Through the Open Door || Change My Mind Sequel || SP

Christmas Prep

Friday, Dec 12, 2025

8:17 AM

Sam and Ezra sat in the doctor's office for their 6 week appointment. "Ezra! Today is the day!" Sam sang, holding her baby to her face pecking his cheeks. "Mommy is getting cleared today! And you get to show the doctor how attentive you are," she said. Ezra stared at her necklace while chewing on his hands. He was obsessed with lights and his hands. He was recognizing the people around him, but mainly Sam. And he was starting to prefer Sam over others.

"Good morning!" The doctor smiled, knocking on the door and coming in.

9:27 AM

Sam walked into the theater rehearsal space with Ezra in his car seat and a paper in hand. The girls were having a meeting and short rehearsal before the show. Cheerfully, Sam came to the table to see her friends standing around a few producers and managers. "Guys!" Sam smiled, hopping up to the table and setting her baby's car seat by her leg. Britt immediately took Ezra out of his seat while Sam slapped her paper on the table. "I'm back!" She sang. Kelly took the papers and opened up her computer.

"We are glad to have you back," she smiled. "We are going to let Courtney finish out the month and we will see you back on stage as K Howard the second week in January. So, for now rehearsals. Which means you and Baby Ezra,"

"I know. I know," Sam smiled, "we are leaving. Britt, I need him back!" Sam called.

"See you bright and early tomorrow morning," Kelly said, waving at the baby Britt was bringing back to the table.

"I can't wait," Sam smiled, strapping her son in and heading towards the door. Bye guys!" She said, picking up the car seat and heading to her car. The girls waved back and moved to their places as Sam left out to find the coffee shop she was meeting a friend at.

-

At the house, Chloey sat with the girls doing their school work, while Jax sat in his playpen playing with a few toys. Sam and Matt didn't feel comfortable with their daughters going to school yet until the entire investigation was thoroughly completed. Zeek was fine, because his campus was separate from the other part of the elementary school and the teachers had already been cleared on that side. "Is three plus five, eight?" Elora asked, staring at her paper. Chloey looked over to the kids paper to see she was counting boxes on the page.

"Yup," she smiled, pulling her long blonde hair into a ponytail. "Do you want peanut butter and jelly or grilled cheese for lunch?" Chloey asked standing up and heading into the kitchen.

"Grilled cheese!" The girls yelled. Jax would eat anything, so she grabbed a few pans and started to go to work. While she started cooking, Chloey's phone went off.

"Hello?" She answered, putting the phone on speaker and lying it on the counter.

"Hey, where's my son? I'm at your moms house," a guy the girls didn't recognize said.

"Johnny, I'm across the street. I'm babysitting. His stuff is over here waiting for you. Just swing by," she said, before hanging up as the door opened.

"Uhh, Chloey," Sam called, coming into her front door. With Ezra's car seat hooked on her arm.

"Oh, yeah. That's my baby daddy. He has Jax this weekend. He's coming to get him," she answered, finishing one sandwich, then going to grab her child and repacking his pack and play.

"Oh okay. I'm going to put Ezra down for his morning nap," Sam said, earning a weird look from the sitter.

"Wait. I thought you were supposed to be at breakfast," Chloey asked, holding Jax with one arm, while folding the device up for her ex.