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Blair Cramer rushed down the stairs of Dorian’s mansion and ran into the den. She tore apart Dorian’s desk looking for the latest story she had written for the Banner’s “About Town” section. She found what she was looking for and rushed into the hall reaching for the doorknob.

“Mommy!”

Blair turned around only to spy her young daughter standing on Dorian’s stairs, pouting with her arms crossed. Blair immediately let out a breath as she saw the disappointment in her daughter’s face.

“Starr, what’s wrong?” asked Blair.

“Mommy! Where are you going? You promised!” said Starr firmly.

Blair bit her lip. She’d been so busy lately at the paper and with Max. She had promised Starr to spend more time with her but she didn’t realize that today was that day.

“Sweetie…I’ve got to go to the paper…!” said Blair, her heart melting.

“I can go with you!” said Starr. She was all dressed wearing a blue jean jumper with a light pink shirt.

“I guess…we do a girl’s days out if you want…” stammered Blair, “…you might get bored…”

“I just wanna be with you Mommy…” said Starr sweetly.

Blair reached out her arms, “C’Mon sweetie…let’s go and make a day out of it.”

Starr grabbed Freddie the frog from the table on the hall and took her Mommy’s hand, happy to be spending the day with her.

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The Banner…

Blair and Starr walked hand in hand into the Banner’s newsroom. In Starr’s other hand, she clutched Freddie the frog.

Kevin got in Blair’s face, “Blair…what are you doing, bringing her here.” He pointed to Starr.

Starr frowned. She didn’t like Kevin too much.

“Get your finger out of my daughter’s face. Here’s your damn article!” said Blair throwing the article on Kevin’s chest. Kevin grabbed the article.

Just then Reverend Andrew Carpenter walked out of Viki’s office and up to Kevin and Blair, “Play nice you two…” said Andrew.

Kevin pouted.

Blair fumed.

“Reverend Carpenter, how’s River?” asked Starr looking up at Andrew with her expressive eyes.

“He’s o.k.,” said Andrew, “He misses you.”

Blair wrinkled her brow.

“I miss him too. Does he miss his mommy like I miss my Daddy?” asked Starr.

Blair opened her mouth and closed it.

Kevin bit his lip at the reference to Cassie.

“Yes, he does…” said Andrew softly, “If your Mommy doesn’t mind, River and I are going to be at the community center…you could come by and hang out. The Mommy and Me group are making flags for Memorial Day.”

Blair frowned at the thought.

“Can we? Mommy? Huh? Can we?” begged Starr.

“Oh, o.k…” said Blair. All though she wasn’t looking forward to it, she knew it meant a lot to Starr.

“See you later Starr. Blair,” said Andrew waving at the young girl and walking off.

“So what now Blair? You’re taking the rest of the day off?” asked Kevin sounding annoyed.

“Yep,” said Blair grinning, “I’m spending some quality time with my daughter. Unlike you, at least I try to spend some time with my child…”

Starr squirmed, wishing her Mommy would hurry up.

Kevin looked shocked, “That’s not fair.”

“So fire me. Oh. You can’t. Oh well. Starr and I are off to the mall. There’s shopping to be done!” said Blair smugly.

“Blair! You won’t get paid today…” said Kevin as Blair turned around.

Blair grimaced but her back was turned to Kevin so he didn’t see her. She continued walking, “And?” she yelled back at Kevin.

Blair and Starr walked out and Starr was very happy to finally be spending some time with her Mommy. Especially since she missed her Daddy so much.

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Later that Day,
The Community Center…

Starr was busy coloring the flags while Blair cut them out. Starr was sitting next to River and they were sharing crayons. Freddie the frog was on the table next to the crayons. Andrew was talking to some kids on a bench who were playing basketball.

“My mommy and I went shopping at the mall today…” said Starr to River.

“What did you buy?” asked River, “I want one of those lego x-wings fighters…”

“I got some new clothes, and a new tea seat…” said Starr reaching for the white crayon.

River looked sad, “I miss shopping with my mommy…”

“I miss playing with my daddy…” said Starr petting Freddie the frog.

Blair let out a sigh, knowing how sad Starr was without Todd.

Andrew walked up and smiled, bending down to their level, “Hey…with any luck, Cassie and Todd will be back soon…”

Blair looked into Andrew’s eyes…both parents’ eyes sadly telling the other’s they understood…a little…

“Hello Andrew…” came a voice. Andrew felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up.

“Tee!” cried Starr.

Blair rolled her eyes and put her scissors down ready to pounce on Téa Delgado.

“Hi Téa,” said Andrew standing up. He was happy to see her. However, since her decision to stay with Todd and not him, Andrew found it hard to be around her, knowing that he was still very much attracted to her.

Starr crawled underneath the table and ran up to Téa.

“Tee! I’ve missed you!” exclaimed Starr smiling.

Blair stood up, anxious and nervous, that her daughter still liked her father’s second wife.

Téa picked the girl up in her arms wistfully smiling at her. Blair crossed her arms and defensively walked up in back of Andrew, intensely watching the interaction between her daughter and Téa Delgado.

“I’ve missed you too Sweetpea,” said Téa softly. Téa saw Blair’s intense stare and purposely avoided looking at her so Starr wouldn’t see the displeasure in her mother’s eyes.

“What brings you by Téa?” asked Andrew softly. He couldn’t help the memories she evoked in him… welcomed memories of friendship, desire, and passion…

“Ah, Hank wanted me to arrange a time and a date to use the facilities for a charity basketball game the office is having between the police department to benefit ALS…” explained Téa, finding Andrew’s veiled eyes.

“Oh, I see…” said Andrew a bit wistfully. It hadn’t been to see him.

“Starr…honey…can’t you see Tee’s busy?” interjected Blair, glaring at Téa.

Téa ignored her.

Starr held up Fred, “Tee do you have anything you want to tell daddy? If you tell Fred, he’ll give Daddy the message…”

Téa swallowed and didn’t notice John Sykes walk up behind her.

Another look of disappointment crossed Andrew’s face and Blair rolled her eyes. John Sykes was the biggest hypocrite in town. At least she was honest…

“Starr…I can’t think of a thing…” muttered Téa.

“Don’t you miss Daddy, Tee?” asked Starr.

“Yes…I do…” whispered Téa.

Blair raised an eyebrow. Well, at least she’d give Téa that… Téa could be honest – when she wanted to be.

“Starr…” started Blair.

“I want Daddy to come back so me and you and him can be a family again,” said Starr sincerely, smiling at Téa.

“Well, Starr…” started Téa. She got choked up and couldn’t finish. Her eyes misted up, as she looked into the young girl’s eyes that reminded her so much of her father.

“If you can’t love the one you want, love the one you’re with…”

“Little girl, Téa’s with me now. She’ll never go back to your Daddy…” said Sykes smugly.

Everyone grew quiet.

Blair crossed her arms, “WHO are you?”

Téa shot Sykes a look that could freeze a glacier.

Starr stated crying.

Andrew’s mouth dropped at Sykes’s maliciousness.

Blair took Starr out a shocked Téa’s arms and comforted her daughter. Then she turned on Téa and Sykes.

“How could you upset her like this Sykes? You’ve got yourself a winner there Téa… Why do you and you and your swarmy boytoy stay away from my daughter…!” said Blair, her voice dripping with sarcasm and ice.

Andrew got in Sykes’s face, “Get out of here now. Before you upset that little girl anymore…”

Sykes looked at Téa.

Téa’s eyes blazed with fury at the man.

Sykes sneered at Téa and left. However he paused at the doorway to leer at her.

Téa turned to Blair and Andrew, “I’m sorry… I’m really sorry…” she muttered. Then she went up to Starr and found the young girl’s eyes.

“Starr…Sweetpea…if your Daddy comes back you know he’ll be back because he loves you…so much…and if he wants me in his life…and he’s willing to work out our problems….then I am too…” Téa’s words were heartfelt and sincere.

“Daddy loves you Tee. He told me so…” said Starr.

Téa nodded her head, “Te quero…” she whispered. Then she turned around and went to walk out spying John Sykes who was spying on her.

“Téa’s right about that at least…Daddy will come back because he loves you…” said Blair softly into her daughter’s ear. Andrew also smiled at the young girl.

“If you want Starr…I’ll go kick that mean man…” said River intensely. He was standing next to his father.

“River… even though that man wasn’t nice, doesn’t mean you have to be…” said Andrew.

Starr smiled at River and held Fred tight.

THE END.

This story is dedicated to Julieta!! I love her enthusism and her encouragement means a lot!

THE END.