Schuyler Square Day 129

"I don't know," Veronica told her boyfriend, Tom. "Things have been pretty calm here lately. Do you suppose it's possible that life in Schuyler Square is finally becoming more normal?"

Tom looked at her grimly. "Have you forgotten about the man who claims to be my daughter's father and who is coming back to live here?"

Ooops. Veronica had almost forgotten about Vlad. She didn't want to say anything to Tom, but questions about paternity were pretty small potatoes compared to the other acts of murder and mayhem that had been happening in Schuyler Square over the past few months. "Have you heard from Vlad again?"

Tom shook his head. "Not since that letter he sent Tiffany."

"How is Tiffany?"

"Scared. Angry. Frustrated. She's put back on all the weight she lost. Whenever she gets upset, Tiffany eats."

"Emotional eating," Veronica sympathized. "I know all about it."

"I'm thinking of taking Tiffany and moving away. We don't need this crap going on in our lives. We could move to Chicago or New York or Nome, Alaska if we want to."

"Tom, how would that solve anything? If Vlad really is Tiffany's father, that's the truth and there's not a whole lot you can do about it."

Tom glared at her. "Thanks for all your support."

"Don't get mad at me. I'm trying to help you out. All I'm saying is that you need to be realistic about the possibilty that someone else fathered Tiffany."

"That doesn't help me out," Tom informed her. "It makes me feel even worse."

This conversation was rapidly going downhill. "Let's go out to dinner," Veronica suggested. "Let's go to the Schuyler Square Country Club."

"You know I'm not a member."

"Well, neither am I but they have good food and it will be nice to get out and do something. We can talk about your options over a steak and maybe things will look a little brighter."

Reluctantly, Tom got to his feet. "I don't really feel like going out but you're probably right."

"I know I'm right. We can have a drink at the bar first," Veronica suggested. "Who knows? Maybe we'll run into someone we know there and they can join us."

"Maybe we'll really luck out and we won't see anyone we know," Tom replied.