James shook his head. "I can't help you. You've come to the wrong person. Go to someone else."

"Who?"

James offered a name. "Celine."

The Tate family was shocked. "Mr. Lambert, why Celine? How can she help us?"

"How can she help us catch the fake Dr. C and revive the Tate family?" Carly and Tracy's disdain was evident. They doubted Celine's abilities.

James insisted, "She can!"

The Tate family was again shocked.

James continued, "That's all I'm saying. I've shown you a path; what you do next is up to you." He left.

Sonia asked, "Why Celine?"

Lucy scoffed, "She's just a housewife! I don't believe she can do anything."

"We don't either," the others agreed. "At this rate, we'll have to go to Perry."

Unable to get help from James, they went to Perry's house, but the maid barred their entry. "I'm sorry, you can't enter." The Tate family, repeatedly rebuffed that day, were at their wits' end. Carly said carefully, "We need to speak with Mr. Marshall."

"Please wait. I'll inform him." The maid slammed the door shut. They waited. Ten minutes turned into thirty, with no sign of the maid. Darkness fell. Hungry and tired, the family huddled together. Carly shivered. "It's so cold."

A light drizzle started, quickly intensifying.

Sonia exclaimed, "It's going to rain! Even the heavens are against us!"

They huddled under the eaves, trying to stay dry.

Sonia blamed Tracy. "This is your fault, Tracy! Getting duped by a fake Dr. C is one thing, but you dragged the whole family down!"

Tracy was hurt but silent.

Wayne and Hazel defended her. "Mom, you can't blame Tracy entirely. Carly couldn't help either." They shifted the blame to Hayden's family.

Sonia immediately turned on Carly. "You're useless too! You're still not Mrs. Alvarez, and Alvarez won't help us. You clearly don't mean much to him!"

Carly's face paled. Hayden and Lucy retaliated, accusing Wayne's family. "How can you blame Carly?"

The two families erupted into a shouting match, on the verge of a physical fight.

Sonia shouted impatiently, "Fight! Fight! That's all you're good for! You're all useless! The 'two golden roses' of the Tate family—you're more like mud under our boots!"