Goodnight

Feeling her phone vibrating in her pocket, Rosalyn slowly opens her eyes. She was still lying on the bed with Chad's shirt still clutched in her hand. Swallowing hard and smacking her dry lips, she brings her surroundings into focus, finding it difficult to rouse her foggy brain. 

Finally rolling over, she digs out her phone and flips it open. Seeing a message from Chad, her heart immediately flutters, though she tries to make it stop. After reading what he had to say, her thumbs hover over the small buttons. Half of her wanted to just grab a truck now and go into town. And half of her wanted to tell him to quit trying - it was over. 

Glad to know u found a place.

Thank u for the bracelet- i love it.

She pauses as her mind races. 

Im sorry tho... its just not going 

to work between us. Its too much 

stress and it will tear us apart

eventually. I dont want to see u 

hurt. Im so sorry. Thank u for

everything. Goodbye.

Rosalyn stops before hitting "send." Tears welled up in her eyes as she reread her own message. She could imagine Chad's face and the disappointment in his gaze. She could imagine the hurt - that she would cause. And she pressed "delete" instead, before retyping.

Glad to know you found a place.

Thank u for the bracelet- i love it.

I dont know when i can get away. No

promises, but i will try tomorrow.

U've put up with so much already. I

dont want to make it harder on u.

Goodnight, Chad.

"I think... I like the first option." It wasn't that Cindy didn't want the others to see Wes, or that she didn't want her daughter around either. But she did want more time for just herself and her husband, if only for a few more hours until the reality of life had to return. And she knew no one would blame her. 

"But the others do need to know." She lifts her head, a little grin coming to her lips. "At least that way they won't have the shock of their life like I did." 

Letting her lips brush Wes', her voice softens. "But it was a good shock." 

Easing away from him, she doesn't want to get up, but she knows she had to. Prying herself from the couch, she runs as hand through her unruly hair and wanders to the kitchen phone. And it was Mick's cell phone she chooses to dial...

...The news spread like wildfire, as did the shock and joy. It was hard to believe that Wes was alive, let alone right here at home. Everyone wanted to see him, but all understood him spending time alone with Cindy until the next day. Of course, that also gave everyone enough time to plan a little party for supper tomorrow night. 

Jared breaks his gaze from Grace to keep eating, though his eyes did return to hers, as if drawn by magnets. "I dunno..." He gives her a little shrug. "I s'pose we could find out if we really wanted to."

Taking another sip of water, he lets a couple moments bring a silent pause, just prolonging the suspense. Finally though, he shifts a little on his side, keeping one hand on the floor for leverage. Lifting his other hand, he runs his fingers along the side of Grace's face. "At least... I don't think it would be hard." He leans a little closer. "I don't... anticipate this... being... too horrible." 

His lips brush hers just lightly. "Mm... yeah... not so bad..." Remaining an inch or so away, his eyes twinkle, challenging her to kiss him back."