Carrie is sitting at the table at home, doing paperwork. Mickey came in, looking dejected. He sat down beside the table. �Mom?� He asked.
�What�s wrong sweetheart?� Carrie asked, concern flowing off of her.
�Nothing.� He said listlessly.
Carrie frowned. �I�m not buying.� She said firmly.
�I am just so tired�� He started.
�Mickey.� Carrie said in a warning tone.
�What?�
�Don�t lie to me. What�s really bugging you?�
Mickey looked at his hands. �It�s not something you can fix Mom.� He looked up. �You can�t run in pick me up and kiss the boo-boo to make everything better any more.�
Carrie sighed. �I know that angel. It�s you problem, and you�re the one who will ultimately have to salve. I just wanted to help.�
�I know.� Mickey smiled. �I do appreciate it.�
�Does it have anything to do with Lily Black?�
Mickey jumped. �How�d you know?�
�I�m telepathic.� She said, keeping a straight face.
�WHAT?� He asked.
�Didn�t you know?� Carrie grinned wickedly. �I can read your mind.�
�Nice try Mom.� Mickey laughed.
�How was practice?� Carrie began packing up her papers.
Mickey made a face. �Mr. Serensits nearly had heart failure.�
�AGAIN?� Carrie asked, aghast.
Mickey rolled his eyes and nodded. �An actor who shall remain unnamed spilled juice all over the light board. We had to send everyone home. Then Lily helped me take the dang thing apart, clean it out, and reassemble it.�
�That was nice of her.� Carrie said cautiously. Even though Mickey didn�t quite realize it, Carrie had long ago figured out that Mickey had a crush on Lily.
�It was the least she could do.� He mumbled.
Carrie�s eyebrow arched. �Was she the one who spilled the juice?�
�No, my dear cousin Riley spilled Lily�s juice all over the board, then had a hissy fit.�
Carrie bit her lip to keep from laughing. �Mickey�� She said reproachfully.
He sighed. �I know, I know, she�s family, we don�t speak badly about family.�
�That�s right.� Carrie began pulling things out of the shelves.
�Mom, she speaks badly of us.� He protested, helping her get things off the top shelf.
�Thank you sweetie.� She kissed his cheek. �I know she does.�
�Especially you Mom. She really doesn�t like you.�
�I know Mickey.� Carrie said in a tired tone. And she did know.
Ever since little Riley Katherine was a child, she had seemed to sense the former connection between Carrie and Austin. It was something the Horton and Reed families did not often discuss. Even after all these years, Austin and Mike, while civil and sometimes friendly to each other, were not friends. Sarah and Carrie were sisterly and affectionate, and always had been. Carrie and Austin had made peace, but Riley always viewed Carrie as a threat to her home life and happiness.
While most of the other children in Salem rejoiced when they got to go stay with Aunt Carrie and Uncle Mike (because in the complicated network of Hortons and Bradys everyone called the adults aunt or uncle) Riley would scream in outrage. Carrie did her best to ignore it. Lyssa resented Riley as the cause of pain to her mother, often a problem in her relationship with Eli. Mickey openly disliked her, as he was very protective of Carrie. Laurie delighted in joining forces with her unruly cousin. JR just worked at avoiding Riley.
Mickey sighed. There was history between Carrie, Austin, Mike and Sarah. The children never really knew what it was but it was there none the less. �Any doughnuts left?� He asked hopefully.
Carrie accepted the peace offering and nodded. �Yes, on the dining room table. Did you talk to Lily yet?�
�I tried.� He said softly. �She laughed. Thought I was joking.�
�Oh, sweetheart I�m sorry.� Carrie winced. �That�s the real reason you�re unhappy, isn�t it?�
Mickey nodded.
Carrie sighed and enveloped him in a hug. He�s taller than me! She realized in surprise. Lovingly Carrie stroked her son�s back. After a few minutes she kissed his forehead and said firmly. �Go upstairs and unwind for a bit. When you come back down dinner will be ready.�
�We�ll be the only ones here to eat it.� He predicted sourly. �JR�s still at football practice, dad�s working late tonight, Lyssa has a date, and Laurie�s eating at the Wesley�s tonight.�
�I didn�t know that.� Carrie flinched. �How does Laurie know the Wesley�s?�
The Wesleys were another mysterious family, with a connection to Mike and Carrie that their children didn�t know about. �She�s working on some project with Ethan, the son.�
�I know Ethan. He volunteers at the hospital, doesn�t he?� Carrie asked, remembering the shy young man she often saw at University Hospital.
�I think so. He�s a good guy.� Mickey commented. �See ya later Mom.�
She hugged him again, wishing she could take all the hurt away with a kiss, like she had when he was young. �But it appears I don�t have the magic touch any more.� Carrie grinned. �I bet a kiss from Lily would make him happy.�
She tried hard not to laugh as she remembered the play Mickey and Lily had been in during elementary school. Sleeping Beauty got stage fright, so Lily went on for her. The prince decided at the last minute that he didn�t want to kiss a girl after all, so Mickey took over the role. She still remembered the way the two kids flinched and squinted and puckered up when they had to kiss. �Things would be different now.� She thought, amused, as she set the table for two.
�Ethan is a nice guy. So what�s he doing with my bratty little sister?� Mickey had to wonder uncharitably as he climbed the stairs to his third floor/attic bedroom. He flopped down on his bed. �Who cares?� He wondered. �As long as she doesn�t bug me anymore I don�t.� Was his last coherent thought as he drifted off to sleep.
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