He insisted it would be fine, saying, "That chapter of my life is closed, and I think your mother and I can be perfectly cordial toward one another."

Hopefully that would be the case because Kat had watched her mother eye her father nervously for the last hour. He'd stayed on one side of the pool, drinking his Tom Collins and chatting with Danielle and Mark. Shannon had come along with them, too, looking huge and uncomfortable. And Cassie had surprised all of them by showing up on her own. Kat noticed that her dad looked a little extra spiffy. He'd worn a Tommy Bahama shirt that Kat and the family had given him on his birthday, a pair of khaki shorts (with the shirt tucked in no less and a belt-not typical for her dad), and instead of his usual socks and tennis shoes, he had on flip-flops, which even Kat had to admit gave him a bit of an edge on the coolness factor. Plus if she didn't know better, Kat could've sworn he may have used some Grecian Formula because his normally almost-all-silver head of hair looked less silver today.

Kat's mother sat at the other end of the pool at another table, drinking strawberry daiquiris and chatting with Jamie, who had brought Maddie and Dorothy. Dorothy thought that she was at Lucille Ball's house and she kept referring to Kat as "Lucy," even though Danielle was the redhead.

"Lucy, darling, would you bring me one of those wonderful drinks this nice lady is having." Dorothy pointed to Kat's mother.

Venus winked at her and stood up. "I think I'll make my way over and say hello to your father."

"Mom, do you think that's a good idea?"

"Yes, I do. Go get this lovely woman a drink, Kitty."

Kat eyed Jamie. Maddie and Amber were splashing around in the pool having a great time. "Mom, stay right here and we'll be back with your drink," Jamie said.

Christian walked by with a beer in hand. "What do you think? A half-hour and I'll have the guys help me dig out the pig?"

"Perfect." Kat patted him on the shoulder. "Can you keep watch for a sec? Jamie is going to help me in the kitchen." She nodded her head toward Dorothy.

"Love to," he replied.

"Rock, darling, did you bring your partner today?" Dorothy asked, as Christian sat down next to her.

Christian almost spit out his beer. "Not today, Love."

Jamie and Kat laughed all the way back to the kitchen. A minute later, Danielle joined them. Alyssa had stopped by briefly, having to run to catch a plane to L.A. to spend the holiday with Ian and his family. She and Kat would meet in New Orleans the next evening.

"What's the powwow all about?" Danielle asked.

"My mother is going over to talk to my father. This could end the party right here," Kat said. "I need to make up some more daiquiris. Dorothy wants one."

Danielle peeked outside. "Your father is shaking her hand."

"That's civil," Kat replied.

"I'd say so," Jamie said.

Kat went to the fridge and sliced some more cheese, and placed it on a plate with crackers and salami. "Maybe I'm freaking out over nothing."

"I think so," Danielle said, as she started another pitcher of daiquiris.

"I'm sure she'll bore him with some kind of technique that teaches him how to achieve his dreams." Kat turned to Danielle, trying to forget that her divorced parents were having a conversation that could easily turn into a fight. "I like Mark."

"Me too," Jamie said.

"Good, because so do I. He's great. I mean, he is really great. We're having fun together and I haven't felt so comfortable with a man ever. Not even after twenty-one years with Al."

"He could be the one," Jamie said.

"Slow down. Way down. We're hanging out, taking it slow. Don't be rushing me to the altar." Then she smiled. "But if things keep going this way, who knows?" She shrugged. "Speaking of men, where is Tyler? We were hoping you'd bring him."

"The ranch is having a hoedown. He wanted to come with me and meet everyone, but he's in charge there. I'll probably stop by the ranch when I leave here, but it's hard with Dorothy." She frowned.

"You okay, J?" Danielle asked.

She bit her lower lip. "I quit my job."

"What?" Kat asked.

Danielle looked at her.

She told them all about Evan's restructuring nightmare. "I can't work for someone like that. Not in good conscience. I can't. So, I quit."

"What are you going to do?" Kat asked.

She shrugged. "I don't know, actually. I also put the house up for sale."

Danielle hugged her. "It'll be okay."

Jamie pulled away. "It has to be. Right? Sunday, I'm taking Dorothy over to that Vineyard Escape. I hear it's a great retirement community, but I have to go and talk to my brother-in-law again. He's such a cheapskate but I know I can't afford a retirement community. Sure, I can get another job, but Maddie and I are going to have to downsize quite a bit."

"I might have a temporary job for you," Danielle said.

"I don't need a handout, but thank you."

"No, I'm serious. The Harvest Festival is sneaking up a little too quick for comfort. I'm supposed to have people lined up to do a television spot for a commercial. I'm terrible in front of the camera, and you know so much about wine."

"You're a winemaker," Jamie replied.

"I know but what I mean is that you have knowledge not just about wines, but about foods, and beauty treatments, and all sorts of interesting things. You could help me write the spot and if you star in it, there's a thousand dollars in it for you. I know it's not much, but it'll help with moving costs, I'm sure."

"You should do it, J," Kat said. "You're super photogenic. Do it! You never know what might come out of it."

"You'd be helping me out," Danielle pleaded.

"Fine. Yes. The money will help with the move. I've actually already had an offer on the house."

They finished making the pitcher of daiquiris and took one back to Dorothy.

"Good timing, ladies. I have to go dig out a pig." Christian kissed Dorothy on the cheek.

"Always the gentleman. Such a shame you're gay," Dorothy said.

"It really is." Kat winked at him. She glanced over to see what was going on between her parents. Her mother was polishing off her drink and her dad was now in the pool laughing. Kat sighed, relieved.

Christian was getting Brian and Jeremy out of the pool to help with the pig, and Mark got up to join them. The women followed, curious to see the action. What action it was! Men, heaving and hoeing, grunting and slaving away. The women went to work, putting out the side dishes, plating the shredded pork onto platters, and setting everything up buffet style.

Food, fun, friends on the Fourth. Nothing better.

Jamie wanted to leave so that she could make a quick stop to see Tyler, but Maddie and Amber had been having so much fun that neither one wanted the other to go.

"Can Amber spend the night, Mommy?" Maddie asked.

Kat frowned, knowing then that she wouldn't see Amber for a few days. She would be leaving for New Orleans in the morning and Amber's mom would be picking her up and still have her even after Kat returned.

"I think that's a great idea," Christian said.

"Thank you, Daddy." Amber threw her arms around Christian and then Kat. "Thank you Mommy Kat." Her heart melted yet again.

She put some things together for Amber and sent her off. She hated to see her go, even if it was with Jamie. It was the same feeling she'd had for years every time the Sperm Donor would pick up the boys-a combination of fear and a slight sense of loneliness.

Some of the guests had left already and Kat scanned the area for her mom and dad and Jeremy, but couldn't find them. Christian took her hand. "I get you all to myself tonight."

She smiled, thinking all she wanted to do was climb into her bed and get some sleep. After putting on a big party, and now having to still finish packing, the last thing she had on her mind was romance.

The sun started to set, so everyone climbed up to the top of the hill behind the house to watch the fireworks. Kat and Christian sat with Danielle and Mark.

"Was Cassie in the movie room with the other kids?" Kat asked.

"I don't know. Come to think of it, the last I saw her, she was back in the pool swimming after dinner."

"So was Jer," Christian said.

Danielle and Kat eyed each other.

"They were awfully flirty with each other," Kat said.

"I noticed," Danielle replied.

"Brian?" Kat called out.

"Yeah?" He was a few feet away sitting with one his pals from school.

"Did you see where your brother went?"

"I dunno. I think he's still swimming."

The fireworks started with a display of gold shooting up through the air. Oohs and aahs echoed from onlookers as spirals of color blasted out and danced in the night sky. For those fifteen minutes, all Kat could think about, (and probably Danielle, too), was what their two teens might be up to.

The fireworks ended and people started their hike down the mountain.

Danielle leaned into Kat. "You thinking what I'm thinking about our kids?"

"Only that they could be getting it on with each other anywhere within a few-mile radius?"

"Pretty much."

Brian trotted past them while his friend threw him a football. "Careful, Bri, you could trip and ...," Before Kat finished the sentence it was too late. Brian tripped, fell, and tumbled partially down the hill. Kat screamed out and tried running after him the best she could. Christian beat her to him.

Christian knelt down next to Brian who was moaning. "Okay, son, hang on, hang on a minute here."

Brian cried out. "It hurts!"

"What hurts? Tell me what hurts," Christian said calmly.

"My leg. My leg, it's killing me."

One of their friends handed Christian a flashlight and he shined it on Brian's leg. Kat gasped.

Mark bent down and took the flashlight from Christian. "Let me take a quick look, and then we're going to get you down the hill and go from there, deal?"

Brian's body shook. Kat's mind spun. Mark shone the light in Brian's eyes and then over his body. He turned to Christian. "You get on one side and I'll get on the other and let's get him down the hill."

Christian nodded.

Mark handed the light to Danielle. People were crowding around them. Christian asked them nicely to move out of the way while Danielle flashed the light ahead of them.

"It's going to be okay, sweetie," Kat assured him. In the dim light, she could see tears coming down his face.

"It hurts, Mom."

"I know." She tried to sound as calm as Mark and Christian. Danielle took her hand and they made it down the hill and back into the house.

Once in the light, Brian started to shake. "He's a little shocky. Get me a blanket," Mark ordered. "Let's get him to the hospital. It'll be busy in the emergency room tonight, so I'll call and get you in. I can follow you."

"Would you?" Kat asked.

"Sure. Not a problem."

Danielle squeezed Kat's arm. "I can get the other kids home and clean up. I'll let your mom know what happened."

"Thanks. Don't worry about cleaning up," Kat said. Danielle waved a hand at her. "Just leave it. My car keys are on the hanging thing, the...God, I don't know what you call it, by the door." She'd almost forgotten about her mother. Oh, and Jeremy. Too much to think about. "Jeremy."

"I'll find them and tell him, too. Go on with Brian and Christian. Don't worry. Call me when you can."

Mark kissed Danielle and told her he'd be back to help her as soon as possible. They got Brian into the car. His shaking had lessened but he was still in quite a bit of pain.

"Can you call Dad?" Brian asked.

"I will honey. Let's get you to the hospital first."

A couple of hours later, x-rays revealed that the break, although bad, wasn't as bad as they had all initially thought. Brian had broken the leg in two places, but the good news was the breaks were clean and surgery wasn't needed. Kat could finally sort of relax.

Brian was now occupied watching the FX channel while the cast dried.

His dad finally returned Kat's call. "What do you mean the kid broke his leg?"

"I don't think I need to translate broken leg for you, do I?"