• Chapter 44 "Franchised"

    Beatrice and Michelle were standing in front of a small window, peering out at the room of women preparing to perform for them. Beatrice sipped her tea as Michelle ate a cinnamon roll, neither one saying...

  • Chapter 43 "It Had To Happen Eventually"

    Liam was sitting in one of the armchairs in the office, looking out the window nearby, his fingers twiddling on the top of his cane where Martin's ashes were housed. He bit his lip as he watched a bird...

  • Chapter 42 "Just A Lot Of Hot Air"

    "You know," Michelle said as she pulled her jacket on outside the car, Beatrice standing on the opposite side waiting, "if you'd told me as a child that one day I'd get to see the place giant parade balloons...

  • Chapter 41 "The Hot, New Thing!"

    Casey Kochawski was hiding in her bedroom closet. She could hear the yelling, as always, but this time it wasn't her father and her mother...it was her mother and her babysitter. She couldn't make out...

  • Chapter 40 "Run For Your Life"

    Natasha had never been running in her entire life. Standing in the aisle containing workout clothes, she couldn't believe she was even going to give it an attempt, but Sharla wanted to start a routine...

  • Chapter 48 "Open Sesame"

    Allie was standing in Jenny's kitchen, having coffee at her counter, while Jenny sat at the kitchen table and sipped her own cup. Allie was staring nervously ahead at the fridge, taking in all the magnets...