Things have become eerily silent between Tara and Cory. The text messages increase in a vague nature, and Tara begins to feel something isn't adding up. She tries to play off the concern, but she stays focused at work and spends time with CJ. Even staying busy, Tara feels this nagging sensation in the back of her mind, but it doesn't come off being something negative.

One late evening while sitting at her desk in the office, she goes to lock in the next two weeks' schedules when her phone begins to ring, "Hey sexy, how's the trip?"

Cory sounds chipper when he speaks up, "It's great! I've driven through so many places and met God knows how many people. But, I have to admit, I've enjoyed my time in your neck of the woods. It's opened my eyes to how you can be so good at your job, and the food is going to take me months to work off," he teases as Tara chuckles.

"So, you're getting fat, are you? I shouldn't be surprised given the fact that 'The South' has the best foods and culture around," Tara says as she waves her free hand in the air and bobs her head.

It gives them a chance to share a laugh, but Cory shifts the conversation, "Yeah, I mean, I've probably gained about five pounds, and I've tried to hit the treadmill and weights when a hotel or motel has them available. That's not the point, though, I'll be home in a few days, and there's a surprise I found for you. So, in about three or four days, expect me to call and have you meet me at your mother's but drop CJ off at my mother's. Trust me when I say it's well worth the wait."

"Uh, okay. All of that seems a little extreme, but I trust you. But, as much as I hate to do this, I need to get off of here and lockdown my crew's schedules and off-site events finalized. I miss you, and I love you. I can't wait to see you very soon!"

"I love you too, Tara. Give CJ a big hug for me, and thank you for giving me this trip. It's opened my eyes more than I could imagine."

The call comes to an end, and Cory finds himself stretched out on the bed, snacking on the leftover food from Popeyes Chicken. While he munches on cool French fries and chicken tenders, Cory finds entertainment with Pro Wrestling Empire on TV. After he's finished and gives his food time to settle, Cory changes into a pair of basketball shorts and a sleeveless shirt and gets on the treadmill, where he speed walks for about forty minutes, working up a sweat, and once he's finished and pats his face with a hand towel.

"Geez, I'm starting to feel this traveling shit. I don't know how Wane did this all those years as a trucker," Cory says to himself.

Cory gets a change of clothes from his bag in his room and notices a smell coming from his travel bag. After a couple of quick sniffs, he decides to get a quick shower and takes the bag down to the laundry area, and stays on his phone while he waits for the laundry to be washed and dried. When it's finished and smelling better, Cory shoves it all back in his bag, along with a couple of extra dryer sheets to keep his bag smelling better. Finally, settled in bed, Cory falls asleep and nearly misses checking out on time.

Back on the road, Cory drives to one final destination to help get his surprise ready and start the long journey home.

It takes him two full days of driving, but Cory finally reaches RiverCreek, where he finds himself arriving at Foodland International Grocery, looking for Olivia. When he learns that she's taking the day off, Cory drives to her house and knocks on the front door.

Surprised to see Cory standing at the front door, Olivia opens it and notices the second car in the driveway, "Did you find another car finally?" She asks with a confused expression.

"No! That's Tara's surprise and someone who has been waiting to apologize to you first. So come with me and see who's come to visit. You'll need to cover your eyes and let me guide you down to the car."

Instantly feeling nervous, Olivia is hesitant at first, but she does take Cory's hand, covering her eyes; Olivia is guided across the porch and down the steps. Her heart pounds faster and harder with every step, which doesn't help her calm down after hearing the car door open and close. Finally, Cory takes Olivia's hand to give it to the stranger, who interlocks their fingers with Olivia's, "Howdy, second momma," a soft feminine voice says with a thick southern accent.

The voice sends a cold chill straight through Olivia's body. Unable to hold back the emotions, Olivia drops her hand to see Janet standing in front of her.

"Lord have mercy! What are you doing here, my long-lost girl? How? I mean, did you and Tara make up with what happened all them years ago?" Olivia stumbles to say as her accent returns, hearing Janets.

"She don't know I'm here. This feller here showed up at my job a few days ago and started telling me about Tara's life. Did she really have a baby before she graduated high school?"

Excited to see someone from Little Rock, Olivia pulls Janet into the house. Unfortunately, Cory doesn't follow as he's preparing to make a pitstop at his mother's house to get cleaned up and find some clothes that haven't been washed in a dank washer from the cheap motels.

Lorraine's sitting in the front room when she hears the Celica pull into the driveway. Happy to see Cory is home, Lorraine makes her way out to greet him with a hug, "Welcome home, son. It's a relief not having to worry or pray for safe travels. After the fights you've been in before you left, I was scared you'd get out there and get in trouble."

"I only had the cops called on me once, but it wasn't all my fault," Cory begins, "I filled up my car and went inside to get a drink when I started talking to Tara on the phone. I guess I had sat there too long, and the girl working there called the cops, and he gave me a warning for loitering. I behaved, I promise. It is nice to be close to home as much fun as it was out there with no plan."

The welcome home hug doesn't last, but when Lorraine and Cory go into the kitchen, he starts to tell what happened during his short stint in North Little Rock.

"While I needed to get away, I don't know which place was scarier, Iraq or North Little Rock. Luckily my car looks like crap which fits in there. The houses looked old and ran down, trailers patched up in pieces or with wood from tornado damage. I didn't see any cars placed on blocks, but the newest car I saw was, at best, a calico Cavalier."

With a puzzling look, Lorraine allows Cory to explain.

"A calico on a car means it has three or more different colors. Say like that Cavalier; it had yellow, red, blue, green with an orange hood."

"Oh, okay, now it makes sense. But, please, continue with your story."

Cory gets up to get a glass of water before he continues, "So, North Little Rock and why I was there. While I was out on the open road, I may have done a little digging into Tara's past. Spending time with Jordan was a real eye-opener, so when I left Chattanooga, which is a great city, by the way, I headed deeper into the humid southern part of the country. I followed my GPS to North Little Rock and came across a Southern Sugars Sweets and Confections bakery. I went inside, and I met someone," Cory stops to give his mother the wrong impression.

"Don't think like that! I wasn't there to hook up with some chick. But, I did meet a girl, and I brought her back here," Cory stopped when Lorraine's mouth dropped wide open.

"Tell me you did not bring some girl back here thinking that you could have a threesome with Tara, especially with some stranger!"

How Cory reacts by laughing makes Lorraine want to smack her only child. Instead, she sits there listening to him cackle to the point he's about to snort, "I'm glad you think this is funny. I raised you better than this, and your father and I raised you to respect women!"

"Oh my God, mom, I did not bring just anyone up here to get Tara into a threesome. I paid for her best friend to have a rental car and a room at RiverCreek Lodge for a week. I did it so they could patch things up and rekindle their old friendship. When I got her to open up about a part of her past, Tara brought up Janet. It took me some negotiating to get her to agree to come, but this might be good for them."

Lorraine is moved and touched by Cory's actions. His decision to try to bring Tara and her best friend back together is something Cory would have done before entering the Army. Lorraine sees his gesture as more of a return to the thoughtless and unselfish person.

"Now that's the side of you I've missed seeing. How has Tara taken their reunion?"

That's when he drops the bombshell, "They haven't seen each other yet. So I'm going to surprise Tara. I left Janet with Olivia so they could catch up. I came here for a couple of reasons. One, I need some fresh, clean clothes. Two, I was hoping you would watch CJ in case this doesn't go as planned."

"I won't ever turn down free time with my grandbaby. So go ahead and get cleaned up and call Tara. Suppose I may make a suggestion. Take your car; that way, she doesn't have an escape by marching out on her friend. I'm proud of you," Lorraine says with a hand resting over Cory's.

Cory gets up with a smile and walks to his bedroom, getting a change of clothes from a basket and making his way to the bathroom. It takes him nearly twenty minutes to get cleaned up and trim his beard. At the kitchen table, Lorraine calls Olivia to see how things are going with Janet.

"Hey! I can't talk long; I have company," Olivia says, answering the phone.

"I've heard! Cory showed up and told me all about your very special guest. That boy still has the ability to hit a home run out of a curveball. I called to see how it's going with you and her; Janet is her name, right?"

Olivia giggles, and Lorraine can hear Janet also giggling in the background, "It's been wonderful catching up with someone who I considered a second daughter. Janet was telling me about her job and her two little ones. Goodness to gracious I've dreamed about this day."

"I'm beyond happy to hear that. I won't hold you up, but I want to meet this young woman before she leaves."

"Janet's last night here; I'm going to have a southern-style supper that'll be big enough to think it's Thanksgiving!"

"Terrific! I'll let you go and wait for Tara to arrive with CJ. Have a good visit, and I'll see you soon. Bye," Lorraine says and clicks the power button on the phone.

Cory returns to the kitchen table and begins to text Tara.

Hey. I'm home, and I'm at my mother's house. Bring CJ, and let's go out. – Hard Core

I'm at work for another hour. When I leave, I'll bring CJ and drop him off there. I don't hope you mind driving because I feel dead on my feet. – Tara Rose

That I can do! I was planning on driving anyway. I'll see you when you get here. Maybe we'll go out to eat instead. I'll call Lloyd, Simon, and Rick and have them meet us at Applebee's – Hard Core

Okay, so I will see you later. I love you – Tara Hope

I love you too – Hard Core

Right after Cory sends the final text to Tara, he sends a group message.

Hey guys! I am finally home. We're doing dinner at 'Bee's, and I need all of you there for Tara. I have a surprise for her. – Hard Core

Welcome home! – Slick Rick

Nice to have you home. – Mayor Trippet

I hope you had a safe trip. – Simon Trippet-ish

I'll text this group when Tara gets here. It's good to be home, and I feel like a new man – Hard Core

Sounds good; we will see you soon! – Mayor Trippet

Count me in! A free meal and a chance to have a drink with friends doesn't make me feel so alone. – Slick Rick

Awe, Ricky, you're never alone with us. We love you like family. – Simon Trippet-ish

Yeah! If you need anything, you can always text or call – Hard Core

Rick! Do you need an intervention? – Mayor Trippet

No, I just feel alone at times. It's nothing to worry over. I will see you all at dinner. – Slick Rick

We'll discuss it at dinner see you then, guys! – Hard Core

The messages stop, and Cory spends time helping to clean his mother's house. Keeping himself busy, Cory doesn't stop so that time doesn't feel like it's going slow. When Tara arrives, CJ darts inside, hugging his father, "Daddy!"

"There's my buddy! Why don't you go back to daddy's old room and look in my bag. I might have brought you something back."

CJ's eyes light up when he dashes for the back bedroom and screams when he finds his present, "Daddy got me a really cool car!" CJ says, standing at the edge of the hallway.

"That's not any cool car; that's the last generation Toyota Celica. If I can find one in good shape, that's what I'd like to get you for your first car. So, take care of that, and we'll start collecting cars," Cory explains, getting down on one knee to explain the car to his son.

"Too cool, daddy! I really, really, really love it. Not as much as I love you. Can we go drive your car around now?"

Tara, Lorraine, and Cory snicker at CJ's antics, and Cory brings him into the living room, "No. You're going to stay with grandma," he stops as an idea hits him head-on, "Yes, you can go with us. You love Applebee's, and I know grandma wants to go too. You can ride with her because mommy's going to ride with me.

CJ tries to use his cuteness to get his way with a pouty lip, but Cory sees through the trick and sticks to his word, "No. You're riding with grandma. Come on, let's go. Mom, would you care to call Mrs. Rose and have her meet us there. I need to send a message to the guys to meet us there."

Everyone begins to walk out the door, and while Cory takes CJ to his mother's car and fastens him into the booster seat, Lorraine calls to give Olivia the notion to spring Cory's plan into action.

"Hey, Tara's here, and we're about to leave. Meet us at Applebee's, and we'll sit back and watch the show unfold."

"Lorraine, I like the way you think. We'll be there shortly. Is it going to be only us?"

"No. Cory's texting his friends to have them join us. I think he believes the more people that are there, the less likely things are to explode in case things go awry."

Sharing a laugh, Cory taps his mother on the shoulder as a sign he's getting into his car with Tara already sitting in the passenger's seat. Lorraine ends the call and gets into her car to follow Cory to the restaurant.

They're the last ones to arrive other than Rick, but Cory makes sure that's done on purpose. When they walk inside, Simon gets to his feet, seeing Cory, Tara, Lorraine, and CJ being greeted by the host. They're waved and guided back to the table. Cory purposely becomes a wall keeping Tara from seeing Janet.

Knowing things could go bad, Janet's heart begins to beat so hard that the veins in her necks pulse just as hard. After a couple of deep breaths, Janet slides from the booth and hides behind Olivia. Feeling the deep erratic breathing against her back, Olivia motions Cory to step aside as she does, giving Tara and Janet a moment to stare at each other without words.

"Is it really you? Are you seriously here? Oh my God, Janet!" Tara babbles with her hands over her mouth.

"It's really me, and yes, I am here. Tara, I've missed you and felt so bad for what I said to you when we were friends. Can you ever forgive me?" Janet says with tears in her eyes.

The staring continues until Cory comes into their peripheral vision, "This is my surprise that I told you about on the phone. It took me a little sweet-talking to get her here, but Tara and your best friend need to make amends. I hated it when I was at odds with Rick, and I don't want that for you two anymore."

Out of nowhere, Tara steps over to Janet and uses one hand to nudge Cory away. Afraid of what could happen, Janet gives a hard gulp and goes for a hug. To her surprise, Tara rushes her arms around Janet's body, embraced in a tight hug as the tears fall like rain.

"God, I've missed you so much. I couldn't bring myself to try to apologize. We fought over having kids so young, and here I had my son before I got into college. I'm sorry that I am such a hypocrite," Tara says as she sobs.

"No, no, no, you don't need to be sorry. I'm sorry, I was wrong about throwing my life away all for a man. Stan couldn't keep it in his pants or stay out of jail for running dope and meth. It nearly cost me everything, even my two kids. So I busted my hump to get my GED, and I worked two jobs up until CPS threatened to take them because I was always late to appointments and such."

Tara pulls back with her hands interlocked with Janets at the mention of kids, "Two kids? Oh, I bet they're darlin's and a spittin' image of you," Tara says as her southern twang begins to return.

"They are, and I have one girl, and my youngest is my son. We live in North Little Rock, and oh my God, it is worse than it was when y'all lived there. It's sad that a twister causes the land to be more valuable after ripping property to shreds. So I'm stuck in this dinky old trailer that the roof is literally patched with duct tape and layers of cardboard," Janet explains as she takes one of her hands to swipe her hair behind her ear.

Tara and Janet scoot to the middle of the booth, finally remembering to sit down. When they make themselves comfortable, they share photos on their phones. CJ sits there with Cory as Janet locks her eyes on him.

"Your little boy is so adorable. Is that his father?" Janet asks.

"Oh yeah, that's Cory Dubois one and two. Since Cory got home from the Army, he's been great with him. They lost six years of each other's lives, so it's wonderful to see them bonding so well."

The surprise of seeing them forgive and move on so quickly leaves Simon and Lloyd wondering what's happening, "So, after all these years, you two are good, just like that?" Simon asks, snapping his fingers.

"Hell yes! Gosh, back in the day, we were closer than most sisters we knew. At one point, we could finish each others' thoughts without saying anything," Janet explains, with Lloyd seeming flustered.

"Don't you mean, finish each others' sentences?"

The expression both women shoot Lloyd speaks volumes to them as he withdraws his question, "Okay, I think I get it now, and it feels kind of creepy."

His reaction leaves Olivia and Lorraine silently chuckling, but off in the distance, the last guest arrives at the door. Rick walks in and signals to the host that he's part of the large gathering back in the corner.

"Good evening, sir. Is it only you dining tonight? I could seat you at the bar."

"No, I'm with the large party back there laughing. Thank you for the offer about the bar; maybe next time."

About six feet from the table, Rick gets a glimpse of Janet. He's blown away at the beauty of her dark hair and eyes that complement the southern sunkissed tan. But, as he stands there in his garage uniform, Janet feels him staring at her, "Um, is there something I can help you with, guy?" Janet calls out.

"That's my dude, that's my soul brother, Rick McGuiness," Cory says, getting up to give Rick a fist bump.

"Oh, okay, my bad, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance Mr. Rick."

Speechless, Rick's dragged over by Cory and keeps his eyes locked on Janet. It's the first time since Kayla that he's felt an instantaneous connection like the one he feels at that moment.

"Rick, introduce yourself, son," Lorraine mentions and gently taps him on the back of his hand.

"Yeah, Rick, that's me. I own a garage," he mutters with his eyes still locked on Janet.

Tara picks up on his reaction and smirks, "I think someone likes what he sees. Janet, he's the guy I told you about, was dating my friend, Kayla, before she died."

"Oh! I am sorry to hear about her passing."

Rick goes to say something, but nothing comes out of his mouth. So instead, Olivia speaks up on his behalf, "Kayla died several years ago. It's a subject we've all spent too much talking about, but it was such a shock when she died. Rick was her beau, and he treated her like a queen while they were together."

"Well, this may sound a bit crazy, but I can see why. Rick's a cutie, and I can see you work out," Janet mentions as she begins to blush.

"So, how did this lovely woman come to grace our presence?" Lloyd speaks up to get the ball rolling on a happier subject.

Cory starts to clap to gain everyone's attention, "That would be my doing. So, I strolled into town and convinced Janet that may be enough time had passed and healed the wounds between her and Tara. So, I paid for a rental car and had her follow me here, then set all this up with my mom and Mrs. Rose playing the middle women as ideas flew between us."

"How thoughtful and selfless of you, Cory. Bravo! I applaud your efforts to bring two best friends back together. I'm proud of you. No, scratch that last statement; WE are all proud of you. Janet, as Mayor of RiverCreek, allow me to welcome you to our humble hometown, and if there is anything you need, please don't be reluctant to ask."

As dinner goes off without a hitch, everyone warmly welcomes Janet. All Rick can do is stumble over his words for the first few hours of meeting her, but slowly, the attraction starts to build as Janet feels at home, much like Tara did when she moved to town back in high school.