So Who's Bruce?

It's dinner time at the local pizza hut.

Shantavia is taking the free moments she has to get caught up on some of her projects.

"Are you ready to order?"  (Waitress)

"Not yet.  I'm waiting for my daughter to arrive first."  (Shantavia)

"Okay.  I'll check back in a bit."  (Waitress)

"Can I get spaghetti?"  (Older Daughter)

"Sure.  You can get whatever you want."  (Mark)

"Are you guys ready to order?"  (Waitress)

"I think we are.   I'll have a small personal pan combo pizza."  (Linda)

"And we will both have your spaghetti and meatballs."  (Mark)

"Okay. I'll go put your order in."  (Waitress)

Meanwhile, Jason has arrived without Jada.  He sits down across from Shantavia.

"Hey."  (Jason)

"Hey.  Where's Jada?"  (Shantavia)

"She's in the car with Lynn.  I needed to talk to you first."  (Jason)

"Today when we were at the store, she called out to some man named Bruce.  Do you know anything about this?"  (Jason)

"Bruce was at the store?  Bruce is a friend of mine."  (Shantavia)

"I take it he's been hanging around my daughter? "  (Jason)

"He has met Jada, but he doesn't 'hang around' her."  (Shantavia)

"What do you know about this guy?"  (Jason)

"Here we go, again.  Why is it that every time I get a friend, you want to give me the 3rd degree like I'm your child."  (Shantavia)

"My concern is Jada, and making sure some dude doesn't get too close to my daughter.  You know there are some crazy people out here that do crazy things with kids."  (Jason)

"Yes, I know that.  I'm not stupid enough to trust any man around her without me being there.  She is my main concern, too."  (Shantavia)

"Well I want to meet this Bruce guy to make sure he understands."  (Jason)

"When the time is right, you will meet him, but for now, you will just have to trust that I can protect her, just like I trust you every time she is in your care.  Now please go get my daughter.  I haven't seen her all week."  (Shantavia)

"One pizza and two orders of spaghetti.  I'll be right back with your drinks and some silverware." (Waitress)

"There's my little angel."  (Shantavia)

"Mommy missed you.  Did you have a good time?"  (Shantavia)

"Hi mommy.  Yes, but Daddy forgot to take me to the zoo."  (Jada)

"I didn't forget, Jada.  It was way too hot to be at the zoo.  We will do it when it gets cooler."  (Jason)

"We will continue our conversation, later."  (Jason to Shantavia)

"Jason, there isn't anything left to discuss.  Jada, say bye to your daddy."  (Shantavia)

"Bye, Daddy."  (Jada)

"Bye honey.  Shantavia I will call you tomorrow."  (Jason)

"Goodbye, Jason."  (Shantavia)

Headed To and From Chicago (Photostory)

Mike and Adele have successfully found a place to live and they are headed back to Chicago to finalize things.  Adele's sister, Linda is there with her two kids.  Their father is arriving from Chicago today, to see them.  It's been 7 months since the last time they laid eyes on each other.

Boarding Gate B-25

There's Kim.  One of the college students.  She has a part time job at the airport running the concession stand.

"We've been so busy, we didn't get a chance to talk about your house hunting."  (Linda)

"Well, considering Mike was almost impossible, I'm just glad we were able to find a place."  (Adele)

"She's exaggerating.  I wasn't that bad."  (Mike)

"Not bad?  I thought Sunni was going to push you out of her car without slowing down." (Adele)

"We got what we wanted, didn't we?"  (Mike)

"Ms. Sato, you are all set."  (Attendant)

"Thank you."  (Kyori)

"Good news.  She can offer us a business class upgrade for $25 each."  (Kyori's Stylist)

"That's great news!  Will we get the upgrade all the way to L.A.?"  (Kyori)

"Mommy, when will Daddy be here?"  (Daughter)

"When they open up the doors, that means his flight has landed and he will be coming through the doors shortly after that."  (Linda)

"Ok, now what are you fussing about?  Maybe you are hungry."  Adele)

"What can I get you ladies, today?"  (Kim)

"Ummm, I think I will just have a bottle of Perrier."  (Kyori)

"And for you Miss?"  (Kim)

"I'll take a pretzel.  All that salt is going to leave me bloated, but I can't resist."  (Kyori's Stylist)

"Oooh look, Sydney.  Mommy has graham crackers for you."  (Adele)

"Watching the door is not going to make the plane come any faster."  (Linda)

"I know, but this way I won't miss him when he comes."  (Daughter)

"Honey, would you like a drink or something?"  (Mike)

"No, I have water in my purse."  (Adele)

Kyori and her stylist take a seat on the bench and chit chat for a bit.

"Flight 516 is now arriving from Chicago."  (voice on the loudspeaker)

"Oh good.  They've opened the doors.  Shouldn't be long before we can board."  (Kyori)

Suddenly people start coming through the doors.  Linda's daughter is standing there looking for her daddy.  She starts getting worried because it seems like everyone has come through the doors.  Suddenly, he appears in the doorway.

"DADDY!"  (Daughter)

Mark is happy to hear that familiar sound that he hasn't heard in awhile.

"Hi sweetheart.  It's so good to see you."  (Mark)

Linda stands and waits for Mark to come see his other daughter.

"Hello, Linda."  (Mark)

"Hey."  (Linda)

Mark picks up his youngest daughter and takes a seat.

"Daddy, did you bring me something?"  (Daughter)

"I brought you me.  Is that enough?"  (Mark)

"Yes, but did you bring me something else, too?" (Daughter)

Clearly the girls are excited to see him.  Seven months is a long time apart.  Adele and Mike are happy to see Mark, too.  They remember the good times when this family was still together.  I wonder what happened?  I will have to ask both Linda and Mark.  You know they each will have their version of the story.

"Well, it's time.  I'm going to start preboarding for Flight 708."  (Attendant)

"Attention:  We will begin preboarding Flight 708, nonstop to Chicago, in just a few minutes.  Please have your boarding pass and ID ready.  Please board only when your row is called.  Thank you."  (voice over the loudspeaker)