Iris arrived in New Orleans late Friday morning and took a taxi over to Lilith Taylor’s small brownstone on Poydras Street. She picked up a copy of the Times Picayune and turned to the society columns where news of tomorrow’s Gala party hosted by Jane Jacks in honor of the re-opening of the Orpheum theater was front and center. The column mentioned all of the celebrities, millionaires and local political dignitaries who would be in attendance. There was also mention of Justin Jacks taking his girlfriend, actress Halle Mitchell, to the event, but there was no mention of the fact that Jasper Jacks would be taking Avaline. Iris angrily folded the paper. The fact that Avaline had managed to get Jax as a date for the evening was stupendous and it should have made the damn society section!

     Iris walked into the brownstone and rapped on the door. Avaline let her in.

     "Mother! It’s about time! I’m frantic, I’ve tried on twelve dresses and none of them make me look like I have any kind of figure!" Avaline complained as she let her mother inside.

     Iris tossed her suitcase to the floor. Good lord this place truly was small and stuffy and far too warm. It was ghastly. The sooner they could move into the Jacks house the better!

     "Oh what a warm greeting. Nice to see you too, dear," Iris said sarcastically as she gazed at her daughter. "Oh for God’s sake, Avaline, have you lost weight?"

     "I can’t help it. Mrs. Taylor is an abominable cook. She makes one dish and serves it the entire week! I’ve had my fill of her disgusting pea and carrot pasta!"

     "I don’t care if you have to force it down your throat, you must eat Ava! Look at you, you are skin and bones, no curves, no meat, nothing for a man to get an eyeful of or snuggle up to on a cold winter’s night. You look positively gaunt! The idea here is to get Jax to fall in love with you not to have him run screaming from you when he sees you," her mother said. "Men appreciate soft, tempting curves not sharp angles and jaunty bones," Iris said gazing at her daughter’s skinny legs and bony arms in despair. How would she ever get Avaline presentable for this party?

     "He’s not going to be looking at anyone but that friend of his sister’s who’s staying with them for the summer," Avaline muttered enviously.

     "Yes you mentioned her on the telephone last night. Now, this is someone other than that Amber person, correct?"

     Avaline nodded. "Mother, I don’t know where this girl came from. Mrs. Taylor has never seen her before and says she is no family member. She’s some 19 year old friend of Jax’s sister and there are rumors everywhere that he is completely taken with her."

     "19 years old?"

     Avaline nodded. "And it isn’t just Jax who’s got an eye for her. She’s got all the men around here acting like fools, falling all over themselves to get to her."

     "What is the name of this 19 year old?"

     "I don’t know."

     "Well what does she look like?"

     "Oh mother, I wanted to die when I saw her! She’s perfect!"

     "Describe her," Iris said feeling her hackles rising as she got a feeling . . .

     "Well she’s 19 as I said. Her hair is dark and has a luster that all the conditioning in the world could never give my hair. She sings, I believe. She has these incredible hazel eyes - they look like green and gold mosaics . . ."

     It was enough for Iris to know exactly who she was. "You say this girl is living with the Jacks’?" Iris asked feeling the fury creeping up on her.

     "Yes. For the summer."

     "So she should be there now," Iris thought aloud through gritted teeth. "I have to go to the Jacks mansion right away. Tell me how to get there."

     "Mother we’ll be there tomorrow for the party. Why are you going to go there now? They don’t even know you!"

     "Well they’re going to know me. That freeloading 19 year old house guest of theirs with the hazel eyes that remind you of a mosaic is none other than your own wretched step-sister!"

     Avaline was in shock. "What? You mean Brenda? THAT’S Brenda?" Avaline nearly fainted. Her step-sister was the girl everyone referred to as the young goddess?

     "Yes. The little trollop!" Iris vented. "Just wait until I get my hands on that lying, scheming little brat from hell!" Iris ranted as she grabbed her pocket book and headed for the door. "Don’t you worry about Brenda stealing your thunder at the party, darling. I’m going to make sure she is on a plane to New York within the hour. And then I will make her sorry she ever duped me!"

     The door slammed behind her.

     Brenda had on a simple pale yellow summer dress for her brunch with Chad. She had looked for Jax this morning to get his opinion on what Chad might want to talk to her about, but he was already gone. Niles said that Jax’s friend Danté had come by earlier that morning and they had left together on their Yamaha motorcycles and would likely be gone all day.

     Bummed to have to start off a morning Jaxless, Brenda was really in no mood to hang out with Chad, nice as he was. He just wasn’t what she wanted or what she needed. Jax was both of those things. She knew it without knowing how she even knew it. She wasn’t sure if she was in love with Jax or anything since having never been in love before she wasn’t at all sure how that felt. But she was way past simply liking him. Way past simply being physically attracted to him. She thought he was wonderful and funny and brilliant and tons of fun to be with, and he had a positively scandalous sex appeal, and she trusted him more than just about anyone except Juliet. She supposed she was in that place in-between like and love, and now she would have to really get to be with him more to see if it would stay at like or turn into love.

     Love.

     Didn’t Sheree say that she would find love this summer? That it was chasing after her?

     Niles interrupted Brenda’s thoughts. "Mr. Stanton is here for you, Brenda," Niles said, and then he gave her a wink "Try to have a good time. I know he’s not Jax, but he’s a nice chap and not nearly as annoying as his sister."

     Brenda smiled. "I know. I think he’s nice too. I just . . .I think maybe he likes me more than I like him and I don’t want him to get the wrong idea."

     "Just be honest," Niles suggested.

     "I just wish I could have gotten Jax’s opinion about all this. Can I get him on his cellular phone, do you think?"

     "I’m afraid he didn’t take it," Niles told her. "One of the maids found it by the entry way table. He must have left it there accidentally. I’m afraid you’ll just have to wait until he comes home later."

     Just then Juliet came flying into the house like a madwoman racing past Chad, nearly knocking him down and racing up the stairs to find Brenda. Seeing her friend with Niles Juliet grabbed her by the shoulders.

     "Brenda! We are in big trouble!!!" she said breathlessly. "I was riding Andalusia and when I was going back to the stables I saw this taxi pulling up to the front gate and it was – oh my gosh - it was the ESM Brenda! She got out of the taxi with her dead fish face all contorted with rage. Brenda, she knows you’re here! She’s here right now at the front gate!" Juliet said as Brenda’s eyes widened in shock and then narrowed in frustration.

     Her step-mother was like the plague! She would not be happy until she had killed every ounce of joy in Brenda’s life.

     The gate buzzer rang and Niles looked at the two agitated young ladies standing in front of him. It rang again, impatiently.

     "What would you like me to do ladies?" he asked, not sure what was going on, but sensing that perhaps it would not be wise for him to respond to the ringing gate buzzer.

     "Don’t answer it!!" Juliet and Brenda both said at the same time, each one clutching one of his arms to physically stop him.

     "Just let her think nobody’s home," Juliet added, giving Brenda a worried glance.

     "How did she find out?" Brenda wondered as she paced the floor.

     Wondering what was taking Brenda so long to come down, Chad came up and saw her pacing and Juliet looking agitated and Niles refusing to let in a persistent buzzer ringer.

     "Is everything all right?" Chad asked.

     The buzzer rang yet again. And again and again.

     "She’s not really going to stand there all day ringing is she?" Juliet asked.

     "Wanna bet?" Brenda murmured.

     "Who is it?" Chad interrupted.

     Brenda sighed and clasped her hands together. "My step-mother," she said with all the enthusiasm of a death-row inmate.

     Chad’s eyebrows rose in surprise. The step-mother was here? What an amazing & beneficial coincidence. "And you don’t want her here? Is that it?" Chad asked, acting ignorant of the situation.

     Brenda and Juliet both nodded. The gate buzzer rang incessantly.

     Vince came out of the kitchen. "Hey, Niles do you want me to get that?" he asked, assuming Niles was too busy to let in the person.

     "NO!" came the combined voices of Niles, Brenda and Juliet.

     Vince looked at that as if they were all insane and ducked back into the kitchen.

     "Would you like me to get rid of her?" Chad offered.

     Brenda looked at him. "Do you think you could? How would you do that?"

     "Well I’ll go out through the back by the golf course and double back to the front gate. Then I’ll come walking along acting like a neighbor who’s come to slip a note in the mailbox. She’s sure to question me and then I shall inform this step-mother of yours that I’m leaving a note because no one is home. Perhaps her thinking the house is empty will make her go away for the time being?"

     Brenda nodded. It wasn’t the greatest idea, but it would probably work. "Okay," she said, "but if she asks you anything about me or seeing me here just say no, okay? Act as if you’ve never even heard of me."

     "Of course. Don’t worry, Brenda. I’m your friend. I’ll protect you and make sure you never have to deal with this woman again, if I have anything to do with it."

     Brenda gave him a grateful smile while Niles gave him a suspicious gaze as Chad went through to the back.

     "He was awfully eager to play the knight in shining armor for you," Niles observed.

     "Yes but his solution is only temporary," Juliet reminded them. "Brenda, Chad may have saved the day for now but she’s going to come back. What are you going to do then?" Juliet worried as she began to pace alongside Brenda.

     "I wish Jax was here," Brenda said. This was a nightmare! How had Iris found out she was here?

     The buzzer finally stopped it’s inane ringing and several minutes later Chad was back knocking on the back entrance.

     "She’s gone," he announced. "But that is one hopping mad woman. She seems to be out for your blood, Brenda."

     "What a shock," Brenda murmured as she sat down feeling her head throbbing. Okay, so Iris was here in New Orleans and fit to be tied. no doubt she had come to drag Brenda home and make good on her threats to kick her out of Dixon College and ship her off ot a convent in Guatemala. But hadn’t Sheree said only yesterday that Brenda would not be returning to Iris?

     "Brenda?" Juliet said, seeing her friend’s silence. "Do you have an idea?"

     Brenda shook her head. "No. Not unless you know any hit men."

     "I have an idea," Chad said, placing his hands on Brenda’s shoulders and delighting in the feel of her, platonic as it may be. "I have an idea -- its a bit radical and drastic – but it can free you of that woman forever, Brenda. And I think that’s what you want more than anything, isn’t it? Your freedom?"

     Brenda nodded eagerly. "What’s you idea, Chad?" she asked with interest.

     "Marry me," he said and the ensuing silence was deafening.

     "What?" she asked, sure she had not heard him correctly.

     "Marry me," he repeated.

     Juliet’s eyes suddenly lit up. "Oh I get it!" she said. "Of course! Bren, if you get married you can get your hands on your money and you’ll be free of that troll woman forever! And then you can just get the marriage annulled likety split, you’ll have your money and your freedom. You can move out, you can finance your own education. You can even live here with us if you want to! No rent!" She said grinning her head off.

     Brenda smiled as the idea took root in her. This could work! If she were married Iris would have no alternative other than to turn over her money to her and stay out of her life forever. The only part of this plan that bugged Brenda was the choice of make-believe groom. Nothing personal against Chad, but even in a pretend marriage the only one Brenda wanted was a certain blue-eyed blonde.

     She turned to Chad. "Was that your intention? A fake marriage? A marriage in name only so that I could get my money?" she asked, wondering if Chad and Juliet were indeed on the same wavelength.

     Chad hesitated and then nodded. "Of course," he lied. "That was absolutely my idea. A purely platonic thing simply to get you what is rightfully yours and get that dreadful woman out of your hair once and for all. We can have it annulled the moment you get your check," he promised, smiling at her to convince her of his sincerity. "But we’ll have to do this all very quickly and very discreetly. You know if she gets wind of what we’re up to she could have the courts block the marriage claiming that it’s fraud because you’re only doing this to get your hands on your money early."

     "And technically it would be fraud," Niles piped in, "because you’re certainly not in love with him and have no real desire to marry him."

     Chad seemed to take offense at this, but no one noticed.

     "And a judge would put me in jail for that?’ Brenda asked incredulously.

     "Well he could," Chad admitted, "until you gave the money back. But I would never let it come to that. I promise you. If a judge becomes suspicious of the motivations behind our marriage we’ll just put on a show of affection and make it seem as if the marriage is the real thing. He would be convinced we were in love and the money would be yours."

     "And as soon as I get my money we can get this annulment right?" she said.

     He nodded.

     "How long does it take to get one of these annulments?"

     "Normally two to four weeks," Niles said.

     Brenda did not seem happy about that.

     Chad knew he had to push her before she turned the idea down. "Oh two weeks is nothing, Brenda. The marriage will be annulled before you know it. So what do you say? Time is of the essence, you know. Your step-mother knows where you are now and my bet is that she will indeed be returning and she may even have the police with her next time to make sure she gets in."

     The police? Brenda hadn’t thought of that. Oh brother. Why of all days did Jax have to be unreachable today?!?! She really wanted to talk to him!

     "I can arrange everything immediately," Chad told her, still sensing her hesitation. "The church, the minister, the blood tests, the license, the rings. We can be married this very night and your step-mother won’t be able to touch you thereafter. Your money will be on it’s way to you by probably no later than late next month and freedom will be yours."

     Brenda looked at Chad while nibbling down thoughtfully on her lip. "Oh, I can’t do this," she decided. "I can’t let you do this, I mean. You’re my friend, Chad and I’d be totally using you. This would be so fake and . . no it’s not right . . ."

     "It’s because we’re friends that I’m quite happy to help you in your time of need Brenda," he assured her. "I don’t feel that you’re using me, only that you need my help and I’m giving it to you. That’ what friends are for, so you needn’t worry or feel guilty."

     Brenda thought about it. It would only be a couple of months at the most. She probably wouldn’t even have to live with him. He seemed cool with the reality that whole thing would be nothing but pretense, and she would explain everything to Jax when he got back later so that he wouldn’t get the wrong idea. But right now the most important thing was giving Iris absolutely no power over her and if this pretend marriage would do that, then she was all for it.

     "Okay," she said. "Let’s do it then."

     Nile’s rose a sharp dark brow at the look of triumph that seemed to shoot off like fireworks in Chad’s brown eyes. This was clearly a man who had motivations that went far beyond Brenda’s well being. Niles cleared his throat and thought he’d better say something in the interest of protecting Brenda.

     "Perhaps to keep everything official and above board the two of you can draw up and sign an agreement that the marriage is never be consummated and the annulment will proceed the same day you receive your check," he said looking at Brenda.

     "Oh that’s a good idea," Brenda agreed, oblivious to the dark, angry cloud that fell across Chad’s eyes.

     "Very well. Since I know you want to be discreet I’ll have my nephew Matthew draw up the papers. He’s an attorney and he can do it very quickly. Excuse me." Niles said, completely blowing off Chad’s dark, threatening glower.

     "Brenda, we don’t need a piece of paper," Chad insisted when Niles was gone. "I’m not doing this to actually marry you. God knows I have no intention of getting married for another few years and, delightful and gorgeous as you are, you’re a bit young for me. I’m only doing this to help you in a bind and I really find it sad and rather insulting that you feel you can’t trust me."

     Brenda looked at him, pursed her perfect lips and then nodded. "You’re right we don’t need any silly papers," she decided. "You just go ahead and do whatever you have to do for this wedding to happen. Oh, and thank you, Chad. You’re a life saver."

     Chad smiled, pleased by the abrupt change in her attitude. "You’re most welcome. I’m just glad I’m able to help you in your time of need. I’ll call you when all the arrangements are made." he turned to Juliet. "We’ll need a witness, Julie. Will that be you?"

     Juliet nodded. "Sure I’ll do it," she said gazing from her brother’s friend to her best friend with unease.

     "All right then I’ll see you both later. Remember the less people who know of this the better. I wouldn’t breathe a word of this to anyone in the family if I were you." And then he was gone.

     Juliet turned to Brenda. "Are you sure you don’t want to get that legal agreement Niles was talking about?" she asked uncertainly. "I mean I know Chad is a friend and he’s helping you out and everything, but this is a marriage we’re talking about here, Brenda. Why would you even want to take a chance on him going back on his word?"

     "Don’t worry. Those papers are going to be irrelevant anyway," Brenda said with the look of mischief in her eye. "I have a plan."