“I wish I was.” The two women were silent a moment as Dominique absorbed what Faith had just told her. “They’d asked if they could watch TV in Michael’s room. I said yes and once they’d gone upstairs, I started preparing dinner. When I went up to get them, I was surprised at how quiet it was in the room. Then I eased open the door and found out why.”

“They were watching videos?”

“Nikki, that’s about the only reason I didn’t totally lose my mind about this—that it was pictures they were viewing instead of a movie. But the pics were bad enough: naked women in provocative positions, some engaged in acts of self-pleasuring. I’d never seen such a mess in all my life and I’m thirty-five years old. Aaron is just as mad about it, even though he admitted it was his fault.”

“How so?”

“Last year when we got the computer for Michael, I’d asked him to set the parental controls. He got called out of town for work that same week and evidently forgot all about it.”

“Faith, I’m just shocked. I didn’t know Justin was even thinking about stuff like that yet. He’s only eleven!”

“But he’ll be twelve next month and Michael turns thirteen in two. If there was any doubt our little boys are not so little anymore... here’s the proof.”

Dominique sighed audibly, reaching toward the ignition. She started the car and backed out of the driveway. “I just worked a ten-hour day, mostly for his ungrateful behind. The last thing I want to deal with tonight is this mess. But I’m on my way.”

“Sister, it’s getting late. There’s no need to come over tonight. I’ve already put the boys on restriction—took Michael’s computer and Justin’s handheld games. Aaron gave them a good talking to as well. Justin is sleeping on the pullout in the living room and tomorrow’s trip to the Long Beach Aquarium is cancelled. They’re feeling the heat from their wrongdoing. Tomorrow will be soon enough for you to come and add your fuel to the fire. You work too hard, Nikki. Sounds like you need your rest.”

Just as Dominique ended the call, she found herself about two minutes from Jake’s house and had the immediate urge to drop by. Calling Leland would be useless, and that’s even if she was able to get through his insecure fortress of a wife. She loved her brother-in-law to death, but wasn’t sure if Aaron’s soft-spoken nature would provide the long-term deterrent she felt her son needed. But Jake could. Dominique felt sure of that. She stopped in front of his house and, seeing lights on in the living room, picked up her phone to call him. The last thing she wanted to be was an unexpected interruption.

“Jake, it’s Dominique.”