" I heard Derek's voice coming from the bathroom. I set my coat and purse down by the couch on the way to the bathroom. "Is it safe to come in?" I ask...d, jokingly. "Sure is, Lexs. Just shaving." Derek said. I walked into the bathroom and Derek was standing there with shaving cream on his face. Derek was shirtless and wearing plaid boxers. I was almost speechless. "Are the kids still sleeping?" I asked, pretending not to be affected by his lack of clothing. "Yep. Jayden should be asleep for. The girls then looked at me, blankly. It was as if I had never asked them the question. I was about to ask again, when I saw something in their eyes, or was it their body language, that warned me not to do it again.“He explained to me when I told him about it, that he had tried the same thing with the same results. Only he noted that after he had, they didn’t seem as capable with the help that they had been giving up to that point, this was verified when he asked them about some of the steps. You will protect my child, or your ass isgrass!"Mom storms out of the principal's office grabs my hand and says, "we'redone here. I guess it's fourth period, is that what honey, English withMister Lewis?" Yeah, but mom you were like, I don't know incredible in there. I can'tbelieve it. You were like, well I don't know Sigourney Weaver but morebad assed." We'll thank you honey, wait until someone threatens your kids over somebullshit..... oh honey." Mom stops dead in her tracks, she. "Hope I don't need to polish my CV..." Never heard it called THAT before!" Hannah laughed, making Nikki groanwith embarrassment. "Sorry, sorry, I know that's still a sensitive areafor you..." ...Another joke?" Nikki asked."Wish I could say yes," Hannah laughed. "Seriously, though... You've gotto try to keep your pec- umm, I mean, you've got to try to smile,haven't you? A few months from now, we'll probably look back at thisand laugh. I hope we will, anyway..." Doubt Steph will," Nikki mused..