- Helen spied on Damien Crenshaw.
- Cassie rejected Mac so she didn’t have to marry Clifton.
- Greta suggested Miles and herself get married.
- Daphne grew concerned with Penelope...
[.....]
[.....]
Scene One:
Stone Creek; Cuttlebone Lake.
The Lakeside Inn; New Years Eve Ball.
Cassie Lakhani peered into the ballroom, her mouth dropped open at the beauty if it. She had heard Caitlyn Thurlow talking about it when she would drop Lucian off with her while Cassie attended class once a week, but didn’t think it would look this gorgeous.
She noticed Clifton Briggs walk up to her, holding up the numbers that had been assigned to their coats that he dropped off at the coat check. “This place is amazing, isn’t it?”
“It sure is.” Cassie replied, shaking her head.
This whole evening Clifton had been nice to her. He even paid for her ticket to get into the ball, although Cassie was certain that James and Caitlyn would have paid her way in just as well. It was a nice gesture that she kindly accepted from Lucian’s father.
But through all the nice that he had accomplished today, Cassie couldn’t shake the fact that Clifton Briggs wanted to gain custody of their child. Her eyes closed when Clifton grasped her hand and led her to the dance floor where many of the guests had already started to gather.
“I want tonight to be rememberable.” Clifton spoke, he turned to Cassie as they began to dance. The soft melody picking up in her ear, she tried to smile but somehow frowned. “Are you alright Cassie?”
Her head nodded, they stopped dancing. “I’m fine. I’m just thinking about Lucian and how he is doing with the sitter right now. Can I go call them really quick? Would you mind if I did that? It would only take a second.” She pulled away and headed towards the hall.
Sifting through the numbers for her house number she found her hand stopped at Mac Kern’s number. She had still wondered what could have been between them if Clifton hadn’t intervened. But now she would never know since she doubted he wanted anything to do with her after the way she treated him.
Cassie sighed, dialing her house number and checking on Lucian and his babysitter.
[.....]
Scene Two:
505 Auburn Rd., Stone Creek “Thurlow Cottage”
James, Caitlyn & Aidan’s Cottage.
She looked at herself in the mirror. Caitlyn Thurlow smiled at how strong she had been this entire year and now it is almost over. It was a thought that scared her. There was no guarantee that Caitlyn could be as strong in 2012 like she was this past year.
Finding out that Abigail Jenkins wasn’t her daughter almost broke Caitlyn. She had mourned Danielle for years until she thought she had found her again. How Damien could keep the charade going for so long. Caitlyn sighed, a long awaited sigh that almost brought tears to her eyes.
Caitlyn didn’t ever think mourning your child twice would be as hard as it was. She slipped a hand over her lips, sometimes she could still imagine Danielle’s laughter playing in the room next door. But then Caitlyn snapped out of it and realized that Danielle was no longer alive.
Then there was Damien. Sweet, gentle Damien. The man that she once knew no longer resided in the man that threw his weight around in Stone Creek. It was time that Caitlyn accepted that. But she couldn’t, when he pleaded with her about starting over. She wanted to believe him.
But he hadn’t given her a reason to.
Not recently. She could feel James Thurlow’s arms wrap around her. For a moment she felt Damien’s breath on her neck and remembered the way he would kiss her neck to make everything feel better. But looking in the mirror it was James behind her still.
“What are you thinking about?” James asked, his words ringing in her ears.
She forced a smile. “This past year.”
“We had one hell of a year, didn’t we?”
Caitlyn nuzzled into her husband’s chest. “Yeah we did. How we have stayed strong around everyone else I don’t know how we did that. But we did James and I’m so lucky to have you in my life.”
“I’m the lucky one. Now let’s get ready to have the best night of our lives, shall we?”
[.....]
Scene Three:
Stone Creek; Cuttlebone Lake.
The Lakeside Inn; New Years Eve Ball.
Kelly Marlowe arrived on the arm of Patrick Sutton.
If they were going for shock value, Patrick knew this was it. He just couldn’t figure out why he had agreed to come to the New Years Eve with Kelly on his arm. Especially with Charlene Sutton in the hospital still, under evaluation tonight. “Maybe this was a bad idea.”
He spoke, everyone’s eyes on them.
But she smiled, a cunning vicious smile that sent poison into the crowd. Kelly turned to Patrick and spoke through pierced lips, “Our two families are at odds because of your tyrant way and I will not lose my place in society, so we will parade as if everything is fine.”
“I’m not sure who has bigger balls, you or your husband.” Patrick spat back. He knew that playing with fire only brought burns but as he looked at the crowd their plan did seem to be working. Loosening his arm, he sighed when he caught a glimpse of his daughter with Damien.
Kelly turned to Patrick. “You know, we don’t have to be seen together at every given moment. There is room to wander around and mingle with other people tonight, in fact, there’s a few people I need to get my claws in as well. So please, go hound over your daughter and that hunk of hers.”
“Do you refer to every man as a piece of meat?”
She dazzled a smile at him. “I didn’t get to where I am by playing fair maiden.”
Her attention wandered over to Marina Thurlow as she held a glass of champagne to her lips, chuckling over a conversation she seemed to be having with Ian Kiefer and knew that she needed to do something to ruin the girls night for her husband’s sake.
“Now if you’ll excuse me.”
Patrick eye’d Marina. “Is that your business of the night? Playing little kid games with a twenty year old?”
“We all have our lows Patrick, you of all people should know that.” She patted his shoulder. “I don’t know where Patrick Sutton has been hiding but it seems as if he’s crawled back up inside his mother. You stomp my husband out of town and then cower when the big bad comes knocking on your door?”
“I’d rather you stay out of my business.” He seethed.
Kelly smirked. “Naw, you like me in your business. You’re going to need someone around to help you pick up the pieces once you destroy your own company.” With her final words, Kelly slithered away and into the crowd. She only looked back at Patrick to egg him on.
It was only a matter-of-time before she got everything she wanted. But now it was time to deal with Marina Thurlow and her smug little rich girl smile.
Scene Four:
2634 W. Parker St., Stone Creek. Callahan Condo’s #29
Taylor & Dizzy’s Condo.
“I think this is a bad idea.” Mac Kern proposed as he slipped into his tux. He looked to his date, Dizzy Roberts who sparkled in her skin tight dress. She was definitely a sight for sore eyes and he dully noted that she should have been off the market months ago.
Taylor Kern, however, looked like a total mess. He was still in his PJ bottoms and didn’t seem like he would ever get his suit on. “I told you so!” He gurgled, milk spilling out the sides of his mouth.
“Why don’t you put your suit on Mr. Negative?” Dizzy snapped, she walked over to Mac and helped him adjust his tie. Her body slithered right in front of his and he could smell the sweet scent on her neck. “Relax Mac, everything is going to be alright. You said it yourself, Cassie still wants you. Just watch her tonight, she’s going to fall all over you.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.” Dizzy smirked.
She turned away from Mac and looked at his brother, Taylor. She would never understand how someone so charismatic could be so hopeless and undesirably stubborn. “We really need to do something with your hair. Have you even seen a shower in the last couple of days?”
“I usually just sponge bath the important parts.” Taylor teased.
Dizzy rolled her eyes. “What can I say to get you ready to go tonight?”
“Aidan Jurado will be there.” Mac spat.
It was a name that could cause Taylor’s body to perk at the thoughts of his lips upon Aidan’s. He tried to remain composed, but Dizzy caught on and eye’d him suspiciously. “Who is Aidan Jurado?”
“Some guy that Taylor wants to screw.” Mac replied, fixing his tie once again.
Dizzy sighed. “Are you serious? You’re like a walking penis!”
“I haven’t seen you try to let anyone in your pants!” Taylor snipped, he turned away from Dizzy and she smacked his ass in hopes that it would encourage him to get ready. He glared back at his roommate and she chuckled. “I mean it, when are you going to start worrying about your own love life?”
She shrugged. “I’ve just been busy. Now go get ready so we can go to the Ball.”
[.....]
Scene Five:
Stone Creek; Cuttlebone Lake.
The Lakeside Inn; New Years Eve Ball.
Miles Fowler looked to his future brother-in-law.
Now that Greta Wilkinson had been pulled away by her mother to talk about something that she kept quiet about, he had the opportunity to converse with Bentley Wilkinson and his fiance, Emily Roscoe. “I don’t know if now is the time to propose to Greta.”
“Are you kidding me man?” Bentley spoke, he looked to Emily in hopes that she could help talk some sense into the nervous man.
Emily pushed Bentley to the side and smiled sweetly at Miles. “Now is the perfect time to propose to her. I checked outside earlier before we walked in and there is a small balcony outside with a gorgeous view. Penelope must have had it lit up, because I think it’s the perfect place to propose to her.”
He took the information in, knowing that they were right about proposing. Miles just didn’t know if it was the right time to do it. Since he had a feeling that Greta wasn’t ready for the proposal, unlike she said she was. The short months that he had known her, Miles had realized the type of person she was.
“You love my sister, right?”
Miles broke out of his thoughts, nodding his head furiously. “Of course I do!”
“Then Emily is right, propose to Greta on the balcony.” Bentley pulled his fiance into a hug and kissed her forehead. She recoiled into his arms and then gave Miles a shove. “Just have the double wedding with us, everything will be taken care of. The both of you will be taken care of.”
“Alright.” He agreed, he looked over at Greta as she talked to her mother and father. He knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
“I’m just worried.” Daphne Wilkinson replied, she looked at her husband. “I know that David said her tests came back negative and that she was in good condition. But I think your mother has been wearing herself too thin, she had brain surgery this year Gideon!”
“I know.”
Greta rubbed her mother’s shoulder. “But even if we bring it up to her, she will just be angry with us.”
“That woman is too stubborn for her own good.” Daphne snapped, he returned the favor and tapped her daughter’s hands, feeling comfort in the warmth. “Tonight is going to be a great night, I know it is. I just don’t want the cancer to come back for her.”
Gideon kissed his wife’s forehead. “You look miraculous tonight, our daughter looks gorgeous tonight and our family is getting a new member to our family,” Greta’s cheeks grew red. “Once Bentley marries Emily next year we will receive many blessings.”
“These are the days of our lives.”
Greta’s eyes teared up. “That’s beautiful.”
“It’s true.” Gideon eye’d her. “Nothing is going to happen tonight, but if you’d like me to, I’ll keep an eye on my mother while she takes care of everybody else. You just go have some fun with our children and teach that son of yours how to dance before his wedding day.”
“He could use some fine tuning.” Daphne chuckled, between tears.
The three of them hugged.
[.....]
Scene Six:
Stone Creek; Cuttlebone Lake.
The Lakeside Inn; New Years Eve Ball.
“Hey, are you alright out here?” Emmet Thurlow asked Iris Galloway.
She turned to face Emmet with a smile, putting her phone back into her handbag. “I’m fine, I just needed to get some air I think I was a little overwhelmed meeting so many new faces. You know how I am around so many new people.” Iris rubbed her neck.
Emmet stepped behind her and began to rub her neck. “We don’t have to stay too long, if you don’t want to. I know it hasn’t been easy for you moving everything from Sunset Valley to Stone Creek. I’m sure once school starts and you get back into teaching that things will be better?”
“I think they will, too.”
He kissed her neck and she giggled, pulling away. “Emmet, not out here!”
“Why not?” Emmet smirked, “Nobody will notice us out here, they’re too busy enjoying themselves inside.”
He began to undo his tie and she looked at him wickedly, she knew that Emmet wasn’t shy when it came to trying new things. It was something that Iris had found so fresh and intoxicating about him. But the cold air was starting to pick at her and she knew his body heat wouldn’t be enough to keep her warm.
So she grabbed his arms. Like a snake snapping at it’s prey, Emmet pulled Iris in for a long and deep kiss. “Fine, we won’t do it out here. But soon, when we have our own place and start our lives in Stone Creek we will have time to make love everywhere.”
“I like the sound of that.” She really did. Dealing with Lucy had caused Iris to forget her grip on reality on most days. But being with Emmet was a break from the chaotic mess that was her best friend. “Let’s go back inside before we freeze to death.”
Emmet let her lead the way inside, grabbing at her waist and trying to pull her dress up, playfully. She slapped his hands out of her dress and giggled in excitement.
“Caitlyn did an amazing job!” Charlie Sutton spoke as he entered the New Years Eve Ball with his wife, Kirsten Sutton by his side.
Kirsten smiled. “She did a remarkable job. I remember her telling me the detail but nothing I imagined looked this beautiful. I’m so glad that I am here with you celebrating New Years!”
“Where else would you be?” Charlie asked. Kirsten’s eyes caught a glimpse of Adrian Stone and Gail Schmidt who sat at a table. “Should we go say hi to them? I feel like we haven’t seen Adrian or Gail in awhile, especially after her accident on Halloween.”
“Yeah, sure.” Kirsten pulled on a smile.
Marina Thurlow jumped up and hugged her best friend as she joined them by the punch bowl. “I’m so glad that you made it and that you could find a sitter for Lucian! Where’s Clifton?”
“He went to mingle.” Cassie explained, she hugged Ian and thanked him for the puppy he bought Marina. “I think we finally settled on a name for him, it was mostly Lucian’s picking if you don’t mind us calling him Odie. We’ve been watching a lot of Garfield.”
“The next choice would have been Lady.” Marina replied.
Ian smirked. “Lady and the Tramp?”
“It’s a romance movie.” Marina kissed him on the lips, in delight.
This caused Cassie discomfort, she wasn’t jealous of Marina. She just wished that she had someone she wanted to kiss on New Years. Instead, she turned away. Only to see Mac Kern enter the building on the arm of another woman. It was a pain that bruised her ego.
[.....]
Scene Seven:
Stone Creek; Cuttlebone Lake.
The Lakeside Inn; New Years Eve Ball.
Outside in the bushes, a mysterious man watches the partygoers as they celebrated the end of 2011 and the beginning of a year that none would see coming. He watched with very distinct eyes as his target wandered around the Ballroom unknowing to his presence.
A pistol in his hand, he waited.
Helen Schmidt walked past the window that he looked in through. Not paying attention to anything but her previously planned route that led her to Patrick Sutton’s side. She had already caught wind that he arrived with Kelly Marlowe’s claws dug into him. But it didn’t bother her much.
Her skin tight dress was revealing enough to cause a heart attack to the strongest heart in the room. With just enough coverage to keep her class in a room full of filth. She sauntered over to Patrick and charmed him out of a conversation with one of the primer members of their society.
“What’s going on?” Patrick asked, he looked her up and down and hid his desire for the woman. Looking back at the floor he once occupied and then back at Helen. “Did you get anything on Damien Crenshaw? Or did he find out that you were spying on him?”
“Relax.” Helen spat. “If he knew you were spying on him, do you think he would look so calm over there next to your daughter? I actually found something very interesting and I think you’d want to hear about this Patrick. I followed Damien the other day-”
“And?”
Helen tilted her head and glared at him. Patrick Sutton was sweating tonight and she was starting to see past his calm, collected composure he always carried around. “And.” She challenged him to cut her off again. “He met up with Clifton Briggs.”
“The guy who owns the strip club?”
She nodded her head.
Patrick turned to find Clifton holding a conversation with some of the prestigious members of Stone Creek. He knew that if Clifton was involved than it would be hard to uncover the truth since he was protected by some of the more important names in the city.
“They both seemed on edge, I’m telling you Patrick they are up to something and it doesn’t seem good.” Helen eye’d Patrick as his wheels began spinning. “Tell me, what are you going to do? Damien Crenshaw is easy to bring down, but getting Clifton to speak about his part-”
He waived her off. “This doesn’t concern you Helen, you’ve been a good little spy.”
“You call me that one more time and I swear you’ll be on your knees.” Helen threatened, she gritted her teeth. “So don’t make me make you kiss my toes tonight Patrick. You keep me in the loop with this whole thing, I want to be there to help.”
“Why do you even care?”
Helen snarled. “Just a little investing, that’s all.”
[.....]
Scene Eight:
Stone Creek Memorial Hospital.
Charlene’s Hospital Room.
Gillian Sutton arrived in her mother’s hospital room. Her gown flowed to the floor and an inch behind her as she slipped through the door and noticed Charlene Sutton still awake and reading a book. It was a far cry from the woman who relaxed with a glass of wine.
But she was still in the hospital, so there was time for the mess she called mother for years to come hurdling back. “I was at the New Years Eve Ball but I decided I needed to come see you and we needed to talk about a few things mother.”
Charlene turned to her daughter, put her book down and sat up in her bed. “I haven’t seen you in awhile, Gillian.”
“That’s not my fault.” The younger woman spat back.
She edged closer to her mother’s bed, careful not to catch the pity her mother had been partying with. “I do deserve that.” Charlene admitted. In that moment Gillian knew this wasn’t going to be a pleasant reunion, she stopped at the foot of her mother’s bed and looked at her with a frown.
“Why did you turn to the bottle?”
Charlene sighed. Her eyes caught the sight of the stars outside her window and she remembered a time when Gillian was a little girl and Charlene could easily distract her from such questions. But she knew no stars would delay the answers that Gillian was seeking, so she locked eyes with her youngest child.
“It was the easiest thing to do.”
Gillian held back the tears, keeping a cold front. “Why didn’t you ever leave him?”
“Because, it’s sort of complicated Gillian.” Charlene tried to keep her eyes dry, but it was hard watching the cold face of the daughter she raised to be stronger than her. “Being a Nelson is a hard thing to harbor. Every young Nelson girl wants to be a princess.”
“That’s bullshit.”
Charlene shook her head. “Growing up I’ve always wanted more than what I had, you don’t know how we grew up. Your uncle Frank and I. It’s nothing that you could imagine and when your father finally allowed me into his life I just couldn’t leave him.”
“How can you be so weak?”
“So you would learn how to be strong.” Charlene cried. There was a moment that the two of them shared where nothing was said and only silent tears were shed. Charlene looked up at her daughter as she wiped away a tear. “Gillian, I wanted you to be stronger than I was.”
Gillian leaned against a wall. “Why couldn’t you just be strong yourself? That is all that I needed, that is all that I wanted from you!”
“Because your father always loved Shannon.”
Gillian scooted away from Charlene, she couldn’t look at her. Not like this, in the bed and weak. So instead of curling up next to her and telling her that she loved her. Gillian ran from the room and the hospital completely.
[.....]
Scene Nine:
Stone Creek; Cuttlebone Lake.
The Lakeside Inn; New Years Eve Ball.
At the ball, James and Caitlyn Thurlow have only a second to take in the festivities once inside. She leans against her husband as the hard work she had spent for weeks seemed to pay off, but their smiles turned to frowns quickly as Damien Crenshaw approached the two.
“Don’t we look like the happy couple.” Damien sneered.
James stood straight. “I’d rather you just stay away from us Crenshaw.”
He covered his wife from Damien’s looks as the man licked his lips. “You are looking gorgeous tonight Caitlyn, I cannot believe it has been that long since I’ve last seen you. When was the last time? Halloween?” He sneered, watching James’ look confused.
“Knock it off Damien.” Caitlyn covered. “You’re drunk!”
“Nope.” He shook his head.
He went to touch Caitlyn’s face, but James slapped his hand away. “Maybe you should cool down before I have you escorted out of here Damien. You know you’re not welcome around my wife and since this is her party, you don’t have to be in attendance.”
“Actually,” Damien brightened up. “I’ll soon be the Mayor of Stone Creek once the clock strikes midnight. So technically I do need to be present here. I hope you don’t mind that I’ll be spending more time with your wife seeing as she’s on the city council.”
James stepped closer to Damien, but his wife pulled him back. Hoping to stop a fight from breaking out between the two men. Caitlyn knew that James wouldn’t touch Damien, but she didn’t have the same faith in her ex. husband. She patted James’ chest, to calm him down.
Reminding him that she was with him and not Damien.
“Is everything alright over here?” Gideon Wilkinson asked, sending Damien away from the couple. He eye’d his friends cautiously as they joined the rest of their families in celebrating the night. Caitlyn kept herself on edge, just in case James asked about Halloween.
Kelly Marlowe walked up to Marina with a martini in her hands. “Cheers.”
The younger woman looked up with curiosity. She looked at Ian, who shrugged. “What is this for Kelly? I didn’t think you’d even show your face here tonight.”
“My husband lost an election, he didn’t commit murder.” Kelly snarled. “Besides I wanted to come and apologize to the both of you for the way things have gone in the last couple months. With my husband leaving Stone Creek and not talking to you Ian, I’m sorry about that.”
The man tried to remain calm. “It’s fine Kelly.”
Her eyes lingered on him, then slowly focused on Marina and the martini she handed her. “Here, a drink from one woman to another. I do want us to be on the same foot in the coming year. Out with the old and in with the new?” She offered the drink until Marina took it in her own hands.
“Cheers.” Kelly repeated, tipping her martini to her lips and watching as Marina Thurlow cautiously tipped her own free drink. Silently Kelly grew in excitement as Marina took down a drink spiked with purging pounder. A few tricks she picked up from her old boarding school days.
Tonight would definitely be her night.
[.....]
Scene Ten:
Stone Creek; Cuttlebone Lake.
The Lakeside Inn; New Years Eve Ball.
After a dance with Clifton, Cassie wandered back to where she had left Marina and Ian but found their seats vacant without a clue to where they had went. She sighed, heavily intoxicated and growing tired of the same routine Cassie sat down on her stool.
She lifted her head when she spotted Mac Kern walking her way. He was stunning in his tuxedo and she dully noted how much she wished she could be with him.
“Care to dance?” Mac asked, reaching a hand out.
But Cassie shook her head. “Maybe another time Mac, right now I just want to sit her and pretend the room isn’t spinning.”
Mac looked down at his drink and offered it to her. “How about some water? I promise that I didn’t spike it with anything.” Cassie looked at it cautiously before taking it into her hands.
“It really wouldn’t be the first time it happened. Just please don’t leave me pregnant with another child, people are going to start thinking I’m actually a whore.” She spat, her words forming together as they rushed out of her lips. Careful not to gag her reflexes.
“You’re too pretty to be a whore.” Mac replied.
She looked up at him. “I can’t do this.”
Cassie began to feel sober as her stomach stung with regret. “Mac, you’re such a great guy and I cannot sit here and pretend that everything is alright between us because it isn’t alright. If we were in another universe than maybe I would be with you.”
“But?”
“But I can’t.” She lifted herself from the stool and almost tripped over herself. Pushing Mac’s hand away when he tried to help her up. Cassie shook her head. “I can’t be with you because if I do, then I will lose my son for good. Lucian means more to me than anything and I can’t lose him.”
“Cassie, what are you talking about?” Mac asked.
She began to cry. “It’s Clifton.”
“What about him?”
Cassie shrugged him off, backing away from Mac she turned on her heel and scurried away from his sight. Leaving Mac to feel more alone than when he arrived.
Aidan Jurado watches as Cassie Lakhani storms out of the Ballroom. He almost wants to go find his cousin’s friend to see if she is alright but someone slides a glass his way and he looks up in amusement. He had already drank too many shots tonight.
He was sloppy at best tonight. “Did you just buy this for me?”
Dizzy Roberts smirked. He was cute and she realized why Taylor wanted to have sex with him so bad. So she slid then strongest drink his way and hoped that he was drunk enough to chug it down. Nodding, Dizzy watched as Aidan did as she had predicted.
Once he stepped closer to her, Dizzy pushed him away. “How about a rain check big boy?”
Aidan nodded.
She stepped away from him and walked away. Leaving Aidan at the bar alone, wishing that he had someone to kiss tonight. Then someone scooted closer to him and he turned to find Taylor Kern smiling back at him. Something about the man was intoxicating tonight.
So Aidan smiled back.
[.....]
Scene Eleven:
Stone Creek; Cuttlebone Lake.
The Lakeside Inn; New Years Eve Ball.
“FIVE!... FOUR!” The crowd screamed at the top of their lungs as they all gathered around the stage that had been set up for the DJ. Penelope Wilkinson stood on the stage with a microphone in her hands and had previously thanked everyone for showing up that night.
Her family watched her from the crowd, a smile on her face she cried out, “THREE!”
Gail Schmidt made her way to her father’s side. Happily hugging the man and glad that she was able to spend the holiday with him and her husband, Adrian. Now that the two men were finally getting along, she kissed her father’s cheek and then turned to Adrian, happily.
The Thurlow’s all gathered around each other, cheering happily as Penelope wooed the crowd with her cheers. “TWO!” The crowd wrung out. Iris Galloway looked at her phone once more before she turned back to Emmet and wrapped her arms around his body.
Caitlyn turned to watch Damien sip his drink, locking eyes with her and a frown on his face before he turned away to exit the Ballroom.
“ONE!” The crowd screamed, everyone cheering loudly as the welcomed the New Year. Joyously hugging the person next to them and kissing their loved ones as the last moments of 2011 passed and the clock restarted with a new and adventurous year for them all.
Adrian turned to see Kirsten looking at him, the two longed for each other on some deep level. But they knew their hearts belonged to their significant others. Adrian turned to his fiance as she began to frown. Her face looked as it was in pain.
She grabbed her stomach and gasped loudly. “Gail!”
David Schmidt turned around to see his daughter falling to her knees and grabbing her stomach in pain. He immediately fell to his knees to help catch her, meeting Adrian halfway as they stopped her head from hitting the wooden floor. They looked at one another before she cried out.
“She’s going into labor!” David spat. “Gail’s going into labor!”
“It’s too soon!” Gail cried.
Adrian grasped her hand tightly. “It’s going to be alright, everything is going to be just fine Gail.”
[.....]
Scene Twelve:
Stone Creek; Cuttlebone Lake.
The Lakeside Inn; New Years Eve Ball.
Miles Fowler could hear the crowd counting down into the New Year as he got down on one knee in front of Greta Wilkinson. He watched as her eyes bulged out in surprise. He knew that Bentley and Emily were right to propose to her on the balcony.
The view was breath taking.
“I know we already talked about this Greta.” Miles spoke as he tugged at the box in his pocket. “I also told you that I wanted to do it in my own way and on my own terms. When my father proposed to my mother it was a story that they told us for years.”
Her hands met her face as she kept herself from tearing up.
Miles licked his lips. “I’ve wanted to do this from the moment that I met you. I want our love to be a story that we tell our grandchildren some day. I know we’ve had our own troubles, but who doesn’t have them? Today isn’t about troubles as much as it is about a new start.”
“Miles-”
“Let me finish.” He snipped, taking a deep breath. “Greta, I want you to be my wife and I don’t think my heart can take anything other than the words yes. So, will you marry me? Will you take me to be your husband forever?”
The words caught in her throat as she began to shed tears of fear. He noticed that something was wrong with her as she backed away from him. “I can’t do this. I thought that when the day came that I could say yes. But you have to understand Miles there is more to the story.”
“Just say yes, please.”
Greta shook her head. “I can’t.”
She then stormed back into the Ballroom where the crowd was counting down and a cry from her friend Gail was heard throughout the room.
Miles got up from his knee and looked out at the view, not noticing the man coming up behind him holding a pistol to his back. He turns around to face the figure and recognizes him instantly, pulling away from his attacker all Miles could do was stand still as the gun was fired and into his chest.
He dropped to his knees, vision blackening.
A scream alerted the man to a witness to the crime. He turned to see Cassie Lakhani clutching her stomach and her mouth. Her eyes closed from fear of what she had just bare witness too. Another shot was fired and caused Cassie to collapse across from Miles.
The night ending in sirens.
