"With my dad gone," Trisha added, her voice breaking, "who's going to teach me? I had to find a way to practice. And CeeCee has her permit, has been through Driver's Ed, and we thought she could teach me how to do it. With Mom the way she is, I was sure we could be back before she ever woke up and knew we were gone." Trisha was crying now. "Dad promised I could take Driver's Ed this semester. But after he ... he ... died, Mom said no. It's like she wants all of us to sit around and be miserable and unhappy just like her. I am miserable! I am unhappy! I hate that Dad is gone. . . ."

Todd had finally lost his battle and was crying now, too.

"But me not driving or Todd not being able to do the video stuff doesn't bring Dad back!"

Julia saw Ben's throat work as he fought back emotion. She felt it, felt the very real pain these kids were

experiencing. She didn't want to feel their pain; she wanted to turn away before she started crying. But she couldn't move. Couldn't walk away. And her heart swelled when Ben in his own gruff way looked at each of the teens and said, "I can't bring your dad back, but I can get you a video camera and teach you to drive."

Both kids' faces lit with surprise. "Really?" they asked, dashing their hands across their eyes. Then in exact unison added, "But what about Mom?"

"I'll talk to her. But there's a condition attached."

"What?" they muttered, their expressions dubious.

"No more getting into trouble. The minute either of you does anything wrong, the deal's off."

"That's it?" they asked.

"That's it."

"Awesome!" Trisha cheered.

"This is so great!" Todd enthused. "Once I get the camera, all I have to do is put together a video resume!"

Julia studied the boy. "What are you planning to put together?" she asked.

"I don't know yet. Everyone does some kind of lame minimovie. When Dad and I were talking about it last summer, he was saying I should do something different."

"Really?" Julia said, her brain going into high gear. "I have an idea that might help."

Todd, Trisha, and Ben looked at her oddly. "You do?" Todd asked.

"How would you like to help with my new reality show?"

"What?" Ben demanded.

"A reality show?" Trisha asked, wide-eyed.

"Cool!" Todd said.

"Actually, you would be a big help," Julia continued. "I'll use a cameraman from the station to do the main

work, but right now KTEX is low on staff. I was trying to figure out how I could be on camera, direct the segments, and provide the backup work a cameraman needs. Todd, you can be on-set to provide support, plus you can use the camera Ben gets you to tape what's going on. Sort of like documenting the process. I would think that would not only show that you have experience, but give you something really unique."

"That sounds great, but Todd goes to school," Ben interjected. He turned to the kids. "Can you two wait for me in the living room?"

"Ah, man," Todd lamented. "I can do this. I want to do this. It'll be perfect to get me into the workshop."

"Come on, Todd." Trisha grabbed his arm. "Let them talk it out." She glanced at Julia and smiled.

"I think you'll get to do it."

Ben didn't look at Julia until the kitchen door swung shut. Then he turned an ominous eye on her.

"She thinks you have me wrapped around your finger." He was incensed.

Julia swallowed back a smile. "We both know she's wrong. Completely wrong."

He growled. "Either way, Todd can't take off school to work on your show. And I thought you gave

up on the reality show business."

"One, tomorrow is Saturday, and I'm starting then. Plus Thanksgiving break starts next Friday at noon.

We can do a lot of the work over the holiday. And two, I did not give up on my reality show."

He put his hands up in surrender. "You think you have it all figured out. But why would a teenager

want to work over the holiday?"

"To take his mind off his dad? To get a different sort of video resume?"

Ben grudgingly conceded. "So what kind of show did you come up with this time?"

"I never changed it. I'm still doing Primal Guy."

"I said no."

Julia looked at him for a long second, then started laughing. "Glad to know that you finally admit you

are a primal guy."

"I'll show you primal."

He started for her, but all she could do was laugh. She laughed so hard that the kids came running,

stopping Ben in his tracks. It was even more amusing to see the wild man put himself in check with two impressionable teens in the room.

"Does this mean I get to do the show?" Todd asked excitedly.

Julia looked at the man in question. "I'm doing Primal Guy without you. I start interviewing bad boys tomorrow. Right here."

"Here?" Ben demanded.

"Starting at nine a.m." She turned to Todd. "Can you be here at nine?"

"Sure!"

"This is going to be great! Part MTV, part NBC. We'll be edgy and professional at the same time. I'm

going to create a hit, and you are going to help Todd. We'll have it in the can, ready to go, the first week of December."

Todd cheered. Trisha looked happy for her brother, but a little wistful.

Ben must have noticed. "Trisha, why don't you come over with Todd. I'll talk to your mother tonight. If she agrees, we'll start driving lessons while these two are making their show." He looked at Julia. "Their crazy show."

"You just don't think I can do it," she said.

"Do what?" Trisha asked.

"Turn a bad boy into a sensitive guy."

Ben snorted. "She wants to turn guys into wimps. Todd, if I were you, I'd be careful around her. And

no matter what you do, don't take any of her advice to heart. Just help tape, get what you need for your resume, and keep your ears and mind closed."

To: Rita Holquin From: Ben Prescott Subject: Kids Dear Rita: I had a good talk with Trisha and Todd. When you get home from work, give me a call and we can discuss.

Ben To: Ben Prescott From: Rita Holquin Subject: re: Kids Dear Ben: Thanks for talking to them. They called me at the office and I haven't heard them sound this happy in a long while. Thank you. Trish said you're going to teach her to drive. And Todd told me about the video work.

I know you will do right by the kids, so I'm not worried. You have my permission to teach as you see fit.

Warmly, Rita To: Rita Holquin From: Ben Prescott Subject: re: Kids Rita, Trish and Todd need you in their lives. Don't shut down on them. They need their mother. -Ben

Chapter Ten.

The doorbell rang in the distance. A rush of excitement and maybe even a little fear flooded through Julia at the sound. Day One in the actual creation of her new show was about to begin.

For half a second, she sat in her chair, closed her eyes, and sent up a silent prayer. Please help me make this work.

"Julia!"

It took her a second to recognize Todd's voice.

He came bursting into the kitchen. "You should see the line outside! There are guys everywhere."

"What?"

A short, stocky man with red hair and freckles followed Todd inside. "Hey, Julia."

"Hi, Rob. Thanks for helping me with this."

Robert Krynowski was one of the KTEX cameramen, and Julia knew he wouldn't mind working in a

crunch to get this done.

She raced to a front window. Sure enough, the entire length of Meadowlark Drive was lined with cars.

An assortment of men had already formed a line at her front door.

"Okay, okay, think, Jules," she said to herself.

Ben appeared and he didn't look happy. "Who the hell are all those guys lining up outside?"