“ Mom, Whitney, do you like this one?”, Simone asked as she modeled her latest choice.

Whitney and Eve looked at one another with skeptical looks on their faces. Simone took the hint.

” Oh, Ok, I get it. I’ll get another one.”

Whitney and Eve laughed as Simone went back into the dressing room. Whitney saw the sad look in her mother’s eyes.

” Mom, is something wrong? More than usual? You look sad.”

” Something happened, but I’ll explain it to you and Simone over dinner. “

” Ok.”

” Chad came by to see me.”

” He did?”

” He wanted to know if I was going to do his DNA test.”

” Are you?”

“ Yes, I’m going to complete his DNA test before we leave on vacation.”

” Do you have hope for Chad?”

” Actually, I don’t know. I honestly don’t know. It’s a crap shoot, Whitney. Maybe his parents are in the Harmony Hospital DNA files. Maybe not. We can hope.”

” I hope so. I know what it would mean to him. I think his parents would be lucky to have him. “

” Chad is someone any person would be glad to call their son.”

” Yep.”

” Whitney, how serious is Simone about Reese? With all that’s happened, I don’t feel like I have the right to inquire about their relationship.”

” I don’t know, Mom. Simone is playing it very close to the vest. I think she needs her space.”

” I know. I’ve also been working on our vacation plans. I should have some conclusions in a few days.”

” Good.” Whitney was hesitant.” Did you give any thought to Simone’s request?”

” Simone’s request or BOTH of your request?”

” I have to admit, I was as shocked as you when Simone asked to meet our grandparents. But, I agree with her. Mom, if we’re making a new start, then your true family is a part of this.”

” Whitney, I haven’t spoken to my parents since before you were born.”

” Are they dead?”

” No, they’re not dead.”

” You say that with such certainty, Mom. If you haven’t had contact with your parents, then how do you know?”

” Whitney, I’ve kept up with them, off and on.”

Whitney could tell that there was more to the story, but she let it go. Just then Simone stepped out of the dressing room, and both Whitney and Eve gasped. Simone was wearing a striking fushia satin gown that complimented all of her curves, and just made her look like a movie star on the red carper.

” I take from your reaction that this is the one?”, Simone asked.

Whtiney and Eve nodded. Eve began to cry.

” Mom, is something wrong?”, Simone asked.

Eve shook her head. “ Sweetheart, you just look, beautiful. Truly beautiful.”

Simone smiled. “ Thanks, Mom. I’ll go take it off so that we can get it.”

Whitney went with Simone into the dressing room. Eve sat waiting for them, and began to cry. A woman shopping with her daughter came over to Eve, offering a tissue.

” Something wrong, Dear?”

Eve thought before she spoke. “ My youngest daughter just found the ‘perfect’ prom dress. She looked so beautiful.”

The woman sat down next to Eve. “ They grow up so fast, don’t they?”

Eve nodded. “ Too fast. I saw her in that dress, and there she was, all in her blossoming womanhood. Staring me down. My baby girl was gone, and here was this young woman. It hit hard.”

” I know what you mean. She’s the last child. I have four daughters. You?”

” One son, two daughters.”

” I, um….my husband and I are getting a divorce, and this is..”

” The first event you thought you’d share with him that you’re going solo.” The woman patted Eve’s hand. “ My husband died seven months ago. It’s not the same as a divorce, but we’re still doing it alone.”

“ I never saw it coming. Both my daughters are Daddy’s Little Girl, and neither want to see him right now.”

“ Sorry.”

“ Thanks. We’ll get through it. We have to. I’m going to take them on vacation. A long one.”

” Space helps. We went to visit my family in Florida for awhile. We’ve been down there a number of times. “

Whitney and Simone came out of the dressing room. Eve turned to the woman. “ Thank you for the talk.”

” No problem. “

Eve left with her daughters.
 

Sam came into Ivy’s apartment. There was a romantic dinner, ready for a wonderful time. Sam sat down and smiled.

” You  went all out, Ivy.”

” Sam, I wanted to have a wonderful evening with you. To help you get over your troubles.”

” Because, you are such a good friend, Ivy.”

” I’ve tried, Sam. I hope you know that your friendship means the world to me.”

” Really, Ivy? Why don’t we dance.”

Sam went over to the CD player and put in a disk. He gathered Ivy in his arms.

” This is what you want, right? This is what you want from me.”

” Yes, Sam.”

” You want us to get back together, right, Ivy? You love me so much. No need to hide, right Ivy? No need for us to hide our feelings for one another. You love me. It’s so obvious. I’m surprised I didn’t see it before.”

” Oh Sam, yes yes yes! I love you. It’s ONLY been you. Nothing else in my life has meant anything. Sam, I love you.”

Ivy began to kiss Sam passionately and he pulled away from her.

” We’re through, Ivy.”

” Sam?”

” Totally through. I don’t want to talk to you ever again.”

“ S…Sam, you can’t mean this?”

” Yes, I do. I had a nice long talk with Eve, Ivy. “ Sam saw Ivy go pale.

” Worried, Ivy? I mean, what could Eve have to tell me that would make you look so funny.”

” Sam, I can explain.”

” Explain what, Ivy? That you’ve been lying from word GO about your intentions? That you blackmailed Eve against Grace and I. That you deliberately set out to destroy my marriage?”

” Sam, you love me.”

” Love you? At best, I was attracted to you. I never saw you for who you really ARE, Ivy. A cold, ruthless, Crane. The Ivy I knew is long gone. She was decent and loving. You are anything but.”

” Sam, I love you.”

” Too bad, Ivy. Because, I’m not going to touch you with a ten foot pole.  After tonight, we’ll never see one another again.”

Sam went towards the door, and Ivy ran after him.

” Sam, you can’t do this to me. You can’t cut me out of your life. Not when we share a child!”

” A child? Ethan is a grown man, Ivy. I believe we can be in his life without having contact with one another.”

” I’m not talking about Ethan. I’m talking about our baby!”

Sam turned around to look at Ivy.

” I’m pregnant, Sam.”