By the time Lucinda and Elizabeth arrive, they're the last ones of the family to walk into the parlor. Their father stands by the casket with a scowl that tightens even more, when he gets a glimpse of Elizabeth's attire.

He motions for her to join him by the casket. She dips her head with a stern glare in her eyes as she marches over.

"Don't say a word. I wasn't prepared for this, and you're not going to make a scene in here, old man. Do I make myself clear!" She says in a low tone.

Mr. Reed points back at Kaitlin, who's nearly the same height as her aunt and shares quite a few features with their long hair and athletic figures.

"Even that hussy of a daughter of yours even dressed up for your mother. Show some goddamn respect; you spoiled brat." Mr. Reed scolds her in a hateful and bitter tone, not holding back his feelings.

With her lips curled and an angry demeanor in her eyes, Elizabeth pulls back from slapping her father and instead turns to the casket.

"Hi momma, I miss you more now than ever." She says with her father huffing at the statement.

"I'm trying to be polite, momma, but this stubborn old mule isn't making it easy. I promise I'll make you proud." Elizabeth continues lightly brushing her mother's hands.

Behind her, someone approaches and lays his hand gently on her shoulder before he comes into peripheral view.

"Been a long time Ellie, how are you?" Matthew asks, startling his former high school sweetheart.

"Uh, hi Matt, yeah, it's been ages. Wow, you look amazing!" Elizabeth stutters, seeing him stand there with his other hand clutching his cowboy hat.

"Can we go talk?" Matthew requests.

"Yes, but first, I'd like to introduce you to my daughter, Kaitlin."

Before they walk together to talk, Matthew stands there and pays his respect silently. Once he's done, he offers Elizabeth his arm as they make their way over to Kaitlin and Logan near the rear of the parlor.

"Katie, this is my old friend Matthew Daniels and Matt; I'd like to introduce you to my daughter, my youngest child, Kaitlin Phillips."

"Pleasure to meet you little lady, and may I say you can tell your part, Reed. Nearly a spitting image of your momma and your aunt at their age." Matthew comments as Kaitlin slightly blushes.

Matthew politely extends his arm, allowing Elizabeth to make her way outside first. He holds the door open for her, and they meet at the bottom of the steps.

"You look fantastic Ellie, that California glow suits you," He compliments.

"Look at you, still pretending to be a cowboy. All gussied up in your tight-ass Wrangler jeans and that tight dress shirt. Oh my, wow, even after all these years, how are you still this good-looking?" Elizabeth babbles on like a teenager all over again. She stares at Matthew's six-foot-two-inch body of solid muscle from working all of his life.

Matthew chuckles and grabs Elizabeth by the waist pulling her in tight.

"Does this feel familiar?" He whispers, being centimeters from her lips as they stare into each other's eyes.

"All too familiar..."

"It should. This is how we were last involved when you came back from UCLA and told me that you had a fiancé." He reminds her as there's a sudden change in his attitude and lets Elizabeth go.

He steps back with Elizabeth in a bit of shock. She stands there battling her feelings for her husband and her old flame. She's left confused by what she wants. On the one hand, she would never cheat on her husband, but on the other, Elizabeth sees the man she wants and still feels deep down inside she shouldn't have dismissed.

"I was young and stupid, but I am still married. I'll admit it, I've not been happy for years, but I made a vow, and I want to make it work. I heard about what you went through. I'm sorry." Elizabeth tells Matthew with her hands folded in front with her wedding ring standing out front and center.

"Ellie, all I ever wanted was to see you happy. Even if I couldn't make it happen, but don't think I didn't try. I messed up my knee pretty bad at school and missed the pros altogether. Now back then, I thought that if maybe if I made it, I could win you back, but I only ruined my career before it started."

She approaches for a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"I'm sorry, and yes, I knew I made a mistake after the first time I caught Michael cheating. He's an ass, but he's my ass, but I won't betray Mike."

"You were always a damn fine woman. I'm sorry too, sorry you lost your Ma, and sorry your life is in the gutter. My mom passed a few years back. Dad retired and left me the general store as well as the farm. He helps watch the kids, but it's been tough trying to balance the two. Now I see why he's always been pissed off. I envy him in a way because back in his day, things were easier. Now all this new junk requires changes in technology, and that's expensive."

From the front door, Kaitlin stands there observing her mother travel in time with her interactions with Matthew. In a way, she doesn't like it, but she finds it weird seeing her mother smile. She's completely discombobulated over whether to disrupt the reunion or let her mother fall head over heels for her ex.

Several minutes go, and by gradually, the rest of the family gather to witness Elizabeth and Matthew talking.

"Always liked that boy!" Mr. Reed states behind the rest of the family.

"Wow, dad, surprised you're not yelling at her for being a harlot," Kevin says, leaning over to keep his voice down.

That's when Mr. Reed allows his guard to drop and relieve how he's felt silently for all those years.

"Nonsense, I have to give her a hard time. She was my pick out of three of you to do the best in life. I'm hard on her because I expected more from her. I hate being an old prude, but if I'm not, then she'll get soft. It seems like an easy thing to do, but inside my heart, it kills me." Mr. Reed explains in a hushed tone to keep the others from overhearing.

The moment comes to an end when Kaitlin misreads a farewell kiss on the cheek for something a little more risqué.

"Hey! Knock it off, mom!"

Alarmed, Elizabeth backs away from Matthew, snapping back to reality. She waves to her daughter to get moving.

"Come on, Katie, let's go! I have to make a pitstop before we go out to your aunt's."

Kaitlin dashes to her mom, pulling her in the direction of the SUV, and refuses to let go. Once she gets into her seat, she yells at her mother.

"You were going to kiss that man, weren't you?"

"No, Katie, I'm still married to your father, and I wouldn't cheat on him. He's the one who's cheated on me."

Kaitlin mumbles something under her breathe that her mother can't make out.

"He did what?"

"Nothing, mom, just you know, hate him in a way. Anyway, can we go and get whatever it is you need and then pack up to go home tomorrow?"

With a single nod and the engine comes to life, and they head over a couple of blocks to browse around at Macy's department store. It takes a little time, but Elizabeth finds a beautiful Emerald Sundae black dress with a slit that comes a little more than half-way up her thigh. She buys the dress and even picks up Kaitlin, a Michael Kors Pointelle Trim Flounce Dress.

"Wow, mom, thank you, but really that's too much!" Kaitlin expresses with her mom not batting an eyelash.

"This is nothing, Kit-Kat. I know all this since we've been here, things have gotten crazy, but let's say good-bye to mom in style and leave town as hot gossip." Elizabeth says with a wink at her daughter.

The lady behind the sales counter takes the dresses and places them in separate plastic bags to keep them safe. Once the credit card seals the deal, they're handed the dresses and quickly make their way out to the house and relax.

Kaitlin retires to her phone on the couch, talking to Wally via text. Elizabeth and Lucinda relax on the front porch with a bottle of whiskey and a couple of glasses on the table between them. They say nothing as they become tipsy and relax in their chairs until they call it quits and head for bed.

The morning dew collects outside, and the birds chirp as the sun shines brightly. The family gets up, showers, and gets ready for the funeral. Lucinda pops a couple of aspirin for her headache, and Elizabeth gradually packs up the bags preparing to head home.

"Well, let's get there and do this," Elizabeth says, feeling depressed over burying her mother.

Kaitlin climbs into the SUV while Logan and Lucinda get into his truck and lead the way to the funeral home for the private service.

When they arrive, they're the first ones inside. It doesn't take long for Kevin and Frank to make their presence known with Frank's heavy breathing.

"Welcome Reed, Bradshaw, and Phillips family. It's a sad day for you all together today as you say goodbye to a beloved lynch pen to your family. May we bow our heads as I lead us in prayer." The preacher requests with his head bowed as he begins a prayer.

Once he's finished, they all lift their heads. The preacher looks at them with one final statement.

"Death is a bittersweet piece of life. While we're left behind here on Earth, we can rest assured that you now have a new angel sprouting her wings to watch over all of you. Although we can't see it, she is already here with us in spirit. Now I'll ask you to come up and take a rose, and once we arrive at the gravesite, you can then place your rose on the casket, and we will say one final prayer." The preacher informs them picking up his Bible heading for the Hurst.

It takes them nearly fifteen minutes to arrive at the cemetery. Once they arrive and gather around the plot, they cling to their roses and fight the tears. The Pall Bearers approach and place the casket over the opening. The preacher makes his way to the foot of the plot and says his final words.

"May God touch and heal your hearts on this sad day. Keep each other in your thoughts and prayers. Maggie Reed, mother to Kevin Reed, Elizabeth Phillips, and Lucinda Bradshaw, beloved wife to Frank Reed, we must say goodbye to you here right now, but we will once again meet you along the streets paved with gold. May you find peace in the embrace of our Lord Jesus and await us at the pearly gates." He finishes the statement as he bows his head in prayer.

One by one, the roses fall onto the casket. The final two to fall are Elizabeth's and Frank's. Through pure instinct, she turns to him with her arms wrapped around his torso, and in a shocking twist, he wraps his back around her in comfort.

"It'll be alright child, she loved you to the ends of the Earth and back again. She was proud of you and as hard as it is for this old man to admit. I am very proud of you too. I may not have agreed to your decisions, but you are my daughter. I love you, Ellie. Your brother reminded me of that last night." Mr. Reed says with a kiss on Elizabeth's forehead.

She looks up at the sky, and with her father's arms wrapped around her, she's transported back in time and listens to her memory, seeing the sky light up a bright cherry color.

"I love you too, old man, but we have a long drive, so please don't get angry. It's a two-day drive," Elizabeth whispers.

"Don't sweat it, Ellie, and go. Your mother knew you was here, and that's what matters. Sorry, I've been a jackass, but I got my reasons. Call your sister when you make it home." He states with a farewell squeeze and releases her, and waves to Kaitlin as they make their way over to the SUV.

Things don't seem promising over a thousand miles away when Michael takes his Camaro out to a party along the beach. He's hitting the booze hard and trying hard to pick up any girl that grabs his attention.

"Come on, some of you bitches have to wanna head home with me. Check it out; I have abs and a badass Camaro!" He yells out drunk as a skunk stumbling with every step.

"M.J. f'real man, chill!" One of his former teammates calls out, trying to help him.

"Ah fuck it, then I'm out! I'll head home and go from there!" Michael Jr. shouts and laughs after he falls flat on his ass.

Out of nowhere, the police arrive, and the crowd scatters. Michael Jr. tries to run but stumbles at first, but when he can finally dash for his car, three cops are in pursuit. He manages to slip into the car and puts the car in Reverse, trying to evade being arrested again.

The officers manage to stop him before he slams into a light pole.

"Out of the car, son!" The officer orders.

"You heard him, out of the damn car, kid!" Another officer yells with his hand by his weapon.

Michael throws his car in Park and revving the engine hard; he laughs at the officers giving them the middle finger gesture.

"Go fuck yourselves, ya pigs!" He taunts, cranking up the radio.

"That's it, remove him by force!" The lead officer shouts, motioning to make a move on the drunken teenager.

Within seconds M.J. is pulled from his car and placed face-first on the ground. The officers subdue his wrists and place him into custody and impound the Camaro.

"If you scratch my car, I swear I'll kick your ass!" Michael screams, trying to jerk away.

He's placed into the back of the police cruiser and transported to the police station. Michael's placed into the holding cell while the officers try to get ahold of his father or mother.

"Hello," Elizabeth answers via Bluetooth.

"Yes, Mrs. Phillips, this is Officer Snyder, and we have your son in custody for public indecency and underage consumption of alcohol. They're being nice and not charging him for attempting to flee and drunk driving. He'll see a judge in the morning, and bail will be set then."

Her temper flares up like a Roman candle. She smacks the steering wheel while Kaitlin's expression of fear says how she feels.

"I'm about two days away; keep trying, his father, please. I'm coming from my mother's funeral." She explains, trying to contain her temper.

"My apologies, ma'am, but you know he's already been placed on probation, which means he's likely to get some time in juvie for this. I'll inform my sergeant and keep trying to contact his father. Again, you have my sympathies."

"Thank you, officer. I'll be there when I get there. I'm sorry he gave you a difficult time, but rest assure, I will deal with him when I get his ass home." Elizabeth says, picking up speed to cover more ground.

The call ends, and the ladies push their luck by speeding nearly ten miles an hour over the speed limit. Elizabeth even tries to talk to her husband several times, but it's sent to voicemail every time. Her anger turns to worry when she begins to feel the effects of driving for nearly twelve straight hours. She pulls off the interstate and finds a hotel, so she and Kaitlin can crash for the night.

All she knows is that a major blowout brewing when she finds her husband. Something has been off for a while, and Elizabeth has a renewed sense of purpose to get answers at last. From things that she's seen from Kaitlin back in Tender Springs to Michael Jr.'s attempts to throw his life away screams something is off. There's a black hole creating a new galaxy within her soul, and this time she's taking control of her life. For Elizabeth, it is time to repair and even move on if she has no other choice.