Girl Get Rid Of That Jerk by Melissa Johns

As Linda walked in with a thermos, her eyes landed on the small charm Watson was holding, and she stopped in her tracks. She knew that charm well. It was something you'd only get after a long, devoted journey to the church. Years back, when Allison's mom, Savannah, was really sick, Javier had made that same journey to get one for her. Sadly, it hadn't been enough to save her life, and thinking about it now made Linda's heart ache a bit.

"Watson," Linda said softly, a bit surprised, "Did you get this charm yourself?" She gazed at the charm, her eyes distant, as if she were staring right through it into

the past.

Watson, still deeply focused on Allison, just nodded.

Once she gathered her

understanding. She knew him from the few

insisted they were just friends, Linda hadn't dug any deeper. Now, seeing this charm, everything clicked into place. Watson's feelings for her daughter Allie were way beyond just friendship. He was

it down. She accepted the charm, carefully avoiding Watson's eyes, and

to joke around, stayed silent. She'd often said Watson and Allie made a great pair, but now wasn't the time for jokes. Allie had just narrowly escaped a brush with death. Any chance between Joshua and Allie seemed to be truly over. As Allie's long-time

filled with a heavy sadness, which worsened her heart condition, making her appear

household was under a heavy cloud, the mood somber and tense. The maids and staff spoke in hushed tones, worried that a single mistake could cost them their jobs. Ray had come back to Oak Lake for three days before heading back to the capital. The day after he returned, he left the country for a diplomatic visit. These important matters had been