“ So, what have you decided to do with your life?”, Fox said, in between licks on his ice cream cone.

” I accepted a position in my father’s company. It’s a better one than I had before, plus he’s promised me no business trips for the first year of the baby’s life.”

” Well, I know people will talk about nepotism, but fuck them. You’re brilliant, Gwen, which is why I never got that you didn’t realize you could do eons better than Ethan.”

Gwen laughed in between licks of her ice cream. “ Why Fox, why don’t you say what you mean.”

” Ok, I will. You were too good for him. I know you hate Theresa, but SHE’s too good for him. I don’t even think she loves him.”

” Not love him? He’s her whole world!”

” My point exactly. I think she has serious issues, and she thinks a relationship with Ethan will solve everything.”

” Well, I don’t care if she spends the next 30 years on a shrink’s couch, the best thing about all of this is that I don’t have to deal with Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald EVER AGAIN.”

” But, if she’s going to be with Ethan…”

” His visitation of the baby is contingent to Theresa not being anywhere around. If he breaks it, I’ll ask my father to transfer me to an office out of town, and we’ll see how his parenting goes then.”

” Hardline, isn’t it?”

” Absolutely. But, it’d empowering. Look, I want my child to have a relationship with his/her father, but I believe Ethan is going to let this baby down. So, ‘I’ will be the center of its world. ‘I’ will take up the slack. I love this baby that much.”

Fox noticed that Gwen had tears forming in her eyes, and gave her a handkerchief.

“ Gwen, this child is so lucky. The fierceness in your voice? It would be a cold day in hell and then some for me to EVER have my mother talk about me like that.”

Gwen noticed the sadness in Fox’s eyes as he said it. “ Fox, I didn’t mean..”

” To hurt me? You didn’t. Other have, but not you.”

” Well, off the subject of mothers, what else is going on in your life?”

” I hired a new assistant.”

” Anyone I know?”

” Kay Bennett.”

Gwen nearly choked on her ice cream. “ Kay? Ethan’s sister?”

” Yeah, I know. But, I saw her crying, and she was so pretty, and I sat down to try and cheer her up, and next thing I knew…I was offering her a job. What, you think I’m wrong?”

“ Actually, Kay always struck me as the smartest of the Bennetts.”

” Ethan doesn’t have the brains God gave a turnip, so it’s not a fair comparison.”

They both laugh and Gwen continued. “ She has something underneath. Now that I’m clear of my Ethan stupidity, I can see that she is afflicted with the same disease when it comes to Theresa’s brother.”

” Miguel is his name?”

” Yep.  Good job, Fox. Sometimes, you can smell someone who’ll be good in the business world. I could never quite put my finger on it, but Kay always seemed to stand out in a room of Bennetts. Now that you mention a job at Crane Industries, that’s it. She’ll do fine. I’m sure of it.”

” I’m glad someone sees her potential. I’m sure Father and Grandfather will have problems with it.”

” Too bad. They have to go along with you. You’re all they have. You’re the only heir.”

“ What about little E?”

“ Puleeze. You’re it and they know it. They’ll kiss and make up. Give them room, Fox. These are not men who like to humble themselves.”

“ Thanks for the advice. May I call you for more?”

” Sure. I’m going to go home. I get tired easily these days.” Gwen gets up and begins to walk away.

” Gwen?”

“ Yes, Fox?”

” I’m glad we can be friends.”

Gwen smiled. “ So am I, Fox. So am I.”
 

Kay had on one of her new suits. She looked in the window of the Bennett House. All the players were there. It was time to make an impact.

Kay walked into the Bennett house.

“ Well, I’m glad you’re all here.”

” Kay, what’s the matter.”, Grace asked.

” Nothing is wrong. I just wanted to tell all of you that Miguel is off the hook. I can tell that he doesn’t want to have anything to do with our baby, so he’s off the hook.”

” Kay, that’s not true! I want to be involved.”, Miguel replied.

” Who are you trying to kid? Everything I’ve ever asked you to do with regards to the baby you’ve always had something to say. You could do it IF it didn’t upset Charity. You didn’t want to do a baby video until SHE said it was ok. You had the NERVE to bring her along to LAMAZE Class? Well, you’re off the hook. I will take care of my baby. “

” And how will you do that, Kay? Making it Mom and Dad’s responsibility?”, Jessica taunted.

” I found myself a job. “

” Flipping burgers?”, Jessica sneered.

” At Crane Industries. In their Junior Executive program.”

All of them stared at Kay in disbelief, and finally Sam spoke up.

“ YOU are working at Crane?” I DON’T THINK SO!”

” It’s a very good opportunity.”

” I don’t have my daughter working for those snakes.”

” Ethan works for them.”, Kay replied.

” Ethan has a family to support.”

“ So do I. I’m not asking permission. I’m telling you. It’ll be longer for me to go to school, but I’ll just have to balance things. You all told me that I’d have to grow up, and now I am. That’s all I have to say.”

Kay walked out of the Bennett house, thinking about that. Letting them mull it over. Oh yeah, her plan was in full force. She’d reward herself when she got back to Tabitha’s.