Marina: Check this out, bro. He’s really smart. He already knows how to fix the dolls’ bodies when they break and he’s almost talking. I think, in time, he might be smarter than you.
Sol: Really? And he’s not even a year old? Impressive. answering the phone Hey, Doris, what’s up? Not up to much. Just hanging out with the family. Want to come over? Oh, you’re out with the family? Ernie and Qiana are working things out and planning for the baby together? That is good news! Well, have a good dinner!
Therese: Wait, so you and Thomas met when he was teaching troubled youth on the dangers of drugs? And you were one of the troubled youth?
Hillary: I know, I know. It sounds kind of wild. I was three years out of high school, but I was a mess. No plans to go to college, no plans to get a job. And I hung around with some people who... probably did not have my best interests in mind. When I crashed my folks’ car into a shop window after shoplifting under the influence, my uncle practically forced me to go through counselling. And Tommy was one of the people volunteering there. I don’t know, his story just got through to me. If not for him, I’d probably have gone done the same sad path as some of my former friends. Nothing happened between us then, though, if you’re wondering. It wasn’t until a year afterwards that we’ve met again at one of my family’s gatherings. I didn’t even know he worked for Uncle Samuel, until then. Tommy was so set against this whole relationship, at first. I think our age difference weirded him out. I don’t know, though. When the feeling’s there, it’s there.
Therese: So, you wanted him to reach out to his brother?
Hillary: Of course! I could tell it was eating him up inside, how he messed things up. But you know what? It’s not too late to fix things, provided the parties are both alive and able to communicate. I’ve been trying to tell him that for a while, especially when I found out Jeremiah was going to happen.
Therese: Thank you. I know Jeremy missed his brother too, despite everything that happened in the past.
