Gotcha. Sounds like perfect fodder for a freestyle brainstorm day. Just start listing possibilities, no matter how stupid you think they are, no matter how inappropriate for your genre. You never know when one discarded idea will lead to one that works.

Regarding the kids, as a step parent, I can tell you that my husband gets put into awkward positions when his daughter does something to make me mad, because he had a hard time choosing sides. But for me, it's hard when he didn't step in because I don't have the authority of her bio parents. She pushes my buttons and has daddy wrapped around her pinky.

Regarding the woman, do you have scenes and characters from a church? Churches can be very gossipy places. if I were trying to break up a couple in my church, I would do things like give him a hug that lasts just a couple seconds too long, within sight of some of the more gossipy church members; wink and send text messages during the sermon; pick imaginary lint off his tie?

Does that help get you started?

Cheers,
Michelle