New Beginning: Tortured by the Past, Haunted by the Future

Checking In and a Surprise Dinner for Station 51: Chapter 40

"Hi Mrs. Mason. How are the girls doing?" Tracie says into the phone.

"They are doing great. Madison and Grace have been such good girls today. They have been helping me all day with Marissa." She says to her. "We are just getting ready to make some dinner. Will you be home for dinner?"

"No, I'll be working a little late tonight. But I should be home before you put them to bed." Tracie says to her.

"Alright. Just make sure you stop to eat and not work so hard." Mrs. Mason says to her in a motherly tone.

Smiling, "I will and give my girls a kiss from me. Thank you again for everything." Tracie says before hanging up.

Amy looks at her and says, "Why don't we stop at the station on the way home so you can check in with Johnny and me with Mike. Since they are working a double shift."

Smiling, "I think that's a great idea. Also I think we should surprise them with dinner too." Tracie says

Amy looks at her questionably and Tracie sees the look on her face and says, "It's John's turn to cook dinner tonight. And it's not really fair to put them through that torture especially when he makes stew from a recipe he found in a car magazine."

Amy laughs and says, "I've heard all about John's stew from Mike. He says it is worse then his hamburgers. He said the last time he made it, the stew lingered for a few days after, so maybe you're right, let's save them from using the stomach pump."

Tracie laughs and says, "Yeah so why don't we stop at the market and grab a few items and just whip them up some dinner."

"What do you have in mind?" Amy asks.

"Not sure yet. I'll know when it hits me." Tracie says to Amy feeling a lot like herself again.

"Hey John isn't it your turn to cook dinner tonight?" Chet asks John as he leans into the passenger window of the squad.

"Yeah it is. I have another great recipe to try on you guys tonight too." He says as he gets out the squad, shutting the passenger door.

"Great what is it this time?" Chet asks, than in a beat, adds, "Some variation of your beef stew but instead of beef, its liver, right? Or some sort of Native American recipe that you got from your great, great grandmother or something like that right John?" Chet says in a sarcastic tone.

John gives him a dirty look and says, "No Chet I got this BEEF stew recipe from a magazine." John says, emphasizing the word 'beef'

"Great what magazine this time John? Hot Rods Are Us?" Chet says before bursting out with laughter.

John shakes his head and says, "You guys have no taste."

Tracie and Amy pull into the parking lot of the station.

"How are you going to whip up a sauce for this pasta so quickly? No less homemade?" Amy asks getting out of the SUV, shutting the passenger door and opening the back door and grabbing some grocery bags.

"I'm Italian, Amy. I was taught how to whip up a sauce very quickly. And with fresh ingredients." Tracie tells Amy with a smile on her face as she grabs the rest of the grocery bags.

"I'll leave the sauce making to you than. I can make the salad and garlic bread." Amy tells her with a smile as they head towards the side door.

As they reach the door, Marco opens it with trash in his hands, as he sees the two women, almost waking into them.

"Hi Amy, Tracie. What's all this?" Marco asks as he comes to a quick halt.

"We figured, we'd make you guys dinner since I know it's John's turn to cook." Tracie says to him. "I know he has some stew recipe he got out of one of his car magazines."