Hank sat up in his bed. "You asleep?" asked Hank.
"No. Are we actually safe with the inner circle? Thank you, Teeno and Frankie," said Heather.
"No, they couldn't... you're welcome. Mom! Mom!" cried out Teeno.
Jessie walked into the room with her hair down. "Yeah, son?" said Jessie with a yawn.
"Huh?" said Teeno.
"I'm relaxing. It's not every day a mother gets called out for help, so this is how I relax," said Jessie.
"Is her shirt unbuttoned?" They all looked at him.
"Because you're drunk, and you're asking if Aunt Jessie's shirt is unbuttoned?!" said Frankie.
"I do not know what drink Grandpa made; I never want to drink it again. My throat still hurts, or I am dreaming and I am still crashed," said Cameron.
She walked up, sat on the edge of the bed, and crossed her legs. "You tell me, Edwards—am I a dream to you? I told you, you are my man, I am the only woman in your life, and I get jealous very easily. Yes, Teeno, we decree your fathers," said Jessie.
He touched her leg and reached halfway under her skirt. She stopped his hand. "Now you know I am not a dream," said Jessie.
"Mom! Dad is the patriarch, the voice, and Uncle Thomas is the monarch, the eyes. They are part of the circle," said Heather.
"They were, until they tell us why they never came home. We are not going to stay married to someone who didn't support us or help me raise you," said Jessie.
"But!!" they all said, except for Cameron and Preston.
"Get some rest."
"See you in the morning," said Jessie.
"I want my—this is not right, Mom!" called Frankie.
"I'm trying to rest."
"Yes, Kevin, why are you not asleep?" asked Jordan.
"Boys, you do not actually think just because they were in the inner circle that we're going to stay with them. Sweetheart, Mother is not happy; she's hurting. She thought he wanted to be in our lives," said Jessie.
"Boys, when they actually want to be husbands and fathers, then we will think about it. Go to sleep," said Jordan.
Teeno got out of his bed and fell on the floor. "Could you at least think about it first? He's gotta have a reason why..."
They walked up, helped him up, and put him back in bed.
"We did, long and hard, son. When they act their ages," said Jessie.
"And tell us why they didn't come back home. We'll listen to them," said Jordan.
"We think and decide," said Jessie. She covered him up, and they walked out.
"I am in love," said Preston.
"Me too. What a woman," said Cameron.
"You're sure that's just the booze talking?" asked Hank.a
"Guys, they are our mothers," said Frankie.
"Why you gotta ruin my dream? A guy can dream, can't he?" asked Preston.
Finally, they fell asleep, and the house grew quiet as everyone drifted off. For a while, anyway.
Marco's lady friend, Josie, came by and banged hard on the door. Jordan and Jessie got up and walked out of their rooms. Marco walked up to them.
"I've got it. Go back to bed, girls," Marco told them.
"You sure, Dad?" asked Jordan.
"Yeah, Jordan." They walked back into their rooms, and Marco opened the front door.
"Can I come in?" asked Josie.
"It's not a good time. My bloodline is here. They're sick," said Marco.
"Bloodline?" asked Josie.
"Daughters and grandkids. They're very ill. I'll call on you tomorrow or send Ross over with a note," said Marco.
"We were supposed to have dinner today! You blew me off for family!?" snapped Josie.
"First of all, it is always going to be family first. You are definitely not going to fit in my family or this bloodline. The Timber do not like those who only put themselves first. Go home," said Marco.
He slammed the door right in her face and went back to bed.
As night slowly drifted away and dawn approached, the first light streamed through the windows. Marco, Jordan, and Jessie walked into the room as the boys slowly began to wake up.
"This must be a dream. Are we in Grandpa's penthouse?" said Frankie.
"Wait—Mom? Aunt Jessie? Grandpa?" said Preston.
"No, you're in my house. I sent for breakfast or for groceries to start breakfast," said Marco, "and your drinks."
"No, no! ! We'll pass!" cried Cameron and Preston.
Meanwhile, over at the Bell's house, they had gathered at the table.
"How was your dinner date?" asked Henrietta.
"He stood me up because his freaking family is here!" snapped Josie.
Back at Marco's penthouse, Jordan said, "You sure, boys? You look like you could use a drink."
They walked in to examine Teeno and Frankie. "You're getting there, but take this to help you out," said Jessie.
"Before food," added Jordan.
They popped the capsules into their mouths and swallowed them down with tea.
"Tea? You don't have any mother's milk?" said Teeno.
"Sorry, we're in Dad's house." She kissed him on the head. "We love you. We will never leave you or forsake you. You are our kings and queens, the only men and women in our lives," said Jordan and Jessie.
The words from the Timber wiped their past lives away.
"Heather and Hank, how are you feeling?" asked Jessie.
"A little better, Mom," said Heather.
"You're looking a little better. Lay back down; we will bring breakfast once it arrives," said Jordan.
They laid back down, and the women walked out, closing the doors behind them, and headed into the kitchen.
Meanwhile, back at the Bell's house, "I didn't know he had family," said Christopher.
"Daughters and grandkids. He said they were very sick," said Josie.
"You need to be reasonable. He is the founder of Houston. He came here with his daughters, he built this land when it was bare, and if he had to call it off, it was for a good reason. If he said his family is here and not well, you need to stop thinking just about your own feelings," said Martha.
"He paid the way for all of us to come and live here. Be thankful," said John.
Back at the penthouse, Marco put the coffee on the stove. " "One by one they will come. And when they do, I'll give this penthouse to Ross and the boys to stay in, stock it with food, and give them their payment. I'll move back to the Black Timber homestead as the head of this family and the inner circle," said Marco.
"Your room, study, and office await, Dad," said Jordan with a smile. He kissed them on the head just as the food arrived.
Over at the Bells', once they finished eating, got cleaned up, and dressed to start their day, Josie bought some get-well flowers and headed over to the house.
Jordan opened the door to let the food delivery in. When she saw a woman standing at the door holding flowers, Jessie paid the delivery driver and closed the door. They poured some coffee.
Josie knocked hard on the door. Jessie opened it.
"Who the hell are you? 'Sick, my ass'! asked Josie.
Jessie raised an eyebrow. "You handle this. I have to take food to my kids," said Jessie, turning away.
"Dad, someone's at the door for you. Me too, sis," called Jordan as they fixed their kids' plates and walked down the hall.
Marco put his mug down and walked to the door.
"You see two women have kids by them—is this the family?! Answer me! I pay for you and your family, I asked to come in, and I can pay to have you removed and vanished, too!" Marco rated.
"I do not have to answer to you. You are not my wife and you never will be my wife. We are done. They are my daughters, dumbass! The ones who are sick are my grandsons and granddaughter. You are not an Anderson-Mitrail, and you are no authority or crown Mitrail either. Leave me alone and bug off!"
He slammed the door right in her face and walked back down the hall.
They walked into the room and began helping the boys eat.
"So, boys, how about another egg-in-one?" said Marco.
"Huh? I'm finding, Grandpa... honestly, I'm not thirsty," said Cameron.
"I pass. Look, I do not want that cheap booze again," cried Preston.
"No one kicks the habit that quick. I got something you're going to like," he said, and walked out.
"You need to eat something," said Jessie.
Just as Marco was about to walk into the kitchen, Josie knocked on the door again. He sat two glasses on the counter and opened the door.
"I'm sorry. Just don't end it with me, Marco, please. I thought your daughters were young," said Josie.
"Sorry, my family or bloodline is not your concern or business. No, it's not going to work out. I already knew we are two different kinds. You come from money because your family owns a gold mine back east; me, I'm wealthy because my family earned every drop of blood working the cattle factions up south. I have more money than you could ever put together. I didn't want that titled money; in fact, I wanted land to make a state. I've watched my daughters grow up doing their own career paths, working the frontier as farmers and law women raising their kids. And my sons-in-law will return to claim their spots as my patriarch and monarch, and my blood son will return and awaken as the anarchy. The inner circle will be full—the six. There is no seven in my circle. Go put your hooks in someone else."
He closed the door in her face and went into the kitchen, leaving her with a broken heart.