centexhairysub

I can think of almost nothing worse than to know that your loved one would one day just disappear, and you would most likely never know what happened to them. Could you not build a cage or something to keep him from going out? Something to keep him confined. Of course, you would have to worry that he would harm himself trying to get out, perhaps even fatally, so not sure that is the answer either. No matter how strong the love is, would it be enough to survive this?

OMG, you can't just choose one....

I can't decide about Preston, that said, if Travis is that against him, Will is going to have to back off of him. I can understand why Will likes Preston, but if Will can veto someone that Travis likes, then Travis can veto someone that Will likes. I bet both Will and Marie aced the math test. I can't wait for Hawaii. I think they are right, Petrovic is trying to set them up, but the question is why? It seems like he would want them as allies against Fellowes and the Ortegas. This is making my head hurt.

So, we finally get some information about Martin, at least more than we had. Obviously, the murder of Martin and Alexis are linked and the once again, the obvious tie is Rick; but the questions is why? Why kill Martin all those years ago? Was he really the target, or was Rick the target and Martin got in the way? Why have they assumed the sex with Martin was consensual? Could the murder have raped him and killed him in the middle of the rape? It had to be someone that Martin and Rick both knew back then. Probably someone older, but who? Maybe the case files from Martin's murder will reveal something that Rick doesn't know about? I mean, he had to have been a suspect at some point in the investigation, right? Why Alexis? Rick literally had just met him once. Did Martin and Alexis look similar? I need details. LOL Lord, I would not remember my passwords from anything that was five years ago. Thanks for the update but can't wait for the next one.

Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with next year. You all do such an amazing job...

Tom is honestly too good of a person to exist in real life. He truly cares about Kevin on so many levels. Kevin needs to be able to accept help, but he also needs a good dose of some self-confidence. Loved how Tom interacted with all the kids, just too sweet. Kenny and Emily sound like good people, and the kids are just too cute.

Rick and Adam need to have a conversation about several things, but it needs to be at the right time and when they are both in the right frame of mind. What is it about Rick and him developing a posse of young guys that seem drawn to him on one level of another. Nick and Brad seem more than a little bit interested in Rick and his love life. LOL I think we know the manner of Martin's death now, and Alexis seems to be a close match to it. I doubt that Rick would be a serious suspect, but two murders so far apart in time and geography would have few people in common, and he would be one of them.

As always, thanks for the deep dive, some truly outstanding authors and stories here.

There will be a learning curve for all involved; but they all do care about each other in different ways, so let's hope it isn't too steep. Angel will be a good older brother for both boys. Let's hope that the trip home to get a few things doesn't stir up too many issues or feelings.

This almost made me want to cry, but for any number of reasons. OMG, I can't believe that I am going to end up liking Tom, I honestly didn't think that was possible, but I suspect that it is. Sawyer is just almost too sweet and kind, and I hope that he doesn't end up getting truly hurt by what is coming. Dante needed this, he needed to feel safe and cared for, even if it was just something like sleeping while being held. Tom has unexpected depth. Frank needs to show some of that maturity that I believe is lurking just beneath the surface. Wonderful chapter, and so many feelings going in all directions.

I am glad how close Russ and Con have gotten on this trip. Con still probably would bristle if Russ went overboard, but they seemed to have found more common ground since Russ decided to rough it this trip so to speak. I really like Lisa as well, she seems like she has a good head on her shoulders. Her love for both her husband and the boys shine through. Can't wait for Russ to get back and he and Brian and Gordon have a few delightful encounters but discuss a few things that Russ has been pondering on. OMG, what isn't to love about Josephine Baker, I would have given anything to have been able to see her perform live even once, alas, I was born too late for that, as I was about nine and living in small Texas town when she passed away; but her music and the performances that I have seen on film or on the computer, just WOW. I personally never got The Lion and Albert, and I usually love anything British. That said, Stanley Holloway was an under rated performer. The Lavendar Hill Mob, Passport to Pimlico, Brief Encounter, Ten Little Indians, and many more; and especially his performance in My Fair Lady were outstanding. Passport to Pimlico was the only movie I remember him truly being a lead in but, I am sure there are others, however I always found him better as a supporting performer.

I wonder if the guy in the crowd was the same one from the train station, or at least that was my first thought. Rick seems to catch just a glimpse and then he is gone, is it on purpose, or luck? I wonder how much Rick and Adam have talked about Rick's job and the expectations of how he will have to deal with it, and the time constraints that can be involved in it. Homicide is not an 8 to 5 kinda shift. Helen maybe a tough old broad, but she has compassion, and that means something with her having the job she has had for as long as she has had it. I wish Rick had really looked at Alexis's body, don't think he really did, I don't know why, but feel that he should have paid more attention to how it was, how the stabbing occurred or where he was stabbed. Can't wait for the next update.

Okay, the idea of slavery is repugnant to me as well on many levels, but with the exception of Sikhism and Zoroastrianism, every major world religion supported the idea of slavery at some point. In fact, in early Islam and early Christianity, slavery was very much looked upon with favor. And historically speaking, there were those that owned slaves and cared for them as if they were family; while others treated them in a manner as if they were chattel, which at some level they were. In fact, it is a relatively new concept in human history NOT to have slavery, and it still is a way of life in a number of countries and regions today. There are either sixteen or seventeen US states that have slavery by prisoners enshrined in their state constitutions and almost every other state allows it to some degree. Several states force prisoners to work and at least four that I know of, Texas, Georgia, Alabama, and Arkansas pay the prisoners nothing. The rest pay just a few cents to not much more than a 1.00 an hour for the labor. California prisoners worked fighting fires were paid only 1.00 an hour for doing so. In fact, I believe there are only seven or eight states in the Unites States that forbid the practice of using slave labor by prisoners in their state constitutions. The Walk Free Foundation estimates that there are less than 20 countries worldwide today that are relatively slavery free. So, for me, I just don't think you can say that the world we live in is truly that much different from the one created by this truly talented writer. There is just a different perception of reality.

What the hell? What has happened to Frank at some point to make him react like that? He almost seemed frightened or wary. Dante cares for Frank, but he won't handle being abused well by him or anyone else. Alice gave Dante the perfect opening, and he at least got her thinking about the situation with Matthew and getting the papers finished to make her Frank's guardian. Alice might find herself happy away from the farm, but honestly, would Frank? Henry wants a bed of his own, and that makes sense, plus, being upstairs and away from everyone else has isolated him somewhat from the other slaves; but as young as he is, is that all a bad thing? The dance that Sawyer, Dante, and Tom are doing, is more than a little interesting. The other slaves were shocked by Frank's grabbing Dante's collar enough to leave a bruise that bad. As am I.

Loved Russ's visit with Jamie and Cathal, and glad that he may meet up for a meal later this trip and catch up at a future engagement. They seem a delightful couple full of charm and more happy than not. Glad that they get along well with Jamie's mother, Emma, even if only in small doses. So nice to have some family support. Russ survived a day in with two small dynamos. Maybe a family trip, large group somewhere with snow for a few days could be arranged at some point, just have to figure out how to get Lisa and Con to agree; maybe find a bed and breakfast that they just must check out how well it is run in some remote area with lots of snow... I enjoy opera, not passionate about it but do enjoy it; and actually, like some of the more obscure ones better than some of the truly well-known ones.