Sorry, guys, a SNAFU - attached the wrong file for Chapter 9 - hopefully now corrected, thanks Lazeez and those who mailed me! DD
I've fouled up. Mea Culpa. I wrote and posted the original "Taking My Spring Break in New England" too quickly and without thinking it through. I wrote myself into a corner, and, quite rightly, a lot of you called me on it.
After a lot of thinking, I've decided to edit and repost most of the story so far, and then I'll do a few sequels with different endings, to see how they score. One will be BTB, another 'reconciliation at all costs', and a third something in between. I hope too that some of you will have a go at writing your own endings; I'd be thrilled if you'd add them to the Universe.
Apologies to those I've disappointed; this is the first time I've written and posted something so quickly. Thanks to all those who took the trouble to comment or email; I very much appreciate your input.
DD