“Thanks. I may acquire your services when the opportune moment arrives. Now you were looking for me for an actual purpose?”

“Oh yeah. The other’s have gone back to the rooms to shower. Kimberly, Trini, and Aisha are taking us all to the mall.”

“Oh no. Kimberly and a mall is not a superior object of entertainment.” Billy stated more to himself than to Trent. “And I suppose it would be Tommy’s fault that we’re all being brought along.”

“Yep. Any way we might get out of it?”

“Afraid not. Once Kimberly decides something, it’d be suicide to go against her. Come on then. Better get ready to go so we don’t get into trouble.” He stated, laughing a bit and leading the teen towards the hotel. “So, did I miss anything at the pool? I heard shouting?”“I told her Dad and I had a disagreement about my drawing and he kicked me out of the house,” Trent replied defensively. “I didn’t go to her place often, anyway. Tried to make due with public restrooms, the truck stop shower by the highway, and the locker rooms at school. Especially after the first time her parents almost caught me.”

“How long were you not going home?” Tommy demanded. “You should have told me.”

Trent shrugged. “It wasn’t a big deal. I managed.”

Ethan slapped his forehead. “Oh, so that’s why you were taking home economics—so you could use the washer and dryer and eat the food.”

Trent shuddered. “Don’t remind me of that class. There’s nothing more frightening than cooking with Conner.”In the meantime, she and Billy had settled in together, as much as they could anyway, living in the lab. She didn’t mind the lab, she loved being with him, although she knew they’d have to find other accommodations eventually. She hadn’t thought it was possible to love another man, let alone fall in love again so quickly, but it seemed like the two of them had always been together. She guessed they had been since they had known each other for so long, but it still seemed strange. It was as if her ex husband had simply evaporated and Billy had stepped into his place; except she was far happier.

She wondered what would have happened if she had stayed in Angel Grove and never moved to Switzerland. Perhaps they would have eventually gotten together. Maybe she could have spared them both the pain of a failed marriage and they could have spent the last decade as a couple. She didn’t know. She would have never expected to have been this happy with him.