Todd spent the years living with his mother and seeing his father during school breaks.

“Why don’t you and mommy live together?” Todd would ask, but Leo did not have a good answer.

Leo felt that he had failed Oliver. Oliver was angry and making the wrong choices in Leo’s mind. He had tried to do his best as a father, but it hadn’t been enough.

He feared that he was failing Todd, also. Emma suggested getting all the children together. In the summer Todd and June’s children would spend a week on the farm. In the winter, Todd and Gabriel would go to June’s home to play with his cousins Daniel and Francine and their cousin, Heidi.

Todd was the oldest of the children. Francine was the leader. She informed the other children what they would be doing. Todd noticed that she would sometimes pick on Heidi or leave her out. Sometimes, he felt to old to join in on their games and Heidi would sit beside him and tell him stories or ask questions.

Todd had just started high school when his mother was killed by a drunk driver. Todd took it very hard. He and his mother were close.

Todd moved in with his father and started a new school. He was a shy child and had difficulty making new friends. He went to school and then to his room when he got home. Leo encouraged Todd to go outside. Leo overheard some of the neighborhood boys teasing Todd. Leo stepped in their view and they ran off.

Leo found a new job and was able to move closer to family. He made sure to be home in time to have dinner with Todd. June would bring over a home cooked meal for them every week.

As a surprise, Leo brought home a puppy. Todd’s face lit up. He named the puppy, Pixie. He and Pixie became inseparable.

Oliver had moved out and Leo did not know where he was at. Leo hoped that he would get his life together and be happy.

One night during his senior year of high school, Todd took Pixie out to go to the bathroom. He heard crying. Todd looked around and saw a toddler walking down the street. He walked to the little boy.

“Where’s your mother? Are you lost?” Todd asked.

Todd took the little boy by the hand and went door to door to see if the little boy lived in any of the houses. The neighbors said no. Todd took the boy home and called the police. The child’s family was found. The mother gave Todd a hug, tears in her eyes.

Todd liked the feeling of helping others and solving a mystery. He began to daydream about becoming a police officer.

Tessa, also, knew what she wanted to be. She planned to become a journalist like her father.

At college, she met Henry and they began dating.

Arthur saw his only daughter graduate and get engaged.

Tessa felt as though she were walking on clouds.

Before Arthur could walk Tessa down the aisle, he died of a heart attack. Tessa was crushed. Henry comforted her.

“I can’t believe Dad is gone,” Tessa sobbed. “How can I get married without him?”

“He will be there watching from above,” Georgia told her,”He will always be with us.” Georgia placed her hand on her heart.

“Your father would want you to be happy. He was so proud of you.” Georgia hugged her daughter tight.

Tessa got a job working for a small newspaper.

“It’s so unfair. I’m grateful to be working for the paper, but an advice column? The only other woman there writes the cooking and manners column. The men get to write real news stories,”Tessa complained. “No one takes an advice columnist seriously. I want to go out in the field, interview people, and uncover the real story.”

Henry nodded and said,”yes, but it’s not such a big deal, is it?”

Tessa looked at questioningly.

“I mean it’s up to the man to support his family. The woman brings in a little extra for vacations, makeup, or whatever, but the man needs to make the real money. I should get a promotion soon. It will be enough to support us. You will quit anyway when the babies start coming.”

“Ha, Ha,” Tessa said and looked at Henry, who was not laughing. “Wait, you can’t be serious.”

Henry shrugged and said,”That’s what women do, take care of the home and children. That’s what my mother did and yours too.”

“Times are changing,” Tessa argued,”Women have more options now. I didn’t go to school just to get a husband.”

“But you got one,” Henry said and smiled.

“I’m going to be a journalist,” Tessa said as she stood up and walked away.