Grienne

Certainly very interesting, Mark, thanks. I'm a bit confused about one of the comments about Trevor. My understanding was that he was a generally sweet kid, who wasn't all that brilliant and who made bad and impulsive decisions. I'm not sure that's the same as having no soul. Matt's reaction was unfortunate but the guy was hung-over, Christmas shopping (Macy's, really?) so probably not in the best frame of my mind, and understandably conflicted for a number of reasons. It sounds like it didn't take him long at all to put it all together - I'm not really sure he did anything wrong. I'm not sure what Brad is doing, but yeah, it certainly looks like there is a stop clock on his and Robbie's relationship - if this keeps up, I can't imagine it's salvageable. I'm also not sure Brad and Wade's dynamic is terribly healthy for either of them. Brad loves control and with Wade is gets it, if he could keep that type of thing to the bedroom it would be fine, but that's not really Brads MO. Wade's reaction is interesting, and I wonder if it has something to do with daddy dearest. Unlike Robbie, I don't think he is enjoying replicating his trauma, I think he knows what it feels like to be completely helpless in bed and is enjoying that, unlike before, he feels this way with someone he both trusts and is romantically interested in. I suppose that's better for him then trying to find a new daddy, but if he doesn't identify the associations he has with being helpless, and why that draws him to Brad, I think he could do some serious damage to his relationship with Matt (like Robbie does with Brad when his ghosts emerge) -who I still think is good for him. The scene in the nursery was quite touching. Thanks so much for great work, Rachel

Wow is right. Man, Mark it seems you're dead-set on Robbie burning every last bridge. I am totally confused by his behavior, unless he's just gone completely mad. He was always so in touch with everyone's feelings before - he seems to have lost that (to put it mildly). It would be interesting to know what Cody's been up to, especially since he's a papa too these days - it was nice to hear from him though. Did I miss where he and Kevin aren't together anymore? A date? My spidey-senses are freakin out a bit about JJ 's coach and Brad's disappearance the last night Will is in town. I wonder how much Robbie knows about the coach situation? It seems a bad moon is on the rise - for a refreshing change of pace. (I kid, I love it and the whole series desperately) Thanks for such a great (and mildly worrying) chapter, Rachel

So here's what I'm wondering. Before Joel and Lisa went to Australia they picked up 2 sat phones from Dirk's store. I have reread some, not all of the story, but I can't remember what happened there. In fact, I don't remember anything on that front once Joel and Lisa arrive. It wouldn't have been hard, I'm sure, for Ned to have put a phone on board so it seems to have been glossed over. Bridget had access to those phones when she repacked Lisa's suitcase. I don't know if there is anything there, but its possible. However, on the Grundig front, it seems he knows more than Bridget a lot of the time so I'm not sure its possible he's with her. When Grey was trying to figure out which boat was which - he knew, when Bridget went searching over Geraldtown he knew where he was before, not to mention knowing that Ares is alright along with everyone on board and that they were looking for grey. If he was working with them he is doing a really bad job - or I'm missing something very important. Can't wait for the next chapter, Rachel

OK, this is going to be one of the most nit-picky reviews ever, but its been bothering me and I just reread this bit. I'm not sure of the details of the process Bridget plans on using to verify that no one has seen it, but logically it sounds like the magnetic strip which the VCR reads will have some descernable characteristic if it has been run through a mag reader recently. It seems to me that it is unlikely that such a process would be able to determine what type of encoding the VCR used and therefore wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the boys trying to watch it with an Aussie VCR and scanning all the way through or them watching it with an American VCR. Either Bridget is planning on killing everyone either way and just wants Julie's cooperation or there is something else to this test because after they said they tried to watch it but it was all scrambly, it would be reasonable to expect that a lot of the video would show evidence of being run through a VCR. Like I said, completely nit-picky. But overall, I'm completely enthralled and waiting with bated breath for more!! Rachel

This story line is starting to be a bit hard to follow without the POVs of either Brad, Robbie or JJ. I mean, not allowing JJ to go to a meet sounds like a really big deal, how bad could his grades have gotten since mid-terms when we didn't hear much about it? It reminds me of Janine trying to stop Will from going to a surfing thing because she didn't understand, and now Brad is doing much the same thing. It also a bit hard to figure out exactly whose mad at whom for what. Brad is presumably mad because Robbie hasn't made-up with Will regarding Janine, the family party and the events at Anders-Hayes. Also there are at least references to Brad feeling shut-out with JJ and Robbie, but he has barely been in Malibu since this started, so Im not sure when this would have happened. Robbie must be mad because Brad hasn't stepped up to be there for JJ. And also for not standing by him, or defending him at all with his family when Brad knew about his request to Will before the parties and didn't see the problem then. The issues with JJ seem paramount but its hard to tell what's going on there, and it certainly seems like Brad hasn't stepped up to be a part of his life. But what also gets to me is that it seems like this has been going on for 2-3 weeks, which is a pretty short time for their relationship to completely fall apart. does Brad really think Robbie has decided they aren't together in that time? Have they threatened each other with separation? Without something else going on it seems like a pretty big over-reaction on Brads part to assume the absolute worst and then act on it before talking to Robbie. It seems like they both have a lot to do to make things right with each other, but the narrators are pretty focused on Robbie being on the outs and ignoring what Brad needs to do. Has he even been in Malibu since JJ's bday that he left in the middle of (going to Will was important, but was it really JJs fault that Robbie kept him away?) I suppose we'll learn more when they are all in Malibu this up-coming week, I'm just hoping we learn more of the back story so it can start to make sense. There must be a lot more going on if Brad can justify cheating on Robbie because he's out to dinner with someone.

Hi Mark, I've been an avid CAP reader, but just started following the forums, so this will be my first time weighing in. What strikes me the most is the difference in how the family deals with Brad's and Robbie's mistakes. I guess I see this all a bit differently than some of the other reviewers. Though for the most I understand their points and completely agree that this was a great developmental chapter for Will. Up until the last stuff with Jeanine's treatment post-thanksgiving it seems clear that most of the bad decisions were Brad's with Robbie standing by as a loyal partner. Brad even acknowledges that when they disagreed about the emancipation Robbie publicly stood by Brad and then pushed him in the right direction when he was able to listen. The family discussed doubts as to Brads ability to lead, but not his legitimacy as part of the family. Furthermore, even though Brad's mistakes seem to be tied more closely to his mindset at work, his need to win and his absence from home because of work, Stef never seems to consider a leave of absence, let alone Brad leaving the Schlutter group. With Robbie, however, he has now made a couple mistakes (and I completely agree they are mistakes), at least one of which neither Stef, Brad or Will really recognized as problematic for a couples days, and here's what he faces: Brad, once he jumps on board, has no problem joining the family in berating his decisions, or help pull any punches by acknowledging he didn't see the problem either initially; The family informs Robbie that they never really loved him, but tolerate him for Brad's sake; And Stef dangles his job in front of him despite the lack of relationship between these mistakes and his job performance - and then Brad sides with Stef on that. I think with or without the board meeting Robbie and Will would have made-up or at least come to a detente pretty quickly, they both can get riled up, but just as quickly can remember how much they love the other person and let the anger fade. Brad and Robbie need, want and love each other, so I think Brad will likely forgive Robbie's mistakes and Robbie will likely forgive Brad. What I question is how Robbie can ever feel like part of the family again? He may not be a teenage boy, but finding out your family doesn't like you that much is a pretty tough blow to take. And I don't know how he can continue in his relationship with Stef knowing that when they have family disputes, Stef has no problem threatening his career in a pretty public way. There doesn't really seem to be a way forward for Robbie and the larger family. After 20 years most of which he spent being a loving, kind and dedicated member of the family, should Robbie really have to beg to be merely tolerated by this group of people? One more thing from the last chapter, this JP seems a lot less concerned with trying to be less confrontational in family disputes then the JP at thanksgiving. Since its been a while since we've seem JPs POV, it becomes easier to see him as infallible. If his goal was for Robbie to see his mistake he must have known that allowing the family to attack him all at once like that wouldn't make any forward progress. Like the rest of the family, he seemed more concerned with venting their anger than actually improving things. That being said, as this is my first review I also have to say that I have absolutely loved your work and have re-read them often. Getting the notification that a new chapter is posted is absolutely the highlight of my day! Thanks! Rachel

So now I'm back to wondering about Julie and her role in all this. She's in Tahiti, right? And, of course, she was the one to introduce all the kids to Bridget. I can't wait for the next installment!