CincyKris

We finally got to meet @raven1’s snotty steward! It’s amazing how some people go crazy when they get even a little bit of power over other people. Fortunately Max put him in his place, and hopefully his supervisor finished the “re-education”! Restoring the Mini will be good for both Charlie and gramps, won’t hurt Charlie’s standing at work either. Although I doubt any “consummation” a la @drsawzall will be possible in the Mini!

That was ending even @drsawzall will love!

Wow! The tides are turning in favor of Micco, and whatever Rory had to say will help even more. Will I forgive her, probably not, we’ll see. I’m so happy for Micco and Chase, but still nervous for their future. And I’m super tense about the storm and refuge. If this were a movie (and it would make a great one), this is right before all hell breaks loose.

Even though there were no big surprises in the meeting, the guys are dealing with the aftermath of Deirdre basically abandoning Toby. I agree with @Gary L, we learn more about Deirdre that "adds subtlety". She is obviously struggling a little with choosing travel and Jasper over Toby, but in the end she is still choosing Jasper over her own son. Regarding Ralph, it is becoming clear that our author has some plans for this upcoming storyline, but rather foggy for the readers! I guess we'll see. As for @Summerabbacat, and your 25°c (77°f), you get no sympathy from me with your perfect forecast! 🌞

I'm relieved the judge is smart and reasonable. The boys have a great support system. We're probably in for a sad next chapter, I hope the funeral is not too rough. Hmmm, is Makani boyfriend material for Charlie?

Did I miss a snotty steward?

Great chapter, I'm sure Michael will excel at his job at Ian and Kevin's new pawn shop. Having a bank account with money will get the boys thinking of themselves with confidence, they will handling life on the offence rather than the defense. I enjoy a good professional fireworks display, but the ones set off by homeowners are annoying and dangerous. My cats run around in a tizzy trying to find a hiding place.

I did a reread of the source chapter, even though I sort of remembered it. Well worth it! My suggestion is to finish the whole chapter, don't stop when you get to the money part, the last line is gold!

I like going to IKEA sometimes, the meatballs are yummy, and I got a bunch of stocking stuffers. I can also assure any non-American readers that crock pots are popular and thriving in the US. Great time savers for busy people that want real food that tastes good and doesn't break the bank. I like that the guys are becoming closer and getting more involved in each other's lives, but doing so naturally and comfortably. I think they are building a strong relationship.

Thanks for the great ending to this saga! I can foresee a happy and fulfilling life for Asa, Caleb, and their boys. I’m looking forward to the epilogues, but hoping you leave things a little open, just in case Vann and the boys start talking to you once they grow up.

Welcome back! This is my favorite line: ”You’re my home” What a long way Beckett has come! I look forward to the meeting with the jock mages.

I am happy Michael is starting to move on to making accomplishments, it will give him some much needed confidence. I look forward to him meeting Ian, Kevin, and Benjamin. Looks like Benjamin is fitting in well with the business, I am eager to catch up with them.

I'm happy the guys handled their disagreement with Russ like adults, rather than like angsty teenagers. There is enough drama in day to day life without creating it for effect. Looks like the nature themed holiday is back on, Toby will be thrilled.

Jubal needed the day to reflect on his recent past and think on the future. I’m happy he finally admitted to simple fact that he wants to stay. Hopefully that and his love for the land and Lucas will keep him rooted. I feel like Jubal was chasing his own demons when he was tracking the wildings and killing the wolves. I can only hope he kills his own demons.

I was frustrated with Mhairi a few chapters back, but I need to remember that she only escaped "the cult" a year ago, not the couple of decades that Colin has had to lose the restrictive habits and mindset. She is getting there, she needs some new friends to socialize with, maybe some of Joe's friends' parents. Regarding their holiday, I'm somewhere in the middle of Colin and Owain. I like looking at old buildings and ruins, but I like a little unstructured shopping and eating and drinking at little pubs and cafes. Throw in some nature and it would be perfect.

We'll have to wait until chapter 37 to know for sure, but I think this would be good as a serial. I appreciated the open conversations the guys had with each other and with Evie and Toby. Yeah well. Life with Deirdre was like that. As far as I'm concerned, we need to get things sorted and fix the custody arrangements. I'm still paying maintenance." Evie stared, "To Deirdre. But that means you're paying double." "Yeah, I know. But you know what. I don't care because Toby's as happy as Larry I'm still a little salty about Brian paying Deirdre child support when she should be paying him! It's the principle, the money is meant for Toby's care, not for Jasper's! I think Brian needs to be as proactive as Toby regarding the upcoming meeting. Toby being happy doesn't have to have bad consequences attached, he can and should be happy and financially secure. Hopefully they can get a reimbursement from Deirdre and use it towards one of Toby's ecological passions that so irritated she and Jasper.

Why are you encouraging her?!

Sometimes I think you might be stealing my brainwaves! When I thought of taking the plane down, the first thing that popped up in my head was Fezzic saying that “it wouldn’t be very sporting “ !

Also I was thinking more along the lines of Asa and Enya doing the damage, not shooting it down. I doubt Huntington filed flight plans. But I prefer a big battle scene anyway. We’ve invested a lot of time to this, we want an epic battle!

Great tension filled chapter! My first thought was "why not just take the planes down over the ocean or the wilderness in Alaska or Canada?", but then I answered myself " because we wouldn't get the long-awaited battle scene!". I hope someone is watching for a plane in Texas also!

I'm wondering the same as @drpaladin, why not attack Micco in the apartment? If his bio father was involved and didn't want to hurt him, why leave him to die in the fire? Who is setting him up? Is he the target or just a convenient patsy? Who hated both Sam and Micco? Soooo many questions!

I think our guys are in such different head spaces that they might as well have been speaking foreign languages. Before the shooting, I think Lucas was getting ready to tell Jubal about himself and Reid, presumably taking that big first step. Next thing he knows he is laying in a borrowed bed with nothing to do but think about everything. I believe he has been planning out his life in his head, at least he is hopeful of that life with Jubal. He is just waiting to get home and have a private conversation. Whereas Jubal has spent the morning working himself into full on wilding mode. “Last night they were, and they appeared relaxed at the sight of me, but not so this morning. They were up over the ridge, and the stallion called them away as I was trying to get a looksee. They ran away hard enough it’s got me worried some. Disappeared from sight, out to the northeast I reckon.” When the money was brought up and Jubal acted like a wild colt ready to run, Lucas got scared and defensive. Both men are going to look back on this conversation with regret and worry. I look forward to Lucas coming home and the guys settling in. They need time.

Jubal was all kinds of skittish, now I'm all kinds of stressed! You certainly know how to create tension. I'm going to have to reread to see how their visit turned into a runaway carriage, I couldn't stop myself from racing through to the end.

I think I might have not understood what "maintenance" meant in this context. I assumed it meant living expenses, but it might be what we in the US call child support? If this is the case, what the hell!!!! How could he still be paying that leech when he has physical custody? I thought he had an attorney? Perhaps he needs to get a different one.

I feel bad for Russ. I do think he over stepped a little, but I think the offers were made with good intentions. He has the money and properties just sitting there and he wants to share them with his friends. But I understand how our guys feel about being given so much. My 25 year old nephew likes to pay his way because he's an adult and proud to be on his own. I don't completely understand the concern some have that Russ needs to be kept at arms length and find his own family. A lot of people are closer to friends than their own relatives. I don't see the problem of having close friends that you spend a lot of time with. Those friendships have to start somewhere.