travlbug

In the U.S., teachers are "mandated reporters" and are required by law to report abuse/sexual misconduct towards a child, with failure to report constituting a misdemeanor punishable (in most cases) by six months in jail, a fine of US $1,000, or both. Stephen (if not Lewis) would have no discretion in the matter, and Daniel's wishes on how to treat Loz would be meaningless. The police would have to become involved, and Loz would almost certainly receive a custodial sentence of at least several years (worse if he's tried as an adult). However, even if Daniel's wishes are honored, and the school (which is providing Loz with counseling) expels him without any cop intervention, how does this assure that Loz gets the critical help he needs to overcome his own problems?

I'm not so sure: "The pack would not be kind to anyone who dared play with wolf blood. Cade Ogawa’s future was already decided." That said, unless I see the body, I never presume that death has occurred. He still may be in holding, just like Rick. He might also be given some sort of clemency (for Nisin's sake), as his crimes, while serious, are nowhere near the severity of Rick's. Or I just may be an old softie and not want Nisin hurt by his father's death. 😟

Ilaria gets kudos for the best line in the story: "Your brother needs us and he’s in the hands of a bunch of mutts." You gotta love it! Unless Iris can turn Rick into a potted begonia, about the only way he'd be left alive is with some some sort of permanent banishment (I wonder if she could turn him into a human and strip his memories away completely, but I think I'd like him better as a potted begonia!) And what's going to happen to Nisin's dad? Most of all, I'm happy for Milan, who is feeling good health for the first time in his life. The love between Milan and Rory is palpable, and my thanks to Sui for the amazing artistry of his writing. But even their love takes a backseat to Ilaria's intense worry for Kiyo, and they will all now rush to Kiyo's bedside. The situation sounds grave but maybe not hopeless: Kiyo's not mated to a werewolf, but his son is one....

This entire chapter is an affirmation of love--first, the love between Louis and Donny; second, the love they have to share with an unfortunate boy (interesting that Don is also thinking of fostering other disabled kids as well ❤️); and third, the love between Robert and Rena! (I had a great aunt named Rena: She funded her retirement by doing "little old lady" walk-ons [e.g., she'd be in the background crossing the street] on Love, American Style--so even more love! [I have a soft spot now for the name Rena 😊.])

Ah, the old "megalomaniac sipping bourbon while plotting a psychic takeover of his clone" plotline. Like a cuckoo, he'll manipulate Michael and Byron into raising the little angel. But Enderson is in for a big surprise: In the same way that identical twins can manifest very different personalities, a clone and its donor may be equally dissimilar. I have a sneaky feeling that Little Enderson will turn out to be vastly different from the Elder Enderson by virtue of being raised by two loving gay men. ❤️

Poor Noah: He's facing a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. If he comes out, he loses his parents at the very least, not to mention his family's financial support. If he doesn't come out, he continues to live a lie and to remain at the mercy of a blackmailer, not to mention the friction his decision might generate with Jordan (but he wouldn't lose Jordan, as Jordan has already decided that being with Noah is more important). Noah has to realize that there is no good answer to his dilemma, as he will experience loss no matter how he chooses. (Jordan isn't absolutely sure his mom will be OK with his orientation, though even Aiden says she will be, whereas Noah's mom makes clear that she'd rather be dead.) As neither of his choices are good, Noah should settle on the option that makes him the most happy; but instead, he's making the choice most driven by fear: I am profoundly disappointed in Noah for that reason (and for his willingness to relinquish Jordan to that fear), just as Jordan makes the commitment never to give up on Noah. The boys end the chapter even farther apart from where they started. By the way, I say we rename the coach "Basil Chesterfield" and sit on him whenever we want to! 😂

Whatever Ezra's trying to pull, I trust that Artie is smart enough to see through it! (My big fear is that Ezra will provide Artie with an irresistible lure--for example, offering him the chance to meet some heretofore unknown brothers and sisters--as a means of getting what he wants. Could Artie really resist such temptation? Would he go behind Adam's back with the right inducement?)

As for Mam, I can see Drew and the twins inviting her to live with them, but I wonder what she would do! She would bring love and support to the newly evolving family, but could she ever part from her friends/neighbors and her beloved Welsh countryside?

Drew's dynamic with each twin is very different: Amara is clearly his lover, but Aria is more like a child or beloved friend, depending on the circumstances. Drew is thinking of how he'd act with the twins as equal husbands (sans sex with Aria), but he should actually be thinking of them simply as a family, with each member being a unique part of the whole. 😊 And Jay can be their first cousin!

Way too short a chapter. 😉 Daniel has grown emotionally in the time he's been with Stephen and Lewis: He now trusts enough to reveal Loz' predation, and this admission is a huge step for him. (His response to being called "son" shows how he is coming to view Stephen [and Lewis] and is a manifestation of that growing trust.) I agree with @Howzat that Loz is now in a position where self harm--suicide (let's call it what it is)--may seem his best alternative: He's lost Daniel and, if outed, he loses his family (though from my perspective, that would be a positive). Further, he's now facing prison time. His world is imploding, with no obvious way out but one. By the way, while the spotlight has been on Daniel this chapter (and rightly so), what has Loz been doing, as we lost track of him after the locker room scene? What are the police going to find when they catch up with him?

Actually, Carter, I'll bet you could have a lot of fun playing good cop/bad cop! 😂 Uh, Freddie, about hide-and-seek, doing something else so that the hiders finally give up in boredom is NOT a strategy. Yes, Carter, Aron, adult games are best, and far from involving a closet, they don't even involve clothes! Freddie, so who's your mom? The fact that she's around to give a heart attack to means she has remained an integral part of your life! Good for the daddies! (Is mom Diedra's mother too?) Yes, Freddie, trees and people and many other things have wonderful stories to tell, but it takes a special person to make those stories a reality: Laura, my deepest appreciation for your artistry and humor. Till we journey down the rabbit hole again in your next work! ❤️ 🙋‍♂️

A moving story about people helping other people with no strings attached. Thank you.

And the winner? Why, both! 😊

Girl with a pony tail, get a life. Carter, you’re a hero! You have my permission to take a bow! (No Taz, not bow wow!) You’ve saved the life of a scum bag, and that should count for something…. (Does heaven do negative points for a heroic act? 🤔) OK, Carter, that must have been the most romantic confession of love I’ve ever heard: When Aron says, “You love me,” you answer, “I do?” (Shook me to the core! ) Carter, a gay cake is one with a creamy filling. (What else?) 😂 Ah, Carter, your sympathetic nature reigns supreme: You assure Alex that he’ll find someone who loves him. Then, when Alex says, “You’re just saying that,” you answer, “I suppose.” (You’re a natural born psychologist!) So, Alex, as you drive off into the sunset, Carter says, “Funny, the guy [Alex] was slightly turned to one side and seemed to talk to someone next to him. Someone who did not seem to be there.” So were you talking to your guardian angel or Harvey? (Going bat-shit crazy would also be an acceptable response.) Mark, I hear you got Carter spared on a technicality. But don’t get cocky (Perry Mason you’re not), and I’m definitely not eating one of your mints. Wait, who are you again? So, Carter Malis, you made it through Wonderland! I think the perfect way to finish the chapter is with a tea party! Oh, you already are? Then please pass the madeleines!

Artie is a good soul to give Ezra the benefit of the doubt, but the truth is that he promised to be there for Sarah and then abandoned both her and Artie. Further, Adam says that he's a "manipulative liar," and Adam should know. Interestingly, Adam (or his lawyer) already knows Ezra's whereabouts, or else the parental rights termination papers could not have been forwarded to him, and Adam has not shared this info with Artie. Of course, the termination papers are just a formality (right?), as Adam's custody has been reaffirmed. So why, all of a sudden, does Ezra want to see Artie? Artie wants to grant forgiveness, but what does Ezra want out of the deal?

Interesting that the very sight of the Johnson Institute for Spinal Cord Injuries make Louis “slightly sick,” but such is the power of memory. (So could Max, in his freshly injured state, evoke that same sensation of illness by triggering the same set of memories?) “I didn't feel good about this, not any of it”: I love that Louis’ state of mind is not simply mentioned but shown, with his heart “pounding”and with the hand-grips on Don's chair “damp.” His anxiety progresses, such that he feels “trapped”; and Don actually has to remind him to breathe! Of course, the definitive action which betrays his feelings is that he literally runs away. While Kyle’s bright attitude convinces Louis to return to the hospital, is he really OK? When Don asks this question, Louis responds, “I guess,” continuing to show his ambivalence. I love that Don uses food to break the ice with Max. As Max is a teenager, this approach is truly inspired! Louis has some time before Don and he will take Max home with them. However, considering Louis’ ambivalence and earlier panic, will that be enough? (Part of Louis' concern is monetary, and that issue is addressed; but can anything else be done to make Louis more comfortable?)

The surgeon's anger at losing a patient before he even has time to operate--anger partially because of what that loss would mean to a boy's life--is a reminder of the caring and empathy that a good doctor provides. I read so much about uncaring or greedy physicians that the surgeon's concern is a refreshing change. I love the juxtaposition between Louis' perception of life before Max (beautifully rendered by the dinner party) and his view that his freedom will be lost if Max joins the household. That said, his own empathy wins out, and he signs the necessary paperwork. (I feel like a new family is forming in front of my eyes!) As an aside, for Max to need foster care means that he really has no one else. He loses his parents and mobility/complete independence at the same time, and he is about to be uprooted from his prior life: He will need special foster parents indeed if he is to survive this horrible time with any degree of normalcy (and I place my bet with Don and Louis 😊).

Poor Noah: Jordan is willing to give him all the time in the world, but Mom isn't....

While I understand where @spikey582 is coming from, I see Josh and Gavin's interactions differently: Josh has been masturbating to Gavin's image for years and knows him as a public figure, and Gavin has secretly been fascinated by Josh's cam persona as "Jack" to the point where he hires him to lounge for an hour in underwear just to talk with him--try to get to know him. Thus, while they "barely know each other" in a literal sense, they have known of each other for a significant period of time: each has had fantasies of the other, and Gavin in particular is enamored enough to want to pursue a real relationship. (One has to wonder how much Clint knew of Gavin's infatuation with Josh to get them to share a hotel room in New York!) Further, Josh's depression at isolating himself from Gavin (at the beginning of the present chapter) suggests that Josh may reciprocate those feelings. The Hawaiian vacation will give our "lovers" time to get to know each other in reality--to remove the preconceptions--and to see if the bedrock is there for a lasting relationship. As an aside, I love the turnabout where Gavin hires Josh to model underwear for their first talk, while Gavin models the underwear for their second talk! (I still think that both of them are wearing too much! 😂)

Josh's big roadblock in furthering his friendship with Gavin was his job as a cam model: He didn't want Gavin compromised when--not if--word leaked out as to what he really does for a living. Well, guess what? Gavin already knows that Josh is "Jack," and has virtually outed himself, compromised Josh's true identity, and possibly destroyed Josh's career as a cam model. The irony is that Gavin has done to Josh what Josh was afraid of doing to Gavin. Of course, by doing so, Gavin has removed the biggest impediment to their budding friendship (but not in a good way) and has aggravated the other stumbling block: Josh does not want to be in the spotlight--which is where Gavin has thrust him! Glad to see Joe and Josh start the process of reconciliation, with Josh understanding that Joe's actions, while wrong, were prompted by the right reasons--i.e, they were manifestations of love (with a little guilt thrown into the bargain). Regarding mom's wish for reconciliation: I feel that she wants it more for her sake than the twins', but closure and forgiveness are better than a lifetime of bitter memories, so the twins would benefit even if the mother's motivation is selfish. I love the idea of a Hawaiian vacation: If the public thinks that Josh and Gavin are an item based on the New York picture, just wait until the paparazzi start releasing the Hawaiian pix! (And with both twins in Hawaii, the likelihood of mistaken identity just doubles the fun!)

Hope Paul can finally find himself and be at peace.

I'm frustrated by people who have a gift and throw it away. (Yes, Paul, I'm talking to you: Do you really feel you'll be happier by playing it safe?)

Danie frowns when the Captain calls his objectivity into question: Thus, while an AI, he is still capable of some degree of emotion, though how much is unclear. (I wonder if his "mind meld" with Kohen has increased his ability to feel emotion and whether his emotions will evolve with time. [How could Freska be wrong? 🤗])

And true love finds a way…. The twins may have had to come to Drew, but he didn't take much persuading. 😊 "Before he had a chance to change his mind, he bent his head and kissed Amara": I love the phrasing here, as it demonstrates that Drew has indeed made up his mind. His heart was captured first, but his mind is now in sync with his heart. 😍 I love that Jay is the facilitator--the one who makes things happen. Amara and Aria may have escaped the hospital, but you just know that Jay was pivotal to the plan. And as for Aria: He is likely being coddled between a warm lap and a soft bosom, where he'll be held in suspended animation until Drew is free to help with his healing. (I'm sure that Mam has already started the process.) ❤️

Just because Adam won the custody battle doesn't mean that Artie's safe. The court proceedings went well - - too well - - and the anticlimactic nature of it makes me think that the true climax is up ahead. From the anxiety of a court case to the mundane: What better way to lull our suspicions than with a Parent's night at school. (Now, I'm more nervous than ever!) "Your stupidity is spreading to him, and now you’re both knuckleheads.” I love Colleen's observation, but I disagree: If Dizzy is Knucklehead Smith, then Artie is Jerry Mahoney. Can't wait to find out what happens next! ❤️