-Great chapter, so Amanda is bringing in the big guns to help on this.  I remember Edgar was from a very influential family but I doubt they would be any help to him.  I was also surprised he did not follow Cameron into his legal practice after school.  They would have been a big help in this case.

Numerological witchcraft...I'm weird. 😅 ...And I thought "Ellie Jean" sounded cute af. 🤭 Also loved all the nicknames that can be made from "Eleanora." 😊

Chapter 4 - Grand Opening The first signs of morning sunlight passed through the curtains to their bedroom, climbing their way up the light summer comforter they had put on earlier in the month to replace the warmer winter one. Sarah stirred first, her eyes opening to find Matthew still asleep at her side. His face was relaxed in a way it rarely was during waking hours. She glanced at the clock—5:43 AM—and smiled. They had time. Gently, she traced her fingertips along his side, before slipping underneath the covers. A moment later, a pair of briefs, and a pair of her undies, were discarded out the side, and Sarah began to work, exciting the love of her life. It took almost no time for him to awake, but slightly longer before he spoke. 'His favorite,' Sarah happily thought to herself. After a series of heavy breaths and light moans escaping his lips, Matthew greeted his wife, "Good morning," he murmured, voice still fighting off the remnants of sleep. His arm slid under the covers, as he lightly grasped the back of Sarah’s hair, tugging at her playfully. "Big day today," Sarah whispered, freeing her lips to speak before continuing for a few moments longer. Feeling his growing excitement, Sarah released her mouth, swinging a leg over Matthew, and sliding her body up his, and nestling against him. Her body was warm against his, familiar and comforting. "But we have a little time first," she added, as she kissed Matthew’s neck, rocking her hips gently as she felt his hands find a home on her sides. Matthew's eyes cleared their exhaustion, his lips meeting her own, as they embraced passionately. "I have a good feeling this time,” he said, as he felt Sarah press a hand against his chest, her oversized sleeping shirt spilling over her body as she lifted her hips slightly, reaching her hand beneath her to grab Matthew’s firm cock. Sarah nodded, her hazel eyes serious despite her smile. "Me too." Sarah had been tracking her cycle religiously for over a year now, making the most of those times when it indicated she was most fertile. As she guided Matthew slowly inside of her, she let go of him with her hand, and slid slowly down on to him, feeling him inch by inch slip deeper inside of her. 'No,' she thought through a moan, 'this is his favorite.' Matthew brushed a strand of hair from Sarah’s face, his touch gentle as he pulled her down toward him., kissing her, before adding "Well, then," he said softly through a moan, "we shouldn't waste the opportunity." Matthew began working to shift his own hips, as several affirming gasps and moans escaped Sarah’s lips. Their lovemaking was tender. They'd perfected it over years together. Somehow, even despite their busy lives, they always found time for intimacy. Even at his busiest, Matthew never left Sarah to feel unwanted, and she appreciated that, even if the special moments had to be squeezed in. Things were easier in Sunnydale, other than the stress of trying to conceive. Sarah smiled, thinking to herself that ‘it seems there is always some - ‘ before her mind became a blur in the pleasure of it all. It was a wonderful start to a special morning. Sarah lay with her hips propped slightly on a pillow, a trick she'd read about online that was supposed to help. Matthew re-emerged after going to get her coffee ready and letting Ralph out quickly. "What are you thinking about?" she asked, catching Matthew's distant gaze, as she accepted her coffee gift with a smile. He turned to her, his expression thoughtful. "Just... time. How fast it goes." His fingers traced idle patterns on her shoulder. "Now that the rec center is built, I am going to have to find another way to spend my days, other than helping you of course.” Matthew looked at his wife, his entire life replaying in his mind. “I spent my entire teens and twenties hunched over a laptop, missing everything else. I don’t even know where to start. Was it even worth it?" Sarah reached over the bed and squeezed his hand. "You were building something amazing." "Maybe," Matthew sighed. "But sometimes I wonder what I missed. High school parties. College road trips. I mean, graduating college haha. Just... being young and stupid without consequences." He glanced out the window as a bird flew by, settling on the eave of the roof. "My roommate freshman year was always trying to get me to go to concerts, camping trips... I was always too busy coding." "You could still do those things," Sarah pointed out, as she rolled on to her stomach . "We could go camping next weekend. We could do them together. And then one day, as a family! We could even bring Ralph!" Matthew laughed softly. "We could. You’re right. It's probably not the same at thirty-two. But we can,” Matthew added, though Sarah could tell something was still missing in his voice. “We will,” Matthew corrected. “Sometimes I just wish I could go back and tell teenage Matthew to put down the laptop once in a while." Sarah rolled over and stood up, kissing his shoulder, understanding in her eyes. "Today's about looking forward, not back. Our recreation center opens today. Just think of all the teenagers who'll get to have those experiences because of what we built." They showered together, a luxury of their spacious bathroom that never grew old. As Sarah blow-dried her hair, Matthew stepped out onto their deck with a cup of coffee, watching Ralph chase seagulls along the beach below. ‘Sarah is right,’ he thought to himself. ‘And today is about her.’ "Have you seen my blue blazer?" Matthew called as he returned inside, rummaging through the closet. "Behind the dry cleaning bag," Sarah replied, applying a touch of mascara. She wore a simple navy dress that hugged her hips and revealed her hourglass figure. Professional but celebratory for the ribbon cutting. "Nervous?" Matthew slipped into the blazer, adjusting his cuffs. "About standing in front of the town for five minutes? Not really. About you finally getting to open your dream project? Thrilled!" The drive to the recreation center was quick, their conversation flowing easily between last-minute details and what they might order for dinner that night. As they pulled into the parking lot, they were surprised to find it already nearly full. "Sarah! Matthew!" Allison's voice cut through the crowd. She hurried over, elegant in a green dress, her blonde hair swept into a simple updo. "This is absolutely incredible. I can't believe it's finally happening." "Neither can I," Sarah admitted, accepting her friend's hug. "Eighteen months of construction, and now—" she gestured to the building rising behind them, its clean lines and welcoming entrance exactly as she'd envisioned. The mayor approached, clipboard in hand. "Mrs. Baker, we're ready to begin whenever you are." The ceremony itself was brief. The mayor spoke about community investment, job creation, and the future of Sunnydale's youth. Anthony said a few words about the construction process, praising Sarah's vision and attention to detail. When it was Sarah's turn, she kept her speech simple. "This center isn't about buildings or programs," she said, her voice clear in the spring air. "It's about creating space for connection—between generations, between neighbors, between who we are now and who we might become. My hope is that everyone is able to find themselves here, that it can be a place where each of you finds fulfillment. Thank you all for helping make this dream a reality." Matthew stepped up beside Sarah in front of the cornerstone for the ribbon cutting. The scissors gleamed in the sunlight as they held them together, their hands overlapping on the handle. "Three, two, one—" the crowd counted down. The ribbon parted with a satisfying snip, and cheers erupted. As cameras flashed, Sarah and Matthew kneeled down, placing their palms against the cornerstone—that special piece of Bellingham marble with the date engraved in elegant script. Together, they placed their palms against its cool surface. The sensation was immediate—a warm tingling that spread from Matthew's fingertips up his arm, like gentle electricity. He shot a surprised glance at Sarah, who met his eyes with a look of startled recognition. "You feel it too?" she whispered, barely audible over the crowd's continued applause. Matthew didn’t respond, instead his focus on the cameras and noise around them. “I guess not,” Sarah said to herself, turning back to the cameras herself to make sure they got a good photo. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sarah closed the door to her office and leaned against it, exhaling a long breath she hadn't realized she had been holding on to. Sarah had just finished training the reception staff. They were enthusiastic, quick learners who asked smart questions. In her mind, it was a success. But now, as she surveyed her desk, piled high with vendor contracts, program schedules, budget spreadsheets, and insurance forms to fill out, a familiar knot of doubt tightened in her stomach. Opening day was on Monday, and suddenly, the magnitude of what she'd taken on felt overwhelming. She crossed to her desk, sinking into the ergonomic chair Matthew had insisted on buying for her. “You would have thought building the building would have been the complicated part,” she said to herself as she haphazardly picked up a stack of papers she had no plan for. “What would Matthew do,” she found herself wondering. Sarah picked up a thick folder labeled "Operational Procedures" and flipped it open. The folder included every operations protocol needed; emergency protocols, daily opening and closing checklists, staff scheduling templates. The operations documents had seemed so straightforward when she was writing it all down. Now, facing the reality of implementing these systems with real people, real employees, real children, real responsibilities—doubt crept into her mind, and it was becoming infectious. "What if I'm not cut out for this?" she murmured to the empty office. For years, she'd supported Matthew's business from the sidelines—scheduling meetings, proofreading presentations, managing their house, and more. Late nights were spent running errands or making orders to meet his needs, the companies needs. All so he could focus on building his company. She’d then watched him navigate complex negotiations and make high-stakes decisions. None was more complicated than the sale of the company. It always seemed that he took each task on with a confidence she now found herself lacking. ‘Did he feel as lost as I do now, at the start?’ She tried remembering, but it felt like it was so long ago. The budget spreadsheet glowed on her computer screen, numbers swimming before her eyes. They had plenty of funding—that wasn't the issue. But translating that money into effective programs, staffing decisions, and operational success? That was going to be more challenging. ‘And what if, after all of this, the recreation center is just a dud?"‘ Doubt was forming into panic. Matthew would know exactly what to do. The thought settled heavily in her chest. This center was her dream, her vision—but what if her pride stood in the way of its success? What if the best thing she could do for the children of Sunnydale was to step aside and let someone more qualified take the helm? Maybe it was enough to just lead the building project. ‘Maybe I’ve had enough of an adventure already,’ she told herself, though she wasn’t fooling her own mind very well. Sarah reached for her phone before she could talk herself out of it, scrolling to Allison's name. Allison answered on the second ring. "Hey, Sar! How's the post-ribbon-cutting glow? Sorry I couldn’t stick around." "Fading fast," Sarah admitted, twirling a pen between her fingers. "Al, I need your honest opinion." Sara couldn’t conceal the hint of sadness in her tone. "Those are the only kind I give. What's up?" "Do you think I'm in over my head here?" The words tumbled out in a rush. "Running this place, I mean. There is just so much to do. And everyone is expecting me to just, you know, know it all. Maybe Matthew should be the one in charge. He has actual business experience, and I—" "Stop right there," Allison interrupted, her voice firm but kind. "What brought this on?” "It's just... there's so much. Budgets and hiring decisions and program development. What if all the programs don’t work? What if we can’t hire people to be lifeguards, or the programs aren’t popular? What if we’re the only two people that go to the yoga classes? it would be so embarrassing. I don’t know how to do this all.” Allison was quiet for a moment. "Sarah, do you remember that project for Professor Hoffman's class that you forced me to take with you?" Sarah frowned, thrown by the apparent change in topic. "I guess so. Why?" "You were the one who organized ten sleep-deprived, irresponsible party-crazed college students into a functioning team. You created the schedule and divided up all the tasks based on everyone's strengths. You balanced everyone’s free time and their conflicts. And it actually turned out to have a great impact. Not to mention the awesome grade!” "That was different Ali," Sarah protested. "It was just a silly class project. This is real life," Sarah dragged on. "Disagree! It was a preview of exactly what you're doing now," Allison countered. "Who spent eighteen months working with contractors and and the town to build that center? Who knew exactly what questions to ask about permits and materials and stuff?” Sarah sighed. "I did all that, yes, but that’s my point. That’s all done now. Maybe more experi—" "And it’s not like you haven’t run a business before! You weren’t just an assistant to Matthew. By the end, you were practically running the day to day! "He was always still in charge. That's not the same as running the business myself." Allison's voice softened. "Sarah, you've been developing these skills your entire life. The only difference is that now you're stepping into the spotlight. It’s going to be tough work. But I know you can do it." Sarah fell silent, considering Allison's words. Outside her office window, she could see the playground where children would soon be climbing and laughing. ‘Maybe even my own.” "What if I make mistakes?" she finally asked, her voice small. Sarah felt herself trying to come up with excuses. Allison laughed, the sound warm and familiar. "Of course you'll make mistakes. Everyone does. I make them every single day. But here's what I know about you, Sarah Baker—you'll learn from them, and come back better than ever!” "Matthew could still do it better," Sarah murmured. "Matthew built software. This isn’t sitting in front of a computer anymore. You're building community. They're different skill sets. This is about people," Allison said firmly. "Besides, would Matthew even want to run it?" Sarah thought about the relief in Matthew's eyes when he'd sold his company, the way his shoulders had gradually relaxed over the past two years. She thought of their conversation from the morning, how he was so excited to do all the things he felt he missed out on. She couldn’t imagine he would be happy if she just dumped this on him, out of the blue. "No," she admitted. "He seems happy helping without being in charge." "Because even he knows you can do this Sar! Stop trying to hand off your dream. You've earned this. You're ready for it." After she hung up, Sarah turned back to the operational procedures manual on her desk with a little more confidence. Maybe Allison was right—maybe she did know more than she was giving herself credit for. So Sarah did what she could - she picked up a pen and began making notes in the margins, refinements and improvements she'd thought about. The knot of doubt in her mind hadn't disappeared, but it had loosened enough to let her move forward. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Matthew straightened his collar as he waited in the lobby for the new employees to arrive. He ran his fingers absently along the cool marble surface of the reception desk feeling an odd sensation of affirmation. Sarah had to deal with some paperwork, so he’d volunteered to give the tour to the staff that would start on Monday. Slowly but surely, the group began to congregate. It wasn’t long before everyone was present. Matthew took a deep breath, and started. "Welcome to Sunnydale Recreation Center," Matthew greeted them with a smile. "I'm Matthew Baker. I'll be showing you around today. Let’s start by introducing ourselves a bit. Who wants to start?” A tall, lanky young man with tousled hair stepped forward. "I’m Marcus Rodriguez. Grew up in Sunnydale. I am taking a gap year before college and looking forward to working here. I'm going to be one of the lifeguards at the pools. Everyone nodded, and a few others introduced themselves as well. "Amy Wright," said another girl with vibrant red-tipped hair and a backpack covered in pins and patches. She bounced slightly on her toes, eyes already darting around the space. "I just finished my sophomore year in high school. I'm going to be helping with the tech programs and in the computer lab." A few more adults introduced themselves after Amy. Then, a young woman with carefully maintained dreadlocks nodded politely. "I’m Jordan. Just finished my second year of college. I am studying childhood development and will be working in the nursery." Several other lifeguards and program coordinators, including the supervisors for the workout rooms downstairs, the daycare staff, and the gymnasium supervisors all introduced themselves after Jordan. Samuel, the head of the organized sports operations took time to make sure everyone knew what sports were being offered and that they should see if they know anyone interested. The last to introduce herself was a girl with curly hair and a bright smile. "Madison Torres. Just graduated high school. I'll be working with Jordan and maybe moving around while I sort of learn more about what I might like." Matthew nodded. Other than the supervisors, Matthew couldn’t help but note how young most of the staff looked. They all looked—early twenties at most, with Amy and Madison still in or just recently graduating high school. It made him feel suddenly older than his thirty-two years. "Great to meet you all," he said. "Today we'll tour the whole facility so you're familiar with it before opening day on Monday. Any questions before we start?" Matthew asked, as he walked backward down the east hall and lead the group into the large gymnasium. Amy raised her hand immediately. "Are you going to be working here too? Which program?" Matthew blinked, surprised by the question. "I'll be helping with administration. But for the most part, you’ll be reporting to your supervisors and, if needed, I know Sarah is going to be very hands on. She’s sorry she couldn’t do this herself." Matthew watched as some of the staff exchanged glances Matthew couldn't quite interpret. Madison whispered something to Jordan, who suppressed a smile. "Starting with the first floor" Matthew continued, leading them, "this level houses reception, some multipurpose rooms, the computer lab, and obviously," Matthew said gesturing around them, “the gymnasium.” The gymnasium doors stood open, revealing the gleaming maple floors and basketball hoops. Marcus whistled appreciatively, his eyes tracking the court lines painted in different colors. "There’s equipment for basketball, volleyball, pickleball, and badminton. The storage room is through that door—all clearly labeled. The space will be balanced between ‘free-play’ where anyone can come and use the space, and organized activities, as Samuel mentioned before." "This is sick," Amy commented, her fingers tracing the wall padding. "Way better than our school gym." Matthew gave her an odd look. "It's definitely exciting to see it all come together after so much planning." They continued outside to the pool area, where the scent of the pool hung in the air above the still water. “The pool outside is better suited for general play and relaxing, whereas the one down below is more designed for laps swimming and lessons,” Matthew explained. “On the other side of building, the playgrounds are outside as well, secured in by a fence with an electronic lock.” Marcus nodded approvingly. "I was captain of my swim team last year. This pool is a dream. I can’t wait to see the one downstairs." They made their way upstairs to the second floor, where colorful activity rooms lined the hallway. Each doorway featured a themed design that matched the room's purpose—musical notes for the music room, paintbrushes for the art studio, and primary colors in the activity rooms. "These are so cool," Amy gushed, peering into the technology lab with its rows of computers and 3D printers. "This is where I'll be! I've been coding since I was ten. Do you code?" she asked Matthew. "Yes I actually do," he replied, “I used to have my own software company.” ‘That’s cool man," Marcus said with a smile. "I thought about doing that, you know, making a company and just running a small project through that. I’ve thought about business school too, and figured that would be a good resume builder.” Matthew continued the tour, showing them the community rooms designed for various group activities. As they walked, the four new employees fell into easy conversation with each other, always making sure to include Matthew. They descended to the basement level, where the dance studios with their sprung floors and mirrored walls awaited. The exercise room next door housed weight machines, treadmills, and stationary bikes. "Adults-only in the exercise room without supervision," Matthew explained. "The dance studios can be booked for classes or private practice." As they completed the tour back in the lobby, Matthew felt comforted by how collegial they all were. This was the exact type of staff that Sarah had always envisioned - no one was worried about talking to anyone else just because they might have more experience, or were older. After they departed—all already exchanging phone numbers and making plans to meet up over the weekend—Matthew returned to his small office next to Sarah's. He sat at his desk, without anything to do. But as he rested his arms on his desk chair to push himself up, his reflection caught in the window—and for just a moment, he though he saw a version of himself from years ago. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Coastal Grill hummed with Friday night energy, servers weaving between tables with practiced efficiency as a local band played their instruments in the background. Sarah spotted Rebecca and Daniel already seated at a corner table, their heads bent together in conversation. Rebecca's dark curls were hanging loosely at her head, while Daniel adjusted his glasses, nodding at whatever she was saying. "The conquering heroes arrive!" Rebecca announced, standing to embrace her sister. "How's it feel to have the most talked-about building in Sunnydale?" "Terrifying and wonderful," Sarah replied, sliding into the booth beside Matthew. Daniel shook Matthew's hand warmly. "The ribbon-cutting looked great—sorry we couldn't make it. I had samples that couldn't wait at the lab." "Marine biology waits for no man," Matthew said with a smile. "How's the research going?" Before Daniel could launch into what he was doing at his lab, their server approached with a friendly smile. "Welcome to Coastal Grill! Can I start you folks with some drinks? Our house pinot grigio is half-off tonight." "I'll have that," Sarah said, relaxing into the familiar rhythm of dinner with family. She needed a reward after the day she had. Matthew nodded. "Make it two." "Just water for me," Rebecca said, meeting the server's eyes with a smile that seemed a touch too bright.” Daniel cleared his throat. "I'll have whatever the rotating draft is." As the server departed, Sarah raised an eyebrow at her sister, who had never once in her life turned down half-price wine. Rebecca merely shrugged, suddenly very interested in studying the menu. "So," Daniel said, clearly changing the subject, "tell us about opening day preparations. How is that all going?” Matthew laughed. "If by 'ready' you mean Sarah's triple-checked every detail and created contingency plans for her contingency plans, then yes. "Someone has to think of everything," Sarah protested, nudging him with her elbow. "You should have seen the staff Matthew was training today. They all looked about twelve years old." "They're not that young," Matthew said. "Though they did act a bit... strange. Kept asking odd questions. Must be a generational thing." Their drinks arrived, and the serve then took their order. When the server asked if they were ready to order, Sarah and Rebecca each requested the grilled salmon—"Well done, please. Very well done"—Rebecca added for hers. The conversation flowed easily between topics. They all laughed, enjoying their meal and evening. When their entrees arrived, Sarah dug in to hers - “I’m starving after today. I needed this.” As the evening continued, Sarah found herself watching her sister—the subtle protective way she rested her hands on her stomach. Something just seemed off. Sarah tried not to overthink it, but something was nagging at her and she wasn’t sure what it is. ‘Just a long day is all,’ she concluded. She couldn’t wait to get home and into bed.

My favorite theory. It better become canon 😂 

What’s will happen now I reallly really want to find out. I think Landon has plan and wont make Tommy to embarrassed at lest I hope so. Please pleas let us know soon