The nanny was gone, and Tavon had no one left to ask for advice.
Sandy said, "Dad, about what Mckenzie told mest night-I couldn''t really ask her to stay. Now that our family''s fallen, it''s only natural she''d want to leave."
"When the roof caves in, everyone heads for the door." Tavon sighed. "Go swap shifts with your brother at the hospital, will you?"
He''de home early, half-worried the Stantons might run into them at the hospital and cause more trouble.
"Okay, Dad. You should take a break, too." Sandy''s voice was unexpectedly gentle. "We''ve been through enough. I just want us to stick together now, not let things get any worse."
"...Alright." For the first time in a long while, Tavon noticed how much Sandy had changed.
She seemed to have grown up overnight. The stubborn anger she always carried had faded away. She almost felt like the sweet Sandy he remembered from years ago.
After Sandy left, Tavon sat alone on the couch in the living room, gazing around as memories of the Morton family''s glory days washed over him. Now it was all gone, and he couldn''t help but feel a deep sense of regret.
He''d always poured his heart into thepany, only to see it unravel at the hands of his own kids. Maybe this was karma, after all.
After a while, Tavon climbed the stairs to Ashley''s room.
The master bedroom was huge-almost 600 square feet, with a walk-in closet bigger than most people''s living rooms, packed with designer clothes and handbags. And that was just one of her closets.
A ss door led out to a terrace with sturdy railings, where Ashley''s flowers and nts thrived, always perfectly kept.
Ashley had always known how to enjoy life. She grew up pampered by the Stantons, and after she married Tavon, she never had to worry about anything. Her whole life had been one offort and luxury.
Tavon let out a long sigh and sat down in the spot where Ashley''s ident happened. He lit a cigarette and stared out into the sky.
Riverdale.
At the Franco house-
Monica had stayed at the hospitalte into the night to check on Pattie after her surgery, and copsed into bed as soon as she got home.
When she woke, the house was oppressively quiet.
Monica preferred a lively home. Her ex-boyfriends were all sweet, clingy types who''d send her “good morning” and “good night” messages every day—she never felt alone.
But with Jason, things were different. She was always the one making allowances. He was always busy; even when they managed to go on a date, he''d get called away for work at a moment''s notice.
No matter how lonely Monica felt, she had to act like she was fine with it. She didn''t dare make a scene.
Otherwise, she''d just seem unreasonable.
Jason''s job was demanding, and Monica often wondered if she could really handle this kind of loneliness.
She tossed off her covers and walked over to the big window. Pouring herself a ss of warm water, she just stood there, staring out at the world outside.
Time ticked by-nine, then ten, then eleven.
Her phone was full of calls and messages from her boutique, but not a single word from Jason.
Then, finally, her phone rang. It was her mom, Abby.
Monica picked up, "Hey, Mom."
"Monica, sweetie, just woke up?" Abby''s voice was warm. "How about you bring Jason over for dinner tonight? I''ll make something you both like. Let him know ahead of time, okay?"
Ever since Monica started dating Jason—a real detective with a steady job-Abby had been thrilled. So much better than those clingy boys from before.
Her daughter finally seemed to have her head on straight. Abby was even hoping they''d get married soon, so she could finally have a grandchild to spoil.
"Mom, I''m not sure he''ll be free," Monica said awkwardly. "I''ll ask himter, but... he probably won''t make it."
She hated to let her mom down, but she couldn''t control Jason''s schedule.
"Busy again, huh?" Abby sounded disappointed, but quickly perked up. "That''s okay, just let me know if he''sing. I''ll get everything ready if he can make it." "Okay," Monica said, eager to change the subject. "How''s Dad''s business going?"
"Oh, it''s good, Your dad''s got big ns-wants to open another thrift shop," Abby chuckled. "He''s not
young anymore, but he just won
slow down. We''ve got enough saved, and once your brother graduates, we''ll have no more worries. All that''s left is for you and your brother to get married..."
Monica listened to her mom''s gentle nagging, but her heart just wasn''t in it. She''d
once been excited about marrying Jason, buttely that idea felt less urgent.
She thought about how Herman was always by Anastasia''s side-no matter what, he''d drop everything to be there f for her. If Monica needed something, half the time she couldn''t even get Jason to answer the phone.
ve
After a while, Monica said, "Mom, I''ve got to go to the hospital to check on Pattie. She had surgery yesterday, so I need to see how she''s doing. I''ll talk to youter, okay?"
She hung up, got dressed, and headed out, weighed down by worries she didn''t know how to say out loud.