Grace was opening boxes at her shop when she heard a knock on the door. She looked up, smiled  and went to the door to open it.

“ Chad, how good to see you.”

” Hey, Mrs. Bennett, may I come in?”

” Sure.”

Chad entered the store and looked around. “ I, um….I wanted to talk to you.”

” To me?”

” I…I’m getting a housewarming gift for someone. Maybe you could help me.”

“ Sure, I can help you. What did you want?”

” I….a picture frame came into mind.”

“ Well, we have these new ones over here. “ Grace shows him a collection of seashell frames.

” These look homemade almost.”

” Don’t kid yourself, they are.”

” You?”, Grace nodded. “ These three are exactly what I need. Thanks.” Chad picks out the frames he likes and hands them to Grace, who begins to pack them.

” Well, this person is going to be lucky. Who’s the lucky girl?”

” My mother.”

Grace stops wrapping the gifts. “ Eve’s back in town?”

“ Yes…..and I wanted to talk to you about her.”
 
 

“ Um, this was one of the best classes we’ve ever had.”, Kay said, taking a bite out of her homemade croissant.

” Kay, I can’t believe how good you were today.”, Miguel said, taking his hand and wiping off the filling on the side of her mouth. Kay looked at Miguel. They were getting closer and he didn’t even notice it. Simone did, and rolled her eyes.

Miguel turned to Simone. “ Simone, are you sure that your mother won’t mind us dropping by?”

” With homemade croissants, Miguel? No. Plus, you’re my friends, and Chad’s staying at your house. She’d love to see you.”

” Ok, then.”

They arrived at Eve’s apartment and Simone rang the doorbell. Eve opened the door.

“ Simone? Kay? Miguel? What are you doing here?”

Simone rushed to her mother to give her a kiss. “ We decided to stop by on the way home from cooking class today and give you a taste of today’s lesson.”

Eve looked in the baskets of each of them. “ Croissants?”

” In all sizes and flavors, Dr. Russell.”, Miguel replied.

” Well, you all come on in!” Once they were inside, “ Come on, to the living room.”

They all sat down and Eve told them, “ I’ll get us something to drink.” Eve came back with some juices and they all took a glass.

“ Thanks, Dr. Russell.”, Miguel said, drinking and eating.

” You’re welcome, Miguel. So….you all went to class. How was it?”

” It was good, Mom. This was something we all could do.”

” Even me.”, Kay said, stuffing her mouth.

” Awe, Kay, don’t say that. You’re a pretty good cook.”, Miguel complimented. He didn’t notice, but Kay blushed.

” Maybe I’ve been away too long, but you all look like you’ve grown.”

” Dr. Russell….geesh.”, Kay said, and they all laughed.

” I’m glad to be home. To be back with my family.”

” Um…have you seen Chad?”, Miguel asked.  “ I’m sorry, Dr. Russell.”

“ Miguel, there’s nothing for you to be sorry about. To answer your question, yes, I saw Chad. I don’t want you to ever think that you have to hold your tongue. I know that Chad lives at your house. I’m very grateful to you and your family for all the support you’ve given him.”

” He’s a great guy, Dr. Russell.”

Eve smiled. “ Yes, he is. I have wonderful children.”, Eve said, holding Simone’s hand.

“ Awe, Mom.”

“ Hey, Kay, I remember you having a great smoothie recipe. You used to make them all the time at my house…why don’t we make some.”

Kay looked at Eve and saw she wanted more than smoothies.

” Sure, Dr. Russell.”

” Simone, why don’t you give Miguel the grand tour, and maybe he can help setup my VCR, DVD Player and speakers.”

”Um, sure….come on, Miguel.” Simone and Miguel left for the family room.

Kay followed Eve into the kitchen.

” This isn’t about smoothies, is it?”, Kay asked, looking in the fridge for ingredients.

” No. I needed to talk to you about Simone. How is she REALLY doing?”

Kay poured the ingredients into the blender. She looked down at the ground. “ Dr. Russell, I dunno..”

” Kay, I’m her mother. I know I haven’t been there for her in the past months. But, I love her. She’s my baby, and if she’s in trouble, I want to know about it. I’m not leaving town. I’m never leaving my baby alone.”

Kay looked at Eve. “ It comes and goes, Dr. Russell. Part of the time, I think she’s doing ok. Like today in cooking class. She was so happy that you were home. She was thrilled. And then, other times…”

“ Go on….”

” She’s lost and angry. Usually, Simone’s always been open. Been able to tell me anything. Wanted to tell me anything. She built up a wall between us. I don’t like it. It really began when she began seeing that creep.”

” Haa…Hakim is his name.”

” Yes. And, he’s an asshole. I’m sorry, Dr. Russell, but it’s the ONLY word that I feel comfortable in your presence saying. Between you and me, he deserves so much worse.”

Eve shuddered.  “ Good Lord.”

” Yeah. Simone is convinced that he loves her. That is BULL, Dr. Russell. He’s USING her. He’s totally using her, and she can’t or won’t see it. I mean, she gave him…” Kay stopped talking.

” Her virginity. That’s what you were going to say, wasn’t it, Kay?”

“ Dr. Russell…..I don’t want to betray Simone.”

” I love her. I’m her mother. It’s not like I can talk to her father about this.”

” Oh, DON’T! I don’t know what you’ve heard but Simone and Coach Russell aren’t close. He’s been too involved with Whitney. Simone feels like an afterthought.”

” So, don’t you see? I have to know what’s going on with Simone, so I can help her.”

” Dr. Russell, I doubt you know how to deal with a lowlife like Hakim.”

” Kay, I’m her mother. I deal with Satan himself if it meant protecting Simone.”

Kay let out a sigh. “ Yeah, she’s had sex with him. I made sure that she’s on birth control, but I have to be honest…I don’t know if they use condoms. She let it slip that HE doesn’t really like them, and Simone would do anything he asked.”

Eve shook her head.  “ Kay, please be there for Simone. I need to know that there’s someone she can talk to about anything.”

Kay finished off the smoothies and poured them into glasses. “ Simone and I have known one another for forever. She won’t be rid of me anytime soon. “

Just then Simone and Miguel arrived at the kitchen, and joined them for smoothies.
 

Grace pulled up a chair next to Chad.

” You want to talk to me about your mother?”

” Yes.”
“ What about?”

” Mrs. Bennett, I know my mother did bad things. I know it. But, she’s back, and she’s trying to rebuild her life. Her marriage is over, and Whitney will probably never speak to her again.”

” Whose fault is that?”

” I admit she’s made mistakes. But, she’s trying to build a new life. You don’t have to be her friend anymore, but I’m asking you not to actively work against her. “

” I got my letter in the mail, Chad. You’re talking about the Medical Review Board.”

” Yes. My mother made mistakes, but you KNOW she’s a good doctor.”

” After what she did to Charity?”

” Yes, even after what she did to Charity. She hurt your niece, but she’s helped so many people over the years. She worked hard to be a doctor. Let her do it. Let her help people. Everyone has said that you are one of the most devoted churchgoers in this city. Isn’t a big part of the tenant of the church is redemption and forgiveness? I’m not asking you to forgive my mother….I am asking you to give her a chance to work for her redemption.”

“ How….how can you be defending her? After what she did to you?”

” She didn’t do anything to me. She wasn’t the one who lied about my birth. She would NEVER have let me be involved with Whitney if she had known. I know that. YOU know that. She’s not a monster, Mrs. Bennett. She’s human. She has flaws. She’s had it bad. I know my mother. I have no illusions about her. And, because I know her, I want her to remain a doctor. She needs to be a doctor. Don’t take that away. It won’t help anyone, and you know that. “

Grace was quiet.

“ Think about it, Mrs. Bennett. Thank you.”

Chad left Grace in her store.