"Yes you did," the writer agreed.

Crystal continued to stare at the diploma. "I can't believe I did it." Comforting hands rested on her shoulders. "I passed. I got my GED. I don't have to admit I never finished high school anymore. I can say I have a GED. I did it."

"I knew you could," Laura said gently.

"I never would have been able to do it without you." Setting the paper down on the side table, Crystal turned to face Laura. All the weeks of studying, of struggling to remember names and dates, of trying more time just to make Laura happy when all she really wanted to do was throw it all in the garbage and give up, all that was over. Crisp white paper declared that the mistake Crystal made as a teenager no longer had to haunt her. Looking at Laura, Crystal knew where the strength had come from to make what once was just a dream now a reality and not all of it was inside. "Thank you," she whispered softly, blinking at the stinging feeling in her eyes.

"I only helped you study. You're the one"

Crystal cut off her roommate's protest by pulling the older woman into a fierce hug. "No. I never would have even tried if it wasn't for you, Laura." Her voice sounded muffled against the writer's neck. "You're the one who kept encouraging me, who taught me the tricks to remember the order of how things happened and those damn flash cards." She smiled and held Laura tighter. "Thank you," she whispered again.

"You're welcome." They stayed like that for a moment longer before Laura finally disengaged from the embrace. "Now I think this calls for a celebration."

"Like what?" Crystal asked as she turned away to wipe her eyes, though she knew Laura had seen the tears.

"Dinner and a movie?" Laura offered. "Anything you want, my treat."

"Everyone's playing those psycho killers chopping up teenagers movies," Crystal said.

"It's the season," the writer said. "After all, Halloween is just around the corner. We could always swing by the rental place and pick out a comedy if you want."

"Naw, I'm not in the mood for a movie."

"We could call Jenny and the boys and see if they want to have dinner with us at the Chinese place," Laura said.

"You feel like pizza?" the blonde countered. "That marathon is on tonight."

"It's fine with me," Laura said. "But are you sure you want to stay in tonight?"

"Absolutely," Crystal said. "I don't feel like celebrating with everyone. Lemme change out of these clothes and call Jenny to tell her the good news, then we'll decide where to get the pizza and relax at home tonight."

Chapter Fourteenth

"Grab pickles while you're down there, will ya?" Crystal asked, looking over the neatly written shopping list.

"Spears or slices?" Laura asked.

"Spears and make sure they're dill," the blonde replied without looking up from the list. "Last time you got me that other kind. I don't like them." "Is that why you haven't touched that jar? You could have told me." Laura picked up the correct jar and put it carefully into the shopping cart. "You went to the trouble to buy them for me," Crystal said. "I figured they'd get eaten up eventually."

"We could have brought them over to Mom's with us tonight," Laura said. "I'm sure she'd find a use for them."

"Don't forget we have to stop someplace and pick up a new frame for your picture since you put my GED in that one." Crystal threw a bag of chocolate chip cookies into the basket. "Hey, let's not forget to pick up a tin of those butter cookies."

"Just one? I can eat that myself," Laura joked. "We'll pick up a couple of them. Oh, pick up two bags of marshmallows, would you? I want to make a batch of those treats to send to Bobby."

"Sure, I saw them down this way." Crystal moved to the far end of the aisle, spotting the bags on the bottom shelf. An older woman, debating on which bag of hard candy to buy, stood in her way. "Excuse me."

The older woman turned, their eyes meeting. Shock still, Crystal swallowed hard against a dry throat. "It can't be," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Years had taken their toll, Crystal noticed. Lines and wrinkles marred what once was a beautiful face, blonde hair was now silvery gray and the glasses were thicker but there was no mistake in the eyes which looked back at her with at first confusion, then recognition.

"C-Crystal?" the woman asked carefully.

"Crystal? Did you find the marshmallows?" Laura asked as she came upon them.

"I um ." She pointed at the bags on the bottom shelf, never taking her eyes off the woman before her. Unsure what to say after so many years, Crystal stood there dumbly staring.

"I can't believe it's really you," the woman said in awe, reaching her hand toward Crystal's face.

"Um yeah," Crystal mumbled, taking a step back out of reach and closer to Laura.

"You're really alive," the woman continued, putting a shaky hand into her purse and retrieving a handkerchief.

"Crystal?" Laura asked, no doubt concerned by the pale pallor of the blonde's face.

"Laura, this is" Crystal paused over the words. "Margaret Sheridan. She's my mother."

At the word, Margaret Sheridan gave a half sob and moved around her shopping cart to pull Crystal into an embrace. "I can't believe it," she sobbed. "My little girl is alive. My Crystal is safe."

Crystal pulled free and moved next to Laura, taking the writer's hand in hers and feeling reassured at the gentle squeeze. "Did you ever hear from Patty?"

"There's so much to tell you," Margaret said, tears still rolling down her cheeks. "You turned out so beautiful. I always knew you would." Crystal did not protest when Laura wrapped a protective arm around her. "What about Patty?" the young woman insisted. Margaret gave a sad smile. "She came back home less than six months after you left. We tried so hard to find you."

"Six

Where can I find her? Does she have a phone number? Where's she living?" The questions came quickly out of Crystal's mouth and she tightened her grip on the back of Laura's shirt.

"Patricia lives with me," her mother said. "So do Jessica and Thomas, your niece and nephew." She reached into her purse and fumbled around. "I have pictures."

Crystal felt light headed and very closed in. "I need to get out of here," she said in a low voice. Laura pressed the keys into her hand. "I'll meet you at the car," the writer promised. She cast a quick look at Crystal's mother before releasing her hold on the younger woman. "I'll find out for you."

Crystal took a long look at her mother, seeing only love and concern in eyes so much like her own. Unsure what to say or even if her voice would allow her to speak, Crystal turned and headed for the nearest exit, not stopping until she had reached the Jeep and was safely locked inside. Rolling the window down halfway, she lit a cigarette, surprised at how much her hands were shaking. Patty's alive, she thought as she watched the tip of the cigarette burn. She's alive and I have a niece and nephew. I wonder how old they are. Patty lives with Mom? How can that be? She'd never live in the same house as Dad again, I know she wouldn't. Did Mom throw him out? Did the bastard finally die? Those and dozens of other questions raced through her mind as the minutes passed. She was surprised at the gentle tap on the passenger window signaling Laura's arrival. Crystal unlocked the door, holding the keys out presumably so her roommate could open the back of the Jeep to put the groceries in but once the door was opened, Laura reached in and pulled her into a hug.

"I know this has got to be hard for you," the writer said softly.

Crystal could only nod her head, grateful for the comforting arms around her. Trembling, she tightened her hold around Laura's neck and closed her eyes. Her breaths were coming in irregular gulps, the lump in her throat feeling larger with each second. She parted her lips to speak but no words would come out, only unintelligible croaks. She was not sure how Laura understood what she needed but for long minutes they stayed that way, Crystal stretched across the front seat while the writer stood with the driver's door open, her upper body leaning inside.

"Let's get you home," Laura said in a soft voice. Crystal took several haggard breaths before nodding and pulling back from the much needed embrace. She reached up to wipe her eyes but Laura was quicker, the writer's thumbs gently brushing the moisture away. "Of all days to come shopping with me, hmm?" Laura said.

"Fate's a bitch," Crystal muttered, surprised when she felt the writer's fingertip brush her lower lip before pulling away.

"Sometimes it is," Laura agreed. Crystal took the offered handkerchief and wiped her eyes while the groceries were loaded, feeling far more composed by the time Laura climbed into the driver's seat and put the keys in the ignition.

"I still can't believe it," Crystal said, crumpling the damp handkerchief in her fist. "My mother

I saw my mother." Belatedly she realized they were out of the parking lot and heading for the highway. "And at the supermarket. Does she live near here?"

Laura glanced at the torn scrap of paper with the all important phone number on it. "She's got a five two seven exchange. That doesn't start until after the railroad tracks on the other side of town so she doesn't live around here. Maybe something brought her out this way and she decided to do her shopping at the same time. Wild coincidence, hmm?"

"Yeah," Crystal answered absently while lighting a cigarette. "There's a big trailer park over there. She might be living there." Taking a long drag, she raised her eyes and stared at the passing traffic. "She's smaller than I remember."

"Probably because you're taller," Laura said.

"And Patty lives with her. She came home." Crystal took a deep breath to keep the tears at bay. "I miss her so much."

"I know you do, hon," Laura said with a gentle pat on Crystal's leg. "And in just a couple of hours you'll be able to talk to her."

Crystal looked at her watch, frowning at how slow the time was passing. "I need a cigarette," she announced, heading for the sliding glass door. Laura rose from her chair and intercepted the nervous woman. "You just had a cigarette ten minutes ago," she reminded. "Maybe you should give Jenny a call."

"Naw," Crystal said, taking comfort in the gentle hand resting on her shoulder. "She's probably either with someone or on her way home right now. I wouldn't be able to catch her."

"Then sit down and try to relax," the writer insisted.

Reluctantly, Crystal allowed herself to be led to the table. "Maybe I should call now. Patty might be home early."

"You have almost half an hour yet," Laura said, standing behind Crystal and resting her hands on the younger woman's shoulders. "I know what will make you relax."

Crystal's eyes fluttered shut as she felt strong fingers begin kneading her neck and shoulder muscles. The kitchen was silent except for the occasional moans when Laura's fingers hit tight muscles. Eleven years of questions raced around in Crystal's mind, all vying to be the first one asked when the time came to make the call. Laura was right, Crystal thought to herself when the gentle beep of her watch alerted her to the time. The gentle massage did relax her, helping to make the minutes pass far quicker than if she had continued to pace about the kitchen.

"You ready?" Laura asked, taking a step back and removing her hands having.

"I think so," Crystal said nervously. "Damn, I wish I had a drink."

"I'm sure you do," Laura replied, handing over the cordless phone. "But you can handle this without it. I know you can. I have faith in you."

Crystal snorted and toyed with the phone. "I'm glad someone does." Taking a deep breath, she tapped in the number written on the torn scrap of paper. "It's ringing." Laura said nothing but the comforting hand she resting on Crystal's shoulder spoke volumes.

"Hello?"

"Patty?"

"Crystal? My god, is it really you?"

"I never thought I'd ever see you again," Crystal said, gripping the phone tighter. "I can't believe I'm really talking to you." She turned her mouth from the phone to address Laura. "It's really her."

"There's so much to talk about," Patty said, drawing Crystal back to the miraculous meeting on the phone. "Where did you go when you ran away? I tried to find you for years."

"I tried to find you too," Crystal replied, smiling at Laura when a tissue box was set before her on the table. "There's so much for us to talk about." "Well now that we've found each other we have all the time in the world. I have so much to tell you."