It was the dawn of a new day.  The entire Hurst clan lay asleep under the same roof, once again.  Colton lay asleep in his once, now old bedroom, upstairs, just two doors down from Cassie.  Cassie’s room was at the end of the hall, the last room on the right side.  The biggest of all the spares within the home.  The room still looked the same as it did five years ago prior to her leaving for college. 

 

The master bedroom was the first room at the top of the staircase.  This room was big enough for an Olympic sized pool; big enough to have its own hot tub, vanity space for all of Summer’s makeup and hair care, and of course the balcony, which looked over the pool house. 

 

It was six in the morning, Summer still laying in the bed; her eyes slowly open and focus on the pillow next to her, it had been apparent that Hunter’s side had not been slept in.   She slowly extended her arm to caress his pillow, for it was the first night they had slept apart under the same roof in their twenty-eight-year marriage.  While touching his pillow, she felt a prick to her finger, she began to lift her head to look; there rested a single, long stemmed, red rose with a tiny card lying across the stem.  While admiring the smell of the rose, she read the card.  “Good morning, Baby Gurl, do not worry, all is good. Love you Punk.”  With a half smile, she pressed her lips to the card and held it to her chest.  She knew he was not good, but he wouldn’t dare show it.

 

Outside, you could see Hunter and Gyon beginning to load pieces of plywood into the back of Hunter’s truck.  It appeared that the two might be rebuilding the boat dock Hunter had demolished just last night. 

 

Summer slowly began to roll out from under the covers, while standing to her feet, you could see the long, black cotton shirt begin to drape down upon her naked legs; it was one of Hunter’s shirts.  Walking to the French door of the bedroom’s patio, Summer gazes out, spying down upon Hunter and Gyon with a smile.

 

The two men, you can see are in deep conversation.  Gyon seemed to be explaining something to Hunter that he did not want to listen to; with a wave of his hand and a shaking of his head, Hunter had stepped away turning his back to Gyon.  Gyon looked to be the voice of reason, as he reached for Hunter’s arm, trying to get back his attention.  Hunter was simply not complying, and Gyon tossed both his arms into the air shaking his head.

 

From the two-bedroom pool house Shooter comes walking out, along with Seth and two very tiny men.  Shooter stands with both hands upon the sides of his hip, he lifts his face to the sky taking in a deep breath.  He shoots a wave to Gyon, who immediately turns his back, hoping he would not come over.  He motioned his hand in a shooing manner, hoping he would get the hint.  Shooter and the three men turn walking towards the Hurst Home.

 

Hunter continues to load the wood, grabbing nails, hammers, and a couple of nail guns.  He begins to check the guns to see if they were loaded as he notices Damon also stepping out from the pool house door.  Damon, looking around the area spots Hunter and Gyon and lifts his hand to wave.

 

Hunter stood still, gazing hard at the young man, his eyes once again began to fill with an unadulterated anger.  This was the face of the person who was taking his baby girl away, the face of the man whose absence led to his little girl’s rape, the man who fathered a child with his eighteen-year-old daughter.  In Hunter’s eyes, Damon was just as much to blame as his old man.

 

Hunter begins to grip hard, clutching the nail gun in his hand.  Gyon quickly notices the anger as Hunter begins to walk in Damon’s direction.  Gyon’s small frame against the size of Hunter, now begins to be the only thing getting in his way.  You can tell by the look on Hunter’s face that things would not end too nicely.  Gyon continues to slow Hunter’s movement as he shoves Hunter in the chest.  Hunter, out of anger, takes a swing at Gyon, but Gyon’s swiftness and knowing Hunter’s mindset, was able to dodge the punch. 

 

Gyon had known Hunter’s move before even stepping into it.  They had been teammates, tag partners and close enough friends that they could be considered brothers, for many years.  Gyon again looking to be the voice of reason, holds out a stiff arm to Hunter.  Hunter’s right arm is shaking, his fist a pale shade of white, he looks down to Gyon, and throws the nail gun into the back of his truck.  He nudges shoulders with Gyon as he storms past him, getting into his truck and hauling ass down the dirt road slinging all the loaded lumber from the truck bed.  Summer stands looking through the window at all of this, she lowers her head and closes the curtain to the patio door.  Both Gyon and Damon are seen walking towards the house with Gyon shaking his head.

 

Summer walks to the nightstand beside the bed, she looks down upon her phone hoping that her Hunter will possibly call.  She sits on the edge of the bed and begins to dial Charlie’s number.  It goes to his voice mail.

 

“Hey, Idjit, I know you’re out blowing off some steam; I watched you as you left. You know, you don’t always have to be the badass, but you better come home to me safe and sound, you hear me?  I love you, you big goof.”

 

She presses the end call button and lays the phone down upon the bed and begins to get dressed for the day.  She listens to all the commotion downstairs, and it appears that everyone was awake and in her kitchen scrounging for food.  Shooter was the first in the fridge, followed by Seth and their two little friends.  “All I see is beer, rabbit food and, OH HEY.. STEAK!..I got DIBS!”  Shooter reaches in and begins to pull out a package of rib eyes, his mouth watering as Seth and the boys all look smiling.  “Oh Miss Hunter” Shooter yells.  “Can you cook this for me?”  Shooter begins to look around, but Summer was nowhere to be found.

 

Seth jumps up to reach the steak from Shooter’s hand and all hell starts to break loose.  Shooter, trying hard to play keep away from Seth with the package of steak, that Gyon steps in, and snatches it from his hands and smacks him in the head with it.  Shooter grabs the side of his head and yells.  “Ouch!, you did not have to beat me with the meat stick Gyon, I will share, if Hunter's old lady will hurry and cook it.”  Seth and the boys all laugh and begin pointing fingers at Shooter.  

 

Summer now makes her way into the kitchen; she looks down upon the mess on her counters.  It was as if she had a room full of kids at a candy store.

“Shooter, you better get a grip on your pets, before they find themselves neutered.”  She sends a sharp glare over to Seth and the boys.

 

“Hey, we are just hungry, this is your house, you should be cooking for us.” Gyon immediately spits out the drink of water he had just taken, Seth and the boys mouths drop, and Shooter’s eyes grow wide as he just realized what he said.  Summer turns her head directly to Shooter with a stern look.

 

"Do I look like your Fuckin' maid?  You have a cell phone, call your ass some delivery!" She stands with her hands on her hips.  "Better yet, I will just tell Hunter, you're hungry and demand he come grill these steaks for you."

 

Shooter looks around frantically "No! don't do that! IHOP it is." He, Seth, and the boys, scurry out the back door.  Summer and Gyon both laugh.

Descending the staircase is Colton; he wears a pair of black cotton pajama pants that are cuffed just above the ankles with a set of red lips on the center portion of the left butt check and the word “my” on the right.  You can see Gyon beginning to snicker, as Colton walks further into the room. 

“Laugh it up old man, I did not expect to be sleeping here last night, so, it was all I had in my old room.”  Colton continues to walk around the room.  “What the hell happened in here?”  He looks at all the mess.

 

“Shooter..” Gyon says as he continues to laugh at Colton’s attire.

 

“Look Unc, don’t make me have to drop you off at the nearest retirement home, do you know what they do to men like you up in there?”  Colton notices Gyon smiling in deep thought. ” On second thought, I don’t think I even want to know what your answer would be.”

 

Summer makes a pot of coffee and brings her and Colton a cup. She sets it down in front of him and gives him a small kiss on the cheek. Gyon with a “Where is my coffee?” look on his face. Summer takes a sip from her cup and turns to Gyon.

“Bitch please, you are no guest. You can get your own damn coffee!”  Gyon just shakes his head.

“What? You want a damn kiss too?”  Summer stands walking towards Gyon; she holds her cup in her hand and slowly leans down to his ear. 

“Not even on your birthday, Boy!”  She leans back up and looks to Colton.   “Colton call Lily we are leaving in two hours.” She tosses up the peace sign as she leaves the room.

 

Colton laughs at both Gyon, as he calls Lily and relays the message from his mother.  After the call Colton grabs two bowls and gets some cereal and milk from the fridge. He sets a bowl and spoon in front of Gyon; he looks at the child’s dinosaur spoon and looks back to Colton. 

“Really? This is what you gave me to use. You are really your dad’s son.” Colton just laughs and the two continue with some small talk while they eat.

 

About twenty minutes later there is a knock at the front door. Colton stands and starts to walk to the door, but interrupted by Cassie yelling, 

“I got it, you lazy asses.”

Colton just shrugs and sits back down. Sammy comes running into the kitchen and jumps up on Colton.

“Hey dad what is going…” Sammy looks over at Gyon and climbs off Colton and walks over to him. He looks up at him and climbs up on the chair next to him and just stares.  Cassie, Lily and Colton just stare at what is going on. Sammy stares coldly at Gyon and very calmly speaks. 

“You know, Cassie bought me that.” He points to the dinosaur spoon. Sammy leans in closer and looks directly into Gyon’s eyes.

“Mister, if you don’t want to get dropped on that stack of dimes you call a neck, you will get you a different one and put mine back where it goes.” After about thirty seconds of quiet Cassie, Lily and Colton break out laughing.

 

Cassie walks over to Sammy and leans down putting her arm over Sammy’s shoulders. She smiles at him and then turns to Gyon.

“That is right my little man. Don’t let mean old Uncle Gyon get away with using our special spoon. That is only for us.” Sammy smiles at Cassie and says, “And Mommy can use it also, right?”

Lily smiles as Cassie answers.

“Sure baby, Your Mommy can use it, but no one else, not even your dad.” Colton puts on a sad face. “I can’t use it, Sammy?”

Sammy looks at his dad and shakes his head no. Lily and Cassie just laugh. Colton looks at Gyon and just shrugs. Gyon stands up and walks over to the sink and washes the spoon and puts it back in the drawer and gets another one. He sits down and starts to eat again. Lily smiles and points at the box of cereal.

“Sammy, isn’t that you and your grandpa’s cereal they are eating?”

Gyon just stands with bowl and pours it down the sink and running the water. At just looks over everyone as he walks out of the room. “Some people’s fucking kids.” He leaves listening to the room fill with laughter.

 

Colton cleans up after his breakfast and grabs Sammy and flips him upside down and starts to walk out of the room. He walks up to Lily and flips Sammy back over.

“Little man, give mom a kiss goodbye, it is daddy, son day.” Sammy hugs Lily’s neck and gives her a kiss on the cheek. “Bye Mommy, love you.” Lily smiles and kisses him back. “You boys have fun.” Sammy looks at Colton. “Your turn dad.” Colton spins and gives Lily a soft, tender kiss. “Bye Mommy, love you.” Colton smiles and turns around and walks out of the room. Lily stands there; a little shocked and red faced. Cassie smiles at Lily and gives her two thumbs up.

 

“Hey, has anyone seen Damon this morning?  Didn’t he sleep out in the pool house with Shooter?”  She begins to look around the area but does not see him.

 

“Well, he was behind me before your dad saw him.”  Gyon answers from the other room. Cassie’s eyes grew wide for a moment.  “Ok, where is Dad?”  She replies.

 

“Good question, All I saw was shovels, nail guns, and plyboard in the back of your dad’s truck.  I turn around, and they are both gone.”  Gyon smiles and snickers a bit.

 

“WHAT!! And YOU LET HIM LEAVE? MOM!!!!!!”   Cassie stands to her feet and begins to look out the window.  From there, she notices Hunter’s truck was gone, wood slung all over the yard and spin out marks in the grass.  She looks at Gyon as he can’t control the smile on his face.  “Gotcha young’n!  Your boy toy is somewhere out there with Shooter.”  Cassie looks at Gyon and smacks him in the back of the head.  “You may be family, but I will still drop you like a bad habit Uncle.”  Cassie walks out the front door to look for Damon.    

 

Summer is now walking back down the stairs into the kitchen, she notices Lily sitting at the bar all flustered in the face.

 

“Girl, you look a little hot under the collar their sweetheart.  My boy have anything to do with that?”  She smiles while patting her on the shoulder.  “Yeah, I get it..those damn Hurst men…will do it every time!”  She smiles, “That’s just something you will have to deal with now. My advice, pack an extra pair of panties in your purse..you never know when you will need them.”  She winks, and Lily’s face turns three shades darker than before. 

 

“Where’s Cas?”  Summer looks around.

 

“I think she’s outside with Damon.”  Lily says as she looks out the French doors. “Has she switched back?”  Lily looks to Summer, hoping she said the right thing.

 

“You mean is Vanity gone?  For the moment, yes.  It was quite a night here last night; did Colton tell you about it?”  Lily nods.

 

“Your father-in-law”, she winks to Lily. “Has a way of bringing Cassie out when nobody seems to be able to.  I just hope she sticks around a while.” Lily nods once again and Summer reaches her arm out to Lily, bending it at the elbow. “You ready to go have some fun?  Let’s get Cassie and hit the road.”

 

Just as Lily begins to stand, Summer’s phone rings, from Charlie’s number.  “Lily, go get Cassie ready, I will be out in just a minute.  I need to take this call.”  Lily walks out the door and over to Cassie and Damon outside.

 

Hunter was driving down the road, he takes some deep breaths and pulls out Charlie’s phone. He looks through the contact list; he finds Summer's number and calls her. Summer answered the phone.. “Hello my love".

Hunter laughs a little. "So, you and Charlie huh? I just wanted to let you know that I am on my way home. I should be about ten to fifteen minutes away. Oh, and when you see your boyfriend, Charlie, tell him we are going to have some words. Love you babe.”

 

Summer just smiles as Hunter ends the call.  She looks out the French doors; she notices the look on both Cassie’s and Damon’s face as they stood talking to each other outside. “Well, I have less than ten minutes to get him out of here. Here goes nothing.”  She opens the door and walks outside, she is holding her keys in one hand, and purse in the other.  She walks up to Cassie and Damon.

 

“Damon, you have less than six minutes to say good-bye, me and my girls,” she points to Cassie and puts her arm across Lily’s shoulder. “Are going out for a girl’s day and besides, I need your ass to be gone before Cassie’s father gets back.”  Damon nods and the girls begin to load up in Summer’s black Hummer and they drive away.  Damon leaves shortly behind them.