(CHRIS)

I had a feeling that she didn't want to go with me to California. Hell, I'm not even all that sure she wants me in the house. If we didn't have kids, I'm almost certain she wouldn't have even let me come back home. Fine, I'll go to the awards by myself and make up some excuse why my wife isn't with me. Of course that just means the tabloids will have a field day amking up their own excuses.

Or maybe Simon will decide its time to have a little fun with the paparazzi and arrange some kind of escort for me. I can show up with some pretty little thing on my arm and make everyone start speculating. Especially my wife, I think darkly. Maybe that's not such a good idea. Or maybe its just the thing to do. At least it will give her more of a reason to keep that cold shoulder turned in my direction.

That's the voice of that devil again. Damn he really wants to come out and play. I'm really going to have to watch myself while I'm away. Of course the easiest way to do that would be to invite Pam to go with me. There's no way she'd let me get away with any crap. But she's busy with the kids this weekend. And with her and Joe's reconciliation still being fairly new the last thing I want to do is screw that up. Bad enough I've managed to screw up my own marriage. Again.

I suppose I could go back into the other room and try again to convince Morgan to come along. When it comes down to it, she's really the only one I want with me at the damn award show. I could care less whether I win or lose and if it wasn't for Simon's threat that he'll kill me if I don't show up, I wouldn't even make the appearance.Damn it! Maybe I'll just see if Mom wants to get all dressed up and grace the red carpet with me. Somehow I think it will be easier to convince her than it will be to convince my stubborn wife.

Maybe I can convince myself to let this weekend be a chance for Morgan and I to have some space, a chance to think about our marriage. Absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that.

At least I hope it will.