However, Gloria begins to develop vocal problems and is forced to abandon her new show. She and Sid eventually decide to move to New York City. In 1953, new complications arise via Meta's new stepdaughter and her former roommate. During Meta's murder trial, she had gained a champion for her cause to be acquitted via City Times newspaper reporter Joseph "Joe" Roberts, Sr. who wrote a series of articles that helped get Meta acquitted. They quickly fall in love, and it is revealed that Joe has two children from a previous marriage. Katherine "Kathy" Roberts is an older teenager while her brother Joseph "Joey" Roberts, Jr., is a pre-teen. A nanny and nurse named Peggy Ashley Regan had been hired to look after the family as Kathy and Joey's mother, Joe's first wife, had died a few years earlier. Kathy and Joey had become quite fond of Peggy. But as Meta starts hanging around Joe and the household and begins dating him, Joey takes a liking to her while Kathy does not. Joe eventually desires to marry Meta, but she keeps putting him off. She explains that if both of his children are not comfortable with her being their new stepmother (i.e., Kathy), she is unwilling to proceed with a marriage. Meta escapes to New York City and to her sister Trudy and her husband Clyde to sort out her feelings. She even starts to become involved with one of Clyde's friends, Dr. Bruce Banning, who also eventually desires to marry her. Despite this, Joe follows Meta and wears down her defenses, and the two are finally married. However, they decide to keep the marriage a secret to everyone (Bill, Bert, Papa, Kathy, and Joey) with only Trudy, her bridesmaid and Clyde the best man knowing about this union. Although thrilled to be married to Joe, whom she truly loves, Meta knows that they are in for some troubles with Kathy, and Joe agrees. They decide that when they return to Selby Flats, Meta will live separately from Joe and his children until they can win Kathy over. But once they are back in the Los Angeles area, Meta struggles to get along with her. Unknown to everyone else, including Meta and Joe, Kathy has her own romantic difficulties. Kathy first becomes involved with a garage automobile mechanic several years older than her named Bob Lang. Bob Lang tries his