Little Boy's Tree Fort

I think Amber is more a sister than anything  . That is all Paul was close to growing up . They fight like brother and sister .That is my thoughts . 

Grilled cheese with pastrami and swiss when I get home. Munching on a bowl of popcorn right now.

Sally thought she’d found the perfect loophole: if the star was technically earned, then the rest was just creative interpretation. Unfortunately, the people around her were far less impressed by “post-star convenience” than she was, and by the time Bridget, Jana, and an amused Elena compared notes, Sally’s carefully flexible system was suddenly headed for a very firm revision. What began as a rainy-morning shortcut threatens to become a full-scale reckoning, complete with new conditions, zero sympathy, and the horrifying possibility that her own logic may be used against her. Because in the Weiss household, once someone notices you’re bending the rules, they don’t just close the loophole, they turn it into a lesson.   Chapter 166 – Cookie Break The rain had settled in sometime during the night and clearly had no intention of leaving. It drummed steadily against the wide windows of Sally’s bedroom, soft but persistent, the kind of rain that turned the entire morning into a gray watercolor wash. The alarm went off at five. Sally’s hand emerged from the blanket like a sleepy submarine periscope and smacked the phone. Silence. She blinked at the ceiling. For a moment she lay there, trying to remember why five in the morning had seemed like a reasonable decision the night before. Then she heard it. Rain. She turned her head slowly toward the window. Gray sky. Heavy clouds. Wet glass. No sunrise. “Nope,” she murmured to nobody. Sally was disciplined about her jogging. She had managed four runs already that week, which she felt counted as a respectable effort toward athletic responsibility. But she was not, by any stretch of imagination, one of those iron-willed jog-or-die people who ran through storms for the moral satisfaction of it. She turned off the alarm completely and sank deeper into the pillow. “Tomorrow,” she mumbled. Her body, however, had other priorities. Her bladder nudged her. She frowned as she sat on the bed, swiveling her bare legs out and standing up slowly. Okay. This deserved a full star. She smiled ruefully as she slid back onto the bed, lying on her back. With the star already in the bag, she allowed herself the full privileges of a lazy morning. Technically, the rule was simple: wake up, respond properly, earn the star. What happened afterward was… open to interpretation. She sighed softly as she bent her knees and relaxed and let her bladder go into the diaper. Friday meant informal. Comfort and security came first. The rest was simply practical convenience. Slowly, she relaxed as her warm diaper absorbed the wetness. Outside, the rain kept falling, steady and patient against the windows, as if it approved of the decision. Today’s star had been secured. Mission accomplished. Sally slid back onto the bed. Friday. Informal Friday. Work-from-home Friday. Which now, in the Weiss household, meant that the team would eventually arrive at the house, laptops would appear on the dining table, schedules would be discussed, and serious conversations about foundations and business would somehow coexist with making your own hamburgers for lunch. But that was later. For now the house was quiet. The rain kept falling. The sky outside never truly brightened. Instead, a soft gray light slowly filled the room, turning the curtains into pale silhouettes. Sally drifted in and out of sleep. Not deeply asleep. Just floating in that comfortable in-between state where the day had technically begun but nothing yet demanded attention. The final alarm would come eventually. It always did. And when it did, she would get up, pull on something comfortable, and go downstairs to face the small storm of work, assistants, and conversations that followed her everywhere now. But for the moment she simply lay there, listening to the rain tapping softly against the glass. A rare quiet morning. And she intended to enjoy every minute of it. In the warm comfort of her diaper. -- The rain had not let up. It fell steadily against the windows, a soft drumming that had turned the entire morning into a dim gray cocoon. The house was quiet, wrapped in that peculiar silence that comes when the world outside has decided to slow down. Sally slept through most of it. Curled sideways in her bed, knees tucked forward, hair scattered across the pillow like a loose fan, she looked younger than she liked to admit. At some point during the morning the sheets had drifted down to her feet, leaving her sprawled half uncovered in the warm room. Her t-shirt had ridden up as she slept. And the diaper she had so comfortably justified earlier was now unmistakably soaked. The door opened quietly. Bridget stepped inside. She had intended only to check if Sally was awake. She stopped two steps into the room. Her eyebrows rose slowly. “Well,” she murmured to herself. Sally didn’t move. Still curled on her side. Still deeply asleep. Bridget walked a little closer, studying the scene with quiet amusement. The fallen sheets. The peaceful expression. The very obvious evidence of Sally’s “informal Friday privileges.” She gently brushed a few strands of hair away from Sally’s cheek. “Good morning, sleepyhead.” Sally stirred. A small groan escaped her as she buried her face deeper into the pillow. “Mmm…” Bridget gave her shoulder a gentle nudge. “Rise and shine.” Sally blinked slowly. Her brain took a moment to reconnect with reality. “Morning?” she mumbled. “Morning.” Sally stretched slightly. She felt it. Warm. Heavy. Very, very obvious. Her eyes snapped open. Bridget was watching her with an expression of pure maternal amusement. “Well,” her mother said lightly, folding her arms, “after three dry nights in a row I suppose we had to restore balance to the universe.” Sally groaned and rolled partly onto her back, grabbing the edge of the blanket in a half-hearted attempt to recover some dignity. “It’s not what it looks like.” Bridget tilted her head. “Oh?” Sally sat up slightly, hair a mess, cheeks flushed. “I already earned the star.” Bridget raised an eyebrow. “Did you.” “Yes,” Sally said defensively. “I woke up. I got out of bed. Completely legitimate star.” “And this?” Bridget gestured vaguely toward the very visible situation. “Post-star convenience.” Bridget pressed her lips together, clearly trying not to laugh. “Post-star convenience.” “Exactly.” Sally folded her arms. “The rules are clear.” “Your rules,” Bridget pointed out. “The system works,” Sally insisted. Bridget leaned against the bedpost, studying her daughter with a small smile. “You know,” she said thoughtfully, “I wonder if the rain had anything to do with it.” Sally frowned. “What?” “Perhaps the weather encouraged… relaxation.” “That’s not scientific.” “Seems plausible to me.” Sally narrowed her eyes. “You’re teasing me.” “A little.” Sally huffed and pulled the blanket up around her waist with theatrical dignity. “I maintain that the star is valid.” Bridget nodded solemnly. “I would never challenge the integrity of your star system.” “Good.” They sat there for a moment. Then Bridget finally chuckled. “Still,” she said, picking up her tea again, “I suppose we should get you out of bed before your assistants arrive.” Sally groaned and flopped back onto the pillow. “Five more minutes.” Bridget shook her head as she headed toward the door. “Five minutes.” She paused at the doorway and glanced back. “And Sally?” “Yeah?” “Next time it rains, maybe the star should come with… conditions.” Sally pulled the pillow over her face. “Noted.” -- The rain had settled into a patient rhythm outside, tapping against the tall kitchen windows as if it had nowhere else to be. Inside, the kitchen felt warm and lived in. Mia stood at the stove, moving between pans with the quiet confidence of someone who had already decided the morning would go well. The smell of bacon and butter drifted through the room. Theresa and Jana had taken possession of the kitchen island. Both were dressed down for Informal Friday—jeans and simple t-shirts—but they carried themselves very differently. Jana sat upright, coffee mug in both hands, already alert, her eyes occasionally drifting toward the stack of folders she had brought. Theresa, on the other hand, lounged comfortably on her stool, baggy jeans loose around her long legs, one foot hooked on the stool rung while she leaned back with the relaxed posture of someone who had absolutely no intention of beginning serious work before her second cup of coffee. They were mid-conversation when footsteps came down the stairs. Both women looked up. Sally appeared in the doorway. She looked exactly like what she was. Not the heiress. Not the junior executive. Just a teenager who had rolled out of bed on a rainy morning. Grey leggings. A short yellow t-shirt that rode up slightly when she stretched, revealing a narrow strip of midriff before she tugged it down without thinking. Her hair was tied into a quick ponytail that had clearly been assembled in front of the mirror in about ten seconds. Barefoot. Still a little sleepy. She padded into the kitchen, rubbing one eye. “Morning.” Theresa’s mouth curved slightly as she watched her. “Morning, boss.” Jana gave a small nod. “You slept in.” Sally dropped onto the stool beside them with the soft heaviness of someone who had not fully woken up yet. “It’s raining.” Theresa considered this. “Strong argument.” Mia turned from the stove, smiling warmly. “Good morning, Miss Sally.” “Morning Mia.” A plate appeared in front of her—scrambled eggs, toast, and a small mountain of bacon. Sally stared at it for a moment, processing. Then she picked up a fork. Coffee arrived next. Sally took a sip and sighed. “Okay. Now I’m human.” Theresa leaned slightly toward her. “So,” she said casually, “productive morning?” Sally narrowed her eyes. “Define productive.” “Stars.” Sally froze for a fraction of a second. Then she took another bite of eggs. “One.” Jana lifted an eyebrow. “Impressive.” Theresa gave a thoughtful nod. “Rain seems to improve discipline.” Sally pointed her fork at her. “Careful.” Mia chuckled quietly as she turned the bacon. A moment later Elena stepped into the kitchen. She paused in the doorway. Not because anything was wrong. Because what she saw needed a moment to settle. The Weiss household was not behaving like the headquarters of a major foundation. It looked like a family kitchen on a rainy morning. Theresa leaning back with coffee. Jana quietly observing everything. Mia cooking as if the house belonged to her. And Sally—barefoot, half-awake, eating breakfast while arguing about something called “stars.” Sally looked up and immediately brightened. “Elena!” She waved her over with the casual authority of someone inviting a friend, not summoning an employee. “Coffee first,” she declared. “Work later.” Elena smiled. “That sounds like an excellent policy.” Mia was already pouring another mug. Theresa nudged a stool outward with her foot. “Welcome to Informal Friday.” Elena stepped into the kitchen slowly, still taking in the scene. Sally was talking to Mia now. “No jogging today. Rain exemption.” Mia shook her head with mock disapproval. “You are becoming very creative with your rules, Miss Sally.” “It’s a system,” Sally insisted. Theresa murmured over her coffee, “A very flexible system.” Jana hid a smile. Elena watched quietly as she accepted the mug Mia handed her. For the first time since she had met Sally, she saw something clearly. The girl who had sat across from her in the glass office downtown—discussing foundation strategy and trust structures—was here too. But she was layered over something else. A teenager still laughing at breakfast. Still teasing the housekeeper. Still arguing about imaginary “stars.” Still surrounded by people who treated her like family rather than hierarchy. Elena took a sip of coffee and leaned slightly against the counter. For a moment she said nothing. She simply observed. Sally glanced toward her. “You’re studying me.” Elena smiled. “Maybe.” “Am I doing something wrong?” “No.” Elena shook her head gently. “You’re doing something very right.” Sally frowned slightly, not quite understanding. Theresa raised her mug toward Elena. “You’ll get used to it.” Jana added quietly, “This is the real headquarters.” Outside the rain continued to fall. Inside the kitchen, the morning lingered a little longer before work would begin. -- The rain still wrapped the house in a quiet gray curtain, but the calm of the morning didn’t last long. Sally was halfway through her second piece of toast when a familiar voice cut across the living room. “Theresa.” Adrian didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t need to. From the kitchen island, Sally twisted around on her stool to see him standing near the large windows of the living room, already holding a tablet and reading something with the concentration of a man who had clearly begun his workday. Informal Friday meant something different for Adrian Weiss. Today he wore no blazer—just a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled once at the forearms and dark trousers. But the absence of the jacket was the only concession to informality. Everything else about him said the day had started. Theresa glanced over her shoulder. “Yes, boss?” Adrian didn’t look up from the tablet. “Come take a look at this.” Theresa slid off the stool, grabbing her coffee as she crossed the living room toward him. Behind them, the kitchen suddenly felt less like a lazy breakfast scene and more like the staging area of a small operation. Elena noticed it immediately. The shift. She quietly took a step back from the island, carrying her coffee toward the sofa in the living room. Her laptop was already tucked under her arm. If the household was transitioning into work mode, she would adapt. She settled into the corner of the sofa, opened the laptop, and began reviewing the notes she had taken the day before about the trust structure Olivia had walked her through. Across the room, Adrian turned the tablet slightly so Theresa could see. “What do you think?” Theresa leaned beside him, studying the screen. “That’s optimistic.” “It’s conservative,” Adrian corrected calmly. “Depends who you ask.” They began discussing numbers in low voices. Meanwhile, Jana had finished her coffee. She stood up slowly and looked at Sally. Sally froze mid-bite. “No.” Jana crossed her arms. “Yes.” “It’s raining.” “That is meteorology,” Jana said calmly. “Not an excuse.” Sally sighed dramatically. “Informal Friday.” “Exactly.” Jana reached over and picked up Sally’s tablet from the counter. “Which means we work comfortably.” Sally slumped off the stool as Jana began walking toward the dining room. Like a prisoner being escorted to a mild academic detention. Elena watched the scene from the sofa with quiet curiosity. Sally followed Jana reluctantly. At the dining room table, Jana placed the tablet in front of her and tapped the screen. It woke instantly. Notes. Documents. Research tabs. Jana folded her arms. “Today,” she said calmly, “you finish your history essay.” Sally leaned forward and squinted at the screen. “The Reformation.” “Yes.” Sally sighed. “I liked it better when it was just Martin Luther and a door.” Jana pulled out the chair beside her and sat down. “That was only the beginning.” Sally rested her chin on her hands. “Sixteen reasons.” “Ninety-five.” “Overachiever.” Jana ignored the comment and tapped the screen again. “You already wrote the introduction.” Sally scrolled. Her own words stared back at her. The Reformation was not only a theological revolution but also a political and cultural upheaval that reshaped Europe… She groaned quietly. “Why did I write it so… smart?” Jana didn’t look up. “Because you are.” Sally looked sideways at her. “That sounded suspiciously motivational.” “It was factual.” Across the room, Adrian and Theresa were now deep in conversation, speaking in quick, focused bursts. Elena typed quietly on the sofa, occasionally glancing up. And there, at the long dining table, sat the strange center of this household’s orbit. Sally Weiss. Barefoot. Grey leggings. Short yellow t-shirt. Hair slightly messy. Frowning at a history essay about the Protestant Reformation. The girl who had configured a Porsche yesterday. The girl who had a foundation office waiting downtown. The girl who would soon be an older sister. And at this moment, she looked exactly like what she still was. A teenager trying to finish her homework. Sally sighed and began typing again. “Fine,” she muttered. “But Martin Luther better appreciate this.” -- Elena had settled into the corner of the living room sofa, laptop open on her knees, a half-finished coffee beside her. The rain softened everything outside, but inside the house the quiet energy of work had taken hold. She tried to focus on the spreadsheet Olivia had sent her. She really did. But every few minutes her eyes drifted toward the dining room. Sally sat hunched over the table, elbows planted, fingers moving quickly across the keyboard of her laptop. Jana sat beside her with the calm patience of a project manager supervising a complicated construction site. Sally’s concentration had the unmistakable look of a teenager trying very hard to be serious. Her yellow t-shirt had ridden up slightly as she leaned forward over the keyboard, the fabric bunching at her ribs while the waistband of her gray leggings slipped just a little at her hip, offering just a peek of her underwear. She clearly hadn’t noticed. Elena did. A faint smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. The girl who had discussed trust structures and foundation governance with her yesterday now looked like a student attacking an essay five minutes before a deadline. Sally paused, frowned at the screen, then typed again with renewed determination. “Fine,” she muttered. “If Luther can nail ninety-five theses to a door, I can write three pages.” Jana didn’t even look up. “Four.” Sally groaned softly and kept typing. Across the living room, Adrian and Theresa were still discussing numbers in low voices near the window. Elena caught fragments of words—“allocation,” “timing,” “compliance”—but the conversation stayed contained in their quiet orbit. The house had found its rhythm. And then Bridget appeared. She crossed the living room with the quiet confidence of someone who already knew exactly what she was about to do. She walked straight into the dining room and stopped behind Sally. Sally didn’t notice. Her shoulders were hunched, her head tilted forward, hair falling around her face as she typed. Bridget gently tapped her shoulder. Sally jumped slightly and turned. “What—” “Break.” Sally blinked. “I just started.” Bridget raised an eyebrow. “You’ve been writing for forty minutes.” Sally glanced at the laptop clock and frowned. “Oh.” Bridget smiled faintly. “Cookies?” Sally’s entire posture changed. “Cookies?” Bridget tilted her head toward the kitchen. From across the room, Mia stood by the counter holding a tray. Steam still curled softly upward from a small mountain of fresh cookies. Mia lifted the tray slightly with a conspiratorial smile. Jana leaned back in her chair. “Go,” she said. Sally was already halfway out of her seat. “I love the Reformation,” she declared solemnly as she walked toward the kitchen. Elena couldn’t help it. She laughed softly. Bridget glanced toward her and gave the smallest knowing smile. From the kitchen, Sally’s voice floated back. “Are these chocolate?” Mia answered warmly. “Of course.” And for a brief moment, the future heiress of the Pembroke-Weiss Foundation looked exactly like what she still was. A girl stealing warm cookies in her own kitchen before going back to finish her homework. -- The tray of cookies lasted about thirty seconds once it reached the table. The rain that had wrapped the house all morning was already thinning, sunlight slowly pushing through the clouds and beginning to warm the wide glass windows that faced the canal. The gray light softened into something brighter, more golden. Sally returned from the kitchen with two cookies stacked in one hand and her coffee in the other. Somewhere along the way she had remembered to tug the waistband of her leggings back into place, restoring a bit of dignity to her otherwise relaxed appearance. She dropped back into the chair beside Jana. “This is an official academic break,” she announced. Jana took a cookie and examined it thoughtfully. “Five minutes.” Theresa appeared from the living room, drawn by the unmistakable gravitational pull of warm chocolate and fresh coffee. “If this is the break table,” she said, pulling out a chair, “I approve of the work environment.” Bridget followed, carrying another small plate and setting it in the center like a quiet reinforcement. Elena closed her laptop and joined them as well, still smiling faintly as she took a seat. The women gathered naturally around the dining table. Coffee mugs. Crumbs. Soft conversation. Outside, the rain faded to the occasional drip from the palms, and sunlight began to scatter across the backyard water. Sally leaned back in her chair, balancing the second cookie between her fingers. “See?” she said to Jana. “The Reformation benefits from strategic pauses.” Jana sipped her coffee. “Luther would disagree.” Theresa lifted her mug. “Luther didn’t have Mia’s cookies.” From the kitchen, Mia smiled quietly as she wiped the counter. Bridget rested her elbows lightly on the table, watching the group with quiet satisfaction. Elena observed the moment carefully. The hierarchy she had expected when she accepted the job didn’t really exist here. There was structure, yes. Work. Responsibility. But mornings like this looked more like a kitchen gathering than the command center of a major foundation. Sally finished her cookie and brushed crumbs from her fingers. Then she noticed Elena watching her. “What?” Elena shook her head slightly. “Nothing.” “You’re analyzing me again.” “Maybe.” Sally squinted suspiciously. “Don’t.” Elena laughed softly. Across the house, Adrian’s office door opened slightly. He leaned out just far enough to see the gathering at the dining table. Five women. Coffee. Cookies. Conversation. He shook his head slowly and retreated back into his office. From inside came a low, amused murmur. “Too many women.” Theresa heard it. She raised her voice just enough to carry down the hallway. “You’re welcome to join us!” A pause. Then Adrian’s voice again, dry and content. “I’ll survive.” The women laughed softly. Outside, the sun finally broke through the clouds. Inside, Sally reached for another cookie and sighed happily. “Okay,” she said. “Now I can finish the Reformation.” -- The rain stopped as quietly as it had begun. By early afternoon the clouds had drifted away from the bay, leaving behind the bright, forgiving sunlight that Miami seemed to produce effortlessly after every storm. The backyard glistened, the stone patio still damp, the canal water sparkling again under the returning light. Sally stood in front of the old brick barbecue with the focus of a young engineer attempting a small controlled explosion. The grill was built into the patio wall, an old-fashioned coal pit with heavy iron grates and a wide chimney that had probably been there since the house was first built. Modern gas grills existed. This was not one of them. Sally crouched beside it with a bag of charcoal, a chimney starter, and the determined expression of someone who had watched exactly three tutorial videos and now believed she understood fire. “Careful,” Adrian said mildly from a few steps away, arms folded. “I know what I’m doing.” “That sentence worries me.” She ignored him and struck the lighter again under the chimney starter. A small flame appeared. Then another. The charcoal caught slowly, the first orange glow beginning to spread. Sally leaned back and grinned. “See?” Adrian nodded thoughtfully. “So far the house is still standing.” From the garden gate Roberto appeared, drawn by the faint smell of charcoal. He walked over with the skeptical expression of a man who had spent years maintaining houses and knew exactly how quickly good intentions could turn into small disasters. He stopped beside Adrian. They both watched Sally. Roberto frowned slightly. But by then the chimney starter was already roaring with heat and Sally was confidently pouring the glowing coals into the grill bed. They landed with a satisfying hiss. “Too late,” Adrian murmured. Roberto nodded slowly. “Yes, sir.” Sally dusted her hands triumphantly. “Fire.” Behind her the back door opened and Theresa emerged carrying a metal bucket filled with ice and bottles. “Cold drinks!” She set the bucket on the patio table with theatrical satisfaction. Jana followed with a tray of buns. Mia appeared behind them carrying bowls—salads, sliced tomatoes, onions, pickles—quietly assembling the supporting cast for what was becoming a very informal lunch. Soon the grill began to sizzle. Sally placed the first row of burger patties onto the grate with intense concentration. They hissed instantly. Smoke curled upward. She stepped back. “Okay,” she said. “Now we wait.” Adrian leaned closer to Roberto. “How long do you think before she burns them?” Roberto watched carefully. “She is learning,” he said diplomatically. At the patio table Theresa and Jana had already taken over assembly operations. Buns were sliced and lightly toasted on the edge of the grill. Cheese appeared. Condiments were arranged with surprising precision. “Burger logistics,” Theresa declared, “is a serious discipline.” Jana nodded. “Timing is everything.” Elena hovered nearby at first, offering to help. “Can I—” “Sit,” Sally told her. Elena laughed. “You’re sure?” “Yes. Just observe.” Elena took a seat near the table with her drink, watching the operation unfold. She noticed everything. Sally flipping burgers with exaggerated seriousness. Theresa melting cheese over patties like a professional short-order cook. Jana organizing the buns with quiet efficiency. Mia quietly replenishing dishes and sides as they disappeared. Adrian leaning against the patio pillar with the relaxed air of someone enjoying the entire spectacle. Roberto eventually surrendered and helped turn the coals slightly with the metal poker. The burgers came off the grill in waves. Plates filled. Laughter drifted across the backyard. The afternoon slipped forward exactly the way warm Miami afternoons are meant to—slowly, comfortably, and with no particular ambition. Work disappeared. Laptops stayed inside. Eventually Sally disappeared briefly into the house and returned wearing shorts and the same yellow t-shirt, her hair now loose around her shoulders. Lunch had dissolved into that pleasant stage where people simply lingered. Sally wandered to the pool and sat on the edge, lowering her feet into the cool water with a satisfied sigh. The sunlight danced across the surface. Elena followed a moment later and settled into one of the loungers nearby, stretching her legs out comfortably. For a while neither of them spoke. The house behind them hummed quietly with conversation. Sally swirled her feet in the water. “Very productive day,” she said. Elena smiled faintly. “In a different sense.” Sally leaned back on her hands. “Fridays are allowed to be like this.” Elena studied her for a moment. The girl sitting there looked nothing like the person who had chaired a meeting downtown earlier that week. Barefoot. Hair loose. Sun on her face. Feet in the pool. Elena leaned back against the lounger. “I’m beginning to understand that.” Sally glanced over at her. “You analyzing again?” “Maybe.” Sally smirked. “Careful.” Elena laughed softly. Across the yard Adrian watched the scene for a moment before returning to his chair with quiet contentment. The sun warmed the patio. The coals in the grill glowed softly. And for the rest of the afternoon, absolutely nothing important happened. -- Sally sat on the edge of the pool, shorts now replacing her leggings, the same yellow t-shirt loose around her shoulders. Her feet stirred the cool water while droplets ran down her calves and fell back into the pool. Elena rested comfortably on a lounger nearby, one arm draped along the backrest, watching the water shimmer. The house behind them hummed quietly with distant voices—Adrian and Roberto discussing something near the grill, Mia moving in the kitchen—but out here it felt peaceful. Sally turned her head toward Elena. “So,” she said suddenly, tilting her head, “what have you learned about me so far?” Elena didn’t answer immediately. She thought for a moment. Then a small smile appeared. “You won a star today.” Sally blinked. “What—?” Her eyebrows pulled together in confusion. “Who told you—” She stopped mid-sentence. Elena raised a hand quickly. “Sorry,” she said. “It was the first thing I heard when I came in this morning. I don’t even know what it means. I just thought it sounded… cool.” Sally stared at her for a second. Then her frown slowly softened into a crooked smile. She shook her head. “Of course that’s what you heard first.” She looked back at the water, toes tracing small circles. “It’s nothing,” she began. Then she stopped. Her lips pressed together as she reconsidered. Elena watched quietly, not pushing. Finally Sally sighed. “Well… it’s not nothing.” She leaned back on her hands, looking up at the bright sky. “It’s something I’ve been dealing with since the crash.” Elena listened without interrupting. Sally continued, her tone matter-of-fact. “I used to wet the bed. It was actually getting better before the accident. But after the crash…” She shrugged lightly. “I never got my control back.” Her feet stirred the water again. “So I sleep with protection,” she said simply. “And now I’m on a training program to wean off it. If I wake up dry in the morning, I get a star.” She glanced sideways at Elena. “Does that make sense?” Elena nodded gently. “It does.” Sally studied her face for a moment. “I hope I didn’t embarrass you,” she added. “I just figured if you’re going to be working with me… you should know what’s actually going on in my life.” Elena shook her head slowly. “I’m not embarrassed.” She smiled softly. “I’m glad things are working out for you.” Sally tilted her head. “Really?” “Yes.” Elena leaned back in the lounger, sunlight catching the edge of her hair. “It helps me understand who you are,” she said. “And what you’re carrying.” Sally chuckled quietly. “I’m getting over it,” she said. “But I hope it doesn’t become the thing that defines me.” Elena’s expression warmed. “Difficulties don’t define you,” she said. “Overcoming them does.” She tilted her head toward Sally. “You’re a hero.” Sally snorted. “Waking up in a wet diaper doesn’t feel very heroic.” Elena grinned. “It is if that’s the challenge you’re facing.” She paused. “And I bet you look cute in them.” Sally immediately covered her face with both hands. “Oh no.” She groaned. “Not you too.” Elena laughed. “Me too?” Sally peeked through her fingers with an exaggeratedly offended look. “Everybody says that.” She dropped her hands and made a ridiculous face. “It’s humiliating.” Elena chuckled. “Somehow I doubt that.” Sally leaned back again, feet splashing lightly in the pool. “Trust me,” she said. “It is.” -- The house had fallen into that pleasant late-afternoon quiet that follows a long, relaxed day. Work had happened—somewhere—but it had happened gently, like background music rather than a marching drum. From the hallway Sally glanced into her father’s office. Adrian stood near the window with his sleeves rolled up, one hand resting on the back of a chair as he spoke. His voice carried that calm authority that never quite switched off, even on informal Fridays. Theresa sat opposite him, though “sat” was a generous description. She was practically reclining. Her chair tilted back slightly, one ankle hooked over the other knee, tablet balanced casually in one hand as she tapped now and then with a stylus. She looked relaxed enough to be on vacation, though Sally knew better. Theresa’s eyes were alert, following every word Adrian said. Sally leaned on the doorframe and smiled to herself. Theresa caught the movement and glanced up, offering a lazy two-finger wave before returning her attention to the conversation. Business as usual. In the dining room, things were less philosophical and more logistical. Elena sat beside Bridget at the long table, tablet open, notes scattered around them like a small storm of organization. Sally sat across from them with her chin resting on one hand, staring at the growing list of tasks as if it might suddenly multiply. Elena scrolled through another page. “The venue layout is confirmed,” she said calmly. “Guest arrival begins at six-thirty. Opening remarks at seven. We allow fifteen minutes of circulation before dinner service begins.” Sally blinked slowly. “This feels almost like another wedding.” Elena glanced up and smiled faintly. “You can say that again.” She tapped the screen. “It very much is.” Sally leaned back in her chair and stretched her legs out under the table. “And it’s going to be big,” Elena continued. “Not because people are trying to benefit from it. At least not directly. It’s because they’re interested in what the foundation might become.” She began counting softly on her fingers. “Hospital groups want partnerships. Church ministries want working opportunities. Other foundations already running strong programs are hoping for additional funding streams.” She shrugged lightly. “And many of them actually need the help.” Bridget looked up from her own notes and added quietly, “And people who have known us for years will want to attend simply to show support.” Sally frowned slightly. “And the press.” Bridget looked across the table toward Elena. Elena understood the cue immediately. She adjusted her tablet and spoke in that measured, professional tone Sally was beginning to recognize. “The press will be there,” she said. “But highly selected and carefully screened.” Sally tilted her head. “So… controlled chaos.” Elena allowed herself a small laugh. “Something like that.” She continued. “This isn’t a marketing event. We are not trying to attract donors or build hype. The foundation doesn’t need public fundraising. But we do want to communicate a vision.” She paused a moment. “And we want to do it responsibly.” Sally considered that. “So… no interviews?” Bridget smiled and reached over to gently tap Sally’s hand. “Maybe interviews,” she said. “But not with you.” Bridget’s eyes sparkled. “Don’t worry about the heavy stuff. Let the professionals deal with that. You get to shine on your own.” Sally rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a grin. Elena closed her tablet and gathered her notes together. “That’s enough for today,” she said. “It’s Friday. Even foundations deserve mercy.” Bridget stood and stretched. “Agreed.” Sally followed them toward the hallway just as Elena reached for her bag. “I’ll walk you out.” They stepped through the front door into the warm Miami evening. The rain had washed the air clean, and the sky was glowing with that soft pink light that appears just before sunset. Elena moved toward the driveway, fishing in her bag for her keys. Sally followed a few steps behind, curious. She had seen Jana’s sensible Fusion. She knew Theresa rotated through the Weiss family fleet depending on the day. But Elena… Sally’s eyes scanned the driveway. Then she stopped. Parked near the curb was a small, low convertible. Modest. Slightly faded silver paint catching the last light of the evening. Sally blinked. “Wait.” She stepped closer. “That’s yours?” Elena pressed the key fob and the little car chirped politely. A soft-top Mazda Miata. Early 2000s. Slightly sun-worn. Clearly loved. Elena shrugged modestly. “2003.” Sally walked slowly around it, hands on her hips, studying it with genuine interest. “You drive a Miata.” Elena smiled. “I do.” Sally crouched slightly to peer inside. “Manual.” Elena nodded. “I had to learn.” Sally straightened and stared at her. “You learned stick shift… just to drive this?” Elena laughed. “It seemed worth it.” Sally stepped back, clearly delighted. “That’s actually awesome.” Elena raised an eyebrow. “You approve?” Sally nodded emphatically. “Oh yeah.” She gestured toward the little car. “Tiny. Light. Rear-wheel drive. Convertible. That’s basically a recipe for fun.” Elena opened the door and slipped into the driver’s seat. “I didn’t know any of that when I bought it,” she admitted. Sally leaned against the door frame, grinning. “So why did you buy it?” Elena pulled the seatbelt across her shoulder. “It looked happy.” Sally laughed. “That might be the best reason I’ve ever heard.” The little engine started with a cheerful buzz. Elena shifted into first with an easy motion and glanced up at Sally. “See you Monday, boss.” Sally shook her head. “Just Sally.” Elena smiled. “See you Monday, Sally.” The Miata rolled down the driveway, light and eager, disappearing into the quiet Coral Gables street as the sun dipped lower. Sally stood there a moment longer, hands in the pockets of her shorts, smiling to herself. Then she turned back toward the house. -- The keys landed in Sally’s hand with a soft metallic jingle. She stared at them. Then at her father. Then back at the keys. “Really?” The word came out halfway between disbelief and a small shriek. Adrian leaned casually against the kitchen counter, perfectly calm. “Really.” He gave a small nod toward the driveway. “You might as well know that on a Friday evening you won’t see thirty miles an hour anyway.” Sally didn’t care. She was already halfway out the door. The BMW M5 sat in the driveway like a coiled animal, dark blue paint nearly black in the fading light of the evening. The long hood stretched forward like it had somewhere important to be. Sally walked around it slowly, almost reverently. “Dad…” “Yes?” “This thing is ridiculous.” Adrian opened the passenger door with a small shrug. “It’s practical.” Sally laughed and slid into the driver’s seat. The interior wrapped around her in soft leather and quiet technology. She pulled the door shut and immediately began adjusting the seat, her movements precise and focused. Seat forward. Lower. Steering wheel closer. Mirrors. She navigated the seat memory controls carefully, committing everything to memory. Adrian watched with mild amusement. “You look like a pilot going through a pre-flight checklist.” Sally glanced at him sideways. “That’s basically what this is.” Her fingers hovered over the start button but she stopped herself. She took a breath. The car hadn’t even started yet and she already felt like electricity was running through her. This was her father’s favorite car. Well, almost. Nothing quite dethroned the black Ferrari F40 resting quietly in the Zurich garage like a sacred artifact. But the M5 was the real weapon. The one that actually went places. “You just ordered your first Porsche,” Adrian said after a moment, his voice carrying a hint of ceremony. Sally looked over. “So it would be a bit unfair,” he continued, “if I didn’t allow you to experience proper German engineering before your own arrives.” “That sounded very official.” “I was trying to sound dignified.” Sally smirked. “You sounded like a press release.” Adrian chuckled and gestured toward the dashboard. “Before you start it, remember this.” He pointed lightly. “Six hundred horsepower.” Sally blinked. “Right.” “Which means,” he added calmly, “gentle feet.” She nodded slowly. “Gentle feet.” The front door opened again and Bridget stepped out onto the driveway, adjusting the light shawl over her shoulders. Pregnancy had made her movements slower, more deliberate, but she carried herself with the same quiet elegance. Sally rolled down the window. “Mom! Hurry up!” Bridget stopped halfway down the steps and raised an eyebrow. “I see someone is excited.” “She’s about to drive the M5,” Adrian explained. Bridget laughed softly. “God help Coral Gables.” Sally gasped in mock offense. “I am a very responsible driver.” Bridget opened the rear door and carefully settled into the back seat. “Oskar and I will be the judges of that.” Sally placed her hand over the start button again, pausing one last second. She glanced at her father. “Anything else I should know?” Adrian nodded thoughtfully. “Yes.” She waited. “Try not to fall in love with it.” Sally pressed the button. The engine woke with a deep, restrained growl that filled the quiet driveway with quiet power. Her eyes widened. “Oh wow.” Adrian leaned back in his seat, perfectly relaxed. “Let’s go to dinner.” Sally eased the car gently out of the driveway and onto the quiet Coral Gables street, her hands steady on the wheel but her grin impossible to hide. This was better than the Fiesta.

Lollia saw Ry climb into one of the bigger high chairs for older kids and smiled as she saw him start colouring in with crayons, seeming to enjoy it. She’d have to ask him to show her once he was done.  She kept supervising Sophie and Rei as they all made snacks together.  When she felt Dan’s fright from talking to him telepathically, she let out a soft titter.  “Sorry for startling you, Sweetie. It’s just Mama Lolly. Okay, see you soon~” she replied in his head, her voice kind and caring.  When he walked into the kitchen, she waved at him and the treecko, watching it walk up and nab a celery stick. She laughed softly.  “Aw, someone’s very hungry. That’s okay, the food will be done in a few more minutes. Then you can have as much as you want,” she told the treecko, hoping it understood.  She wasn’t angry over it taking a single celery stick. Who knows when was the last time the poor thing had something to eat.  She looked at Dan. “Don’t worry, it’s okay. The snacks will be ready in just a few minutes, so please take a seat. We have crayons and colouring in pages, plus Rex has a puppet show going,” she told the small boy.  “You can sit in a kids' chair at a kiddy table, or choose a highchair, if you like. I can lift you into one.”  Noticing Rei still hadn’t started to make snacks, she told her, “Rei, if you’re not sure how to make them, or don’t know what ingredients taste good together, just copy the ones Sophie or I make. That makes it nice and easy for you,” she said sweetly, patting the girl’s soft white hair with a pastel coloured tentacle.  “You can do it!”  Looking up, she saw Kara tie on an apron and join them. Mama Lolly pulled over another toddler standing station and lifted Kara onto it so she could reach the counter. “Kara, nice of you to join us! We’re making Ants On A Log for morning tea today~ Just copy the ones that Sophie and I are making. You can put them on the trays once they’re done. Oh and please remember to wash your hands before you start, Sweetie Pie. My, what a cute apron you have. It matches your eevee kigu! Someone's all matching today~!”  ======================================================= Frost gave a friendly grin. “Alright, then. I’ll chip in. Oh…that’s a lot of puppets. Umm…I’ll take two fox puppets,” he decided, taking one white fox and one orange, putting his hands into them.  Hearing Rex say he’d be right back, Frost nodded. “Okay, I’ll get started while you go get Suzy. See you in a minute.”  … He wheeled his wheelchair behind the puppet booth and raised his paws with the puppets on them, so the foxes were in the cut-out window or ‘stage’. He then started to move his hands, making the foxes’ mouths flap open and closed as if they were talking.  Frost decided to tell silly jokes.  The white fox asked in a silly voice.  “What do you call a magic dog?”  The orange fox then looked like it was thinking.  “Gosh, I don’t know. That’s a hard question. It could have all sorts of names. Hmm…Barkus Pocus? Or…wait, wait, what about…Presto!? Eh…eh??”  “Noooo, that’s silly! It’s a much better name than that! You call him…a Labracadabrador! Ha ha ha ha!”  The white fox waved around like it was laughing, flapping its floppy arms in the air.  “Okay…I got another one for you. What’s a snowman’s favourite seasoning?”  The orange fox put a paw to its chin, tilting its head. “Aww, now lemme think about that…Frosted Flakes? A cold dog, instead of a hot dog? Or maybe ice cream?!” he shouted cluelessly.  The white fox’s paw slapped his own forehead. “No, no, NO! WRONG! It’s CHILLI FLAKES, silly! Haw haw haw!”  Frost knew a lot of arctic and winter jokes, as well as fox and magic jokes. He was having fun entertaining the kids. ==================================================== Hearing the silliness of the one-man puppet show, Sophie started giggling while she was making more and more Ants On A Log morsels, placing the ones she made neatly upon the trays just like Mama Lolly's sticks.  "Ahehehe! Mistew Fwost is soooo sillyyyy!" she tittered loudly. "I neawly dwopped my ants! Come back hewe, you ants!!"   

((OOC: Missing Ms Angela's post, and posts for Xeto and Drew)).