Previously, On Concrete Shelves
- Caitlyn saw Damien bonding with Abigail.
- Penelope crashed into Jimmy’s Bar.
- Isobel was put on life-support.
- Diem challenged Patrick about Danielle’s Identity...
[.....]
[.....]
Scene One:
Stone Creek Memorial Hospital
ICU, Isobel’s Room.
Catalina Cortez watched as her sister slumbered peacefully in the room. How could her over-the-top, drama queen of a younger sister be confined to a bed and unable to move. It didn’t make any sense to her, nor did it to the doctors who had been treating Isobel.
She had spent days sitting across from her.
The commotion going on in the rest of the hospital was numb to Catalina. She even managed to forget Audrey Briggs’ threats to expose her as ‘Inez’ the perpetrator behind the Cassie and Clifton fiasco. For months she lived two separate lives.
It was something that Catalina was used to. In order to protect herself, Isobel and all the others in her organization she needed to live two separate lives. In order to help herself keep sane. Her eyes haven’t shed a tear in years and tonight wasn’t going to break that.
How could she not protect Isobel? Catalina had spent so long trying to fund money for her organization that she seemed to forget that her younger sister still needed protecting. How could she have put all her attention in duping Patrick Sutton?
Her distaste for the man stuck in her mouth. He was just like all the rest of the men in the world. Only after his own well-being. Sleeping with whoever came his way, making money in every attempt he could. How did Catalina let herself be another tally in his deck of cards?
She needed to take control of her life again and she needed to do damage control. First up, she needed to figure out who hurt her sister Isobel. They needed to pay the ultimate price. Getting from her seat she looked at Isobel once more, so innocent.
Isobel would never return to the land of the living again. How would she? Strapped to so many machines, Isobel was as good as gone in Catalina’s eyes. She left the room in search of the driver who killed her sister.
[.....]
Scene Two:
Stone Creek Memorial Hospital
James’ Room
Kirsten placed her bag on a table and looked at her father, it was clear that the swelling was started to go away. A feeling that caused her to feel a sense of relief. Noticing her step-mother come out of the small side restroom she hugged her.
“I was just talking to David outside, he said that dad was almost ready to go home.” Kirsten spoke, stealing looks at her father. “I’m just so relieved to know that this nightmare is nearly over. I cannot even imagine what everyone else is going through.”
Caitlyn nodded her head. “I’m just keeping everyone in my prayers.” She grabbed her bag and coat and turned towards Kirsten. “I’m really glad that you could come over and take care of him for a couple of hours. I really do need to do a couple errands.”
Her step-daughter shrugged. “Please, he’s my father. I don’t mind stay by his side at all. I just wish that he was so accepting to us taking care of him while he is awake.”
A chuckle erupted from Caitlyn’s lips.
It was good to hear her step-mother laugh, Kirsten thought. But she noticed that Caitlyn was still wearing the exhausted frown she had glued to her face for the last couple months. “Is everything alright Caitlyn? You’re not still having troubles with Damien, are you?”
“Nothing too stressful lately.” Caitlyn admitted. “I think he is starting to get the point. There is nothing left between myself and Damien. Now that we found Danielle, there is so much that we have to put past us. I just hope he won’t pester any further.”
“You’re such a strong woman.” Kirsten rubbed her hand. “Stay strong, things will get easier from now on. Especially now that my father is recovering. Things can get back to normal around here.”
There was a thought that Caitlyn soaked up, closing her eyes she pictured what normal was like for the Thurlow’s before the whole Damien debacle. She looked at James Thurlow as he slept. “I just hope he can let us help him while he recovers.”
“You two act as if I’m crippled.” He cough, waking up from his nap.
The two women watched as he moved around in his hospital bed. “I thank god that you’re not daddy.” Kirsten kissed his forehead and turned to Caitlyn. “Don’t worry, I have him, go ahead and run your errands.”
“Thanks.” Caitlyn replied. “I’ll be back soon. Just a couple things I have to take care of.”
[.....]
Scene Three:
Shenanigan’s Nightclub
Clifton’s Office.
How could he have left so much work unfinished? Clifton Briggs spent most of last night working through some of his business files. There was so much on his mind lately, but he had never spent this much time away from the office.
The workload was so much that he didn’t even notice the other person come into his office.
“You always had a tendency to fall behind on your paperwork.” She spoke, shutting the door behind her. The sound of his wife’s voice caused Clifton to look up, he hadn’t seen Audrey in what seemed like weeks. “How are you holding up?”
Placing his paperwork to the side he pondered the question. “I’ve seen better days.”
He watched as Audrey made her way around the place, becoming familiar with his office once again and for a slight second he felt as if everything was back to normal. “When did you get back into town?” He asked, taking note that she took her favorite coat from the house recently.
“This morning.” Audrey spoke, coldly.
Clifton picked himself up out of his office chair. “I think we have a couple of things to talk about, I think a lot of time has passed us by with nothing said between us.” He watched as she fished something out of her purse. “What’s going on Audrey?”
She handed the papers over to Clifton. “I had my lawyer draw up a new divorce settlement. I know the one I gave you still hasn’t been signed by you Cliff, but this one suits our kind of divorce much better.” Taking a pen from his desk she handed it to him.
“I highly doubt we should talk anymore. There isn’t anything left that I want to say to you.” Audrey took a seat across from his office chair and watched as Clifton looked through the papers. “How is your baby with Cassie doing?”
“Audrey,” He spoke, “I don’t understand where all of this is coming from. These papers, these requests are extreme. How could you even ask for more than my share of our things? How could you ask for my nightclub!”
Audrey turned to face her husband. “Because I know it means the world to you and right now hurting you is the only thing that’ll make me feel better.”
---
Our love. Our fights. Our friendships.
On Concrete Shelves.
Forever, they shall be remembered.
---
Scene Four:
Stone Creek Memorial Hospital
Check-Up Room
Gideon Wilkinson stood there, his eyes glued to his adopted mother, trying to determine what was different about her. She seemed so meek and tender today and on the ride to the hospital she didn’t seem talkative like her old self. He knew the accident took a lot out of her, but this, it seemed too different.
“Do you want me to do a trick?” Penelope Wilkinson spoke, breaking Gideon’s concentration.
“What, mother?” He asked, unfolding his arms. “Sorry I was dazing out, what did you say?”
Penelope rolled her eyes. “Please your eyes were glued to me as if you were waiting for me to pull a rabbit out of a hat or for me to magically turn into a frog. What’s going on in your head? Is the accident still bothering you? Because I cannot sleep still.”
Her son looked away. “I just want to know what is taking David so long, he called and told us the results were in and then he makes us wait?” Gideon glanced at his watch and then back at his mother, she frowned.
“I’m sorry that I’ve been an inconvenience to you, but I’ve had my license revoked after the accident. There isn’t a way for me to get around, you know?” Gideon sighed and she watched him with her guard up. “I should have just stayed on my cruise. I cannot drive a ship, so I wouldn’t be able to cra-”
“Mother!” Gideon barked. “You’re not a inconvenience and I really don’t mind taking you to your appointments. This gives us some time to reconnect. All those cruises you have been taking, it seems as if your always trying to escape Stone Creek.”
She frowned. “I’m not trying to escape.”
“I just,” Gideon grabbed his mother’s hand. “I’m just anxious to know what the results say.”
“You’re anxious?” Penelope scoffed. “I’m the one who crashed into a building full of people, can you imagine how I feel? As for Stone Creek, this is my town Gideon, I may have not been born here, but this is my town. I would never try to escape it.”
“Nobody blames you.” He replies, as if to have read her mind.
But his adopted mother shakes her head. “I drove that car. I killed that man. For years these people have looked up to me. I understand the seriousness of this whole situation Gideon. People think that I don’t understand. But I do and truthfully, I would blame me too if I were them.”
“You are a pillar in this town mother, everyone knows we all make mistakes.” Gideon spoke, he kissed her cheek just as Dr. David Schmidt walked into the room. Now was the time for the truth of what really happened. He knew it was what his mother needed.
[.....]
Scene Five:
745 W. Lavender St., Stone Creek. “Old Granger Manor”
Damien & Gillian’s Home.
“Now what do I owe this pleasure to?” Damien Crenshaw asked at the sight of his ex. wife, he looked her over and noticed the irritation in her appearance. “Have I done something to anger you?”
She stepped past him and into the hallway of the manor, this was a pure business trip and she needed her answers from Damien as quickly as possible. Turning to face her ex. husband always gave her chills, she wrapped her arms around her body.
“How does this work?”
Damien cocked his head. “How does what work?”
“She is in love with you Damien.” Caitlyn Thurlow spit, trying to remain calm. “I just want to re-connect with the daughter that I thought was dead--the same daughter you told me was dead- may I add! But every time I try to talk to her, it leads to you!”
He noticed the desperation in her voice. “Come on Caitlyn, don’t you understand what is going on? Abigail has been through a lot lately, not knowing who her parents were, she just wants to get to know the both of us. I don’t think it is up to us. She will choose her favorites.”
“Her favorite is you, obviously!” Caitlyn put a hand to her forehead in order to recollect herself. “I am begging you right now Damien, I want to get to know my daughter. You need to tell her that I am not a bad person. She likes you. She looks up to you!”
There was an awkward silence as Damien watched his ex. wife fall apart. “I cannot do that Caitlyn, I’m sorry but I cannot tell Abigail who to choose.”
“Her name is Danielle!” Caitlyn spit in anger. “I named her Danielle! Don’t you remember that? We named her after my father the night--the night that he died, we named her in his honor. She needs to know that her name is important to us.”
Damien reached out an held Caitlyn’s shoulders, rubbing them to calm her down. “Things have changed.” A slither of a smirk on his face. “Don’t you understand that Caitlyn? Danielle is no longer our daughter, we tried that and it failed. Her name is Abigail.”
“My daughter is not dead!”
He shook his head. “She isn’t dead, she is pretty much alive. But her name is Abigail now and you need to remember that. You need to understand that she isn’t going to accept a new name, she is barely accepting new parents.”
Caitlyn watched as Damien chuckled in amusement.
“I just need her to know who she is.”
Damien shrugged. “I think she knows who she is.” He then frowned. “I just think you need to listen to her tell you who she is. You have spent so much time trying to tell her who she was, but have you spent any time listening to who she is?”
Caitlyn looked away from Damien. “I think you are pushing your own daughter away Caitlyn, it’s not the other way around.”
[.....]
Scene Six:
Stone Creek Hospital
James’ Room
Kirsten poured her father a glass of water and then watched as he chugged it down, it amused her in a way to see how things have changed. James Thurlow had spent years taking care of Kirsten and her siblings and today, she was taking care of him.
But then that feeling of amusement was replaced with fear that he wouldn’t recover and that Kirsten would be spending the rest of her life taking care of her siblings. She knew that if she had to, she would. There was no questions about that.
Although deep down she knew that she was already taking care of Marina and Emmet. Not in full capacity like her father was, but in some small way, she was part-time parent as well. It all started when her mother abandoned the family for her new husband.
“What’s wrong?” James asked, placing the glass on the tray in front of him.
Kirsten shrugged. “I think it has just been a long couple of days.”
Her father took the information in and Kirsten knew he would unload a series of question in a couple minutes. So she didn’t what she only knew what to do; she prepared for them.
“How are you and Charlie doing? I know after the whole Christmas fiasco with that Stone boy things were a little rocky with Charlie. Have you guys talked about any of it?” James asked, scanning his daughter’s face.
The lighting in the room was good enough for James to see every expression on her face. “For the most part, we’ve moved on from the Adrian Stone situation. I just want Charlie to understand that Adrian is just a friend of mine. We’ve been friends for years.”
“I get the feeling you are trying to make yourself understand that.”
Lowering her shoulders, Kirsten shrugged. “I would never cheat on my husband daddy, I know what you went through with Helen and I just couldn’t put Charlie through that, I love him way too much. And I would never hurt Megan in the way that Helen hurt us kids.”
“I don’t want you to ever feel like you have to hide your feelings from Charlie.” James replied, he sighed and then looked at Kirsten. “The way things were left with your mother and I. It was a long time coming. We got married right after College, we were so young and she had been pregnant with you.”
Kirsten frowned.
“None of it was your fault.” He informed her. “The point is, we kept trying to play this happy family all the time that we forgot who the other person was. We forgot how to disagree with one another. You and Charlie? You are allowed to have separate friends, feelings, thoughts, opinions and decisions. It’s acknowledging all this and still loving one another for it that will sail you through the storm.”
The blond smirked. “You think we can make it?”
James leaned back in his bed. “It doesn’t matter what I think Kirsten. It all is up to you, do you think you can make it?” A tear fell from her eye as she nodded her head. “Then that is all you need.”
[.....]
Scene Seven:
Shenanigan’s Nightclub
Clifton’s Office.
Clifton pushed his chair out from under him. “Are you kidding me Audrey, are you even listening to yourself?” For a second he questioned her sanity. “This isn’t like you one bit, I know I hurt you, but to try and swindle my Nightclub out from under me?”
Audrey turned her head to the side and rolled her eyes. “The damage you did to me is intolerable. I talked to a divorce lawyer and he agrees that I have a very good chance of taking everything you own if I really wanted to. Emotional damage he calls it.”
There was something different about his wife, she seemed so much more like a snake then a mouse. There was a time when he would have been so proud of her for taking her life into her own hands, but today, he looked at her through grim eyes.
He even hesitated thinking about signing it. “I cannot do this Audrey.”
“Please, I am doing you a favor here Clifton, do you understand what I am capable of?” She asked, leaning in closer to him. “I know everything about you Cliff, I know things that nobody else could ever imagine you capable of.”
Placing a hand to his forehead he tried to get the information straight. Was his wife blackmailing him to give up his nightclub? Clifton looked at Audrey bewildered, this was definitely not the woman he had married. Had he scarred her this much? No. It wasn’t possible.
“Do you even know how to run a nightclub?”
She shrugged. “I’ll learn.”
He threw-up his arms in defeat. “I worked my ass off for this club and you are going to take it away from me and ‘learn’ how to run it? Please, if you took over ownership of the club it will sink and I’m not saying you are incapable of running it Audrey--trust me--that isn’t what I am say-”
“Then what are you saying?”
Taking a deep breath he tried to explain it to her. “I’m trying to explain to you that most small business that transfer ownership don’t make it in this economy. Audrey, this is suicide! Everything I worked so hard to create will come crumbling down.”
Audrey smirked at the thought.
“You’d love it, wouldn’t you?” Clifton snarled, pacing around the room. “When did you get so cold Audrey? When did you lose all feeling for everyone around you? I’m not signing that paper, I won’t allow you to destroy everything I worked so hard for.”
“Fine.” Her reply so cold and calculated. Audrey rose from her seat and picked up her bag. “Be prepared for a war Clifton and trust me, I’m not going to lose this one. But remember, at least you will have your son, if Cassie lets you see him after you end up poor and on your ass.”
Clifton retreated to his office chair, defeated.
[.....]
Scene Eight:
Stone Creek Memorial Hospital
The Hallway
The problem wasn’t walking through the hall. No, that wasn’t a problem at all. She had been through these halls long enough to become part of the wallpaper. She felt as if she was as pale as the pastel yellow of the tulips that littered the walls and as vibrant as the red tulips that sat on a nurses’ station.
The problem was what she was holding in her grips.
It all had to do with what had been happening in the last couple days and how she was having a hard time dealing with it. She walked through the hall, flashing back to conversations she had with various nurses and hospital personnel. Remembering every conversation and every hint of advice.
The raven-haired beauty watched as Dr. David Schmidt walked into the hospital room that she was meant to enter and for a second she wanted to retreat. But a fire built up insider her stomach and knew she needed this to feel better.
“Excuse me, this is a personal matter.” Gideon Wilkinson spoke when she entered the room behind the doctor. All of their faces fixated on her’s and she could tell that they weren’t having it. She then watched as their faces dropped.
Pale white.
Just like the background behind the flowers of the wallpaper. Her attention focused on the barrel of the gun in her hands, cold and yet full of rage. “I think things are going to be getting a little more personal.” Catalina Cortez spoke as she choked back tears.
“Wha-what’s going on?” Penelope asked, her face stricken with fear as she made a mental note that the gun was aimed straight at her. “I think we should talk about this! I think that would be nicer and a little more comfortable without the gun in my face.”
“Penelope, shut up!” David chimed, looking at the older woman. He then turned back to Catalina and choked back his fear. “Please, ma’am, would you mind telling us what is going on here? Please tell us why you have a gun.”
But Catalina didn’t pay any mind to David, her eyes were burning holes in Penelope’s head. “You were driving that car. Do you know who Isobel Cortez is? Did you ever know who she was? There were people who cared a lot about her.”
Penelope’s heart sank.
This, Gideon noticed as he began to speak up. “Ma’am, listen to me. There is a time and place for this, but with a gun, this isn’t necessary.” He tried his best not to make any sudden movements, but his body wanted to plant himself between Catalina and his mother. “Please, can we talk without the gun?”
“I’ve been trying to figure out why god would take my sister away.” Catalina spit, sweat was forming at her brow as she tried to communicate with the three others in the room. She needed them to understand her pain and what she was going through. “I tried to figure out why such a good person could be dead.”
“But she isn’t dead.” David spoke up.
Catalina jolted her attention towards David. “Have you seen her in that bed? Isobel is as good as dead! How does god take such good people when they have done nothing bad to deserve it? There is no other explanation than the fact that he didn’t take her.”
For the first time in days there was a sun glaring into the room. The rays of it’s shine would have brought Penelope Wilkinson’s spirits up, but not today. Her fate was dangling at the end of Catalina’s deteriorating mental state.
“You took her.” Catalina spoke, sending chills down Penelope’s spine.
“You’re a good person.” Penelope mumbled, trying to reason with the woman with the gun, her possible murder.
But Catalina shook her head. “Isobel was a good person. But me? I’m not.”
“Catalina!” A voice barked from behind her. It was enough to give everyone in the room a near heart attack. There attention now on a man at the doorway. A mix of emotions throughout the room. “What are you doing? Is that a gun?”
“Get out of here Mac.” Catalina spoke through gritted teeth. “You don’t belong in here.”
The younger man licked his lips in fear. “You don’t belong here either.”
Disregarding Mac, Catalina returned to the three people in front of her. “But I do belong in here, I have to do what is right and I have to make Penelope Wilkinson pay. She hurt my family Mac, do you not understand that? I was supposed to protect Isobel. But I didn’t!”
“No, no, Catalina listen to me.” Mac spoke, he ran around Catalina and planted himself between Penelope and the gun. “Listen, this isn’t the way to do this. This is not the way to protect Isobel, you have to understand that she doesn’t want you to do this.”
Catalina look straight through him, he target clearly visible in her head. “But she would.”
“Your sister isn’t the type of woman who wants revenge. You know she doesn’t want you doing this. Isobel is full of life, I only met her a few days ago but I could see it in her eyes. She wants forgiveness, not revenge Catalina.” Mac tried to reason with her.
“But I want to stop hurting.”
Mac scooted closer to her. “Isobel wants you to forgive, not to act on revenge. Please, let us all talk about this without the gun. Lets help Isobel in the only way we know how to. In her way. Without all this violence. She is waiting for us to stay by her side.”
“I just want my sister back.” Catalina cried.
“But don’t you understand?” Mac reached for the gun, slowly. “Isobel is here in this hospital, she is resting her eyes and waiting for us to return to her. Don’t think of her gone Catalina, she isn’t gone. She just needs you to be strong for her.”
She collapsed in Mac’s arms. The others in the room torn on what to do. How could they even begin to take action against the woman who threatened their lives. Penelope felt her son grab her from behind and pull her into a deep hug, tears streaming from her eyes.
David leaned against the hospital room wall, his skin blending in with the wallpaper.
[.....]
Scene Nine:
Stone Creek Memorial Hospital
Medical Lab
Oblivious to what was going on upstairs, Diem Joplin, sorted through the information she had just received from one of the hospital staff. She had never regarded the accident at Jimmy’s Bar a miracle, but she knew that she had to use it to her advantage and snuck a sample of DNA from Abigail while she was being treated.
She then took a sample from Caitlyn as well. Which was harder because Caitlyn wasn’t a patient. There was a moment where Diem could feel her heart skip a beat when she looked at the results of the test. In complete awe she didn’t notice the woman come up behind her.
“Hey Demon, what brings you to the lower levels of the hospital.” Helen Schmidt snarled, nudging Diem’s shoulder. She eye’d the papers in her hands. “You have anything interesting in there? The answers to Miss Delaney’s state board exam?”
Diem rolled her eyes. “I really don’t need to be having this conversation with you Helen. This doesn’t even involve you.”
Helen chuckled. “When will you ever learn? Everything that involves this town involves me! By the looks of it, and the way you are trying to dispose of me this is a juicy secret you have hidden up your sleeve.” Helen examined Diem’s overcoat. “Do you have a bunny up there too, Demon? Or just a get away jet.”
Of all the years that the two woman had know each other, there was never a need to extend an olive branch, Diem didn’t think now would be a time to start, so she shrugged the woman off. “If you’ll excuse me, I do have things to do.”
“Oh, please, my ex. husband is bound to a hospital bed he isn’t going to be leaving any time soon.” Helen snarled, grabbing Diem’s arm and yanking the papers out of her hands. She was too smitten with the idea that she pulled one over Diem’s head that she didn’t notice Diem tug at the papers.
But Helen was strong and she held a good grip. “You should be good at this tugging thing! Haven’t you been practicing with Caitlyn lately, trying to see who can get James’ attention.”
Diem let go of the papers and found her hand coming in contact with Helen’s face. A red bruise in the place that light skin pigment once was. A moment of gratitude caused Diem to smile as Helen held her cheek in her hand.
“What the hell has gotten into you?” Helen screamed.
Grumbling, Diem snatched the papers out of Helen’s hands. “You really need to learn how to keep your nose out of everybody else’s business!”
“I can say the same for you!” Helen snapped. She watched as Diem stormed away. Helen knew that there was something juicy behind Diem’s secret. Looking back towards the lab she knew her meeting with her step-daughter Gail would have to wait.
[.....]
Scene Ten:
980 Cutler St., Stone Creek. Faustino Cottages #7
Charlie, Kirsten & Megan’s Home.
Walking into the house, Kirsten Sutton placed her keys on the table and looked around. At least the place was clean for the time that she was coming home at. She felt emotionally exhausted, with good reasoning. The words her father said stuck in her head.
“Hey, I was wondering when you would get back.” Charlie spoke, lifting himself off the recliner in the living room. Kirsten stood in the doorway and her husband kissed her forehead. “How is your father doing? Better I hope?”
She nodded. “Yeah, he should be going home soon.”
“That’s good Kirsten!”
The oldest Thurlow watched her husband as he made his way into the kitchen, and then proceeded to open a bottle of wine. She felt a layer of confusion smack her in the face. “What are you doing? I thought we weren’t opening that until a special occasion?”
Taking a breather and looking at his wife he smiled. “This is the perfect time.”
But there was something bubbling in Kirsten’s stomach, she pulled up a stool across from her husband and leaned against the counter. “Are you sure?” She asked, messing with her ring. “You said it was better with age, I just want to make sure you are sure.”
Charlie raised his eyebrow. “Kirsten, are you alright?”
She watched as he slowly unwrapped the bottle and then searched around for the corkscrew. “I’m fine.” She spoke. Kirsten watched as he fussed with the cork. Every inch of it only getting looser from the bottle. Imagining the fizz boiling under the pressure.
“How about you get us two glasses?”
Kirsten’s eyes burned a whole through the bottle as she imagined the bottling being her relationship with Charlie and what it would be like to cause an explosion between them. How the cork would go flying into the air aimlessly.
“I went to see your father.” Kirsten spoke, the words so rough in her mouth that they left it sore. At the same time Charlie popped the cork, spewing liquid all over his shirt and down his hands. Both stuck with their eyes locked on the other.
Unable to form words.
[.....]
Scene Eleven:
341 Wallow St., Stone Creek. “Schmidt Home”
David, Gail & Helen’s Home.
Her head turned as soon as her husband walked inside.
“How was your day at work?” Helen asked, uninterested in the small talk, she continued changing the channel to the TV. There seemed to be nothing on, so she watched David as he tried desperately to distribute his things and failing miserably.
“Gail left earlier on a date with Adrian Stone, I don’t know when they said they’d be back. But since they said they wanted to rekindle their flame I guess you don’t have to worry about another grandchild anytime soon.” She spoke, but still, David ignored her.
This was pure irritation to Helen, getting from her place on the couch she found herself in front of David. “What has gotten into you? It’s usually me the one who ignores you.”
His attention caught onto his wife. “I just had a really busy day. I think I need a bath.”
“You work at a hospital, when isn’t it a busy day?” Helen scoffed, helping her husband with his coat and then hanging it in the hallway closet. “I’m sure it wasn’t any different then yesterday or the day before. Although I think Hannah Smythe caught smallpox today.”
David looked at Helen. “Today I got a gun pulled at me.”
Suddenly it all became real. Helen’s face dropped. “What?! David what the hell are you talking about?” She followed him into the living room as he searched the room for nothing in particular. “David! What the hell do you mean?”
“Exactly that Helen!” He spoke. “Today a woman came into the hospital and pulled a gun on myself, Penelope and Gideon. She blamed Penelope for the accident that nearly killed her sister.”
Helen seemed to agree with the gun holder. “Well she was driving the car.”
“She has cancer!” David turned around, his attention stuck on Helen’s as if to challenge her to another smart ass remark. But nothing was coming. “Penelope Wilkinson has a small tumor in her brain and it caused her to have a slight seizure. Helen, the seizure caused her to crash into Jimmy’s Bar.”
“What did Penelope say about it?”
He shook his head. “I didn’t have time to tell her. This woman barged into the room before I could say anything. How do you tell a woman who just got a gun pulled on her because she caused the death of someone else that it really wasn’t her fault. But it was the cancer living in her brain’s fault?”
Helen hugged David. “You have to tell her. I would want to know if I was dying, wouldn’t you?”
All David knew was that he needed a long, hot bath.
[.....]
Scene Twelve:
507 Auburn Rd., Stone Creek. “Wilkinson Cottage”
Gideon & Daphne’s Home.
Daphne lit a candle and smelled the sweet aroma.
In the living room sat her son Bentley Wilkinson. She was so glad to have him home, even though he was in a wheelchair until he recovered from his leg surgery. Daphne knew they had a long way until he was fully recovered. She couldn’t imagine how he felt being pinned down behind the bar for as long as he was.
She could hear the laughter of Bentley’s girlfriend, Emily as they compared each of their injuries. Her right arm in a cast after David informed her that she fractured her wrist. Earlier Emily admitted they were the perfect couple because they both had casts on.
Miles Fowler and Greta Wilkinson passed into the kitchen, hand in hand, on their way to help Penelope finish washing the last of the dishes.
Their family meal tonight was extraordinary and Daphne gave thanks to have her entire family together once again. She felt so blessed knowing that everyone was alright, closing her eyes she felt Gideon put his arms around her. “I’ve been looking for you.”
His voice so calming to her ears.
“I was just giving thanks to have everyone here.” She spoke, turning to face her husband.
Kissing Daphne on the lips, Gideon smiled. “There will be plenty more times like this. Watching our children get married and then having children of their own. These will be the times of our lives Daphne and nothing will stand in our way. Not even the mistakes we haven't made yet.”
“Let’s play a board game!” Greta spoke.
Penelope walked passed the couple. “I’m not playing that words with my enemies game again! That game cheats, I only get vowels and v’s. What can you spell with only vowels?”
Her adopted son chuckled. “Someone needs to tell her that that isn’t a board game.”
“We’ll tell her tomorrow, lets just enjoy tonight.” Daphne replied, following her family into the living room where they continued the night with a game of Taboo.
[.....]
Next Time, On Concrete Shelves
- Charlie threatens Patrick.
- Kevin asks Charlene to officially move-in with him.
- Cassie makes a decision for her life.
- Diem shows the results to James...
