84Mags

Ethan and Michael take care of each other in the best of ways. Michael is still innocent enough to not completely understand what leaving his family means, yet wise enough to know he can’t go back. Ethan carries the burdens of his past, the knowledge of how precarious their present is, but at least looks with hope towards Jonathan.

What a truly lovely and languid morning. I’m with @weinerdog and think the dream was of the childhood home of Gus. I, too, am usually wrong in my guesses. The symbolism was there for me in the Chickadee and in the trio of felines. For me this was more about what Rick could escape if he allows himself to. I can’t imagine a more ideal way for Gus to express the depth of his feelings and finally get past some of Rick’s self-depreciation than through music. “You can listen to the perfect in your heart and in your head.” Everything about this morning was perfect. Simply perfect.

Holy sh#t, that was epic! My heart is pounding; my arms and fingers are tingling from tensing. Holy. Sh#t.

This chapter is obviously a hard read. I am so relieved Ethan is taking Michael with him. There is something wonderful about Jonathan that I just can’t really put into words. It’s as if he can somehow make things better for Ethan. It is how he knew Ethan was on the phone both times and how he reassured Ethan with his self talk of, “Just two. Okay. Breathe, Jonathan. We can work with this.” There is so much trauma each one of these individuals has experienced. I ache for them.

Dear, sweet Gus. So much beauty out of a childhood with so much tragedy. Home. That says everything. Absolutely everything.

Bring it on, Jimmy! Fergus just couldn’t help himself wasting time with the villain speech and sexual stalking as he preyed upon Sawyer. I’m thankful that bought enough time for Jimmy to get back to the house.

The cycle of domestic violence is tragic and affects every member of a family and oftentimes those around the family. Brilliant, accurate and thus quite sad portrayal of the cycle at work. It’s not just Jack and his obvious problems but how the family orbits around him. Leah especially pulled at me. I was really rooting for Ethan to call Jonathan. It’s hard to live with a family like the Jameson’s, deal with anxiety and personal demons, and then go out on a limb to reach out. Perhaps Ethan will try again soon.

Well, I’m all in! For someone so concerned about the darkness he might have within himself, Ethan finds comfort in the most wonderful things like the blue sky after the storm and the smell of Jonathan’s jacket. So cool that Ethan meditated away dark thoughts and was brought to the realization he needed Jonathan. I look forward to their meeting again.

I was just floating along during this chapter. At times, reliving my son’s two bone breaks and marveling over your accuracy at casting. At other points, smiling over Gus and Rick moving into that sweet, cutesy, more open stage of liking each other. The rainbow cast was a great touch! THEN I was sitting up straight, quickly scrolling back through chapters trying to figure out the time line, heart thudding, as I realized at this point it doesn’t really matter. Interesting and timely plot twist. It is a startling reminder that our precious rights are hard won, can be easily lost, and everyone doesn’t always enjoy the same rights.

That felt like it escalated intensely fast! I’d been ready for a conversation with Maddie that shed some light and holding out hope that Granger wouldn’t continue to blindly follow Fergus since he seemed immune to the Alpha command brain link. Instead it looks like Fergus and the mind controlled pack are bringing the fight to Jimmy right the heck now.

Your writing has a poetic quality that intensifies the suspense and drama. I’m curious about Ethan and what this meeting with Jonathan will do to his carefully constructed and seemingly solitary life.

And I have noticed that as he has more positive interactions with Gus, Rick’s negative self talk has been a bit less harsh and easier to dispel.

After the last chapter I wondered about Gus’ cast and his phone. Guess I should have considered whether or not he could swim! Rick and Gus compliment each other’s personalities. With each interaction they learn more about the other and form a deeper bond. It is pretty easy to fall for someone when you are in romantic situations and have a lazy summer by a lake for the backdrop. However, working together during a crisis oftentimes either cements or destroys a budding relationship. The plunge into the icy lake and subsequent visit to the ER bodes well for these two. It seems they have what it takes to overcome any roadblocks Rita, Heinrich, Zoltan, Magda or even Willy toss their way.

While both the phone call with Fergus and breaking Jada out of the hospital amped up the tension, the pending conversation with Maddie promises to be enlightening.

The one liners are what made this chapter! My favorites: “That’s a position on the team? Singer?” 🤣 “I think I’m a long way from Chicago.” “I’m going to trust you.” “Don’t let me go.” “Oh, you’re a keeper.” “Just paying attention to the music of the world.” ❤️

While I predicted that Shayna would eventually confront Fergus and the pack would finally have enough of Fergus and walk away from his rule, I did not ever fathom Fergus harnessing some deep mystical, magical Alpha power. There is a reason his elders never taught him about it. You aren’t supposed to lead by darkness. Fergus must never have followed the Star Wars Saga. This will be bloody, but won’t end well for him.

I have an unease in my stomach that even the ending couldn’t abate. The chapter felt like the interlude in nature before a bad storm. I am certain Heinrich sunk the whole family business in with Rita and her scheme. He never turned over ownership of the company to Rick; Heinrich has access to all accounts. I think Heinrich fell for what Rick rightly called a scam and Rita’s purposeful allusion of a relationship with Rick gave him a false sense of security. Heinrich values being seen as prosperous and an astute businessman. Risking the financial well being of the business without consulting Rick isn’t surprising, but it is disheartening. It explains Heinrich's upbeat mood and his lunch discussion with Rick. He sees this as an investment in his legacy and perhaps an end to a life of penny pinching. Hopefully the likely demise of the family business can be a new start for Rick and Gus. I bet the ‘friend’ Rita spent the evening with was Willy and that doesn’t bode well. Rita has grand plans for Eagle Lake, but something tells me that when it all falls apart, she won’t be the one left destitute.

There are some badass women in this story; I hope Jada survives. It now looks like an epic battle in the making. Fergus will be pissed to learn she was bitten and left alive; Sawyer will want revenge. Jimmy already had enough reasons to want Fergus gone but will no doubt rethink leaving and instead begin war planning. I gotta say that it amazes me Fergus has survived this long as a leader because he is truly, utterly, incompetently awful at it. I look forward to his downfall.

My soul is calm. Everything about this chapter beautifully portrayed the heartbeat of night in a small, rural setting. It was intimate and unassuming. Rick and Gus expanded eachother’s experiences and learned more about each other. The responses Gus gives Rick’s inquiries are never belittling; he always assures Rick his life and world are of equal value and importance to the one Gus lives. The comparisons of humble, rural Lutheran churches to majestic European cathedrals and the Art Institute of Chicago’s masterpieces to the boy playing catch with a dog or Beethoven’s moving Sonata 14 to the moon dancing silver over a lake resonated with me. They really are equal in their beauty and uniqueness. Gus being trained at Juilliard is no more or less than Rick’s training as a plumber. The kiss was everything I had hoped it would be...absolutely perfect.

I am holding out hope. Had Fergus allowed Jimmy to join the pack, he would have met Doris. I think there are werewolves who know how to help with the transition. I bet Doris knows what to do. Sawyer is in good hands with Jimmy. They will figure it out. Oddly, every time Eddie has been mentioned in past chapters, my stomach dropped a little. I always wonder about him and if he was truly, completely rabid.

My husband probably owes you a gift card at this point! 😂😍 I completely agree that talking, much less writing, about religion is tricky. You balanced it as a gentle background theme. It’s that whole coloring within the lines that you do so well! Best wishes 😊

Since the previous chapter had me tearing up over Coy’s words to Boone, then I guess I should admit to all out crying today when Boone sighed to Coy, “You’re a gift from the Lord, I swear. I don’t know what I did in my life to deserve all I got—to deserve the likes of you—but I make sure to thank him everyday.” And, yes, for anyone reading my comments and keeping score, my husband will have a very good evening! What is especially lovely about this passage, is that it pays homage to each chapter’s bible verse. Boone and Coy’s life together is at its simplest about how two people come together and become one. I know I’ve said it before, but I loved every single minute of their story.

I felt a part of this lovely day of music and discovery. Each member of the group experienced something new, as did I. Although music and instruments were the catalyst, my feeling is that everyone learned more about themselves. P.S. I full on belly laughed when Rick coughed to get the musician’s attention away from Gus!

I’ll leave the cries of frustration over the fate of Sawyer to others, even though I did blow out a deep breath as I realized this chapter took us in a different direction. I want Doris for a next door neighbor. She’s that no nonsense, ‘I am too old for your sh-t’, wise woman we all need in our lives. Fergus is too narcissistic to comprehend what a gold mine he has in her, but I guess if he understood then he never would have killed her husband. She should be his ding ding moment of realization that the precariously balanced life he’s established is crumbling around him; she has figured out all that is going on with the pack, his parenting and the boys nights out. It makes me rather gleeful to think she may be a part of his undoing.

Thank you for your kind words. And yes, we do realize we are very fortunate to have found each other so young. I always tell people that we grew each other up and we are each other’s memories.