"She really is the best," Jenny replied, trailing off momentarily. She did feel bad for how short she had been with her mother lately, but really, she didn't regret it. Even a girl as patient as Jenny could only take so much smothering before she got to the end of her rope. "She's the one who got me into soap operas. What a surprise, huh? She used to have them on all day when she used to stay with me in the hospital. I think I watched more Days of our Lives and General Hospital than cartoons."

Smiling some, she gave Sam a nudge. "Plan number one, get back to school, hassle Vinnie for pastry. Agreed? Two on one, we ought to be able to take him."