Double update today.

For five days, Kristi had avoided talking to Dan about his promotion. She was convinced she would rather be poor than move. Could they keep their house if they were poor? The question was, did she love The Point more than Dan? She knew the answer, but if he loved her, he would know he was asking the impossible. She spent a day imagining a 'for sale' sign in front of her house and strangers walking through and eventually making it their home. They would become Megan's neighbors, and Kristi would become that old friend who visited once a summer.

Then she imagined Dan working in New Jersey all week and being without him. It nearly killed her these past months. Could she get used to it? Was it fair to the kids or even Dan? In between she imagined Dan leaving her, having an affair with a New Jersey woman, and another time Dan hating her for ruining his career.

At four-thirty on Wednesday morning, he leaned over the bed and kissed her cheek. She pretended to be asleep and hoped he wouldn't see the tear that was threatening to drip down the side of her face. He had a six-thirty flight to Newark.

"I love you, Kris, but we can't figure this out if you don't talk to me."

She pretended to sleep. Even the kids knew something was wrong, because she had been irritable all week. She overheard a conversation between them.

"What d'you do?" Ivy asked Ben.

"Nothing. I thought you did something. Did you spill nail polish on your rug again?"

"No! Don't blame me. Maybe Dad did something?"

Ben said, "She hates when he goes away."

"Well, duh I do too." Ivy's voice was full of emotion. "Do you think they're fighting? They won't get divorced, will they?"

"No! Don't say that. She's probably just mad because of Doc's girlfriend."

"Why would she care if he has a girlfriend?"

"Because of her dead friend. He's cheating on her."

Ivy raised her voice. "Who said that? She's dead like in Full House. In Fuller House, DJ loves Steve."

"DJ Tanner isn't real. It's TV. Kevin says it's weird that his father is going out on dates."

"If mom and dad get divorced, they would date. Maybe mom would date Doc!"

"Ivy, that won't happen besides Doc wouldn't date mom. She isn't like that one he likes."

"Why?"

"Think about it. Mom looks like a mom and she looks young and..."

Ivy wasn't following, but Kristi was. "And what?"

"Well, not like a mom."

"She is one."

Ben sighed. "Yah, but just forget it. Mom and Dad are never getting divorced, and we have nothing to worry about. It's probably just you know one of her moods."

"Oh, because of her period?"

Kristi had to cover her mouth. Ivy had her first period a few months before. She couldn't believe Ben was talking about it with his sister. Their entire conversation was sad, especially her son's assessment that she was just a mom.

"I'm going to my room." Ben stood, and Kristi ran back to the stairs and pretended to just be walking down.

She was meeting Patrick early for coffee to discuss their plan of attack for the graduation party. She had told no one about Dan's promotion and really wanted to prove that she could handle her own problems privately, like Megan.

She smiled when she walked into The Landing and saw the 'It's A Boy' banner. Kristi had met Noah the day before when she dropped off his gifts. She went a little crazy with the cute boy's clothes. Alex was home doting on his family, but Jen had said he was going back to work.

"Congrats, Grandpa!"

Rick smiled. "He's a good-looking kid."

"He takes after you." She teased. Even Rick knew Alex had him beat in the looks department.

"Alice is helping Jen out. Not that she needs it, but Eliza can be busy."

Kristi nodded. She had also brought presents for the big sister.

"Stop gabbing, woman! We have a busy day!"

She rolled her eyes and took her coffee to where Patrick was sitting. He had his coffee in a to-go cup. In fact, he had two cups. "You planning to OD on caffeine?"

He laughed. "Nope."

He didn't elaborate, and so she took out his list of things to do. She was concentrating on the decorations. He had to pick up the rented awning he scoffed at, but she insisted they needed it in case of rain. He reserved it weeks before they knew what the forecast would be.

He also had a list of things to buy at a few stores. "My list is longer than yours."

"It's your party. You need to show Hannah how much you care about her."

"I hope she doesn't question my love!"

Kristi shook her head. "She may question your priorities."

His sigh turned into a smile, but he was looking over Kristi's head. She turned to see Tessa walking towards them, smiling too.

She hadn't seen them together since they outed themselves. He stood and pulled over a chair for her. Thank goodness they didn't kiss, but there was an awkward moment when they looked at each other intently and Patrick said, "Hi."

Tessa smiled like there was more to the word hi than an informal greeting. "Hi Kristi." She smiled at her, and Kristi couldn't find a reason to criticize her. She dressed casually. If she dressed to the nines for what was obviously a date running errands, Kristi would have had a few remarks, at least in her head.

She smiled at Tessa. "So you called in backup, I see." Her remark was for Patrick.

"She offered, and I wasn't about to turn down the company." He turned to smile at Tessa with a smile that confirmed what Kristi already knew. They were having sex.

Feeling left out of their private glances, she said, "So tomorrow night, we find out about Hannah's scholarships."

Patrick sighed. "Kristi, do you want to come to awards night?"

"Oh no. I couldn't. Dan's away so I need to be home, or at least on taxi duty. Kevin can stay home with us if he wants. Is Gabby going?"

"I assumed Kevin would go. You know a family thing."

"He'll be bored." Kristi liked to be needed and watching Kevin would satisfy her.

"I'll think about it."

Tessa sat with her eyes downcast throughout their discussion. Kristi worried it meant that Hannah wouldn't be awarded the scholarship. She had convinced herself that Tessa wouldn't screw Patrick in two ways. Maybe she voted against Hannah, because she was screwing Patrick. Was it a conflict of interest?

As if she read her mind, Tessa looked at her. "I'll be glad when tomorrow night is over with."

Patrick reached down and squeezed her knee and left his hand there. Because the table was so small, Kristi could see the whole thing. She suddenly understood Hannah better. It was hard to see him with a woman other than Erica. She reminded herself, if DJ and Danny Tanner could date, then Patrick could too. She definitely watched too much TV with Ivy.

"Okay. Let's go. We've got a lot to do before two-thirty." Patrick stood up with his coffee cup.

Tessa stood too and said, "See ya later."

Kristi watched them walk out the door. She wanted to hate her, but Tessa made it difficult. Rick walked over with a rag to wipe down the tables. "So that's the woman?"

Kristi nodded. "She's nice."

"But..."

"It's harder than I thought it would be. I encouraged him to date. Honestly, I never thought he would find someone that he was serious about so quickly."

"Is it serious?"

Kristi shrugged. "Serious enough to get the kids involved."

"We have two great examples of widowers finding a new life for themselves. You never knew Jack or Bryan's wives, so you don't mind them being happily married now. It's just harder because we all knew her. Kelly and John Harris didn't mind Maddie and Jack. Maybe you should talk to one of them."

She smiled. "Do you have a secret degree in counseling? You're better than a bartender."

He laughed and shook his head. "I don't have any degree. Didn't need it for the Coast Guard."

A/N Full House aired on TV between 1987-1995 and Fuller House aired on Netflix 2016-2020. I'm sure they have reached many countries.

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