LINDSAY’S POV

I got home and as usual Mel left the house, at least she took JR. I needed to pack a few things just in case. I went to Gus’s room to see if there was anything I could use. It looks strange that there is nothing but the bed and the desk left. I check to see if he left anything behind. I was looking in his desk and found a credit card. I could use that to pay for a place to stay. Brian gave this to him for emergencies, this is an emergency.

I got on the computer to use the card to arrange for a hotel. I booked it for a week. Then I went to the Western Union site to see if I could send money for other things. Western Union wants all credit card users to call, so that won’t work. Well, people don’t pay attention when you use the card, we’ll just use it to pay for gas. I’m going to cash in the ticket my parents sent for money. I feel better now that I have a plan.

My phone has been ringing off the hook. It’s Michael. I just ignore it, he is probably queening out. If they kick us out, I need to be ready for it.

MEL’S POV

Layla and I had a fun night. I was tired, so I told her I was going to stay and sleep for a couple hours. I wanted to be ready for David in the morning. I wanted to try to find a way to beat the clause. I think that I can use that Gus is still a minor under my care. I didn’t tell him he couldn’t come back, I just told him to leave. It's not my fault that Gus ran to that asshole.

My phone kept going off and Layla asked me if I needed to talk to Michael. I told her just ignore him. I wasn’t in the mood for him. She was looking through it and said that there was an unknown number. I shrugged and said it was probably a telemarketer.

I woke up around two in the morning and decided I better get home. I was halfway there when Michael called again. I don’t really want to listen to him. I pull up to the house and see a police car in the driveway. If David is trying to show his muscles at two in the morning he can turn around and go. I was determined to show him that you don’t fuck with me.

The officer was on the porch knocking, I come up and ask what he needs. I tell him that two in the morning is not a good time for social calls. He asks if I have a daughter named Jenny Rebecca Novotny-Marcus. I told him yes. He told me that she was arrested tonight for dealing and needs a parent to come to the station.

JR is at home. I left her earlier. I tell him she is in bed, he tells me that she must have left sometime tonight. I ask him to wait, I would go get her so we could clear this up. I walk in the house and up the stairs. I knock on JR’s door, no answer. I opened it and turned on the light, she isn’t here. I go to Linds's room and she is passed out, looks like she took something to sleep. I shake her until she finally wakes and ask where JR is. She took a minute and then asks if she was with me.

The officer waited for me to come back and says that someone needs to go to the station. He was making a courtesy call, they have only gotten ahold of JR’s father, but he couldn’t come. Shit, Michael is going to blame us. I tell him that I will be on my way.

MICHAEL’S POV

Ma came back and I told her about JR. She asks where the girls are. I tell her I have been calling all night and no one is answering. Ma tells me that her boss is willing to lift the suspension if she does her job and doesn’t beg money from anyone. Ma says she told him she just asked, she didn’t beg. He told her that if she wants to work that she needs to understand the rules.

Ma says she is going to pay a personal visit to the all the boys. They need to help JR, she bets that the guy tricked JR, and JR didn’t know what was going on. She told me that Mel and Linds are in trouble now because they should have been home.

Gus started this with the party, but the girls need to take some of the blame. I should get a lawyer and sue them for JR and then they can pay me support. I call the cop back and find out that they finally found one of the mothers. I ask if she is there, he told me not yet. I tell him to tell who ever turns up that I need a phone call. I also tell him that Gus Peterson-Kinney was the one who caused the party that got my daughter in trouble in the first place and they needed to get him instead of my daughter. He says I need to understand that the first charge was using and the second was dealing, and that people don’t usually end up with two charges in two days if there isn’t a problem.

I tell him to stick to his job and find out the truth, my daughter was arrested for a party with beer and drugs, not for doing the drugs.

“When you talked to the mothers, did they tell you that Jenny was drug tested and the test was positive?” The cop asks me.

“I was told there was just stuff at the party and JR’s brother threw the party,” I tell him.

“The other child, Gus, was at school and then hockey practice all day. He wasn’t there, so how is he responsible for a party? We talked to all the kids that were at the party, Jenny is the one who threw the party, and the man she was arrested with tonight supplied the drugs. We tested the kids and only a few were positive, one was your daughter. Those are the facts Mr. Novotny.” I don’t believe him. I tell him to have the person who shows up call me.

DEBBIE’S POV

I will wake up the entire world, they are going to have to tell me to my face they won’t help. I have been there for all of them. They need to stop being selfish. I got to Drew’s house, I had to knock a few time to get someone to answer. Drew answers.

“Deb is there some reason you're here this late or early I guess.” Drew asks.

“I need Emmett to help Michael. JR was arrested tonight and no one is helping her,” I tell him.

“Deb, I’m not going to wake up my house. We have kids sleeping here. Look I will give you the money but you need to leave everyone alone. You and your son have pissed them all off,” Drew left me standing at the door.

Drew hands me five hundred dollars and tells me not to disturb anyone else. I tell him if they had helped before now none of this would be necessary. I tell him I’ll wait till morning, but he needs to tell them I expect everyone to answer me.

I got home to Michael sleeping with the phone in his hand. I covered him up and figured we could deal with it in the morning.

BRIAN’S POV

Justin took the kids to go horseback riding for the morning, I told him I was rounding up the animals. Emmett and Drew showed up and their kids wanted to go with Justin. Emmett said he would go with them, but he isn’t riding any animal that smells. Justin told him he could sit outside the corral and watch Max, Dylan, and Linda get lessons.

Drew waited till we were on our way to pick up the pets, then he tells me what happened with Deb. I tell him it was nice of him to help. Drew tells me he just wanted Deb off his porch. I get where he is coming from. I used to give them money so they would go. I stopped when Michael bought a bunch of action figures instead of paying his rent. Deb will at least tell you the truth.

We picked up the animals, the breeder for the Sphynx said that the puppies would be too rambunctious for the kitten, but to get them to spend time together. It will make for less havoc in the house. Drew bought one of the kittens and a Boston Terrier for his house.

Ted calls and says Deb was out and had already accosted Blake this morning. Ted and Blake were going to see Ted’s mom this morning, and when they opened the door to leave, Deb arrived. Ted told me she wants us to help JR. Blake gets on the phone and tells me she was coming to my house next. I sped up, Justin will murder her.

JUSTIN’S POV

We got home from the stables and there is Deb. I don’t want her talking to Gus. She is looking at him and I can see she is trying to make this his fault. Fuck her.

“Deb, what a pleasant surprise. Let Emmett take the kids in and we can talk,” I want the kids away.

“Who the fuck are all these kids? Emmett did you grow a twat and spit out teenagers?” Deb asks Emmett.

Max and Dylan look at her, not sure what to say. Gus whispers to them, I assume telling them who she is.

“Deb actually I am fostering these three. Dylan, Max, and Linda this is Debbie Novotny. Deb, my children.” Emmett introduces them.

“Emmett, maybe you could have waited until we help Michael to adopt kids. Michael and JR need help,” Deb tells him.

“Deb, I can do as I please, and I wanted to be a father and I got three wonderful children. JR has her own family and all you four do is complain till the cows come home. You want to help your granddaughter, open your eyes,” Emmett turns away from Deb and tells all the kids to go in the house.

“I want to talk to you Gus. You need to help your sister. She shouldn’t be held responsible for your fuck ups,” Deb yells at Gus.

Emmett slams the door after getting them all in the house. I turn to her about to say something when Brian pulls up. I walk around Deb and to Brian. He hands me a box and tells me the supplies are in the car but to go in with the puppies and kittens. I want to say something but I know that Deb has selective hearing. I mean you tell them JR is doing drugs and they seem to turn off their hearing aids, you know, their ears.

BRIAN’S POV

I want Justin inside, he looked like he wanted to find a large stick and start beating Deb with it. Drew asks me if I want him to stay.

“Nope. I have been dealing with the Novotny clan and their way of racking up ‘you owe me’ for years. I decided that love wasn’t worth the amount you paid for it. If I have to owe someone for loving me than I am done with that person,” I make sure I say it very loud so Deb hears me.

“Brian, JR is in trouble. I am here as a concerned grandmother. She needs help and I’m only asking for help, it's what any good parent would have done. I know that if it was one of your children, you would expect everyone to help. I hope you aren’t as heartless as this to a child,” Deb is really laying on thick.

I hear a commotion by the door, I look up and see Drew carrying Justin back in the house. Justin is cursing up a storm. Deb needs to be careful around Justin, he takes people criticizing my parenting personally. I was watching to make sure Drew had Justin contained.

“Ma'am, you need to not make my Pop mad. I don’t like people hurting my Pop. My Dad cares about everyone and you are rude,” Chad tells her.

“Look, your Dads aren’t willing to help my son and his daughter. I just need them to give us a way to get to my granddaughter,” Deb tells Chad.

“Well my Dad’s work, maybe you need to tell your son to get a job and he can learn to take care of himself. I mean is he really young and can’t get a job?” Chad asks.

“My Dads make sure we have everything and they don’t depend on others for it. Maybe my Dad could help your son learn that parents take care of their kids. He should find a good job, so he could take care of his kid,” Chad tells her.

“I need to speak to your Dad and you should be inside. I’m sure Justin has cookies or something for you sweetheart,” Deb tells him.

Chad shrugs and goes back in the house. I will give Deb one thing, she wouldn’t be nasty to my kids. I have stayed out of this mess because of Gus. If I went near Mel she would have worse than bruises.

I think Deb needs to see something. I ask her to come in the house. I walk in and Emmett tells me that Drew has Justin in his studio with Linda. I ask Gus to come to the living room.

“Deb, I want you to look at something and then I am going to give you enough to get YOU to Canada. You need to find out the truth, from them. I will not finance Michael, he will probably spend it on another toy,” I tell her.

Gus comes in the room. I tell him to take his shirt off. The bruising is at the stage where it looks worse than it did before. The blood has pooled and is almost black in some places.

“What the fuck happened to you?” Deb asks Gus.

“Mel happened, this is what I got when JR got in trouble. I had nothing to do with the party or anything else that went on, I was at school and then hockey practice,” Gus tells her.

Deb tries to hug Gus, but he backs away and leaves the room. I leave Deb to draw her own conclusion. She assumes the girls tell her the truth. I assume she sees what Mel did to Gus as abuse. Let the girls try to spin this one.

“I am going to give you five hundred like Drew did, and like Drew asked, don’t bother me or my family anymore,” I hand her the money and lead her to the front.