the one to discipline because you wouldn't!" she shouted. "You let them get away with everything and then when I'd make rules and enforce them, I was made to be the bad guy…because you were the fun one…that's why they always wanted you…because I always had to be the bad guy because you never would be."

"Lizzie, I disciplined where I saw fit. You disciplined all the time. You were too strict with them at times. I liked having fun with the kids."

"I guess so when you knew I'd do everything else. You were always eager to be the fun one because you felt guilty for working too much or drinking too much…you didn't want to lose their affection so you became the fun one…and I had to be the one who made the rules…you made me be the one they hated. All of their good memories are of you…there aren't any of me…and now they hate me. Michael must make it clear to Natalie that he can't stand me. William rarely ever comes home. Jimmy's always ready for battle with me. Andrew's always away and when he does come around, he spends most of the time in the garage with you. Maddy…she doesn't come around until I chase her down and guilt her into coming to dinner. They don't talk to me the way they talk to you. If I went and jumped off a bridge, they'd only be inconvenienced with the funeral and then they'd go on with life as if I had never been there at all."

"Don't say things like that," Robert said firmly. "You're being ridiculous talking that way. The boys don't have in depth conversations with you because they're men…men don't have long involved talks with their mother. As for Maddy…well, honestly she doesn't have in depth chats with me either. She's an independent woman, she wants to stand on her own and not lean on us but it doesn't mean she doesn't love you. Another thing with the boys is that you alienate them by automatically hating any woman that's in their life."

"I just want them to make good choices!"

"No, you want them to make your choices…and they don't want what you think they should have. If you'd just settle down a little, do more listening than complaining and stay out of their love lives, you might find that your sons won't mind your company so much."

"So you agree that they can't stand me?" she asked, her heart stinging.

He sighed deeply. "I didn't say that. I just think you'd see them more often if you changed your ways. It's too late to do anything about their childhood…too late for relaxing rules and playing games with them. But maybe if you tried harder…and maybe learned to be a little more affectionate, although it might be too late for that too; grown men don't want their mother hanging on them…"

"I don't know how to be overly affectionate," Elizabeth cried. "I didn't grow up getting copious amounts of affection."

"That doesn't mean you treat your children the same way. You're supposed to do better for your children than your parents did for you."

"Maybe I could have if you had helped me more back when it mattered most."

"Lizzie, don't blame me for how you are," Robert retorted. "It wouldn't have mattered what I did, you'd still be the person you are. You could've showed more affection…you were affectionate with me when we were dating and first got married. We had fun times…"

"Yeah," she scoffed. "And then they stopped because you didn't have time for me anymore and I had to raise the kids and take care of the house."

Robert shook his head. "That's not true."

"Yes, it is," she cried, a few tears breaking free. "But I'm not surprised that you deny it…you always do. You're just like the kids…you blame me for everything. I'm always the one who was wrong or exaggerating. You don't understand…you just don't understand," she said as she pushed herself off the sofa and hurried for the stairs.

Robert sighed deeply as he squeezed his eyes shut. He had clearly handled that all wrong…and now she was worse off than she had been. She didn't often cry…at least not in front of anyone; but he had seen the tears and they had been a dagger to his heart. She was a prickly rose…but maybe she was right in some ways…maybe it was easier to see her shortcomings than to admit his own. Maybe he hadn't been there for her enough when the kids were growing up. Maybe he was part of the reason that she was the way she was now. He pondered those things for awhile and then pushed himself out of the chair and headed upstairs in hopes of making things better.

When he reached the bedroom, he saw that Elizabeth had changed into her nightgown and taken down her hair…and was roughly brushing it as tears continued to spill down her cheeks while she sat at her vanity. He ached at the sight, making his way into the room to sit in the armchair. "Come here, Lizzie," he said gently.

She ignored him as she tried to get her quiet sobs under control but she didn't seem able to win the battle against her emotions tonight.

"Lizzie," Robert said once more. "Come here, please."

Against her better judgement, Elizabeth laid down her hairbrush and rose from her vanity, making her way to the chair to stand in front of her husband, her arms crossed and her gaze avoiding his.

"I said come here," he said, his hand grasping her waist and gently pulling her down on his lap.

"What?" she asked gruffly.

"I'm sorry," he replied.

"For what?" she cried. "It's nothing I don't know."

Robert shook his head. "I'm sorry because you're right…I didn't always give you my best. Maybe I didn't help enough back then…if I had, maybe you wouldn't have to think these things now. I should've done better…and then you would've had time to do better."

"Now it's too late," she sniffled.

"Not completely," he consoled.

"Yes, it is. They're grown now…they made up their minds long ago."

"They love you."

She shook her head. "They don't…no one does."

"Now what do you mean by that?" Robert asked. "I love you."

She scoffed. "I don't see how you could…how can anyone love someone who is so clearly a terrible person that her children hate her and her grandchildren don't like her either."

"Lizzie, what is this all about?"

"I told you what Natalie said," she cried.

"What the hell does Natalie know?" Robert asked. "She was just mad because you took Angie out of school and got her into the wedding."

"But she's not wrong."

"She is," he said firmly. "Your children love you…maybe they're not always good at showing it but they do. Maybe they could do better too. You think it's too late but it's not. You can try a little more if you're of a mind too. Andrew's job bothers you because he travels a lot and you make comments about it that make him feel like you don't like his job or understand that he loves what he does…instead of doing that, just let him know once in awhile that you worry about him when he's traveling and he might check in to let you know he's fine. Ask him about the places he's been…he's probably been to some of those places you've always wanted to go to. Ask about one of them and find out, show an interest in that part of his life and he might open up more to you. You could do that, couldn't you?"

Elizabeth nodded as she swiped at the tears on her cheeks. "I guess so."

"I know you can," Robert assured. "As for Maddy, maybe you can ask her to go shopping with you…pop in and see her at the boutique once in awhile. Don't ask her if she's seeing anyone…that seems to set her off at times. Let her volunteer that information. She mentioned wanting to redecorate her apartment, maybe you can ask her if she wants you to help her…I think you'd enjoy that, wouldn't you?"

"She'll probably say no."

"You won't know unless you try…and I know you can do that."

"I can try," she agreed.

"I wish I could offer a suggestion for William…but, darling, that boy just isn't interested in the family. I think he's the one you've tried the most with; you do everything you can to make his visits home special; and in return for the gesture, we only see him every few years. I don't know what to do about him any more than you do…so we might have to say that we have one son that's a lost cause."

"I guess it's a good thing we have spares," Elizabeth said, trying to inject some lightness into her tearful tone.

Robert smiled. "That's true; that's why we had a few more in case one went sour on us."

She gave a small quiet laugh. "He might be beyond sour by now."

"You're right; completely rotten at this point. Michael on the other hand, well he's our first born and you loved up on him as much as you could before the others started to arrive. The problem with Michael is that you don't like Natalie…and you don't have to, but for Michael's sake you might have to tone it down a little. You were doing fine there for awhile but it seems to have taken a downswing again."

"She says Danny and Alicia are afraid of me," she said tearfully. "I've never done anything to make them fear me. I've never laid a hand on them."

"I know that," he consoled. "And I don't agree with Natalie at all about that assumption. Little Alicia always crawls onto your lap…and I see her eyes light up when she sees you. She has your eyes, you know that?"

Elizabeth met his gaze. "What?"

"Alicia has your eyes," he repeated. "The same color and shape; very expressive just like yours. You haven't noticed that she has your eyes?"

"No," she said quietly. "I've always thought she was a beautiful baby but I guess I never paid much attention to if any of them had anything from me. I know Danny favors you, Jimmy and Andrew."

"He does," Robert replied. "But Miss Alicia definitely has your eyes and she's not afraid of her grandma. She always comes to you. Natalie wants to say she has fear but I believe Alicia is just a quiet child; she has a very calm nature and there's nothing wrong with that but it also doesn't mean she has fear of you because she doesn't. She's just quieter than the others."

"I know she's quiet…that's why I know she'll be fine being a flower girl."

"She'll be an adorable flower girl…and I bet when she starts getting tired, it'll be your lap she climbs onto. Danny's not afraid of you either; he just can't always get your attention because you're always being pulled in different directions, but when he does have it, he tells you all about his favorite things, now doesn't he?"

She nodded. "I know all about Snoopy, and Hot Wheels."

Robert smiled. "And for his birthday this year, you were the one to make him a cake since his mother hadn't been feeling well...and I clearly remember you standing in the toy store picking out Hot Wheels to put on his cake and he loved it. He was so excited when he saw the cake you made him. When Jimmy bought him his own pack of baseball cards, he brought them over to show you…because if you remember, he showed them to you before he showed me."

"Yes, he did," she replied.

"A boy that's afraid of someone isn't going to do that, is he?"

"No, I guess not."

"That's right. He loves his Grandma, he just can't always get you to himself."

"Angie thinks I don't like her," Elizabeth said, her tone still full of tears. "She's told me why…but I can't help but feel Natalie's influence in all of it."

"I'd like to say you're wrong about Natalie influencing the kids feelings about you…but I feel like she very well may play into why Angie feels the way she does…but I know you love her, Lizzie. You were very happy to be presented with your first granddaughter."

She nodded. "I do love her…and I offered to take her all the time when she was a baby but they'd rarely ever let me have her for a night. I was used to them only letting me have Mikey overnight on rare occasions but I thought once Angie was here and they had to get used to having two instead of just one, that they might let me have her more. I had the crib ready…and she hardly ever got to use it."

"I know," he said, brushing a kiss against her hair as she settled against him. "And I know the things Angie brought up the other night hurt you…but you've been trying to show her that you do love her. You took her off the time out her father put her on…you made her something else to eat that night without complaint. You told her you would make her a flower girl and you went and made that happen in front of her eyes. You showed her that you can make the effort…and Natalie's wrong about the kids not wanting to spend time with you. If Angie didn't want to be around you, she wouldn't be so upset about you missing her school play, now would she?"

"I don't know…maybe it only bothered her because other kids grandmothers were there."

Robert shook his head. "No; that little girl sat there and said very clearly that she had wanted you to come. It wasn't because of anything else…she just wanted her grandmother to be there."

"I told her I'll come to her little graduation on Tuesday."

"And what did she say?"

"That she was happy…and she hugged me."

He nodded. "See, you're showing her that you can make the effort for her; that you have love for her."

"What about Mikey?" she asked. "Maybe he doesn't like to spend time with me."

"I don't think that's true at all. I think that like Angie, there is a bit of Natalie's influence in how they regard you at times. Mikey's growing up, he's into sports and you're not a fan of that so he's probably not always sure what to talk to you about…but there's a picture hanging on the fridge that he drew…and it says 'To Grandma' on it…a boy isn't going to draw pictures for someone he doesn't like. He sure does love those special little treats you make for him at times."

"I wanted to make him his macaroni and cheese tonight but Michael said no, they're weren't coming over any time soon. Mikey will think I lied to him," she sniffled. "I don't want to be branded a liar as well."

"Don't worry, Mikey won't think that. He's a bright boy, he knows what's going on…and you'll make it when you know they are coming and he'll be thrilled. They love you…but you know, it's not too late to give them a little more of yourself. Talk to them more when they're here…make those special treats…give a few more hugs and kisses…maybe play a game or two. You've got time with them, Lizzie. You can make sure they know that they have your love."

"I'm trying to do better," she cried.

"I know you are," he soothed. "Now for Jimmy. Your problem with Jimmy is that you're so against him marrying Johanna."

"I don't like her."

"You don't have to…but honey, she's not going anywhere. They're getting married whether you like it or not and nothing you say or do is going to change that."

"I know…I just wish he wouldn't rush into it."

"They're not rushing. They may not have labeled their relationship right off the bat but they've been together for years, Lizzie. They're in love."

"I think it's lust more than love."

"No," he said with a shake of his head. "It's love…that's why they keep coming back to each other when hard times find them. They're a good couple and they're going to be together…you have to learn to accept it. She's not going anywhere. If you calm down about Johanna and stop calling her names and harping at Jimmy about her; he'll start coming around more often again…and you can start this Saturday when we go have dinner with them."

"I don't want to."

"You're going to anyway because you love your son," he told her. "We've been invited and we're going to go and try to make peace so they can get married without all of these dark clouds hanging over their heads…because she doesn't want to come between you and Jimmy. In fact, between all of us over the last couple months, we've made her feel very unwelcome in our lives…and because of that, Jimmy feels unwelcome too and we can't have that. We have to do better…and we're going to start at that dinner. I want you to do your very best and I know you can."

She frowned. "She probably thinks we're going to be friends because I talked to her at her office…I even called her by her name."

Robert laughed. "Oh, honey, I don't think she believes for a moment that you wanted to be friends. She's a smart girl, she went to an Ivy League school, she has brains…she's not going to be convinced by one little conversation that was held in front of a little girl. But I am glad that you called her by her name, that is something you should do more often. I'm sure that would go a long way with Jimmy. So just promise me you'll try to do your best Saturday, okay?"

Elizabeth sighed deeply. "I'll try."

"Good girl," he said, patting her hip.

She was quiet for a long minute as she rested her head against his shoulder. "Why did you marry me?" she finally asked.

"Because I'm crazy about you," Robert replied.

"Why?"

"Because I love you."

"But I'm not the easiest person to get along with."

"I don't mind your thorns, Lizzie. I am sorry though that somewhere along the way I made you feel like I didn't have time for you anymore. Maybe while you're working on things with the kids and grandkids, I can work on giving you the time I should've been giving all along. We're going to sit down this weekend and pick a place to go this summer, just the two of us…and we're going to do some of those fun things we used to do."

"Really?" she asked, raising her head to look at him.

Robert nodded. "Yes."

"Can we play tennis?" she asked. "I always liked when we'd play tennis when we were dating."

"I'm not very good at it."

"I know, that's why I liked it so much…I could win," she said, a smile tugging at her lips.

Robert laughed. "We'll put it on our agenda then…after being married to me all of these years, I figure you're entitled to mop a tennis court with me once in awhile."

She smiled; her genuine smile that he had always loved and he couldn't resist stealing a kiss as he threaded his fingers through her long chestnut colored hair. "I love when you wear your hair down; I wish you'd do it more often."

"Why?"

"Because it's beautiful…and it reminds me of the first time I saw you. I saw those pretty eyes of yours and that long beautiful hair and I thought to myself, that's the girl for me."

Elizabeth smiled, her hand caressing his cheek as she caught his lips in a kiss. "I do love you, you know?" she asked softly.

"I know, darling," he replied, kissing her once more, his hand moving softly against her side. When she allowed his kisses and touches to linger as she sank into his embrace he realized that what she had been needing all along was some reassurance…consoling…the affection that she felt like she didn't know how to give much of or ask for in return. He had been slow to catch on tonight, but now that he had it figured out, he'd love her through her bout of the blues and hopefully he could guide her through the dinner they had been invited to that weekend.


"What was the point in that stupid staff meeting?" Jim asked that night before tipping the bottle of beer against his lips.

"To annoy us," Johanna remarked as she followed him into the living room. "That's what all staff meetings are about…annoying people who just want to leave and get on with their lives since it's after business hours."

"I kept waiting on you to scream 'shut up'," Jim replied. "You had that look on your face."

"I know," she sighed. "And I wanted to but I didn't feel like getting fired. It was bad enough that they kept us so late that I didn't get to go pick up samples for the invitations because they were closed," she said before taking a sip of her own beer.

"I know."

"Now I'm going to be behind on my list…and that annoys me even more."

"We'll get the samples tomorrow," Jim assured. "We'll go on our lunch break and after we get them, we'll eat somewhere nearby."

Johanna nodded. "I guess we can do that."

"At least we did get to check a few places about the music," he replied, hoping to make her feel better.

"I know…so far I like the second guy best…but we're going to have to figure out what songs we want for certain moments."

"We've got time, Jo. The one you liked best said that we can go ahead and book him and give him the list closer to the wedding. We don't have to pick every song he plays, just the ones for certain dances. We'll get it done."

"I guess I just suddenly feel like it was one more thing for the list that I hadn't thought of."

"It's only Thursday; new list just started yesterday. We'll get it done."

"I hope so. I felt like I was doing better."

"You are," he said as he settled down on the sofa and picked up the remote.

She sighed a little. "I'm glad we ended up at your place tonight."

"Why is that?"

"Because my list isn't on your fridge. My wedding magazines aren't here…it's like I'm hiding from it in a small way."

He grinned. "I'm glad I could accommodate you."

"What's in that box in the corner?" Johanna asked, tilting her bottle toward it.

"I started packing, that's my winter stuff."

Johanna made her way toward the open box and looked down in it. "There's only a coat and a pair of boots in there."

He nodded. "Yeah, that's my winter stuff."

"That's it!?"

"Yeah."

"No scarf?"

"No, I don't really like them."

"Not even a pair of gloves?"

"I lost them."

"I see," she replied. "I guess you have room in your winter box for some other season.

"I'm going to put my jackets in there, the ones I wear in the spring and fall."

"Both of them, huh?"

He nodded. "My extra pair of sneakers too."

Johanna shook her head. "You're not going to need as much closet space as I feared."

"I could've told you that."

Johanna moved to the couch and settled down next to him. "Did you talk to your Dad yet?"

"Yeah, I went over to his office on my lunch break…I was hungry too."

She smiled. "I'm sure that knowing you as well as I do, you made time to eat either before or after your visit…now didn't you?"

He gave her a grin. "You know, your lawyer voice is so very sexy."

"Don't change the subject."

"Hmm, the lawyer look too…even more sexy."

"Stop it," she said, smacking his shoulder although a smile remained on her lips.

"You started it," he teased. "Come on, we need to unwind from this terribly boring and annoying staff meeting."

Johanna put a hand on his chest as he reached for her. "Nope. Tell me what I want to know."

"I should've gotten you tequila instead of beer."

"Jim."

"I went and saw him; I told him Saturday at five…he still wishes it was at a restaurant."

"No way," Johanna said with a shake of her head.

"That's what I told him."

"So what's the verdict?"

"He said they'll be here."

"Good," she said with a nod. "Did you ask about the girls?"

"Yeah…apparently Mom is trying to prove to Angie that she loves her."

"I'm not sure I know how being a flower girl plays into that."

"Apparently Dad brought it up at dinner the other night while Michael, Natalie and the kids were there. There must've been some to-do between Mom and Angie and Angie said that Mom doesn't like her so she's trying to prove that she does by giving her what she wants."

"So I'm right to give her the benefit of the doubt on this one?" Johanna asked.

He nodded. "I believe so. If she wants Angie to believe that she really does love her, and I know she does, she just doesn't always show it very well, then she'll make sure she's in the wedding…and Alicia too since you put that in the agreement."

"Do you think she'll come to the dinner?"

"That I have my doubts about but Dad says she'll be here…I'm not holding my breath but we'll see."

"I know you don't want to do this but look at it this way; at least we'll have it over with and we won't have to do it again for awhile."

"I guess that's true," he sighed. "Have you heard from your mother yet?"

Johanna shook her head. "I tried calling when we found out about that stupid meeting to see if she could go get the samples for me but she didn't answer. I called Dad's office to see if everything was alright; he said she's fine, just not answering the phone because she's mad at me and mad at Colleen…and apparently Frankie agreed with us when she was talking to him so she's mad at him too."

"Wow, all three of you."

"Yeah…so, I don't know how exactly to fix this one and I didn't want to ask Dad to get the samples for me after he went through the flower ordering thing with me."

"Understandable. Why is she mad at Colleen?"

"They're still bickering over Colleen's lack of enthusiasm about her pregnancy. She's still mad at me about the dress shop fiasco which was all her fault anyway. I don't want to fight with her…she just frustrates me right now…and I know she's mad about me ordering the flowers with Dad too. She probably wants me to apologize but that wasn't even my idea anyway…and I'm not sorry for going with him."

"You shouldn't be…and feel free to throw me under the bus for that one because I am the one who got the flower thing under way with your Dad. So just tell her that was my fault."

"It won't matter to her. I don't know how to fix this," she said softly as she laid her head on his shoulder. "I'm trying to get things on a better playing field with your parents…and I one of my own going off the deep end and it's not the one it usually is so I don't know what to do about it."

Jim wrapped his arm around her. "Don't worry, sweetheart; we'll get things worked out one way or another with everyone."

"I hope so…if we don't; we're going to need to run away."

"Name the day you want to go and I'll make sure the car has a full tank of gas," Jim replied.

She smiled up at him. "I think you're supposed to encourage me to stay and fight it out."

"I could do that but we have so much fun when we run away together," he quipped.

"That's true," she said as she snuggled into him. "I guess I'm just feeling a little out of sorts today."

"That's alright," he replied as he held her tighter. "We can always exchange these beers for something a little better."

"You mean you'll spike my Coke for me?"

He laughed. "Is that your hint that you'd like a splash of whiskey in your Coke?"

"I wouldn't mind…you know I'm not much of a beer person anyway."

"I know, I could go for a little spiked Coke myself after a day like today. So listen, I'll get us some better drinks and a snack. You find something for us to watch and we'll just forget everything but us for the rest of the night, how does that sound?"

"That sounds great," Johanna said, stealing a kiss before he pulled away to go get their drinks. She picked up the remote and began to flip channels. Forgetting for a night sounded like a very good idea…tomorrow would come soon enough and then she'd figure out how to fix things with her mother…and steel herself for dinner with the Becketts come Saturday.