Tavon was acting strange-one minute asking Anastasia to get James toe over, the next telling her to forget it, and then suddenly checking in on Salma. Anastasia couldn''t help but feel suspicious.


    "Dad, what''s going on?" she asked over the phone. "You sound like you''ve just discovered the secret to happiness or something. Are you... sick? Like, seriously sick?"


    Only something that heavy could make someone suddenly grow a conscience.


    As the saying goes, people speak kindly when they think the end is near. Tavon was quiet for a beat.


    "Oh,e on. One person wishing I''d croak isn''t enough, now there''s a second?" he blurted out before he could catch himself.


    Anastasia caught on immediately. "Wait-who else wants you gone? Dad, what aren''t you telling me?"


    She heard car horns ring in the background. "Are you outside somewhere?"


    "Yeah, just out for a walk," Tavon said, dodging. “Kids are just karma from another life, you know? You really are hoping I''ll drop dead, huh? Rx, I''m not going anywhere. Worry about your mom, take care of your three kids, and remember to be sweet to your husband. Keep things interesting-guys love that. He''s got status, there''s temptation everywhere, don''t let your guard down..."


    Tavon shifted the topic so smoothly that Anastasia let it slide.


    Getting rtionship advice from your own dad was just awkward.


    Since he seemed in a rare good mood, Anastasia changed the subject. "Dad, when are youing to Riverdale? How''s everything over there?"


    "All good. I''lle by when I get the chance," Tavon said, only half sincere. "I''m busy these days-old friends keep inviting me out. If I''m not birdwatching, I''m at the park dancing."


    Anastasia didn''t think much of it. They chatted a little longer until work called her away, so she hung up and got back to her day.


    On Tavon''s end, the second he hung up, all the energy drained out of him.


    He''d lived here for decades, raised kids, built a life—yet now it all felt so lonely.


    Maybe this was what people meant by karma.


    Riverdale.


    Anastasia was buried in work at the studio, but she promised herself she''d have dinner with Monica that night. She''d been so busytely she hadn''t even checked in on her friend, and honestly, she had no clue how Monica was holding up.


    Ever since Rowan left, that whole situation fizzled out, and Jason hadn''t been in touch either.


    By five, Anastasia packed up and drove straight to Monica''s salon. She didn''t call ahead-she wanted it to be a surprise.


    As soon as she got out of the car, she heard chaos from inside: voices shouting, a kid crying.


    There was a crowd in the lobby. Anastasia squeezed through and there was Alisa''s daughter, I,


    clutching Monica''s arm, her fac


    blotchy from crying. "You''re a bad person! You hurt my mom, you stole


    Papa Jason, you matte my inar go


    to jail! You''re a bad woman!"


    I''s words were all mixed up, but it was easy to misunderstand if you were just listening in.


    Monica was pinned by the little girl and couldn''t exactly push her off-too many people watching, and arguing with a kid would just look bad.


    "Let go," Monica said, clearly losing patience. She turned to a staff member. "Call the police, get someone from the station toe pick her up."


    This wasn''t I''s first meltdown, and Monica was obviously at the end of her rope.


    It was always the same: the police would take I home, and she''d be back the next day.


    The Browns-I''s grandparents-never bothered to step in. It was pretty clear they were letting I run wild on purpose.


    Monica was convinced they were the ones pulling the strings.


    Spotting Anastasia, Monica finally wrestled herself free from I''s grip, signaled for


    an employee to hold the girl back, and marched toward the door.


    Anastasia got the hint and followed.


    As soon as they got to the car, Anastasia asked, “What''s up with that kid?"


    "Debt collector, obviously," Monica said, sliding into the passenger seat, exasperated and tired. "I''m pretty sure those two fossils put her up to it. They tried to scam me for money before when I refused, they started sending the kid to make a scene. It''s ridiculous."


    Anastasia was stunned. "What, are they crazy? How do they even think that''s okay?"


    "Birds of a feather, right? They''ve got working legs but left their brains somewhere along the way. Alisa came to me for pensation'' too, as if lowed her anything. Shended herself in jail by always trying topete with everyone. She got


    Monica..


    exactly what she d


    what she deserved. Morica


    shook her head, her frustration


    obvious. “And this kid—I can''t hit her,


    I can''t yell at her, but shees


    every day and scares off half my clients."