Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Andre stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, "All cleaned up."

After hanging up the phone, Conner glanced at the clock, "All done for the day. So, what's next?"

Andre stood up, grabbing his suit jacket from the back of his chair, "Heading home. It's getting late, Mia and the kids are waiting. My boy just rolled over for the first time today." Conner stood up too, stretching his neck and feeling quite pleased with himself for the day's outcomes, "Mind if I hitch a ride? I'll come over tomorrow to see the little champ."

At some ungodly hour, when the moon shyly hid behind clouds and the earth was silent, Andre arrived home.

He quietly pushed open the bedroom door to find a warm, yellow nightlight left on for him, his wife and child snuggled together in bed. The little one, usually buzzing until midnight, had dozed off with tiny feet poking out from under the covers. Mia, too, was asleep, one arm wrapped around their son, a picture of maternal warmth.

Seeing them, Andre smiled. He quietly undressed and headed for a shower, inadvertently waking his waiting wife.

Rubbing her eyes, Mia adjusted their son into a more comfortable position and then followed Andre to the bathroom. "Did I wake you?" Andre asked, seeing his wife's sleepy awakening, endearing in her grogginess.

Mia yawned, "Honey, why are you home so late tonight?"

"Just swamped at work," Andre replied.

As Mia went to pick up her husband's dirty clothes, she noticed the strong scent of smoke on them. She didn't press the issue, though, instead checking his pockets before tossing the clothes into the laundry hamper.

While Andre showered, Mia chatted, "Our son rolled over today. Waited up for you till midnight, but his little eyes couldn't stay open any longer and he fell asleep in my arms."

After his shower, Andre joined his family in bed, lying beside his son, "Mia, I have to go abroad for work tomorrow. While I'm gone, stay here, don't go back to our place."

anyway; it's too big and empty without you. It scares me

into the night until their breaths evened out in sleep, their son snugly nestled between them, a picture of

came over, fussing over the little one and even shooting

police received a report of a burnt car

to the report and moved on, planning a trip to the bridal shop with Donnie for wedding

distracted, discussed a recent case with some colleagues. "The victim had been beaten up, bones

the scene knew about the

examiner shared his findings, a new intern was overwhelmed by the sight and smell, rushing out

sneered at the youth's

passing by," he said, but soon left, claiming

pretense, knowing Chad

call Andre, and returned to work as if

and their son saw

drove Andre to the airport, despite nursing an injury,

the ocean, the Walker family tried to reach Tom without success,

Wesley, that all was

Jillian took custody of a baby girl from

safety and the potential fortune that awaited if the child was well cared-for. The

to me!" Jillian slammed her fist onto

cell phone and tried to

again, a call came