Rebuilding Begins

 The Barbieville Business Owners Association is focusing on the members impacted worst by the flood.  Mei Chang has lost home, cafe, and husband.  Four Eaton his grandfather/business partner.  Iris Patrick her tailoring business. Whitney Darling's father owned WDLC, was lost in the flood, and she inherited.  

Rose-Grace: This may be weird, but we've never been a normal town, have we?  Sulu suggested this meeting and has offered campsites on his property to anyone lost their home.  Most of the losses were homes, some residents are being housed in motels by insurance, but many are not.  If you know of anyone in need, please send them his way. 

Dionne:  I can't pay near what you were making from the cafe, but Helena House needs kitchen staff.  Do you think you're up for supervising a bunch of kids as they learn basic cooking skills?  We can also offer room and board. 

Mei: You can board all four of us?  We would only need two rooms - one for we girls and a smaller one for Qi - until I find a house. We won't need boarding permanently.  

Dionne: Of course.  Now, let's talk about wages and benefits. 

Pocahontas:  I was discussing you and Dawn with Tierra, my entertainment head.  We could use you for wardrobe on shows.  Tierra's got a lot of ideas.

Iris: It would just be me.  Dawn's moved on.  

Pocahontas: Really?  Well, that's fine.  I really didn't know if I'd have enough work for both of you. We'll order the costumes premade and you'd just have to make alterations and mending.  Doesn't pay much, though. 

Iris: Coby makes more than enough to support us.  My shop was more of a hobby.  

Four:  I don't know if I can make it without Bapo.  I'm still so new at tattooing professionally.  

Whitney:  At least you're trained.  What do I know about running a TV station? 

Okoye: I can help you there, Miss Darling.  I'd like to buy you out.  

Whitney: Who are you?

Four:  That's Okoye, the media mogul.  You just got your butt saved, my friend.  

A man comes in while everyone is conferring. 

Tony:  I'm Anthony Lucas, Rayshawn's brother.  I'll be handling matters for his family for now.  (To Rose-Grace) My brother speaks highly of this town and of the lovely mayor.  I just stopped in to introduce myself and let anyone who might be concerned know that Marty is in good hands.  

After the meeting, Rose-Grace finds Agent Danvers in the parking lot. 

Carol: We need to talk, ASAP, in a secure location.  The sabotage at the dam is way bigger than I thought.  

Rose-Grace: Come to my office in the morning.  

Sulu notices lights on in the greenhouse shop and investigates.

Sulu:  Mattie?!  What are you doing here?!  

Mattie: I came home.  My place is here with my family. 

Sulu: Umm... okay.  Can we talk about that hair? 

Sunday Afternoon

 Whitney starts her shift at Sunburst.

Jessie:  Hey, Whitney.  Did Tris tell you my brothers were moving to town? 

Whitney: Yes, she did.  She also told me about her parents leaving town.  Good riddance, if you ask me. 

Jessie:  They're actually leaving?  I thought that was a ploy to make her feel bad for marrying badly.  Anyway, this is Ebenezer in the orange and Khalil with all the braids.

Ebenezer:  Nice to meet you, ma'am.  

Whitney:  Ma'am?  I like you. 

Khalil: Hey, little man, don't be macking on all the women before I get the chance.  (To Whitney)  I understand your police chief has a zero tolerance policy for racism. 

Whitney:  She doesn't have much tolerance for any bigotry.  If it's actual bigotry and not a misunderstanding.   Like sometimes people are just ignorant but well-intentioned. 

Jessie:  Khalil, back off.  You sound like a fanatic. (To Whitney) He starts duty tomorrow, but he's never actually met Lynch.  Phone interviews, e-mails.  When she found out he was a Cooper, she snatched him right up. 

Khalil: You'd sound like a fanatic, too, if you'd been turned down for several jobs because your dad's Rom and your mom's black.  

Jessie (sarcastically): Like that's never happened to me.  Try being a woman on top of being a black Rom. 

Whitney: Well, on that note, I'll let you look over the menu and take care of  my other table. 

Whitney goes to the kitchen and brings out the food. 

Whitney: Can I get anything else for you?

Carol: No, thank you. 

Paige: Mom, we would like to be introduced to the people in this town.  We're going to be working and living here, and we'd like to make friends.  You might like being a hermit, but we don't. 

Paige: My sister and I will be working at the medical center.  I'm an optometrist and she's an ophthalmologist.  

Ellie: She's Paige, I'm Ellie.  You know our mother? 

Whitney: Yes, I know Agent Danvers.  I'm Whitney Darling.  I work here and I'm majoring in Undecided at the local college.  

Carol: Whitney's future mother-in-law is the mayor.  And her father owns the local TV station.  (To Whitney)  False modesty doesn't suit you. 

Whitney (offended, but polite): I don't define myself through Tanner, his stepmother, or Dad. 

Paige (as Whitney walks away):  What the hell was that, Mom?  

****

Once the Coopers have ordered and Whitney serves their food, Jessie returns to gossiping with her.

Jessie:  We told Khalil to try getting a job here because, like he said, there's still a lot of bigots in the system.  He's got a stellar resume, but... 

Ebenezer:  They keep using his hair as an excuse.  Girl cops don't gotta have short hair, so why should guy cops? 

Whitney:  I'm pretty sure BPD's policy is just that it be tidy.  Lynch has longer hair than me and she  just pulls it beck in a ponytail most of the time.  (To Khalil)  But if your hair has religious or cultural significance, they legally can't make you cut it.  

Khalil: They legally can't refuse to hire me because of my ethnicity, either, but they sure have been doing it.  Not all of them, but enough of them that I got fed up. 

Ebenezer: But then Jessie and Bapo told us this town has a black lady mayor and Khalil decided to send Barbieville a copy of his resume.  Next thing he knows, he's got a job offer!  And since Jessie's roomie moved out, we can live with her and I'll have my own room. 

Whitney: I wonder what it's like to have your own room?  I share with my little sister and my daughter.

Here Comes The Grooms

 Oksana hurries into the venue on a very important mission.

Oksana: Now, don't forget.  Grampy Dean and them got stucked in a blizzard, so they gotta watch on my tablet.  Make sure you got it pointed the right way and... 

Bonnie:  I'll take that, Ox.  Don't worry.  The Mellarks are in good hands. 

Oksana: OK.  Daddy P said he's gonna be really mad if you mess up! 

Bonnie: As he should be. 

Peeta and Ken come down separate aisles, Peeta accompanied by Oksana and Ken by Tommy.  

Wilma:  Oh, Mommy, look... 

Whitney (covering Wilma's mouth and whispering) This is why I had to talk them into letting you come.  You have to be quiet. 

Peeta spares a sad glance at the empty seats his family should be in, nearly stumbling over Oksana as he does.  He hopes no one noticed.  

Tanner and Finnick stand at the front, acting as Best Man for each of the grooms.  Mayor Rose-Grace Pike acts as officiant.   The ceremony is simple, an exchange of the traditional vows.  Oksana keeps a close eye one her aunt Bonnie, making sure Grampy Dean's family can see. 

Finnick:  Tanner designated me to make a speech for both of us, since I "do sappy stuff" better and since we have the same story.  Ken was the first person to befriend the new kids to town.  (pause) It was never a secret that Peeta was gay. Peeta says that's because he's Jewish and used to being persecuted, but really it's just that Ken's a bit of a wuss.  Took Ken almost three years to let us in on his secret.  He was afraid we'd run screaming for the hills, which was pretty stupid of him.

Ken:  Yeah, it was. 

Finnick: We were glad when  they finally hooked up after all the times we'd advised them to.  In the wise words of Frodo Dean (nods at Frodo) "You ain't gonna find anyone more compatible ever."   Some folks will say they're too young to marry, but those people do not know Peeta and Ken.  (toasts them)  Now, a few words from Miss Oksana Carson-Mellark.  Or is it Mellark-Carson?

Oksana: Just Carson.  My daddies decided that was easier.  (deep breath) The orphan house lady told me I was gonna have two daddies and I said "WHAT?" I didn't even know that sometimes boys marry boys!  Then my friend Vash got dopted by two mommies!  Anyways... I'm super happy to see my new daddies get married and promise to be a good daughter as much as I can.  Now it's Grammy Doreen's turn.

Doreen: I met Dean Mellark went he came to work at the school.  We bonded over both having been recently widowed and were happy when our sons became fast friends.  We were both delighted - if a bit surprised, to be honest - when they started dating and now I'm standing here making a speech for both of us at our boys' wedding. Now, let's stop talking and start celebrating! 

Making Plans

 Sunburst, early evening 

Whitney:  What are you guys up to tonight?  And who is this little lady? 

Peeta: We filed for an adoption, figuring we wouldn't get a kid until after the wedding.  Well, here she is!  (To Oksana)  This is our friend Whitney.  She's Tanner's girlfriend and has a little girl about your age. 

Finnick: Man, you called us down here to talk about the wedding?  Again? 

Whitney: Hey, a wedding takes a lot of planning.  You have no idea how many times we met while planning Tris's.  Probably because all Four did was show up that day.  He let her do all the work. 

Tanner:  Well, traditionally, that's how it works.  Not my fault this particular wedding has two guys! 

Whitney: Well, I certainly hope you don't think you're off the hook if we get married.  Same goes for you, Finnick.  

Oksana:  You're silly.  You can't marry both of them! 

Finnick:  My girlfriend is one of her best friends, Oksana.  (To Whitney)  Has Nakoma said something?  Because we agreed -- 

Peeta: --to wait a couple years.  For no good reason, I might add.  Nakoma is one of the wealthiest women in town and you've got a steady job.  Me and Ken are living in his mother's house! 

Finnick: Mind your own business, freeloaders.  

Ken:  Okay, we will.  I think we can make her a flower girl.  We're both coming down an aisle - side aisles instead of the center one - and this way Tommy walk with one of us as ring bearer and Oksana with the other.  You dudes of honor wait up by the altar as planned. 

Tanner: Seriously, guys, just go to Step-mom's office and have her do it there. 

Whitney:  Geez, maybe I should do all the planning if I marry you.  You're about as romantic as a kick in the shins.  

******

At another table, Dionne and Maisie go over their plans.

Dionne:  We can have girls in the north wing and boys in the south.  Center area is common ground.  

Maisie (silencing her phone): That arrangement isn't going to do much to stop gay residents from doing it.  Where do we put any non-binary or trans residents?  

Dionne: Gays don't generally get accidentally pregnant.  That's the main thing I want to prevent. 

Maisie: Dionne, I know it's a mansion, but is it really big enough to house all the foster kids in this county?  Even if you make those huge third floor spaces into wards for the preadolescents, I don't see how you can pull this off.  

Dionne:  It won't be easy.  But -- wait a minute, why aren't you taking that call?

Maisie:  It's her again.  You know if I answer, she's going to guilt me into it. 

Dionne:  Give me the phone.  I'll deal with her. 

Kids These Days

 Snape and Diana, moving her into her new home, take a lunch break.

Whitney: Well, hello, Mr. Snape.  How have you been? 

Snape: Quite well.  Have you met my sister?  Diana, this is a former student of mine, Whitney Darling.  I imagine she's a student of yours now.  

Whitney: Oh, you must be the new History instructor.  

Diana: Yes, I am.  

Whitney:  I guess I'll see you this evening, then.  I'm in the eight o'clock class. 

Snape: Whitney's an excellent student.  (to Whitney) Have you decided on a major? 

Whitney: Not yet.  My father wants me to go into broadcasting, my boyfriend's aunt wants me in paleontology, my daughter wants me to be a doctor... 

Snape: No pressure from Tanner to go into animal husbandry? (To Diana) Whitney is dating the heir apparent of Windu Acres.  Rose-Grace's stepson. 

Whitney: I should have a career of my own, so I can take care of myself if...  you know, if anything happens. 

William: You flirt with men old enough to be your father?  

Whitney: He's a teacher at the high school.  And what you call flirting is part of my job description.

William: When are you coming into the studio?  

Whitney: I'm not.  I told you, broadcasting doesn't interest me. 

Charlotte: You should treat your father with more respect.  

Whitney: I don't believe politely declining a job offer is disrespectful, Mrs. Jackson.  

Charlotte (to William): My own children are disrespectful as well.  They rarely check in on me or their father, who is hospitalized.  Our generation -- 

William: This is a business lunch.  I prefer not to discuss personal matters. 

Charlotte: I understand.  Since Rayshawn is running late, I suppose I could summarize for you what we have in mind. 

*** 

Whitney rushes to class after work. 

Nakoma: There you are!  I was getting worried. 

Whitney: I met our new prof today.  She's Snape's sister.

Nakoma: Oh, dear.  I hope she's nicer than him.  

Esperanza: Who's Snape?  Your ex?

Nakoma: Chemistry teacher at the high school.  I don't have an ex. 

Ken: Did you hear that?  We're getting a female Snape!  

Frodo: Chill, man.  Mom met her when she was enrolling her little boy at school.  Mom said she's really nice.  Great sense of humor. 

Ken: She must have gotten all the sense of humor genes in the family.  

Lies and Gossip

 Zenobia and Boudicca have been summoned to Judge's Chambers.

Judge: It is unusual for me to speak directly with witnesses, but both attorneys have agreed provided they are present.  What I want isn't evidence, per se.  It's context to help me decide on sentencing. Both of you had obvious reactions to your father's testimony, which intrigues me. 

Zenobia: If Mom knew about my van, she wouldn't have kept quiet.  She would have told me and encouraged me to prosecute the thief.  If there'd been drugs in it, she'd have seen to it I was prosecuted. She was very into teaching us that actions have consequences. 

Boudicca: I'm beginning to think Dad needs psychiatric help.  That entire scenario sounds more like him protecting the family name than anything she would have done.  

Zenobia:  You were always more forgiving than me.  The man is a liar, plain and simple. 

Andre: Your Honor, I have to object.  Miss Malfoy is accusing my client of perjury.

Judge: Objection noted.  Is there anything else you'd like me to consider? 

Boudicca:  He's always been more concerned with the family's public image than with our own feelings.  He wanted to legally disown Zenobia a long time ago, but Mom wouldn't hear of it.  Personally, I think he's the one who hid the vehicle away.  Whether he's lying or delusional I'll leave to the experts. 

Zenobia: His first-born was supposed to be a lot of things I'm not. But none of that really bears on the case, except the van.  And the question of why it was in hiding doesn't change the fact that he used it to do what he did.

Judge: I'll take Boudicca's advice and consult with the professionals already on the case.  Thank you for your time. ladies. 

**** 

As a result of this meeting, the keytar player for Sarcastic Fringehead is late for rehearsal. 

Zenobia: Thanks for waiting, guys.  Talk to me about anything that's not my dad, please! 

Whitney: Finnick was telling us he doesn't think Maddie Sulu needs guitar lessons and Nakoma wants to punch Esperanza in the nose.

Tanner: I wanna punch Esperanza in the nose.  Just because she gets you so worked up.  

Whitney: I just worry that she might be right.  Even just a little. 

Tanner: Well, she ain't right.  If I had a problem with our relationship, I'd talk to you about it.  

Nakoma: It's not just you, anyway.  She's spreading tales about Finnick and Mattie, too.  Among others. 

Zenobia: It's just gossip.  Do you have any ideas how many times the gossip mill's had me pregnant?  

Nakoma: Mattie is a minor.  Finnick could get arrested. 

Zenobia: Nobody's gonna get arrested based on gossip.  Investigated, maybe, but not arrested. 

Mattie Settles In

 Sulu's (the local greenhouse/nursery) 

Mattie is puttering around, enjoying her first full day of work in her new family's business. The bell on the door chimes.

Mattie: I'll be right with you!  

Mattie: What can I do for you? 

Jessie: I'm Jessie Cooper, I work for Joe Montez.  I need to put in an order for a large landscaping job. 

Mattie: Oh, Su- I mean, Dad - hasn't trained me on that yet.  I'll have to call him in from the property.  

Jessie: He's on the way in.  I flagged him down from the parking lot.  You must be Mattie.  How are you settling in? 

Mattie: I like it here.  They even gave me my own room, even though I would've been fine sharing.  And the work so far has been a lot easier than what I did before.  Waitressing. 

Jessie: I know what you mean.  Joe's a contractor, so we do construction.  I go home exhausted every night, but I don't normally deal with the public.  My roomie waits tables and she - well, my former roomie, I should say.  She recently had to move back into the family home. 

Mattie:  As long as they keep their hands to themselves, I never minded the public.  It's the going home exhausted part that got to me! 

Sulu: Thanks for waiting, Jessie.  I was checking on the hives. 

Jessie: I figured as much since you looked like a snowman out there. Mattie's a nice girl. 

Sulu: We've been quite pleasantly surprised.  Adopting an older child is always a risk. 

Jessie: Did you really adopt her without ever meeting her?  

Sulu: Sort of.  We'd seen her records and met her over video chat.  Now, what's up with this huge landscaping job?  Since when does Joe do landscaping? 

****

Speaking of Jessie's former roomie, Zenobia is resting after rehearsal with Sarcastic Fringehead. 

Zenobia: He thinks I'm not going to press charges.  Said my primary duty is to family. 

Whitney: Well, my dad's an ass, but I don't think I'd -- 

Zenobia: Your dad never ran over your mom with your stolen vehicle. (pauses to collect herself)  I'm sorry, Whitney, I know your dad's done some awful things, but...  never mind, it's not a contest.  I'm just venting and probably telling you stuff I shouldn't. 

Tanner: Since our mom is the star witness? 

Finnick: Probably not supposed to tell anyone anything.  

Taylor (entering): Hey, Finnick, you wanna make a little extra money? 

Tanner: Hey!  Don't come in here during rehearsal! 

Taylor: It's been five minutes since you stopped.  I waited and y'all are hibernating in here.  (To Finnick) That girl Sulu and Lynch adopted is looking for a guitar teacher.  She said she's just getting started, but Sulu said she's been taking lessons for years, so I don't know what's up with that. 

Finnick: Let me guess.  You were showing her around school and just happened to mention that I play. 

Taylor: Something like that.  She's pretty nice.  Kinda quiet. 

Whitney: Is she pretty? 

Finnick: What the hell? Why would that matter? 

Zenobia: Because Esperanza, that's why.  Whit worries way too much about what that idiot thinks. 

Whitney: Be nice. 

Zenobia: Oh, that was way nicer than what I was thinking. 

Finnick: I'll talk to Sulu or Lynch about it, Taylor.  We should be able to arrange something. 

A Lucky Break?

 Note: COVID masks are invisible to readers.  The hospital allows up to two people to be in the ER waiting room if they're with an ER patient. 

After Pike and Rose-Grace leave in a hurry, Mace gathers the kids. 

Fred: Sumpin bad happened!  Maybe somebody got dead! 

Mace: It's Candy.  That mad bastard who's running over people hit her, but she is alive. 

Stacie:  Mom?  Why would anyone want to runover Mom?

Tanner: Me and Finnick need to go.  Mom said, since we're adults now, she was going to change the paperwork so Dad's not POA any more. 

Whitney: We can't invade the ER.  That'd be bad even if there wasn't a pandemic on.  

Taylor: Yeah, if you go, everyone's gonna want to.  And don't start with how you'd stop us.  You know damn well you wouldn't argue if we managed to get into the car before you got it started. 

Finnick: She might not have done it yet, though.  You know how she procrastinates stuff like that.  

Nakoma: She's a tough woman.  I bet she's gonna be fine. 

Finnick: I just need to sit tight.

*****

At the hospital.

Pike: They've got medical students working the front desk?  

Boudicca: I help out everywhere, at least until my actual residency starts.  (Goes over the file, updating information as needed.)  This says her maiden name was Barr?  Candy Barr? 

Rose-Grace:  That's one of the reasons she kept Pike's name after they divorced.  Her parents were easily amused.  

Boudicca: All right, then.  It does say that the twins are listed as POA, but I don't think we need to contact them until Dr. Eaton makes a determination on her condition.  I'll be around if you need anything and someone will update you ASAP. 

Pike:  She'll be fine, honey.  She's survived worse.  

Rose-Grace: Are you trying to convince me or yourself? 

Pike:  I'm not sure.  This guy going after Candy makes me wonder if she was working the case.  But don't the cops have their own photographers? 

Rose-Grace: She could have been working on a story about the case.  Probably with someone from the Journal or WDLC.   I can make some calls if you want.

Pike: Maybe later.  Right now, I just need my wife.  Not the mayor. 

*****

When Gabriella and Claudia hear the news, they rush to their best friends' sides.  

Taylor: When they got the call, Mom and Grandpa were giving Dad a hard time for being racially insensitive.  He told me the exact same thing he told the twins - you know, those white boys!  I thought it was great that he treated me equal to them, but no.  They gotta ride him for his word choice.  

Gabriella: Well, it's tricky.  Maybe his word choice could be better, but his heart's definitely in the right place.  He's been such a great dad for you and Nikki.  

Taylor: Candy's been awesome, too.  Oh, Gabriella, I hope she's okay! 

Claudia: Not knowing what's going on is the worst.  

Nikki: Is it weird to be this worried about her?  I mean, she's just my... what... stepdad's ex? 

Claudia: I think of her kind of as your aunt or something.  Would it be weird to worry about Morgan? 

Whitney: I was so mad at you about Esper, and now this.  You could lose your mother. 

Tanner: Hey, Mom getting hurt has nothing to do with that.  You have every right to be mad at me. Even if you're wrong.

Nakoma: Because Esperanza is a meddling drama queen.  Sorry, Whit, I'm with the guys on this one. 

*****

Finally, after an eternity....

Marcus:  Candy's stabilized, but still unconsious.  I've called in a specialist for one of her legs - her knee took the brunt of the impact and is pretty much shattered.  Her vitals look good, all things considered.  

Rose-Grace: That's all?  This guy killed the others. 

Marcus (chuckles):  The others didn't see him coming and jump onto his hood.  By the way, I let the federal agent take Candy's go-pro.  Might be some useful footage on it.