Previously, On Concrete Shelves
- Cassie Lakhani slept with Clifton Briggs while intoxicated.
- Ryan broke up with Marina Thurlow because of Ian.
- Patrick asked Kevin to investigate Abigail.
- Gillian was kicked out of her father’s house...
[.....]
[.....]
Scene One:
Harper Smites; Deborah's Office.
“How are you feeling now?” Deborah Nelson asked as she sat across from Marina Thurlow. It was a question that Deborah had made a hobby of perfecting. With each session she had spent longer time examining each syllable.
Her pen etching the perfect analogy, her eyes moving from Marina Thurlow--who was planted on a couch--back to the notebook that she had in her hands. It always fascinated her the different ways her clients answered this one question.
The different tones. The reasons, or lack of reasons why they felt the way that they did. Deborah had studied psychology for many years before she settled back down in Stone Creek.
Never satisfied with what was in front of her. “Which emotion is strongest at the current moment.”
Marina Thurlow bit her lip at the questions, she couldn’t quite pull out the words she wanted to say and Deborah could see her struggling, but Deborah didn’t back down. She wanted Marina to break through her guards.
“I’m feeling confused.” Marina finally spoke, taking a deep breath. “I don’t really know what to think. Everything just feels like it’s being forced right now. Like I’ve been stalling to find an answer.”
Deborah smiled, she knew where this was going. “That’s perfectly natural.”
“Is it?” Marina questioned. “Everyone hates me right now and I don’t know how to react to that.”
A frown formed on Deborah’s face. “What causes you to think everyone ‘hates you’ as you’ve so generously stated.”
Marina sat up from the couch, but Deborah simply gestured for Marina to lay back down and relax. She did as she was told. “You’ve read the newspaper Dr. Nelson, clearly you know why they are mad at me.”
This was true. The article about Caitlyn Thurlow and her missing daughter was exquisite but at the same time was exactly like airing out Caitlyn’s dirty laundry. The anger behind the article was a certain stain on Caitlyn’s reputation.
“Caitlyn has every right to be mad at me. I wasn’t thinking clearly about the consequences of my actions.” Deborah scribbled down a few choice words and then rested the pen on her notebook. “How do I balance both the newspaper and my family?”
This was the perfect time, Deborah Nelson licked her lips. “It’s time to end today’s session Marina. I think you’ve given yourself quite a few things to think about. Maybe next time we can discuss this balance issue of yours?”
There was a nagging feeling in Marina’s chest, as if she wouldn’t have time to stop thinking about the issue. As if she wouldn’t be getting any sleep until her next meeting. “Thanks.”
“I’ll see you next week.”
[.....]
Scene Two:
Outside of Harper Smites.
“How does she do it?” Marina Thurlow questioned out loud as she met her best friend, Cassie Lakhani in the lobby. “How does Deborah Nelson manage to make me feel worse leaving my sessions then when I go in?”
Cassie hummed. “I told you, you don’t need therapy.”
Marina brushed Cassie’s advice away. “I’ve been going to Deborah since I was ten. My father is practically brother’s with her husband Frank, especially since they are in business together.”
“I know this.” Cassie reminded her. The women both slipped out of the building and into the street. Although it was mid winter, the sun was out today. The breeze, although biting, was not as strong as it had been lately.
Mostly due to ‘global warming’ as Marina had so nicely put it last weekend. Cassie Lakhani fished out her keys and looked at Cassie. “I think after a session like today with that woman you need a drink.”
“She advices me to stay away from alcohol.” Marina scowled just a little bit.
Thinking it over, Cassie smirked. “Then coffee it is.”
“That is pretty much the same poison!” Cassie unlocked the car and the two jumped in, their destination: Alice’s Haven Cafe. “You can’t cure depression with a hot cup of coffee.”
“We can try!” Cassie bellowed over the Lady Gaga song playing on the radio.
[.....]
Scene Three:
745 W. Lavender St., Stone Creek. “Old Granger Manor”
Damien & Gillian's Home.
Gillian couldn’t believe another year was gone, she stretched her body out over the bed, mostly to see if Damien Crenshaw was still there. But partially because her body had slept a whole twelve hours and needed the stretch.
Since she was kicked out of the Hollyoak Manor, Gillian spent most of her days in bed with Damien. This included New Years as the couple decided to ring in the new year alone, polishing off three bottles of champagne.
She smiled at the memory of them making love. Was this everything that she had wished for? Last year she told herself she needed change. Then she met Damien Crenshaw, enduring three months of courtship by him before they finally got engaged.
Gillian sat up in their bed, returning to the fact that Damien was not in it. She frowned ever so dramatically as she looked around the room. His boots were missing as well, she gathered.
Then there was a buzzing noise, darting for her phone she flipped it open. “Damien, where are you?” Sitting back up in bed, Gillian silently grumbled to herself. “Hello Abby, no it’s fine I just woke up.”
A part of her wanted to hang up the phone with Abigail Jenkins and immediately call Damien to see where he was. But Abby proved to be Gillian’s only friend in town, especially after she failed to help Kirsten convince Patrick to give Charlie another chance.
She sighed at the mess her family was becoming. But yet it wasn’t none of her concern anymore since Patrick told her to leave. “Yes. I will meet up with you after I get ready. No I will not forget this time. My New Years was fantastic, how was yours?”
Did she really care? She didn’t know. It was still void for discussion. “Next year will be different, I promise. I’ll see you around noon Abby, I’ve got a shower to run now. Alright. Bye.”
She hung up the phone and tossed it at the foot of her bed. Then she second guessed herself and crawled over to the phone. Damien was bound to call her, Gillian knew it. She clutched the phone to her chest as she began her day.
First she needed a shower. Then she needed to find Damien Crenshaw.
---
Our love. Our fights. Our friendships.
On Concrete Shelves.
Forever, they shall be remembered.
---
Scene Four:
Joplin & Maverick Law Firms; Kevin's Office.
When Kevin Saunders wasn’t off locking himself up in his house with Charlene Sutton, he was at work receiving calls from Patrick Sutton. The stress was beginning to get to him, if the abundant amount of coffee wasn’t.
“She has been spending a lot of time with your daughter.” Kevin pointed out as he looked across his desk at Patrick Sutton. He could tell the word daughter was a recent sore subject to bring up. “That could be a tip for us.”
“Gillian has nothing to do with this.” Kevin knew how right Patrick was. He kept picturing Gillian Sutton the victim of a drive-by shooting. On her way to pick up some stamps so that she could send her lover a letter. BAM!
Kevin looked out the window when he saw a bird hit the window pane and fall onto the ledge. It stumbled around before it slowly flew away. “Do you think that Abigail and Damien know about each other? Do you think they are working together on this whole thing? Trying to take you out of your company?”
Patrick squinted at the idea. “Anything is possible. But Abigail Jenkins makes such a thin little target. How can she be such a huge mastermind? Nah, it has to be that bastard behind this.”
“Then what do we do now?” Kevin asked.
Patrick sneered. “We do us a good deed Saunders. Let’s help Abigail Jenkins find her birth parents. Maybe shake a few feathers? Pull Damien Crenshaw out of the woodwork? This bastard will burn.”
There really wasn’t anymore room for backing out. Kevin leaned back in his chair as he pondered the intensity at which Patrick Sutton was reaching. What happens if Patrick finds out that Kevin has been sleeping with his wife, Charlene?
Would Patrick turn on Kevin and try to make him pay? Of course Patrick would. The man was a monster, an animal. Kevin could feel his face grow red and sweat start to perspire. Quickly he refocused his attention to Abigail Jenkins.
“I can ask Diem to look into it.” Patrick tossed the idea back at Kevin. “What do you have against Diem Joplin?”
Patrick glared at Kevin. “She is way too slimy when it comes to me. Besides, she is pretty much James Thurlow’s right arm. Diem would ruin everything we have worked at to get Damien out of town.”
Kevin opened his mouth to protest, but nothing came out. He was well aware of the Sutton and Thurlow feud. It was a major part of Stone Creek’s history, just like the Founder’s Ball. Or the tree lighting ceremony. Instead Kevin went to work on figuring out Abigail’s past.
[.....]
Scene Five:
Sage Garden's; Alice's Haven Cafe.
“I still think you need to apologize.” Cassie Lakhani spoke after sipping hot cocoa. She had objected for a more healthier option than the coffee. Especially for the baby’s sake. “Caitlyn Thurlow is your step-mother, you really hurt her feelings.”
Marina rolled her eyes. “Must you take their side?”
Stirring her coffee, Marina looked for a reason to argue against her best friend but she really couldn’t. She knew what she did to Caitlyn was horrible. How she wrote the article without even telling Caitlyn what it was about.
If Marina could take it back she would--well at least that is what she told herself. Slowly she sat back in her chair. Would she take it back? Her boss promoted her after the article was printed. Everything paid off at work.
But her personal life was a different story.
“I just think that you need to put yourself in her shoes is all.” Cassie responded, she put her hand to her stomach as she felt the baby kick. “I think this little guy agrees as well.”
Marina scrunched up her nose. “I hate when you use him against me.”
“Oh the power of guilt.” Cassie joked, the two sat in silence as Cassie waited for the baby to stop kicking. Once he did, however, she didn’t feel up to finishing her cocoa. Pushing it aside she looked up at Marina. “You’re my best friend, I love you. But sometimes you do things that make everyone upset.”
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Marina scowled.
Her friend smiled. “Actually I do.” Sticking her tongue out, she was met by a splash of Marina’s already cold coffee. Cassie screamed in shock, but a giggle followed suit. “That is not fair Marina Thurlow. That could have been hot coffee!”
Marina chuckled. “Go! Do what you need to do, I’ll meet you back at the apartment later? Maybe we can catch up on that drama show you’ve been watching?”
Cassie beamed, “Yes!”
With the promise of watching Grey’s Anatomy, Cassie Lakhani was off. But quickly was replaced with Greta Wilkinson. Marina felt her heart sink into her stomach as the two women exchanged greetings.
“He left you know.” Marina put down her coffee as she tried to register the words. “Ryan left town right before New Years. He said he had a couple things he needed to figure out.”
“D-did he say anything about me?” Marina mentally smacked herself in the head. “I mean--of course he didn’t. Greta how are you doing? Did he say when he was coming back?”
The revelation was a shock to Marina. She had spent the last two years getting to know Ryan Bauer. They had spent most nights together. Many mornings together. They had been through so much that the thought of him leaving town without telling Marina made her sad.
Marina scanned Greta Wilkinson’s face for any sign of humor.
“I don’t know.” Greta looked down at her hands. “With everything that has happened in the past couple months I don’t blame him.” She then returned her gaze upon Marina. This time Marina looked away.
“I’m sorry.” Marina responded.
Greta re-gained her composure and picked herself up from her seat across from Marina Thurlow. “You should be.” The bitterness in her words only etched the guilt further into Marina’s skull.
Quickly Greta left.
[.....]
Scene Six:
Sage Garden's
He just stood there, watching her.
There was no doubt in Clifton Briggs’ mind that she was the most beautiful woman on the planet. He made sure that he told her that every time that he saw her. Most men didn’t even remember to open a door for a woman, but Clifton did.
But right now there was something off about his wife. Well come to think of it, after they got back from their trip to see her parents, Audrey Briggs seemed out of sorts. For the most part Clifton just wrote it off. Thinking it had everything to do with Cassie Lakhani.
Audrey caught his eye and she looked surprised to see him out and about. Quickly she excused herself from the conversation with the puerto rican woman and made her way to Clifton. “I didn’t think I’d see you around here.”
Clifton’s eye lingered on the other woman as she shuffled out of view and around a corner. “The club is a couple blocks from here. I was getting some fresh air. But I think I’m heading back, this wind is starting to get cold.”
He re-focused on his wife as she wrapped her jacket tighter around her body. “What are you doing around here Audrey?”
“I was going to see you.” She answered a little too quickly. He could tell she caught on as she offered him a smile. “Let’s walk back to the nightclub together?”
Clifton nodded in agreement. “Who was that woman you were talking to?”
Audrey looked back. But the woman had completely vanished, silently she thanked god for that. “Her name is Catalina Cortez. She was lost so I helped her find the cafe. She offered me the name of a shop out of town to find beautiful rose tree’s.”
“Did she?” Clifton played along.
She nodded. “How do you feel about planting roses in our front yard?”
Although Clifton wanted to question more about this Catalina woman, Clifton knew he was grasping at straws so he dropped the subject. Instead he entwined his fingers with his wife’s. “A rose garden sounds lovely Audrey.”
“I thought so too.” She replied.
[.....]
Scene Seven:
2634 W. Parker St., Stone Creek. Callahan Condo’s #15.
Marina & Cassie's Home.
Cassie made her way to her apartment. After having to climb all the way to the third floor she felt like writing a note to her landlord about installing an elevator in the building for women in the same condition as herself.
But quickly discarded the gesture. It would mean she had to wobble back down to the first floor to give her landlord the letter. The very thought just seemed to depressing to Cassie.
Unlocking the apartment she made her way inside. But something was off. The room was covered in darkness, except for the streams of light that entered the building through the windows.
There was an uneasy feeling in the bottom of her stomach.
Looking for the light switch she turned it on. Placing her hands to her mouth she let out a small gasp and the wreckage her living room had become. Someone had been inside the apartment.
Quickly Cassie wobbled to the phone. But paused for a moment to think. What if the person that broke into their apartment was still there? She turned her back against the wall and looked around.
There was no sign of anyone still there. But she couldn’t take her chances. Cassie made her way to the doorway and grabbed her purse. Shuffling through the bag she called the only person she could think of.
[.....]
Scene Eight:
Sysphean's Restaurant.
“I didn’t expect to get an invitation like this from you.” Deborah Nelson quipped as she placed the menu down. Looking across the table at Charlene Sutton she scrunched her face. “Are you spying for your brother?”
“Do I need to?” Charlene asked, quizzically.
Deborah rolled her eyes. “What is it that you want?” There was hesitance in Charlene’s posture, Deborah was sure of it. “Well obviously it is something you want to share with me Charlene. You did invite me here.”
“I think I’m in love with someone other than my husband.” Charlene blurted out, it felt like such an easy statement to say once it was out. Although she wasn’t ready to tell the whole world, Charlene was sure she just sold her soul to the devil.
Deborah seemed all too intrigued. “Is this one of your boy toys?”
Charlene hated when Deborah called them that. Especially since the two women weren’t even friends. The only reason Charlene confided in Deborah was because unlike Frank who would order Charlene around, Deborah just listened.
“Is this one the same age as your pool boy?” Deborah asked, the server came back to the two women and Deborah ordered herself an iced tea while Charlene ordered her newest choice of a cocktail.
Deborah took note of this.
“I never had sex with my pool boy.” Charlene declared, this was an allegation that Deborah kept throwing at her for years. “He was naked when I walked in on him. I didn’t touch him at all!”
“Fine.”
Deborah watched as Charlene shuffled around in her seat. “So who is this man that you are so in love with? How long have you been seeing him? You know if Patrick finds out about this he will blow his casket.”
Charlene looked at Deborah sternly. The other woman was finding the most humor in the situation as she could. It was enough to make Charlene sick to her stomach. “We’ve been sleeping together for two years.”
“Oh Patrick would have a field day with this!” Deborah delved.
“Patrick cannot find out about this.” Charlene ordered. “Patrick cannot find out about this because I think I am going to end it with this man. I cannot stay married to Patrick and sleep with another man.”
“Keeping secrets is not good.” Deborah chastised, unfolding her napkin. “Look at your brother, he is still keeping his affair with Lucy Hahn from me and I already know that it took place.” Charlene looked uneasy. “I know you know Charlene, everybody knows!”
“While we are on the subject. Why did you hire another woman to be my brother’s secretary? If you are aware of his wandering eyes, why would you put yourself through all that worry again?” Charlene eye’d her cocktail as the server brought it to the table. “Do you like torturing yourself?”
Taking a sip of her cocktail, Charlene continued. “Is this some sort of sick game? Because if it is, then maybe you are the one who needs to stop keeping secrets. Especially the ones you are keeping from yourself.”
Deborah watched as her sister-in-law downed her cocktail right before they even started their main course.
[.....]
Scene Nine:
Sage Garden's; Alice's Haven Cafe.
“Do you ever miss them?” Gillian Sutton asked, reflecting on her current situation with her family. “I mean, do you even remember them?”
Abigail Jenkin’s shrugs. “Sometimes I have flashes of what it was like to have my birth parents be apart of my life. But mostly it is just flashes. You can’t really miss what you never truly had.”
Gillian makes a note of how sad Abigail’s situation is and then pulls her mug to her lips. “What do your adopted parents say?”
“Nothing really.” Abigail replied. “They never met my real parents. They’ve always treated me like I was their birth daughter so we don’t really discuss my adoption.” She could sense that Gillian had other things on her mind, so she tried to stir the conversation else where. “How are things with your parents?”
“Not so well.” Gillian responded. “I’m still not talking to them after Patrick kicked me out of the Hollyoak Manor. It seems so surreal, you know? Well of course you don’t. You don’t share the connection to my parents.”
“I do get it though.” Abigail replied, returning to her mug.
From the corner of his eye, Kevin Saunders watched to two women as they conversed. There was something about Abigail Jenkins’ innocence that seemed fake. Like there was a ploy between those ears of hers.
“Hey, Kirsten.” He called as the woman passed him. “That waitress of yours.”
Kirsten Sutton looked to where Kevin was pointing. A delay in her reaction as she tried to recover from Kevin’s tug. “Are you talking about Abby Jenkins? What do you want from her?”
“Has she ever mentioned anything about her family?”
Kirsten huffed. “What do you care about a strangers family? Besides that is none of your business Kevin.”
Kevin stared Kirsten down. Ever since she was a young girl, Kevin knew Kirsten to be a pain in his rear. She had thought of herself so much higher than Kevin Saunders and most people in Stone Creek.
“I’m on a case.” This caught Kirsten’s attention. “I just need some background on your waitress.”
But the owner of Alice’s Haven Cafe shook her head. “When did you go back to detective work? I thought you gave all that up to work for Joplin and Maverick?” Kirsten refocused on Abigail and Gillian.
“Has she mentioned anything or not?”
For a second, Kirsten thought of lying to Kevin about Abigail. The girl seemed so nice when Kirsten hired her that she felt she had to protect her from Kevin and anybody else. “She really doesn’t talk much about her family. Her adopted parents live in Winter Springs though.”
Kevin nods his head. “Thanks for the help.”
“Don’t do anything stupid.” Kirsten quipped, returning to her work.
[.....]
Scene Ten:
2634 W. Parker St., Stone Creek. Callahan Condo’s #15.
Marina & Cassie's Home.
Clifton rushed up to Cassie Lakhani’s apartment that she shared with Marina Thurlow. Quickly he searched the place for Cassie and found her entering the living room from the kitchen.
“There’s still a few things I need to clean up.” Cassie admitted. “But nothing is missing.”
He looked at Cassie confused. “Are you alright? When you told me somebody had broken into your apartment so many things went running through my mind. I don’t really know what to say.”
Those were questions that Cassie had also asked herself. Bending down she began to sweep up a lamp that had fallen over. But Clifton quickly ordered her away and he swept it up instead. “You need to sit down and calm your nerves.”
“I could really go for some coffee right now.” Cassie quipped as she turned to face the couch. But then something else caught her eye. Quickly she wobbled over to the coffee table and moved a shattered picture of herself and Marina out of the way.
“What is that?” Clifton asked from the kitchen door frame. He wandered over to what Cassie was holding in her hands. “Did you see who left that here? Is that Marina’s?”
Cassie shook her head violently. In Cassie’s hands was a note written directly to the young woman. It read: I know who the father of your baby is. Sincerely, Inez. Turning to Clifton Cassie shed a few tears. “What do we do now?”
Clifton felt as if he had been hit with a bag full of bricks. Not only did Inez know that Cassie was carrying Clifton Brigg’s baby, she also knew that they knew her name. Maybe Clifton wasn’t as secretive as he thought he was being.
Maybe he needed help in finding Inez. Slowly backing away from Cassie he knew he needed to come up with a plan. Clifton looked around the room. Inez was getting dangerous and she knew exactly what she was doing.
But Clifton had one question: Why was Inez doing this?
[.....]
Next Time, On Concrete Shelves
- Caitlyn has a few choice words for Marina.
- Clifton goes to Gideon for help.
- Marina uses Ian as a crutch to feel better.
- Audrey tells Cassie that she can have Clifton...
