The Greens of Jericho

I really think you got Emily right in this chapter. Everything she said and what she had become was very much in character. There's no doubt that Emily is a survivor. Reading this part it seems like the only way she is able to survive is by completely distancing herself from others and by justifying her actions so she doesn't feel for guilty for what has happened. 

Quote:

He looked at her closely, scrutinizing her windblown hair, her stiff posture, her toughened expression. He'd seen glimpses of this before, moments hinting at this person she could become. After Chris's death, when Jonah let her down, and after New Bern sent the first mortars. He never imagined this person could ever be fully realized and standing in front of him. Somehow, she'd always kept this part of herself at bay.

 I thought physical description of Emily was a very good representation of how she changed as a person. I like how you included that Jake, in the past, saw glimpses of the person Emily would become and how he  never  imagined it would happen and then recognizing that she had become this person.

 Another great chapter to your story! Thanks!

I really like all the detail and emotions in this chapter. I felt like I was there watching it all happen.  Sad as I was to see Heather die I couldn't help but think that she was finally at peace. I do appreciate that she went down fighting – just as I expected she would.  I can't say how much I admire Skylar in this part. I thought she was amazing in that she never thought twice about fighting for what she believed in. I think the way you froze the scene at the end and how Freddie asked Jake if this was what afraid would happen and then asking Jake what he was going to do was really effective in helping Jake realize the choice Jake had to make.

Quote:
        Jake took a quick breath and lunged forward, tackling Eric. They both fell, struggling amidst the huge throng of people running, fighting, and trampling. Jake let out a cry as he felt himself sinking into the pit of flailing arms and legs and bodies.
I like the image (and symbolism??). I think this is very telling. Whatever choice Jake's makes now doesn't matter. It's too late to change what is happening

Quote:
           “But-” Jake started as they pushed him into the ambulance. It was coming back now- Freddie, the choice he'd have to make. He hadn't realized it had been as simple as waking.

I like the simplicity of the statement. That the choice Jake needed to make was a simple as waking up and continuing what he has been doing.

I'm looking forward to you posting the next part!

I was happy to see that this was posted. I really enjoyed reading it.  I like how you captured the uneasiness of the townspeople and Heather's longing for simpler days.  I really liked the insight into Jake and Heather that you provided by telling us their thoughts. Their conversation, I thought, was very much in character. My favorite part was:

Quote:

“I--I’ve heard stories about Jonah Prowse. Don’t suppose it would do any good to warn you to be careful. This town needs you.” An involuntary shudder ran through her. “And I don’t want to see you get hurt.” The tiniest smile formed at the corner of her lips as she leaned forward and investigated the cut on his cheek, the result of a run in with Mitch Cafferty the day before. “Well, worse.”

Jake’s teeth grazed his bottom lip as he studied her. She was completely guileless, a quality that alternately attracted and scared the hell out of him. It had been a long time since someone cared about his well-being, since someone thought what he did mattered in a good way. “I’m not going to get myself killed.”

The fact that Jake didn’t promise to not get hurt didn’t escape Heather’s attention, but she would take what she could get. “You better not, Mister. Or else.”

“Or else what?” he chuckled.

Or else I’ll have one less person who inspires me.

Or else your parents’ hearts will break, and mine might, too.

“Or else I’ll have to find someone else whose ass I can kick in darts.”

I am looking forward to Part 2!

Great Ending! I really enjoyed reading it.

I could just picture how cute Lindee looked in her pumpkin costumes with her 'round cheeks and bright eyes'. I just love how Jake has a soft spot for her. He really does seem taken with her. I thought your Stanley was great - right in character. I just loved his interaction with LIndee , how she reminded Stanley and Mimi of Bonnie and how Stanley recognized some of Lindee's expressions as Mimi's.

I liked how you portrayed Stanley's and Jake's friendship and was glad to see that they seem just as close as ever. The story about Crazy Harold's Bridge really had me laughing. Johnston pretending he was Harold, carrying a lantern to scare Jake in order to teach him a lesson was right in character I thought. Even the part Eric played in the story - telling Johnston about Stanley and Jake's plans - was very much in character.

I really liked your idea of telling us about Heather's world through her TV interview. I can definitely see Heather stepping into her role in Cheyenne but at the same time feeling uncomfortable with the recognition and the extra protection Jake thought she needed. What I found interesting was the contrast in Heather's utilitarian apartment in Cheyenne and her homey apartment in Jericho. These things made me think that while Heather doing what she thought she needed to do there she wasn't truly happy. I really enjoyed how Heather and Jake cooked together and how they opened up with each other about themselves. . I really respected Jake for recognizing Heather's need to accomplish what she set out to do in Cheyenne and for putting her needs above his own by not acting on his impulse to tell her how he really felt before he left her apartment after dinner.

I really liked all the interaction between Jake and Heather at Bailey's and later at Crazy Harold's Bridge. I was glad that Jake won at darts and how he made the stakes negotiable this year. The scene at Crazy Harold's Bridge was so romantic. I just loved how Jake was able to show Heather all of Jericho at one time. Also, the story about Heather and her cat was very telling about how she actually felt about her life in Cheyenne. Although there was a part of me that wished that Heather would just stay in Jericho I did think you ended it perfectly. I do believe, however, that Jake will be making a lot of trips to Cheyenne as well as Heather coming home more often.

Great story! Thanks for posting it.

I was so excited when I found out you were going to do another 'Bizarro World' story! I enjoyed this one immensely.

I really like how you brought us up to date on Jake and Heather's relationship by letting us know other characters' reactions as they found out that Jake and Heather were a couple. I really liked Johnston's reaction and how Mimi and Stanley turned the table on Jake when Heather appeared by his side. I think my favorite was how April realized they were a couple when Heather showed up at the door after Jake's accident  and when Jake untucked the blanket and invited Heather to lay with him as they comforted each other.

Johnston was right in character when he was in the kitchen with Jake Christmas Eve morning when he voiced his approval by telling Jake "Don't mess it up" and how he followed it up with saying she was smart and not bad to look at. I also liked that Jake looked at what is father said in a different light than he previously had in the past and how he thought of Heather as 'beautiful' rather than 'not bad to look at' that Johnston had used.

I loved the description of kitschy flannel pajamas that Heather had on when she greeted Jake at her door.  I also liked Heather's love for all things flannel and how Jake would purposely wear flannel shirts just so that Heather will rest her cheek on his chest. I thought they shared a very romantic moment cuddled together under the nest of blankets sipping their hot chocolate.

Jake's thought that Heather should resent coming second to his responsibilities to the town was, I thought, telling of just how much he cares for her and Heather's understanding of how much Jericho needed him and her acceptance of coming in second, I thought , was telling of just how much she cared for him. I think it was this fact that made the forty hours Jake had arranged to take off all the more special. 

The scene where they hunted for a Christmas tree was great! It reminded me of all the visits we took to the tree farm, traipsing up and down the hills trying to find the perfect tree. The snow ball fight was a lot of fun to read. I just loved how it ended with Heather on Jake's lap.

I really liked the sense of family I felt during the time Jake and Heather were at the Green house and how everyone made Heather feel as if she was part of the family. I also like how you portrayed Jake's and Johnston's relationship in this story. I felt a closeness between them as they stood by the fireplace watching Gail, April and Heather decorate the tree and when Jake admitted that Heather 'kinda picked him' and Johnston replying that there was nothing wrong with that. When Gail explained the history behind all the ornaments really made it feel like a real life family enjoying Christmas. When Gail found the Christmas Cottage music box and Gail's tears when it still played I'll be Home for Christmas I found especially poignant. I just loved how Heather felt like she was part of the family and let her guard down to share memories of her childhood Christmases.

I liked all the detail that went into the church service and outside of the church after the service. My favorite parts were: Gail providing the candy canes that were passed out after the service to make everyone holidays a little brighter and Johnston following after Eric and Mary to wish them a Merry Christmas. I found the interaction between Emily and Heather interesting and wondered if Emily might have been jealous of Heather. I liked the details about Mimi and Stanley you provided - Stanley wrapping his arm around Mimi to comfort here when there was mention of the attacks and how whe let herself be comforted. Also, liked how Stanley lightened the mood with his talk about popcorn, especially the 'Astronaut popcorn'. I really got a sense of what point their relationship was at. The mention of 'Twister' and Jake telling Stanley that no way was he going to play group Twister just made me laugh.

I'm sure you won't be surprised to know that my favorite part of the story was the time Heather and Jake spent alone at her apartment after the service.  You could tell just how close Jake and Heather had gotten in the few months since they became a couple. I liked how Jake admitted to himself that doing things for Heather made him happy - 'lightened his mood' and how Heather told him what a wonderful day she had. I especially liked the comfortable silence they shared cuddled under the blankets drinking their hot chocolate. I liked the choice of the Christmas gifts they gave one another. Both were so simple but very meaningful especially Jake giving Heather his dog tags as an acknowledgement that he was home now and didn't need them anymore.

I like how Heather decided to tell Jake that she was ready for the next step in their relationship by singing Baby It's Cold Outside. You did a great job with how you switched the parts around and how you used the tone of Heather's voice to let us know what part was being sung. I also found Jake's embarrassment over his parents singing it very real (and amusing). I liked the image of Jake that came to mind as he was watching Heather sing only to him and the one of Heather when Jake told her that he would never say no. 

This was a great story and I'm looking forward to see where the story goes in your next installment. 

The Heart of Winter was one of my favorite episodes and I was looking forward to reading your version of the events.

The sense of desperation you painted with all your detail was heartrending and a little difficult for me to read (which I think speaks to what a good writer you are). The Green family will have some difficult choices to make if things continue they way they are.  Jake especially I thought had about all he could take. I really thought that this was evident in his need to feel the baby move - it almost seemed to me that as long as he could feel him move everything would turn out okay. 

I see some optimism in Heather, in the way she told Jake Merry Christmas and in especially the way she decorated the artificial tree and wearing her Cherry ChapStick, which she was saving for saving for a special occasion. She needs to be optimistic, more so for Jake who is apparently at the end of his rope, then for herself.  I especially felt sad that they had to let Baron go to fend for himself but was glad that he was able to find some food.  Heather's reaction to finding the mess that Baron left on the concrete steps compared to Jake's memory of how she used to always yell at Baron for chasing rabbits spoke to the desperation she feels in spite of her optimism. I really liked the 'homey' picture you portray with Jake and Heather cuddled under blankets with Baron lolling in front of the fire. I was glad that Jake and Heather had this moment.

I liked how you touched on the politics of the town in this part. I was glad to see that Johnston still had some influence in what's going on and felt some relief when Gray didn't go against the town council but it also made me wonder if Gray would continue to submit to the vote of the town council as time went on.

I like how you couched Mimi's and Stanley's 'squabble' in between Jake's very serious thoughts. It provided an interesting contrast to Jake and Stanley. You painted such a very vivid picture of the migration trail that I felt I was right there with the three of them seeing the same things that they did. I enjoyed Jake's memory of the Green Family vacation to Mount Rushmore and the fights Jake had with his brother over the blankets in the bed they shared in the hotel rooms. I also liked the insight into Mimi - about how every new thing she saw she thought would be the worst and her realization that just maybe she didn't have it so bad. I really liked the image I got in my mind of her standing in the middle of the desolation realizing how good she had it compared to the people who passed through on the trail.

I really enjoyed the conversation between Johnston and Gail in the last scene. I'm glad that they're going to have some time to themselves while they share the Scotch that Gail found in Jake;s foot locker.

The past scenes I thought provided some much needed levity to the present day scene. I just love how you write Heather and Jake during this time of their lives.  The detail you provided in the first few paragraphs of this part I felt really showed how happy Jake was to have Heather in his life. I especially liked how Jake caught himself smiling as he thought of her walking down the hall on his way to the bathroom. I just loved how Heather sang 'What are you doing New Year's Eve' to Jake to let her know she was coming home and how Jake didn't let her complete her sentence before agreeing to pick her up in Wichita. I could picture the conversation between Jake and Gramps in the hallway after Jake left the bathroom unfold in my mind as a read it. I thought Gramps was very much in character.  I found the discussion of the morals clause particularly interesting in that you drew contrasts between Heather and Emily. That behavior found acceptable in Emily wouldn't be found acceptable in Heather because of Emily's background. I can't even imagine how Heather felt after hearing the discussion in the hallway between Jake and his grandfather and how she felt about Jake's solution to the problem - that they just get married.

I really felt bad for Heather when she thought of hoe Jake's unexpected proposal was worse than Mark Metzger's six months ago. It was very easy to understand why she just wanted to go home.  I really liked all the insights in to Jake's mind while he was sitting on his bed contemplating what had transpired that morning, exploring his reasons for asking Heather to marry him and his concern that he had disappointed and hurt her and his fear that he had driven her way. I was happy to see that this fear spurred him into action. I really had fun with the image that came to my mind picturing Jake running after the track as it was driving down the driveway.  I just love how Jake is going to take her to check out the view from the water tower.  I have a feeling that Jake's second proposal will be perfect!

Again, I liked the contrast between the suspense and intensity of the present day scene and the happiness and lightheartedness of the present day scene.I liked how the present day scene let us know what good friends Stanley and Jake are. There so many glimpses into their friendship in this part that I found particularly telling of how close they are. I found Stanley's assumption about the girl in Iraq interesting and am wondering if it will come up again later in your story.  I felt very worried for Mimi venturing out into the 'wilderness' with really no idea of where she was going.  I felt relieved that she remembered the way to go and that Gail and Johnston found her. I felt so bad for Gail when she saw the look in his eyes - the one that told her he had given up.

I really enjoyed the present day scene. I like how you find little ways to make Baron a part of your story. I can just picture his antics in my mind as I reds about him. I especially liked how Jake and Heather didn't announce the news to Gail but let her find out for herself and I was glad that Jake got the reaction he expected.  I enjoyed all the hints (words and actions) from Heather to get Gail to figure out that she and Jake got engaged and Johnston's reaction to the news. I was also glad to find out the story behind the sapphire ring. Gail and Johnston's welcoming Heather into the Green Family proved and interesting contrast to the reaction of Heather's father to the news. I can definitely understand Joe's reaction though. Not only is Heather is only girl, he doesn't know Jake and he didn't have a front row seat to see Heather and Jake's relationship grow like Gail and Johnston did.  He can't actual see how much Jake means to Heather and vice versa. I do admire Jake for not wasting any time in addressing Joe's feelings taking the phone from Heather and telling Joe what she means to him and by arranging for a trip to Buffalo in two days time.

Quote:
"With no bags?" Jake shouted, his fear and frustration boiling over.  "And no fire?"  A shudder ran through his whole body.  He couldn't keep himself from shaking.  He couldn't feel his legs or his hands even as he watched himself clutch them into fists.  He was freezing; it was something he'd said a million times in his life, but he'd always been wrong before this.  Now he was actually freezing.  "One of us goes," he barked, "Or we all die out here!"
I really like how the description about how Jake was feeling added to what we saw in the show.  In your present day scenes, it's this attention to detail that makes it seem more real to me than what I saw in the show. The addition of Jake's thoughts here really speaks to how desperate the situation is.

Quote:
Letting out a slow breath, Stanley nodded, though every fiber of his being was protesting the decision.  How could he let her go?  "Okay," he murmured.  "Okay."
I like this little insight into how Stanley must be feeling. It says a lot in a few words.

Quote:
For the last hour, since he'd accepted the reality of the situation - he was stuck under a truck and there was no changing that - he'd been paradoxically thinking only of Heather and trying to not think about her.  It was only his thoughts of her that had kept him fighting this long; if not for the picture he held in his mind of her as he'd last seen her - smiling at him sleepily as she'd kissed him goodbye that morning - he would have let go, given up to the bitter cold, the numbness, the overwhelming temptation to just fall asleep.  But he also didn't want to think about Heather, didn't want to think about how he was going to leave her to raise their child alone, didn't want to think about how he would never even get to see or hold his baby.  Jake knew, even if Stanley didn't yet, that he wasn't going to make it.  He knew because he couldn't even find the energy to be angry that he was dying and, against his will, abandoning his family to this terrifying new world.
I like the insight into Jake's thoughts. It seems to me that the reasons why Jake doesn't want to think about Heather are the same reasons why he is trying to fight to stay alive.

Quote:
"Sir, to be honest, I don't know that I'd take that news as well as you have," Jake started, earning an amused snort from Heather's father.  "But I'm pretty sure Heather would make me meet the guy," he added, the implication that any daughter of Jake's would be Heather's daughter as well hanging between them.  "So, I think we need to come out there," Jake declared, squeezing Heather's fingers.  He could understand Joe's concern, and luckily, he could do something about it.  "Day after tomorrow too soon?"
I like the subtle message here. Jake's acknowledgement that he understands how Joe feels and while Joe's acceptance of him means a lot to him that in the end no matter what he still plans on marrying Heather.

Quote:
"I love my daughter, Jake," Joe sighed.  "And you may think I'm being overprotective.  I probably am," he admitted, "But she's the only one I've got, and I just want to be sure that she marries someone worthy of her.  Maybe you are.  But I don't know that, because I don't know you."
I like how this sums up Joe's concern over the news that Heather is engaged to someone he's never met.

So many unanswered questions that I'm looking forward to getting answers to.

Quote:
In the darkness of his jail cell, Dale Turner sat with his head in his hands. He almost didn't hear the footsteps approaching - they were lighter than the guards' - but he knew it was her even before she came into focus amidst the hazy light streaming through the bars.
Why is Dale in jail?

Quote:
If Emily's first words had surprised her, Emily's reaction at her own words really shocked her. Emily's whole face broke out in a grin, and she quickly seized Heather in a hug that left her gasping for air.
"I'm so glad! I wouldn't want anything to happen to my best friend!" Emily exclaimed.
AND
Quote:
Emily was still smiling as she exclaimed brightly, "I have no idea!"
What's up with Emily? Here cheerfulness as she goes from place to place is so unusual. She obviously doesn't know Jake isn't around. I wonder what's up with that too.

Quote:
Stanley could hear her sniffling beside him. It went against all her training, he knew, to lose control like this, but they had both abandoned their training a lot these past few months. "Hey, Mimi, I know it's hard," he began. "I hate this too. But she died to protect something greater than herself. It's what she wanted, what we are all born to do."
"I should have protected her, and I should have protected the secret. That was my job," said Mimi.
"She loved you too, you know, and we are all in this together. For better or worse." He grinned through his own tears.
"I guess...I guess we have to carry on with the mission, without her. Make sure she didn't die for nothing," said Mimi.
AND
Quote:
 Stanley was slightly annoyed that his ruminations on his family secret and the woman who had agreed, once again, to stick by him, had been interrupted.
This has me the most intrigued. Exactly who is Mimi? Is Stanley the fun-loving farmer that I always thought he would be? What did Bonnie die for?What is the Richmond family secret? How long has Stanley known Mimi?

Quote:
 "She'd tied my shoelaces together. And I tried to run anyway, but someone had covered the floor in this stuff." He rubbed his hand across his knee, and held it up. The green liquid dripped off it. He gave it a sniff. "Laundry soap. Meadow fresh."
LOL! Leave it to Skylar to come up with such an ingenious plan to break Dale out of jail.

Quote:
"What's DD?" asked the soldier.
"You haven't heard of them?" asked Eric. "How long have you been here?"
Good question. What is DD? I'm guessing it has something to do with Dale and Skylar.

Quote:
"Yeah," he whispered. "It's just too bad she missed this."
Mary sighed against him, but then leaned back to shake her head. "I know, but we should just be glad she's safe. And the baby."
So April and the baby are alive? There's obviously a connection between April, Eric and Mary. Interesting.

Quote:
"Hey," she patted his arm, letting her hand rest there for a moment longer than either of them expected. "What matters is that you came. When we needed you."
He turned to look at her. She looked up at him, a smile in those familiar eyes of hers. He felt a strange sensation within him, as though, for the first time since coming back to this bizarre place that had been his town, something was right.
AND
He glanced at her again. "I know," he whispered. He reached with a trembling hand and laid the heel of his palm against her cheek. Staring up at him, she reached her hand up and held it against his, steadying his whole arm with her touch.
Gail and Gray?? I never would have thought!

Quote:
Clutching the paper bag in one hand and the door frame in her other, she thought to herself, I wish I'd been more careful.
Hmm....is this why Heather wanted to find Jake? But then again she seemed really embarrassed when she bumped into Bill as she was coming out of the pharmacy. What a way to endthis part!

I really enjoyed the take on Eric.

Quote:
By the first night, he was cold. His coat no longer seemed as sturdy as he'd thought when the winds whistled through him, but he still hadn't figured out what to do. By the second night, he was hungry. His stomach twisted in knots and his Power Bar supply was gone, but he still didn't know what to do. The third night it rained. He lay on the rotting log, holding a thin plastic sheet over his head and wishing he could sleep, or make up his mind.

The next morning, he woke to find that he'd rolled off the log and landed on the ground. One side of him was covered in mud. All of his belongings were soaked and a November wind was chilling him to the bone. He still didn't know what he would do, give up on the new love he had with Mary or leave April - whom he still cared for deeply - to raise a child alone. But the cold, the rain, and the mud were not helping him see a solution. He decided to go back to town. He could still ponder his problem in his office, and at least it was dry.
The image of this really got me laughing! Not surprised that Eric resolve his problem. I have a feeling, though, that it's going to be resolved for him.

Quote:
April and Mary stood, their arms linked, looking down at him.
"Eric. We heard you were back," said April.
Eric merely sputtered. He wondered briefly how long he'd been in the woods. He instinctively clutched at his face. His beard didn't seem to have grown exponentially.
AND
Quote:
April. And Mary. Standing together. Saying 'we'. What had happened while he was gone? Had he come back to a parallel universe? What did they want to 'discuss'? He considered the possibility it was some kind of trap.."
Eric gulped, but stepped forward.
Too funny!

Mary and April, friends? An interesting concept. The part where they were comparing notes on Eric over a game of darts really cracked me up.  I can just imagine what Eric's life is going to be like living with two such strong women!

An unexpected take on Mimi and Stanley. Like Sandra I'm guessing your poking fun at the stories who bend the characters to fit into the story the author wants to tell. So now that we know Mimi's and Stanley's story I can't help but wonder where you're going with all this.

Quote:
Stanley Richmond was unlike any mark she'd ever been sent to investigate. She wasn't sure why. There seemed, on the surface, to be nothing remarkable about him at all. She could hardly believe he was the dangerous force she'd been anticipating as she went over the briefs she'd been given in the plane's bathroom. His laid back, fun-loving persona threw her off. It was surprising how well he had constructed his cover. Most surprising to her, she was forced to admit as she lay awake in her room at the bed and breakfast, was how she didn't want to believe it was a cover.
I like how this left me wondering exactly who Stanley is and what he is hiding.

Quote:
She continued to play her part convincingly, publicly clinging to her role and principles as a government employee, pretending grief, horror, and shock at the destruction of her hometown, and most importantly, continuing to get closer to Stanley Richmond with dogged determination.
AND
Quote:
She couldn't tell if he was catching on to her or not, he played his part with such equal ease. He continued to send her irritated glares when she showed up on his property, agreed grudgingly to host her when she claimed to have been evicted from the bed and breakfast, and found ways to subvert her investigation with seemingly innocent obstacles and objections.
I thought that this was an effective way to bridge Mimi's and Stanley's personality/actions in the show to the way they are portrayed in this story.

Quote:
Her exhaustive search turned up nothing, and the next morning, when he questioned her, she was almost certain that under the joking response he gave to her quick story about reorganizing the 'triangle', he knew exactly the game they were both playing.
LOL! I like the reference to the kitchen triangle!

Quote:
At eight years old, he confronted them with what he had heard. They were only mildly surprised; they had truthfully expected him to catch on quickly, he was such a smart child. He sat up late with his parents that night, discussing the family business.
AND
Quote:
He continued to work on the farm, play with his friends, and even learned to limit himself in science class, getting C's, so that no one would ever become suspicious of the vastly superior intellect he had inherited.
Okay, this might sound a little strange but here goes. I like how you mentioned how smart Stanley is here. I happen to think he's not all fun and games unlike, I  think, a lot of writers.

This exaggerated view of Heather as woman who can do anything on her own was so comical. I couldn't stop laughing. I also like how you portrayed Gail as a super sensitive, super tactful friend. Not surprised, though, that it's not working.

Quote:
Gail had asserted that it was only Heather herself who could make her decisions, and that they should respect the ones she'd made. Privately, though, she'd resolved to go check in on the new mother herself.
Why am I not surprised that Gail decided to go check up on Heather after hearing what her daughters-in-law were talking about?!

Quote:
"No, they've got it into their heads to start making clothes. They've got this big batch of green dye. Something about it being easier to dress them all the same," chuckled Gail, though she'd actually been impressed with her daughters-in-law and their latest enterprise.
LOL! What other color could it be but green!

Quote:
"Oh, I'd never mix them up," laughed Heather. "Kids are like cars. They've all got their own distinct personality. I feel like I already know them all so well. Johnny hates it when I leave the room for a second, but Georgie hates it when any of the other babies are out of sight. Abby loves peekaboo, but Betsy gets scared when I jump out at her. TJ always falls asleep when he hears me using power tools. And Libby, she watches everything I do in here. Look at her." She motioned to the bouncy seat where the blond baby was indeed staring at them with big eyes. "I wouldn't trade this time with them for anything in the world."
I can't help but think there are some hints in this paragraphs as well as other places as to who the father is to each of the babies. I have a few guesses after reading this but think I'll keep them to myself for now.

Quote:
"Usually, they don't," I answered, unable to keep the amazement out of my own voice. Heather had fashioned herself a baby carrier, just like the kind I'd seen Eric carrying each of his successive children in at town events, only unlike that knapsack, this one was designed to seat six. Somehow, Heather's knapsack had six rotating seats, suspended around her like a ferris wheel, so that she could get to each child if she needed to. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never think such a thing could work, but Heather had designed it so well, she could easily support it as she walked, turning to look around and wave to friends and acquaintances.
I couldn't stop laughing at the picture that came to mind when I read this.

Quote:
I agreed with him out loud, that it certainly was intriguing, but I was remembering another mysterious workshop that was even harder to penetrate. I didn't know exactly what it housed at the time, but I'd had a suspicion it was something a lot bigger than some childcare devices. I had to keep that one a secret from Jimmy, so I stayed quiet, but my mind was going back to another warm day, out at the Richmond farm...
Great way to hook you into the next chapter.

Interesting chapter.

Quote:
Trish Merrick was a fresh faced kid when she came to Jericho. She had a job title, a cause, and a bunch of dreams about helping to fix the mess her country had become a few short months earlier. Eager to serve the greater good, she attacked each of the tasks assigned her with gusto, even when they were such thankless jobs as filing tax forms for reluctant landowners or processing medical clinic orders. It was with this same due diligence that Trish set out for the Richmond farm, armed with old records and new policies, all on J&R issued letterhead.
I thought this more than captured the enthusiasm we saw in Trish on the show.

Quote:
She had been grinning when Mimi Clark first met her halfway between the barn and the house, but at Mimi's curt greeting, Trish felt a slightly less giddy surge of apprehension, for reasons unknown to her. She explained quite brightly the purposes of her visit. Mimi kept her arms folded throughout, nodding at opportune moments, fixing Trish with a penetrating stare that would have stopped less perky relief workers dead in their tracks. As it was, Trish felt slightly less confident as she finished explaining that she would need to inspect the property and take inventory of its contents. As she glanced pointedly at the barn, she thought she saw a dark look steal over the taller woman's face, but the next thing she knew, Mimi was smiling at her.
 Good thing Trish had her perkiness, she sure needed it to deal with Mimi.  After reading the last chapter I get a really good picture of Mimi facing down Trish in this paragraph.

Quote:
"I wouldn't worry too much about Eric," they had chortled. "It's the wives you've got to watch out for."
That's for sure!

Quote:
Trish was slightly taken aback, but as they continued to sip tea, offer her cookies, and smile kindly, she found herself surprisingly at ease. She launched into her story: her childhood as an army brat, her father's death when she was twelve, her brief stint at a performing arts high school, her decision to major in social science, and her later decision to major in political science. Her internship in Bangladesh, the live-in boyfriend who broke her heart at age twenty-four, the interview for the dream job that she'd bombed, and then her subsequent employment at J&R. How it had changed from something to do while she figured out her next move to her reason for being after the bombs. April and Mary listened carefully and sympathetically, laughing at the funny parts, sighing over the setbacks, tearing up at the tragedies, and interjecting questions about Trish's family history, spiritual beliefs, child-rearing philosophies, and politics. Once she had finished, and they had gone through a pot of herbal tea, they cut to the chase.
I certainly got the impression that this was more of an interview than a talk among new friends.

Quote:
Eric smiled too, looking around at them. He really was lucky, the thought to himself, and he had a feeling he wouldn't have much say in the matter anyway, so he may as well just accept everything life was offering him. "I think so too," he said, offering Trish a grin.
LOL! I'm sure he won't have any say in the matter!