Chapter 1            The sign on the "Holiday's" door read "Closed", but when Janet reached for the
     handle it gave quite easily, just like Haley said it would. Looking around in the
     darkness, she wondered if something had gone wrong with Mateo-- a relapse of
     the coma maybe-- that might have canceled the chance she'd have to update
     Hayley on the state of the restaurant.
         "Hayley? You still here?"
         Suddenly the lights flipped on. "Surprise!!" came the voices of Hayley... and
     Belinda... and Erica too. A corner of the restaurant was decorated and stacked
     high with presents.
         Janet was flabbergasted. "I-- uh-- hate to tell you all this, but... you missed my
     birthday by a few months."
         The ladies looked at each other, then back to the guest of honor. "Oh my
     goodness," Erica gushed. "Don't you know a great bridal shower when you see
     one?"
         They led her to the special table in the corner, and only then did Janet notice
     the wedding bell motif. "But Hayley, I thought you closed early so we could--"
         "So we could catch up on important business," Hayley finished her sentence.
     "Well, I think you and the Pork chop's nuptials are about as important business as
     anything I need to do around here!"
         "Come on, sweetie," Belinda coaxed, "Have a seat, pull up a piece of cake and
     let us help you celebrate."
         "I-- I don't know what to say..." Janet gasped, still in shock. "I never expected
     anything like this..." Just as the tears started rolling down her cheeks, 3 separate
     boxes of Kleenex appeared before her.
         "Trevor suggested we come prepared," Hayley explained. "Just think of it as a BYOT
     shower..."
         "Bring Your Own Tissues!" they all said simultaneously. The foursome burst into
     laughter as Janet plucked a few from each box and dabbed her eyes
     appreciatively.
         As the champagne and sparkling cider rounded the table... and a beautiful and
     sizzling array of sleep wear was unwrapped and slung over the back of Janet's
     chair... Janet had recounted the whole story since the night of the Crystal Ball.
         Belinda already knew of the promise she'd made, of course, but Erica and Hayley
     chimed in on a couple of choruses of "Oh, JANET!" Then she filled them in on her
     "sign" from Natalie. This time Hayley was the one to weep.
         "Oh, come on now, Hayley, all's well that ends well, right?" Erica asked.
         "It's just been a rough time, you know," Hayley shrugged. "I... know how important
     those signs can be when nothing else in the world makes any sense." Janet
     reached out and squeezed her hand in quiet understanding.
         "Well I know this is a shower, ladies, but we've just got far too many waterworks
     happening here!" Erica laughed. "Janet, you should tell them about the infamous
     Axel auditions. That'll put a smile on these faces."
         "You held AUDITIONS?" Belinda shrieked.
         "Oh, and there were some deusys there, let me tell you!"
         "... And as luck would have it, Trevor walked in on what was quite possibly as far
     from the real Axel as he could've been," Janet nodded, "... in both good ways
     and bad."
         "You mean to tell me there really is an Axel Green walking this earth?"
         "Hayley, believe me when I say... I have tried so hard to forget that loser of a
     husband, I could barely think of his name when I first tried to convince your uncle
     he was back in my life. Yes, he really does exist."
         "But not here anymore!"
         "Thank God!"
         "Janet and Trevor all the way!"
         The glasses clinked in unison for a delighted bride-to-be. But a sudden pounding
     on the window made all four women jump.
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