Krista

I didn't know that, there's so many hidden functions with GA that I never find or frequent often enough to readily bring them up. I think in the writing we've also officially gone over half-way. I know I sped the pace up a bit with the last two-ish parts. So the story finally stood up and found its wee little legs. I've not sat down and wrote anything 'new' aside from a Character sheet and a first chapter (twice) for what I was hoping to be my next project. Let's also hope I don't fumble the hell out of this story in the second half.

I just noticed that we've went over 1,000 comments for this story. I am so thankful and beyond feeling blessed that y'all are taking the time out of your lives to read and comment on my little story.

Hmm. It would be rather boring if no drama came from Davin stealing that wee little kiss. And yeah, I don't think Joel was ready for a kiss. He had his world shrinking around him and he didn't know if that was for the better or not. So, the kiss was the final straw, I'd imagine, a final knock against frayed nerves. If anything, Davin is probably lucky there wasn't a knee-jerk not-thinking swing in his direction. Like me when I think there's a bug buzzing by my ear, no one will survive within swinging distance of all that mess. But, at least Joel did notice Davin's state of undress. Even gave him a helping hand.

She may surprise us and tell him to get a job, a roof over his head, and a future after messing up... would I have written that dynamic that way? No. But, if you're going to play pretend at being an adult... and you mess up... you should stop the pretend part.

Oh goodness... that's quite the body count.. 😮

I absolutely cannot stand people who use their children as leverage after a relationship falls apart. It is disgusting. It isn't fair to the children. It causes friction and long-term damage, not only to the parent leveraged against, but to that entire side of the family - so the kids may lose half of the support network they should still have. I'm sorry you had to go through that, especially as a man. It could feel like a very powerless and scary position with no good outcome. I'm glad you fought for your girls.

If I had Joel stay after the first chapter, I very much would have liked to really flesh out the Weasel dynamic with his parents. And yeah, I would have gone the route of oopsie baby with him, for sure. I don't know if I would have been motivated enough to write in such an atmosphere though. And, we wouldn't have Trace, Celia, Davin, Gavin, Lacey, Colt... and more... 😮 And... who could Joel possibly have found common ground with... I am a romance writer after all... we'd have to find the guy someone.

Hopefully he'll stay steadfast in what he wants. For Joel's sake and his.

I was always surprised at how perceptive all my children were, even when they were a lot younger than Cody. They do notice things. Their minds are sharp enough to work through and piece things together without us knowing. So, the bits and pieces and then putting it all together theory also is rather plausible. He's likely very determined to get to the truth of all this since it rattled and upended his entire world, the only difference being he's still living with the people that did that to him...

Yeah, parents need to be as united, unconditional, and seemingly open and fair as both Trace and Celia are. They're so centered. All kids born deserve parents such as them, I'm thinking. We're seeing them parent Joel through a traumatic event and his own personal hell, they're doing him some good and letting him decompress and come to his own with their support. They seem fair and a bit firm with Lacey. Colt is rebelling on them a bit, but it doesn't seem like they've been unfair or anything. Maybe Colt can take his own advice and tell them what he wants/feels. I'm sure they have their bad days and bad moments. I also think they're the types of parents that will look backwards and learn and not double down though.

Also, I cannot remember the last time I had a donut myself...

I wish I knew the context of this... if I were a cat, I'd be on my 10th life.

Maybe I'll write a happy, happy, happy story... from start to finish. Y'all better read it though. I say that knowing how Ellis starts out... and will end.. lol. --- And, @Lee Wilson I don't know how I feel about all this... I'm supposed to be the scary one. How the turns have tabled... I have one whole story with a character killing off another. It is a short story that people were angry with me over, because I didn't give them a part two. It was on my 'to-do' list, but got lost in the shuffle of things.

Yikes.. 😮 I don't think she's that unhinged. lol.

Yeah... unconditional caring and neighborly niceties seems to have fallen to the wayside.

It may also resonate with those of you who had people in your lives that you knew you absolutely couldn't come out to? Not that Celia was that sort of person, but the 'fear' and reasoning that Joel used was very similar to that? I wouldn't know. I had my secrets from people, but they weren't so... fear based/life altering. But yeah, the release of that after a good outcome, or at least now living in the knowledge of where you stand with people.. has to lift a weight or shift it. He's no longer tiptoeing along a cliff's edge though, at least with her.

Oh... I also forgot to mention that Trace did ball up Celia's shirt into his fist. Gives you a hint that maybe... just maybe... Celia has a bit of a feisty streak in her and if Lisa overstepped she would have found out... lol. I wonder how close you were to getting your dust scattering wrestling match out on the front lawn...

I think if Lisa found out she "raised" 2 out of 3 she'd have to be heavily medicated or sauced up, or both.

Not our unintentional hero! 😮

Yeah, poor Joel went from only Trace knowing to: Celia, Cody, Colt, and Davin. His walls encroached all around him rather quickly. Of course, Cody knowing was a nice surprise for him that he didn't see coming. Seeing Cody fighting for him probably felt just as good as that hug (boob smooshing as it was) from Celia, if he sits back and thinks about Cody's strength in that moment anyway. Celia knowing is like the release of a held breath, I'm thinking. A nice satisfying sigh that lifts some weight off. It took so long and Joel was always teetering on between fear and sadness... Hopefully he'll see that maybe he doesn't have to live in that between anymore.

Celia is a star. Trace is as well. We need more of both in this world. Cody too for that matter. I think the only way 'Weasley' could sell drugs is if he somehow managed to install a drive-thru out his bedroom window. 😮 And it would. Get rid of the kid that shows promise just to see your other one fall well below expectations and end up more of a wreck for you than the one you discarded. And, Cody is a complete wildcard for them. One they've probably barely considered during all this, unfortunately. I'm also so glad that the coming out scene with Joel was as well received as it has been. I was scared that it wouldn't be, since it took so long to happen. I've done so many of these similar stories... but I do think Joel is the one character that outright came out, I'm thinking? Christian all those years ago might have as well... I know Jackson never did, he didn't label himself. And I think my go-to move is for the parent to approach the subject first.

Hmmm. Do I have another curveball I can throw whenever the next secret author contest comes around? Write a complete rage-stabbing sort of massacre. No one would see that coming from sweet innocent little me.

Lacey and Cody are similar in age. I think Joel makes that realization off-hand in an earlier chapter. Although, it might have just been a comparison sort of thing that hasn't ever been confirmed really. But there's not a big age gap between them, less than a year. And Lisa will never be an empty-nester. lol... I don't see one of her children ever leaving. She may have a fuller house if Westley makes her a grandmother. 😮 I think he could get motivated enough to accomplish that... accidentally.

I don't know that Westley is even motivated enough to do anything that would warrant a police response.