- Diem alerted Gideon where Lucy could be.
- Natalie and Oliver left Stone Creek.
- Stavros came to town looking for his son, Callum.
- Hiding their romance, Diem didn’t want to harm Leia...
[.....]
[.....]
Scene One:
Stone Creek; Cuttlebone Lake.
The Lakeside Inn; Aidan Jurado’s Office.
Having spent most of the morning catching up on the workload he ever so dramatically left for himself, Aidan Jurado finally finished a couple contracts that only needed Charlie’s signature to be finalized. He stacked the papers on top of one another another and stood up. Straightening his snug white short-sleeved button-up in the process. It had been a couple days since his A/C had been fixed, but that wasn’t how he kept track of the days.
He looked around his office and caught sight of the book that Taylor Kern had signed for him when The Lakeside Inn was hosting the book signing and walked over to it. It had been exactly two days since he opened his front door and Taylor was standing there. The thought of what happened next was enough to knock Aidan off of his feet. He picked up the book and fingered through it.
“Do you really want to do this?” Taylor’s voice could be heard between kisses, but Aidan tried not to focus on the man’s voice, which by the way was also such a turn on for Aidan. Instead he continued to tug at his shirt and once he was successful at getting Taylor shirtless in front of him he pulled away to admire the man. The light brown hair on his chest continued down his abs and into his jeans.
Taylor gulped, putting his hands out to help Aidan out of his sweats. But Aidan pulled away, his eyes locking with Taylor’s and reaching his hands to unbutton the front of Taylor’s jeans. The two never took their eyes off the other, as they could feel the clothes between the two slowly start to slide off.
Then they were on Aidan’s bed, it was a split second of a moment and one that Aidan wished he could have kept if only to keep their rendezvous playing longer in his mind.
Aidan kissed Taylor’s lips softly, unlike earlier when he had the urge to lock lips with the man. This time he would take his time because he knew that he now had Taylor where he wanted him; on his bed. In his house. He moved his hands along Taylor body, exploring every detail as he kissed his neck. His arousal evident.
He could feel Taylor’s hands caressing his ass. But he paid the feeling no attention, instead he kissed Taylor’s neck and gently ran his tongue along the side of it. A slight moan coming from his companion’s throat vibrated his lips as he made his way down.
“Excuse you!” A voice shouted, interrupting Aidan from his pleasure. Somewhere along the way he had grabbed the stack of papers and managed to make it out of his office where he ran directly into a woman. The woman who’s voice was now accusing him of not looking where he was going.
Aidan looked up, his papers littered the floor along with her coffee. “I’m sorry!”
“It’s fine.” She replied, helping him with his papers and in that moment he finally got a good look at the stranger who wasn’t a stranger at all.
“Amanda? What are you doing here?”
“Amanda? What are you doing here?”
She looked up with a knowing smile. “If you really want to know, I had a party that I was hosting last night and they let me crash in their bedroom. Who knew you could get drunk off the drinks you served yourself.” She grabbed her head and looked at her spilled coffee. “I really needed that.”
Amanda returned his papers to him, surprisingly they were unharmed. “I should get going.”
“Amanda!” Aidan called before she could leave his sight. He looked at the stain on the carpet and made a mental note to get someone to clean it up. But then he refocused on the situation on hand, he forced a smile as his stomach grew knots he didn’t know could exist. “Let me buy you another cup of coffee.”
“You don’t-”
“I want to.” Aidan extended, being more friendly.
She smiles, a nod of her head later she is accompanying him to Charlie’s office to deliver the papers that he needed to sign and then they are off to get coffee, or perhaps more.
[.....]
Scene Two:
2634 W. Parker St., Stone Creek. [Callahan Condo’s #29]
Taylor Kern & Dizzy Roberts’ Home.
She wasn’t one to sleep in, so when Dizzy Roberts woke up and found that it was already noon, the woman jumped out of bed and looked around in a dazed confusion. She called out her boyfriend’s name but knew that if he wasn’t in the immediate vicinity that he wouldn’t hear a word that she said.
So instead, she got out of bed. not bothering to put anything on over her white laced cami or boy-cut underwear. After all if Mac Kern was at her apartment like he originally was the night before then he wouldn’t mind and if his brother, Taylor was home he wouldn’t be looking at her anyways.
There was a freedom living with Taylor that she felt wasn’t given to her living with anybody else.
“There you are.” Dizzy spoke, her throat dry. A man stood in the Kitchen clad in his boxers, the arch of his back turned Dizzy on as a smile crept on her face. Mac Kern turned around with a smile of his own. She walked over to him and kissed him. “What are you making?”
“Breakfast.” Mac said.
She looked over at the stove and took in the smell of the food before her. It was nice to have Mac around, especially since he did things like make breakfast and give her the sex that she needed to de-stress from the day at the hospital. Dizzy didn’t realize how stressful her job had become. Ever since news got around that Dizzy was the possible savior of little Violet Stone, the new mother’s of Stone Creek came to her for the same treatment.
Before she knew it, her schedule was jam-packed. Helping her best friend Gail Schmidt through her Gestational Diabetes and then a successful premature birth was the key to her new career and life in Stone Creek and she was forever thankful for that. It also helped bring Mac to her bed.
Dizzy leaned into the man’s body. “I love that you cook.”
Her voice lingered there between the two of them as he began to kiss her neck, a giggle coming from Dizzy signaled that she was indeed turned on even more. “I love that you love that I cook.” He simply replied. But before they could do anything else and before Dizzy could slip her hand in Mac’s boxers his brother, Taylor walked into the Kitchen.
They both turned to see the grown man walk into the room wearing nothing but batman briefs and a smile. “What are you two love birds getting up to?” He looked them up and down. “By the way, I don’t want to see any of your straight people porn in my kitchen. I like to eat my cereal without images of my little brother getting down on the table.”
Mac groaned.
“Besides, I really do like this table.” Taylor added.
This caused Dizzy to shake her head and chuckle. “Did anyone ever tell you how romantic they thought you were?”
“Everyday.” Taylor smirked, this got Dizzy to roll her eyes. She watched as Mac turned back to the breakfast and then moved around the kitchen obviously stuck in thought. He kissed Dizzy’s neck and then asked her to finish making their breakfast while he put on some clothes.
Taylor frowned.
She turned to her roommate. “Really smooth.”
“That’s my little brother!” Taylor mocked, he walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out some milk for his morning meal. Then he turned back to Dizzy who was occupied with her breakfast that Mac had already started. “The way things are going, it seems like he’s going to want to have kids soon.”
Her eyes bulged. Although Dizzy had really wanted to have children, after all, Dizzy wasn’t getting any younger and she already had this five year plan in her head. There was no telling if Mac was ready for kids and since their relationship was still so new she had never thought to ask him about it.
Dizzy turned back to her breakfast, conflicted.
[.....]
Scene Three:
Somewhere in Germany.
Gideon Wilkinson & Emmet Thurlow’s Hotel Room.
“Don’t get yourself down, kid.” Gideon Wilkinson spoke, tossing Emmet a bottle of water. The younger man looked in acknowledgement and tried to smile. “Have you talked to Iris since she admitted to helping Lucy Hahn? I know it’s hard for you but don’t hold it against her.”
Emmet looked down at the water. “What would you do if your wife had done something similar?”
This caught Gideon by surprise, but he was able to recover. Taking a sip of his own bottle of water the Chief of Police began to think about the question that his best friend’s son had asked him. “Firstly, the marriage that I have with my wife is none of your business. Secondly, when you invest in a relationship with someone else that means they have the right to explain themselves to you.”
“Daphne and I have been through our fair share of ups and downs and some of them have made me realize that there is more to our marriage than this.” Emmet took a drink of his water bottle as he listened to Gideon talk, he remembered hearing about the crazy things that Daphne Wilkinson’s old College boyfriend put the Wilkinson family through. “When you almost lose the one you love, everything else seems so petty and not worth a fight.”
He shook his head.
“But what if Frank loses his life?”
The question was enough to knock the air out of both their lungs. “It’s not going to get to that point Emmet, I had confirmation from Diem earlier about the possible whereabouts of Lucy. Look, we don’t know exactly what we are going to find, but I know Frank and he is a pretty smooth talker.”
“Which means?”
Gideon smirked. “I think he can talk his way out of not dying.”
Emmet gulped.
“He will be fine.” Gideon assured him. “Maybe you should give your father a call? Even though you are now working for Stone Creek’s offices it doesn’t mean you should be this long away from the office. That and something tells me he is going to need someone’s help with finances now that Frank is missing.”
“He’s never really been good at that, has he?”
Gideon shook his head. “And with Frank missing, he is even further in the dark. Frank Nelson covered everything that had to do with the cash flow into the company. James is really good at keeping people together and making deals with major companies but Frank did all the money work.”
“I shall give him a call.” Emmet got up.
“And about Iris, give her sometime to explain herself, who knows,” Gideon advised. “Maybe she will surprise you with her answers. Remember, she was only trying to protect her friend.”
Emmet nodded his head. He knew that what Gideon was saying had some truth to it, but he couldn’t help but shake the feeling that he didn’t know Iris at all. Picking up his phone, he exited out onto the balcony and dialed his father’s number. If this was a distraction from his own mind, he knew it would be what he needed.
Scene Four:
Stone Creek; Sage Gardens.
Alice’s Haven Cafe; Inside.
Although his cousin was their server, Aidan, tried not to make things too awkward. Especially since it was a conversation with Kirsten that ended up with his then girlfriend, Amanda Tucker finding out that he was bisexual and shared a kiss with Taylor Kern.
He was now twenty-three and it still felt like his old life was catching up to him only this time it was Aidan that had to cover-up his messes and not his father. Sitting in front of Amanda he tried to only focus on her but he kept thinking back to a previous situation where he had an on and off again relationship with a guy; Wesley Quinn. How he felt like he was in love with the man but then he went and had a one-night stand with Jacquelyn Li.
That one-night stand led to him having a son, but his father was able to cover-up his infidelity and send Jacquelyn away with a hefty check.
“Thanks for lunch.” Amanda spoke, her green eyes sparkled as she looked in excitement at her ex. boyfriend. “I’m really glad that we were able to meet-up and talk, actually, I’m excited that things worked out this way. Imagine my surprise when it was you that nearly ran me over back at The Lakeside Inn.”
Aidan smirked, re-living the moment from earlier. “I’m sorry about that, I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
“It’s not entirely your fault.” Amanda acknowledged.
“I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
She shrugged. “Would it make a difference if I said that I was really glad that you spilt my coffee on the floor and nearly ruined my Gucci shoes?”
“Listen, Amanda-”
“Don’t finish that.” She interrupted. “I overreacted about the whole Taylor thing, you know when I first overheard your conversation with your cousin about Taylor I thought you were cheating on me with another girl. But then when I found out that he was a he I just couldn’t hold in my frustration.”
Before he knew it, his hand was covering Amanda’s. “I’m-” He took his hand away and grew bright red. “I’m sorry, I just... Taylor was never really a factor in our relationship Amanda. I really cared a lot for you and I felt really bad about everything.”
“So could we get a second chance?”
Could he give her one? Could he give himself one? Aidan tried to clear his mind of both Amanda and Taylor and all the drama that came of it. It was true that he cared a lot for Amanda and on most levels his still does. But what was their relationship? Sex? Where was the substance?
Aidan shook his head. “I don’t think we should.”
She frowned. “So you are gay.”
It wasn’t what he would label himself, although Aidan had a hard time sticking to which label really did describe him. But he knew he wasn’t one or the other, nothing was black and white to him. He knew he wasn’t gay but also that he wasn’t straight. He also knew that he wasn’t ready to be in a relationship again.
“I-”
Amanda began to cry. “Natalie’s leaving me. I thought that when I emptied the bottle of water over your head that I could walk away from you and not care anymore, Aidan. But then Natalie told me that she was leaving Stone Creek I suddenly felt alone.”
“What about the other models?”
“They’re so vapid.”
Watching the tears fall from her eyes, Aidan felt nothing but awful. “Amanda, I really didn’t mean to make you cry. Maybe we can work something out? I’m not saying that we can get right back into a relationship. You’re not alone Amanda.”
She cleared her tears.
[.....]
Scene Five:
980 Cutler St., Stone Creek. [Faustino Cottages #12]
Diem & Leia Joplin’s Home.
Having her daughter, Leia Joplin back has been thrilling.
Except the fact that Diem really hadn’t spent that much time with her. It is true that whenever they were both done with their days they would sit around the TV and bond over whatever reality show was on at the moment. But that really didn’t substitute as a healthy relationship and the charade of both women actually bonding over TV has become difficult to pull off.
Staring at her computer screen Diem let her fingers do the work for her as she tried to find the hotel that Lucy Hahn was staying at. Getting the clue about her ex. boyfriend’s credit cards being used for Germany was the first step to finding her, but the difficult part was still underway.
She sighed.
Not only was she focusing so much of her time and energy on her cases, but she was alienating the most important people in her life right now. Diem flashed back to the other day when she got in an argument with Caitlyn Thurlow and how it was so easy to throw Seth’s name around. But yet she couldn’t get on the phone to call him, or simply send him a text.
Were they even dating? She didn’t know the answer to that question, Caitlyn had just made Diem so angry by trying to uncover a secret relationship between herself and James, which never existed in the first place. Diem felt like she had to defend herself.
But what was she really defending?
Diem stopped typing and looked at her phone. There were a couple missed calls from Seth Keeler. Calls that she knew were made hours ago because Diem had forwarded them to her voicemail. Sure she felt bad, but Gideon and Emmet were in Germany right now and they needed her help. Especially now that she was talking directly to them and not just giving James the information now.
Before Diem could send a text to Seth asking if he wanted to get together for dinner soon, the doorbell wrung. She contemplated answering it, maybe Diem would just hide in her office and pretend like she wasn’t home? But then the simple thought of going through all that trouble seemed lost on her and she was up out of her seat and answering the door.
“Seth?” She asked surprised, Diem place her phone in her pocket and started to feel a little guilty.
He looked at her with a patient smile. “I didn’t think I’d actually find you here. I would have just called, but you ignored all of them.” He chuckled, slightly. If only to break the awkward silence. “I don’t want to be a bother Diem, I just want to spend time with you.”
“I want the same.” She replied, hanging on the door.
Not even bothering to ask him in, Diem continued. “To tell you the truth I was just about to send you a text asking if you wanted to have dinner sometime.”
“I would love that!” He jumped, re-lighting a flame in his eyes. “How about tonight? I can meet you at Sisyphean’s if you’d like? Just do something really fancy -- I’d give you time to get ready of course! Maybe meet around, say,” He thought of the perfect time, “Nine o’clock?”
Diem grimaced. “I have a lot to do today, Seth. I really don’t know if I have the time to actually get ready and go out to eat. When I said dinner sometime, I actually meant like a week from now. We could schedule something if you’d like? I don’t want you to think I’m avoiding you at all!”
“Oh, okay.” His shoulder’s slumped. “I believe in us.”
“What?” This caught Diem off-guard. “Seth-”
He smirked, solemnly. “I really do want us to work and I know you do as well. I understand that you’re busy Diem, I really do. I have my own deadlines as well. But I’ve been going out of my way and trying to keep our relationship going-”
“I’m sorry.” Diem interrupted. “There has just been a lot going on and I wish I could say that it’s all because William is in town. But truthfully, I haven’t even thought of William at all. You’re a really great guy and I haven’t dated at all in years so this is all new to me again.”
“I understand.” Seth replied. “I’ll get back to you on that dinner date.”
She nodded her head as he turned to walk away. Knowing that she could have just single-handedly ruined the one good relationship she had in a very long time.
[.....]
Scene Six:
Stone Creek; Now Town.
Greta Wilkinson Real Estate Agency; Inside.
“This is Greta Wilkinson’s officer, how may I help you?” She spoke so subtly that nobody would have known that she recently lost one of her best friends, except that everyone knew. And how could they not know? Emily Roscoe’s death was huge in town because as big as Stone Creek had become in recent years, a murder of this notoriety was unheard of in the city.
She had tried to occupy herself as did the rest of her family and since Greta had a business to keep afloat she dove head first into her work. Some days she would go to the Police Station so that she could keep up on the latest news about the case, but mostly her time was spent here.
The man on the other end of the phone didn’t seem to notice the tone in Greta’s voice or the underlining struggle she was having not to breakdown and cry when she thought back to Emily’s death. Nor did he seem to realize that half her mind was thinking about her brother Bentley who had found Emily in their apartment. Instead he inquired about a house for rent a couple blocks into the suburbs of Stone Creek.
Greta wrote down his name on a piece of paper and agreed to meet him at the house today so that they could look it over and possibly make plans for him to purchase it. Although Greta had done a lot of apartment searching for clients she hadn’t had much luck with actual homes since her previous employers dominated that demographic.
So she pulled out the keys for the house and smiled. This could be a really big break for her, if she could sell the house the right way and bring a profit for the home owner then the word would get around about how quick of a turn around that Greta was capable of.
As she left her office, Greta dialed her fiance’s number but got his voicemail. “Miles, it’s Greta.” She paused a second. “I just wanted to let you know that I’m showing off my first house today and I’m really excited. I know that you’re busy with Emily’s murder case so I didn’t want to bother you too much. But I just wanted to say that I think we should make dinner plans tonight.”
Greta thought about where she wanted to go. Would they do something fancy and dress-up to wait hours at Sisyphean’s and have an over priced meal? Or was the thought of Gladys’ Bistro a better bet? “Maybe we can make dinner at home tonight? I’ll pick up some food after I show this house.”
Before she unlocked the doors to her car, she sighed and looked at herself in the reflection of the window to her car. “I love you.” She ended, hanging up the phone. There was a sadness in her eyes today and she knew exactly why. But right now she need to smile and show radiance. Today she needed to improve her current position and needed this to work or she might lose her business.
She turned around, checking herself out in the reflection before shaking her head and chuckling at how embarrassing she was being. “I miss you, Emily.” Greta managed to whisper. She looked up at the sky and blew a kiss and then she opened the door to her car and jumped in.
[.....]
Scene Seven:
Somewhere in Germany.
Gideon Wilkinson & Emmet Thurlow’s Hotel Room.
“You were right.” Emmet Thurlow said. He re-entered the Hotel room from the balcony and placed his phone in his pocket. “My father has no idea how to organize the finances without the help of Frank. He has one of his new secretaries helping him.”
Gideon chuckled. “Well now he is going to need to hire someone else.”
“Any news of Frank?” Emmet looked grim.
But Gideon nodded his head this time, which made Emmet feel a mix of emotions. There really wasn’t much they could do and Emmet was starting to realize that. He had thought that once they landed in Germany he would feel better about Frank going missing, like they were going to accomplish something by just landing. But to tell the truth, it had only made Emmet feel helpless.
“Diem called me while you were on the balcony.”
The younger man’s face lit up. “What did she say?”
“We now know the last place that ‘Paul Braun’ checked into and if we are lucky we will find both Lucy and Frank in the room.” Gideon caught wind of Emmet’s expression. “He will be alright, Emmet, don’t go thinking about the worst case scenario right now. The good news is we know where he could be.”
Emmet agreed, ready to leave he headed towards the door. “Let’s go now!”
“I agree.” Gideon followed him.
Before either of them could leave though, Emmet opened the door to his fiance standing there. Her expression complete fear as she froze in place, her arm up in a half-knock. “I was hoping I’d have enough time to compose myself.”
“What are you doing here?” Emmet asked.
Gideon welcomed her into the room. “Does anyone else know you are here?”
Iris Galloway shook her head. “I couldn’t just stay home and wait for news about Lucy or Frank. Don’t worry, I haven’t been in contact with Lucy since before they left for Germany so she had no idea that we are here, not do I have a clue to where she is.”
“That doesn’t matter, you should go home.” Emmet said, harshly.
She looked down in shame.
“It’s too late for that.” Gideon replied, he returned to the door. “We know where Lucy could possibly be so we need to work fast and get there. Iris, since you’re already here you might as well come with us. Keeping Lucy calm is the key to getting Frank and since you’re both friends-”
“Yeah, I know.” Iris shrugged. She joined both Emmet and Gideon at the door. There was obviously frustration in her voice. But there wasn’t any time to pick it apart.
[.....]
Scene Eight:
2300 Cranberry St., Stone Creek. [Stone Creek Apartments #18]
Bentley Wilkinson’s Home.
The red light kept blinking and for the most part of his day, Bentley Wilkinson was able to escape the constant reminder that it was full of messages from people who wanted to know if he was alright. Which he was. He just didn’t want to hear the question. As if it would unlock any sort of doubt that he had tucked away in his subconscious. Bentley moved passed the answering machine and into the kitchen.
His whole home was dark, as the blinds had been closed for the last few weeks. There was something about the sun he really didn’t want to interact with unless he had to leave the house. Which he did when he left for the grocery store. A process that Bentley didn’t really like much.
The microwave beeped.
It had already been weeks since Emily’s funeral. The leaves on the tree’s outside were already starting to turn the many shades of fire as the month drew out into Autumn. It was only inching them closer to her favorite holiday, closer to the time they spent trying on costume’s for Halloween. When Emily explained to Bentley why it was sexist for her to dress provocative. A smile was hard to come by, but today he’d let it slip.
His mind let him wander to the day he saw her.
“What are you doing?” Lucy Hahn asked, her voice suspicious of Bentley before he had anytime to recover and pretend he hadn’t been checking out the new girl. She smiled at her friend and looked over at Emily Roscoe. “She’s James Thurlow’s missing secretary.”
Bentley turned to Lucy. “Well, somebody found her.”
The brunette grinned wickedly. “I heard she crashed her car on the way into Stone Creek. How wicked is that? It’s like Dorothy found her way to OZ and oh boy, is this place full of witches and wizards.” Lucy watched Bentley try to distract himself. “Good thing I’m not the jealous type.”
“We’re only sleeping together, Lucy,” Bentley reminded her, he caught her eye. “There shouldn’t be a reason for either of us to be jealous. What else do you know about the new girl?”
Lucy folded her arms. “Her name is Emily Roscoe, I can introduce the two of you if you’d like?”
Although there was irritation in Lucy’s voice, Bentley hadn’t noticed. His attention was down the hall, on the auburn haired Emily Roscoe as she moved through the corridor and towards the copy room. There was something in her stride, in her confidence. Maybe it was because she had recently been in a car accident and survived or that she had always had a spring in her step. Whatever it was, Bentley wanted to know more about her.
He gulped, then looked back at Lucy with a smile.
There had definitely been something about Emily that caught his attention, not like all the other girls that Bentley was used to being around. He wouldn’t have lied when someone called him a player before he met Emily. Bentley had been carrying on a friends-with-benefits relationship with Lucy Hahn after all. But then again, it seemed everyone in the office was carrying a friends-with-benefits relationship with Lucy Hahn.
Bentley frowned.
Taking his lunch out of the microwave, it was a half-appetizing bowl of Easy-Mac, he placed it on the counter and pulled out a carton of milk. He wouldn’t be grabbing a glass from the cupboard as it would mean he’d have to wash dishes and really, nobody else was drinking the milk, anyways.
Bentley took a swing from the carton.
He thought back to the dream he had of Emily the night before her funeral. It was obvious that it was Emily’s way of saying goodbye to him. Having dreamt their whole life together in one night, scene after scene that continued to play in his head to this day.
Could it have been so simple to save her that night? Would they have ever had wed, had kids or planned a trip to Paris? Or would something else have taken Emily away from him? Something more sinister? But if so, what more could have happened? The love of his life was murdered.
Then he grimaced, he no longer was hungry. Bentley washed the bowl of Easy-Mac in the sink. Maybe he would just see what was on TV. Bentley walked back into the living room and walked right passed the blinking red light once more.
[.....]
Scene Nine:
Stone Creek; Now Town.
Stone Creek Memorial Hospital; 2nd Floor.
Jotting down a couple notes at the closes nurses station, Dizzy Roberts smiled at the woman behind the desk and passed along the paper work. “After we get the tests in, I’d like it if you would go in and talk to Mrs. Jensen about her results and what to look out for.”
The nurses nodded her head, knowingly.
“Dizzy!” She turned her head to see Dr. David Schmidt waving her over. Dizzy smiled and parted from the nurses station, she made her way over to David and gave him a hug. “I didn’t think you would be in today, since you were here the last seven.”
She smiled. “Stone Creek is having a lot of babies next year.”
David acknowledged the thought. “Well, their parents are lucky to have you!”
“How have you been by the way?” He asked, this caught her off-guard but she tried to recover without causing him too much grief. “Is there something you’d like to talk about? Anything to do with Gail or my granddaughter Violet?” David placed his hands over her shoulder.
But Dizzy assured him that Gail and Violet were healthy. Instead she rolled her shoulders, testing to see if he were the right person to ask advice from. With Gail busy at home with her new baby and her relationship with Taylor not serious enough, she began.
“It’s my boyfriend?”
“Boyfriend?” David raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t know you had one.”
“I do,” Dizzy rounded the corner, letting David catch up to the conversation. “We have been pretty serious as of late and I really have been stumped about something.”
The other doctor stopped in his tracks. “Go ahead, I’m listening.”
It was strange how comfortable she felt around Dr. Schmidt, it was true that she did stay in his house for awhile when she first moved to Stone Creek to help her best friend Gail through her pregnancy. But then Helen manipulated Dizzy out of the house-- Dizzy also knew she probably overstayed her welcome.
Even then, David didn’t want her to leave.
Dizzy frowned. “I’ve always had this plan, it’s silly really. I’ve always wanted to have children when I was young so that I don’t have to be in my forties still raising them or trying to gather money together for their college fund. My mother had me when she was nineteen!”
“She was still young.”
“But she was able to take me to baseball practice and school plays.” Dizzy looked at David, worry in her eyes. “I want to have children before I can’t take care of them. That’s my main point. But my boyfriend, he is younger than me by eight years and I’m not too sure if he is ready for that.”
He placed a hand under his chin, thinking.
“Is that silly of me?”
“Maybe you’re thinking too much for the both of you?” David advised, he licked his lips. “Have you talked to your boyfriend about having children? I mean, hey! He might surprise you and start digging out baby books he had hidden away. Which is sort of creepy-”
Dizzy chuckled.
“But you never know. Maybe he isn’t as immature as you think he is.” David rubbed her shoulder. “Age shouldn’t always have to matter Dizzy. Maybe he is just waiting for you to ask him about children first. The point being, you need to let him decide if he’s ready.”
There was a flirtation in his words to Dizzy found uneasy, but she took his advise anyways. After all, she really didn’t have anyone else to ask and Dr. Schmidt had always been someone there if she had a question. Dizzy thought about hugging David, but instead just smiled. “Thanks.”
[.....]
Scene Ten:
Stone Creek; Now Town.
A House for Rent; Inside.
Greta Wilkinson climbed the thick wooden steps on the house her client had called earlier about. The skeleton keys to the house in her hand, she turned back to the man and smiled. “The house hasn’t been painted in nearly twenty years, but the rustic feel of the outside only adds to the elegant history the inside bestows.”
Her words lost in the air.
The boards underneath Greta’s heels creaked as they approached the front door to the old victorian styled home and somehow it felt like she was at home again in her grandmother’s old home before she moved away to Paris and came back to Stone Creek again. Greta could picture the house she grew up in.
“I don’t really know how long I’ll be staying in Stone Creek.” The man admitted, stepping into the house after Greta had. “I just want something to rent out for awhile, something sturdy and cheap.”
“Oh,” She mouthed, her head turned back to the man as she dropped the key into her pocket. Greta frowned, then turned the rest of her body to him. “Well, this might just be the house you are looking for. Although the owners aren’t looking to rent it out, I’m sure we could work something out--besides, who wants to own a house that isn’t bringing in any income?”
He stepped past Greta and took the house in. “Does it have a basement?”
“Of course!” Finally he seemed interested in the house again, Greta walked him out of the living room and into the kitchen where a door near the pantry led to a set of steps that ended at the bottom of a dark basement. “There’s an attic as well. Both have been remodeled to reflect the modern necessities.”
The man smirked. “Well isn’t that sweet.”
“Would you like me to show you the basement?” Greta asked, trying to reel the man in. This house being rented out would be one of her greatest accomplishments for her little real estate agency. Because everyone in Stone Creek knew that next to the Old Granger Manor, not a soul would live in it.
Instead the man shook his head, he eye’d Greta with slithered eyes. “You look so familiar, like someone I have known since I was younger. You’re breath taking.”
“Thank you.” Greta replied, feeling overwhelmed. She furrowed her brow in confusion and then, politely smiled back at him. “Is there anything else you would like me to show you? Upstairs there are three bedrooms and two point five baths. Then den is over here,” she pointed towards a passage way behind the kitchen.
“I think I’ve seen enough for now.”
She gulped. “Fantastic.”
[.....]
Scene Eleven:
Somewhere in Germany.
Hotel Room.
“Are you sure this is it?” Iris asked.
“This is the room that Diem sent in a text message.” Emmet showed the text to his fiance and then to his father’s best friend, Gideon. “But the only way we will know for sure is if we get inside. Do you want to do the honors, Chief Wilkinson?”
Gideon nodded his head. Holding his gun out, Gideon looked at the two youngsters with him. Emmet Thurlow, the lawyer, stood across from Gideon with a gun of his own aimed at the hotel room. Gideon remembered the few times he was able to take Emmet and Bentley to the shooting range. Confident that Emmet was in control of his weapon. Then he looked back at Iris who staggered behind Gideon.
“On the count to three.” They nodded their heads.
While Gideon started his countdown, Iris, couldn’t help but say a little prayer in hopes that nobody had to use any fire power to gain control of the coming chaos. There was no way they would be able to convince her that the use of guns was their best option. But she also knew that even if she tried to protest, Emmet would jump down her throat again. It seemed that was what their relationship had been reduced to lately.
“Three.” She could hear Gideon whisper.
Then he approached the door and kicked it open, igniting a scream from Iris, who upon the invasion of the room she was startled. Quickly all three entered the hotel room. But the sight before them was one they hadn’t expected. Once the guns were swung to their sides, Iris rushed forward and began untying Frank Nelson.
He looked more terrified that they had burst into the room than grateful. But once Iris loosened the scarf from his mouth he began to thank them for coming to his rescue. “She’s not here.” Frank spoke once Gideon started to search the bathroom.
They all looked at him.
“Lucy took Sebastian this morning,” a remorseful feeling evaded Iris’ emotions. “I don’t know where they are going. But I managed to convince Lucy that the best thing for everyone is if she left me here and went on without me. She was ready to take me with her!”
Gideon and Emmet exchanged looks.
“You said she didn’t tell you where she was going?” Iris asked, she could feel everyone’s eyes dart to her. “She was my best friend, I know that she did terrible things. But I’m still going to worry about her, even if none of you like that!” The words forced their way out of her mind.
Immediately she felt relief.
Frank grabbed Iris’ hand. “If I knew where she went, I’d tell you.”
“What do we do now?” Emmet demanded. There was a mix of anger and disappointment in his words and they stung Iris as if she washed a cut in lemon juice. She avoided eye-contact with her fiance as the four of them started to sort through their day.
“Just leave her alone.” Frank spoke. “Lucy is fine and Sebastian is safe with her, she would never harm that little boy because that is all she really has left.”
Emmet frowned, he looked back at Gideon.
[.....]
Scene Twelve:
980 Cutler St., Stone Creek. [Faustino Cottages #12]
Diem & Leia Joplin’s Home.
Hoping that the boys were able to find Frank Nelson, Diem Joplin, decided to spend the rest of her night with a fresh cup of tea and a romantic movie from the late 70s. There was a deep Nostalgia that set in as she remembered blowing off Seth earlier. But what could she really do? For most of her life, Diem was so used to being single that it baffled her when she had to juggle a relationship and her friendships.
Leia came into the room with her own cup of tea. “What are you doing, young lady?”
This caught a chuckle from Diem.
“Are you really going to tell me that you are going to spend your night here with a hot cup of tea and a movie that will only make you even more depressed and alone than you probably already feel?” Leia leaned against the doorway. “Now why would you do that when I know a man who would kill for a date with you.”
Diem looked up at her daughter, her cheeks red.
“I know for certain that there is a man outside right now, a handsome man at that,” Leia tried to contain her smirk, “and he would love it if you joined him underneath the stars of this dazzling Summer’s night for a nice, romantic dinner for two.”
Leia held two fingers up in the air, then she motioned for her mother to follow her.
How could Leia had known she was talking to anybody, and why would Diem even expect to see Seth Keeler outside right now? Then it hit her, Leia had probably tried to set Diem up on a blind date and the man outside would be a total stranger.
Diem stopped in her tracks and looked upstairs. “Maybe I should change.”
“You look gorgeous.” Leia assured her.
“What are you doing?” Diem asked, she folded her arms. “Honey, I’m not looking to settle down with anybody right now and I am certainly not ready for a blind date.”
Leia chuckled. “Is that what you think this is all about? I wish I was able to claim responsibility for this, but it’s all yours mother. I heard you talking to Seth Keeler earlier today. I know, I shouldn’t eavesdrop, but I also know that you need someone mother. I won’t always be here.”
“I would never replace you-”
“I’m your daughter.” Leia interrupted. “You could never replace me! But when you turned down a dinner date with the dashing Seth Keeler, who also happens to be my boss! -- I don’t mind, by the way -- I’m just glad you found someone that makes you happy. Anyways...”
They both giggled in excitement. “Anyways! I knew I had to call him and get him back here. We brainstormed, collaborated, and we knew that a dinner under the stars would be exactly what you needed. You can’t worry about me forever mother, I got divorced and I’m still alive.”
“I’m so proud of you, darling.”
“I know.” Leia hugged her mother. “Now go outside and make me proud of you.”
With a small nudge from Leia, she found herself outside the front door and standing on their porch. It had seemed that the porch had been covered in candles while she wasn’t paying attention and a small trail of candles led her to a hill that sat right next to their house where Diem Joplin had had built a table.
Whenever the snow had dried up and the nights became a sticky heat, she would take a much younger Leia outside for a candle-lit dinner under the stars.
Her breath caught in her throat, Diem peered out to see Seth Keeler approaching her with a single, red, rose in his grasp and a pearl white smile underneath his dazzling brown eyes. She couldn’t help but laugh at how the night was beginning to turn out how she had imagined it would, if she had ever fallen in love.
Seth walked over to Diem, linked hands with her and walked her back to their table where dinner had awaited them and the next three hours were engulfed in conversation between the two of them. No work. No worries. No confusion of where their relationship was headed.
Next Time, On Concrete Shelves
+Frank wrestles with his kidnapping from Stone Creek.
+Gail went back to work at the hospital.
+Dizzy Roberts continues to worry about her relationship.
