Claire was relieved to graduate from high school. It had been a nightmare that she thought she would never escape.

Claire spent her summer knitting, babysitting, and playing with her cats.

In the fall, she reluctantly enrolled in the local college. She dreaded going back to school. She also believed that she could not possibly compete with her smart, successful sisters. She didn’t even know what she wanted to do.

Claire would go to the park to study. At least she planned to study. She would end up daydreaming and people watching.

The park was where she met Sheldon. Sheldon was an older man. She hadn’t received much attention from boys at school and here was a man interested in her. She felt shy and unsure how to act or what to say. Still, Sheldon seemed seemed not bothered. He talked about his career and interests.

Sheldon invited her to lunch the following day and Claire accepted. Claire worried that he would find her dull or awkward, but at the end of the date, he invited her on another one.

Heidi suspected her daughter had met a boy. She would catch her staring into space with a smile on her face. Claire was normally a homebody, but now was rarely home.

Heidi would ask questions while they knitted and eventually Claire admitted that she was seeing someone.

“Your father will want to meet him,” Heidi told her.

Claire was nervous about bringing her boyfriend to meet her family. She had never done that before. Her family was friendly and kind and she wanted them to like Sheldon as much as she did.

Todd wore his uniform to the dinner. He worried about his youngest daughter. She had been so unhappy at school and he wanted the best for her.

Todd was not happy that Sheldon was much older than Claire. Claire was still a child in his eyes. He felt an instant dislike towards the man.

Heidi worried, also, but was willing to get to know Sheldon.

Sheldon seemed oblivious to Todd’s dislike. He talked about his career and mother.

Claire had gone to meet Sheldon’s mother. Sheldon’s father had passed away when he was ten and he had been an only child.

Anita, Sheldon’s mother, kept a spotless home.

“A place for everything and everything in its place,” Anita quoted at dinner.

Anita told stories of Sheldon. She talked about the importance of keeping a clean home and honorable reputation.

Claire felt uncomfortable. Sheldon would nod along with whatever his mother said.

Claire sat on the bench waiting for Sheldon. She daydreamed about life with Sheldon. He showered her with compliments and seemed interested in her.

She grew worried when he didn’t arrive on time. She sighed. Maybe she had been foolish to believe someone could be interested in her. After years of being bullied, Claire had little self esteem. What could Sheldon see in her?

Sheldon arrived apologizing for being late. He was delayed due to helping his mother. Claire was so glad to see him that she didn’t care that he had left her waiting.

Sheldon wrapped his arms around her and kissed her.

“My beautiful Claire,” Sheldon said looking in her eyes. “I can’t picture a life without you in it. Will you be my wife?”

Claire was stunned. They had only been dating a few months.

“Claire?” Sheldon said taking her hands.

“Yes, of course, I will be your wife,” Claire said grinning.

Todd and Heidi were not happy to hear that Claire was engaged. They tried to encourage a long engagement. After all, the two barely new each other.

Sheldon did not want to wait. Claire’s parents tried to encourage her to finish school first. Sheldon told her not to worry about taking classes in the spring. She would be too busy planning a wedding and being a new bride.

So Claire did not sign up for spring classes. She was glad for a reason to quit. Instead, she focused on her wedding. She tried not to think about how she was disappointing her parents.

It began to rain as Claire and Sheldon said their vows. Claire did not let it dampen her mood. She was now a wife.

Married life was not how Claire thought it would be.

Claire and Sheldon had a nice honeymoon. On their return, Sheldon announced that they would be staying with his mother.

“Just for a short while,” he reassured her. It would help them to save money for a nice home.

“Besides,” he told her,”my mother can show you how to be the perfect wife.”

The lessons started right away. Anita would follow Claire around and dictate the correct way to clean, make beds, prepare food the way Sheldon liked, and how to be a proper wife.

Anita had many rules. No leaving the bedroom without being fully dressed. No public display of affection. Everything must be put away immediately when done with. The house must be kept spotless.

Claire couldn’t wait until the day they had their own home.

Things seem to improve some for Micheal and Victoria. Though the trailer is still a mess, the couple get along better. Victoria gets a job, but quits when she learns that she is once again pregnant.

Micheal isn’t thrilled with the news. The trailer is in poor condition and he had hoped to soon be able to start saving for a new home. He is working as a mechanic. He enjoys the work, but he is not making much and now Victoria is once again unemployed.

They have a son that they name Aidan.

Victoria teaches Jackson how to make a few simple meals. He learns that he enjoys cooking.

Addison dislikes mess. She tries to help clean, but it is too big a task for a little girl.

Jordyn joins the family. Addison helps care for for the new baby.

Jackson, once an A student, now struggles at school. His homework is rarely completed. He is too tired. He cooks dinner on the nights his father works. He puts the children to bed and feeds them breakfast.

Victoria and Micheal argue more often than not. Micheal works long hours. Victoria can’t seem to keep a job.

Victoria and Micheal are barely speaking. Victoria blames Micheal for her loneliness. She starts seeing other men while the older kids are at school.

When Micheal learns that a fifth child is on her way, he packs up and leaves. He stays gone longer this time. His friends tell him to leave her for good, but a part of him still loves her. Plus, he feels guilty about all the pressure on Jackson.

Allison is followed by one last child, Mikey.

The house is chaos. Jackson works for a fisherman part-time and saves every dime. As soon as he graduates, he plans to get out. He loves his siblings, but it is too much responsibility. He feels like he has missed out on so much, mostly fun. He was tired, so tired. He can’t wait to walk out the door for good.

Like Jackson, Cate planned to move and start over. She bought a home in a nice neighborhood and made friends with the elderly neighbor, Lydia. Lydia cared for Miles during the long hours she worked. She made sure to have a warm meal prepared and often cookies, too. Miles loved Lydia.

Preston’s visits with Miles were inconsistent. When Preston would have a scheduled visit, Miles would stare out the window waiting for his father that may or may not arrive.

Preston tried to renew things with Cate, but when she refused to give his another chance, it was Miles who suffered. Preston resumed his bachelor ways, pursuing single and attached women.

Miles met Mollie at Lydia’s house. They quickly became best friends. Mollie was caring and sweet. They played together almost every day.

Then Brent moved in the neighborhood. They three often played together after school.

Brent was a little older than Miles and Mollie. Miles looked up to him. They often got into trouble. Brent liked to play tricks on others and get into mischief.

Cate cautioned Miles about going along with whatever Brent wanted.

Sometimes, Brent’s tricks were played on Miles. Brent liked to jump out of bushes and scare Miles. He never apologized for his tricks, but would just laugh.

Heidi and Todd couldn’t be more proud of their three daughters. Madeline was in nursing school. Chloe was serious with her nose often buried in a book, and Claire with a heart of gold and a little mischievous.

Chloe and Claire did everything together. Claire looked up to her big sister.

“Are you done reading, yet?” Claire asked her sister who had been reading for what seemed like forever.

“Let me finish this chapter,” Chloe said not looking away from the page.

“But it’s so nice outside. I’ve been waiting forever,” Claire said flopping on the bed.

“Okay, let’s go.” Chloe put her bookmark in her book and together they went outside.

Claire adored her sister and she also loved cats. She was so excited to get her first kitten.

Chloe loved the kitten too, but she was glad to get a few more pages in her book while Claire was playing with the kitten.

Unfortunately, as the girls grew older, things began to change. For the first time, Chloe and Claire would be going to different schools. Chloe was know a teenager. Claire had a harder time getting her to play outside with her or go along with one of her made up games.

Chloe, also, had new friends. They would hang out after school or talk on the phone.

Chloe found her sister a bit annoying at times. She would shoo her away when her friends were over telling her that they were too old to play those kid games.

So Claire began spending more time alone.

Chloe began high school. She was a serious student and had joined a few after school clubs. She had even less time for Claire. They still would watch a movie or play a board game sometimes, but it wasn’t like it used to be.

Claire was struggling with fitting in at middle school. It was larger than her grade school and she hardly knew anyone in her classes. They didn’t seem to want to know her either.

Heidi was worried about her youngest child. She had noticed a change in her. She was no longer the silly, happy, go lucky girl she had once been. She was serious and quieter.

Heidi was now a kindergarten teacher. She wondered if maybe she had gone back to school and to work too soon. She had been home full time with the older two.

“Heidi, you are a wonderful mother,” Todd reassured her,”Claire is growing up. She’s trying to find her place.”

But Claire never seemed to adjust to middle school. Claire kept it to herself that she had been targeted by a group of girls and picked on. She seemed to always be doing something wrong. Her hair was the wrong style, her clothes were uncool, she was weird, no one liked her. They were popular and so when they told the other girls not to talk to Claire, they listened.

She only had one friend, but that friend had moved away over the summer.

Claire hoped that high school would be different. She was nervous about going. She wrote her fears in her journal.

High school proved to be just as difficult. Claire continued to be teased. They made fun of her weight, her clothes, anything she said.

Claire would come home and cry.

She began to be bullied on social media. It seemed no one wanted to be her friend. She was ashamed to tell her family. What if they realized something was wrong with her, too?

Luckily, Claire had a supportive family. Sure, Chloe had less time for Claire, but they still hung out some. Heidi and Todd would spend extra one on one time with Claire. They hoped that she would open up, but she didn’t.

Lance became a teenager. As a child, he was mischievous at times. He was often able to flash a charming smile and avoid punishment from Francine. As a teen, he was unruly. Francine and Jace had their hands full.

Francine and Jace began to take weekend trips together once a month. They both agreed that their marriage was important and they needed to spend time together.

While they were gone, Lance would throw parties. Things would get broken and the house trashed.

Lance’s parents would be furious. He would tell them he wouldn’t do it again, but they would come home to complaints from the neighbors or broken items.

“Sorry,” Lance would shrug when confronted with a broken lamp.

Jace was furious. They would argue about Lance.

“You were always too lenient on him,” Jace accused Francine.

“You moved out. The children were distraught,” Francine cried.

They would ground him, withhold his allowance, and lecture him. Lance would just shrug.

Lance managed to graduate with average grades. He went away to school.

Lance had many girlfriends. Francine couldn’t keep track of them. She didn’t care for them either. She wished that he would focus on school.

One girlfriend, Quinn, told Lance she was pregnant. Lance denied that the baby was his.

“We only dated a month,” Lance told his mother.

Francine believed him, but Quinn insisted. She had only seen Lance.

Francine rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache coming on. Her son was in college. This would mess up his life. Did she consider adoption?

There were rumors of another girl pregnant by Lance.

Francine called Heidi in tears.

“This girls are going to ruin his life,” she sobbed.

Jace lectured his son. He got put on academic probation. He skipped class and stayed out late partying.

“Own up to your responsibilities,” He told his son.

Lance continued to party and fail half his classes. He dropped out of school and returned home.

Quinn gave birth to a daughter. She named her Fallon.

Francine insisted on a paternity test. Lance was indeed the father. Francine and Jace went to see the baby at the hospital. Lance did not.

Lance and Brittany could not be more different. Brittany was responsible almost to a fault. She was neat and caring.

Brittany and Madeline were still best friends. In the beginning, Francine had tried to minimize the friendship. She thought Brittany could do better. She had wanted her to befriend the other children in her private school. She wanted her daughter to have friends that would elevate her social status.

A big part of it was that Heidi was her mother. Francine was tired of hearing about Heidi. She wanted as little to do with her as possible, unless she had something to brag about.

That all changed when Jace left and she had to get a job. The other PTA moms had started gossiping about her. They snubbed her. She had turned to Heidi and Heidi had been a real friend, a sister.

Brittany and Madeline’s friendship remained strong over the years. Upon graduation, they both went to nursing school, graduated together, and got jobs at the same hospital. They even bought a house together.

Brittany had dated a little, but had never had time for anything serious. She was always studying, taking care of her brother, practicing violin, or working.

Then she met Brenton. He made her heart flutter. They grew close and he was accepting of her busy schedule.

Madeline had more experience dating. She had less responsibilities growing up and was a bit of a flirt.

Still, when she met River, she knew he was special. She and Brittany went on double dates. Both relationships grew serious.

There was just one thing. They shared a home and neither wanted to move out. They were best friends and didn’t want to grow apart. They worked long hours and sometimes would talk late at night after their shifts. Would their boyfriends understand?

Brenton proposed first. Brittany wanted to say yes, but she didn’t want to leave her friend.

The two couples went to dinner and discussed all living together. The men were a little surprised, but they all got along well and so agreed to try.

Brittany would keep Fallon for Quinn when she could. Jace and Francine would give her money, but were rarely involved in her life. Lance acted as if she didn’t exist.

Quinn was pregnant again. Brittany kept Fallon while she had the baby. Soon after, Quinn’s mother unexpectedly passed away. Quinn broke down, overwhelmed. She couldn’t handle and infant and a toddler alone.

Brittany talked it over with Brenton and Madeline. She offered to take Fallon in. Francine tried to encourage her.

“You have so much going on. You just got married and you work long hours,”Francine said.

“Mother, this is your grandchild you are talking about,” Brittany said.

A couple weeks passed and Francine stopped by. Her arms were filled with bags of clothes and toys. She sat on the floor and played with Fallon.

“I tried to do everything by the rules. I finished school, married a good, successful man, had children, be involved in the school. I almost got divorced, lost all my so called friends, and Lance. Where did I go wrong?” Francine sobbed.

Brittany had ideas, but she held her tongue.

Francine wiped her eyes and smiled at her daughter, ” I did something right. I raised an intelligent, kind daughter. You are a bit more like Heidi than me.”

Francine looked at Fallon and asked,” Have you signed her up for swim class? Dance?”

“Mom,” groaned Brittany. “She’s two. Let her be two.”

Life wasn’t easy for Micheal. He had hoped that his family would be different than the one he had grown up in. Their lives were different, but they weren’t any easier or much happier.

Micheal worked long hours trying to make enough to pay the bills. Victoria worked part-time to be able to be home for Jackson, but she would often call in and refused to take additional shifts.

Micheal would come home to a filthy house, with franks and beans for dinner, and Jackson needing help with homework or a bath.

Micheal and Victoria would go out for drinks or karaoke when they had a babysitter. Victoria would complain about being bored when they didn’t. She disliked the apartment. She wanted nice things. She wanted more attention.

Sometimes when they went out, Micheal would catch Victoria being flirtatious. This would usually end in a big fight.

He would come home from work and catch Riku, the neighbor, leaving the apartment. Victoria would insist that they were just friends. She was home alone all day since she quit another job.

Micheal grabs a pillow and blanket and sleeps on the couch.

Victoria loves Micheal, but thought he worked to much and was too critical of her. It was his job to take care of her and Jackson. He left her all day in this dirty apartment where something was always broken.

She had too many responsibilities. She was young and she wanted to enjoy life. Micheal was always angry or tired when he came home from work. He wasn’t any fun anymore. Just because she had a child didn’t mean her life was over.

She missed having Micheal fawn all over her and tell her how beautiful she was. He didn’t appreciate her anymore, but Riku did. He gave her the attention she craved. He told her she was gorgeous and deserved better than the dump Micheal provided for her.

They began seeing each other while Jackson was at school and Micheal at work.

Micheal comes home early, just as Victoria is leaving Riku’s apartment. They have a huge fight. Victoria denies anything is going on. He packs a bag and leaves.

Jackson comes home from school to find his mother crying.

“Your daddy left us,” she sobbed. Jackson wrapped his arms around his mother to comfort her.

Jackson is lost without his father. His mother is crying or complaining about Micheal. Jackson is left on his own to get ready for school.

“Daddy,” Jackson calls Micheal one night, “I miss you.”

Micheal returns home under the condition that Victoria stay away from Riku. Victoria agrees. She is growing bored with him anyway and she has seen him bring new girls to his apartment.

Not long after Micheal returns, Victoria tells him that she is pregnant. She swears the baby is his, but Micheal has doubts.

He again packs up and leaves. He needs time to think.

Micheal stays away this time. He picks up Jackson on the weekends to see his grandma. Jackson cries when it’s time to return home. Micheal barely speaks to Victoria.

Victoria has the baby and names her Addison. Micheal visits her at the hospital.

“We could be a family again,” Victoria says. Micheal shakes his head.

However, he can’t stop thinking about his family. He feels bad for Jackson. Despite what she’s done, he loves Victoria.

Micheal goes to the apartment to pick up Jackson for their weekend visit. No one answers the door. Micheal hears the baby crying inside. He waits, but neither does anyone come to the door or the baby stop crying. He goes inside. He finds the baby, hungry with a dirty diaper.

He finds Victoria staring at the wall.

“Victoria,” he shouts, but she continues to stare at the wall.

He changes the baby and feeds her. Content, she looks in his eyes and falls in a peaceful sleep. He can’t fault her for the actions of her mother and she could be his baby. Maybe he was a terrible father as his had been.

Jackson returns home. His face lights up at the sight of his father.

“Daddy,” he cries jumping into Micheal’s arms.

Micheal’s anger dissolves. This is his family. He loves them. He wants to be with them.

He notices Victoria leaning against the doorway, tears streaming down her face.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers.

Micheal moves back in.

They move out of the apartment and Victoria never talks to Riku again.

They move into a trailer. It’s a little bigger than the apartment, but not much nicer.

At first things are better. Victoria finds a job. She cooks. She takes better care of the children, but soon Micheal begins taking on more of the cooking and childcare. Victoria gets fired and finds another job. They struggle to make ends meet.

Micheal takes Jackson fishing. He loves it. He feels relaxed. At home, he has to help out a lot.

Jackson takes care of his little sister while his mother rests or has friends over.

Micheal hopes this is truly a new beginning for his family.

Cate had lost both her parents. She was an only child and so were her parents. She felt alone.

She kept herself busy by working and writing songs. Still, she longed for companionship, for family.

She met Preston and was instantly drawn to him. He was confident, cheerful, and seemed to have not a care in the world. He showered her with compliments and made her feel special.

Cate feels as though she is walking on cloud nine for the first few months.

Preston is not as perfect as she had believed. Preston has been seeing women behind her back. At first, he begs for forgiveness.

“I am so lonely,” he says his lip trembling,”You are always working and performing. I am all alone. I am a man that needs a lot of attention or I feel neglected, unloved.”

Cate is too angry to listen.

“Out,” she commands. “This is not acceptable to me. I don’t want to see you again.”

She points to the door. Preston slowly gets up and walks to the door. He looks back at her with sad eyes. Cate quickly looks away before she gives in.

Cate buries herself in her music. She tries to forget Preston. Sometimes at night, he drifts in her thoughts and she wonders what could have been. Maybe it had been her fault. She did obsess with her work. It consumed her. Maybe she had been too harsh. Maybe Preston had felt neglected and unloved.

Preston had left her a few messages that she had ignored. The next time he called, she picked up.

Preston came over.
“Just to talk,” Cate told him.

Cate was powerless against his charms. As he gazed into her eyes, she melted. She tried to resist, but Preston ended up spending the night, sleeping in her bed.

In the morning, they agreed to take things slow. Maybe they had moved too fast before.

What they didn’t know was that Cate would become pregnant from that night.

Instead of moving slowly and seeing where things go, they move in together.

Things go well at first. Preston pampers her.

As the pregnancy progresses, Cate becomes more and more miserable. She is irritable. Preston pulls away, becoming less attentive. They begin arguing.

When Cate is eight months pregnant, they go to a work picnic. Cate catches Preston flirting with another woman.

Miles is born. Cate wishes her parents were around to see him. She wonders if he will be musical like her or charming like his father. She adores her son.

Preston is proud to have a son. He shows a picture of Miles to whoever he is talking to. He leaves much of the care to Cate.

“Babies are so little. I don’t want to break him,” he says whenever Cate asks him to care for Miles. He would play with the baby, but the diapering and feedings fell to her.

After a late night performing, Cate comes home to find Miles and Preston watching tv.

“Why is Miles not in bed? He should have been sleeping hours ago?” Cate asked.

“He wasn’t tired,” Miles replied not taking his eyes of the tv. “You always say we need to spend more time together and then you complain. You are never happy with me.”

Cate heads to the bedroom.

“Cate,” Preston said,” I think he needs a diaper change.”

Preston hands her the baby and leaves the room.

Miles was cranky from being kept up late and in a dirty diaper. Cate was fuming as she bathed him. She didn’t ask much of him. She worked hard and he couldn’t even change him and put him to bed.

She put Miles to sleep and stormed into the bedroom to confront Preston. Preston was sound asleep looking as though he had not a care in the world.

The next day seeing that Cate was still angry, Miles offered to take him to the park. Cate desperately wanted Miles to grow up with two parents. She wanted the relationship to work. Maybe he would try harder as he promised once again.

Whenever Cate was about to reach the breaking point, Preston would put in more effort and she would forgive him. He took a more active role in his son’s life. Then slowly he would start doing less and less again.

Then one day, Cate left work early with plans to spend the rest of the day with her family.

Instead, she found Preston in bed with the maid.

Preston begged forgiveness, but Cate had reached her breaking point. She kicked him out and refused his calls. She had given him enough chances.

Cate wanted a fresh start. She sold the house and bought a new one.

Cate worked many hours and needed someone that she could trust to keep her son. Luckily, her neighbor, Lydia, loved children. She cared for neighborhood children after school and agreed to keep Miles.

Lydia adored Miles. He loved going to her house. Lydia saved dinner for Cate and often baked cookies. Things were looking up for Cate and Miles.

Neil and Audra were thrilled to be parents. Neil felt ready this time.

They were surprised to have twins. They named the boys Sebastian and Soren. They were sleep deprived, but adored their babies.

The twins grew quickly. For their first birthday, Neil invited the family. He even included Stella.

Stella called to check on the twins and would send them gifts from time to time.

Neil spent as much time as he could with his boys.

Lucia, also, had a baby boy. She named him Pablo. Sadly, the birth was difficult and she was told it would be her only child. Lucia and Terry hadn’t planned on a big family, but it saddened her to have that choice taken from her.

This was not the only sad news Lucia was dealing with. A couple months before the birth, Genesis died.

Kerry was heartbroken. He and Lucia offered comfort to each other. They doted on little Pablo.

Vivian met Graham. Neil came for the wedding.

They had a son, Colin.

Stella, too, found love. She met Maxmillian. She did one thing different in this marriage. She told him about all three of her children. He accepted her mistakes and all.

Eric shared his mother’s talent in art. They spent hours painting together.

June was happy. Francine and Jace had repaired their marriage. Daniel was free of the pills. Kendall had a fulfilling career and a wife and twins he adored. Heidi had the family she wanted and Eric was passionate about art.

If she could change anything, it would be to for Ken to retire or at least slow down. He worked too hard in her opinion. She wanted to spend more time with him now that the children were grown.

Ken, however, was devoted to his job. He agreed to retire, someday. He did take time off to spend with Micheal who was struggling, but doing better under their care.

Unfortunately, Ken grew overworked. He wasn’t young anymore and grew increasingly tired. He lounged in the pool, and dozed off as a storm suddenly blew in. He fell in the pool, soaked, he made his way into the house.

Frozen and sick, Ken collapsed, never to get up again.

June was devastated. She had thought she and Ken had many years left together. They had had a few rough years in their marriage, but overall they had been happy together.

June couldn’t believe her husband was gone. How could she possibly go on without him?

She spent days in bed, not wanting to see anyone.

Micheal was sad to lose his grandfather. He stayed away from home as much as he could to avoid dealing with his loss. He started skipping school and his grades once again dropped.

He met Victoria at school. He was smitten. He pretended to go to school and hung out with her instead.

Not long after they began seeing each other, Victoria announced she was pregnant. Micheal was not happy at the news. She told him that her parents had kicked her out and she had nowhere to go.

Micheal brought Victoria over for dinner. He told June about the pregnancy and that Victoria had nowhere to go. June felt bad for her and agreed to let her stay.

Micheal and Victoria quit school despite June’s pleas that they finish their senior year.

“We need to find jobs,” Micheal told Victoria.

So while Micheal went job hunting, Victoria told the other guy she was seeing, that it was over.

They kissed goodbye.

Victoria gave birth to a son. She named him Jackson.

Holding the tiny baby helped relieve June of some of her grief. She proudly showed off her grandson to anyone nearby.

Francine did not care for Victoria. She suggested that the baby may not be Micheal’s. June just waved her away. Jackson was her grandchild.

When Jackson turns one, the family moves into a little apartment.

Micheal goes to work each day. Victoria works part-time. They go out at night when they can. They can’t afford it, but Victoria complains about being bored and Micheal wants to make her happy.

Francine had been wrong. Jace did not come home. Instead, he rented an apartment. Francine was shocked. How could he do this to her? To their children? What would the neighbors say?

Jace continued to pay for the children’s private school and pay the bills, but he refused to give Francine extra spending money.

“But what about the girl’s getaway? I don’t have money for that,” Francine cried.

Jace shrugged and said,”If it’s important enough you will find a way.”

Francine pleaded for just a little extra, but Jace stood his ground.

Jace picked up the children every other weekend.

Francine would ask for more money.

“Money doesn’t grow on trees, Francine,” Jace told her.

How could she keep up with the other mothers? They were always showing off their new jewelry, the vacations they went on, or their new clothes.

Francine realized Jace was not going to budge. She had no choice, but to get a job is she wanted nice things.

Francine found a job as a yoga instructor in a wellness center that none of the mother’s used.

Brittany had more responsibility at home. She would fix dinner and make sure Lance did his homework, alongside all her school activities.

Brittany missed her father terribly. She was stressed with all she had to do. She rarely had downtime to recharge.

As the separation dragged on and Francine had less money and free time, she found herself interacting less and less with the other mothers at the school. In fact, she had caught them snickering and whispering behind her back. She didn’t need them anyway, she huffed.

So instead, Francine found herself spending more time with Heidi, even confiding in her. She whined about having to work and that Jace wasn’t giving her enough money.

“Jace is even dating!” Francine cried,” It’s as though he forgot he has a wife and kids. I told him he better not bring those women around the children.”

Still, things weren’t as bleak as Francine would be. Her life was not over. She found she actually enjoyed teaching. People looked to her to guide them, wanted to be like her. She began to teach more classes. She practiced meditation, became less angry.

Francine stopped asking for more money from Jace when he picked the kids up.

Jace noticed a difference in Francine, also. She was civil when he picked the kids up, calmer.

Jace missed his children.

He agreed to spend Winterfest with the family.

Lance was excited when he opened the door and saw his father.

“What did you get me? Where’s my presents,” he asked excitedly.

“We have to decorate the tree first,” Francine insisted.

Francine put holiday music on as the family gathered around the tree.

They talked about past Winterfests and laughed together.

The family opened gifts and ate a ham dinner.

Francine took lots of pictures.

“Are you going to stay the night, Dad?” asked Lance.

“Uh, not tonight,” Jace answered.

Lance frowned.

“It’s late. I should be going,” Jace said. He hugged the children and left.

Jace drove to his apartment. A sadness washed over him. He sat in his car and thought about his evening, his family.

He turned on his car and drove back home, to his family.

Francine was surprised to see him.

“Did you forget something?” she asked.

Instead of answering, Jace wrapped his arms around Francine and kissed her.

If Neal had learned anything, it was that people couldn’t be trusted. They were out for themselves. They might be there one moment and then as soon as something better came along, they were gone.

Take his father. The only thing he knew about him was his name. He wanted nothing to do with his son or Neil’s mother. His mom hadn’t wanted him. She wanted a husband and when she found him she forgot all about Neil. If that wasn’t bad enough, she had more kids, kids she never abandoned, kids she loved.

This is why he couldn’t risk getting close with Audra. Sure, Audra was interested in him now, but as soon as she found someone better, someone worthy, she would leave like all the rest.

There was just something missing inside of Neil. Something that made him easy to forget.

But was that true?

Kerry and Genesis had opened their home to him. They stood by him as he had tantrums and got into trouble at school. He was a difficult, angry child, but they still accepted and loved him and so did his grandmother.

Still, could he risk getting his heart broken again?

Was Audra worth the risk?

“Give it a try,” Kerry urged him, “you may always wonder if you don’t.”

Kerry decided he would see Audra again, but just casually. They would see a movie or have dinner and then they would part ways. He would give her a peck on the cheek. He would go home and she would be all he could think about.

Genesis wanted to meet her. She somehow convinced Neil to invite her over for dinner.

“Won’t that give her the wrong impression?” Neil asked. He picked up the phone to cancel.

“What that you like her? That your interested?” Genesis smiled.

“It’s just dinner Neil, that’s all,” said Kerry.

Neil didn’t say a lot at dinner, but had a slight grin on his face the whole time. Audra was polite and friendly. Kerry and Genesis approved. They went to bed early to give the couple a chance to be alone.

“Your family is so nice,” Audra said.

Neil could not keep his emotions bottled up any longer. He looked Audra deeply in her eyes and kissed her.

Audra and Neil grew closer. Neil felt it was time she met Chase. Chase came to visit as he did during school breaks.

The three agreed to meet at the park. She played on the playground with him and they laughed and chased each other.

Neil was in love.

Audra and Neil bought a house together.

Audra was an accountant. She enjoyed playing the violin.

Kerry asked if marriage was in the picture. Neil shrugged.

“One step at a time,” he said.

Lucia married Terry.

Lucia was musical and played several instruments. She wrote songs and performed at night.

Stella and Kerry began visiting each other more often.

Eventually, Neil would come to dinner while she was there. He even introduced her to Audra.

While Stella and Neil would never be close, they developed a friendly relationship. Stella began to call Neil once a month.

Neil invited her to his upcoming wedding to Audra. Living together had gone well and he couldn’t imagine a life without her.

Audra and Neil focused on their careers the first years of marriage.

One day they invited the family over for a barbecue.

“We are having a baby!” Audra exclaimed.

Neal beamed. Who thought life could be like this?