The fireplace was blazing casting a soft glow around the room. Electric violins, filled the space around them with very tranquil music. Aiden and Jas sat on the bear rug playing a game of checkers, just like they had done as kids. These days had been so good for them. But especially for Aiden, for once in his life he felt balanced.

"King me," she smirked, knowing that she was about to wipe him out.

"Nothing changes, does it."

She tossed her head back and laughed. He'd never beat Jas in a game of checkers. She'd taken pleasure in her victories. "Nope, afraid not."

"Well, I concede," Aiden said, arching his brow.

"Not accepted. You will play this hand out."

"Really, you would torture me so?"

"Absolutely."

"All right, let me see where I will move." Aiden studied the board for just the right spot where he knew Jas would cream him. She never knew that he'd thrown every game just to see her sheer pleasure from winning. Finally, Aiden saw the spot. But he delayed moving there. He acted completely indecisive to throw her off. Aiden saw the smug look of impending victory on her face and loved it.

"Hurry up, we don't have all night."

"You're breaking my concentration." He huffed. Then after a few moments he prepared for the master move that would be his total undoing. Lifting his eyes, he chuckled inwardly and slipped the checker into place.

"Yes!" She screamed. Then got up and did that funky dance that he adored. Aiden burst out laughing. She plopped back down on the floor, moved her king and cleared the rest of his men off the board.

He snapped his finger. "Dang it, Jas." Her brilliant smile melted his heart. That meant the world to him. He'd lose every game for the rest of his life just to see her dance and smile. "One of these days I'm going to beat you, girl."

"Keep dreaming," she teased, puffing out her chest.

He slid the board away and toppled on her. Aiden playfully kissed and tickled her. "It's going to happen. I will not stay defeated." She squirmed and laughed underneath him.

Finally, Jas wrapped her arms around him and gave him one of those absorbing kisses that his soul loved. After they settled down, she looked at him seriously. "I've got something for you."

He was a little disappointed in the shift in the mood. Aiden sat up, slightly concerned. "Is something wrong, Jas?"

"No, something is right." She stroked the side of his face. "You have been good for me and good to me these last few months. I'd never thought we'd have this happiness ever again. I'm so grateful that we're together."

Aiden felt his insides turning to mush. So much love was radiating off of her that he could barely stand it. Heat pulsed through his body and she hadn't even touch him. Her words turned him on.

"I don't want anything to interfere with us moving forward." She slipped her hand in her pocket and pulled out her pills. She opened the bottle and poured the pills in his hand. "Throw them away."

Aiden's eyes flowed with love. He kissed the top of her forehead. This was overwhelming his heart. Giving up the pills wasn't what overwhelmed him. It was everything else that it meant – trusting him with her problems, being vulnerable and understanding that she needed to change and wanted his help.

"There is no stress here, yet I've taken the pills every day. Nanna was right. I've gotten too attached."

Aiden leaned over and embraced her. She sighed heavily. "Let's take this slow, okay, babe. Throwing them away might not be the right thing to do." She nodded in his chest. He slipped the bottle from her hand and poured the pills back inside. "Thank you for trusting me enough to talk about this, Jas. We'll go talk to my doctor in the morning, okay."

"Yes, okay. Thank you, Aiden."

***

"Thank you, Tara, and now that you know my name and who I am keep in touch. Don't let my phone number go to waste."

"Sure will, Deanna. You do the same. I really want to know how things turn out with you and Aiden."

Deanna smiled and then made her way into the crowded airport. After spending time with Tara her heart felt lighter. There had been a life shift and she wasn't going to go back on it. Step up into the light. Even though she knew what lay ahead of her wasn't going to be easy, it would be worth it to restore her life.

She got in line to check her bags at the ticket counter. When she got to the desk she heard someone telling the clerk that they needed tags for their bags going to Georgia. Something sparked inside of her, perhaps she should go to Ellijay right now. It would be the boldest move she would have ever made – face the ghosts that haunted her. Then Troy's voice sliced through her confidence – I want you home, now. Do not ask me for another extension. I need you. Deanna was so caught up with thought that she didn't notice when the person in front of her left.

"Ma'am," said the clerk. "Your ticket please."

She fumbled around in her bag and pulled her boarding pass so that the clerk would know where to send the bags. "Could you wait for just a moment. I'm not sure if I want to go to Chicago."

"You don't have a lot of time. The gate will be closing in about 20 minutes. You still need to go through security."

"Could I step aside for just one moment."

The clerk looked at her wearily.

"Please, it's important," Deanna said.

"Okay, just come back up to the front and I will finish processing you."

Deanna stepped out of line and walked to a quiet spot. She pulled out her cell phone and began tapping Troy's number. Every time she got to the last number she stopped. I don't know what I should do. She tried dialing again, this time feeling unnerved at the thought. Finally, she decided to call her best friend, Kathy. Please pick up, Kathy.

She was relieved when Kathy answered the phone.

"Hi, Deanna."

"Hi, I don't have but a minute but need to ask you a question. I'm at the airport in New York."

"You're still in New York? I thought you went back to Chicago about a month ago after you'd seen Aiden in Delmonico's."

"Troy gave me an extension. Listen, I've finally decided to face my past. I need to go to Ellijay. They have a flight leaving for Atlanta in about 45 minutes. The problem is that Troy wants me home. But I want to go while I've got the nerve."

"Slow down, Deanna. What's this about Ellijay? You know you've sworn that place off. What could you gain from going back there?"

"I've never faced Billy Bob for nearly ruining my life. It's kept me in darkness and I'm coming out and just maybe that's where Aiden is now. But I'm worried about Troy."

"Go home, Deanna. Take care of your husband. That man has already gone to the ends of the earth for you. I'd leave Billy Bob where he is, tucked away in those mountains."

"But..."

"If you don't want to end your marriage in divorce court, go take care of your husband."

"You don't understand."

"Probably not. But you asked what I thought. You've been gone two months. Put Troy first and take care of that wild notion to go back to Ellijay some other time, if at all."

"All right, Kathy. Bye now."

"Bye."

Deanna hung up the phone feeling bewildered. She slowly walked back up to the counter, wringing her hands. She stepped up to the clerk.

"Are you ready to board for Chicago, now ma'am?"

Deanna nodded. Yet there was a wrestling inside of her that she couldn't suppress. She could hear Troy saying – I need you. It played over and over like a scratched record. I need you. I need you. She shook her head trying to stop the voice. Deanna was so conflicted. I know he needs me, but he needs me whole. The clerk was just about to start the process. "Stop please, book me on the flight headed to Atlanta."

"Are you sure ma'am?"

"Yes. I'm sure." Deanna's hands were trembling. This decision was terrifying her. What if Kathy was right? She had been so obsessed over Aiden's situation over the last seven years that Troy's life had been hell. Was she being selfish? Did she not respect her husband? Thoughts were crashing in like a battering ram against a sieged wall. Dear God, I hope I'm doing the right thing. Then a comforting thought crossed her mind – in sickness, in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse. A weary smile trickled up her faced.

***

Deanna was mentally exhausted when she arrived in Atlanta. She knew Troy was expecting her to be back in Chicago by 9:30 PM. It was 8:30 and she hadn't called him yet. Ellijay was nearly 100 miles from Atlanta, so she decided not to travel there until tomorrow. She picked up a rent a car at the airport and drove to the Ritz Carlton on Peachtree Street and checked in.

She couldn't reach the bed fast enough. Deanna shoved her bags in the closet, kicked off her shoes and then piled into the bed. This is one call that I don't want to make. She groaned, bracing herself for the blast that was coming. Then pulled out her cell phone and made the call. Her nerves were sparking like popcorn in hot oil. Her nerves twisted from the pit of her stomach up to her throat. Deanna pressed the number into the phone.

"Hi, Troy."

"Hi, darling," Troy's voice was laced with excitement. "I can't wait to see you."

Deanna couldn't form another word. What have I done? Silence stretched between them. There was nothing on Troy's radar that would have prepared him for Deanna buying a plane ticket to Atlanta. Kathy's words seeped in - If you don't want to end your marriage in divorce court, go take care of your husband.

"Deanna, did you just hear me say that I can't wait to see you?"

"Yes."

"And..."

"Troy..."

She heard his breathing suddenly become heavy. Deanna could imagine the dark scowl on his face.

"Oh, hell! You didn't get on the plane, did you? Damn it, Deanna, you're still in New York. Shit! I could string you up at this point!" he thundered.

Tears began streaming down Deanna's face. Her lips were trembling. It felt as if heavy hands were around her throat choking her. She began to sputter until finally a sentence came out.

"I'm...not in... New York."

"Where the hell are you!" he yelled.

"Troy, please listen to me."

"I'm tired of this, Deanna. I'm damn tired."

"Troy wait, please listen to me. I know you're upset. You have every reason to be. I am treating you horribly but not because I mean to."

"I have been so patient with you. I'm not going to allow you to take advantage of my kindness anymore. I tell you that I need you and you fly off somewhere else. Damn you. You know what, I don't even care where you are."

"Troy..."

Deanna's heart broke when she heard him click off the line. She buried her face in the pillow and wept herself to sleep.

***

Bruce and Michelle were having their quiet time after putting the kids to bed. They rested in their back yard. They were laying on top of an air mattress, wrapped in thick blankets. The flames from the fire pit, danced. They'd spent many evenings like this, watching the star-studded sky. The blackness of the woods made the night stars explode with even more brilliance.

"You were pretty upset when you got back from Nanna's today. What happened?"

Bruce didn't know whether he should share the connection with Michelle. He knew she was trying to keep a reign on her mouth, but disclosing what he knew might be too much. Yet, he was so burdened he needed someone to talk to.

"I can't talk about it right now, Michelle."

"I've been the one disrupting our home by my irritation of keeping the secret. We've just got over that. I don't want to see things start up again." She leaned over and kissed him. "What happened, Bruce?"

She was right. They needed to work through this together to keep peace in their home. He sighed wearily. "We got our signals crossed the day we talked about Beauregard. You met him as a businessman trying to acquire the inn. I met him as Nanna's consort."

"What? Consort – Nanna and Beauregard are together?"

"I'm afraid so."

"How do you know?"

"Brace yourself, baby. I saw them kissing that morning that I went to see Nanna. Then this evening I saw him coming from Nanna's quarters as if he'd just come out the shower. His hair was wet."

Bruce heard Michelle, gasp. He scooped her up in a hug. "I know you're as shocked as I was. When you put the two together, that slick cowboy is aiming for her heart instead of a court battle. This is despicable."

"Oh, Bruce. This can't be. It absolutely can't be true. Nanna did say that they'd come to an understanding."

"Some kind of understanding, all right. You know how investors have been snapping up property around here for the last seven or eight years. They all have their dirty dealings. I just feel sick about it, Michelle."

They held each other, staying silent for a long time. Bruce knew that Michelle was probably thinking the same thing – call Aiden and Jas. He spoke up. "You know we can't do it."

"I know. It's taken them ten years to get back together, we can't ruin it."

"When I calm down, I'm going to talk with Beauregard."

***

Deanna woke up the next morning with her eyes nearly shut from puffiness. She crawled out of bed and walked to the bathroom to freshen up. You look horrible. The face that stared back at her from the mirror was unrecognizable – streaked with mascara, faded lipstick, puffy cheeks and eyes. Her hair looked like it had been in an accident. Deanna disrobed and stepped into the warm shower. Her mind was too weary to think. All she could do was to pray a simple prayer – God, please help me.

The water seemed to soothe her. Slowly, she adjusted her mind to the fact that she'd done what was right, even though it was a painful decision. Unless she shed light into her past in Ellijay, she'd be consumed by darkness. "For better or for worse – that's what he promised. You promised me, Troy."

She finished her shower, dried off and then slipped on the thick terry cloth robe that was hanging on the back of the bathroom door. Deanna walked back to the bed room and saw a text message light on the phone. She picked it up and a smile flickered across her face.

Where are you, darling? I love you.

Her heart felt as if it had taken wings. She called her wonderful husband.

"Oh, Troy. I'm so sorry. I don't mean to hurt you."

"I know."

"Troy, I'm really doing this for all of us. I need to become whole again. I've never dealt with my past and it's caused so many problems for all of us. I'm ready to step up and deal with my past. We married for better or worse. This is as worse as it's going to get, Troy. Our family is on the road to recovery after this."

"Dear lord, you're in Ellijay," he moaned. "I didn't ever want you to go back there."

"I know, Troy. When I leave there, I will be whole. I stayed in Atlanta last night. It's about 88 miles to Ellijay. I'm leaving this morning."

"Don't leave yet. I'm on my way as soon as I can arrange it."

"No, Troy. Don't do that. I'm going to be fine."

"Darling, you can't do Ellijay alone. You're already stressed over Aiden. It will be too much. I'm going to take leave time. It will take a while to arrange my work load. I've got lots of surgery's scheduled. Stay in Atlanta. Promise that you'll stay in Atlanta."

"I promise."