Previously…
– When Jason invited Sabrina over to have dinner with him and Sophie, the teenager lashed out, cutting the evening short.
– Jaq was shocked to receive an anonymous, threatening letter in their mailbox.
– Travis planned to propose marriage to Rosie, but they were interrupted by a call from Samantha about the letter that Jaq received.
The lilting sounds of Taylor Swift’s “willow” dance through the air inside Thaw Coffee & Tea. Jason Fisher stands at the end of the counter, sipping on an Americano in a to-go cup as he waits for Sabrina Gage to untie and neatly fold her icy blue work apron.
“Are you sure you have time for a walk?” Sabrina asks.
“Plenty of time,” he reassures her. “Tempest is out meeting with a vendor, and I got all the schedules sorted out this morning. I’m all yours.”
Sabrina smiles sweetly. “Great. Let me go put this in the back and I’ll be right out.”
She disappears through the swinging door into the café’s employees-only area. Jason waits, casually observing as the barista at the register takes an order from a harried young mother with two toddlers. Then he sees a familiar face stepping through the door that connects Thaw to the rest of Edge of Winter Arena.
“Jaq. Hi,” he says, raising a hand in greeting.
His niece‘s partner regards Jason with surprise and then approaches, offering a bashful wave of their own.
“Is this your day off from the radio station?” he asks.
Jaq nods, their angular black bangs bobbing softly above their eyebrows. “I thought I’d pick up a coffee for Samantha and surprise her at work.”
“That’s a great idea. How are you liking the new digs?”
“It’s so nice to have an entire house. And Finn is such an easy roommate.”
“You know, I spent a lot of time in that house when I was younger,” Jason says. “My late wife was best friends with Trevor’s sister.”
“That’s what Sam said,” Jaq replies. “I think it makes Trevor happy to know that he can still come by the house when he wants to.”
“I’m sure.” Before Jason can say anything further, Sabrina emerges from the back and rejoins them.
“Sabrina, you remember Jaq, don’t you?” Jason says.
“Yeah! It’s nice to see you,” Sabrina says.
“You, too.” Jaq tips their head in the direction of the register. “I should go order.”
“We’re about to head out for a walk,” Jason tells them. “Tell Samantha hi for us.”
After a flurry of quick goodbyes, Jaq moves to the register, while Jason and Sabrina exit through the door that leads to the arena’s parking lot. They walk wordlessly to the sidewalk and turn right, falling beneath the shade of the leafy trees.
“So,” Jason says after an unexpectedly heavy bout of silence. “I guess we should talk about that disaster of a dinner the other night.”
“That’s crazy,” Tori Gray says, her mouth agape. “Like, literally crazy.”
She sits at a small, metal table on the terrace outside Objection Designs’ offices in downtown King’s Bay. Although the air is still cool, as the winter slowly gives way to spring, the sun is shining and the sky is clear, offering a stunning view of the town and the shimmering bay.
“Jaq insists it’s not that big a deal,” Samantha Fisher says from across the table. “They think it’s just… bullying.”
Tori shakes her head at her cousin. “You can’t be too careful with this stuff.”
“That’s what I said.” Samantha sighs and sets her plastic fork down in the mostly-empty takeout salad container in front of her. “I hate that they’re so used to people treating them like this, too.”
“Yeah. That sucks. And it’s sad.”
“They didn’t really want me to call the cops, but I thought it would be really careless not to. So I asked Rosie to come over.”
“Did she find anything?” Tori asks, her fork perched above what’s left of her own salad.
“She took the letter in as evidence,” Samantha says, “but there’s no doorbell camera or anything.”
Tori finishes chewing a bite of her lunch before saying, “I think that was smart. Like I said… you can’t be too careful. Not when someone obsesses enough to leave you letters like that.”
Samantha hesitates, fixing a curious stare upon her cousin. “Right. It’s like…”
“It makes me think about Philip,” Tori continues.
“Oh. Philip. Yeah.” Samantha does her best to cover, and now she realizes it was silly to expect Tori to acknowledge Zane‘s obsessive, controlling behavior, let alone call it out in this situation.
“He was so obsessed with Aunt Molly that he killed five people. And almost me,” Tori says. “We don’t know what this person who left that letter for Jaq really wants. Making sure the cops know about it is the smartest thing you could’ve done.”
“I hope so,” Samantha says as she gazes off into the distance, watching as the surface of the water ripples slightly as she offers up a silent wish that there won’t be any more letters — or something even worse.
Travis Fisher holds a milk crate with both hands and carries it from the storage room into the large, busy kitchen of Bill’s on the Pier. He is unpacking a variety of supplies on one of the stainless steel counters when he looks over to see his uncle entering the kitchen, pulling on his white chef’s coat.
“You’re in early,” Matt Gray comments.
“I thought I’d get in here and help out to make up for taking last night off,” Travis explains.
“How’d it go?” Matt asks. “You and Rosie have a good night?”
“Well…” Travis bites his lower lip. “She got called away by work.”
“Oh, man. Look, I know you’ve got a lot on your plate with a baby in the house and all. If you need to cut a few shifts–“
“It’s not just that,” Travis says.
Matt cocks his head to one side. “What’s up?”
Travis swallows the lump in his throat and explains, his voice growing quieter, “I was kinda… I’ve been planning to propose.”
“No way!” In spite of his usual understated, almost stoic demeanor, Matt’s eyes flare wide as his entire face brightens. “That’s huge.”
“Yeah. Or it would be. But I’ve gotten interrupted multiple times now. Like I was made dinner last night, I was ready to pull out the ring…”
“Interruptions happen.”
“I’m just worried it’s, like… a sign.”
“A sign? Come on.” Matt picks up a nearby dish rag and twists it in his hands. “You guys love each other. And you’re raising a baby together!”
“Fostering.”
“Fostering. Which is raising. You just don’t know if it’s gonna be long-term.”
Travis nods along.
“Don’t psych yourself out, man,” Matt tells him. “You and Rosie, you’ve got a good thing. Proposing doesn’t have to be some big flashy thing.”
“I’m hoping I only do it once, so I kinda want it to be special.”
“It’ll be special ’cause you’re doing it at all.”
“I hope so.” Travis fixes a smile on his face. “Thanks, Uncle Matt.”
Matt grins and then snaps the towel against Travis’s side.
“You’re welcome,” he says. “Now get back to work.”
“Deal,” Travis says, laughing, as Matt helps him unload the crate.
—–
“I’m really sorry about that dinner,” Jason says as he and Sabrina stroll down a tree-lined street just to the north of the arena.
“You don’t have anything to be sorry about,” she responds.
“No, I do.”
She glances sideways at him, confused.
“I should’ve realized I was pushing things along too fast,” he says. “When you’re dealing with a teenager…”
“I remember what it was like being a teenager. So I understand. But… are you sure the problem is Sophie?”
Jason furrows his brow at her. “What do you mean?”
“It seemed like Sophie was just fine with you dating — and almost marrying — Natalie,” Sabrina explains. “Maybe the issue is that she doesn’t like me.”
“Not at all.” Jason shakes his head for emphasis. “But I do think that, yeah, Natalie is a factor.”
They walk a few more steps quietly; Sabrina watches him carefully out of the corner of her eye, anxious to hear what he will say next.
“Things between Natalie and me got serious unexpectedly fast,” he finally says. “Between us having known each other for a while, and both having kids already, and then her getting pregnant… it was all really serious and domestic. And then when it blew up — that was hard on Sophie.”
“Of course.”
“She’s skittish now, and I don’t blame her,” Jason says. “To be fair, I’ve been skittish. And Sophie lost her mother so young, and then she lost Natalie — and Bree, and Peter. It’s asking a lot of her to accept someone else into her life.”
Sabrina gulps. “I’m also not sure if I’m ready to jump into being a stepmother– or, well, you know what I mean– especially to a teenager. There’s so much life that I’ve missed.”
Jason stops walking and turns toward her. With a somber expression, he asks, “But are you open to that in the future?”
“I think so. Yeah.” She puts on a brave smile. “I would be. But I need time.”
“And so does Sophie, and frankly, I probably do, too. But I like you.”
“I like you, too, Jason.”
“Then here’s an idea: let’s keep this separate from Sophie for now. Let’s find ways to spend time together that don’t involve acting like some sort of instant family.”
“Do you think we can?” she asks earnestly. “You’re a single parent with a teenager.”
“A teenager who goes to school and has extracurriculars and spends the night with her grandparents sometimes.”
Sabrina chuckles. “Do you think spending time with Mrs. Chase is going to make Sophie more likely to accept me?”
“I think she’s got plenty of Helen in her already,” he says. “But what I know is that I like you. A lot. And I’d like to find a way to make this work, as long as you’re okay with it, too.”
“I am. I really am.”
“Good.” He leans in and presses his lips against hers. “And we might have to spend a little more time at your place, if that’s okay.”
“Very okay,” Sabrina says before kissing him again.
—–
After she and Tori finish lunch, Samantha returns to her cubicle. She has just opened a PDF she was asked to review for copy errors — several of which she spots on the first page alone — when she spots Jaq approaching.
“What are you doing here?” Samantha asks, rising from her desk chair.
Jaq holds out a coffee cup from Thaw. “Finn let me in. I thought I’d surprise you with this.”
“You get points for this,” Samantha says happily. If she weren’t in her own workplace, she would greet Jaq with a kiss, but the acknowledgement seems to pass wordlessly between them.
“Why don’t we go outside?” Sam suggests, and a moment later, they are stepping back out onto the terrace where she and Tori just finished up.
“I have some news,” Jaq says as the door closes behind them.
Samantha’s breath catches in her chest. “Was there another letter?”
“No, no. Rosie called, though.”
“And…?”
“And they couldn’t get any fingerprints off the letter I got,” they explain. “Whoever left it must’ve been really careful. Probably wore gloves the whole time.”
Samantha lets this information soak in for a moment and then says, “Somehow that makes it even scarier. That someone was so methodical about it.”
“I know.” Jaq reaches out and grabs Samantha’s hand. “Let’s just hope for the best, okay?”
“I don’t even want to think about you being in danger.”
“I’m in danger just by existing in my own skin, unfortunately.”
“I’m so sorry,” Samantha says sadly. “I– I care about you so much, Jaq. I love you.”
Jaq’s face lights up. “Did you just say…?”
“I said I love you. And I mean it.”
“Oh my god. I love you, too.” Jaq springs forward and catches Samantha, though they both quickly remember where they are and keep it brief. “Do you know how long I’ve wanted to say that?”
“Then you should have!” Samantha says with a laugh.
“Well, we’ve said it now. And I don’t want to feel sad or scared while we have something like that to celebrate.”
“I just want to make sure you’re safe.”
“I am safe. Because I’m with you,” Jaq says, staring gratefully into Samantha’s eyes.
END OF EPISODE 1072
Will there be any more letters sent to Jaq?
Is Travis overthinking his proposal?
Can Jason and Sabrina really make it work?
Talk about it all in the comments below!
Very energetic article, I liked that a lot. Will there be a part 2?
0mniartist asmr
I simply could not depart your site before suggesting that I really loved the usual info a person provide on your
visitors? Is going to be again steadily to inspect
new posts asmr 0mniartist
Post writing is also a excitement, if you know afterward you can write otherwise it is complicated to write.
asmr 0mniartist
This is really attention-grabbing, You’re an overly skilled blogger.
I’ve joined your feed and sit up for seeking more
of your great post. Additionally, I’ve shared
your website in my social networks
I go to see every day a few web pages and information sites to read posts, except this web site offers quality based posts.
Feel free to visit my web-site – id Test playboy2
I am regular reader, how are you everybody? This article posted at this web site is truly good.
Here is my page download 918kaya ios
Excellent article. I absolutely love this website. Stick with it!
Here is my web blog: greatwall99 download
Hi, this weekend is nice for me, as this moment i am reading this great educational post
here at my residence.
Feel free to visit my web page love138 pc download
Hey this is somewhat of off topic but I was wanting to know if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML.
I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding know-how so I
wanted to get guidance from someone with experience. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Also visit my website; lpe88 test id
Thank you so much with regard to giving my family an update on this issue on your
web page. Please realise that if a new post appears or in the event any alterations occur
with the current submission, I would consider reading more
and learning how to make good usage of those techniques you share.
Thanks for your efforts and consideration of people by making this
website available.
Take a look at my blog :: http://www.classifiedadsubmissionservice.com
Keep on writing, great job!
What’s up, of course this piece of writing is actually fastidious and I have learned lot of things from it about blogging.
thanks. 0mniartist asmr
This site truly has all of the information I needed concerning this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
my web site: http://www.craksracing.com
I visited various sites but the audio quality for audio songs present at this web
page is in fact superb.
Feel free to visit my website … freeholmes.com
Yes! Finally something about website.
I am really enjoying the theme/design of your website. Do you ever
run into any internet browser compatibility issues? A small number of my blog visitors have complained about my website not operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Safari.
Do you have any advice to help fix this problem?
What’s up, I wish for to subscribe forr this blog to take most recent updates, so whhere can i
do it please help out.
Yes! Finally something about wm casino.
my blog :: wm casino download
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you writing this write-up plus
the rest of the website is also very good.
Hi, I do think this is a great web site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I may come back once again since I book marked it.
Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and
continue to guide others.
Feel free to surf to my web-site: wukong333 android download
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and
wished to say that I have truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts.
In any case I will be subscribing to your rss feed and
I hope you write again soon!
My website … ntc33 malaysia, 918kiss-m.com,
It’s remarkable designed for me to have a web
site, which is valuable in favor of my knowledge.
thanks admin
My web-site … aaa1188 Demo id
Greetings from California! I’m bored to death at work so I decided to browse your blog on my iphone during lunch break.
I enjoy the info you provide here and can’t wait to take a look when I
get home. I’m amazed at how quick your blog loaded on my phone ..
I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, excellent site!
my site … hengheng2 sky777
Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you penning
this write-up and the rest of the site is really
good.
my web-site: club suncityapk
I like the helpful info you provide in your articles.
I’ll bookmark your blog and check again here frequently. I’m quite certain I’ll
learn many new stuff right here! Best of luck for the next!
My web page; 3win8 website [Beatris]
As the admin of this web page is working, no question very quickly it will be renowned,
due to its feature contents.
Here is my site – download 918kiss plus android
Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Thank
you so much, However I am experiencing issues
with your RSS. I don’t understand why I can’t subscribe
to it. Is there anybody having identical RSS issues?
Anyone that knows the solution can you kindly respond? Thanx!!
Also visit my web page xe88 game
Amazing issues here. I am very glad to see your post.
Thank you a lot and I am looking ahead to contact you.
Will you please drop me a e-mail?
My web site; cara masuk id test 918kiss 2 (918kiss-m.com)
I think what you wrote was actually very reasonable. But,
consider this, suppose you composed a catchier post title?
I ain’t saying your content is not solid.,
but what if you added a title to possibly get folk’s attention?
I mean Episode 1072 – Footprints is kinda plain. You might peek at
Yahoo’s front page and see how they create news headlines to
get people interested. You might add a related video or a picture or two to
grab readers excited about what you’ve got to say. In my opinion, it could bring
your posts a little livelier.
My web-site: ok388 online
What’s up to every one, it’s really a nice for me to visit this web page, it contains important Information.
An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a co-worker who had been doing
a little research on this. And he actually ordered me lunch due to the fact that
I discovered it for him… lol. So let me reword this….
Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending the time to talk about this topic here
on your site.
I visited multiple web sites however the audio feature for audio
songs present at this web site is really excellent.
I like the valuable information you provide in your articles.
I’ll bookmark your weblog and check again here regularly.
I am quite certain I will learn many new stuff right here!
Best of luck for the next!
Excellent web site you have got here.. It’s hard to find high quality writing like yours these
days. I honestly appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!
Good respond in return of this issue with solid arguments and describing all regarding that.
Great write-up, I am normal visitor of one’s website, maintain up the excellent operate, and It is going to be a regular visitor for a long time.
The other day, while I was at work, my sister stole my apple ipad and tested to see
if it can survive a 30 foot drop, just so she
can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now destroyed and she has
83 views. I know this is completely off topic but I had to
share it with someone!
If you wish for to obtain a great deal from this article then you
have to apply these strategies to your won webpage.
Pretty great post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that
I’ve really loved browsing your blog posts. In any
case I will be subscribing on your feed and I hope you write
again very soon!
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article.
I will make sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful info.
Thanks for the post. I’ll definitely return.
You are a very smart person!
If you want to increase your experience simply keep visiting this
website and be updated with the newest gossip posted here.
What’s Going down i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have discovered It
positively useful and it has aided me out loads. I am hoping to give a contribution & aid
different users like its aided me. Good job.
Hi there, just changed into aware of your weblog through Google, and found that it’s truly informative. I抦 gonna be careful for brussels. I抣l be grateful in the event you proceed this in future. A lot of folks will probably be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
I savour, lead to I discovered exactly what I was taking a look for. You have ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye
Hmm it seems like your website ate my first comment (it was extremely
long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I had written and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog.
I too am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m still new
to everything. Do you have any helpful hints for newbie
blog writers? I’d really appreciate it.
Howdy! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could find a captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having problems finding one? Thanks a lot!
You could definitely see your enthusiasm in the work you write.
The arena hopes for even more passionate writers such as you
who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart.
Greetings! Very useful advice within this article! It’s the little changes that produce the biggest changes. Many thanks for sharing!
If you are going for finest contents like me, just visit this site every day since it presents quality
contents, thanks
I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own weblog and was curious what all is needed to get set up?
I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a
pretty penny? I’m not very internet smart so I’m not 100% certain. Any
tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
After looking into a number of the blog posts on your website, I truly appreciate your way of blogging. I added it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back in the near future. Please visit my website too and tell me what you think.
Very rapidly this website will be famous among all blogging
people, due to it’s fastidious articles or reviews
Fantastic blog! Do you have any tips for aspiring writers? I’m hoping to start my own blog soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you recommend starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many options out there that I’m totally confused .. Any suggestions? Thanks a lot!
I every time spent my half an hour to read this webpage’s articles daily along with a
mug of coffee.
Good article. I’m facing many of these issues as well..
You actually make it appear really easy along with
your presentation however I in finding this
matter to be actually one thing that I believe I would never
understand. It seems too complicated and extremely vast
for me. I am looking ahead for your subsequent publish, I
will attempt to get the grasp of it!
Hey great blog! Does running a blog like this take a large amount of
work? I’ve very little knowledge of computer programming however I had been hoping to start my own blog soon. Anyway, if you have any suggestions or techniques for new blog owners please share.
I know this is off subject but I simply had to ask.
Thanks!
Your mode of explaining the whole thing in this article is actually good,
all be able to effortlessly know it, Thanks a lot.
This website truly has all the information and facts I needed
about this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
The Grapes Of Wrath Ending Scene Phillip And Patricia Frost Museum Of Science Admission
Also visit my homepage :: get pdf
A Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man By James Joyce
Lee Child In Order
Also visit my web page – book epub
An interesting discussion is definitely worth
comment. I do believe that you ought to write more about this issue,
it might not be a taboo matter but usually folks don’t
speak about such issues. To the next! Many thanks!!
This is a topic that is near to my heart… Cheers!
Where are your contact details though?
Visit my web site: lpe88 android download – xe88-my.com,
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find
this matter to be actually something that I think I would
never understand. It seems too complex and very broad
for me. I am looking forward for your next post,
I’ll try to get the hang of it!
Also visit my web site: love138 slot
I could not resist commenting. Exceptionally well written!
Feel free to surf to my web site :: playboy2 id test
If you would like to grow your know-how only keep visiting this website and be updated with the most recent information posted here.
Take a look at my website: agen aaa1188
It’s an amazing paragraph for all the internet
viewers; they will take advantage from it I
am sure.
Here is my website :: greatwall99 kiosk
I am sure this post has touched all the internet users,
its really really pleasant article on building up new website.
my web blog :: download lpe88
Hello, i think that i saw you visited my website so i came to “return the favor”.I am attempting to find things to improve my site!I suppose its ok to
use some of your ideas!!
Also visit my blog … cara id test ok388 [Zack]
It is a fun read, or perhaps I hope it is! I hate spam using
a passion, so just make sure your comments add on the conversation. My name was
replaced with someone else’s name and links were
removed.