Chapter 38 - Love the Second Time Around

We had hardly had time to do more than exchange a chorus of 'what are you doing here' before a small whirlwind came clomping over with her braids a-flying. She enveloped her father in a enthusiastic hug, and to my surprise I found myself in her embrace a moment later.

"Daddy! I jumped and didn't fall down!"

My name is Erica Lakehurst. This is my story. I doubt anyone will believe it, but I need to tell someone. Here is as good a place as any to start. It's a difficult story to tell and even harder to accept, but I hope it will strike a note with at least a few readers...

The day before St. Patrick's Day would be Katie's 33rd birthday if she existed outside of the story realm. In celebration of that, I wrote this story. It is not set in the present day. Too many issues I don't want to deal with. You will have to figure out when it is on your own accord.

Chapter Four – Walter and Alice

We find out more about the Essex Slasher's past and Glenda and the Chief Constable have a secret rendezvous. Charlie and Robin's relationship takes an unexpected turn.

“Mom,” I called downstairs, “I don’t have any underwear!”

A few moments later my mom was standing in my doorway looking at me. I was late for breakfast having ignored my sister the first time she told me to get up and now my sisters were downstairs eating while I was still wearing my pajamas.

“What’s all over your floor,” my mom said while she glared at me.

“Dirty clothes,” I said.

“So,” she said sternly, “you do have underwear - only they are all dirty as you haven’t put them in the hamper like I’ve told you to do a hundred times.”