- Marina Thurlow informed her boyfriend, Ryan Bauer, that she was thinking about stepping down as the Co-Editorial Editor of the Stone Creek Ledger -- Although Ryan insisted otherwise.
- While staying late at the office, Patrick Sutton, was greeted by his half-sister; Kimberly Sutton admitted to being back in Stone Creek to help Patrick’s daughter, Gillian Sutton Crenshaw, with Sutton Enterprises.
- Kirsten Sutton found the Cafe in jeopardy because her newest assistant manager failed to arrive for her shifts at work. While her ex. boyfriend, Adrian Stone, continued to struggle on his relationship with Gail Schmidt and their baby, Violet.
- After finally coming to terms of his feelings for Taylor Kern, Aidan Jurado, entered into a relationship with the other man...
[.....]
[.....]
Scene One:
Stone Creek; Now Town
Sutton Enterprises; Patrick Sutton’s Office
The crispy January sun shone through a pair of ash grey clouds, if Patrick didn’t know any better he would have thought that winter in Stone Creek was nearly complete for a cycle -- but he knew better. He spent most of the morning watching as the shades of blue and grey danced in the sky and very rarely the sun would get to blaze and touch the plains of the city. He watched them intently through the large dramatic window in his office. His deep brown eyes analyzed the sky like a ping-pong tournament; back-and-forth and then forth-and-back, he nearly missed his daughter walking by as he did this.
But Patrick was keen when it came to people, as a man so domineering he has had to watch his back on many different occasions. So he was used to having to keep his mind on alert. “Gillian!” He called, turning to face the open door to his office. His daughter’s garment being the only thing he caught. “Could I have a word with you?... with the door closed,” he added.
Gillian Sutton Crenshaw smirked, she shook her golden blond hair in amusement and did as she was asked. She stepped closer to his desk with an oversized green folder clutched in her crossed arms. “I have a minute, if that’s all that you’re asking for. But I really do have a meeting to get too.”
“With your Aunt?” Patrick fished. The way Gillian tried to hold her composure immediately told him all he needed to know. Although Patrick was willing to believe that his youngest heir was eager to take over the family business, he knew she wasn’t skilled in the way that Patrick had groomed Charlie to be. Sadly Charlie had turned his back to the family years earlier. But that wasn’t the business he wanted to discuss, in actuality it wasn’t business he’d ever want to discuss -- not anytime soon, at least.
“I know that we already talked about why you invited her here...” He recalled the excuses that Gillian had given her father, how she needed advice from someone who knew the company just as much as her father did. How Kimberly Sutton was only around for a small chunk of time, but Patrick was still worried. “I was hoping that you’d give me a time frame --”
Gillian cleared her throat. “I don’t think I have to explain that much to you, father -- not to be disrespectful or anything, because I do respect you... except when you start throwing around your weight, I can’t respect that. Plus I’ve told you already that Aunt Kimberly is only in town for awhile. If there’s one thing in this family I fully trust... it’s her judgement.”
“But you hardly know her.” He protested, Patrick leaned back in his office chair.
“Exactly the point. I hardly know her, I’ve grown up watching what you’ve done to Sutton Enterprises daddy and quite frankly -- I don’t agree. Aunt Kimberly has been through a lot with our family... including having to deal with being the product of an affair, if anything, she’s had to fight for her right in our family and that is something I trust.”
Patrick stood up, the words coming from his daughter’s mouth were full of wisdom and power, but they were still just words and she were still just a naive child in his eyes. So he couldn’t take them seriously -- at least not seriously enough. “I only want what is best for you.”
“You’ve been saying that since I became engaged to Damien,” Gillian reminded him. “Daddy, you keep saying you only want what is best for me and then you go and lose my trust. If I can remind you that I was the one who saved this family from my husband’s clutches... as I’ll be the one who saves this business from your careless--”
“I’d rather you not finish that sentence.” He replied coldly.
His eyes ached for Gillian to understand him, if only so he could manipulate her into giving him back his rights to rule over Sutton Enterprises. Patrick walked over to her side and placed a hand on her shoulder, trying a different approach. “Where is Kimberly staying?”
“In a hotel.” Gillian shrugged.
“Which one?” He observed as his daughter tried to give him an answer from the top of her head, but as soon as her hand hit her temple to think he knew she wouldn’t be able to answer that question. “If you can’t figure out where your advisor is staying, Gillian... honey, listen, I don’t mean this in a terribly rude way. But I think you’ve underestimated your dear Aunt Kimberly.”
Gillian shook her head. “You need to stop trying to tell me how to run my company.”
“This is my company too!” Patrick breathed heavily, keeping eye-contact with the younger blue-eyed woman. “This is my company too, Gillian, and I will not let you ruin the progress I had made to keep this company in my grasps, you hear me? That woman deserve no rights to Sutton Enterprises, she has no rights to my father’s company!” He broke eye-contact and turned away.
“I really wish you would just come around to accepting that I am now running our family company,” Gillian admitted, solemnly standing behind him. She clutched her folder tighter and shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “You’ve run so many people away from here... from these walls, daddy... but you’re not going to run me away. I might have been flighty before, but things have changed. I have changed and one day you will accept that as well.”
Patrick turned his attention to the sun that shone through his office window. The ash grey clouds had disappeared once again and only left a light blue sky to dance with the lonely sunlight. He sighed, knowing that it would be harder to accept his daughter in a position of family over himself, than to accept that he was ready to fight for someone to stay in his life.
[.....]
Scene Two:
813 Crystal Hill St., Stone Creek. [Bayou Oaks Condos #21]
Aidan Jurado’s Condo
Aidan Jurado followed the smell of sausage being fried in his kitchen. He had spent most, if not all of the morning in bed with Taylor -- until the other man decided he wanted to make breakfast for the two of them before they headed to work. It was nice to have him around. Aidan leaned against the second-story railing and focused his attention on his boyfriend who was directly below him. 
“I know you’re awake,” Taylor Kern called out. “I also know you’re right above me near the railing... why don’t you come on down and see what I’ve got cooking? I think it’s a feast for a king... and well, you, of course.”
He was used to the playful jabs that Taylor spit his way, Aidan wasn’t hurt by them. In fact he eagerly waited for them, eating them up like a bookworm in a library. He jogged down the steps of his two-story condo and made his way through the living room towards the kitchen where he found Taylor.
“There you are.” Taylor smirked, he turned off the stove and walked over to Aidan. “I was going to wake you up this morning, but I thought I’d let you sleep since you got in really late last night... which I’m alright with -- just don’t like that I don’t get enough time with you.”
The sweet scent of breakfast filled his nostrils as Taylor pulled him into his arms for a kiss. “I know that... there were just a couple of phone calls I had to make, that’s all. I lost track of time.”
“I’m not asking you to explain yourself.”
Aidan shrugged. “I just want you to know that I’m not trying to avoid time with you. After all, I fancy a night with you over anything else. But with Caitlyn suggesting that we throw a Winter Wonderland Ball at the Inn... I guess my plate isn’t empty, however that saying goes.”
The two men had tried to spend as much time together as possible, especially since they both now worked at the Lakeside Inn. Ironically, however, most of their time was spent focusing on The Lakeside Inn or mapping out a sleepover routine. Taylor had practically moved into Aidan’s condo. Yet still one was always a little too busy to just lay around. Aidan was used to this although Taylor wasn’t.
“How about we sit down and have ourselves some breakfast?” Aidan suggested, he lingered around the kitchen and watched as Taylor turned away from him and started fixing a plate. “This smells wonderful, my lover, I’m starved.”
“Good.” A plate of food found its way in front of him, but he wasn’t able to concentrate on it when he watched Taylor make his way out of the kitchen and into the open living room across from it. He frowned when he realized that he wasn’t going to be joining Aidan for breakfast. “I’m afraid that I have to head home before work.”
“Why’s that?” Aidan asked.
Taylor sighed. “You know how you keep teasing me about misplacing things?”
Aidan nodded his head. “Yes.”
“Well I sort of left a couple things back home and I need to get them before I start my shift at the Inn. I know! I was at the apartment last night before I drove here... If I could sit here and eat breakfast with you, I really would.” Taylor quipped, “This whole breakfast thing was really a distraction for you.”
The englishman smirked. “Am I supposed to what, pretend this stack of pancakes is my boyfriend? Should I gaze lovingly into the yokes of the eggs and get frisky with the... oh man, on second thought... things just got awkward.”
Taylor chuckled. “When you’re done violating your breakfast would you come and give me a hug? I can try to make it back here before we have to be at the Inn if you’d like? Maybe get a quickie in before hand?” He teased.
“Can’t.” Aidan said. “I have to stop by my Uncle’s house to talk with Caitlyn about the Winter Wonderland Ball.” They both spoke in unison the last part of the sentence and smiled as they stood right in front of one-another. “Tonight?”
“I have to go over payroll and scheduling.” Taylor replied.
Aidan frowned. “We will figure something out.”
He leaned into Taylor’s embrace and pecked him on the cheek. “Maybe I can kidnap you like that Lucy Hahn chick did to uncle James’ CFO?”
“That’s not funny.” Taylor advised, which only made the situation even more comical to Aidan. He loved seeing the playful and the serious sides of Taylor interact in the same room. there was something about the man that made Aidan feel free -- comfortable -- in his presence.
Then it clicked. Aidan really did love spending time with Taylor any chance that he got and Taylor did pretty much live in the condo with Aidan. Although they hardly spent anytime together... the one constant in his life was still his feelings towards Taylor. Maybe it was time, he thought, maybe it was time to ask Taylor to move-in.
[.....]
Scene Three:
510 Auburn Rd., Stone Creek. [Nelson Home]
Frank and Deborah Nelson’s Home.
It wasn’t the first time that Laurie Jonas woke up confused as to where she was. Disorientated and completely alone in the bed, she rolled over to see the stuffed teddy bear sitting on a chair across the room and reminded herself she was staying with her parents. In her old room. Was it the most encouraging thought? She didn’t know. But it was a thought that calmed her mind for those few moments of getting up and out of bed. Laurie would force herself to get ready for the day and headed down stairs to check on her parents, who she figured were in the kitchen making breakfast like they had done every morning since she had arrived on their doorstep. She didn’t know what was so surprising, both of them working together or the fact that they had managed to find time in their busy schedule -- for the first time ever -- to be in the same room together, laughing.
She listened from the hallway as they held a conversation.
“I know I was silly to think that we needed to figure out a plan about Sebastian this early...” Deborah Nelson dragged on. Laurie could sense the retreat in her mother’s voice and it angered her. “I was just worried that we would be caught off-guard once again and I don’t like the thought of not knowing what’s to happen again.”
“You have every right to be worried.” Her father’s voice replied.
Laurie leaned against the wall. Growing up wasn’t the hardest thing to do in the Nelson household. For most of her life things were completely and utterly simple. Both of her parents got along and they spent most of their time dotting over one another. They took care of their children the best that they could and then it started to happen. Frank would come home late. Then he wouldn’t come home at all. She watched day in and day out as her mother began to make excuses for their father. Deborah would laugh it off with a thick undertone of worry.
“I will always love you,” Frank spoke again, she could hear them shuffling around in the kitchen. “I will always love the three children that we raised together Debbie. But if I’m being honest, I have to admit hearing this from Laurie doesn’t surprise me.”
“Don’t start Frank.” Deborah advised.
But clearly her father never paid much to his wife’s warnings. “Just let me say this and then the conversation can be put to rest. Now I’m not saying that I disagree with Laurie, she has every right to be concerned as well. But come on, she’s always been so forceful of her opinions.”
“I raised her to be that way.” Deborah reminded him.
“We have had such a good thing going for us lately,” Frank said. Laurie could imagine her father wrapping his arms around her mother and trying to cater to her physical tension. “I don’t want it to be pushed aside because Laurie is back home with us. We said that whenever an issue would come up we would face it -- like we did the other night -- and then put it behind us. I just don’t think Laurie is going to let us put this behind us so easily.”
She figured it was time to show her face, so Laurie turned into the kitchen and cleared her throat -- alerting them to her presence. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.”
“Laurie,” Deborah spoke first, she placed a hand to her throat, “You startled me.”
Frank remained stoic. “Would you care for some breakfast, biscuit?”
“I heard everything the two of you were talking about, daddy.” She replied with a half-laugh. But who was she kidding herself? “Maybe I shouldn’t stay here. Maybe I should just go get a room at a hotel or something until I figure everything out. Clearly I’m only getting in the way of your happy marriage.”
“Nonsense!”
“You’re a part of this family.” Frank followed, he relaxed his shoulders and walked up to Laurie. She pulled away and took a step back, cautiously. “I heard about what happened with Michael and I have to say Laurie, I’m terribly sorry. If you need to stay here longer... we understand.”
“Do you?” She challenged.
Deborah stepped forward. “What your father is trying to say --”
“Don’t answer for him.” Laurie spat. “Thank you for everything, really. I just don’t see how you apologizing for my husband’s actions ring true for everything that you put my mother through. After everything you let that Lucy woman put her through. Yes I am bringing up her name because it seems like nobody wants to bring it up besides myself!”
“Your mother and I are coping with this the best that we can. I don’t expect you to understand what we are going through... but I do want you to know that we are here for you and everything that you’re going through. We are working through our marriage and we want to make things work.” Frank spoke, suddenly he grew stern with her.
Laurie looked away.
“We want to know if you gave any thought with how you were going to follow through with Michael and the children,” Deborah spoke up.
“I’m not going back to him.” Laurie shook her head, she locked eyes with her mother and then lingered her gaze around her father. “There’s no way that I am returning to our home, I’d much rather stay here in Stone Creek.”
“That would be wonderful.” Her mother said, the tone in her voice wrung true.
She nodded her head and softened to their presence. “If you’d let me, I’d really like to stay here until I figure everything out. I’m sorry for being so defensive. There’s a lot that I should probably feel sorry for, but I just don’t know how to sift through everything right now.”
“It’s a process.” Frank admitted.
“What about the children?” Deborah asked, she leaned against the counter and pulled a warming smile upon her face. Laurie knew her mother’s attachment to the younger generation of the Nelson clan. As if there was something in their spirit that Deborah fed off of. “Do you think they can come and stay here in Stone Creek?”
Laurie shook her head. “I don’t want the kids here. Not while I’m going through all of this, not while I’m a fucking train-wreck. Besides, there’s school and routines that they are so used too right now. Michael can take care of them. I’ve done it for far too long. They’ll be fine.”
“Laurie.” Deborah pleaded.
But she shot her mother a look and ended that sentence quickly.
[.....]
Scene Four:
Stone Creek; Sage Gardens
Alice’s Haven Cafe; Inside
After seeing the mother of his daughter off to work this morning, Adrian Stone had continued his routine with their daughter. It hadn’t been much of a change for him, to now be a stay-at-home dad -- for the most part, that was -- since he still had a job as a mechanic that he tended to whenever the need came up. For the last week he had been helping a neighbor fix his car to pass the time and even found a way to make money out of it from generous tips. But today he was ready to get himself and his daughter, Violet, out of the house and out into Sage Gardens for some sunlight before it disappeared back behind the clouds. He knew that Stone Creek would be due for one last snowstorm before winter had a chance to bow out. So the sun from today was more of a calm before hand.
He stepped into Alice’s Haven Cafe and immediately saw the person he was looking for. She stood behind the counter on what appeared to be an important phone call, so instead of just waiting for her, Adrian moved to the cashier and maneuvered his wallet out of his pocket, “Can I get an iced coffee, please?”
“Anything for the little one?” The brunette teen smiled.
Adrian nodded, he looked at the wide-eyed one-year old and then back at the employee. “How bout we get her an orange juice and a cranberry orange scone for the two of us to share?” He spoke -- let the girl repeat his order and then paid her the given amount.
Getting out of the house was proving to be a breeze as he lingered around the cafe for Kirsten Sutton to notice him and once she did he pointed to a table to sit at before waiting for his order.
It seemed that Violet agreed with their outing today, she smiled with her big brown eyes and chewed on a set of toy keys that Adrian made sure he brought with him everywhere that Violet had went. Yes, routine wasn’t exactly too bad now that he had a child to take care of. He loved spending time with her every chance he got and with both her mother and grandfather constantly busy with work... Adrian got a lot of time with the toddler.
“I’m sorry about that.” Kirsten spoke as she walked over to Adrian with his order. She motioned the drinks in her hands and sat them at his table. “I just don’t know what I’m going to do. My Assistant Manager is driving me crazy lately.”
“Still not showing up?” He asked, he remembered her mentioning it a couple times but they never really got into deep discussion about it. He felt like he were prying on her and honestly ever since he reunited with Gail, Adrian tried to spend less and less time around Kirsten.
Kirsten shook her head. “You try to see the good in people...”
“Well, then,” Adrian started, he poured the orange juice in Violet’s bottle and placed the empty cup on the table, then fed the drink to his waiting daughter who took it in eagerly, as if she hadn’t had anything to drink in weeks. It amused him how she did that. “Maybe you should think about letting her go, Kirsten.”
As soon as Kirsten began to shake her head again, Adrian broke her thought, “I’m serious! This woman obviously doesn’t care enough for the business you are running so why are you catering to her needs? She calls in sick, doesn’t show up half of the time and when she does make an appearance, nothing gets done right. Why burden yourself with her?”
“Because, I don’t think I can find anyone else.” Kirsten admitted, she sighed heavily. “You know how hard it was for me to come to the realization that I needed help in the first place and then when I got help... look what happened!”
“Not all of your Assistant’s will be like her.”
Kirsten frowned. “You’re insinuating that I’ll have more than one after this?”
“I’m just saying, you need to do what is best for Alice’s Haven and she can’t be shocked or insulted by you letting her go.” Adrian replied, took a drink of his coffee and once he was satisfied with the drink he placed it on the table. “Don’t stress your pretty little head over this. Fire her.”
“You’re probably right,” Kirsten admitted, “I don’t say that to a lot of people... so keep that on the down-low would you? Better yet, why don’t you come work with me? I didn’t even think of that before, but that just might be exactly what I need right now... what Alice’s Haven needs right now, that is.”
“Nope.” Adrian shook his head in amusement. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to be around Kirsten, because he did enjoy her company, he always had. It was just that he shouldn’t be around her. Kirsten was his first girlfriend, first love, first sexual partner and ultimately his first heartbreak... he couldn’t let that get in the way of his relationship with Gail, the mother of his child.
Kirsten pouted. “You’re the one who said I need to fire my Assistant Manager... I’m going to have a huge gap in my schedule until I find a new one and quite honestly I don’t want to go through the hiring process again... I don’t trust anyone with my Cafe.”
“But you trust me?”
“I do.” He found it amusing that she trusted him, but knew it was mutual. The trust. He tilted his head and thought about what she was asking for, for a minute. They would be spending a lot more time together and running a business together and although he could use the money... Adrian didn’t know if it was worth it. Especially where Gail was concerned.
“Who would watch Violet?” He asked.
But he knew he wouldn’t have to worry about that by the smile on Kirsten’s face. He knew it all too well -- she already had a plan for that, too. “My Assistant Manager was renting the loft above here... I can ask her to leave and then maybe we can convert it into a mini daycare. I know it sounds really not thought out,” she chuckled, “but Megan could use some friends for after school and you can still be near Violet when you’re working.”
“You’d really do that... just for me?”
“I trust you.” Kirsten said, her words lingered between the two of them.
Adrian smirked. “I’ll think about it.”
[.....]
[.....]
Scene Five:
505 Auburn Rd., Stone Creek. [Thurlow Cottage]
James & Caitlyn's Home.
“Aidan, it’s nice to see you,” James Thurlow greeted his nephew and let him into the house. With this one gesture he realized why he had always wanted to be closer to the family he had in Stone Creek. Being around them -- really being around them -- and not on some family vacation, or even, some family business meeting... felt good. “Is there something I could do for you? Could I get you something?”
Aidan nodded, “I think I’m fine, I was just here to see Caitlyn about the Winter Wonderland Ball. Has she told you about it -- of course she has, forget I said that.” He mused, stepped into the living room and then turned back to his uncle. “Is she home?”
“Right here.” Caitlyn spoke, he heard her voice before he saw the older woman enter the living room. Aidan figured she had come from upstairs -- which gave reason to why he didn’t see her in the hallway. Once Caitlyn entered the room she walked over to him and gave him a hug. “I’m glad you were able to make it over here before work.”
“Are you kidding?” Aidan replied, “This is my work.”
“Of course.”
He smiled. “I actually wanted to ask the two of you a couple of questions before you head out to work, uncle. Being as you’re the only other connection I have to my father at this point -- I haven’t talked to him very much since I’ve left.”
“To clarify things I just want you to know that I haven’t told him about Taylor and I don’t plan on doing that either.” James replied. “I know you’re scared to tell him about your sexual orientation --”
“It’s not about my sexual orientation, uncle.” Aidan said, he hated that it was the main thing they talked about, like it was more than about him. “It’s about me. I’m not gay or bisexual or even straight.. god knows that. I’m just Aidan Jurado and I’d really like it if people stopped bringing that up. I just wanted to know how he is doing, that’s all.”
James nodded, he placed his hands in his pocket. “He’s doing well. A little stressed out because I’ve asked him to work day and night on trying to get Thurlow-Jurado Overseas back on track, but your father is doing well. So, please, don’t take up that sort of tone with me in my house again.”
“I’m sorry.” Aidan softened.
“It’s quite alright.” James said, he half-smirked. “I have to get to work. I hope the two of you get everything planned out for the Winter Wonderland Ball while I’m away. I’ll see you later tonight.” The last sentence he directed at his wife, who he kissed on the cheek and exited from the room.
Aidan turned to Caitlyn. “I’m really sorry about that... I didn’t mean to burst out at him. I just have more on my mind than I had originally thought. I actually wanted to ask you a question as well... before we start planning everything.”
“As long as you don’t yell at me after I answer.” Caitlyn mused, she sat down near the window and gestured for the younger man to join her. “I know that things have been hard for you, Aidan. Having been here for over a year now and still trying to find your bearings.”
“It’s not really that, honestly.”
“Then tell me.”
This morning while Aidan was in the kitchen with Taylor and the other man was explaining how he needed to go back home to collect something, Aidan had a realization. They had been spending so much time together anyways and they worked together so it was easy for Aidan to admit he’d seen Taylor at least three times a day last week. He sighed. “How long did it take for uncle James to ask you to move in with him?”
Caitlyn’s eyes widened. “I-Oh Aidan,” she gasped, a small chuckle escaped her lips, “I think it was a couple of months... but every relationship is different. Do you really want to ask Taylor to move in with you? That’s sort of a big step and you just informed everyone that there was a relationship between the two of you...”
“We spend a lot of time together and while we’re not at work he’s pretty much spending the night at my condo anyways... I just figured.” He explained, sifting through the thoughts in his head. He could see Caitlyn’s concern written all over her face. “So you don’t think it’s a good idea?”
“It’s something you definitely have to talk to Taylor about, that much is for sure.” Caitlyn said, she smiled sweetly. “Have you talked to him about it yet? Or have you just been thinking about asking him to move in? My relationship with your uncle was different than yours with Taylor. For one, we were much older than the two of you... we knew exactly what we were getting into.”
He frowned. “I know what I’m getting into.”
“Of course,” Caitlyn replied, “I didn’t mean to offend you... I think that you should talk to Taylor about it first and see where his head is before you try to convince him that it’s the best idea for the two of you. You’re both young... I think there are still boundaries that neither of you realize.”
They sat in silence for a couple of minutes before Caitlyn changed the subject. “So how are we moving along with the plans for the ball?”
“Great.” He smiled, his mind still stuck on her words of advice. While Aidan felt like he knew what he was doing by asking Taylor to move in with him, he couldn’t help but think that maybe Caitlyn was right. Maybe he shouldn’t be jumping so fast into anything.
Although they did spend more time running around and trying to plan dates between two homes, even while one of the men wasn’t using his apartment as frequently. He knew that if they were under one roof it would be a whole lot easier to spend more alone time with Taylor. Aidan carried out a conversation with Caitlyn about the ball but in the back of his mind he wondered when he should talk to Taylor about it and how.
[.....]
Scene Six:
Stone Creek; Now Town
Stone Creek Memorial Hospital; Exam Room One
Gail Schmidt felt herself space out earlier this morning while she was getting ready for work. But her mind pushed her body past it and made an excuse as to why she had been ignoring whatever Adrian was telling her. Getting ready and leaving the house for the morning shifts were a lot harder than graveyard shifts, which she dully noted. Adrian always wanted to talk about Violet in the morning, he wanted to start making plans that Gail wasn’t sure she was ready for. It made Gail uneasy talking about their daughter because she didn’t think she deserved to have the baby girl.
If her first miscarriage meant anything.
“I need you to concentrate.” The nurse spoke, weaving Gail out of her own head and into the Exam Room she had been brought into. “Gail... I really need you to focus. I need to know how you’ve been feeling lately, any changes in your mood?”
She turned to the woman who she recognized, her name was Janice and from what Gail had gathered by working with her -- Janice was one of the nicer nurses at the hospital. So it pained her to want to smack Janice in the face and leave the room and the hospital entirely.
The hospital was the only place that Gail had felt safe these days. Hiding within it’s walls and far away from conversation about Violet with Adrian or even the fragile conversations she held with her father, although that seemed to have travelled to the hospital as well. She frowned.
“Gail --”
“God damn it, Janice,” Gail muttered, “Will you just shut up?”
“I think I’ve got it from here.” Gail heard the voice of her best friend from the doorway and knew she found her savior and would most likely give Dizzy a kiss on the cheek whenever her head stopped spinning. “Everyone in the Hospital is talking about how you nearly plummeted to your death.” Dizzy mocked.
This got a chuckle from the blond. “I did not plummet.”
“Either way, it’s not funny.” Dr. Desiree Roberts said, she moved over to Gail’s side and began to check her blood pressure. “I have already told you about keeping up with your blood pressure, Gail. This is serious and I shouldn’t be the one telling you how serious it is! You should know this.”
Gail turned to her best friend. “I have it... don’t I? I mean I can feel it in my body... there’s no denying that my fears are coming true Dizzy. This whole time I’ve been worrying about being this awful mother to Violet and now... now look at me. I can’t even walk down steps without almost ‘plummeting’ to my death. I’m a fucking wreck.”
“I’m going to call Adrian --”
“Don’t!” Gail spoke, in a near shout. She held onto the edges of the exam table and locked eyes with her best friend. After the things they had been through together, the secrets they had kept -- both had betrayed Adrian Stone at least once -- so they both knew they shouldn’t be keeping anything from him. But Gail couldn’t find the strength to tell him the truth. “I just need a minute.”
“I’m going to run some tests on you.” Dizzy remarked.
Gail nodded eagerly. “Do it.”
“This could be something as simple as you not having eaten anything this morning, which I am sure in your case could be factored in. Gail I have been telling you for weeks now that you need to eat a balanced breakfast and to get more rest... you had gestational diabetes --”
“And when I gave birth to Violet it went away,” Gail acknowledged, “I’m not some case study for you to probe and examine every few weeks. I got better. It happens to a lot of pregnant women and they get better...”
“But some don’t.” Dizzy feared.
Gail knew her friend was telling the truth and it did occur to her that she could develop another -- more deadly -- stage of diabetes, it wasn’t as if she were completely immune to it. Her body had reacted badly to her pregnancy and now...
“I’ve been so afraid of developing Schizophrenia like my mother.” Gail mused, “Who knew that it would be diabetes that took me out?”
“We don’t know that yet, which is why I want to run some tests to see. Until those results come in I wish that you would actually take my advice and get more rest and work some food into your diet... if not for yourself, then for Violet’s sake.”
[.....]
Scene Seven:
Stone Creek; Now Town
Thurlow Lumber Mill Offices; Frank Nelson’s Office
“Okay, so these were the financial reports printed before you disappeared,” Reichen Calbourne spoke and the other man in the room could feel a judgmental undertone to the words. He couldn’t decipher if he was used to the tone already, or just irritated with it but he definitely wanted to change the topic or hurry the process.
He nodded his head and pushed past the papers. “If you look here, nothing was tampered with. There’s nothing wrong with our financial situation besides a couple of late transactions. I-I-I know that James thinks I need help keeping everything straight but I’ve had this companies finances balanced for years now, I think I can sift through all of this.”
“I’m not trying to make things harder for you, Mr. Nelson.” Reichen said, he took a deep breath. “If you have any issues with why Mr. Thurlow hired me, then I am sorry but that’s between the two of you and I’d rather not discuss it. But either way he hired me and he trusts me to help you. So please, just let me do my job?”
“What do you want with my sister?” Frank questioned.
Frank knew that Reichen had been ‘talking’ to Charlene for sometime now but with him having to deal with Lucy Hahn and her ‘kidnapping’ him, there hadn’t been much conversation between the two siblings. Which is weird since they had spent so much time talking about Patrick Sutton while she was married to him. Frank insisted on getting information out of Reichen, today.
“I don’t know how this has anything to do with me working for Thurlow Lumber Mill Enterprises -- that’s a freaking mouthful, isn’t it?” Reichen chuckled.
Roughly, Frank agreed. “We just call it Thurlow Enterprises around the office or T.E. if you want to be brief -- and I know this has nothing to do with work... but Charlene is my sister and we’ve always been really close. Then you came around... and can you see where I’m coming from?”
“I do.” He replied. “I really do Frank and your sister has explained your relationship a couple times. She’s a really wonderful woman but I think if you want to hear anything about our relations? I think you need to talk to her about it. Not me.”
“Are you always this vague?” Frank scoffed, unhappy with the way the conversation was going. “Do you always talk in circles around any type of conversation? Because I seriously hate when people do that to me. Treat me like a third party-”
“You are a third party, here.” Reichen reminded him. “I think we should get back on topic. There’s still a lot that we have to go over -- and I’m not talking about what has happened while you disappeared to Germany,” There went the judgmental tone again, Frank noted, “I’m really not trying to accuse you of running this comapny into the ground --”
“Good!” Frank tackled, “Because I’ve never done that.”
“Exactly. But I am here to help and quite frankly, I haven’t been in the financial business in quite sometime so could you at least walk me through the reports from the last two years so I can figure out an actual pattern for T.E., I really need a map here.”
Frank nodded. “Fine, I’ll do that. There’s something that you can do for me though. My sister, she’s pretty much the only family I had growing up and I’d really appreciate it if you treated her the right way. There were some times when I didn’t look out for her own good interests and I feel terrible for that. So please, just don’t try to hurt her, will you?”
“You’ve got my word.” Reichen agreed.
“Mr. Nelson,” His assistant entered the room, interrupting the two men. “Your daughter is here to see you... she insists that it’s urgent.”
“Just go,” Reichen spoke, “We can get through all of this after lunch.”
“Right.” Frank replied, unsure if he wanted to have lunch with Laurie at this point in time. On the other hand, the more he could avoid judgmental tones, the better.
[.....]
Scene Eight:
Stone Creek; Now Town
Stone Creek Police Station
“You look like you’re a million miles away,” Miles Fowler could feel his wife’s presence in the room as she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a kiss on the cheek. His eyes focused on a brown bag in her right hand as her arms detached from his body and she sat across from him at his desk. “Is there something I can help you with?”
Miles smirked. “You could start by telling me what exactly is in that bag.”
“Lunch.” Greta Wilkinson mouthed as she began to open it.
He knew that part of getting their lives back together was lunch dates with his gorgeous wife, long hours at the office and trying to reach out to his once closest friend -- Cassie Lakhani. So for Greta to meet him halfway with most things, Miles felt like getting their lives back was going to be easier.
“I went down to that little mexican place you like and grabbed us black bean chicken burritos,” She also knew his favorite foods. Which was a plus in times like this. She handed him a foil-wrapped burrito and started to unwrap hers. “I had a free hour from work so I thought it would be nice to come and see you at work. I don’t really see you much, especially with us both trying to get work back on-track.”
“But we live together.” Miles teased.
Greta pouted. “Would you like me to take that burrito back?”
He shook his head and took a huge bite out of it. Since returning to the station Miles Fowler had definitely spent more time at work than at his apartment with Greta. He had also spent a couple of months in a coma after getting shot... so any amount of time he could spend at the police station gave him this sense of calm. “I’m glad you came.”
“Good.” She replied, took a napkin and sighed. “I have to admit though... I’ve had ulterior motives about coming to see you. Miles, I know that we agreed after we got married at the hospital that we would plan a date for our actual marriage in front of our family... but I’ve been giving it some thought --”
“You’re not divorcing me already, are you?” He asked.
“I want a Spring Wedding.” Greta said, he could feel she was still having difficulties talking about them getting married, especially after she had lost her closest friend -- the woman she was to share her wedding day with -- Emily Roscoe. “I’ve been thinking about it for awhile and I can’t wait to have everybody know that we are husband and wife.”
“But everyone does know.”
He knew exactly what she meant, however, and took her hand in his. “I was thinking that if we have the wedding in Spring then we could have it at my parents place. The weather would be perfect and having it there we could wash all the bad memories away."
“That sounds like an amazing idea.” He smirked. Miles knew how hard her family was taking the hostage situation that led to Stavros Lakhani’s reveal and the subsequent death in their home. The whole town was rocked that a killer had returned to Stone Creek to exact revenge. It just wasn’t the type of news that warranted any good for a small city.
So of course, he agreed to anything that helped her family cope with their near-death experience. “Do you think we can get Bentley to go to our wedding? Especially after everything that happened to Emily and Stavros being revealed as her killer.”
“Bentley loves us, there’s no way he could stay away.” She replied with an uneasiness that reminded Miles of how hard her brother took Emily’s death. Silently, he hoped that Greta was right... if only for her benefit.
[.....]
Scene Nine:
Stone Creek; Now Town.
Sisyphean’s
After excusing himself from Reichen Calbourne, Frank met-up with his daughter and insisted they dine at his favorite restaurant for their lunch. Although he knew his daughter, Laurie, had no interest in places like Sisyphean’s -- upon the top of one of the tallest buildings in Stone Creek. One of Frank’s most prized possessions was his yearly reservations at the fine cuisine diner.
He looked across the table at his daughter and the sour face she held protectively. “What’s wrong with you, Laurie?”
“I can’t believe that nothings changed,” she huffed, unfolding her napkin and laying it in her lap. “You’re still the same man, father. Throwing your money around and trying to impress everybody. Except the fact is all these people here... they don’t care about your young money. They’ve got better things to worry about. Yet here you are...”
“Can we have a nice lunch without talking about my generous offer of taking my only daughter to lunch at a place that I happen to like? I mean honestly Laurie, do you think I’m trying to impress you? I raised you for heaven’s sake. Why would I be trying to impress you?”
Frank looked across the table at the younger Nelson and frowned. He knew that Laurie had experienced incredible hardship lately and he wanted to be sensitive to it -- but the way she was talking to him, made it extremely difficult. “I love you, Laurie.”
“There’s just a lot going on --”
“Your mother says that’s an excuse people use to avoid their problems. Half recognizing them so that others wont go and delve deeper into the conversation.” Frank said, he ordered a glass of water while Laurie ordered a diet coke. “But I want you to know that you have the both of us here to talk to if there’s anything you want to talk about.”
“So you’re listening to mother now?” Laurie asked.
He definitely was, now that he realized the wounds he caused to his wife. Frank sighed deeply and tried to find a way to redirect the conversation back to their main target. “I know you said that you didn’t want to bring the children here to Stone Creek... but would you reconsider it?”
Laurie’s glance shot up. “Never. Do you think that me bringing the children here would make things better? I don’t want Michael to step foot in the city Iwe were raised in, again. Having to tell everyone around us exactly what kind of man he is? Michael is never coming back... so the children won’t either.”
“So you’re staying?”
“I’ve been thinking about it.” She answered uneasily, Laurie shrugged. “I want to get a divorce from my husband... there’s nothing else I want more than to get rid of that man. So when the divorce is finalized then I will make a decision.”
Somehow, Frank felt Laurie had already made up her mind about a permanent presence in Stone Creek. He leaned up in his seat, ready to dispute her decision -- the waiter arrived back at their table with their drinks and insisting they order the specials. He bit his lip, his thought and his words. Instead opting to glance at his daughter as she hid behind the menu.
[.....]
Scene Ten:
Stone Creek; Now Town.
Sisyphean’s
A couple tables down in a more dimmer setting, Helen Tyree couldn’t believe what she was hearing -- so she repeat the words that her companion had just said and held her mouth open ready to continue, “Why would you fire Ryan? I thought that he was your ‘right-hand man’?”
After her mess of an encounter with her ex. husband a couple days ago, Helen had tried to spend as much time around Patrick Sutton as humanly possible -- of course her work responsibilities took front-row seat to her admiration for the man, that wasn’t even a question. Still, she had David’s words stuck in the back of her mind. Then Patrick threw this curveball at her.
“So what exactly do you have up your sleeve? I know you way too well to know that firing Ryan has something to do with either getting your father’s company back under your control or getting Damien Crenshaw out of Stone Creek.”
He smirked. “I just hope everyone else isn’t as clever as you are. I’ve asked Ryan to try and get himself into the lion’s den where Damien Crenshaw is concerned. There’s nobody I trust more than him and I really need to get proof that our current Mayor rigged the votes.”
“You still think he did?” Helen remembered the night she watched both Clifton Briggs and Damien having a heated conversation. She tilted her head in thought. “I mean, it’s possible Patrick -- those two could have been in on a lot more than rigging the election. Do you think that Ryan can find the proof that you need?”
“He definitely will.” Patrick insisted.
Helen tapped on the table as she noted his body language. “Why do I get the sense that there is more that you’re not telling me? If you’ve got anything else to add to this huge bombshell you’ve decided to just throw on me... might as well add fuel to this devilishly hot fire.”
“I helped you start HEAT Magazine from the ground up --”
The words started a slippery slope Helen wasn’t sure she wanted to go down. “I already thanked you for that, Patrick.” She reminded.
“Even still, I was the one person who helped make your dream a reality and I think I deserve some comeuppance for it Helen. Quite frankly I don’t know why I didn’t think of it any sooner.” His words intrigued her. “I want to be recognized as the Co-Founder of HEAT Magazine and I want to have some control over it. It’s only fair.”
“That’s a lot to ask for.” Helen replied, she took a moment to think it over. “If you want to be recognized as the Co-Founder, than of course that could be arranged. After all it is true, I wouldn’t be where I am today without your guidance. But running a magazine is a lot different than a corporate business --”
“Don’t bullshit me.” Patrick snickered.
Helen locked eyes with her lover. The words that etched into the back of her head kept repeating themselves so lightly that it was enough to cause her pain. It wasn’t that she didn’t mind giving Patrick some power in her company. Helen just didn’t want the company to be all that Patrick wanted out of her. She took a sip of her drink.
“Fine. But I want something in return.”
“You want something in return?”
She leaned in. Her eyes, dazzling with mystery as her lips curled into a smirk. “I’m not going to deny you your rights to a company that you helped build from the ground-up. That is yours to take -- recognition, that is. But I wasn’t born yesterday, Patrick, giving up power in my company leaves me vulnerable to takeovers... So, the only way that you get your wish is if you accept mine.”
“Go ahead.”
“I want a diamond ring.” Helen tossed back her long red locks of hair and held up her right hand, wiggling her ring finger. “I also want your last name. At least, legally.”
Patrick leaned in and took her hand. “Deal.”
[.....]
Scene Eleven:
Stone Creek; Now Town
The Stone Creek Ledger; Seth Keeler’s Office
Marina Thurlow knocked on her boss’ office door and lingered in the doorway until he looked up from his paperwork and invited her in. Nervously, she took a seat in front of him and tried to remember the speech she had practiced in the mirror that morning. But it alluded her as soon as Seth cleared his throat and asked if she needed anything.
“I need to step down.” She spoke, her words shaky at best. “Mr. Keeler I really do respect you and everything that you stand for. So I hope that this doesn’t come off as an insult to you or anything that you’ve done for me. But I can’t work alongside Olivia any longer and I wish -- I insist, please, that you let me step down.”
She waited for what felt like eternity for him to respond. To laugh in Marina’s face or to very angrily ask her to quite the Ledger all together and of course those were neither things she had witnessed him doing to anybody before -- she was sure he would do one of those to her today.
Seth folded his hands and leaned forward. “No.”
“What?” She asked dumb-founded.
“I don’t think that you should step down, Marina. So I’m telling you no. Whatever it is that has been going on between the two of you should be handled like adults. I won’t accept it any other way.” He said, his tone lighter than she expected.
Marina gulped. “We’ve actually been getting along a lot more lately.”
“Good. Then it’s settled.
She shook her head. “It’s not.”
“Then please tell me what I have to do to settle this. You know that I do not allow childish behavior in my place of work, Marina. I’ve seen the way the two of you work together and you turn out good product even with your little rivalry.”
“She deserves the full position.” Marina blurted.
Feeling better about speaking her mind, she quickly shut up. Took in his body language and sat in front of Seth waiting for him to respond. Once again. Marina recalled the incident at the Women’s Shelter and the scheme her mother helped her put together to try and weave Olivia out of town. None of that worked, however.
“Do you know why I insisted that the two of you become Co-Editorial Editors?” He asked, getting no response, Seth continued. “It’s because you’re a damn good reporter and an even better editor. I’ve seen you from the very beginning. How you started out as just my secretary and then worked your way up. Frankly, this place needs you. So again you need to know that I’m not allowing you to step down. Not today.”
Marina grappled with what her boss had told her. Unsure of where to go from here, she took a deep breath and tried to make sense of the decision she had come to make that didn’t come to fruition. All the while wondering what Ryan would say.
“Knock, knock,” both occupants turned to see a tall blonde woman in the hallway with a gregarious smile. “I hope I’m not disturbing anything... I can come back if the two of you need me to.” The woman turned on her heel but Marina called her back.
Slowly she lifted herself from her seat and motioned for the woman to join Seth. “I was just on my way out, actually. So if Mr. Keeler is willing to talk to you... I’m sure you can stay.”
“Of course!” Seth spoke with enthusiasm, he made his way around the table and pulled the woman into his arms. Once they exited the embrace he held her arms softly. “Kimberly, when did you get back into town? Why haven’t you called?”
Marina noticed the bank account she wore around her neck first as she introduced herself to the younger woman in the room and then turned back to Seth. “I was going to call before I arrived at the airport but the I just lost track of time... I’ve been here for a couple days. Gillian asked me to come back.”
“Why would she do that?” Seth asked.
“I’m going to go.” Marina spoke, feeling like she was in the way. Slowly she made her way towards the door but stopped when her boss acknowledged her.
“Just remember what I said, Marina.” He turned back to Kimberly once Marina waved goodbye and left the room entirely. “Now let’s catch-up!”
Kimberly turned to eye him. “Who is that pretty little girl? Aren’t you twice her senior?”
“I’m not seeing her... she’s one of my employees, Kim! Besides, that young Editorial-Editor is the sister to the woman who married your nephew -- just a little Stone Creek trivia.” He watched as she took in the information and then they locked eyes with one another. “Oh, sister.”
She smiled at the mention of their sibling connection, Kimberly Sutton folded her arms in front of her and held her stance. “Brother.”
[.....]
Scene Twelve:
Stone Creek; Now Town
Stone Creek Police Station; Front Desk
Chief Gideon Wilkinson walked up to his fellow officers and took in the surroundings. The day had definitely waned on and for the most part -- even in a growing city like Stone Creek -- the crime had stayed near to none. Which gave his lead detective much time to focus on his case at hand. Gideon patted Officer Sasha Pierce on the back and the redheaded woman turned around to greet her boss.
“Hey, Chief!” Miles Fowler spoke, he shook his father-in-law’s hand and found a place next to Sasha and Gideon. “We were just talking about the Jefferson Case and how we think we could sort through the evidence against him.”
“Is that so?”
They shook their heads. “I have Officer Pierce looking into the wife’s alibi. Neither of us think that she should be let off the hook so easily,” Miles explained, as he went on talking about the case to his superior he didn’t notice that the older man’s attention began to wane.
Although Gideon had every intention of focusing on Miles’ information he found himself in front of a face from the past. “My god, I thought I wouldn’t see a stunning face like yours in Stone Creek anytime soon.”
“Glad to see you’re still the same thoughtful man, Chief Wilkinson.” Laurie Jonas said, she made her way over to her old boss and wrapped her arms around his neck. He picked her up mere inches off the floor and gave her a half-spin before placing her back down.
“How are you?” He asked astonished by her presence. Ever since Laurie came to him many years ago as a wide-eyed dainty little girl ready to join the police force, Gideon had treated her like a second daughter. He taught her how to shoot, took her on her first ride along. Having her stand before him. It brought back memories -- the good kind.
Laurie patted his shoulder. “I’m doing well, actually I think I might be staying in town permanently... and I’ve come to ask if you had a spot on the police force for an old employee?”
Gideon wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Of course I do! It would be my honor to have you back here working for SCPD after all these years. My god, how are your parents taking the news that you’re back in Stone Creek?”
“Fine.”
“That’s really good!” Gideon said, then he remembered that he had previously been holding a conversation with Miles. He turned to see the man standing beside Officer Pierce still, waiting for Gideon to return to the conversation they were having. “Detective Fowler, this is Officer Nelson -- one of the best young officers I’ve had the privilege of training.”
They both turned to one another and shook hands.
[.....]
[.....]
Scene Thirteen:
813 Crystal Hill St., Stone Creek. [Bayou Oaks Condos #21]
Aidan Jurado's Condo
Aidan watched his boyfriend cook dinner and noted how much of a headache it was for them to orchestrate this one small plan. How he moved a couple of meetings around and cancelled a morning brunch so he could spend a little more time with Taylor Kern the next morning. He also knew the lengths Taylor went to get the remainder of the night off so he could go home and grab a few things before winding up at Aidan’s loft to cook them dinner.
He recalled the earlier conversation he had with his aunt, Caitlyn, about asking Taylor to move in and beyond the light tone of a Starting Line song playing the background, Aidan thought about ways to ask his boyfriend to do so. There was a part of Aidan that had no clue why he was rushing into things so vastly, and there was a part that didn’t want to live without Taylor in his life every moment of his living.
So he went back to listening to Taylor talk about work and how he was able to get one of the girls to cover him for the night. He told Aidan that he owed her a room the night of the ball for her boyfriend and herself to share.
“That’s nice.” Aidan spoke, breaking his absence for the conversation.
Taylor looked up and smirked. “Well, we are lucky she was able to cover me. Or I wouldn’t be able to cook for you tonight.” He walked over to Aidan and gave him a kiss on the lips.
It was these small moments that made Aidan realize that he was falling more for Taylor than anyone else before him. “Don’t burn dinner.” He distracted, nodding over to the food on the stove. “Not that I don’t mind you picking kisses with me over dinner...”
“Of course you don’t.” Taylor teased. “I’ve got you right where I want you Aidan Jurado, like I always knew I would. It was you who was so stubborn about everything. If only you had just listened to me in the first place.”
Aidan chuckled. “You said you liked that I was stubborn.”
“Yeah, well it definitely would have made things easier if you weren’t.” Taylor shrugged, they locked eyes for a moment in between him finishing up the dinner. “You look like you have something on your mind? Are you picturing me naked?”
“I do have something on my mind.” Aidan admitted, he knew it had to be now when he sprung the suggestion on Taylor. Although he wouldn’t mind him being naked, Aidan knew it would distract him from what he wanted to ask. “But I can hold off on you being naked... for now.”
“Fine. What is it?”
Aidan felt his throat dry and his stomach lurch forward. For a moment everything went silent and even the song in the background stopped playing as if it too were giving Aidan it’s undivided attention. He licked his lips. “Would you move in with me.”
Taylor appeared shocked, he turned the stove off and stepped closer to Aidan. “What brought this on?”
“I,” Aidan started, but nothing was coming out. He had figured he would develop word vomit and just talk his heart about it. But a sudden stage freight took over his body as he tried to back-track his question. He knew it wasn’t possible so he tried to continue. “I just thought... we have been spending a lot of time together, Taylor,”
“We have.” Taylor agreed.
“Wouldn’t it be nice if we lived together too?” Aidan could hear the world start to crank-up again and he could here Given The Chance by The Starting Line play next on the track-list. “You having to go back-and-forth to your apartment and us having to schedule our work around our personal lives... that’s not fair to either of us. I don’t like it.” He greedily admitted.
“I don’t think you understand what that means, Aidan,” He said, turning back to the stove and making sure the food was cooked all the way. “Us moving in together is a huge step and you’re the one who wanted to move slowly. I should have known this was coming when you wanted to tell everyone about us.”
“Are you mad?”
Taylor shook his head. “No,” Aidan found his place in Taylor’s arms, “I just think we need to think about this a little more. You need to think about what this really means. Maybe this is wishful thinking, but I want us to be perfect and not get so caught up in everything around us. I don’t want us to be that flash fire of a romance, or that elderly couple that is still together because they don’t know how to live apart.”
“You think we’re going to grow old together?” Aidan smirked.
Taylor rolled his eyes. “I really don’t want to picture myself being seventy right now, can we move on from this topic?”
They laughed to relieve the tension between the two of them and fell back into their routine. Aidan felt good about avoiding the traffic jam that could have been this conversation, he knew his mind wasn’t going to change. He wanted Taylor to live with him. But he also knew that Taylor was probably right. They needed to take things slow and figure out what they really wanted.
He sighed, taking a moment to look outside at the rain as it tapped on the windshield.
[.....]
Scene Fourteen:
510 Auburn Rd., Stone Creek. [Nelson Home]
Frank & Deborah Nelson’s Home.
Laurie Nelson had spent most of her night at the police station helping Chief Gideon Wilkinson and his fellow officers with home robbery case that she had completely lost track of time. It felt good to delve back into her old life and feel so accepted without having to admit her most recent past. Laurie placed her umbrella on a nearby coat-rack and hollered out for her parents, both of which she had heard from since her dinner with her father earlier in the day.
“We’re in the living room!” Her father’s voice trailed into the hall.
Softly she smiled at the nostalgic feeling before returning to the real world and joining them in the room. She leaned against the doorframe and crossed her arms. “I’m sorry for the way I spoke to you earlier, daddy.”
He looked up. “I just don’t understand why you don’t try to see things through our eyes, Laurie. That’s all. You know that we both love you.” He kissed his wife’s forehead. She had been laying peacefully on Frank’s chest as the ywatched the latest episode of CSI: NY. Deborah rested her chin on her hands and smiled at Laurie.
“You are so beautiful.”
Laurie smiled back, knowing her mother’s way all too well. “I’m staying in Stone Creek and I’m not bringing the children here. I’d rather you not ask me to reconsider because I can’t. Because maybe I’m still hurting from what my husband did to me. Or maybe I just can’t bring myself to forgive him, so selfishly I’m pushing our children on him.”
She spoke, taking a deep breath to keep the tears from swelling in her eyes. “But right now I need to focus on myself and I know that my children are safe at an arms length. I spent too much time giving up on my hopes for myself and this is what I got in return.”
“We’re not asking you to give-up on anything.” Deborah said.
The words were now lost on Laurie as she shook her head. “I went to the police station earlier and asked Chief Wilkinson for my old job back and he agreed to let me back on the squad.”
“So this is it?” Frank asked, she could tell he was fighting back his anger and all there was left was remorse. “We just all keep living our lives here in Stone Creek and when you’re ready to speak -- somewhere down the line --- we just pick-up the pieces?”
“I think Laurie is right.... we just need to give her time.” Deborah replied, she sat up on the couch and motioned for Laurie to join them. “If that is all that you’re asking, darling, then we can’t do anything else but accept your wishes. I will tell you that I don’t agree with them, however.”
“Since when have you ever?” Laurie scoffed.
The trio sat in silence. It was the most peace the three of them had felt between them in the last couple of days. Had it felt nice, Laurie didn’t know. Although she knew that in that moment her heart was beginning to heal. Even if she had to force everyone else to give it a chance.
[.....]
Scene Fifteen:
980 Cutler St., Stone Creek. [Faustino Cottages #12]
Diem & Olivia Joplin’s Home
“Now this is a great surprise.” Diem Joplin spoke with a sly grin. Before the doorbell wrung she was headed up to take a long soak in the tub to end the night. Half way up the stairs she was interrupted and although she was slightly irritated by it, when she opened the door to find Seth Keller on the other end -- she changed her mind.
“Is it?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.
She chuckled, spotting the bottle of Kailua in his hand she smirked at the thought of him joining her in the tub for the night. Diem sighed, inviting him into her home. “I was just about to take a soak in the tub... but with this bottle and you here now, I might ask you to join me.” Diem moved closer to her boyfriend, and he did the same.
“That is a great surprise.” He said, leaning in to kiss Diem. “But there is also another reason why I stopped by. Don’t worry... it will only take a minute and then we can return to going up stairs and taking that bath you wanted.”
Diem shook her head, a smile upon her face. She led Seth into the kitchen so she could get them glasses for the alcoholic beverage. “So what is it that you need, Mr. Keeler?”
“My sister is back in Stone Creek.”
This shocked Diem as she didn’t know Kimberly would ever have a real reason to come back to their hometown. She had seemed so happy living with her husband -- at least from what Diem had known. She poured their drinks and handed one to Seth. “Is that a good thing, seeing Kimberly?”
“Now that she’s back I feel like we haven’t been a part for that long. Not counting when Cutler Sutton took her away from my mother when she was a little girl. Of course, she has changed a lot. Who wouldn’t upon finding out that monster is their father?”
She took a long sip of her drink. “So why is she back in the Creek?”
“Gillian asked her to come back and I know you’re just as surprised as I am... so I was wondering if you would be able to figure out why for me? I know that you have a lot on your plate, but I’m really worried about Kimberly. I think she might be biting off more than she can chew.”
“Getting involved with any Sutton is biting off more than you can chew.” Diem acknowledged, she took a moment before nodding her head in agreement. Then she stepped closer to her boyfriend and kissed him on the lips. “I will see what exactly Gillian’s motives are.”
“Thank you.” He mouthed.
Diem leaned into his chest and sighed. “Of course, you have to speculate her mindset getting involved again with a family that has constantly used and manipulated her through and through.” She thought about the many marriages that Cutler had orchestrated for Kimberly through-out the years.
“Are you ready for that bath?”
She looked up at her companion and smirked. “You’ve got no idea.”
[.....]
Next Time, On Concrete Shelves
- Marina Thurlow opens up to an old confidant about startling revelation that has everything to do with her current boyfriend, Ryan Bauer.
- Penelope Wilkinson tries to find a way to deal with the re-emergence of her cancer and how it will affect everyone around her. Including her new found relationship with her old flame, Jeremy Joplin.
- Moving forward, if not in a rush, with his plans for both Cassie Lakhani and gaining access to a building in Now Town for his Nightclub; Clifton Briggs might be biting off more than he can chew.
- The start of a cat and mouse game could spell consequences for one couple...
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