Previously, On Concrete Shelves
- Cassie went to see Clifton at his home, again.
- Damien has been banned from seeing Gillian.
- Caitlyn was given a choice by Damien in order to find Danielle.
- Charlene slept with Patrick when he insisted they work through their marriage...
[.....]
[.....]
Scene One: Thurlow Cottage; James & Caitlyn's Home
“I’m so happy to see you son.” James Thurlow greeted as he hugged his son, Emmet Thurlow and took his bags. “Is Iris going to be joining us this christmas? You didn’t call ahead so we didn’t prepare an extra room.”
“I prepared one while you were away!” Caitlyn Thurlow spoke, pushing past James and giving Emmet a kiss on the cheek. “I hope the two of you worked through your problems.”
Emmet shook his head. “Iris chose to stay back in Sunset Valley. I think she feels embarrassed with the whole thing that happened during the Founder’s Ball. Besides we aren’t exactly all patched up.”
“Did you talk about what was bothering her?” Caitlyn asked.
James wrapped his arms around his wife. “Caitlyn, let’s not press the boy. He just got home, you look hungry, did you eat anything on the flight over?”
“I’ll fix you something to eat!” Caitlyn spoke up as if it was her idea. She hugged Emmet one more time and then headed into the kitchen to make lunch for the family.
This gave James and Emmet time to talk about Iris. Offering Emmet a seat in the living room, James poured two glass of scotch. One for each man. But Emmet kindly declined. “What happened to Iris?”
“Honestly?” Emmet replies. “She has never really had a family and I don’t think she is too fond of surprises. I think next time I pop the question I will inform her before hand. I really love her dad.”
James smirked. “Then keep chasing.”
Emmet nodded in agreement and then motioned for his bags. “I think I’ll go and put my things in the spare room.”
As he watched his son go, James could only think of one thing. “Hey Emmet,” He called. When Emmet turned around, James smirked. “I’m glad that you are home for the holidays son.”
[.....]
Scene Two: Hollyoak Manor; Patrick & Charlene's Home
“I feel rushed every year.” Charlene Sutton complained as she dashed down the stairs of her home. Slipping into the family room she scurried to the gin, which was close to her favorite chair.
“Ease up on the alcohol.” Patrick Sutton suggested, receiving a scowl from his wife. “Have you seen your daughter lately?”
His wife raised her eyebrow. “Always my daughter when she does something horrible. If you really want to know, I haven’t seen her since last night. Want me to send someone up to her room?”
Patrick dismissed the idea, instead he walked over to his wife and took her into his grips. “This christmas is going to be the best christmas we have ever had. Just trust me, okay?”
“Is Charlie invited?”
There was a long pause between the two, Charlene knew it was a stretch to ask. But she figured since they were re-building their marriage now that things would change. Somehow she thought the holidays would soften Patrick up.
“If you want him to be here, then he should be here.”
Charlene’s face lit up. “Really?”
Patrick shook his head just as their daughter, Gillian Sutton climbed down the stairs and into the room. “Can I have a moment with the two of you?”
They looked at her with pride, Patrick’s hand around his wife’s waist. “We were wondering when you were coming down. We’d like to spend the holiday with you, if you don’t mind sticking around?”
Gillian’s face fell. “Would you give me another option?”
“No.” Patrick shot back.
Gillian grumbled, folded her arms and then pursed her lips. “Well then maybe I get permission to go out and buy Megan one more gift? Is Charlie coming to dinner tonight with his family?”
Charlene shook her head yes, but Patrick stood cold. “We haven’t called him yet.”
“Go along Gillian, be back by noon.” Charlene spoke, mostly trying to balance the harshness of her husband’s words. She turned to Patrick when Gillian left and silently scolded him.
Patrick pushed his lips against Charlene’s to avoid further confrontation.
[.....]
Scene Three: Clifton & Audrey's Home
This wasn’t a war.
Those words had been coaching Audrey Briggs for the last three days as she silently told them to herself in the mirror. Looking at her wedding ring, she was tempted to slide it off and throw it out the window.
But she decided against it.
The front door closed, echoing through out the house. With a clenched jaw she made her way downstairs. “Where did you go?”
Clifton looked up at his wife, caught off guard. “Excuse me?”
Her thin arms found their way onto her hips. “I asked you where you went this morning. You left without even telling me. It’s Christmas Clifton, you should be home with me! Not with some-”
The words almost came out of her mouth and she had to put her hand to her forehead to stop them from doing so. She wasn’t crazy, she saw how Clifton had been acting the last couple weeks. Watching his every step.
Clifton cocked his head at his wife. “Not with some what Audrey?”
Audrey just looked at her husband, his face so trusting. She hadn’t been imaging this, she knew that. Clifton spent way more time than usual away from the house. That tramp from the strip-club was coming over asking for money.
At least she assumed that Cassie Lakhani was asking for money. “It doesn’t matter.” Audrey spoke, breaking the silence that was building between the two. She regained her composure.
But Clifton wasn’t having it. “No. Audrey something is bothering you, so please tell me what is wrong.”
She knew he would keep pestering her until she broke down. That is what Clifton Briggs did. He made sure that everything was out of Audrey’s system all the anger and the stress. He took care of her.
“Have you been cheating on me?”
Clifton was taken back, this Audrey could sense.
“Cheating? What! No Audrey I haven’t been cheating on you.” Clifton spoke, he walked closer to his wife but she took a couple steps back. “Audrey I love you. There will never be anybody else.”
Wanting to give into his touch, Audrey’s lips quivered. “What about Cassie Lakhani? Why is she always getting your attention? Is it because she is pregnant Clifton? Is that why you feel sorry for her?”
Clifton took a deep gulp. He wanted to tell her it was because Cassie was carrying his child. But he couldn’t do that to Audrey. For years they had tried to conceive a child. For years all Audrey wanted was a baby of her own.
“Cassie is alone.” Clifton spoke, licking his lips. “She doesn’t have her family in town and the man she slept with isn’t going to help her raise the baby. She is my employee,” he wanted to cringe at lying about employing Cassie, but he kept mum. “I’ve just been helping her out financially.”
Audrey finally let out her breath and hugged Clifton. “I don’t know what has gotten into me.”
“It’s fine Audrey.” Clifton soothed his wife, rubbing her back. “I love you Audrey and one day we will start a family of our own. When that happens I want you to know that I will take care of our family.”
“I know.”
Clifton lifted Audrey’s face to his and planted a kiss on her lips. “How about we get away for the weekend? Go see your family and just get away from Stone Creek for the holidays?”
Audrey shook her head in agreement. “I’ll go pack our bags.”
---
Our love. Our fights. Our friendships.
On Concrete Shelves.
Forever, they shall be remembered.
---
Scene Four: Thurlow Cottage; James & Caitlyn's Home
Charlie Sutton walked into the house to cheers and greetings as he carried his daughter, Megan Sutton. “Merry Christmas Thurlow family!” He greeted, putting his daughter down and watching as she ran to her aunt Marina Thurlow.
“It’s nice to see you.” Marina chimed, she pulled away from the little girl. “How about we go raid the kitchen for cookies?”
The proposition was a little more than Megan could take as she turned to her father who nodded his head in approval. “Just don’t eat too much before dinner, okay?”
“Okay daddy!” Megan screamed.
Charlie found his attention on his father-in-law, James Thurlow. “Merry Christmas James. Thank you for inviting us today, it really means a lot to be here to celebrate with my family.”
James shook Charlie’s hand. “You are my daughter’s husband. That little girl in the kitchen is my granddaughter. I have found that feuds and grudges are things you don’t hold during the holidays.”
“I wish my father had your point-of-view.”
“Your father is a very interesting man.” James replied.
“Everything is set for tonight’s dinner.” Caitlyn Thurlow spoke, entering the hallway. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Charlie talking to James. “I didn’t even hear you come in. Where is Megan?”
“The kitchen with Marina eating all your cookies.” James spoke, pointing Caitlyn towards the kitchen. “I was just telling Charlie that we are happy to have him here for the holidays.”
Caitlyn took Charlie’s hand. “We truly are.” She then looked around. “Where is Kirsten? Did she come with you?”
Charlie shook his head. “As you all know, Adrian Stone is back in town and he is currently renting the apartment over Alice’s Haven. They are filling out the last of the paperwork.”
“But she will be here later, correct?”
“Yes.”
Caitlyn smiled. “Good. But right now I have to run a couple more errands. I somehow misjudged the amount of food I needed for tonight so I am off to the store.”
“Hold up!” James called before his wife could leave. Caitlyn turned to James. “It’s Christmas Eve, everyone is closed at this time. Do you think we can compromise for dinner?”
“This is very important.” Caitlyn replied, she looked at Charlie. “How about you boys get the fire started, have Megan and Marina start decorating the tree. I want this christmas to be a whole new start for us.”
“Are you okay?” James asked.
Caitlyn nodded. “I will be.”
With that she left the house leaving Charlie and James to look at each other in confusion. Something was definitely going on with Caitlyn, but James knew that right now wasn’t the time to figure it out.
[.....]
Scene Five: Old Granger Manor; Damien's Home
Damien Crenshaw stared out the frost covered window. Had he meant to spend the holidays alone in the Old Granger Manor? He didn’t know. All Damien knew was that he was alone.
Gillian was off with her family.
The moment she wanted to introduce him to her family, Damien knew things were going to go down hill. He never predicted her to be so angry towards her family. She wanted to prove a point.
But the truth was Gillian Sutton is a little naive.
Right now instead of spending the holidays with him in their secret little castle she was with her family. Scared of disobeying her father. She was his princess and it annoyed Damien to no end.
Now he was alone. Without anybody. Staring out the frost covered window. The only other person he could call was Caitlyn Thurlow but he already did and she wasn’t answering.
Damien grabbed the nearest item and slammed it against a wall.
[.....]
Scene Six: Sage Garden's; Alice's Haven Cafe
Gillian Sutton looked up at her waitress. “What are you doing in a place like this on Christmas Eve?”
The girl shrugged. “Honestly? Once you don’t have such a big family the holidays just don’t seem that important anymore.” Gillian looked up at her. “It’s nothing to feel bad about. The paycheck is good for days like today.”
The only thing Gillian could do was smile. “What’s your name?”
“Abigail Jenkins.” The girl introduced herself, poured Gillian another cup of water and then excused herself from the table.
Gillian was left to feel sorry for the girl, she never really knew what it was like to not have family. She spent most holidays away from her family that it just seemed so unimportant.
“Gillian?” A voice asked, slipping into the cafe. Gillian turned to see Caitlyn Thurlow standing in the doorway. “I was sent by someone you really would like to see to give you a very special present.”
The idea of Caitlyn’s offer intrigued the younger woman.
Caitlyn sat down in front of Gillian. “Damien sent me.”
Gillian’s eyes bulged. “Why would he send his ex. wife with a present for me? And why would you agree to anything he says?”
“It’s not important.” Caitlyn waved it off. “Look I’m sorry for everything that you are going through. But I just need to give you this so that I can go back to my family and enjoy this wonderful holiday.”
Caitlyn handed Gillian the box. “I would love to stay here and see what exactly it is but I have to get back home. Well first I have to find some food to take back home since I used that as an excuse.”
Gillian waved Caitlyn off and looked at the box. “Thank you.”
She didn’t know what to do. Staring at the box she felt like crying. This is why Gillian was in love with Damien. Because no matter what was going on, he worried about her. He wanted her to know he was still thinking of her.
“What’s that?” Abigail asked, from behind Gillian.
Gillian shook her head. “It’s from my fiance.”
“Well what are you waiting for?” Abigail beamed, she sat next to Gillian. “Open it! I’m sure it’s a ring.”
Gillian looked at Abigail.
[.....]
Scene Seven: Clifton & Audrey's Home
Audrey Briggs checked her phone once more, there was so much emotion in the day that she forgot to answer her phone when it rang. Pacing the room she knew she didn’t have much time before Clifton got back from the bank.
She rubbed her neck.
Did she really buy that Clifton wasn’t having an affair? She told herself that she knew the truth she just didn’t think that he would lie to her. Slipping into her sweater, Audrey lowered the phone and looked around the room.
Though she needed more proof, there wasn’t much time to get any. Then her phone rung again, this distracted her. Looking at the device she took a moment before she answered it. “I thought you wouldn’t call back.”
The voice on the other end seemed so calm about things, like if they had already had the information that Audrey was looking for. Slowly she finished up her packing as they both talked. It was enough to keep Audrey calm.
“I’ll call you back when I’m in town.” She insisted before hanging up.
“Call who back?” Clifton Briggs asked from the doorway.
Audrey turned around, petrified. “You scared me!”
Clifton watched as she broke into a smile and wrapped her arms around him. “Who were you talking to on the phone?” He asked.
His wife pulled away and looked at him. “It was Caitlyn Thurlow, she invited us to the Christmas dinner at the cottage,” although he didn’t seem convinced, Audrey kept going, “I told her we were headed out of town.”
Clifton nodded his head. “Well then, let’s get going?”
“Okay.” Audrey smiled waiting for Clifton to turn away so she could regain her composure.
[......]
Scene Eight: Thurlow Cottage; James & Caitlyn's Home
“Hey, Kirsten when you get this message can you please call me back?” Charlie Sutton spoke, the impatient’s was implied in his tone. Hanging up the phone he joined the rest of the Thurlow family and friends in the living room.
He smiled as Daphne Wilkinson appeared at his side and mentioned how big Megan was getting. “Sometimes I don’t even recognize her.” Charlie added, “She starts preschool in the spring.”
“You must be so proud of her.” Gideon Wilkinson added, standing by his wife’s side. Charlie nodded in agreement. “Did you manage to get a hold of Kirsten yet?”
Daphne looked around the room and noticed the younger woman missing. “Yes, where is Kirsten? She isn’t one to miss a family function. Was there a problem at the Cafe?”
“She’s on her way.” Charlie reassured the two and excused himself when Marina Thurlow caught his attention. “Hey Marina, I was wondering if you had seen or talked to your sister lately?”
Marina chuckled. “I’m not the first person Kirsten turns to.” She noticed Charlie looked worried and offered him a comforting hug. “Don’t worry, Kirsten will be here soon. She probably has some huge surprise to show everyone.”
“Right.”
[.....]
Scene Nine: Sage Garden's; Apartment above Alice's Haven Cafe
Kirsten helped Adrian Stone put the last of his things into the apartment above Alice’s Haven Cafe. She noticed that he didn’t have much stuff in the first place, just a couple of boxes of clothes, knick-knacks and a tv.
She made a mental not to bring him some of her shelves and utensils from the storage that she owned. There had been ten years missed between the two friends and it felt good to finally catch-up.
Even about the bad stuff and how he felt about Gail Schmidt. Kirsten made sure to tip-toe around the emotions with Gail. They had spent most of the day together that when she finally looked at Charlie’s voicemail she noticed the time.
“Crap!”
Adrian looked at Kirsten. “You break a nail?”
She rolled her eyes. “No, even worse. I’m late for the Christmas dinner.”
“The annual Thurlow Christmas dinner?” Kirsten shook her head. “That is an emergency! If you want I can get the rest of this stuff settled in so you can go see the family.”
“Alright,” She spoke, giving him a hug. Then a thought hit her. “What are you going to do for the holidays? Last I heard your parents moved to Sunset Valley. I don’t think the Schmidt’s are gunna be inviting this year.”
Adrian shrugged.
“Come to my parent’s place? At least for dinner tonight.”
[.....]
Scene Ten: Hollyoak Manor; Patrick & Charlene's Home
There was silence.
That was all that Charlene Sutton could think about as her fork scraped against the porcelain plate. There was a moment when she wanted to think of what Kevin Saunders was doing.
But while her daughter, Gillian Sutton was present, she wouldn’t allow the thought to settle in and breed into more. “So how was Sage Garden’s at this time of the year?” She asked Gillian. “I bet it looked remarkable.”
“Do you never venture downtown mother?” Gillian shot back.
Charlene put her head down. “I don’t have the time to go downtown these days.” Unless Kevin Saunder’s sent her a text message, then she would be at the Langford Willow Inn.
“Where’s Charlie?” Gillian slandered, glaring at her father. “Did he ever answer your phone call daddy?”
“I called him.” Charlene answered.
Gillian poked at her food. “I guess he found somewhere else to be. How does that make you feel daddy? Charlie should be here with us eating dinner but yet he would rather hang around the Thurlow’s.”
Charlene knew where Gillian was going, out of the corner of her eye she looked at Patrick Sutton who was taking the whole conversation in but his eyes were locked on Gillian.
“I think that is enough.” Charlene finally spoke, this caught Gillian’s attention and Charlene knew she was in for a wrath.
“I saw Megan the other day.” Gillian bit.
There it all went, Charlene could feel her face flush red with guilt. She hadn’t seen Megan in months and that was only because she snagged sometime after an afternoon of sex with Kevin.
“She is getting so big, she is becoming her own person unlike some people I know. A great big personality, she is so honest, so nice.” Gillian knew she was getting somewhere. The anger that was building up inside of her mother was about to be shown.
“Get the hell out of my house.” Patrick Sutton seethed.
This caught everyone in the room off-guard as his wife and daughter turned to him. “What?” Gillian gasped.
“You heard me!” Patrick roared, “How dare you come back to town and act like you know what is going on in this family. You’ve been gone for years Gillian. You attacking your mother that way, making her feel guilty.”
“She doesn’t have to be guilty if you would let her see Megan.” Gillian barked, getting up from her seat. She threw her cloth napkin on the table and turned to her mother. “When you are through listening to this neanderthal, I’ll be at the Old Granger Manor.”
Charlene opened her mouth to plead Gillian to stay, but Patrick beat her to the punch. “Go ahead, get out of my house! You’re nothing but a spoiled little brat and I am ashamed of the way I raised you!”
“You didn’t raise me!” Gillian shouted, “I was raised by three different nannies!” With her final words, as uneducated as they were she left. Leaving a bitting awkwardness behind to fall upon her parents.
“I’m sorry.” Patrick spoke, he patted Charlene’s shoulder, but she tugged away. “What’s the matter with you?”
Charlene got up. “I can’t do this. I can’t watch as you push both of our children away! Do you listen to yourself when you speak Patrick? I can’t stay here anymore because that means I support the way you treat them and I certainly do not support that!”
Grabbing her bottle of champagne she charged upstairs, grasping her phone and texting Kevin Saunders. She needed to pack her stuff and she needed to wrap her arms around Kevin’s body.
[.....]
Scene Eleven: Thurlow Cottage; James & Caitlyn's Home
The laughter erupted through the room. “Do you remember when Marina decided she wanted to be a journalist?” Emmet Thurlow recalled, pointing his fork towards his father who nodded along.
“She called her journalism teacher a neanderthal because he said nobody was interested in comments from the woman’s soccer team.” Cassie Lakhani spoke, with a couple giggles.
“He was a neanderthal!” Marina huffed. She leaned against her best friend Cassie Lakhani as the group reminded her what happened after the accusation. Cassie Lakhani nudged her back playfully.
Across from the two sat Greta Wilkinson and her boyfriend Miles Fowler who seemed amused and impressed by Marina’s alleged outburst. The two leaned against each other, Greta caught her mother’s eye who nodded her approval of Miles Fowler.
Greta smiled.
“Do you remember when Kirsten petitioned for healthier food in the cafeteria?” Marina bellowed, trying to ease the attention off of her, Marina kept stealing glances at her step-mother Caitlyn Thurlow.
She didn’t know how to approach Caitlyn on the article that her boss wanted her to write.
“I signed that petition!” Greta spoke, getting a nudge from Miles. “I was a starter vegan at the time and I thought greener foods would help me stop craving hamburgers and slices of pizza.”
“Did it work?” Emily Roscoe asked, she was seated next to Bentley as his date to the event.
Bentley burst into laughter. “No! The petition never went through, the school thought some of Kirsten’s tactics were against the school rules.”
Emily looked confused. Greta filled her in. “She brought rats to school. That day during lunch was the craziest day I had ever been apart of at Stone Creek High.”
“It was a good proposition though.” James Thurlow spoke proudly of his oldest daughter, he looked to the window where he could see the drive-way clearly, two figures seemed to be approaching.
“That alone was enough to make me pledge as a full time vegan.” Greta spoke, just as James excused himself from the table. This caught few of the guests attention as they went on to recall greater memories.
Opening the door James looked at his oldest daughter and then looked at Adrian Stone, sternly. “He has no other place to go.” Kirsten pointed out.
“I thought you were never going to show up.” James spoke, letting the two of them in and giving Adrian Stone another look over. “Your husband has been worried sick all day.” The last sentence was to give Kirsten warning of her newest charity case.
“There’s room for both of you at the dinner table.” Caitlyn Thurlow greeted from the doorway, she let Kirsten and Adrian walk inside the dinning room, hugging both of them and then she looked at James sternly.
“It’s Christmas,” Caitlyn walked over to James and gave him a hug. “If I can’t spend it with my daughter, then I would like to spend it with as many people that I love.”
[.....]
Scene Twelve: Old Granger Manor; Damien's Home
Damien Crenshaw didn’t know who was at his door but he was certain they would pay for distracting him at this time of night. Slipping on his slippers he pulled open the front door to the Old Granger Manor and was surprised to see Gillian Sutton standing in the cold.
“What are you doing here?”
Gillian broke down in tears. “I had a huge fight with my father, I need somewhere to go. I couldn’t go stay with my brother, I think Kirsten is still uneasy about me. I got your present today.”
Damien looked down at the shining ring on her finger. “How did you like it?”
“It’s beautiful.” Gillian expressed, she then looked beyond Damien. “Can I come in? I just want to lay my body against yours. It feels like it has been so long since I felt safe in your arms.”
Her fiance nodded his head. “Come in.”
“Thanks.” She spoke, closing the door behind her. As the two stood in front of each other Gillian pressed her lips against his and began what would be a long night of reconciliation between the two.
Damien was turned on knowing he was bedding one of his enemies daughter’s.
[.....]
Next Time, On Concrete Shelves
- Kevin and Charlene re-connect.
- Emily let’s Bentley on to one of her secrets.
- Charlie feels uneasy with Adrian Stone around.
- Adrian apologizes to Gail...
