Returning with the white and yellow wrapped gift Donny hands it to Rod instead of Debbie, or Loril who wanted to hand it over with explanation of good intent.

As Debbie is reading the third greeting card aloud and the others are being passed around Rod takes the gift turning it about, "what no card?"

Donny shrugs but nearing Loril notices she's feeling embarrassed, "I think it either fell off leaving the house or getting into the truck as I couldn't find it out there, even looked under the seat," keeping Loril content.

"Oh well," Rod shrugs not really caring

Debbie looks to Loril, "its' okay. You can bring it by another time."

Hearing what was just written in the last card from Debbie's sister Donny pushes it, "And Loril wrote such a nice poem in it."

Loril hasn't written a poem since before their accident so she elbows Donny.

"Oh can't wait," Debbie replies returning to cards, and in received order, saving wrapped gifts for last.

It takes almost an hour to read over the cards, after handed the third Loril merely looked them over and passed them to Donny who just passed them off having heard what's on them.

Finally Debbie opens gifts with cards, Donny, Loril and most are thankful only two more cards then the re-gifted present. Each one seems longer to get through for Loril dreading their reveal.

The small gifts are assorted usable baby items, all there figure Loril's gift is a baby outfit, all women are curious to how cute it'll be, which is the main reason Debbie saved it for last, "Alright and from my oldest friend Loril and her hubby Donny, this feels like a cute little outfit."

As Debbie carefully peels open the package's taped points most eyes are watching her while Loril's wishing to slink out of there. She glances at Donny with a silly high grin on his face like nothings wrong.

Peeling the paper aside Debbie remembers it right away. She recalls luvin' it and wanting to see their baby in it. She's unsure about being re-gifted her own gift, "Is this THE ONSIE I bought you." She does marvel at how it's still in the original packaging.

All eyes turning to studying her, Loril struggled to get out, "I knew how much you luved it and thought of it when you said you knew you were pregnant to me, the other day, in the store..." Able to tell the others are debating the tackiness of it Loril rambles on, "the card said it so much better... I wrote, knowing you would've luved to see what I would've loved. Knew you would luv to see your new love wearing it."

The sentiment manages to win over the crowd including Debbie, "I would, thank-you." She momentarily hugs it before passing it off to be viewed.

Doreen comes over, "That was lovely dear stand up and give me a hug."

"Thank-you Doreen," Loril takes the hug so relieved she almost cries on the woman's shoulder.

When Doreen breaks Donny whispers to Loril, "See it all worked out."

Her reply another elbow to his ribs.

Soon the mothers began talking pregnancy expectations driving the men slowly back to the basement led by Cliff and followed by Malcom. Donny stayed quietly beside Loril until Rod was ready to return to the man-cave.

Cheryl and Pattie figured Loril's uncomfortable and distract her inquiring about her poetry. She tells them it rarely happens. Learning they're involved in the local art's community it's suggested she come out when she wants. While they chat Cheryl shares with Loril having lost a child, accidental drowning at summer camp and understanding the loss is unforgettable which Loril appreciated hearing. She explains her other son now a teenager headed for University has been solemn and withdrawn ever-since loosing his brother. Pattie's recovering from Ovarian cancer and has two teens who when even there she never hears from. She admits to the ladies feeling less a woman just for loosing an organ to cancer. Another feeling Loril sometimes considers. They discuss how they deal with frustrating moments which gets the pair taking about Roller derby. Not a fan of getting roughed up herself she does like the idea of it and tells them about her encounter with Miguel.

After a couple quick hours Pattie and Cheryl have to leave and exchange numbers with Loril insisting she at least join them for a night or two with the Art community.

As the remaining ladies conversation is mainly about children Loril becomes disinterested and excuses herself to find Donny and perhaps pollute the lungs.

The stairs down lead into the man-cave, there's a wide path between the stairs and a long leather recliner sofa Cliff, and Irvin sit upon watching three large flat panel screens on the wall before them. Each screen a different game is underway in, football, soccer and basketball. Off to the side Walter's fully reclined in a Laz_I_Boy sleeping. At the bar on the other side of the room Kurt sits alone in a line of stools.

Going by scent Loril figures Donny is further back down the hall beside the bar. In passing the guys absorbed in sport Loril questions, "what no hockey."

"It's Sunday," is uttered them.

Not really caring Loril carries through to the hallway, containing three closed doors. The one at the end of the hall opens revealing a red squinty-eyed Don. Noticing Loril he nods to her opening the door to his left entering a small washroom closing the door behind and turning on a light.

A trail of smoke following Don marks the door Loril's looking for and eases over to the end door.

Beyond the door the townhouse mechanical room where Rod's allowed to smoke with the furnace, water heater and laundry machines. A running exhaust fan in the room obscures noise beyond the door however Loril hears them just fine.

"So Donny man when are you going to give us a call? The guys have it all sown up and ready," Jerry gets to their desire for a waste bin full of pot.

Slowing up at the door Loril is curious to Donny's reply and why Jerry sounds like Jeff.

Hoping to have avoided this Donny merely inquires, "what do you mean sown up?"

"Get this Donny." Rod easily coaxes Jerry to continue, "tell him guy."

"Yeah Jeff slipped into the yard of the waste collection service and fucked with a motor on one of the truck's enough it ended up in Tom's shop. They're pretending it's just waiting for a part." Jerry lights a joint in hand, "So sometime soon would be great."

Not wanting to be involved Donny's curios, "he what? I mean I could see Jeff doing something like that but kinda can't believe he did. How did he know what company it was I didn't even find that out yet. I'm sure it's who's name is painted on the side."

Hearing this does not amuse Loril and is close to opening the door and confronting them.

Rod laughs once, "Hah you'll never guess who walked into Tom's garage not five minutes after you left, but Chuck who does work there as a driver. He's only picked up there once and said the drivers pick through the top before dumping the loads. So I wrangled up company shirts and jackets for them to use."

"Them?" Donny's amazed how serious these guys are despite the goofy grins, "who's risking their ass doing this?"

Wanting that question answered Loril further restrains herself from disturbing them.

Jerry laughs a bit manically, "Me and fuckin' Jizzy Jeff since we got the time. Just need the day." He winks at Donny passing the joint.

Sighing Donny takes the joint, "look you guys are crazy I don't need to call you anyway. Damn it makes sense to me with what security said Friday after work. The waste company was short a truck and don't expect to get an empty bin until Tuesday."

Both Rod and Jerry hear the bin is full now, "what's that you say?"

"Ah no," Donny passes off the joint to Rod, "I've said enough and heard enough, okay."

"Okay," Jerry winks with a big sly grin while Rod gives a fingered okay.

Now not sure what to do Loril panics when Don flushes the washroom toilet. Needing a moment before reacting and not wanting to be caught eavesdropping she turns walking quietly past the men in the man-cave returning upstairs.

Sitting back in the front-room Loril wasn't conscious to the ladies conversations. Her mind processing moments over the past week, why Tom really gave Donny the phone, why Donny didn't want to tell her about it, why he avoided eye contact discussing that Friday night, and is Donny jeopardizing job or risking possible criminal charges. She went crazy far to protect Donny from Miguel what will she do to ensure Donny keeps his nose clean.

When Debbie's neighbors Sally and Monica decide they've had enough socializing Loril figures a perfect moment to leave and have a heart to heart with Donny. The ladies beckon their men, who despite not really wanting to go in the first place weren't fully ready to leave, but did, after the play was completed.

Loril put on her happy store worker face leaving.

Donny had a feeling Loril was only ready to go he didn't realize until entering the truck, "well there you go everything worked out well. The present was well received."

Merely starting the truck Loril checks mirrors for traffic to begin the trek home.

Her being quiet isn't out of the ordinary however Donny knows there's usually a reason, "sorry about the card and poem fib there. Seemed like they were more worried about some card than thought."

Placing the truck in drive she gets them rolling.

"Oh hey how'd your lemon squares go over, great I bet," He studies her face for any sign of recognition, "I didn't even get one, jeez rip off."

"Think you deserve one?" She mumbles loud enough for him to hear.

Now realizing it's him she has an issue with strains the brain considering possibilities. Ignoring the one where Loril overhears the buddies who got him arrested scheming to steal from his new place of employment, through his parole office, "I was realizing, perhaps a bit too late you were uncomfortable with giving the gift. Should've guessed tossing it under the seat and all. I was just trying to help you back there with the card thing. It came off the top of my head. I'm sorry for putting you on the spot."

"What about alone?" She mumbles out loud in thought and purposely referring to leaving her alone while in jail.

Donny hears different, "I'm sorry dear I thought you'd be okay with the ladies. I was right underneath you, in reality."

Not getting it she sighs and peripherally glances at him, "The card cover was appreciated. Conspiring to commit illegal acts isn't. I don't want you to end up behind bars again, is that so hard to understand?"

He attempts to play innocent with her, "Conspire? What makes you think that? First you were thinking I might be stepping out on you. Are you okay? Are you sure it's me?"

"WHAT?" She slams on the brakes jerking them both forward, "Don't you fucking dare! Don't even try that shit on me MISTER! I heard you and your scheming rat buddies in the basement."

OH! Oh-no Donny maybe you best hop out now while the truck's stopped.

An annoyed driver behind them honks urging Loril to continue on.