A Port in the Storm

[DREW SOLOMON]

It had been a long couple of days for Drew and everyone else who loved Maxi. When Maureen had called him to tell him she was shot in the lung, he felt like the same had happened to him. The next thing he could remember was showing up in the hospital lobby and throwing his arms around a weeping Maureen. As they waited hours and hours for the doctors to tell them how Maxi’s surgery went, he didn’t even notice the brooding man in the lobby. Mostly he just went over and over in his mind what he would do if anything went wrong with Maxi’s surgery. She was his closest friend…even with Jamie and Gus and all of his other friends, she was the one who knew him best. So for hours he simply sat worrying, his mind half occupied by Maxi and half by Maureen. Poor Maureen…she’d just found her sister again and now she was at risk of losing her forever. He stayed close to her, ready at any second to place a comforting arm around her shoulders or get her whatever she needed. It was good to have Jamie and Lizzie there, though, even if all they did was stay quiet. They were all there for each other, waiting for the moment when they would be needed. And this was just the group that could be reached in the past few hours! It wasn’t until the doctor came out and announced that Maxi was out of surgery and would be all right that he even noticed the man in the corner, just in time to see him rush out of the hospital. Seeing his blood-stained clothes, he figured he’d been the one to bring Maxi in, and it occurred to Drew that perhaps he was the mysterious boyfriend Maxi had told him about.

Over the next day and a half, his suspicion of that was confirmed as he saw the man coming and going at least once a day. He’d meant to introduce himself, but the guy didn’t look like he wanted to be bothered. It rubbed Drew the wrong way but he forced himself to ignore the man as much as he was ignoring Drew. He wasn’t there for her boyfriend; he was there for Maxi. It was a miracle he managed to sleep the first night, but he figured he must have been emotionally from the whole ordeal. As soon as he woke the next morning he followed his daily routine and went straight to the hospital, calling out of work for the first time in years. Maxi had what seemed to be an endless stream of visitors, Maureen right there through all of them, but even by the time Drew made it in, Maxi didn’t seem the least bit drained from the company. She was surrounded by flowers and balloons and there were several cards on display. The poor thing must have been in pain, but she didn’t act like it at all. Drugs must have been a godsend for her. It was good to see her so cheerful after being shot and she wrote it off as no big thing. He shouldn’t have expected anything less from Maxi, yet it still surprised him. When he was satisfied she would be alright, he gestured to Maureen to follow him, lowering his brow curiously at the smug look Maxi gave her sister. The older McManus seemed flustered by it, but Drew figured it must have been an inside joke between them. It wouldn’t be the first time he was on the outside of one of their jokes.

Once out in the hallway, he closed the door behind him and looked down at Maureen. The bags under her eyes were a telltale sign of how stressed she had been in the last forty-eight hours. With a smile, he nodded his head back in the direction of the door. “So I think she’s on enough painkillers right now that she’s okay…” He smiled wider before reaching out and touching her arm gently, looking concerned. “But what about you? How are you holding up? You look exhausted. Did you go back to your hotel at all last night?” Drew would have gladly stayed and taken up a watch shift if he’d known Maureen was going to worry herself all night over her sister. She didn’t need to wear herself down so much.

[MAUREEN ABERDEEN]

The fold out chair in the hospital room wasn't exactly comfortable, but Maureen managed to sleep on it anyway. She had spent the evening with Maxi and stayed with her through the group of visitors that came and went. Maxi seemed to flourish under the attention, not seeming overwhelmed by it as Maureen would have. She wondered briefly if she would have been the same way if she had grown up with Maxi instead of being the scared rabbit she tended to become at times. She had heard from a few of them she had been fearless as a girl. Had the accident really changed her? She had been cautious since as far as she could remember, and she knew that was likely from boat wreck. Either way, Maxi didn't seem bothered by it all, which was good.

Maureen excused herself now and then to make phone calls. When August came she called her parents, telling them what happened and how she would need to extend her trip. Work was next and though they were understanding, they were obviously displeased with her conduct as of late. She had missed quite a bit of work and though she had the vacation time, she hadn't made the appropriate plan of action ahead of time so the children she was tutoring were being tutored by others and everyone's schedule seemed to be suffering. She knew she would have to head back by the weekend and maybe take a long weekend next weekend to come back and see Maxi. Even then, she wasn't sure how she would afford the hotel for the rest of the week. The Remington was expensive, as were all the hotels in the area, and this was eating away at her savings steadily. She tried not to think about it when with Maxi so as not to worry her, but it was constantly on her mind.

The good thing about this whole ordeal had to be the amount of time she got to spend with her sister, though. Work and money problems aside, it was a true dream come true to not only learn who she was, but learn about where she came from and meet people from her past. When alone Maxi and Maureen would talk about who they were not and Maxi would tell her stories from their past and about their parents. Every so often Maxi would mention something that seemed almost familiar, but no true memories really came flooding back. Then they would talk about boys and Drew would come up.

Drew.. Maureen liked him, and she thought often of his little tour. It felt almost like a date and she had adored the bible he'd shown her. Her heart fluttered whenever she thought about it and she liked talking to Maxi about it, too. When drew came to visit again Maureen hung around, and when the boy asked to talk to her for a moment Maxi gave her a wicked sort of look which was greeted with a blush in return.

Drew smiled down at her and she did the same back up at him. He was terribly tall! “So I think she’s on enough painkillers right now that she’s okay…” He smiled wider and she did the same, not blushing when he touched her as she once had. She was used to it now. "I think maybe you're right." She teased back gently, peaking at the door. “But what about you?" She looked back at him curiously. "How are you holding up? You look exhausted. Did you go back to your hotel at all last night?” Maureen blushed and bit her lower lip. "I'm doing alright." She offered softly with a shrug. "And I stayed here last night. I just wanted to be here in case she needed something. I don't know.." Again she chewed on her bottom lip and looked at the door to Maxi's room, hugging herself gently. "I guess I was sort of afraid of losing her again, and.. well, I haven't been there for her for twenty five years. I'm her big sister, I should have been here watching over her and now I can, so.. so I thought I should." Her sad eyes looked back up to drew, giving away how guilty she felt about not being there in Scriptor Bay all this time. "I might actually just stay in the hotel for the rest of the week if they'll let me. Hospital parking is cheaper than the hotel." She teased with a laugh watching Drew. "What about you? You doing alright?"

[DREW SOLOMON]

“I’m doing alright.” Drew didn’t think Maureen looked alright; she looked worn. “And I stayed here last night. I just wanted to be here in case she needed something. I don’t know…I guess I was sort of afraid of losing her again, and…well, I haven’t been there for her for twenty-five years. I’m her sister, I should have been here watching over her and now I can, so…so I thought I should.” And there was the heart of the issue: guilt. Drew gave her a concerned look, knowing she had nothing to feel guilty for. Maxi didn’t hold anything against her, he knew that much. But he could understand waiting by her bedside in case anything happened or anything was needed. When his mother was sick in the hospital, he’d hardly left her side for almost a month. Even on her good days, he refused to leave her. “I might actually just stay in the hospital for the rest of the week if they’ll let me. Hospital parking is cheaper than the hotel.” Drew gave an amused half-smile, but that got him thinking too. She must be running out of funds with this extended stay. Would she be able to afford more time in the hotel? The big brother part of him was coming out again, wanting to make sure she was safe and provided for, and living in a hospital with her sister was not exactly optimal.

“What about you? You doing alright?” He shrugged and leaned a shoulder against the wall with a sigh. “As well as could be expected, I suppose. I almost had a heart attack when you called, but all’s well now that Maxi is getting better. She’s a trooper so I know she’ll get through this just fine. Once I get back to work I think most of this anxiety will go away. Well, until the students start asking what happened to Miss McManus. I’m sure I’ll be the bearer of many Get Well cards.” He gave a wide grin at the thought. Maxi certainly had a lot of students who loved her, but she was one of those teachers that made sure every single student who walked through her doors thrived. They didn’t always take to her devotion to their success, but many did. “Your sister’s pretty popular at the school. Not just with the boys, either, though I can’t tell you how many times the boys ask me if I’ve…how do they put it?
‘Hit that?’” He laughed, shaking his head at how preposterous that idea was. “It’s only since I’ve become a high school teacher that I’ve realize how disgusting teenage boys are.” Drew liked to think he was different than most teenage boys, but he wasn’t so sure he had been all that different. Boys were boys, after all.

“Anyway, you’re staying at the Remington, right?” When she confirmed that, he gave an exaggerated wince. “That place is expensive. If you needed a cheaper place to stay, you can always crash at my place. At least while Max is in the hospital. I’d even let you have the bed and I’ll take the couch.” He smiled wider, the big brother in him coming out once again; at least that’s what he thought it was that made him want to make her comfortable. “What d’you say? It’s a whole lot more comfortable than a cot in the hospital. If Max needs anything, she knows who to call. She’s got a whole army of people who will get her whatever she needs.” If Maureen wasn’t comfortable staying with him, he could understand, but it never hurt to offer.

[MAUREEN ABERDEEN]

“As well as could be expected, I suppose." She gave a small smile, understanding what he meant before he continued. "I almost had a heart attack when you called, but all’s well now that Maxi is getting better. She’s a trooper so I know she’ll get through this just fine. Once I get back to work I think most of this anxiety will go away. Well, until the students start asking what happened to Miss McManus. I’m sure I’ll be the bearer of many Get Well cards.” His smile was infectious and hers broadened. She knew her sister was probably very popular at school, as was drew. Both were some of the kindest people she herself had ever met so she was sure the kids would all love her and miss her. "Probably." She replied with a gentle sort of giggle. "Your sister’s pretty popular at the school. Not just with the boys, either, though I can’t tell you how many times the boys ask me if I’ve…how do they put it?‘Hit that?’” Drew laughed and Maureen did the same though hers was a little more bashful. Did students really talk to them that way? She reminded herself it only seemed odd because she wasn't teaching sixteen year olds. A ten year old would never think to say something so inappropriate! “It’s only since I’ve become a high school teacher that I’ve realize how disgusting teenage boys are.” That actually did make her laugh more. Yes, boys were definitely disgusting.

“Anyway, you’re staying at the Remington, right?” She gave a nod, leaning against the wall and folding her arms gently over her chest as she looked into his gentle eyes, smiling again when he winced dramatically. She truly liked being around Drew, she found. “That place is expensive. If you needed a cheaper place to stay, you can always crash at my place. At least while Max is in the hospital. I’d even let you have the bed and I’ll take the couch.” Maureen's eyes widened and her brow raised curiously. Stay at Drew's? No, she couldn't put him out like that. “What d’you say?" She bit her lip and shrugged, "I don't know, I..." "It’s a whole lot more comfortable than a cot in the hospital. If Max needs anything, she knows who to call. She’s got a whole army of people who will get her whatever she needs.” She looked into his eyes and saw he was being genuine. They were friends, weren't they? Plus she wanted to get to know everyone a little better, Drew included. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea. Maxi would have a field day with this, though. She could already hear the taunts flying her way!

"If you're sure it wouldn't be a problem.." She said watching as he insisted it wouldn't and then nodded. "Thank you, Drew. That would be wonderful." Her cheeks were slightly flushed at the prospect of staying with the man. Would it be weird? She told herself that she had enjoyed her time with him the other evening and he saw her as a little sister. She would probably be safer with him than anywhere else, and Maxi trusted him with her life. If she needed anything she was sure Drew would be the first person she called, after August of course. "I can only stay until the weekend, though. I have to be back in Friday Harbor by Monday or my boss is going to blow a fuse and I'm not interested in seeing her fuse blown." She smiled playfully, her hands sliding slower over her torso. "But I'm going to leave a little early on Friday and I can be in town by midnight. Of course I'll have to leave again Sunday early evening, but.. I'll get to see Maxi and stuff. I'll crash with her then, though." She threw a little wink at Drew and then took a deep breath. "But I'm going to cook for you to thank you! So.. you're off the hook for cooking until I leave, and I'll have you know I'm a half decent cook." Her smile broadened some, liking the idea more and more with each passing second. She was sure Drew would have loads of memories to share.

[DREW SOLOMON]

“If you’re sure it wouldn’t be a problem…” Drew waved his hand at Maureen with a nonchalant look on his face. “It’s no problem at all,” he insisted. “Thank you, Drew. That would be wonderful.” He smiled wide and nodded, glad she was accepting his offer. His home was neat, though lived-in, and he had nothing to hide from Maureen. What other place would be better for her to stay in? While Maxi was in the hospital, there were no other good options. Granted, Lizzy and Jamie wouldn’t mind her bunking with them, but Maureen hadn’t spent as much time with them. He was easy enough to get along with, and he’d definitely give her plenty of space. “I can’t only stay until the weekend, though. I have to be back in Friday Harbor by Monday or my boss is going to blow a fuse and I’m not interested in seeing her fuse blown.” Drew smiled wider, knowing what she meant. The assistant principal at school could be like that; one toe out of line and he could pitch a fit. But not with Maxi…She helped him out so much that he never lost his temper with her. “But I’m going to leave a little early on Friday and I can be in town by midnight. Of course I’ll have to leave again Sunday early evening, but…I’ll get to see Maxi and stuff. I’ll crash with her then, though.” He nodded and smiled at her wink, finding it cute. “But I’m going to cook for you to thank you! So…you’re off the hook for cooking until I leave, and I’ll have you know I’m a half decent cook.” With a wide grin, he gave a playful shrug. “Well, I’m not going to argue with that! I like to cook myself, but most of my stuff is quick, easy meals. And it isn’t often I get to have somebody cook for me.” Drew liked the thought of Maureen cooking for him. Actually, he just liked the thought of them hanging out with just the two of them! Like that day he took her on the tour…it was hard to forget how attractive he found her that day and how much fun he’d had. In fact, he still had to shake off thoughts of how pretty she was, even exhausted.

Thoughts of her prettiness aside, he was excited at the prospect of Maureen staying with him. That gave them so much time to get to know each other more, and he wanted to know more about her life in Friday Harbor. She’d given him bits and pieces, especially about her job, but what about the people? What were the Aberdeens like? They must have been good people if they raised Maureen to be the way she was. She was more religious than when she was in Scriptor Bay, he felt, but in a good way. It made her kinder and it softened her. Though she’d changed, it wasn’t at all for the bad, and he wanted to know more about how she’d grown to be who she was. He glanced at his watch and realized it was already four in the afternoon. Had he really been there all day? He’d have to stop by the grocery store to pick up enough food for the two of them. Of course he had food, but maybe she would need some things too. He didn’t know if she had specific meals in mind or what.

“It’s already four o’clock. Did you need to go to the grocery store or anything? I could take you there after we swing by and get your things from the hotel if you want. Of course, we don’t have to go now, it just occurred to me you might want to get some things from the store.” He smiled kindly, knowing she might want to stay with her sister a little longer. Even if Maxi was doing great, he could tell Maureen was a bit of a worrywart. Maxi would be the same way in the reverse situation. Drew didn’t mind staying longer in the least; he was there to help both of the girls, so he would follow Maureen’s lead.

[MAUREEN ABERDEEN]

“Well, I’m not going to argue with that! I like to cook myself, but most of my stuff is quick, easy meals. And it isn’t often I get to have somebody cook for me.” She smiled in return feeling less guilty about crashing at his place. She decided it would be fair since at some point she knew she would be coming to visit her with Maxi and she wouldn't dream of letting them stay at a hotel. "Well, I'll make you my specialties then." She replied gently, grinning kindly at him. She wondered briefly how this conversation would have gone if she were the Maureen he knew and remembered. Then again if she were that Maureen she wouldn't need to stay at his home, she would be fine staying at her own since all her belongings wouldn't be in a hotel.

“It’s already four o’clock. Did you need to go to the grocery store or anything? I could take you there after we swing by and get your things from the hotel if you want. Of course, we don’t have to go now, it just occurred to me you might want to get some things from the store.” It was sweet of him to offer and Maureen gave a little nod. "That would be wonderful, thank you. Let me just go in and tell Maxi what's going on and where I'll be so that if she needs anything she.. well, I mean she would call my cell anyway I suppose." Maureen giggled a little and bit her lip. "I'll.. just say bye for now." She turned and bumped into the door and then turned to Drew, smiling bashfully as her cheeks flushed bright pink, and turned the handle to let herself into her sister's hospital room.

After a short farewell and a few jabs from Maxi, Maureen was heading out of the hospital with Drew in tow. They chatted lightly on the way to their cars and Maureen followed Drew out. They made their way to the hotel and Drew was kind enough to not only help Maureen with her bags, but to also wait for her as she checked out. the bill was steep but she didn't say anything about it to Drew. She could afford it and if she needed she knew she could ask her parents for some help this month. The Aberdeen's weren't rich but they lived very comfortably considering how successful their store was. They often tried to spoil Maureen, even at her age, but she declined often being too modest to accept their charity since she hadn't earned it. She knew they had worked hard their whole lives and she wanted them to enjoy every last penny. When they passed if they chose to leave her something, then so be it, but even then Maureen had encouraged them to donate everything to a good cause. She was a humanitarian but she liked to keep quiet about it. There was nothing she hated more than when people flaunted how much they had donated to charity as if they should get a pat on the back. To her that defeated the whole purpose.

Maureen grabbed some things at the market and they talked a little about what she would be cooking. She insisted she needed to make Mrs. Aberdeen's famous chicken pot pie which was always a huge hit at church potlucks. It tasted better than any potpie Maureen had ever had anywhere, and she had plenty of potpie in her life. She got everything for that and also some other things. Once the groceries were all paid for and loaded into the back of Drew's car the pair headed off to his home and Maureen called her parents on the way to let them know she would no longer be at the hotel if they were trying to reach her in an emergency.

Drew's house was surprisingly clean. She supposed she hadn't really expected him to live like a slob, but it was nice to see that he took good care of his home. "Thanks again for letting me stay." Maureen said a little shyly, placing her things down and reaching for one of the grocery bags to help Drew unpack them. "Really, this was a lifesaver." She smiled at him as they made their way to the kitchen. She placed the grocery bag she carried on the counter and began to unpack it, having no clue where anything actually went. "Should I start cooking? Dinner will take about two hours before we could eat."

[DREW SOLOMON]

“That would be wonderful, thank you. Let me just go in and tell Maxi what’s going on and where I’ll be so that in case she needs anything she…well, I mean she would call my cell anyway I suppose…” Drew chuckled softly at how scatterbrained Maureen suddenly seemed. It was cute. “I’ll just…say bye for now.” Her running into the door was even cuter, though he bit back his laugh. “You okay?” he asked, but she seemed like she was as she offered him a sort of bashful smile. Drew was really trying not to notice how cute Maureen was, since he didn’t want things to get awkward between them, but…well, she made it difficult. When she went into Maxi’s room, he sighed and scratched the back of his head and neck, trying to shake off this strange new attraction he had to a girl he’d watched grow. It wasn’t like he was that much older than her, but he’d seen her as a little sister not so long ago! He still saw her little sister that way! Leaning against the opposite wall, he could hear a bit of a commotion in the room, mainly Maxi’s voice, but he couldn’t understand what was being said. Once Maureen was out, he smiled broadly and took up stride beside her, making light conversation as they made their way out to the parking lot.

They went to the hotel and the grocery store, Drew helping her with her bags in both places. He was a big guy and he was more than capable of lugging the heavier items around without issue. At the store he asked about what she was making, but she kept it a mystery, which only intrigued him more. What delicious food was she going to cook up for them? As she collected her ingredients, he tried to solve the mystery, but she just laughed at his trying to guess, giving nothing away. He insisted on paying for the groceries, knowing he would use whatever was left over anyway, so he might as well. At least Maureen was a good excuse to get well stocked on food! He loaded the bags into the back of his black Jeep Grand Cherokee and led the way back to his house. He lived in a small, one bedroom house in Trail Oaks. It was nothing grand, but it was comfortable and he took good care of it. The landlord never had to worry about him. Inside, the furniture was big and comfy—classic American. He had to admit that Maxi had designed most of it since he trusted her eye better than his, but he picked out most of the big pieces and Maxi filled in the rest. His house had a distinct style and lived-in feel to it, making it warm and inviting. Loaded up with bags, Drew led the way into the kitchen toward the back of his house, setting them on the counter to be unpacked.

“Thanks again for letting me stay. Really, this was a lifesaver.” Drew looked over at Maureen smiling shyly at him and he grinned wide with a shrug. “It’s no problem. I have plenty of room for another person and you could use the space.” Maureen looked like she was getting ready to put things away in his kitchen, but he knew she had no idea where things went, which made him smile gently in amusement. “Should I start cooking? Dinner will take about two hours before we could eat.” He nodded enthusiastically, looking forward to this cooking of hers. “You cook and I’ll put things away. I guess I should show you where everything is though, huh?” He grinned wide and proceeded to show her where the pots and pans were, the silverware, the dishes, the pantry, and all of the little things she would need to know in his kitchen. It wasn’t very large, so he didn’t doubt she would be able to locate everything easy enough after a couple tries. As she collected her cooking instruments, he worked around her to put things away, leaving out what she would need to make their dinner in the next few minutes. “Is it…shepherd’s pie?” he inquired, continuing the game of trying to guess what she was making back in his chicken. She made it obvious she wasn’t going to tell him and he snapped his fingers. “I bet when I can smell it I’ll know what it is.” He was determined to find out what she was going to make for them.

When things were put away in the kitchen, he moved out to her car with her borrowed keys and he retrieved her bags from the trunk. They were far from heavy to him and he easily carried them into the house, walking them back to his bedroom where he placed them. As he promised, he would sleep on the couch. Not only was it polite to give the guest your bed, but she was also a lady, and that brought out the natural chivalry in him. By the time he returned to the kitchen, Maureen was hard at work preparing their dinner. He didn’t want to just sit there twiddling his thumbs, so he smiled as he came up beside her. “Anything I can do?” he asked, wondering if there was anything that needed chopping or any ingredients she needed to find. He liked the idea of cooking alongside her. It felt so…cozy, like they had known each other a very long time. While technically they had, Drew knew Maureen saw him as a new person and he was starting to see her that way too. The fact that they could get to this state of familiarity made him smile.

[MAUREEN ABERDEEN]

"You cook and I’ll put things away. I guess I should show you where everything is though, huh?” He said, grinning and nodding at her enthusiastically. She smiled back, excited about cooking for him. She paid attention as Drew showed her where everything was, keeping a mental note where all the things she needed were kept. “Is it…shepherd’s pie?” he inquired as she started dicing the chicken. Potpie was always better with roasted chicken but that would just take too long. "No." She said sweetly, almost teasing him as he moved around the kitchen. "But if that's something that you'd like I could make it tomorrow." She knew she had everything she needed for that as well, and she could simply make that instead of her meatloaf. "But I'm not telling you wants coming tonight." Her grin was almost mischievous as she turned to look at him, biting her lower lip playfully. “I bet when I can smell it I’ll know what it is.” She giggled and nodded, "I think you'll know before you smell it once you see me making all the final touches." She said, shaking her head and looking down at the chicken she was dicing.

Maureen turned the oven on and threw the chicken into a saute pan and then started on the pie crust as Drew brought the bags in. She cut the butter into the flour using a fork, wishing he had a pastry cutter but she didn't take Drew as the type to have odd baking utensils in his home. She put in the sugar and salt and then dumped the mixture onto the counter, slowly pouring the ice water on until the dough was the perfect consistency, all the while checking on the chicken and giving it a little stir now and then to brown it evenly in the butter. This had always been her favorite part of baking with her mom; playing with the dough. She wondered if she and Maxi used to bake with their real mother when they were young. She was sure they did, but was it often? Was their mom a good cook? Did she let them decorate the Christmas cookies? Did they make Christmas cookies?

When she was done she pressed half the mix into the bottom of a pie pan, setting the other half aside for later. She placed the pie tin in the oven so the bottom crust could bake a little prior to baking the entire pie into it, just as Drew came back in. She smiled up at him and wiped her hands on the dish rag. “Anything I can do?” he asked and she looked dreamily up at the ceiling as if to contemplate what he could do. "Actually, yes." She moved to the counter and grabbed the bag of carrots. "Could you peel four or five of these and then dice them into medallions for me, please?" She asked as she grabbed the onion and set to work dicing that. "Just so you know there is absolutely nothing healthy about this dish, aside from the vegetables in it." She gave a small laugh. "My m..Mrs. Aberdeen always kept fresh things in the house but when she cooked and baked special things she never held back. We would all gain tons of weight of the winter holidays and come News Years day we were all on strict diets, and mind you that wasn't by choice. Mom just refused to cook anything terrible for us until she was satisfied her pants fit just right again." Maureen giggled remembering how she used to have to sneak cookies and candy up to her bedroom so her mother wouldn't scold her.

Maureen moved to the stove and turned the burner off, pushing the chicken around to make sure if was all done just right. When she was satisfied she went back to the onion and then pushed the celery towards Drew. "That could be diced too, please." She asked meekly, not very good at delegating, but knowing he wanted to help, and liking him there with her. "Did we bake Christmas cookies growing up?" She asked suddenly, watching Drew more than the food she was playing with. "Or.. anything really? Did our mother bake with us? Did we have big holiday meals at our house or anything? Was my mom a good cook?" She realized she was bombarding him with questions and gave a nervous laugh, looking back at the onion as her cheeks flushed gently. "Sorry for the twenty questions.. food was always so important in the house I grew up in.. There was no greater pleasure for my adoptive mother than to see people enjoy her creations.. I was sort of raised on that mentality." She explained gently, wondering if it had been that way since the beginning or not.

[DREW SOLOMON]

Drew smiled more as Maureen’s deep blue eyes wandered up to the ceiling, contemplating his question. “Actually, yes.” He watched as she grabbed a bag of carrots and set it beside him. “Could you peel four or five of these and then dice them into medallions for me, please?” Nodding, he grabbed five carrots out of the bag and reached for the peeler she had sitting out on the counter. He also grabbed a knife and proceeded to cut the ends off the first carrot before he peeled away. “Just so you know there is absolutely nothing healthy about this dish, aside from the vegetables in it.” Drew chuckled. “And the chicken! There’s plenty of protein in chicken.” He grinned before paying attention to his peeling again. That peeler could nick him good if he wasn’t careful. “My m…Mrs. Aberdeen always kept fresh things in the house but when she cooked and baked special things she never held back. We would all gain lots of weight over the winter holidays and come New Year’s Day we were all on strict diets, and mind you that wasn’t by choice. Mom just refused to cook anything terrible for us until she was satisfied her pants fit just right again.” Drew gave her a big, amused smile, laughing a little at her story. He was a little concerned that she’d stopped herself from calling Mrs. Aberdeen her mom in the beginning, but she’d called her mom later in the story anyway. Drew didn’t care if she referred to Mrs. Aberdeen as her mom—for Maureen now, Mrs. Aberdeen was her mom! She didn’t have to be so conscious of what she said around him; he didn’t have a preference. “My mom was always conscious of what she ate, but she always tried to fatten me up. I was too active, though—it didn’t work. She could feed me pizza every night and I still would have burned it off with all the running around I did. I liked sports and pretty much anything that had to do with the outdoors. Of course, there was always a vegetable or fruit with the food she served and I inhaled all of it.” He’d always had a healthy appetite, but even now he was a very active guy and the calories never stuck for very long. Had he been less active, he’d probably have a potbelly and the thought amused him.

Drew looked over as Maureen pushed celery his way carefully, as if she was afraid he would get mad. He gave her a somewhat curious look as she said in a meek tone, “That could be dice too, please.” With a wide smile, he nodded, finding it kind of cute how timidly she asked for it. Did she think he would get upset if asked to do something else? He had offered his help, after all. “Did we bake Christmas cookies growing up?” The question was so out of the blue that he looked up again, wondering why she was asking. “Or…anything really? Did our mother bake with us? Did we have big holiday meals at our house or anything? Was my mom a good cook?” With so many questions in virtually one breath, Drew was a little stumped for answers in the moment. “Sorry for the twenty questions…food was always so important in the house I grew up in…There was no greater pleasure for my adoptive mother than to see people enjoy her creations…I was sort of raised on that mentality.” He smiled wider and shook his head. “Don’t be sorry. There’s a lot that you still don’t know about where you came from—I understand wanting to fill in the blanks. Your real mom was a good cook, but so was your dad. They each had their own specialties, but I guess I would say…I would say your mom took on more of the cooking responsibilities. She made the lunches for you and Max and, from what I remember, she made the meals more around your house. Your dad knew how to do barbecue, though. His barbecue was so good…I’ve never tasted better barbecue.” He grinned wide at Maureen, noticing for a moment just how much she looked like him. Sean McManus had been one of the best men he’d ever known with personality to spare. It wasn’t just his barbecue Drew missed, that was for certain. He went back to dicing celery, the carrots chopped and piled nearby.

“Your mom loved to host the holidays, though. She would make turkey at Thanksgiving and ham at Christmas and enough sides to feed a village. The Periwinkles, the Millers and my mom and I would come over for dinner and all of the kids would be left in the kitchen at the kids’ table while the adults ate in the dining room. I mean, my mom, the Periwinkles and the Millers all pitched in with a dish too, but your mom took on a lot of the responsibility. Your dad used to joke that she would be in the kitchen all week just getting ready for all of the company. You’d never know it, though. I never saw her frazzled, though I’m sure Max remembers her getting frustrated. She was always calm and relaxed when I saw her, with a smile that could light up a room. She always looked beautiful, even in sweats.” He chuckled a little at the memory of Margot McManus. She’d reminded him a lot of his mother, which was probably why they were such close friends. “Anyway, you guys did make Christmas cookies and lots of them. Margot would have you guys help a little bit in the baking process, but more so in the decorating process. I have to say, your cookies always came out looking neater. Max tried, but she’d always put too much frosting or her concoctions would go wrong or she’d dump too many sprinkles on it. One year she tried to eat all of the cookies she messed up on, but your mom caught on to that trick quick. I know about it, but I wasn’t actually there for cookie decorating—Maxi told me about it later. Margot liked to keep the baking and decorating just between all of you. Sean would help too, but he and Maxi always ended up goofing up their cookies pretty badly. You and your mom were much better decorators.” He gave her another wide grin before looking back down at the celery he was chopping.

“So it looks like you were always surrounded by good food! I’m glad for that. I’m truly happy you ended up with a good family like the Aberdeens. It sounds like you had a lot of fun growing up with them too. Not everybody gets a second chance at childhood either.” The smile he gave was genuine, though it made him a little sad. If only he could turn back the clock and have another childhood with his mother. He would tell her every day how much he loved her…Before he let himself slip into those sad thoughts, a mischievous smile came across his mouth as he glanced to the pie crusts on the counter. “And not everybody gets to learn how to make chicken potpie from scratch either.” He had a big, goofy smile on his face, proud that he’d finally figured out what she was making. It smelled so good and he couldn’t wait to see if it tasted as good as it smelled.

[MAUREEN ABERDEEN]

Drew looked genuine when he smiled at her. He didn't look upset or overwhelmed or like he wanted to tease her, which was a nice feeling. “Don’t be sorry. There’s a lot that you still don’t know about where you came from—I understand wanting to fill in the blanks." she could just kiss him! He was a true doll. Maureen diced the onions as Drew told her about her parents cooking ability. She wondered if she was a good cook because she was born that way or because she had been trained by not one, but two masters, even if she couldn't remember the first one. Some of it had to be muscle memory, right? Could you muscle memory recipes? No, that didn't sound right at all..

It was like hearing your favorite bedtime store for the very first time. Maureen was completely captivated, hanging on to every word as she worked around the kitchen. She thawed the peas and corn in the microwave and began to melt more butter in a pot, adding the onions and the carrots Drew had cut. She watched him as he spoke as much as she could, only paying half attention to her food. She had made it so many times she didn't need a recipe or a careful eye on the stove.

Drew spoke kind words about her parents, especially her mother. She couldn't help that pang of sadness that settled in her chest as he reiterated how her mom could light up a room with her smile, and how she always looked so beautiful and well put together. It seemed such a true tragedy she had been lost to the world so young, and entire family destroyed because of a simple boating accident. Tears welled in her large, sapphire eyes as he tugged at her heart strings, but made her heart swell with love for these two magical people she wondered if she would ever remember. It wasn't fair! They had been physically taken from her which was a travesty in and of itself, but to not own a single memory? It just wasn't fair at all.

“Anyway, you guys did make Christmas cookies and lots of them." He continued, and again she found herself hanging onto each and every words. Maureen slid the celery as he diced it into the pan to saute with the vegetables, watching Drew as she absentmindedly stirred the food so it wouldn't burn. She couldn't help but giggle and feel better about everything when Drew told her how poor Maxi wasn't a very talented cookie decorator. It made sense that hers came out good, though. Even now she was meticulous about her work, especially craft projects. She paid great attention to detail, a trait that must have stuck with her since before her accident.

“So it looks like you were always surrounded by good food! I’m glad for that. I’m truly happy you ended up with a good family like the Aberdeens. It sounds like you had a lot of fun growing up with them too. Not everybody gets a second chance at childhood either.” Again he offered that warm, sweet smile that made him look so boyishly sweet and oh so handsome. She smiled back and nodded, knowing what he meant. She had the unique opportunity to be a child twice due to her being a Blurr and not a human, even if she couldn't remember her first childhood. "Thank you." She offered softly, knowing he truly was happy she had a good life, even if it wasn't there in Scriptor Bay with himself and Maxi. "I did have a wonderful second childhood." She agreed maybe a little bashfully, though her smile was gentle and sweet.

Suddenly Drew gave her a mischievous look and she cocked her head in questions. “And not everybody gets to learn how to make chicken potpie from scratch either.” He had a big, goofy smile on his face, and Maureen looked to the counter to see the dough she had left out. "Oh!" She huffed in mock anger. "You dirty, rotten cheater!" She scolded with her own smile and a giggle. "OH!" Her eyes grew and she quickly grabbed a potholder, opening the oven and pulling out the pie crust. It was a little more well done that she would have liked for it to be, but she knew that would be okay. She got it in enough time so that it wouldn't be burnt, but it might be a little extra crispy, not that it would be a problem! "I guess it's a good thing you cheated, otherwise we might have had a burnt pie!" She teased with a giggle, sliding the pie dish onto the stop top to cook for a few minutes while she got the vegetables ready. "Well, since you've already spoiled the surprise you might as well earn your slice." Her smile lit her entire face up. She cleared away the cutting board and knife he had been working with and brought the flour over. Maureen sprinkled the counter with some flour and then brought the dough and rolling pin over. "How good are you at braiding? I would think growing up around us girls you'd be pretty good." There was a taunting to her tone as she nodded at the dough, making it clear she wanted him to braid some of it for the trim around the pie as the crust.

[DREW SOLOMON]

“Oh!” Maureen’s tone made Drew’s smile spread all the way across his face. “You dirty, rotten cheater!” He laughed loud and gestured to the pie crust with his hands. “How is that cheating? The pie crust is right there!” Suddenly Maureen jumped into action with a loud, “OH!” It made him stop teasing her, but he realized she was diving for the pie crust like it was burning. When she pulled it out, it looked perfect to him. It was kind of cute that she would jump like that though over such a small thing. He was slowly getting a little more comfortable with thinking she was cute; it wasn’t like anything would happen between them. She probably wouldn’t go for someone who’d known her since she was a child. “I guess it’s a good thing you cheated, otherwise we might have had a burnt pie!” With a laugh, he shook his head and leaned toward her a little bit to emphasize it. “But I didn’t cheat! You made it easy for me.” He liked being playful with anyone, but with Maureen it was more fun because not only did she reciprocate, but he liked that they’d gotten so comfortable so quickly. “Well, since you’ve already spoiled the surprise you might as well earn your slice.” Drew was going to make a smart remark about how he had earned his slice by slicing vegetables, but when he looked at her smile…it took his breath away for a moment. That was her mother’s smile. For a second it was like a ghost was standing in front of him, and a very beautiful one at that. Brain dead in that instant, he simply watched as she prepared the counter for the dough and rolling pin. He’d never felt the wind knocked out of him like that before.

“How good are you at braiding? I would think growing up around us girls you’d be pretty good.” Drew blinked before a lazy and almost bashful smile spread across his face. “I probably shouldn’t be as proud to admit this as I am, but I’m an awesome braider.” He chuckled at her laugh and moved closer to her, watching as she rolled out the dough. The rolling pin made a soft rumbling sound as it flattened the dough and the chicken sautéing on the stove was hissing gently, filling the kitchen with a sense of life that he simply didn’t get being in there alone. It was almost as if Maureen breathed fresh air into his home. There was a gentle smile on his face when she handed him the section of dough to be braided. He was snapped out of his thoughts as he turned his attention to the delicate work his big, clumsy fingers needed to do. It was a good thing he’d practiced braiding so many times before, otherwise he’d be no good at this. But leaning over the counter some, he was completely focused on the process, plaiting the thin strips of dough carefully. His smile was gone replaced by a look of concentration as his green eyes fixed on his work. Several minutes later, the braid was finished and pretty fancy in his opinion and he gave a proud grin. “Ta-dah!” he said enthusiastically, gesturing with his hands at the braided dough. He was childlike in how excitable he was, but perfectly content to be so. His grin turned to Maureen before he looked at the dough she was still rolling. That flour gave him an idea…

Coming closer to her, he was standing right behind her before he reached into the bag of flour and lightly coated his fingers. “The dough is sticking. It needs more flour.” His voice was soft and casual, even though he was well aware the dough was fine. She stopped her movements briefly while he sprinkled a little bit of flour on the dough, still reaching around her to do so. Then he reached up quickly and dragged his finger along the length of her nose leaving a white trail of flour in its wake. With a laugh and a big, mischievous grin, he looked down at her and admired his handiwork. “You uh…you got something on your nose.” The statement was complete mockery, knowing she was well aware of the powder on her face. Where was his camera?

[MAUREEN ABERDEEN]

“I probably shouldn’t be as proud to admit this as I am, but I’m an awesome braider.” It made her smile to hear it. Drew was probably such a wonderful brother to them all. She only wished she could remember it.. She left him to his task as she continued to cook the vegetables, adding chicken stock, milk and the chicken to the mixture along with some spices and the peas and carrots that had been in the microwave. The kitchen was truly beginning to smell like home to Maureen, something she liked feeling when with the people that were actually her family.. Not that Drew was actually her real brother, but he had grown up treating her as a sister and she had apparently done the same thinking he was her brother. That made him family.

Maureen peaked over now and then to see his progress and was more than impressed with his work. It made her heart melt a little to see him so intent on the little braid, taking such great care to make it perfect; something she would have done. Presentation was everything. Well, almost everything. The thing you were presenting needed to be worth presenting it so beautifully!

"Ta-dah!” he said suddenly and Maureen turned to look away from the pie crust she was now rolling to check out his work. "Drew, it's perfect!" She chirped in her teachers voice. "You did a wonderful job!" She didn't even realize she had switched into Miss Aberdeen mode. She gave him a beaming smile and then looked down to her pie crust as she rolled it out thinner. “The dough is sticking. It needs more flour.” Maureen tilted her head to the side and stopped rolling, looking at the dough. No, it was just right.. She opened her mouth to tell Drew she didn't need anymore when his finger collided with her nose making her gasp. “You uh…you got something on your nose.” He teased and Maureen just stared at him open mouthed. He had the biggest, sweetest grin on his face and it was infectious. How could she ever be mad about that! Surprised, absolutely, but she was far from mad. "You booger!"She howled, sticking her finger in the flour and chasing him with it, laughing.

The flour fight didn't last long, but the pair had definitely made a bit of a mess. Maureen had flour sprinkled all over her clothes and in her hair, smudges on her face. Drew was nearly as bad, but she was certain she had gotten it much worse than him. He had more surface to cover and he was a much faster, dirtier fighter. They finished getting the pie ready together, still giggling from the play time they'd had, and stuck it in the oven. Despite her age, Maureen felt very much like a young girl again. As young as she looked even, or possibly younger. She was finding that she enjoyed being with him and she could see Maxi smirking in her head. Silly, bratty, baby sister!

While their supper baked the two cleaned the kitchen and put everything away. They washed dishes, still giggling, and talked more about their favorite dishes growing up. Maureen made a mental note of all the things Drew liked so she could try and make them for him during the week or maybe when she visited next or when he came up to meet her adopted family. She had the overwhelming urge to please him, something she hadn't felt since Simon had been around.

After they cleaned they played some cards and trash talked playfully which only made Maureen's mood lift higher and higher. The lack of sleep and energy exertion were starting to get the best of her, though. She found she was growing sluggish by the time supper was ready and she was grateful when Drew suggested they take their dinner to the couch to relax and watch TV while they ate.

Dinner came out incredible and Maureen was pleased that Drew seemed to really enjoy it. They watched the Wedding Singer at Drew's suggestion since Maureen had never seen it and he insisted it was hilarious. And it was! Maureen was thoroughly enjoying the film, but her long night with Maureen doubled with a full belly were just too much for her heavy eyelids. Snuggled on the couch, her head cradled into the back cushion as her feet twisted beneath her, she had managed to fall asleep about halfway through the film. No doubt when she woke she would be embarrassed, but for now she was catching up on some much needed rest, comforted by the fact that her pseudo brother was watching over her.

[DREW SOLOMON]

The look of shock on Maureen’s face had Drew laughing. “You booger!” She even insulted like a little girl! It made him laugh more and when she came after him with the flour, he made to move away from her. The little lady was quick though and got him a few times with the flour, but not as many times as he got her. He’d even managed to make whiskers to go with her white nose. They kept their white powdery paint on while they finished putting together the pie and while it baked, they cleaned the kitchen and themselves. Washing the dishes, they talked about their favorite foods growing up and he found that even with a rattled brain, her tastes had pretty much stayed the same. He felt so young with her around and he was reminded of the good old days of his childhood with Maureen, Maxi and the other kids. If his mother could see him now, she would be glowing with happiness. He felt happier than he had in years, even though he’d had Maxi all this time. Maxi was wonderful and a loving little sister figure, but he hadn’t expected Maureen to begin growing into something more than a sister. It was strange to admit, but he was developing an attraction to her.

With the pie still in the oven, they set up a game of cards on the table while they waited, teasing and trash-talking playfully. They were pretty much tied in their card playing abilities, which was decent, and while it was fun, he was ecstatic when the food was done. It smelled amazing and he couldn’t wait to eat. He suggested they eat their dinner over some television and he went ahead and ordered the Wedding Singer while they ate. Maureen was the best cook ever—he was certain of it. He burned his mouth trying to eat the potpie too fast, but he couldn’t stop telling her how good it was. In fact, he went for seconds and briefly considered thirds, but he was too full. It was delicious, though. They were laughing at the movie and relaxing on the couch, enjoying themselves, but it became obvious how little sleep Maureen had gotten the past couple nights with the way she passed out on the couch. Halfway through the movie he looked over to find her dead to the world. He didn’t often have women in his house, so when he found one sleeping next to him, he couldn’t help but watch her a little. She just looked so peaceful and…well, beautiful while she slept. It made him swallow hard, trying not to get caught up in those feelings she was stirring up in him. Strange…but he wanted to dote on her and treat her right…like a boyfriend would do.

When the movie ended and the couple kissed at the end, he tried not to think about doing that with Maureen. Nope—he wasn’t going to think about kissing her. He was certain she wouldn’t want that. Seeing she still wasn’t stirring, Drew decided to put her to bed. He could remember doing the same once when they were younger, but she was a lot harder to carry then and she’d woken up when he finally put her in bed. Now scooping her up in his arms was a cinch. Gently he carried her back to his bedroom, trying to slow his heart when she absentmindedly snuggled into his shoulder. His face felt hot with blush, but he ignored it. In his room, he laid her down carefully and slowly removed her shoes before tucking her in. He grabbed a tank and his sweat pants he normally slept in and silently left the room, giving her one last glance before he left her to sleep peacefully in his bed. She looked so soft…With a smile, he closed the door and got ready for bed himself. He made himself comfortable on the couch and read about the Battle of Gettysburg until his eyes were too heavy to keep open any longer. It didn’t take long for him to fall asleep on the couch, hoping Maureen would continue to sleep peacefully.

[MAUREEN ABERDEEN]

"Maureen, I need you to go below deck and secure the..." The girl was shaking her head profusely as the boat rocked. "No, you need my help up here!" She insisted, the sails whipping around from the sudden storm that had seemed to brew in a matter of minutes. "GO. SECURE. THE CABIN!" Sean yelled more firmly, and the twenty one year old girl in the body of a twelve year old pouted angrily at her father. "I'm going to help your father, go do what he's asked." Her mother insisted, and taking one last look at the both Maureen headed down into the cabin to begin securing everything below deck. There were pots and pans already strewn about the floor from the waves rocking the boat so aggressively, and she moved to clean the mess and prevent anything more from happening.

As Maureen worked inside the dry boat, she could feel the storm getting worse outside. Water was beginning to splash down into the cabin, and despite what her father said, she made her way back to the deck, certain they needed her help. What she was greeted with was complete chaos. The waves were crashing around them fiercely, the sky almost completely black despite it being early evening, and a solid sheet of rain falling from the heavens. Maureen could hardly see the end of the boat through the thick spray of water, but the bright orange life vests alerted her to where her parents were, struggling to tie down the jib sail. A wave came, crashing into the boat and pushing it almost completely onto its side, making Maureen lose her footing. Fear enveloped her and she screamed as she toppled over, water pushing her down the deck and out towards the sea. A strong hand suddenly grabbed her arm, keeping her from falling into the waves as the boat righted itself up. Maureen found herself wrapped in her fathers strong embrace, her own thin, weak arms lacing around him as she clung to his soft frame for dear life.

Maureen whimpered in her sleep, her body rolling from side to side as a thin layer of sweat built on her brow. She was lost to the world around her, buried deep into her subconscious as her memory flooded back full force, completely oblivious to the fact this wasn't currently happening. Her whaling progressively got louder as her dream progressed..

"I told you to stay below deck!" Sean growled, his tone angry but relieved, obviously glad she was alright. "I just wanted to help." Maureen insisted in a whimper. "Sean, the rope's stuck!" Maureen looked up to see her mother struggling with one of the ropes, her father doing the same before turning back to the small girl. "Go back down there. You're more help to us if you're out of the way." His gentle lips came to her sopping wet forehead and he left her there, standing at the doorway to the cabin below. She watched her parents for a moment before going back below.

It was then that the boat hit something, throwing it into a tailspin and tearing a hole in the hull. Water came flooding through the cabin and Maureen's eyes grew. "DAD!" She screamed, climbing up to the deck once more. "Dad, there's a hole in the boat, we're taking on water!" She yelled, grabbing her parents attention. They acted quickly, moving to get the life raft out, which would surely be their death in this storm, but staying on the boat would be the end of them as well. Maureen scurried to try and help, but another heavy wave came crashing over the boat, throwing her down onto the ground. She quickly tried getting back to her feet, but the force of another wave came, breaking the boom.. "Maureen!"

"DADDY!"

Maureen sat up suddenly, drenched in her own sweat, her eyes wide open searching the room for her father. Where was she? What happened? The sound of the ocean was nothing but a distant echo in her mind, leaving her scared and confused. "Maxi?!" She called out in a choked cry, tears flooding her eyes as realization sank in. Her parents final moments.. What happened after she'd been hit by the boom? Why hadn't they made it to the raft? Maureen heard the sound of movement in the house, her heart still hammering, and a sense of relief hit her when she saw Drew. It didn't matter who it was, she just didn't want to be alone. "Drew.." She whimpered as he came to her, throwing her arms around his neck in a tight hug, the tears dripped freely from her eyes. All she could do was cling to him, horrified by what she'd seen, and for the first time she wished she could just forget. "It was horrible.." She whimpered into his neck, heavy sobs racking her body now as she struggled to come to terms with what she'd just seen.

[DREW SOLOMON]

Drew had fallen into a dead sleep on the couch. His dream was a nice one, a memory of his mother pushing him and Maureen on the swings. Once he hit the highest spot in his curve, Drew would lean back and watch as the ground came toward him, yelling as it got closer. Then when he began sweeping into the back part of his trajectory, he’d lean up and for thirty seconds he’d have the disoriented and dizzy feeling one got when coming out of a loop on a roller coaster. It was awesome and it made him laugh while his mother told him to be careful. Eventually Maureen got into the same rhythm he did and he cried, “Get out of the bathtub with me!” It made her laugh and his mother giggle, watching them swoop back and forth, completely in synch. They were young and free and flying and even as his eyes opened to a faint sound, he could feel the thrill of the chilly air whipping past him. What would he do to visit that memory again? And still he could hear Maureen’s laughter…no…no, now it was crying. What was wrong? It was getting louder and it took a long moment for him to realize he was on his couch in his house and it had been many, many years since he and Maureen had flown on the swings. “DADDY!” The cry snapped him back to reality and he shot up on the couch, hearing the distress in Maureen’s voice. Before he knew it, he was stumbling off the couch and rushing back to his room.

“Maxi?!” If only her sister were here—maybe Max could comfort her more than he could, but he would do the best he could. He was breathless and a little lightheaded from standing up to fast when he opened the door to his room, but one look at Maureen and he forgot the feeling. “Drew…” The way she whimpered his name made his heart ache and he rushed to collapse beside her on the bed, taking her in his arms. She was like that little girl again and she’d had a bad dream. All he wanted was to comfort her and stop the tears leaking onto her pale cheeks. She held tight and he held tighter, his hand sliding over her back slowly. “It’s okay, Maureen. I’m here.” The words were soft and soothing in his deep voice, but still she was clinging to him desperately, sobbing into his neck. His hand running over her back smoothed over her hair as his heart finally moved to its regular beat. She was fine and he could breathe easily now. Why had she called out for her dad? And which dad was she crying out for? Maybe…maybe she’d remembered something about the day that had changed all of their lives. Was that possible?

“It was horrible…” The way she said it made a sharp pang of pity shoot through him again, as though her fear physically hurt him. All that mattered in the world was calming her fears once more. “What was horrible? What did you see?” he asked softly. His head leaned gently against hers as his hand continued to run over her auburn hair. Very slowly he could feel her relaxing, though she was still crying and he didn’t know how to stop it. What had upset her so much?