"I can't believe that I see my husband riding a horse. Wait until the people in Chicago hear about this."

"Well, he couldn't have a better teacher than Major."

Nanna and Deanna sat in chairs around the fire pit. Major was giving Troy riding lesson in the chorale area of the barn. Troy was doing very well. Major was beaming with pride – this was his thing.

"Nanna, I want to thank you for opening the inn to us. You don't know how much we needed this. Being here has helped me to get my life back."

"Good to hear, Deanna. That wayward son you told me about, that's all going to work out too."

"I finally believe that." Deanna wished that she could give that wayward son Aiden's name, but she couldn't. A part of her still felt insecure knowing that Nanna had been more of a mother to Aiden than she had. Would Nanna judge her for leaving Aiden?

Yet, Deanna decided that whenever she got the strength to talk, she'd let Nanna know exactly how much she appreciated the dedication that she'd given to her son. Deanna squeezed Nanna's hand. "I owe you more than you'll ever know, and I appreciate you."

Nanna blinked up. She tilted her head. Whatever does she mean by that? "Thank you, Deanna."

They were interrupted by Troy and Major walking towards them.

"I've talked him into coming to visit us when we move, sunshine."

"Wonderful. I'm going to love having them for company," Nanna said. "Speaking of company, how would you like to have dinner with us tonight around 8:00? It will just be us and another couple."

Deanna got up and gave Troy a big hug. "Look at you riding that horse. I'm impressed.

Troy blushed. "Oh, Deanna." Then he turned to Nanna, "Could we do it tomorrow night at that time? Deanna and I have an important meeting with someone tonight."

"Okay, that will be fine," said Nanna.

"Nanna, we would like to reserve the solarium for the private meeting. Can we have a privacy sign or something on the door?" Deanna asked.

"No problem. We have a wedding scheduled there today, but it should be over by 6:30."

"We don't need it until about 9:00 tonight."

"Okay, I'll have a staff member to rope off the area and put a sign out." Then Nanna reached in her pocket and pulled out her cell phone. She texted Jas - dinner postponed until tomorrow night at 8:30.

***

Jas glanced over after hearing her phone ding. She leaned over the mass of bubbles that were piled high in the Jacuzzi. She typed in one letter – K, then leaned back against the thick hairs on Aiden's chest.

"That was Nanna. She wants us to come to dinner tomorrow instead of tonight."

"Fine with me. I'm enjoying us staying in the room today anyway."

"Me too, but remember you promised that we could go to the Karaoke bar tonight in town."

Aiden scrolled his hand over Jas's shoulder. "I forgot about that."

Jas playfully smashed a handful of suds in his face and pouted. "I've been looking forward to it all week. We haven't done that since we were in high school."

"Get that look off your face," he teased. "I didn't say we weren't going. I just said I had forgotten about it. How can I remember anything with you running around here naked?"

Jas blushed. He plunged her head under the water. She popped up laughing. He took so much pleasure in seeing her happy. Aiden leaned over and kissed her soapy cheek.

"Why are we waiting?" he whispered.

"Waiting for what, Aiden?"

"Let's just do it today. Let's just get the licenses today and get married tomorrow."

Jas spun around. She melted gazing into the love coming from his eyes. "Are you serious, Aiden?"

"I've been wanting you all my life, babe. I'm tired of waiting. We can have the ceremony for everyone else later. I want to be able to say that you're my wife, right now."

He smiled as he watched tears trickle down Jas's face. It let him know how deeply his words had impacted her.

Jas reflected on what their love had come through from just a few months ago. She had despised the man that had shown up in the inn on that blustery autumn day. This was the same man that she'd sworn to herself that she would never love again. The one that she would never leave Nanna for. Aiden Ross was the man that she'd declared would never have the opportunity to capture her heart ever again.

Yet, he'd drawn her heart and soul away like a dream catcher hanging from a window. Jas couldn't resist his magic. She was pulled to his heart like an enchantment. Under his spell, she'd even asked Aiden to marry her. Now, here he was again demanding more of her love.

Jas had set the wedding date far enough out because in her heart she really hoped to reconcile Aiden to his parents. Jas had power of her own. She'd knew how to wear him down. Though she hadn't said a word to Aiden her strategy was well planned out. His parents would be at that wedding, and he wouldn't even know what hit him. Now he had upped the game.

He was boring into her eyes so intently. Jas wasn't even sure that he was breathing. Aiden was on pause waiting to see what she would say. My God, who wouldn't want to be married to Aiden Ross? His loveliness had taken the air from her lungs. Jas's throat went dry. She looked deep into his eyes.

Oh God, oh God. He was holding her, waiting. Tears continued to streamed from her eyes. If she committed today she knew that she might never see that reconciliation because all he ever wanted was her. He was going to whisk her away to New York and that would be the end of Ellijay. Oh Aiden, I need more time. Jas's brain was screaming – be strong!

He leaned down and slowly kissed the tears away that rolled down her cheek. The press of his soft lips against her face sent bolts of lightning through her. He was indeed a wizard, conjuring up her love most irresistibly. Aiden's hands trailed down her body leaving her in shambles. Jas was swept up in his spell binding trance, powerless to resist him. "I'd be glad too. Let's go and do it, Aiden," she breathed.

***

Applause ripped through the air at the Karaoke bar as Jas stood on top of the table and sang Faith Hill's song Breathe to Aiden. Her fluid sexy moves had a smile on Aiden's face that lit midnight. He gazed up at Jas in pure adoration. This is what he would get to live with for the rest of his life. The thought sent fire through his veins. He mouthed, I love you and pushed a kiss her way. Between lyrics, Jas said loudly, "I love you too, Aiden Ross."

Nanna blushed at her granddaughter's open display of affection. She was so happy that they ran into Jas and Aiden while they were on their way out. Major and Nanna readily accepted the invitation to come to the bar. Major tapped Nanna on the shoulders, and spoke above the noise. "Those two are something else, aren't they?"

Nanna smiled and nodded her head.

Jas's song ended and she hopped off the table. The applause was deafening. She slipped on to Aiden's lap and kissed him soundly.

"Well, we're not to be outdone," Major said with a twinkle in his eye. "Let's show these young folks how it's done."

Nanna's eyes widened. Major stood up. "Any of you rednecks brought a guitar?"

A man shouted from the back. "You know we've got a guitar." People from the back of the room began passing the guitar towards Major. "This is for you, Arabella," he winked.

Everybody started clapping and Nanna looked as if she wanted to dive under the table. Aiden and Jas ribbed Nanna.

"What do you want to play, cowboy?" The D.J. said.

Major tipped his hat to Nanna. The blush sank to her toes. "George Strait, I Cross My Heart."

"I didn't know that he could sing or play," said Jas.

"I didn't either," Nanna said smiling.

Major walked to the center of the spacious room and pulled a chair from a table sitting it in the middle of the floor. He gestured for Nanna to come sit.

"Oh, my," she said shyly. People in the bar started chanting her name – Nanna, Nanna. She slipped between the crowd and made her way to the chair. Nanna sat in the chair and beamed up at him. "Major."

He smiled. The D. J. began the music and the old cowboy made the ballad come alive. Every note spoke of his abiding love for Nanna. The song seemed to last forever.

People applauded wildly and gave them a standing ovation. The D.J. shouted "Give it up for the Apple Blossom Inn."

***

"That was so much fun," Jas said squeezing Aiden's hand. On the way, back from the Karaoke bar they'd had stopped by a local restaurant. They sat around the table eating omelets and drinking coffee.

"It was fun," Aiden said. "Major, man you can cut a tune."

"You ain't a cowboy if you can't sing."

They all laughed. Jas tapped her fork on her juice glass to settle things down. "Nanna and Major I want to thank you for showing us that."

"Showing you what, dear?"

"What Aiden and I are going to look like in fifty years."

Nanna drew in a sharp breath. Her hand flew to her chest. Nanna's face began to cloud.

Major tucked Nanna under his arm and teased. "Arabella, don't you start crying that was a compliment."

Nanna wrung her hands and a tear slipped anyway. "That's why I am crying." He kissed the top of her hair. Nanna picked up a napkin and cleaned her face.

"What you two showed us was beautiful," Aiden said. "I don't think anybody in Ellijay is going to forget tonight."

"Especially my granddaughter turning into Eartha Kit on the table. Lord have mercy, Jas."

Jas shriveled up and buried her face on Aiden's shoulder. "Got me a live wire," he chuckled.

"I see," said Major.

Jas turned and looked up at Aiden. "This is such a great night. Should we tell them?"

"Tell us what?" Nanna said.

Aiden smiled, "I think we should celebrate." He turned and lifted his glass towards them. They all followed with lifting their glasses.

Major arched his brow. "And we are celebrating – what?"

"Jas and I got our marriage license today. We're getting married tomorrow."

"Oh, my goodness," said Nanna. "That's amazing." She leaned over and kissed Jas on the cheek.

"Well then, here's to the happy couple. Too in love to make it until spring – good for you." Major lifted his glass. "To Aiden and Jas, may God bless your union, forever."

***

Deanna was having a fit. She stormed about the solarium releasing 30 years of pent up anger and frustration. If she could have placed her hands around Billy Bob Johnson's neck she would have choked him. Troy made sure to sit between them so that things didn't get out of hand. Billy Bob glared at Troy knowing that he was doing exactly as Troy had told him. His mind slipped back to the terror he felt on the plane that day. He knew Troy really would have killed him.

You will hear everything that she has to say. You won't say a word until she is finished. At that time, you will profusely apologize for being a miserable piece of shit. You will tell her that you are glad that you sent Aiden to her, because you knew she was the better parent."

Deanna's raging words blistered his conscious. He wanted to defend himself but knew the agreement that he'd made with Troy. As her lashes ripped into his life, he boiled over with anger.

"Are you done, yet?" Billy Bob said callously.

"You shut up and let Deanna finish!"

Billy's eyes sliced across Troy's face. He wanted to get up out of his seat and pound Troy Sparkman into the dust. Billy rolled his eyes and folded his arms across his chest as Deanna raged on.

After about another thirty minutes Deanna slumped down on to the sofa exhausted. Troy walked across the room and sat beside her. She leaned her head onto Troy's shoulder. Troy could feel Deanna's body trembling. He squeezed her hand, "Are you finished what you have to say, darling."

She nodded. Troy turned to Billy giving him a dark, threatening glare. "Is there anything that you would like to say to Deanna, Mr. Johnson?"

Billy was quaking with fury. He had a lot to say, but he bit his tongue. The threat of jail looming over his mind would act like a bit in a horse's mouth. All he had to do, was do what he was told. Billy reasoned that those two jerks would be on a plane headed back to Chicago. He'd never have to see them again. Billy tried to open his mouth, but he couldn't. His lips seemed to be locked into a thin angry line. Blood had rushed to his head and it was pounding.

Troy bore his eyes into Billy. The message his eyes sent was clear – say what I told you to say and get the hell out. Billy could feel the muscles in his neck twitching. He was about to explode. Billy took a long, deep breath.

"I...I am...I am sorry, Deanna. Everything that you said is...correct. I deserve what you said..."

Deanna sat up and looked between Troy and Billy. She was stunned that he was making a confession so easily. It caught her off guard. Part of her wanted at least a little fight. In her mind that would validate the monster that he was. Now it appeared that after thirty years he was remorseful. Troy motioned to Billy to continue.

Billy glared back to Troy. "I'm a miserable piece of ..." To say the next word was killing Billy. He didn't think of himself that way at all. He took a deep breath and forced the words out of his mouth. "I'm a miserable piece of shit."

Billy heard those words echo in his mind. That is when he couldn't take it anymore. "Oh, hell no!" he bellowed. Billy threw his hands up and stormed towards the door.

"Billy!" Troy thundered.

Billy didn't pay him any mind. He yanked the door open to the solarium and stormed down the hall. He could see the pictures vibrate on the wall as the door slammed behind him. Troy's raging voice followed him.

Troy was about to head for the door. Deanna grabbed his arm. "Let it be. It's over, Troy. It's over."

Troy turned and looked at the relief on his wives face and calmed down. "Are you sure, darling?"

"He said enough, Troy."

***

Billy was buzzing about the empty lobby like an agitated hornet. It was after midnight and no staff was on duty. He'd just been castigated in the worst way. Billy felt the sting of his personal pride being stumped into the dust. He paced back and forth. Was he actually going to let it end this way? A war was going on inside of him – recover his pride or go to jail.

He kicked over a chair in the lobby. It crashed across the floor just as Aiden was walking in the door and slammed into his leg. Aiden looked up stunned, followed by the others as their laughter stopped when entering the door.

When it registered in Aiden's mind that he was staring at Billy Bob, his expression hardened.

"Oh, my God," Jas whispered. She saw death in Aiden's eyes. "Come with me outside, Aiden." Jas tugged on him but it was like trying to move a monument. "Aiden, come with me now."

He snatched away from Jas and kicked the chair back across the room. Hitting Billy in the shin. Billy winced. Aiden stalked Billy and towered over him. Aiden got in his face. "Why are you here?"

"Oh, Lord," Nanna said. "Major we're going to have to break this up."

"Who is that, Arabella?"

"His biological father. This is not good." Nanna raised her voice and pointed at Billy Bob. "You've got no business in my establishment. You get out of here right now, Billy Bob Johnson."

"Let me answer my son's question, Nanna. He wants to know why I am here. I was summoned."

"By who?" Aiden's voice was low and deadly.

Billy smirked. He felt a sudden evil thrill spill over him. He doesn't know about the meeting. Oh, I think I do have something to say. He chuckled and snapped his dark eyes at Aiden like he was about to stab him. "By your parents."

Aiden's jaw tightened and his features became like stone. Billy laughed at the fury in his eyes. Jas was so stunned she couldn't move.

"What?" Nanna shrieked. "What do you mean. Aiden's parents don't know us. Why would they be at my inn?

Major quickly moved between Billy and Aiden. "That's enough young man. I'm about to escort you off this property." He grabbed Billy's arms and started to pull him away.

"I'm calling the police," Jas sputtered.

Billy yanked away from Major. "You may not want to do that, Jasmine. I might not be the only person going to jail tonight." Billy broke free and shot back down the hall. "Come find out what they wanted, Aiden."

Aiden charged after Billy.

Jas screamed, "Aiden, no! Aiden, no!"

"God help us all tonight," Nanna prayed as they all ran down the hall towards the solarium. When she got to the door and saw Deanna and Troy, she fell back. "What, Oh, my God!" Major caught her before she could hit the floor.

Billy tore the door open. He laughed maniacally. "Gonna love these fireworks!"

Deanna shrieked, "Aiden?"

"Mom and dad?"

Troy nearly passed out just hearing Aiden call him dad.

Troy whispered to Deanna, "Did he call me dad?"

She blinked up at him and nodded.

During the entire time that he'd lived with him, Aiden called him Sparkman.

Jas stood in front of Aiden and tried her best to push him out the door. Her efforts were totally in vain.

"Aiden, please," she begged. "This is not the time to see your parents. Walk away, precious."

Jas's heart snapped when she heard the guttural roar of pain that erupted out of him. Aiden stood, pulling on his hair. Major tried to help Jas push Aiden from the room but he wouldn't budge. They might as well have been trying to move a mountain with a feather.

Nanna flung her arms in the air. "Deanna and Troy, you're Aiden's parents? What's going on, here? Why didn't you tell us?"

Deanna started to cry.

"Now it all makes sense," Nanna said. "I felt like I'd known you. Then there was the day I saw you crying in the hall after you saw Aiden in Jas in the picture. Flannery attached to you and then you said that I'd helped you in more ways than I knew. I wish you had told us. We could have helped you."

"Son," Deanna said stretching her hand toward Aiden.

He turned his back towards her, only to be greeted by Billy's victorious grin. Aiden growled, threatening to wipe it off his face. Aiden stalked across the room, slammed himself down on the sofa and put his hands over his face.

"Would someone please explain what's going on here." Major said firmly. Tension in the room was as thick as the granite mountains outside the window. No one wanted to blast through it. Billy was the only one taking pleasure in everyone else's discomfort.

"Why don't you ask your dad to explain this cut that I have on my face?" Billy scoffed. "The one where he sliced my face open while I took him on an aerial view of some land he purchased in Georgia."

"Troy!" Deanna screamed.

Aiden glared at Troy with rage in his eyes. "Really?" Acid was on the tip of his tongue.

"Troy, what did you do?"

"I'll tell you what he did, Deanna. He asked me to provide an aerial service when his main intent was to get me in the plane alone." Billy Bob continued. "I didn't even know who he was. He was just a good old boy talking with me about laying women. It wasn't until I happened to mention one of the best piece of..."

Troy lunged at Billy. Major and Aiden held him back. "Get out! Get your low life, disrespectful self out of here!" Aiden thundered.

"I'm not going anywhere. It's about time the truth came out," Billy said icily. "I had to sit here for three hours listening to that woman blame me for everybody's life being messed it. Poor, poor, Deanna."

"Jas, go call the police," Nanna screamed.

"She doesn't want to do that, Nanna. Troy and I had a deal." He glanced over and Troy and smirked. "I won't turn him in for stabbing me with a scalpel and he won't have Deanna press charges against me for screwing his wife."

"Shit!" Aiden said throwing up his hands. His anger was in a low boil.

"Aiden, you and Jas need to leave," Nanna pleaded. "Leave now, let me and Major handle this, please."

Jas stretched her arms out towards Aiden. He put his hands up. "No, no, not this time." He stalked around the room like he was a bull about to be spurred from a cage. His eyes had become so dark they were terrifying. "I never intended to see either of you ever again. Now that you have inserted yourselves into my life, let's deal with it!"

"We inserted ourselves into your life," Troy bellowed. "What in the hell are you talking about Aiden? You never left our lives. Yeah, we never saw you physically but every single day your mother has been riddled with grief over you vanishing."

"What?" Jas turned white. Her eyes pleaded with Aiden for an explanation. He looked away and remained tight lipped. She turned to Troy. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about having the entire city of Chicago looking for Aiden, seven years ago. I'm talking about all the money we spent on private detectives; and the discord brought to our family and the grief of losing someone." Troy walked over to Aiden and was inches from his face, his voice was laced with anger and compassion. He knew Aiden had been through a lot. "Can you imagine what it did to your mother thinking that you were dead?"

Jas swung towards Aiden. "Tell me this is not true." He stared blankly at her.

Yes, Aiden now knew exactly what loss felt like. He stood there while the pain of Jas missing burned through him. Then he turned and saw Deanna, piled in the corner of the room, crying. Aiden's emotions began to break. His mind painfully retrieved every missing person report that he ignored. He could see himself burning newspapers that had carried the story.

"Aiden!" Jas begged. "Say something!"

Suddenly things began to click together in Jas's mind. The incident must have occurred during the time they'd gone to Thailand. She ran over to him and started shaking him. "Is that why we moved to Thailand?"

Aiden slumped against the wall. "I had to survive, Jas. I got away from everything that haunted me."

"Oh, Aiden – seven years, Aiden. Can you imagine the grief that would have caused your parents, thinking you were dead? It would probably be seven more if it weren't for tonight." Jas sighed.

Aiden's heart was pierced as he saw the disappointment in Jas's eyes. Deanna crawled out of the corner and laid her hand on Jas's shoulder. "Don't be upset with him and don't judge him. I brought all of this on our family."

"You sure did," Billy said laughing. "Everybody in Ellijay told you to stay away from me. Hell, you even got fired from your job. I was there the night your parents told you all about me – told you that I was a womanizer..."

"You told me that you loved me. You treated me like I was the only person in your universe. I was young and you took advantage of my naivety."

"You don't think that men lie? How else was I going to get you to spread?"

Nanna shrieked. Major had to hold Troy back. There were enough sparks in the air to start an explosion.

"All men aren't riding around on white horses, Deanna. You made a choice to sleep with a dog. Yes, a dog with two pregnant bitches that f**** me good. Most men are just like me. You had been warned. Be real, you wanted me, too."

"I wanted to be loved, you bastard! No one had ever loved me!" Deanna wailed.

Those words struck Aiden like a bulldozer. How could she give him what she never had? His mother had been looking for love just like he was looking for her love. He didn't know anything about his mother's background. She never talked about it. Who was Deanna Sparkman? He really didn't know. Bruce's words swirled around his head – maybe that's all the love that she had.

Billy was so cold and calloused. He slashed away at Deanna again. "I don't want to hear that romance shit. Admit it, you thought you were grown and wanted to be laid. If you'd been smart enough to take a pill none of us would be standing here."

Billy glared at Aiden. He pointed towards him. "I'll be damned if you didn't leave your mistake with me while you went off and married Mr. Rich Fancy Pants."

Troy roared. Major locked his arms under Troy's and hauled him out the room. Major could barely contain him. The words Billy vulgarly tossed about were slowly seeping into Aiden's head. All he could hear was mistake. Mistake. Mistake.

Jas watched as pain and rage fueled Aiden's body. Deanna dived on top of Billy and began clawing him. "You lying dog. I had nothing to give Aiden! I had no job, no education, no money." Deanna was sobbing. Her hand lifted once again and she slashed her long fingernails across his face, drawing blood. "I was scared to death. Nobody wanted me. My own parents kicked me out. What was I supposed to do leave him on the street to die? I hate you! I hate you!"

Deanna pounded into him. Billy tumbled onto the floor as Deanna sent blow after blow. Jas and Nanna were desperately struggling to pull her off of Billy. Aiden was statue still, totally incapacitated. All the protective walls he built around his mind were shutting down as truth fused in.

"You could take care of him and I couldn't. You know that!" Deanna wailed. Nanna and Jas were finally able to pull Deanna off of Billy. They dragged her to the sofa as she kicked and screamed. "I loved my son, you bastard. I loved my son!"

Aiden put his hand over his mouth and shook his head. His heart was pricked to the core, hearing those words flow from his mother's broken heart. In his mind, he could see himself at six years old lying in bed with Jas – why don't they love me?

Aiden felt like he was having an outer body experience. Part of him was in pain. Part of him was still dealing with anger. Yet, in another part of him light was flooding through, though lots of missing pieces still needed to settle.

For just a moment he allowed himself to feel his mother's fear of being young, pregnant and kicked out of the house. He allowed himself to feel her desperation of having to turn to Billy, only to find out that she had been betrayed. Then forced to live with his mistress that was as pregnant as herself.

Aiden's mind echoed his mother's mind – I loved my son. Deanna's words raged with Billy's lethal words – mistake. Then Bruce's words came crashing through - You don't have to be born in a perfect circumstance to have purpose, Aiden.

Aiden slowly turned toward Billy who was still sprawled out on the floor. Billy was rubbing blood off his mouth with his shirt. A storm raged on Aiden's face. "Did you call me a mistake?" He said icily.

"Oh, God," Jas whispered. She dived toward Aiden but it was too late. Aiden kicked Billy across the room. Billy's body thudded into the wall and he convulsed in pain. Aiden dived on top of Billy and began pounding his head.

Jas screamed, "Aiden, stop you're going to kill him! He's not worth it Aiden, we all love you, we love you – stop!"

Nanna scrambled to her feet and screamed for Troy and Major to come quick. The door flew open and the two dashed into the room. They heaved and pulled but Aiden was too strong. He was pounding Billy Bob mercilessly. Thirty years of pain ripped open with each blow.

"Oh, God someone stop this!" Jas cried. "Aiden, please, please!"

Aiden drew back his bloody fist and was about to strike again when Major collapsed. He fell on his back. Major put his hand on his chest. He looked pleadingly at Nanna. "Arabella, my pills."

Nanna was horrified. She burst into tears and ran down the hall. Troy ran out of the room and grabbed his medical bag. Billy laid on the floor, a black and blue pulp.

"Major!" Jas screamed. "Oh, Major hold on. Hold on!" She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

"I'm so sorry, Major," Aiden said.

Jas turned to Aiden. Her hands were trembling. "I can't do this," Jas said, woefully. "This is too much." She slipped off her ring and placed it in Aiden's hand.

Aiden's eyes snatched up in dismay. "After everything we've gone through? After everything that happened today, Jas?"

Tears rolled down Jas's face in buckets. "You could have killed him – your anger..."

Major squeezed Jas's hand. He wheezed, "Don't, darling. You have... no idea what this... young man has been through."

Jas eyes swept Aiden's grief stricken face. Her heart broke.

Just then Nanna dashed back into the room. She placed two pills in Major's mouth and helped him to drink some water.

By this time, Troy was back. "What did you give him, Nanna?"

"Blood pressure medication."

Troy took his vitals. Major's blood pressure was through the roof. Troy looked at Aiden. "Let's get him on the sofa." They stepped over Billy and put Major on the sofa. "He doesn't look good. Call 911." Nanna kneeled down beside him and cried. Then she reached in her pocket for her cell phone and dialed.

Aiden stood up and ran his hand through his hair. This night had been more than he bargained for. Devastation was all around the room. Reality began to shift Aiden's thinking. For the first time in his life he could see clearly.

The true problem was laying right at his feet. Aiden tossed back his head and laughed in irony. His eyes bore into Billy's. "All this time, it wasn't my mother. It was you. You seduced a young girl. You're a worthless son of a bitch. Get out!"

Billy Bob stood up wiping more blood off his mouth. "You're acting like you've never slept with a young woman." He tossed his head towards Jas. "I know you were popping that young thing before I sent you to your mother. Bet you used the magic key, too."

Aiden leaned down and was about to grab Billy's shirt, then he looked at Jas. She was glaring at him. Aiden backed up. Then Jas got up and walked over to Billy. She spit in his face. "Get out! Damn you, get out!"

Billy picked himself up and staggered towards the door, laughing. "Ain't life a bitch."

After the demon was cast from the room they all gathered around Major. Troy took his blood pressure again and it still hadn't come down. "Something is not right," he said, "His blood pressure should be down if only slightly with two pills. Nanna, can I see the pills that you gave him?"

Nanna ran to the room to get the bottle. When she got the medicine for Major, she'd dropped the bottle in the hall. She turned to pick up the bottle. She read the label and turned white. "Oh, God!" she screamed.

Jas flung the door open to the solarium. "Nanna, what's the matter?"

"I gave him your pills!"

"Nanna gave him Ativan, Troy." Her face sank in desperation.

Nanna was a nervous wreck as she entered the room. "I've told him so many times to be careful about taking pills, now look what I've done."

"Nanna, it's my fault I should have gotten rid of the pills."

She leaned over Major, her face was bleak. "My love, the ambulance is on the way. Stay with us." Major was not responsive.

Aiden kneeled down besides Nanna. Hurt and weariness was in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Nanna."

She reached out and took his hand. "Child, you've gone through enough. This all will pass."

Nanna knew that no words could comfort Aiden at this point. She felt terrible for him. When he got up to walk away, he looked so lost.

Troy remained calm while the rest of them were falling to pieces. He took Major's blood pressure again, and it had raised even higher. Suddenly, Major began to convulse. Troy rolled Major on his side. "We've got to pump his stomach. What do you keep here for emergencies?"

"She keeps Ipecac", said Jas. "I'll get it."

"How can I help?" said Aiden.

"Get me several buckets. Nanna, you and Deanna get me some cold compresses."

Major vomited severely onto the floor before Aiden could get back with the buckets.