Shadowy Secrets, Dark Dreams

Secrets don't always remain secret. Nightmares are spawned by the truth. Some questions are never answered. Why does Elliot stop being a man whore of Seattle? What is the dark secret which Mia does not remember? What is Kate's embarrassing secret? What secret shaped Ana's past? What is José's guilty pleasure? Leila wonders what Ana has which none of Christian's ex-submissives have? Is Grace's secret premeditated? How did Ros meet Gwen and why do they both hate Elena?

A/N: In celebration of a million readers of my stories - here is a new one. Warning: Christian and Ana do not meet until Chapter 6 but they eventually have an HEA. Chapters 1-5 establish characters and backstories as the foundation for the story's journey. Please give the story a chance…or if you truly hate it…go read someone else's work.

I do not own FSOG. It belongs to E.L. James and we thank her for Christian and Ana!

I am my own beta. All mistakes are mine.

~X~

Chapter 1 – Beginnings

We dance round in a ring and suppose,

But the Secret sits in the middle and knows.

Robert Frost, The Secret

Hyde ~~1997-2001

Refusing to be embarrassed when he arrived at Princeton, John Jeremy (Jack) Hyde spent his summer working as a groundskeeper during the week, and weekend wait staff at a five-star hotel in New York. He tested in October of his junior year in Chicago and scored extremely well on the PSAT. While he had the brains…he didn't have extracurricular activities nor leadership experience required by the National Merit Program to win a scholarship. Jack didn't have time for swim clubs, football, basketball, baseball, chess or debate. He needed his non-school hours to work and support himself.

However, he had the SAT scores, academic standing and National Honor Society membership which won him a full ride scholarship to Princeton. What the scholarship didn't cover was clothes and personal needs. Hence…the double job to earn as much money as possible. He needed school clothes and leisure clothes.

His work as groundskeeper kept him physically fit and naturally tanned. His work as wait staff taught him menus and wines, table settings, glassware and silverware, and how men dressed for events. Jack accepted large private tips from horny socialites in exchange for his sexual stamina and discretion. He read New York, Philadelphia and Boston tourism guides and suggested places to go and things to see depending on the inquirer's taste. He read books on history, literature, art and art history. He read the art and literature, history, and entertainment cards from various versions of Trivial Pursuit.

Jack read Emily Post and Miss Manners, determined to present polished manner when invited to homes of his ivy-league classmates. He took dance lessons when he had money and time. He did not desire to be another Fred Astaire. However, everyone knew the ability to perform well on a dance floor was often interpreted as the ability to perform well between the sheets.

Jack's polished manners, knowledge of wine, cuisines, books, art, and film made him a coveted extra man for dinner parties, weddings and social events hosted by classmates and their families. At a gallery opening in late September of his freshman year, Jack met a woman who hired him to work as an escort. He wasn't necessarily handsome, but he was physically fit and he could fuck like a porn star. He quickly established a preferred clientele list. His Friday and Saturday evenings were spent at charity events, society events, and gallery or theatre opening nights in New York or Philadelphia. While other Princeton students survived on $5.15 an hour minimum wage work study, Jack made $35 an hour as an escort.

At a book reading, Jack met Elaine Greenwood, a fiction book editor who lived and worked in New York. They drank coffee and talked for a few hours after the book reading. He interested her, but she refused to hire him through the escort service. Instead she offered him a standing invitation from ten a.m. to ten p.m. on Sundays, except for holiday weekends.

Their first Sunday together, Elaine introduced him to sailing. She owned a 22' Falmouth Cutter. It was her prize possession and her way of relieving stress. After a vigorous romp on the deck, they ate the gourmet picnic basket she brought with them. They drank wine and completed the New York Times puzzle. They swam a little, but mostly they sailed down the east coast. Before they sailed back to her slip at the marina, they enjoyed a second tryst. Their first Sunday together cemented a friendship which would last the four years which Hyde attended Princeton.

They sailed on Sundays until the weather prevented it. Then they spent Sundays visiting coffeehouses, wandering bookstores, attending book readings, walking Central Park, visiting antique stores, attending wine auctions, skiing, indoor golfing, and cooking gourmet meals at her New York condo. Spring and summer meant sailing, mountain biking, tennis, swimming and outdoor golf. Her doorman had a standing order for a cab to take Jack to the train station at exactly ten p.m. Jack took one of the last two trains to Princeton.

Elaine ensured he had the clothes, jewelry and salon appointments needed for his Friday and Saturday dates. She bought him top of the line sailing gear, ski equipment, golf equipment, mountain bike, tennis equipment and appropriate sporting clothes. She paid for his condoms and for monthly tests which certified he had no STDs. She arranged for invisible braces to straighten his teeth, and Lasik surgery to improve his eyesight. She paid for his ski, golf, and tennis lessons.

The summer of his sophomore year at Princeton, Jack met a Vassar debutante when he was a groomsman for a college friend. After two weeks of spending every available moment with one another, her parents intervened. Her mother sent the debutante to Paris with a grandmother for the remainder of the summer. Jack was invited to lunch at a swank New York restaurant by her father, a New York lawyer. Instead of receiving his blessings for the relationship, Jack was bribed to go away with a completely restored, vintage '65 Ford Mustang convertible.

Jack was pissed at first because Miss Debutante's parents didn't consider him good enough for their precious daughter. Elaine explained debutantes could play, but they were not allowed to engage in serious relationships with young men who had no family name and no money. They were definitely discouraged from serious relationships outside their faith. John Jeremy Hyde was a good Catholic boy who was a serious threat to Miss Debutante's established Jewish family. Elaine explained the vintage Mustang convertible verified the threat level Jack posed to Miss Debutante's family plans for their daughter.

The incident rankled, causing Jack to research Carrick and Grace Grey. If they had adopted him instead of Christian, he would have been good enough for any debutante to wed. With their money and backing, Jack could have become a lawyer like Carrick, or a doctor like Grace.

Jack was appalled to learn the Greys were well settled in Bellevue, Washington. Carrick was a partner in a corporate law group which included branches in employment and labor, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and taxes, and professional responsibility (malpractice). Grace was a doctor and instructor at Seattle Children's Hospital. Elliot, their oldest son, was enrolled in architecture and construction management courses at UDub. Christian and Mia were enrolled at Seattle Academy. Each link in his search strengthened his hatred of the Greys. 'They established a fucking charity for children with druggie parents!' Jack drank himself into a stupor…as he would many times in the future when his life didn't suit.

Jack Hyde was a high achiever in all his classes. Many students knew his reputation and dropped a class if he was enrolled. It was better to wait a semester to take a course than to consistently rank second, third or fourth in a class where Hyde academically dominated. Average students avoided him also, as he unintentionally skewed the bell curve. Those who had no choice but to take a class with Hyde hoped to have him in their study group.

Elaine tried not to work during their time together because Sunday was her only day of relaxation. Quarterly, Elaine was required to work during her Sunday recreation time. On those days, Jack arranged excellent coffee and gourmet meals. He was an excellent beta reader. He caught inconsistency issues, and corrected grammar while he beta read for her. She thought he should consider a career in publishing. He could not afford extended education to become a doctor or lawyer. For his graduation gift, Elaine arranged a well-paid internship with a publishing house in Boston.

Elaine had minimal regret about ending her relationship with Jack. Sex with Jack had been enjoyable. She had no intention of cohabitating with him or supporting him after graduation. It was better for them to end as friends than to quarrel and taint memories. She gave him funds to relocate and a book, How To Be A Gentleman, by John Bridges. "I expect great things of you, Jack. Work hard, become an excellent editor, and mentor someone."

John Jeremy Hyde graduated from Princeton, Summa Cum Laude, number four in his class, which irked him. Graduating in the top ten students of the class of 2001 was not enough. He believed if he had the Grey surname, he would have been number one or two. He relocated to Boston to begin his publishing company internship. His escort service recommended him to a handler who facilitated introductions but did not arrange dates. The handler was brutally honest…Hyde would not be marketable after he turned 25. She recommended Jack charge premium fees, citing his expertise and his Princeton background. Jack could continue his escort services for three years, providing for his acquired hobbies of sailing, skiing, golf and tennis. Jack advanced quickly: one year as an intern, one year as a beta reader, one year as an associate editor, and two years as an editor. He would attend a Book Expo conference in New York, and meet Jerald Roach, CEO, Seattle Independent Publishing.

Friday, September 1, 2006 – Las Vegas, Nevada

"Where's your mom?" Steve struggled to remain upright in the doorway of Ana's room. He was disheveled and smelled of beer, whiskey and cigarettes.

'Why didn't LVMPD or NHP pick him up? If I can recognize he was driving while drunk, why couldn't they?' Ana's inner bitch griped about the situation.

"She is at happy hour, with a group from work. She said she won't be home until late." Ana bookmarked her place. It was Friday night. Since she wasn't babysitting, she read while the house was quiet. The house was clean, a load of towels filled the dryer, and a chicken casserole stayed warm in the oven. The long weekend stretched before her. She wished she was in Montesano with Dad, fishing at Lake Sylvia.

"I don't like the tone of your voice," Steve slurred his words. "You will be respectful, or I will beat that attitude right out of you. You owe me respect now that I'm your new daddy."

Steve and Carla' first month of marriage was the worst month of Ana's life. The moment Stephen Morton and Carla Steele signed their marriage license – Steve was a changed man. He threatened Ana physically at every possible opportunity when Carla was not in earshot. He verbally abused Ana, no matter who was present. Carla begged Ana to behave and not cause problems. She acted as if the tension between Steve and Ana was all Ana's fault.

'How can I be the problem?' Ana's inner bitch raged. 'I'm the same as I always was. I'm not the one who changed. Why is MOTHER blind to the truth about Steve? Oh, that's right…MOTHER wants you to call her CARLA…like she's your best friend and not your MOTHER. Vanity thy name is Carla.'

Ana didn't respond to Steve's threat. She closed her book and waited for the sick feeling in her stomach to go away. Steve fumbled with his belt, swearing he would teach her some respect. The moment he landed one lash of the belt on her ass, Ana flipped to her back and drew her knees to her chest. Her feet shot out, landing squarely on his chest. She kicked him away from her. Steve stumbled backward, lost his footing and fell heavily, crashing against Ana's dresser. Then his knees buckled, and his head slammed onto the floor. Whether he passed out, or whether he was knocked unconscious, Ana did not care. If Karma was a goddess; Steve would have a brain bleed like so many characters on Grey's Anatomy.

Ana pulled his body away from her dresser and left him lying in the middle of the floor. 'What the hell am I going to do? I can't leave him on the floor of my room.' Insecure Ana fretted.

'Kick him in the balls,' Valkyrie Ana demanded. 'Drag him to the stairs and throw him down.'

'That won't work! Remember Driver's Ed when the instructor said most drunks are unscathed in accidents because their body is so relaxed? Besides, throwing him down the stairs won't fix this issue. The man verbally abuses you and plans to beat you. This is crunch time! Self-defense! Get away from him before he really hurts you!' Rational Ana asserted herself.

Ana trespassed in the master bedroom. She was not allowed in the room. Nor could she speak to Carla from the doorway. She pulled Carla's rolling carry-on suitcase from the closet, checking it for Spacebags. Ana emptied her closet and her dresser onto the bed. She sorted piles of clothes and loaded the Spacebags. She lined the edges of the suitcase with shoes. She shoved her dirty clothes into one Spacebag. She stuffed flattened Spacebags in the suitcase. She barely closed and locked the overstuffed suitcase.

Ana emptied her backpack on her bed. She found Carla's travel toiletries bag and added perfume, toothbrush and toothpaste, and hairbrush and hair ties. She stuffed an unopened box of tampons, a pack of travel wet wipes and the toiletries bag in the back section of her backpack. She dumped what little jewelry she owned into Carla's travel jewelry case, locked it and added it to the back section of backpack.

Ana placed her phone charger, and two paperbacks in the front part of her backpack. Steve would not allow Carla to give Ana a cell phone. He refused to pay phone charges so Ana could call Ray. Ana bought her own phone, and loaded minutes on it using her babysitting money. She would not lose contact with Dad. Ana's stash of cash would not get her to Seattle – but Carla's emergency fund would. Ana removed the wristlet purse with $300 from Carla's underwear drawer. She spotted a birthday gift and card addressed to her and took them also. Carla must have purchased a piece of jewelry, because the box was small. Ana was grateful it would not take up excess space in her backpack. She moved her Nevada Driver License and $47 from her wallet into the wristlet. She pushed her wallet into a corner of the backpack. She stacked her schoolbooks on top of the dresser.

Ana raided the kitchen cupboards. There was one individual cup of peanut butter, three granola bars and a small pack of trail mix. She dropped them into a quart Ziploc bag and pushed it into the front section of her backpack.

Steve's words echoed in Ana's head as she tried to think if she had everything. "If any of the kids at school bully you…let me know. If any of the neighbors are rude to you…let me know. My goal is to make Carla happy. While I'm making Carla happy, you should make sure I'm happy…"

'I don't like the way he looks at you,' Valkyrie Ana announced. 'Going home to Dad is the best move…if you can prove you can't stay here. Otherwise, Steve and Carla will come to Montesano and pick you up! It is either show the world where he hit you with a belt or create proof he is unfit to live with. This is self-defense. Steve struck you…this is a blow for your freedom!'

Ana held her breath, unbuttoned and unzipped Steve's jeans, and yanked them down to his ankles. She used her phone to take a picture of him. Ana pulled on a hoody. She dropped suitcase and jewelry box keys with her phone in the wristlet. Carla's $300 would buy her a plane ticket to Seattle. If anyone asked, she was spending Labor Day with her Dad. She checked flight schedules. If she was at Las Vegas McCarran within the next thirty minutes, there were two flights outbound for Seattle. Notify Dad she was coming to Seattle once she was on the plane. Two hours in the air, and hope Dad reached SEA-TAC soon after she landed. They would be home in Montesano before early tomorrow morning. She grabbed her backpack and suitcase and caught a cab to the airport.

~X~

"Dad, it's Annie. Can you pick me up at SEA-TAC in a couple hours? I'm coming to Seattle." Ana provided the flight information. "Carla will know I am here in a few minutes. I plan to text her." Ana listened intently. "I'll wait at baggage claim for you. I will stay near security. I will stay safe, I promise."

~X~

When Annie fell asleep, Ray called Carla. "She's here, I have her. She's asleep and I will not wake her. No, I won't send her back to you. Check your email for a picture Annie took with her phone. As god is my witness, Carla, I'm overnighting paperwork to you. You will give me custody of Annie." Ray listened to his ex-wife scream about Annie leaving. She threatened Ray. "Or else what – did you check your email? I think the picture is worth 10,000 words in a custody battle." He listened to Carla's wail, followed by protests and comments defending Stephen Morton. "That picture was taken in Annie's bedroom! I recognize her furniture. She didn't take it when he was passed out in the bathroom or your bedroom or the living room. That drunk son-of-a-bitch is half naked in Annie's bedroom! No wonder she fled to Washington!"

Ray didn't believe Carla's attempted explanation. Annie had a picture of that bastard in her bedroom with his pants down around his ankles. That was enough to drive an enraged Raymond James Steele to kill that fucker. Killing him was easy - a hollow point in his little brain and then one in his pickled brain. Bury his body in the vast desert surrounding Las Vegas. Maybe drop his weighted body in Lake Mead or Lake Tahoe where it would never surface. Maybe drop his body in an abandoned silver mine in the Comstock. Or serve him up to the wolves of the Sierra Nevada. No…take him out to a bar and get him so drunk that he either died of alcohol poisoning or aspirated on his own vomit. Even better…put the sonofabitch behind the wheel of a car and leave it parked on a railroad track. If the train didn't get him, the police would. He might only spend 90 days in jail, but the DTs would make him pray for death.

Ray plotted self-defense training for Annie. How to stay calm and wait for the opportunity to fight back. How to disable an attacker so she could get away. How to use ordinary household things to defend herself like aerosols to blind, sharp objects to slash or poke, and objects to wield as blunt weapons. He would take her to the gun range to upgrade her skills. She would remember how to use and maintain her weapon. Annie could not legally own a handgun or carry conceal until she was 21. However, he could take her target practicing until then.

January 5, 2007

"This is your room. You can decorate it any way you want," Sir informed his newest submissive, Leila Leigh Williams.

Once Elena started grooming her to be Sir's submissive, Leila planned, plotted and prayed. Sir's previous submissives bragged about the stipend, the electronics, the car, the jewels…and how he gave them carte blanche to redecorate their sleeping room at Escala. "I need the corner by the window for my easel, and a desk near it with Internet access for my college classes," Leila requested. "I would like my room decorated in Louis XIV furniture – gold, silver and white colors." She handed pictures of what she preferred to Sir.

"It will be ready for you by next Friday. You can spend the long weekend?" Sir's voice was even, exhibiting no emotion, anticipation or impatience with her.

"I can. Classes begin on Tuesday after the MLK weekend. I'm registered for fifteen hours this semester. I will email my schedule to you," Leila hoped for an email or contact from Sir before she emailed her schedule.

"I will have clothes for you when you return on Friday. No more threadbare jeans, scruffy sneakers or frayed hoodies for classes. Your appearance, demeanor and attitude reflect on me." Sir's demands were easy to meet.

'How hard was it to wear pretty new clothes which Sir's housekeeper cleaned and returned to Leila's closet? Take a week of clean clothes with me on Sunday evening and return them on Friday evening. Sir provided funds for food and personal maintenance. Thanks to the car, insurance, and vehicle maintenance provided by Sir; she would be prompt to classes and his penthouse. He paid for her studio apartment in a security-conscious apartment building near UDub's campus. He paid her tuition, fees and books for this semester, with a vow to pay for them every semester she was with him.'

"Yes, Sir," Leila kept her eyes down and stood quietly. Sir would not regret contracting with her. She was thankful Elena introduced her to Sir. Elena warned her…be everything Sir wanted and everything Sir needed…keep her opinions to herself…and don't fall in love.

January 6, 2007

"Mr. Grey…" Gia Matteo paused when discussing the room décor with him. "Are you attempting to make a guest suite for Mia? Because the difference in authentic antique furniture and French 1940s reproductions is astounding. If I use antiques – I cannot guarantee I can decorate the room in a week. Louis XIV antiques will cost half-a-million dollars. The chandelier for the closet is $25K, with additional wiring costs. If Mia only spends a few weekends a year in the guestroom, it is better for your insurance to invest in quality French reproductions. I cannot find the exact wallpaper in this picture, but I found this silver, gold and white botanical wallpaper which is close to what you selected. It is specially made to be washable and durable. I found reproduction, high-thread-count bed linens and bath linens. I can decorate the suite in less than a week. One day for paint, paper and carpeting. Three days for furniture delivery and set up. Two hours to dress the room with color-appropriate drapes, and accent pieces."

"Reproductions are acceptable," Grey handed her the work boards. "There is a sizeable cash bonus for completing the work before six o'clock on Thursday. I want my housekeeper to have time to clean the room and stock it on Friday."

"When is Mia coming home?" Gia was thrilled at the thought of a cash bonus. She needed funds to complete her degree.

"I don't know. However I'm Skyping her next Saturday. I want to show her the room," he lied. 'Leila will be thrilled with the room…even if she isn't…she won't complain about it.'

Thursday evening

Gia thrilled to present the suite she redecorated to Mr. Grey. "I found French 1940 reproductions of Louis XIV furniture to decorate the suite. Six armless chairs (upholstered with silver, gold and white striped silk) are used for the seating area, dining area, desk and dressing table. I created the study area by the window as requested with a desk, desk chair, and one open, curved top bookcase."

"I made a dining table from a reproduction Louis XIV occasional table with tripod base. It matches the two side tables in the seating area. I added a glass top to enlarge the table. The console table and mirror match the faux fireplace and mirror on the opposite wall. The only thing in the room which is not a reproduction is the large photograph of an antique Louis XIV French tapestry which hangs at Versailles. I place the gilt framed photograph over the settee, which is upholstered in cream silk with solid gold or silver silk pillows."

"The chandelier, chair and dressers in the closet are reproductions. I filled the clothing racks with dozens of white and gold padded hangers. The curtains, and bed linens, including canopy, are high-thread count reproductions also. Dressing table accessories, desk accessories, tea set are all silver finished reproductions." Gia found herself breathless with excitement as she showed the walk-in closet to Mr. Grey.

"I hope you do not mind; I have pictures and samples of the suite for any future jobs. However, per the NDA which I signed for you, no one will ever know where I decorated." Gia quickly assured Mr. Grey. The drapes were drawn in every picture she showed him.

"I appreciate your hard work to complete it all in a week," Grey handed Gia a check for the invoice. He handed her a $10,000 cash bonus. "Don't deposit that all at once, otherwise you have to explain how you have this much cash. I would appreciate you not discussing the room with Mia or her friends, or my mother and her friends."

"Your bonus will help me continue taking classes for my architecture degree," Gia thanked him. "I will not reveal your secret." Gia intended to spend the weekend in bed, thanking Elliot for providing referrals for her to Seattle society clients.

June 1, 2007

Katherine Kavanagh's normally irreverent humor and infinite patience when dealing with strangers abandoned her. "I don't need counseling. I don't want counseling. I know the situation and all possible solutions. Yesterday, at a baby shower, I learned the bastard I've been dating exclusively since Junior Prom impregnated my friend. I estimate she got knocked up at Christmas. I got knocked up the night of Senior Prom. Yes, we used protection, but condoms are only 97 percent effective! I have no intention of announcing my condition to Mr. I Can't Keep It in My Pants. I have no intention of being Baby Mama Number Two for the rest of my life. I am eighteen and will not inform my parents. Schedule a medical termination. I need to know the date of the procedure, so I can book a hotel room for a week without anyone knowing where I am or why I am there."

"Next Thursday, you will complete paperwork and preliminary tests at nine, procedure at ten. We'll release you around two o'clock. We have a hotel we recommend for out-of-town patients. We can arrange a private car and driver for round-trip transportation. You may opt for a nurse to be with you for the first 24 hours. She will ensure there are no post-procedure complications. Return the following Monday at eleven for a follow up appointment and medical release. Here is the cost breakout for driver, procedure, nurse and the follow up. Here is a referral card for the hotel." Kate checked the services she desired and handed over the cash. The nurse practitioner entered Kate's name in the appointment database. Only it wasn't Kate's ID. She felt no remorse at stealing Marissa's ID. She would use it for the procedure and for renting the hotel room. If she decided to be kind, she might return it. She also might take it down to Westlake Plaza and sell it for $50 to an underage girl who needed a legal ID to continue turning tricks.

Kate was determined to apply to a new college or university. She would not attend UDub in the fall. She cursed Hunter's existence. He ruined tailgate parties and UDub football games for her forever. She would not attend class reunions for Seattle Prep either. Once the summer ended, she would be at a different college, away from Hunter. She would explain everything to her father if needed, but steeled herself for an explosion and interference from her mother.

July 7, 2007

"It's just shocking," one of the church ladies spoke to another. "We weren't sure there would be a Diapers and Dinners shower." Today's event was a large shower for Marissa hosted by the Ladies Auxiliary at their local parish.

"Was Marissa really arrested for prostitution?" Another lady gossiped.

"No, she was arrested for fail to appear on a charge of prostitution. However, the court let her go since her picture and fingerprints didn't match the girl who was arrested at Westlake for prostitution. Marissa claims her ID was stolen." The first lady rolled her eyes at her conversation partner.

"Are you sure it wasn't her?" Lady number two persisted. "After all, she's seven months pregnant and no one knows the identity of the baby's father."

Kate ignored the gossip and greeted Celeste.

"That looks awfully tiny for a package of diapers or a dinner to feed 12," Celeste scolded Kate.

"It's the perfect gift," Kate smiled. "Marissa can get what she wants."

Celeste relented, thinking Kate bought her friend a sizeable VISA gift card. Kate took her package to the gift table. She suggested, since the package was so small, it be opened first so it would not be lost.

When it came time to open gifts – Marissa's mother opened the card and read it aloud to the assembled ladies while Marissa opened the package. "Perfect for holding Hunter's balls…" Mrs. LaSalle startled and silently read the card again. Marissa gasped when she found a teeny tiny black clutch with a skull and crossbones decoration. Kate bowed with a flourish to Marissa and departed while the church ladies were stunned silent.

"Hunter?" Celeste shrieked. "HUNTER?" She stared at Marissa and then glared at Hunter's mother and grandmother. They both flinched before staring at Marissa. Celeste marched to the gift table, picked up her package, and heaved it across the floor at Marissa. "Here, you need those to clean up the shit you've started." She marched out of the Fellowship Hall, ignoring the whispers behind her as she left.

~X~

"We'll be excommunicated. Kate's card said, 'balls' and I said 'shit'. I know we shocked Hunter's mother and grandmother, in addition to the other 100 women present." Celeste voiced her worries aloud to Eamon.

"It was worth a chance of excommunication!" Kate snapped. "I never want to see that bastard again. I never want to see that slut again. I don't want the congregation to pity me or advise turning the other cheek. I estimate Marissa's been cheeky since Christmas!"

"How do you know the baby is Hunter's?" Eamon questioned his furious daughter.

"I stepped out of the powder room at Marissa's baby shower a month ago. I heard Marissa's mom and aunt discussing the paperwork necessary to make Hunter provide DNA when the baby was born." Kate's fury had not abated since the church confrontation.

Celeste explained Hunter's mother and grandmother received quite a wakeup call at the shower. They had no idea Hunter was the father of Marissa's baby. Her cell rang, and she groaned when she saw who was calling. "Marissa's mother," Celeste turned her phone off.

"I've taken the liberty of blocking all known phone numbers for Hunter's family from my cell. Please, do not engage those people. If they call the landline, hang up." Kate begged. "There's no one I want to talk to, other than my grandparents or Ethan."

"How will you avoid Hunter at UDub this fall?" Eamon considered the implications of Kate's revelation.

"I am not going to UDub this fall. I applied to Washington State University at Vancouver. My tuition, books, fees, etc. will cost less. I am a late admission, so I cannot qualify for any scholarships. I've been searching for a place to live in Vancouver. If I can't find something in Vancouver, I'll look in Portland. I won't live in a dormitory or a sorority. I've had my fill of backstabbing bitches. If you and Mom own the property where I live, I can claim to live with family." Kate offered printouts of ten possible properties with apartments or duplexes.

"Why should you be the one who changes her life because that miserable little fucker can't keep it in his pants?" Eamon poured a stiff drink. He needed fortification for this discussion.

"Daddy, I love you and Mom, but I won't be the stupid girl whose boyfriend knocked up one of her best friends. I won't be the girl Hunter's friends hit on or avoid. Maybe Marissa is comfortable being a deceptive slut…but I am not that girl. I will never be with anyone who has a Baby Mama. I refuse to play second fiddle to any man's previous bedmates. If I'm not good enough to be the only woman in a man's life, then he's not good enough for me." Kate would have stamped her foot if it meant convincing everyone she meant business.

"Good for you, Kate. Don't ever be some man's doormat," Eamon encouraged her. "You need a partner you respect and who respects you. Is that what you were doing in June when you disappeared for a week?"

"Yes, I was making up my mind what to do," Kate admitted. "I applied to take night courses or weekend seminars at the University of Oregon, Portland school of journalism. They believe I am interested in acquiring my master's degree there, but I will do it at UDub."

"Let's go to Vancouver every weekend for a while. We'll find a decent, safe place where you can live." Eamon suggested. "If we can find a duplex, or a large Victorian converted into apartments, you can collect rents for us. Rents would offset the mortgage load."

The house phone rang. Kate checked the number and then blocked it. "Marissa's grandmother. Perhaps you should answer the phone the next time it rings." She advised her father.

"Why?" Eamon eyed her suspiciously.

"Kavanagh Media did not announce Marissa LaSalle was arrested for failure to appear on the charge of prostitution. Threaten the LaSalle and Newsome families with a broad exposé of high school girls turning tricks to pay for college. Emphasize you will use pictures of a very pregnant Marissa in handcuffs, being escorted into the King County Courthouse to accompany the article." Kate plotted.

"Why didn't you out Hunter when you learned of it in June?" Celeste criticized Kate.

"Revenge is a dish best served cold. When I remembered the congratulations cards are read aloud while gifts are opened at Diapers and Dinners, I was inspired." Kate's parents did not miss her smug tone of voice.

"When the right person comes along, you will not connive or scheme or plot or mind fuck. There's no time to be that kind of person, because love overwhelms your rational brain." Celeste advised.

"A skull and crossbones?" Eamon examined the picture Kate took of the clutch.

"A skull and crossbones on a teeny tiny clutch to hold Hunter's non-existent balls." Kate preened.

"I think he's a monumental prick for what he's done to you and Marissa," Eamon growled.

The phone rang again, Eamon checked the number. "Hunter's father," he lifted the handset and set it down without greeting. When the phone rang again, Eamon announced. "Marissa's father." When the phone rang a third time, Eamon unplugged the phone from the outlet. "Cell phones on airplane mode or off. Block calls. Check and block emails."

"Can Kate be charged with slander?" Celeste fretted.

"It's not slander if Hunter pops positive as the Baby Daddy." Kate muttered. "Marissa and Hunter humiliated me. They deserve to be embarrassed. I estimate with 100 women at the baby shower, the entire congregation will know of their indiscretion before church convenes Sunday morning."

Late August 2007

"Dad…" Ana sought her father. "This is José …"

"…Rodriguez," Ray smiled and shook his hand. "Son, I would know you anywhere!"

"Dad…" José called to his father and waved him over.

"RAY!" "ROD!" The men shouted, shook hands, engaged in a manly hug and much back slapping.

"We played together when we were four," José told Ana. "My mom taught your mom how to make homemade tortillas. Your mom taught my mom how to make a mean margarita. Where's your mom?"

"Carla just returned from a six-month honeymoon in Europe. She will live in Savannah, Georgia with husband number four," Ana explained. "Where's your mom?"

"Mom died from breast cancer before Christmas last year. We thought she was in remission, but the cancer metastasized to her brain. She had three inoperable brain tumors." José shrugged his shoulders. "Dad and I talked, and I don't want to live on campus. So, I'll live at home with him for a while."

~X~

"Dad, I love you, but I won't live in a dormitory with 150 other girls. Look, I have eight 'roommate wanted' ads." Ana showed Ray the flyers.

"How about a ninth one?" A pretty strawberry blonde handed Ana another flyer. "I have an off-campus apartment. It's in a duplex, 10 blocks from campus. It's on a bus line if you can't ride to campus with me. It's 800-square feet with two bedrooms. There is a two-car garage attached to both the duplexes. The garages are located in the middle of the building so noise from the other duplex won't reach us. Jobs in Vancouver or Portland pay better than work study."

"Do you mind if I ask why you aren't living on campus in a dorm?" Ray didn't want Ana to have a party doll for a roommate.

"I felt being in a class of 1000 was better than being in a class of 5,000. Consequently, I was accepted late. I don't plan to pledge a sorority. I don't want to live in a residence hall. I wanted a place to live during my entire college career where I can study without interruptions. I have a resumé if you would like to see it." Kate Kavanagh offered one to Ray.

"I think that's Annie's call," Ray passed it to Ana.

Ana handed Ray the flyer for the apartment which listed address, amount of rent, deposit, etc. It contained a layout, measurements for all the rooms, approximate costs for lights, gas and water. Cable and internet could be shared. Phones were the responsibility of each person. "I'd like to see the place before Annie decides," he announced.

"I would like to see it." Ana reached out her hand to Kate. "Ana Steele, freshman, English Lit major."

"Kate Kavanagh, freshman, Journalism major, native of Seattle. Valedictorian, class of 2007, Seattle Prep. I think we will have freshman core classes together." Kate shook Ana's hand, and then offered to shake with Ray.

"Salutorian, class of 2007, Montesano High School," Ana felt a bit of relief when Ray shook hands with Kate. "Let's go look at that apartment."

"It needs painted and I want to change the locks," Kate explained. "My parents helped me move everything into the garage on Saturday. They both had to work today, so I'm on my own."

"If Annie decides to room with you, I can fix and repair anything which needs to be done." Ray offered his business card.

"If you can do some handyman work at the apartment, I will credit your labor to Ana's deposit and first month's rent. I will pay for materials." Kate paused. "Can you install closet and cupboard organizers? Can you install a better front door with a deadbolt lock? I hired a window company to replace the windows. I hired an insulation company to blow additional insulation in the entire building. I would like to create a patio accessible from the back garage door for us and for the other half of the duplex. Can we make those changes in a week?"

"Do you have permission to make changes to the property?" Ray flipped the flyer over and took notes as Kate spoke.

"My parents own the place," Kate looked embarrassed. "I'll show you the paperwork if you want. Dad said if I had to rent a place, it was better to not fund someone else's empire."

"Smart man," Ray commented.

"I think so, but since I'm his daughter, I'm prejudiced," Kate laughed.

~X~

"How did it go?" Ray inquired when Annie returned to the new apartment she would share with Kate. Since she didn't know Portland, José took her to Clayton's Hardware. Kate supervised the window company and the insulation company while she researched paint, security door, laundry center needs, patio paver and patio furniture information. Ray installed closet and cupboard organizers. José Senior unloaded Annie's furniture and boxes from the back of Ray's pickup truck into Kate's garage.

"They hired me. I'm glad you spotted their flyer at Home Depot. I start work on the thirty-first and am off on the third. I work at Clayton's Hardware from one to close Fridays, and open to close on Saturday and Sunday. They normally open at nine and close at seven. I would not need to be there after closing the store. We'll discuss my work schedule for holidays. It pays a little more than minimum wage and bare bones insurance, but it will keep me in toast and teabags," Ana teased Ray. "Plus, you will like this – after ninety days I have an employee discount."

"That rocks!" Ray grinned. "How will you get to work?"

"It's right on the bus line," Ana showed him the bus schedule. "The bus stop is at the end of the block. The shuttle for WSUV picks up there also. I will need to research schedules and costs."

"We have a better idea," José Senior announced. "We were planning to sell Micaela's powder blue VW to a high school student, but we'll sell it to you. José was the mechanic for his mom; he can keep it running for you."

"Once we finish gathering paint supplies, patio supplies, etc., we'll take a break and go see the car," Ray assured Annie.

"Better yet, why don't the three of you crash at our house? We have a three-bedroom house and the basement is finished into a family room. I have air mattresses the girls could use in the family room. You can have the guest room. We can catch up. You can see the car when you come to dinner," José Senior offered. "The kids don't start classes until Monday. I have the week off. I work as a Fish and Wildlife Technician for the State of Oregon. We can help paint, move furniture, and install the patio. Plus, I would like the girls to feel comfortable calling me if they need something."

Ray checked with Annie and Kate. "We'll stay," Ana agreed. "But I will cook breakfasts and dinners in exchange for the help and a place to lay our heads."

"You cook?" Kate's voice was either amazed or delighted, Ana couldn't decide which. "I don't cook, but I'll do the dishes."

"I'll do the shopping and cooking. You have to tell me if there is anything you won't eat." Ana warned her new roommate.

"Annie makes the best lasagna," Ray announced. "I promised to buy the ingredients for her, so you can have an official moving in dinner to thank us."

"We have a pool table in the family room. After dinner tonight, I would be glad to teach you how to play." Jose offered lessons to the girls. "It's important to learn. Guys around here like to bet drinks and slow dances when they play pool with girls."

"I don't drink or slow dance with people I don't know. However, I wouldn't mind learning how to play pool." Ana accepted his offer.

"I slow dance, but I buy my own drinks. I wouldn't mind learning how to play. It would be fun to kick Ethan's ass at pool once in a while." Kate explained Ethan was her older brother.

Next Day

Ana handed José a platter of pancakes. She handed Ray a platter of bacon and sausage. She handed José Senior a serving dish of fluffy scrambled eggs.

"Where did you learn to cook for a crowd?" José Senior asked. "I don't remember your mom being a great cook."

"I took Saturday cooking lessons from Mrs. Manning, the owner of the big B&B on Lake Sylvia. She taught me how to cook for crowds while Dad completed repairs there. I used her lessons to fill the freezer for Dad before I came to WSUV." Ana grabbed her tea mug and joined everyone at the table.

"Let's coordinate class schedules while we eat." Kate built a chart to show José, Ana and her classes. "I'll copy this for everyone while I'm out."

"The windows, insulation, doors and locks are done. The washer and dryer unit was delivered yesterday. We picked up the laundry center. I need supplies for the patio. You need patio furniture for your half of the duplex. There will be a barricade between the halves." He gave Kate a printout of what the patio would look like when they were done. He also handed her a timeline. "Today the men will dig out the area for the patio and tamp down the ground to level it for paving. Tomorrow we'll install the patio pavers. We're sand filling between the pavers to ease removal if necessary. You and Annie need to finish painting today. I will install the storage/bookcase units in your bedrooms when the paint dries. With any luck, we can move your furniture and boxes tomorrow."

"We'll buy patio furniture while the paint dries," Kate agreed.

"I need a prep table for the propane grill you plan to buy," Ana pointed one out on the brochure Kate perused.

José Senior recommended rekeying the garage door and changing the garage door opener for the girls. He didn't know who had keys or remotes to the place before. He felt they would be safer with the change. "I don't like your water heater either. The 20-gallon tank, the garbage disposal and the bathroom toilet are original to the place. They should be replaced with a 50-gallon hot water heater and energy efficient garbage disposal and water efficient toilet. We have a 50-gallon hot water heater at our house. Five of us took hot showers in one hour this morning. A 50-gallon hot water heater will be big enough for the two of you."

"What do we do with the old stuff?" Kate shook her head while making a list. "Ana and I need all the space in the garage, especially with the washer/dryer and laundry center. We can't fill it with old stuff."

"I'll ask at Clayton's," Ana offered. "I bet they know places to recycle old appliances and stuff."

"I can build a shed in the back yard to hold the lawn mower and snow removal stuff, unless you hire a service. Annie mows and shovels snow, but she'll be working weekends." Ray handed Kate a printout of the lawn and snow removal services in Vancouver.

"Sometime today or tomorrow I need to go to campus to buy books. I want to locate my parking spot." Kate accepted a coffee refill from José Senior.

"Ditto," Ana and José chorused.

Breakfast passed while the group determined tasks to be completed. Kate and Ana would change the addresses on their driver's licenses. Tomorrow, Ana would acquire a new bank account at the Vancouver branch of her bank. Ray would insure and register Annie's VW. Ana named her Wanda. Everyone thought it was from the movie, A Fish called Wanda. Ana explained it was for the fairy godmother, Wanda Cosmo from Fairly OddParents! She felt cosmic luck purchasing Wanda and not relying on public transportation.

Thursday night

Thursday night's dinner at Kate and Ana's apartment was lasagna, garlic knots, and green salad. Kate bought a couple bottles of red wine. The apartment was assembled. Kate's pale lilac bedroom and Ana's pale azure bedroom were the only wall colors in the place. The bathroom and living room/kitchen walls were painted Antique White. Kate's collection of shabby chic furniture filled the place. The men, uncomfortable with the blue and purple floral overstuffed chairs, vied for seats on the blue couch.

Ana didn't have any long dresses to hang, so Ray moved her chest of drawers into that space in the closet. He installed an over-the-bed shelving unit to hold books and other supplies. It had a wide base on each side to provide nightstands with drawers for Ana. He would take her singular nightstand back to Montesano. The remainder of Ana's furniture (white wrought iron bedstead and white wood furniture) was set to give her the most space available. Kate loved Ana's quilt and the shabby chic things made by Carla.

"This is a good luck package from your mother," Ray showed Annie a large box. "It is probably full of clothes. This one is from me." Ray handed Annie a large gift bag with lots of crumpled tissue paper on top to hide the present. She removed an electric kettle, a couple imprinted tea mugs, a tea travel mug, a canister of gourmet cocoa mix, and two large boxes of Twinings English Breakfast Tea.

After goodbye hugs and after admonitions from Ray to lock the doors - the men departed. "I vote for an early night," Ana recommended. "I'm taking a hot shower and heading to bed unless you want help doing dishes and cleaning the kitchen?"

"Go for it. I'm setting the dishwasher to run its cycle at o'dark thirty, so we aren't vying for hot water. I forgot to thank Ray for installing a bathroom shelving unit. Please be sure to convey my thanks." Kate stacked the dishwasher.

Before she went to bed, Ana opened the box from Carla.

Anastasia,

I asked Ray what you needed for fall clothes at college. He recommended winter things. Silly me…the man has no clue. I sent two Jansport backpacks – heavy duty and top of the line. One of the back-to-school sites I visited recommended one for your Monday-Wednesday classes and one for your Tuesday-Thursday classes. I loaded each with binders, paper, pens, and $10 bill so you can stop at a coffee cart and FLIRT with a cute boy.

I know jeans and converse will be haute couture for campus…but I sent pretty sweaters. Please don't hide them under a hoodie! I enclosed a fall wool jacket for you. It will be cute with the caramel, navy and plum plaid scarf. I also enclosed a great navy tote, with matching boots and umbrella and a great plum tote with matching boots and umbrella for inclement days. Good luck…although I am sure you will do fine.

Skype me this weekend so I know how things are going. Take pictures of the new digs so I can recommend décor for you.

I love you!

Carla

Ana's package contained a lot of Spacebags. Ten pairs of new dark blue jeans in one, ten sweaters in another, and ten sets of matching bras, panties and camisoles in another. Everything was navy, plum or caramel. 'Matching underwear?' Awkward Ana rolled her eyes. Carla sent ten pairs of trouser socks in patterns, argyles and stripes. Carla included the jacket, scarf, and tote/boot/umbrella ensembles. She sent three pairs of gloves which matched the scarf. Ana welcomed everything…but sighed when she opened the last packages in the box. Carla sent six dozen white tube hangers. The note on the hangers read, 'Throw away the wire hangers from the drycleaners.'

'Yes Mommy Dearest,' Awkward Ana snarked. She tossed the wire hangers from her closet in the empty Carla box. Once everything was hung, and looked organized, Ana took a picture and emailed it to Carla with a quick note of thanks. She would probably catch hell for the dresser in the closet, but it freed up floor space in her room.

Friday

Friday morning, Kate recruited Ana to help assemble her closet. There were 50 clear plastic totes of shoes which Kate sorted into stacks by color in the designated shoe space of her closet. "Yes, you're right," Kate laughed. "I am a shoe whore and a fashionista. I am a great party planner and party crasher. I am addicted to books and magazines. I have an e-reader for traveling, but I prefer holding the Sunday newspaper while drinking coffee."

Ana laughed. "You saw the over-the-bed bookcase unit Dad installed for me. He will be shocked if it is not full of books by the time he sees it again."

"I like your desk," Kate said. "I've never seen one like it before."

"It's a marriage," Ana commented. "Sorry – that's woodworking jargon for pieces which are put together to make something. Dad made my desk unit from four pieces: a small desk, a short bookcase, a towel tower and a plain frame. First, he took the top off the desk and off the bookcase. He took the end legs off the desk. Then he fastened the bookcase at the end of the desk and put a new top across both. He made the long bulletin board between the desk and the shelf from a plain panorama picture frame. The shelf was an eighteen-inch-wide, three-feet-tall towel tower. Dad turned it sideways and made a shelving unit. He stabilized the frame and the tower with two decorative gingerbread pieces which look like they came from a Victorian house. By the way, I appreciate the overstuffed chair you donated to my bedroom."

"I appreciate the over-the-bed unit Ray built for me. I have room to put accessories away." Kate indicated the piles of boxes in the room. The girls applied themselves to emptying clothes boxes. "Everything on hangers. All hangers on the rolling racks. Once everything is hung, then it is sorted. Last step, loading clothes in the closet. I will buy the pizza and sodas."

"You mean you don't just hang things in the closet and search for what you want?" Ana filled a pile of hangers and hung them on the racks.

"Ana…" Kate indicated the pile of clothes and accessories on her bed. "Do you believe I can just look for something? My Dad says my closet is a black hole…sucking in his money and my brains."

"That's harsh," Ana laughed.

"This might be one-fourth of my clothes, maybe less. At Spring Break, I'll take this lot home and come back with spring/summer things." Kate opened two new packages of space hangers and explained how to use them. "These are so I don't ask you for half your closet. The space hangers are great – holding five shirts or sweaters, or five pairs of pants or skirts vertically, saving closet space. I try to hang colors together on the space hangers."

Four hours later the girls assembled the closet, filled a seven drawer lingerie dresser and a nine-drawer chest of drawers. They coordinated the storage unit, filled the dressing table, disassembled rolling rack for Kate to take back to Seattle, and remade her bed. Then Ana and Kate tackled assembling the living room to make a study space for Kate and a lounging space for both of them. That task completed, the girls drew up a menu for the upcoming weeks and shopped. Kate's pet peeve was running out of coffee, cream and sanitary products. Ana's pet peeve was running out of tea bags, toilet paper and cleaning supplies. Although, she admitted to Kate, she knew how to make cleaning supplies from normal household items like hydrogen peroxide and dish soap.

Over vegetarian pizza. Kate signed them up for Amazon's delivery service. They ordered recurring items like health and beauty products, cleaning supplies, and pantry items like coffee, tea, canned soup, rice, pasta, canned chicken and canned tuna. Kate hated running out of printer paper and ink. Ana hated running out of laundry soap.

"I'm thankful Ray built a laundry center next to the stackable washer/dryer unit on your side of the garage. It solves a lot of problems." Kate sighed.

"I think we might have room next to the laundry center for a small upright freezer," Ana suggested. "Wanda doesn't take up as much space as your car."

"I think, to get to know one another, we should play truth or swear," Kate listed the rules for this icebreaker. The girls exchanged birthdays and contact information (parent names, addresses, phone numbers, emails, etc.)

"I don't have social media. I've found it allows people to know what I'm doing…which I feel is an invasion of privacy. If I wanted Carla to know where I was going and who I was seeing…I'd still live at home with her. Also, I'm very snarky during my cycle. Blurting out my first thoughts are never a good thing. I think it is too easy to rely on emoji's to express feelings. I have a regular email address and a junk email address." Ana added Kate's info to her phone.

"How often do you clean?" Kate looked at a calendar app on her phone. "I like to clean once a week on Thursday night."

"Me too, because that way I can work on the weekend or relax!" Ana consulted her calendar app also.

"Do you smoke, do drugs or sleep with your friends' boyfriends?" Kate tentatively approached the subject. It was something she should have asked days ago. "I don't smoke, do drugs or sleep around with friend's boyfriends. I like to go clubbing and drink, but I'm careful not to drink anything I didn't buy. I don't put myself in a bad situation."

"No smoking, no drugs, I rarely drink more than one glass of wine or a beer, and I don't sleep around. I don't go clubbing a lot because I'm uncoordinated and am a lousy dancer." Ana breathed easier knowing Kate didn't require monitoring. "Are you a night owl? I try to be in bed before midnight. I love sleeping in, which will be a problem since it seems all the freshman core classes are offered at eight o'clock in the summer!"

"I try to be in bed before midnight, but sometimes I fall asleep on the couch with the TV on. I love sleeping in also, and I refuse to sign up for ANY class that begins before ten…especially in the winter. I like giving road and street crews a chance to plow and scrape. I sleep better in cooler rooms, like 68 degrees in the winter and 70-ish in the summer." Kate explained.

"I sleep better in cooler rooms too, but I don't like leaving windows open, especially if I'm alone in the house." Ana checked the calendar app again. "I prefer paying rent and utilities on the first of the month, in one lump sum rather than dragging out payments through the month. Can I do that with my share of the Amazon service too?"

"I don't have a problem with that. I'm collecting rent from the renters on the other side and depositing it to the rental account my parents set up. I balance my accounts on the first weekend of the month." Kate explained. "I would like to make a rule that neither of us leave the house without a key, and we don't leave the doors unlocked."

"Works for me. If I've had a really bad day, dinner might be canned soup or cereal or…" Ana started to say.

"…ice cream!" Kate blurted. "How do you feel about me wandering around in my pajamas and underwear?"

"Not in front of Dad or his friends, and I will remain clothed around guests. I'd prefer guests were covered also. I don't want to encounter a nude man in the bathroom in the middle of the night." Ana almost apologized for her preferences.

"Ditto," Kate agreed. "Even if it's my man. I listen to music with headphones, I don't practice any musical instruments. I like to exercise in open spaces. That will probably be a stationary bike, or yoga on the patio during nice weather. I might take yoga or Pilates classes at the university gym."

"Ditto – headphones with music. I don't practice any musical instruments either. I learned early in life the driver picks the music. I don't like exercising, but I occasionally run on community tracks or streets where there are a lot of people. I run in the woods at home, but not during hunting season." Ana explained.

"Speaking of hunting…I'm not anti-gun…but I would feel better if you didn't have one in the apartment." Kate shrugged.

"I'm pro-gun. I own a Glock 17 Gen 4. It is lightweight so I don't break my wrists on recoil. I target practice with Dad a few times a year. He believes young ladies should be able to protect themselves. I'm not legal to own a gun or a carry conceal permit until I am 21. Instead, I have four pepper spray canisters. One for each backpack, one for my purse and one for the glove compartment of my car." Ana admitted to being prepared.

"Have you ever been attacked?" Kate's voice quieted.

"Someone tried once. It's why I live with Dad instead of Mom. Sometimes I call my parents by their Christian names, Ray and Carla. My mother married my biological father because she was pregnant. I was born when Carla was nineteen; my biological father died the day after I was born. Carla married Ray before I was a year old. He's always been Dad. She's on marriage number four. She prefers I call her Carla instead of Mom as it means we're more like friends than parental unit and child." Ana felt embarrassed but didn't know why.

"My parents have been together for 26 years. My older brother, Ethan, is 24. He's six years older than me." Kate revealed.

"I'm an only child," Ana explained.

"Enough serious information for the night. Let's drive to Voodoo Donuts and buy a dozen custard or jelly-filled for tomorrow." Kate suggested. "We could buy chocolate Zombie donuts, with big cartons of chocolate milk for mindless, brainless weekend breakfasts."

The roommates first weekend

Ans started minestrone soup in the crockpot while Kate set out donuts and made coffee and tea. She collected their paper from the front step.

"I had questions about your parents, but now I've forgotten what I meant to ask," Kate apologized as she pulled ads from the paper and stashed them in recycling. "Do you read the sports section?" When Ana shook her head no, Kate recycled it also.

"Ray is not my Dad because he adopted me," Ana explained to Kate. "He's Dad because he loves me unconditionally and supports me financially, physically and emotionally. I don't think Carla appreciates the close relationship I have with Ray. Carla has a shiny penny mentality."

Kate gave Ana an odd look.

"She's an incurable romantic. The shiny newness of her relationships never lasts. The tedium of full-time commitment wears on her happiness. She can be companionable...until she gets bored. Then she is indifferent or resentful until she moves on to the next new thing. She's on husband number four…but there were a couple serious boyfriends between husband three and husband four. I'm grateful I was with Ray while she was playing the field." Ana felt embarrassed by her mother. "I don't know how many fresh starts Carla has left if anything happens to Bob."

Kate spewed her coffee out her nose while laughing. "FUCK, that hurt."

Ana tossed her extra napkins. "One last snark about Carla…she's self-absorbed to the point of ignorance. She appears to be in her own little world. Sometimes you gotta kick down the door and do a fireman lift before she realizes what's going on."

~X~

After breakfast, Ana sorted the refrigerator. Kate understood Ana's system. It would let them know when to restock something. Ana prepped Bento boxes of crudités and sandwiches for lunches on the go. Kate helped her make protein boxes for breakfasts on the go – boiled egg, cheese cubes, bacon jerky and cherry tomatoes, or grapes.

After preps, the girls downloaded syllabi available for classes, and dug into their books and school supplies.

"I don't highlight in my books in class or the first time I read the material," Kate admitted. "I use post-its – question mark for things I don't understand, exclamation mark for something new and important, X if I want to cross-reference what I read with another source." She shared a gross of small and lined post-it pads with Ana. Kate liked Carla's two backpack system. Instead of ordering another backpack, Kate switched to large totes and ensured she had an extra phone charger and umbrella in each one.

Kate suggested they needed fresh air. She drove them to campus where they easily located the buildings for their Monday-Wednesday and Tuesday-Thursday classes which they would have together. Ana signed up for a three-hour online literature seminar which met on Wednesday night. She would access it from the campus computer lab. Kate signed up for Journalism 101, which meant she was on campus Monday night from six to nine, and again on Friday from nine to noon. Assignments were given out Monday and Friday and were turned a week later. Both girls were signed up for fifteen hours of classes. Ana was glad to have Wanda. Wednesday night classes usually ended with drinking and pool at student bars near campus. It was a ritual she wanted to avoid.

"Did you deliberately sign up for a Wednesday night class so you don't have to check in at the Rodriguez house weekly?" Kate teased her friend.

"I needed the class and it was only offered on Wednesday night. I appreciate José Senior's offer of a bed in inclement weather while I'm working weekends in Portland." Ana gave Kate a significant look. "Even if you are in Seattle, I plan to spend my weekends here."

"How about spending an hour with me right now? I saw an ad for the Senior Thrift Store, everything is 10% off. I found a webpage for them. They have a purple quilt I'd like to have for my room. Plus they have a purple decorated hatbox I'd like to put on top of my dresser to hold memorabilia. Someone took an old velour purple bedspread and made toss pillows. I wouldn't mind having them for my bed or for the chairs in the living room." Kate checked her phone for driving directions.

September 9

Ana shopped Portland Posy during her lunch hour to order flowers to be delivered to Carla. Tomorrow was Ana's eighteenth birthday. This year and next year would be difficult, as Ana knew Carla was pregnant and married at 18, and a widow at 19. Ana ordered a bouquet of nine purple hyacinth and nine white roses in a purple leaded glass vase. She added a box of Godiva Chocolate Truffles to the order. Ana ordered it delivered to Carla in Savannah with a card. 'Mom, I promise to live a life which will make you proud of me and will make your sacrifices worthwhile. Love, Anastasia.'

"Anastasia," the clerk at Portland Posy thought the name was elegant. Ana felt it was pretentious when Carla pronounced it with the extra syllable. Ana remained quiet and paid for her penance at being born and ruining her mother's life.

Ana asked her friends not to post anything on their social media about her birthday. She explained Carla's aversion to Ana getting older. The Rodriguez men insisted on taking Ana out to dinner, and Kate agreed to come along. Ana would be the designated driver, as she didn't drink. Kate gave her a birthday basket of tea, shortbread biscuits, a couple Jane Austen DVDs…and a blue floral cup which said 'Fuckity Fuckity Fuck'. Yeah, Ana needed that kind of laugh after sending flowers to her mother.

October 4, 2007

"What are you doing?" Kate watched Ana enter items in an Excel spreadsheet.

"Budgeting. I know it doesn't sound glamorous, but it keeps me from running up the balance on my credit card, and from draining my savings account." Ana made entries in the spreadsheet. "Now that I have an idea what my paycheck will be for a normal pay cycle, it's easier to budget. Of course, I keep a running tab on my phone to track what I spend, where I spend it and why I spend it so I don't forget to add expenditures to the spreadsheet."

"Mom would appreciate you sharing budgeting lessons," Kate made a K-cup of coffee for her and a cup of tea for Ana.

"I learned how to cook so I don't waste money eating out. Dad pays my Costco membership card so I can buy in bulk to cook for him." Ana cleared entries off her phone when she put them in the spreadsheet. "Dad pays for my health insurance and cell phone through his business. I pay him back by prepping meals for him and feeding his freezer once a month with twenty to thirty meals. It looks like I'll be making lasagna to pay the Rodriguez men back for keeping Wanda running for me."

"If I keep ingredients on hand for your lasagna, will you make it for us once a month? I really like your lasagna." Kate wrote a list of groceries and items she needed.

"As long as you don't inadvertently tell José there's a lasagna or two in the freezer, I can live with that," Ana posted a wanted notice for a small upright freezer on the community bulletin board at Clayton's. She got one for $100, but she had to have José transport it in his mini SUV.

"I am sorry Carla has been tracking you through my Facebook page," Kate apologized again.

"She's really happy to know I'm doing something other than reading and working. I appreciate you posting faux entries about our going to the mall. She thinks I only shop at Target, Wal-Mart and consignment stores." Ana laughed.

"Little does Carla know I've taught you the joys of shopping Amazon after finding fashions you like on Pinterest. It is cheaper to pay for internet instead of risking our laptops being cloned at Starbucks and other places that offer free WIFI. I'm thrilled to get the Student Fitness Card for the campus gym. I like swimming and taking yoga classes at the campus gym. I won't tell Carla I get free passes to campus events if I do the PR for them in the student newspaper. Let her think we are social butterflies." Kate couldn't contain her giggles.

"She's asked a couple time about your parents, their home and Seattle," Ana admitted to her friend. "I keep telling her – working weekends – no time to play in the Emerald City. She thinks I should be socializing instead of studying. She conveniently forgets I have to study to keep my scholarship."

Wednesday, October 31

Ana was thrilled night class was not cancelled for Halloween celebrations. They discussed Shakespeare's Macbeth. The other books on the week's reading list were Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Washington Irving's The Headless Horseman and Bram Stoker's Dracula. Ana submitted the Q&A for the three books when she arrived at class. Ana had to read two novels and review them. She chose Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre as examples of Victorian era gothic novels.

Kate and a couple classmates from journalism class were assigned to attend and review the campus dance named Monster Mash, the campus horror movie festival titled Scream Dreams, or the Halloween hay rides around campus and the hay bale maze on the campus green. Kate drew the 'short straw' which meant the hay ride and the maze.

José suggested the girls to dress skimpily and go trick or drinking with him at two or three pool halls in Vancouver and Portland. Ana suggested it would be easier for him to turn into a pumpkin at midnight, because they both had class or class assignments. It was a crisp evening, and Ana wore a sweater and jeans. Kate and her crew dressed like Lois Lane from the 1950s Adventures of Superman TV Show. Ana met up with Kate and friends - stopping for roasted hot dogs, caramel apples, and hot apple cider with cinnamon sticks. Kate insisted they make a run to Voodoo Donuts before returning home.

Labor Day Weekend

Ray came to Vancouver to see Ana and the Rodriguez men. Ana worked twelve hours Friday and Saturday and eight hours on Sunday. She needed Ray to dampen José's expectations that she would party after work on Friday and Saturday night. She managed to cook soups each night that week in the crockpot so Ray went home with seven containers of soup for six people. She fed herself and Ray for the weekend and kept portions for Kate and herself.

Kate posted her spending time with her grandfathers who were veterans. She took both of them shopping for things to take to the Veterans Home in Seattle.

The Grey family, sans Christian who claimed he was working, went skiing in Aspen. Christian purchased a perfect mountaintop spot in Aspen where Elliot (Grey Construction) built a house/compound. Gia Matteo was visiting family in Aspen two years ago. She found the perfect spot for a family hideaway and worked with Elliot and Christian to finalize the architectural plans.

Sunday night after Thanksgiving

"Dahling…I'm home!" Kate called out to Ana.

"I'm soaking in the tub," Ana called back.

"Can I come in?" Kate requested.

"Sure, I'm covered with a thick layer of white lavender bubbles," Ana explained. "You might need more light – I just have two votives lit."

"How can you see anything with those itty bitty votives?" Kate lit a couple pillar candles from the candlescape on the bathroom sink.

"I didn't think I would see you until tomorrow morning," Ana commented.

"Dad said to drive down tonight rather than fight traffic and possible bad roads in the morning. I've been on the road since five. There's more people driving back to Seattle, but there's a lot driving to Portland. So did you do anything fun over the weekend? Men, drinking, shopping?" Kate put some supplies away in the bathroom storage unit.

"I hate Black Friday shopping. I was surrounded by men all weekend, and this is the first drink I've had," Ana held up a large glass of white wine while answering Kate's question. "I'm blessed I only worked six hours on Black Friday. I think everyone in the store needed screws, nails, staples, ladders, etc. for putting up Christmas lights. We sold out of window and door storm kits. We sold out of outside Christmas lights. We sold all our rough jute rope to the Christmas tree farms."

"None of that sounds like fun," Kate disappeared and reappeared with a stack of clean towels for the storage unit. "I'm going to apply a facial mask. Tell me about the rest of your weekend."

"The Claytons bought fifteen dozen yard decorations from local craftsmen. They had a special permit to rope off the parking spots in front of the store, which is where they displayed them. We sold half on Black Friday and the remainder yesterday and today. Portland and its surrounds will be covered with pallet trees, snowmen, ornaments and angels. I took pictures and sent them to Ray and Carla for project ideas. Portland Presbyterian auxiliary members sold cookies and hot beverages to shoppers all three days."

"I peeked at the cookie tins on the counter." Kate made 'mmm' sounds.

"They sold Christmas tins of homemade cookies, in addition to single servings. I thought we'd give a tin to the neighbors if we don't eat them first." Ana drank her wine. "The Claytons have an interesting project they do each year. They urge senior citizens to complete tree-shaped tags. They list projects they would like done before the holidays –putting up outside lights, or trimming trees, or clearing out garages, etc. One lady wanted three antique lamps rewired so she could give them to her granddaughters for Christmas. One lady wanted an antique toy box refinished to give to a great grandbaby. One lady wanted someone to empty her husband's two woodworking sheds, but not until spring. I took that tag for Dad. There were 200 tags on the tree at the start of the weekend. College industrial arts students from four Portland colleges took most of the tags to complete community service requirements for their classes. There might be 20 tags left on the tree. Pete says they will be gone before next weekend. I took pictures of the tree and some of the tags to send to Dad. The American Legion in Montesano is always looking for community service projects. I worked ten hours yesterday and eight today." Ana sipped her wine and lounged in the fragrant bubbles.

"So why are you so cranky?" Kate disappeared and reappeared in flannel pajamas. She hopped up on the other side of the sink, away from the candles.

"I am acting like Scrooge aren't I?" Ana sighed. "Jean bought 5000 gold, silver, green, red and white paint chip strips. I stocked paint chip strips at the top of every hour this weekend. By the end of the weekend, we were out. We didn't sell even a tenth of that amount of paint. Jean said crafters take the chip strips to make Christmas crafts. She said it's good PR for the store because the chip strips are imprinted with store's contact information. Jean ordered another 5,000 imprinted chip strips. They should be in next Friday, so I can restock. Personally, I hope every crafter, elementary school teacher, kids club director, scout leader, etc. get paper cuts."

"That's not enough to put you in a foul mood," Kate chuckled.

"I had way too many men ask me to be their Christmas angel." Ana groused. "Like I want a tree shoved up my ass. Pete's brother, Paul, intermittently blessed us with his presence. We were busy and he was only good for bagging or making sandwich runs for the store. That one needs a lump of coal in his stocking."

"How was your Thanksgiving? We had an extended family Thanksgiving at my Kavanagh grandparents. Mom and I shopped Black Friday. Cousins and I skied yesterday. Today I did laundry, cleaned my room, and studied." Kate hated it when Ana was in a foul mood. She was usually so easy going. She must be exhausted from work this weekend.

"Thanksgiving dinner fed a dozen hungry vets, Dad and the Rodriguez men. We had a 22-lb. turkey, 20 pounds of mashed potatoes, 20 pounds of roasted carrots, mushrooms and Brussel sprouts, confetti corn which is corn with red and green pepper bits, stuffing and gravy, homemade cranberry relish, whole wheat rolls, and apple pies and pumpkin pies. After the Thanksgiving feast from two to four, I locked myself in my room and studied. José was not happy because I locked myself away. JERK. The guys gathered in the basement family room and played cards until almost midnight. Dad feed leftovers to everyone Thursday night. I slept in until five, showered and drove Portland to be to work on time on Black Friday," Ana sighed.

"So no shopping?" Kate asked.

"The church group sold homemade ornaments also. I found a great wooden star with a red flannel star and wooden button centered in the middle. I will show it to you later. I thought I'd put it on top of Dad's gift." Ana added hot water to her bath.

"One of our Christmas traditions is picking a name or two off the Angel Tree and fulfilling that family's wishes. It's a biggie for us. We buy one gift, $50 limit, for each family member. Then we spend the rest of our Christmas cash on the Angel Tree family/families." Kate removed her nail polish and shaped her nails. "We attended a new church on Sunday."

"Why would you change churches? Especially at this time of year?" Ana finished the rest of her cold white wine.

"I did something rude, petty and vindictive in July," Kate admitted. "Father Diego from our old church called on Dad on Wednesday evening. He was seeking Kavanagh Media's annual church donation for the holidays. Dad announced he'd rather hand out $20 bills to drunks and addicts at Westlake Plaza. Black Friday, Father Diego came to the house with Father Michaud from the new church. It was agreed it would be better for us and the church if we worshipped elsewhere."

"Was that a public rude and petty thing you did?" Ana asked her blushing friend.

"So public," Kate rolled her eyes. Then she revealed her temper tantrum to Ana who laughed until she almost peed in her bathwater. "OH MY GOD, it wasn't that funny!" Kate protested, but Ana's giggles were infectious. "If you think that's funny…wait until you hear what Mom said." Then she told Ana…which precipitated another round of unrestrained laughter.

"Oh for a guilder, my ermine gown would I sell," Ana laughed.

"Huh, what?" Kate wiped her tears from laughing.

"Pied Piper of Hamelin," Ana explained. "It means I would have paid good money to be there."

"So, what do you want for Christmas?" Kate asked.

"Peace on earth, goodwill toward men…and José to find a girlfriend for the new year. José and Dad put snow tires on Wanda, and Dad changed out my emergency kits Thanksgiving morning. By the way, Dad said thanks for the Support Small Business Owner's post on Kavanagh Media's Facebook page. Thank you for including the Steele Woodworks URL. It's been a great boost to his website." Ana thanked her friend.

"I finally figured out what to do for my Christmas article. I'm writing about Longest Night of the Year Events in Portland. I'm also suggesting people donate to Blessings Backpacks. Given to the homeless, they contain basic winter items like caps, mufflers and mittens, toiletries, a mini first aid kit, tablet, pen, and paper, prepaid phone card, and a blanket rolled up bedroll style. Many people donate gallon Ziploc bags with food and collapsible water bottles."

"Sounds like a good idea. I pick up loose change for a year, convert it to folding cash, match it and give it to carolers or street musicians or to the red buckets. I prefer to gift consumables. I'm sending Carla and Bob a couple bottles of wine. I'm making lasagna for the Rodriguez men. Will your parents like lasagna and a couple bottles of wine? I buy Dad chambray shirts and navy thermal Henley shirts for Christmas. He wears them and jeans in the woodshop. I make him a couple of lasagnas for his freezer."

"What's your schedule for Christmas? We'd love to have you and Ray in Seattle with us." Kate looked over her calendar in her phone.

"I'm working the Friday, Saturday and Sunday before Christmas. Monday morning I'm driving to Montesano. Tuesday, I'm cooking for Dad, the Rodriguez men and several vets. Twenty pounds of roast, twenty pounds of mashed Yukon Gold potatoes, whole green beans, asparagus and Caesar salad, with whole wheat rolls and seasoned butters. I make homemade cherry cheesecake in a sheet cake pan. I make a really cute crudité platter and a snack platter of meats, cheese and olives. Both look like a decorated Christmas tree." Ana sunk neck deep in the hot water to relax her shoulder muscles. "After we do the dishes, the guys gather in the family room in the basement and play cards. I Skype Carla. This is Carla and Bob's first Christmas as a married couple and I don't want to intrude."

"What are you doing for the New Year?" Kate continued to coordinate schedules.

"I have to work Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Clayton's is closed on Monday and Tuesday. I don't want to go home to Montesano. Why don't you come back to Vancouver? We can shop after Christmas sales; which I know you will love. Plus, Carla will love you for making me shop. We can go to a movie, have lunch, and a quiet New Year's Eve. I don't want to go out drinking." Ana offered her friend some options.

"Do you need me to tell Carla, Ray and José that we have plans?" Kate offered to be the bad guy.

"I feel guilty throwing you under the 'I don't feel like partying' bus," Ana enjoyed the hot water and fragrant bubbles. "However, I don't want to be out on the roads with the drunks."

~X~

"We had a great time skiing in Aspen," Mia hugged Christian. "It was worth coming home from Paris. Why didn't you join us?"

"Too many business meetings, Skypes, etc. during the four-day weekend. Mrs. Jones made me a gourmet turkey dinner with all the fixings before she spent the holiday weekend with her sister. I ate leftovers all weekend." It had been a busy work weekend, but also a relaxing one. Between his work and Leila studying for classes, they released stress through scenes in the playroom. She appreciated the seasonal clothes in her closet, especially the leather boots for winter. She also appreciated Sir sending her car to be serviced.

Sunday, December 7

"What did Carla want?" Kate sat her desk with a red pen and several pages which flaunted proofreading marks.

"Carla was excited to find three hot glue gun trays. Each one holds a different sized glue gun with a holder to store corresponding sized glue sticks. She sent pictures of the trays with and without the guns and glue sticks. Then she sent pictures of the shelf where she has them stored." Ana shook her head. "I expect we will have new DIY shabby chic crafts for Christmas. She sent a box to Montesano for us."

"Carla makes me laugh. I never had an unbirthday gift before." Kate concentrated on proofreading again.

"Dinner's ready – minestrone soup with cheese tortellini – I call it Survivor Soup. It's like a pasta stew. Cheese, grapes and fresh breadsticks on the side. There's water, tea or soda." Ana placed a tray of cheese and grapes, and a basket of fresh breadsticks on the breakfast bar.

"Water," Kate finished the last page and set it aside. "That can sit until after we eat. Thanks for cooking."

"Try the food first before you thank me," Ana served bowls of Survivor Soup. "The soup's an acquired taste. The Rodriguez men don't like it. Ray keeps cans of good minestrone soup in the cupboard and frozen packages of cheese tortellini and frozen garlic bread on hand to make a fast meal."

"Anything has to be better than the ratatouille recipe Carla sent." Kate wrinkled her nose. "It might not have been so bad if it didn't stink while it cooked." She retrieved two bottles of water for them.

"I think it had four times too much fennel. Also, I think the rice served with it should have been plain white sticky rice…not jasmine. Too many taste sensations." Ana set container of parmesan shreds on the breakfast bar. "How was the drive?"

"Good, kept my recording app open on my phone and downloaded everything bouncing around in my head. How was work?" Kate helped herself to a breadstick, grapes and cheese, and sprinkled parmesan shreds on her soup.

"DIY central again. I sold 56 pints of red, white, green, and gold paints to people making Christmas gifts. We're sold out of red, white, gold and green spray paints. We're supposed to have new stock this week. I'm so sick of paint chip samples I think I'm seeing them in my sleep. Although, a teacher came in for three dozen chips for bookmarks and three dozen for gift tags. She buys 36 Christmas books from the Scholastic Book Club, and wraps them in white tissue paper with red, green or gold ribbon for her students." Ana took a bite of soup and cringed when she heard her cell phone ringtone of Georgia, for Carla.

Kate hopped off the barstool and closed the door to Ana's room. "Soup's on, phones are off. You already talked to her today."

Sunday, December 16, 2007

"What are you doing?" Kate observed the dining room table filled with Christmas wrap, bows, ribbons and piles of trash. Scissors hung on a ribbon from Celeste's neck, so they would not be lost in the pile on the table.

"Our new church supports the Pregnancy Center of Seattle and the Veterans Home as two of its charities. Your Dad and Ethan drew tags off the Vets tree. I picked one off the Baby/Mama tree. The tag I drew asked for winter clothes for the baby and mama. That's those two boxes," Celeste waved at two boxes which could have held ten reams of legal-size paper.

"We wanted to do something fun, so we're making a Night Before Christmas gift. There are Night Before Christmas mugs with hot cocoa mixes, a Christmas tin of decorated cookies, a special plate and cup for Santa, and flannel pajamas for mama and baby. I found a Night Before Christmas collection which has a book, DVD, reusable advent calendar and Christmas ornament." Celeste showed her Christmas Eve Box ideas from Pinterest/

"Too cute! Do you have any more of those Christmas cookies? They look good." Kate spent the night with her Kavanagh grandparents, and stopped at home to visit her parents before she returned to WSUV.

"You need brandy and eggnog," Celeste commented. "It would be a good idea if you kept a low profile while home for Christmas. I had several groups of ladies from our old church come to the shop. They weren't looking for holiday dresses. They were sharing gossip."

"Oh FMTT," Kate made two snifters of brandy and eggnog – handing one to Celeste. "To new churches, old friends, new situations and old gossip." She drank deeply of brandy and eggnog. Obviously, she wasn't driving back to WSUV tonight.

"Guess who is buying Baby's First Christmas ornaments?" Celeste rolled out a teaser for the upcoming attraction.

"LaSalles and Newsomes," Kate rolled her eyes.

"Benedicts, Mathews, Hanfords, Huntingtons and Palmers, in addition to the LaSalles," Celeste commented.

"My classmates - Briana Benedict, Moriah Mathews, Cate Hanford, Laura Huntington and Paige Palmer?" Kate's eyes were as large as the gold chargers which Celeste used on her Christmas table. "OH MY GOD…is there something in the water in Seattle? Marissa was the only one who started showing after graduation."

"Marissa had a baby boy early September. Bella Benedict, not Briana, had a baby girl in October. Cate Hanford had a baby boy in October. Moriah Mathews and Laura Huntington each had a baby boy in November. Paige Palmer had a girl December first." Celeste took a long drink of her brandy and eggnog. "I shredded all baby shower invitations sent to you. However, your father and I were not allowed to refuse the invitation to a community meeting sent by King County Family Court on behalf of the Department of Child Services and the Seattle Police Department."

"Why were you and Daddy included in a court-ordered conversation with Department of Child Services and the Seattle Police Department?" Kate' eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"When you outed Hunter as Marissa's Baby Daddy…" Celeste hesitated.

"At a very public baby shower…" Kate grimaced.

"Your declaration shocked several mothers…who realized their pregnant daughters had been hanging around their good friend. Hunter Newsome. The King County Courts could not ignore six subpoenas requiring Hunter Glenn Newsome provide DNA for paternity tests. Bella was underage when she got pregnant." Celeste shook her head.

"Hunter fathered six babies? Jesus…he should just sell his swimmers to a fertility clinic." Kate chugged a third of her drink.

"He was named on all six subpoenas. However, the paternity test for Bella, Cate, Moriah, and Paige came back with Hunter as a relative, not the Baby Daddy. It's been a huge scandal. Hunter's cousins Rafe and Parker are responsible for this mess also. Hunter is the Baby Daddy for Marissa and Laura. Rafe is the Baby Daddy for Bella and Moriah. Parker is the Baby Daddy for Cate and Paige."

"How did those three boys impregnate six girls?" Kate shook her head. "My god…we all took human sexuality and human development classes at Seattle Prep. Condoms and birth control pills are available for free through twenty different agencies in Seattle."

"Rumor says Rafe's girlfriend from the fall of your senior year…" Celeste paused, searching for a name.

"Rebecca Royston – she broke up with Rafe after Homecoming," Kate supplied the information.

"Rebecca was furious she had to be tested for an STD. Rumor says Rebecca took a needle to the center of every condom in Rafe's 100 condom pleasure pack. Rafe, ever the gentleman and good cousin, shared his condoms and his ladies with his cousins. Rebecca was invited to a dorm party, where it is rumored she did it again!" Celeste explained. "The boys were court ordered to provide a list of the young ladies they had sex with since Homecoming of your senior year. Each boy listed twelve sexual partners, but the six they had in common all got pregnant. Department of Child Services has been very busy with this situation."

"You and Dad were included in the discussion since Hunter listed me as one of his sexual conquests?" Kate surmised.

"You appeared on Hunter's list as of Senior Prom," Celeste confirmed. "His list of young ladies started the summer between your junior and senior year."

"Hunter was sleeping around when we were supposedly exclusive with one another?" Kate suspected, but she had no proof until Marissa became pregnant.

Celeste nodded. "I saw the list. Every parent there saw the lists. It was difficult for the parents of those six girls to realize…"

"Their daughters are sluts with no self-esteem?" Kate snapped. "JESUS, I was so stupid."

"You weren't stupid. You were with a boy you loved, and who you thought loved you. You thought Hunter respected you because he never pressured you for sex." Celeste tried to comfort Kate.

"He didn't need to pressure me for sex…he was getting it from eleven other girls!" Kate rebuilt her brandy and eggnog. "I just want you to know I didn't lose my virginity in the backseat of Hunter's Camaro. He got a hotel room at the Fairmont Olympic prom night.

"You were supposed to be having a slumber party at Cate's after the prom." Celeste scolded Kate. "Bella Benedict was fifteen when she became pregnant. The Benedicts had all three boys charged with first degree sexual misconduct with a minor. As they were all 18, and Bella was 15, the Romeo and Juliet defense does not apply. Bella said she had sex with all of them three times before she turned 16, which means a minimum of 60 months prison time, and registration as a tier three sex offender for the rest of their lives."

"Oh…" Kate hissed. "That's going to be ugly."

"Adoption Connections was present. They provided information to all the girls. They have 200 couples and 35 singles who want to adopt a child. If the Baby Mamas go that route, everyone relinquishes their parental and familial rights." Celeste commented. "A rumor circulating the Rainer Club is Hunter's grandfather is buying vasectomies for the trio for Christmas. Kate, your father requested I discuss this with you. Sentencing is January third. Eamon and I believe you should not be in town for it."

"I would never have slept with Rafe or Parker. Hunter was a mistake I will never make again, Mom. I'm not that stupid girl anymore. I know what I want to do with my life." Kate tried to reassure Celeste.

Kate would never reveal she had a medical termination. The baby would have been due in January. She wondered how girls could sleep with those three boys – and god knows she didn't want to consider if there were multiple partners at multiple times. This situation proved sex, not Kate, was the most important thing in Hunter's life. Perhaps it was because her grandparents Eastman and Agnes showed her the lasting legacy of love. Perhaps it was because her grandparents Edwin and Alice taught her to know herself and not waste her opportunities, or her abilities. Perhaps it was because her parents instilled her with excellent work ethics. For whatever reason, when Kate learned of Hunter's deception - she could not live with it.

"How are you doing at WSUV? I had my doubts, and I'm sorry for it. It's a good thing you went away. I would have preferred an ivy league school, but it's nice you can drive home on weekends to see us. All the kids involved in this mess postponed their entry to UDub for a semester, well, except for Bella. I heard she's taking online classes from home to graduate on time." Celeste squeezed Kate's hand.

"I'm glad too. There's less drama at WSUV. Seriously, 5,000 students on campus beats 5,000 students in your class year. Just tell everyone who asks, I'm doing well. I've had at least one article published in every issue of the school paper, which is better than any UDub journalism student can claim. Our academic counselor believes I will be the editor my senior year. Once I have my BA from WSUV, I will return to Seattle for my internship. I can obtain my master's degree from UDub. I have plans, Mom. Hunter and his bullshit are in my rearview mirror. I let petty jealousy over a boy cause me to be mean to someone who had been a friend. I don't want to be like that again. I can't be friends with those girls, but I will not be another facet of misery for them." Kate declared.

"I think I'll ask Eamon to post the news article for the Dean's List with your high school graduation picture on Kavanagh Media's website." Celeste commented. "I want to show it to your grandparents at Christmas. Perhaps it will keep your grandmother Agnes from asking if you have a new boyfriend."

"No, and not interested. I'm going back to Vancouver on the thirtieth. Ana and I are spending New Year's together. Her bosses asked her to work part-time and weekends until classes begin again, so they can spend time with his brother before he goes back to college. I signed up for a journalism mini course at University of Oregon, Portland. It meets January 3-4, January7-11, and January 14-18. We have the weekend to write two papers for the class. They have to be submitted electronically by midnight January twenty-first. If anyone asks, I went back to school early to attend the seminar. Ana and I are registering early for classes." Kate finished her brandy and eggnog.

"So, serious conversations aside, do you need to go shopping?" Celeste asked.

"I have presents for everyone which I need to wrap. I have discovered the Vancouver Mall. I donated my charitable funds to the Backpack Blessings project in Portland." Kate emailed the article to Celeste.

"I would like to do snowmen stacks. So, this is the plan." Celeste slid a plastic sleeve across to Kate. It selected one wrapping paper and color ribbon for each family member and grandparents. On the flip side was a picture of the snowmen stacks.

"Very cute, but I simply can't wrap today. I want more brandy and eggnog." Kate wanted to bleach the pregnancy news from her brain.

"Hit me again," Celeste finished wrapping her last package for the mama and baby. She put them in a large Christmas motif garbage bag and added the family name and information tag. "Do you know what you will write for January's articles?"

"January is Mental Health Awareness Month and National Stalking Awareness Month. I think I can find enough information about how both issues affect college students. Since January is National Soup Month, Ana offered to teach me how to make two or three soups in the crockpot, as a life skills cooking lesson." Kate handed Celeste a refilled brandy sniffer.

"I'll bet your Dad would be interested in posting the Mental Health Awareness Month and National Stalking Awareness Month articles you write on the Kavanagh Media web." Celeste took a long drink and contemplated what to do next.