A Fine Girl

“Is that any way to speak to your future mother-in-law?” Tinsley challenged from her end of the video chat.

“Yeah, Pey! You don’t want your future brats to think you don’t respect their grandma,” Lana chimed in. “What sort of an example are you setting as a mommy?”

“Aargh!” Peyton sounded, clenching her fists before taking deep breaths. “I blame my mom for all of this. It’s the spawns of her friends that make my life a living hell.”

They and several other friends of Bridget's, along with parts of the Fallon and Day families, stood or sat at a table. After sharing the footage of Nate serenading Peyton, his mom called in to share her thoughts. And, of course, Peyton hadn't cared for the teasing tone.

“Huh. The twins are called little devils quite often,” Tinny admitted.

“And you were definitely a daredevil of a role model,” Brandy praised. “Still, kinda mean to call Rachel a demon-birther.”

“Wait; what?!” Lana questioned.

“Well, I guess Rach did knock out an angel as well,” Gabriela remarked. “The firstborn must be what she sold to get those impressive knockers that still don’t show signs of sagging.”

“Miranda seems to have a similar deal for her butt based on her two kids,” Lauren added.

“Did someone call me a demon?” Lana continued to appear confused.

Peyton placed her head on the table and covered it with her arms.

“Has anyone heard from Bee yet?” Tinny inquired.

Everyone responded with a no.

“Now, Peyton, dear, sometimes when a boy has special feelings for a girl, he gets these urges to act out for her attention,” Virginia began to explain her grandson’s behavior.

“Oh, geez, Mom!” Tinny laughed. “I hope that’s not how you explained the birds and the bees to Teddy.”

“I think Brandy gave him the talk,” Fawn commented, standing near the table with said friend. Her comment earned knowing chuckles.

“He kept covering his ears,” Brandy said about her neighbor, who was four years older than her. “I just repeated what Bridget told me.”

Seated at the table, Pepper shook her head at her youngest’s achievements.

“Didn’t Rachel catch the kids playing doctor several times?” Virginia inquired.

“Peyton wouldn’t stop ordering Nate and Finn to take off their clothes,” Lana declared as if tattling.

“I did not! You’re the one who kept telling Nate to drop his pants for me to check the boo-boos on his pee-pee,” Peyton responded, her voice muffled by her arms.

“That’s what little boys do to the girls they have special feelings for sometimes,” Virginia pointed out.

“Nate does not have any special feelings for me. He’s just an obnoxious monster that Lana points my way,” Peyton stated, raising her head. “There is nothing between us and never will be!”

“Now, let’s not get hasty with that kind of talk, dear,” Mrs. Day warned.

“Mom’s right. Never say never, Pey. Didn’t your mother ever teach you that?” Tinny questioned before movement off-screen distracted her. “Ned! Wait until you see the video we’re showing at Nate and Peyton’s wedding.”

“Why–Aargh! Why do I always get this crap?” Peyton asked no one in particular.

“Because you're easy for it,” Lana replied cheerfully.

“The Hellspawn is correct,” Brandy agreed. “Plus, it’s like teasing Bev without dealing with her shitty attitude.”

“Brandy,” Pepper warned.

“I am not like Aunt Bev,” Peyton insisted to her other aunt. “Take that back!”

“Whoa! That sounds just like her,” Brandy exaggerated, winking over at Fawn.

“No, I don’t!”

“That’s enough. Brandy, stop picking on Peyton, and Peyton, stop lashing out at everyone,” Pepper ordered. “And Tinny, stop needling your future daughter-in-law.”

“Grandma!”

“Ooh! You two are just adorable together. And we could finally bring the families together,” Virginia cooed.

“Crap,” Pepper muttered, regretting not shutting down the topic. “Ginny, please don’t start that again. It was bad enough with Brandy and Teddy.”

"What?! Eww!" Brandy nearly gagged at the thought of her and Teddy as a couple. He was the surrogate big brother she loved to pester and nothing more.

“Excuse me, Miss Tarver. The child–”

“Can’t you leave me alone?!” Peyton shrieked, jumping to her feet.

“-ren’s book…Sorry!” Kizzy apologized, her face going ashen.

“Peyton!” Pepper roared.

Brandy nudged Fawn with a mouthed, “Here we go.”

“You will apologize at once,” Pepper ordered before motioning at Kizzy. “C’mon, here, dear. Sit down by Ginny and me.”

“Why do I have to apologize?” Peyton questioned sharply.

“Kizzy, Harley, and Yolanda have all been highly helpful to your family tonight,” Pepper said, referring to the three Babybees who came over. “Not only did they care for Sean, but they also helped you bring Webster’s books downstairs. Now, what did you want to tell my granddaughter?”

“Uh, Mr. Whelan and Chastity have started to sign personalized greetings for the children leaving the ball,” Kizzy reported.

“Wait, Chastity is signing the books too?” Fawn asked.

"Some kids wanted Cinderella to sign their books," YoYo revealed, rolling her eyes.

“It’s really cute how she reacted,” Harley remarked. “Uh, Chastity said we needed to get Peyton involved.”

“As the Wicked Witch of the West?” Lana joked, earning a sharp elbow.

“Peyton, we’re waiting for that apology,” Pepper stated.

“I am not apologizing to Lana for what she said.”

“Uh-oh. Mom’s getting that expression on her face,” Brandy commented.

“You'd better say you’re sorry and fast,” Fawn recommended.

“Or else I won’t have a second-favorite niece any longer,” Brandy added, which caused the niece in front of her to turn around.

“Second-favorite?” Peyton challenged.

“It’s not personal. Sean’s my favorite nephew by far, and it wouldn’t be fair to like only Bridget’s kids. Besides, Brynn doesn’t talk back to me like you do,” Brandy explained.

"Oh, she talks back a lot. Way more than you'd EVER imagine," Lana stressed. "You should try living with Pey. You spill a little water, and she flips out."

“You flooded the bathroom!” Peyton countered.

“You pour some foul-smelling witch’s brew down the drain, and she screams so loud that it brings the neighbors over.”

“You knew that was my protein shake!”

“And if you keep Pey up a few minutes past her bedtime, she’s cranky for days,” Lana continued.

"Your bed was banging into my wall at 3 am!"

“You know, my niece sounds a bit like Wrenn, doesn’t she?” Brandy asked Fawn, who threw her hands up as if to say, 'Leave me out of this. '

“Hey, Kiki! Get over!” Lana waved over another of their housemates. “Doesn’t Peyton freak out and never accept our apologies?”

“Is this about my wearing her old Halloween costume on stage? I said I was sorry!” the college student/stripper stressed.

A loud throat clearing brought everyone’s attention back to Mrs. Fallon.

“Fine,” Peyton grumbled under her breath. “I’m sorry for snapping at you, Kizzy. You and the other girls have been very helpful to Sean for tonight.”

Pepper motioned for her granddaughter to continue, and Lana nodded in agreement.

“And I thank you for helping with bringing down the books. Although I didn’t really need–”

“Thank you, honey. That will be enough,” Pepper interrupted before turning toward Kizzy, who sat next to her, and Harley, who stood behind her BFF. “Now, tell me about the young men you were dancing with.”

“Hold on, Grammy Pepper. We’ll get to that in a second, but first, I need to tell you that my sister dumped her worthless boyfriend,” Kizzy revealed. “Now, she’s free for Sean.”

“That’s very interesting, dear. We’d love to meet her,” Virginia said for her and Pepper.

“Katie can be a bit dense about boys, so I wouldn’t count on it,” YoYo remarked.

“We’ll handle her,” Kizzy proclaimed, gesturing at Harley.

Several feet away from the table, Lemon Leighton approached Gabby. The former cheerleader and cousin of Jillian Gibble inquired about JoJo’s whereabouts.

“Jilly wanted to get a picture of the two of them at midnight to send to Patrick. It sounds like he’s working a little later because of all the traffic accidents due to the weather,” Lemon explained about Jillian’s husband. “However, she wanted to show how cute Jo and Jared look together.”

“Hmm. I haven’t seen them lately. However, I think I have an idea of where they might be,” Gabby replied, scrunching up her face at the location.

"Could you find them? I believe Jillian wants them around for whenever Pat arrives. Kinda break any tension after, well, you know," Lemon added with a knowing grin.

“Sure. I’ll go looking for them soon. I assume that Pat won’t be here right away.”

“Probably not,” Lemon speculated. “It sounds like the police are working overtime with the weather and what happened outside before.”

Back over by the table, Lana and Peyton continued their usual performance, with others chiming in.

“It’s been THAT long?” Brandy questioned, her jaw dropping open.

“We are a bit worried about her,” Kiki admitted.

“That’s why she’s been crankier than usual,” Lana theorized.

“That’s not why I’m–No, I am not cranky,” Peyton declared.

“Ooh! Are we talking about Pey’s lack of sex?” Zaylie queried, joining her other housemates. “It’s very sad.”

“It’s not healthy, that’s what!” Lana stated.

“Looks like we need to find my niece some dick tonight,” Brandy announced.

“Don’t you mean your second-favorite niece?” Peyton shot back.

“You’re never going to let that one go, will ya?”

“Not for several years at least,” Fawn guessed.

“I swear, going for sex that long has caused early onset menopause,” Lana declared. “Yes, that’s what’s happening to my poor best friend.”

“That can happen?!” YoYo questioned, having eavesdropped on the conversation.

“It sure can. Now, your sister doesn’t have to worry–” Lana started to say about Yanet until Peyton interrupted.

“Don’t listen to her. She has no fucking clue about anything medical-related.”

“Hey! Is that a nice way to treat the one person who sees the signs? I'd better go have a talk with your grandma and future mother-in-law. Nate will have to be cool with adoption,” Lana threatened. The busty redhead even made a move to walk over in that direction before Brandy nudged her back.

“Now, let’s stop teasing Pey. We need to focus on breaking her dry spell. Any ideas?”

“I am not on a dry spell! I just had sex the other–” Peyton cut herself off but revealed enough.

“I knew it! You screwed someone the other night. Who was it? Let’s see…Vance and Jared are possibilities. RJ was also there, but…nah. Huh? Did you play sex instructor for Newt? Or did Mr. Diamond come back home and treat you to his big dick? I know you didn’t touch Finn. Hmm, did you and Seanie–”

“Eww!” Peyton squealed, lunging forward to cover her best friend’s mouth. “We’re not playing this game.”

"Why not? It's fun, and I want to ensure that my niece is…" Brandy trailed off as the next song started. "No. No, no, no. She wouldn't…"

Dooda-dit-dooda, dit-dooda-dit-dooda

“She did,” Fawn confirmed.

“Rachel knows I despise this song. I fucking hate it!” Brandy screeched, turning around in a circle as she searched for her older sister’s friend.

And there's a girl in this harbor town
And she works layin' whiskey down
They say, Brandy, fetch another round
She serves them whiskey and wine

The sailors say, "Brandy, you're a fine girl" (you're a fine girl)
"What a good wife you would be" (such a fine girl)
"Yeah, your eyes could steal a sailor from the sea"

“It’s your song, dear,” Virginia clapped.

“It’s not my song!”

“Yes! I was here for this moment,” Tinny cheered from her mom’s phone before descending into a long round of laughter.

“Where’s your best friend? Where’s your mom?” Brandy questioned Gabby and Lana. “She’s so dead.”

The blonde’s perturbed mood shot higher as Wrenn raced over to lock arms with Fawn just in time to sing the chorus together.

The sailors say, "Brandy, you're a fine girl" (you're a fine girl)
"What a good wife you would be" (such a fine girl)
"Yeah, your eyes could steal a sailor from the sea"

“You two are so getting it,” Brandy vowed. “You too!”

That last threat was aimed at Teddy, who wisely kept a safe distance when he yelled that Brandy needed to be a wife, finally. Then, she heard a familiar laughter and spotted ginger-red hair in that direction.

“I guess I'd better go save Rach before I find my kid,” Gabby said as a goodbye before rushing after Brandy.

“Cud I get Belle’s too?” the little girl asked.

“Goodness gracious! You thought she looked like Belle, too? I’m not the only one,” Chastity responded, kneeling to be closer to the girl. “I wish I could, but I haven’t seen Belle in many minutes. Holy Smokes! I bet the Beast has her in another room for dancing.”

"Ur funny," the little girl giggled.

“Sweet Christmas! Thank you!”

“I see Chastity is a hit with the kids,” Dalton commented, having come to check up on impromptu book signings with Graham.

“She’s fantastic! Everyone seems to love her,” Webb gushed while placing a pair of books to the side. They were for Tennille and Trey, but Teddy had asked to hide them from Olympia until the children weren’t in trouble. “I knew she had quite a cheerful personality from the fan club and previous signings of mine. However, seeing her in action is something else.”

"Yes, we witness this daily at Diamond Corp, just not with too many children," Graham said.

“She’s going to be involved in the CSS, right? I mean, she has to be,” Dalton stated.

“Yeah, I heard Bridget has made it a point tonight to get Chastity involved. I bet she’d be a hit for the storytime readings,” Graham speculated.

“I know she loves her receptionist duties, but I think we must find a way to get her out in the community. Perhaps we can give her an additional part-time position to help with organizations like the CSS. It’s something that I’d like to figure out before…you know,” Dalton hinted.

“Of course,” Graham replied, feeling that sick feeling return. “Oh, hey, Ollie, where did you go?”

Oliver Ragg, Graham’s longtime, close friend and owner of Grubby’s, shook the water off his coat. He’d just walked in through the lobby doors and looked soaked.

“I dropped Samantha Denton off at the hospital. Pansy’s kid swallowed more stuff he shouldn’t have,” Oliver explained about his nephew. “But, damn, it’s getting bad out there. I’m happy we have a room for tonight.”

“Bad? How so?” Dalton queried. “I thought the light snow turned into rain.”

“Freezing rain. The roads are getting slippery quickly. Anyone who doesn’t leave soon might have a tough time.”

Graham and Dalton turned to look at each other.

“Have you heard from Harvey?”

“No,” Graham replied before noticing his other friend’s perplexed expression. “Harvey left a while back. He was headed back to Wasp Lake.”

“Whoa. That means he went straight into the storm,” Oliver remarked.

“And if it’s icy, I don’t want to bother him with a call,” Graham said, not mentioning that he didn’t want to risk his family to more ice danger this week.

“Do you have Bridget’s number?” Dalton asked.

“No, but I could ask one of her–Ah, perfect timing,” Graham said, noticing Gabby walking through the lobby toward the elevator banks.

Yelling her name, Graham jogged over to the dark-haired woman. He swiftly received a negative when asked if she’d heard from Bridget since they left. Gabby also said that no one else had either.

“Should I be concerned?”

“No. Harvey knows his way around those roads in terrible weather. And cell service is spotty up there,” Graham explained. “But could you send her a message? We’d like to know when they arrive at the cabin.”

"Sure. I'll send one off while I wait for the elevator. I'll let you know if I hear anything," Gabby reassured. "First, I have to go find my missing son."