They’ve been apart now near a month, maybe more, 
They make plans for a date, both hoping to score. 
She says she’s been good, her voice somewhat teasing, 
He says he was too, tho' himself he was pleasing. 

Scheming and dreaming and a wee little sin, 
'The coast is clear', so 'get your ass in!' 
A night on the sofa, just too good to last, 
They drift off to sleep and dawn’s coming fast. 

With daybreak comes panic, they both dress in haste, 
Can’t risk getting caught, not a moment to waste. 
Her kids in the dark as their day begins, 
'Til he’s caught sneaking out as her ex sneaks in. 

But all these new people has his daughter upset, 
She’s afraid of the changes and starting to fret. 
He tells her he’s lonely and it tears him apart, 
But he’s in love with his lady and wants a new start. 
 

The bookstore’s become a new haven for singles, 
They show up in droves and all start to mingle. 
They share their best books and hope with some luck, 
To find their own ‘Munchkin‘. Some call it ‘gluck‘. 

Turkeys and turmoil, feels he can’t measure up, 
Being gobbled alive, he gets all liquored up. 
Brothers and sisters, mothers and kids, 
It’s too much to take and too much to give. 

His kids really need him but he’s shut down inside, 
He’s fighting a ghost with no place to hide. 
His mom knows he’s hurting, cuts right to the chase, 
She sees he’s still running, but losing the race. 

In the calm of the night, but with storms in his head, 
He cradles his daughter and carries her to bed. 
And as life speeds on by he slows down his step, 
If I didn’t know better, I’d swear that he wept. 
 

He gives her “The Look“; stops her dead in her tracks. 
Silencing. Hurting. Like a knife in the back. 
It's cut deep through her heart, she's feeling the pain, 
It was wrong what he did. “It won't happen again“. 

His little girl lost and can't find her way, 
She's starving her body just hoping to stay 
A child who needs both her mom and her dad, 
Together. Forever. It’s really quite sad. 

Craving attention, it fuels her fast. 
His family in tatters, holding on to the past. 
With pain and such anger they start pointing fingers, 
It's like they're still married and emotions still linger. 

Feelings run deep, his ex cares too much, 
She remembers the days of loving and such. 
The times that he held her, his big arms so safe, 
She weeps on the stairs, pain etched on her face. 
 

She's late and she's scared, she's taking the test, 
Clock's ticking, he's pacing, and prays for the best. 
Results with mixed blessings, things all out of whack, 
Life slightly off kilter, love falling off track. 

Goodnight Moon is sleeping, but worries won't rest, 
Few words pass between them; love's still a quest. 
Becoming invisible, so alone deep inside, 
Tho' they lay down together, the rift opens wide. 

She's afraid he'll cut loose, turn tail and run. 
He assures her he's staying for all of the fun 
Like laundry and garbage, it sounds a bit crazy; 
But it's everything he wants. And a baby, maybe. 

They're wary and worried about repeating the past, 
But he's not going anywhere and she believes him at last. 
They fall into each other and peel down to their skin, 
Then they hop on the washer and go for a spin. 
 

Twinkies and pizza, a briefcase and glitter, 
Everyone's guilty and feeling the jitters. 
Concealing, revealing, deceiving and doubts, 
Who really took what? And who's gonna find out? 

Sneaking and peeking and hiding the truths. 
Spying and lying and amateur sleuths. 
Panicked and paranoid, he's gotten a scare, 
He's looking for scotch, but the cupboard is bare. 

Computers and sister-cide and baby sitting blues, 
Bribes or rewards and pillow fighting duels. 
Siblings and rivals and a hard pink ball, 
A stolen idea and the proof’s on the wall. 

Sticky eyeballs and perks, but just a matter of time, 
Before flirting and flattery soon crosses the line. 
Is he a harmless sweet puppy or a wolf on the make? 
So her little caveman dons his webmaster's cape. 
 

As his buildings go up, the walls tumble down, 
They all turn against him and his modern new town. 
He squares off with his ex, they're on opposite sides, 
But sees her in a new light and it fills him with pride. 

Now another ex-partner with a change of heart, 
Valleys and mountains keep them worlds apart. 
When it's all about principles there's no giving in. 
Doesn't matter who's right. Nobody wins. 

Haunted by demons that he's hoping to slay, 
He makes her an offer in a round about way. 
But questions need answers, reasons need rhyme. 
It's not the right way. And not the right time. 

Turtles and hurdles, paper hearts and a ring, 
Proposals and breakups; too many strings. 
Scared and alone but he runs out of luck, 
"There is no Valentines. It's all been made up". 
 

She tucks in her girls, puts them safe in her bed, 
Kisses them gently, then with a tilt of her head, 
Embraces the notion of his proposal to wed. 
"Thank you". "You're welcome". Was all that was said. 

Dinner and dancing, they're full of the giddies, 
They've made it official, told all of the kiddies. 
Packed in like sardines with too little space, 
Intruders and aliens feeling all out of place. 

Wishing and waffling, renovations and such, 
Cooties and boxers and time to adjust. 
Prisoners and wardens, a lop-sided vote, 
They sneak in low fives, both filled with hope. 

Her brother's been missing, 'been traveling so long', 
The 'Sisters of Mercy', both trying to stay strong. 
Slipping and stumbling, he's still not yet free, 
He's just trying to be who he used to be. 
 

Chapels and sweaters and angry confrontations, 
A wedding and ski trip and stating reservations. 
Her sister's in fear of losing her place, 
His daughter is struggling to find her own space. 

Controlling, cajoling and being torn apart, 
She's a lonely hunter and an isolated heart. 
She's been granted parole, she'll be flying away soon, 
As she spreads her wings on a 'Saturday Afternoon'. 

Dilemmas and DA's, injunctions and juries, 
Subpoenas and search warrants; he's starting to worry. 
The kingdom is falling, his world starts to crumble, 
They're flushing out pack rats and watching them tumble. 

And when the dust settles at the end of the day, 
He's battered and bloodied and starting to pray; 
Is it morals and ethics? Or white collar crime? 
'Cause perjury and payoffs could mean doing time. 
 

His life lay in ruins as his whole world implodes, 
Feels he has nothing to offer when an angel unfolds; 
"Can you let me love you?", and their tears start to flow, 
As he falls into her arms and surrenders his soul. 

Buses and boxes and bridges to burn, 
Well laid out plans take a terrible turn. 
Is he a monster or screw-up or only a man, 
Just trying to do the best that he can? 

His lease is up, there's no time to dwell, 
They tell his kids, "this is 'Your House' now". 
One last look around, their old life is gone, 
Her name's on the papers; it's time to move on. 

Invitations and guest lists, champagne and hors d'oeuvres, 
Flowers and musicians and a bad case of nerves. 
Complicated families and wood chipper woes, 
Second thoughts and assumptions that threaten the show. 
 

As the ceremony begins her ex seems unfazed, 
With hardly a thought for their good ole days. 
But his ex cries alone for a love that has died, 
As he pledges his life to his beautiful new bride. 

Whistlin' Dixie and daises and a magical mirror, 
His vows are in Hebrew; her eyes fill with tears. 
Red robins and song birds just bobbin' along, 
A ghost gives his blessing and they all now belong. 

As the season wrapped up we were all a bit blue, 
While we anxiously waited for renewal from Stu. 
Then much to our delight H&Z drop a line; 
How they live in a bubble with too little time. 

So to Ed and Marshall, the whole cast and crew, 
Your 'ripples' have touched us and our families too. 
Our thanks to you all, 'specially Sela and Billy, 
'Cause we’re totally smitten with Rick and Lily. 

By Trish