- Kirsten Sutton asked her close friend, and ex. boyfriend, Adrian Stone to work at Alice’s Haven Cafe as her assistant manager once her previous one becomes unreliable. Adrian told Kirsten that he needed to think about it first.
- Penelope Wilkinson found out that her cancer had returned, and upon calling her daughter for a visit, Isabelle Rhodes arrived in Stone Creek. Penelope struggled with telling her family what she was having trouble facing.
- Cassie Lakhani tried to get her life back on-track by enrolling in school once again, but this brought her face-to-face with Mac Kern once again. Furthering her confusing feelings for the man, she also bonded with her son’s father, Clifton Briggs.
- As the trio of Aidan Jurado, Taylor Kern and Caitlyn Thurlow pulled together the Winter Wonderland Ball, it was Aidan who continued to ponder where to go with his relationship with Taylor Kern. Even as far as to wanting the other man to move into his loft.
[.....]
[.....]
Scene One:
1509 Mango Ln., Stone Creek. [Briggs Home]
Clifton, Cassie and Lucian’s Home.
Cassie Lakhani opens up an envelope addressed to her and moves over to the kitchen counter, she sits upon a stool and fishes out the postcard from inside and smiles. Immediately she knows that it’s from her twin brother, Callum. It has been weeks since she last heard from him -- Cassie has become worried he would get into some sort of trouble, but trusts her brother enough to know he is finally growing as a person. She reads it over in her mind and imagines that she is there, by his side.
With Lucian asleep in his bed, she finally has the time to relax. Although school hasn’t started yet Cassie has already prepared herself from the busy schedule she is about the venture into. The kitchen is breezy with the windows open and she can feel the cold chill of the winter snow storm brewing outside and like every other resident in Stone Creek, she knows it’ll be a terrible storm.
She also knows that whoever attempts to make the trip to the Lakeside Inn later this month will most definitely be trapped for the night. So she had already asked Clifton if they could skip out on the ball and just stay home with Lucian. Which he was very happy to do.
There wasn’t much that Cassie was sure of. At times she was sure that her life was going to be so simple and adventurous -- and sometimes, when she is alone at night watching the stars from the backyard of Clifton’s home, she imagines the star she could have been. Cassie thought she was sure her father was a good man, but now she knows how wrong she was. A half smile emerges onto her otherwise softened face and she places the postcard on the refrigerator door so that everyone can see that her brother had found himself in sunny California.
Her raven black hair is pulled back into a ponytail, and earlier although she wouldn’t admit it to Clifton she found one of his old shirts and wore it while she cleaned the kitchen and bathroom so she wouldn’t get any of her clothes dirty. Cassie knows that even if she had asked him, Clifton wouldn't mind. She is just more comfortable with him not knowing about the shirt. There is just a boundary she isn’t ready to cross by acknowledging his opinion on the shirt situation.
Before Cassie can delve any further into an explanation with herself her phone began to ring and she makes her way into the living room where she last left the cellphone. Immediately after picking it up she knows it’s Mac Kern’s number and her mind gets stuck in a cluster of individual thoughts about both men; Clifton Briggs and Mac Kern.
“Hello,” She greets, finding a place to sit in the living room she waits for Mac to greet her back and once he does Cassie replies. “I actually was going to call you about that the other day but I got distracted. My counselor suggests I take my math classes first. To tell the truth, though, I’ve never been that great at math.”
“Most people aren’t.” She hears him say over the phone. His voice, although it’s sturdy and strong, is diluted by the sounds around him and Cassie knows that Mac is outdoors -- possibly at Stone Creek Community College.
She sighs. “I won’t give up on this. There’s just so much that I need to learn. When I wanted to return to school, I guess I should have really thought about it. There should have been some thought into how hard it was really going to be.”
“You can do it.” Mac replies. “I already told you, Cass, that if you need any help that you have me here to tutor you or to even just give you any advice on what teachers and classes to take. I’m not saying that your counselor is wrong -- but your counselor is wrong. They just want you to take classes that will keep you in school longer.”
“I don’t want to stay in school any longer than I have too.” She admits.
Mac chuckles on the other end. “Then stick with me. You’re way too smart to get weighed down by everything that your counselor says, and hey, if you really want to go by what they say I’ll be here to at least help you come to the decision to do this.”
“Thank you.” Cassie replies, warmly.
[.....]
Scene Two:
745 W. Lavender St., Stone Creek. [Old Granger Manor]
Damien & Gillian’s Home
Standing in the foyer leading into Damien Crenshaw’s home, Clifton Briggs stands in front of the other man as he laughs off the plan that Clifton has just informed him of. Although Clifton doesn’t think his plan is any bit as funny as Damien does. He does however stay as quiet as he can as he lets Damien digest the words he just fed him.
A couple of days after he spotted the building he wanted, Clifton had brainstormed ways to get Patsy Sutton-Clarke to hand over the property he desires. He knows that he has to do something quick, something that will make her believe he is worthy of owning the lot before someone from his social circle claims it s their own. He knows how the woman’s daily routine, he knows this because he has had someone tailing Patsy for a couple of days now. Clifton also knows that her marriage to Adam Clarke is solid, even though she hasn’t been seen with him since he first taken interest in the woman.
“You’re really serious about this, aren’t you?” Damien asks, snapping Clifton out of his thought process. Clifton straightens up and nods his head with great enthusiasm that it takes his entire will to stop it before his cranium snaps off and takes a tumble. “Just forget it Clifton, there’s no way you are going to get that woman to fork over any of her properties... even if it’s been vacant for years.”
“It hasn’t been vacant for that long --”
“All the more reason to give-up.” He croaks. Damien touches his thumb and his pointer finger to the bridge of his nose and steps closer to his guest. In which, Clifton takes two steps backwards. “Before I even stepped foot in Stone Creek I went to Mrs. Sutton-Clarke in hopes that she would invest in my dealings. She turned me down.”
Clifton shakes away Damien’s negativity like a light coat of snow. “What about blackmail, surely there is something we can blackmail her on! Turn her on her head and make that woman kneel down and turn over the legal documents we need.”
“There’s no blackmailing a cow like that!” Damien rose his voice. “Do you really think that I didn’t put up a fight with that woman? Do you think that I just laid down and let her ram me hard with the silver spoon she’s been fed since birth? There’s a pedigree that you don’t mess with in Stone Creek and Patsy Sutton-Clarke is the living embodiment of it.”
“But you challenged her brother --”
“Patrick is different! That man has lied and cheated and stomped his way to the top. His family -- no matter how ‘unified’ they are have pretty much thrown him out to dry. If you haven’t noticed his daughter, my lovely wife, has taken his father’s company out from under him and where are the other Sutton’s? Have they come to that man’s rescue?”
Although he knows he should shake his head in agreement -- he does -- but Clifton still doesn’t give up. If he can convince Damien that this is the right thing for them to do... if he can move Shenanigan’s to the city then he will be able to win Cassie over for good, Clifton is sure of this.
“I have every right to that building!” Clifton snaps.
Damien tilts his head, surprised by the outburst. “I’d rather you keep your tone down in my home, thank you. Besides, my wife is still here. If Gillian even overhears us whispering her aunt’s name... well, that would be even worse for you. That pretty blond of mine isn’t as stupid as she plays, especially around you. She might have been able to cut me out of taking over Sutton Enterprises, but I will not let either of you take this power away from me.”
“What about mine?”
“You’ll get yours --”
“You’ve said that already Damien! I went and stuck my neck out for you during the elections and this is what I get for it? A year later and still I don’t have anything to show for it except some words and promises that I doubt will come to fruition. If you say that Gillian is as smart as she is... how do you think she’ll feel to know more about what you plan to do to her family?”
“Don’t threaten me.” Damien replies, snidely.
It’s not like he hasn’t thrown threats at Damien before, but this time it feels so much more. He can feel it in his body how angry he is towards this man and how much he needs him to know this. “Don’t make me.” Clifton spats.
“Fine.” Clifton could feel the tension in the room, Damien walks up to Clifton once again, but this time he doesn’t allow himself to budge. “If you can pull together a better plan than blackmailing that cow, I will entertain helping you take that building from her.”
Clifton steps closer to the man and he can feel his heartbeat quicken. “If you don’t help me get what I want Damien... I will make sure you never keep what you’ve got.”
“Oh, please,” A voice from beyond the two men says, in an instant Clifton knows that the voice belongs to Gillian Sutton Crenshaw, so he doesn’t bother to even look away from Damien. From the look on his colleague's face he can tell that Damien is trying to find the words to dig himself out of the sink hole Clifton has just put him into.
Climbing down the stairs, Gillian eggs them to continue their conversation. One step in front of the other, it isn’t until the younger woman is on her last step that Clifton tears his attention from Damien and looks upon her. Because he doesn’t see her on a daily basis, he has forgotten how gorgeous and consuming Gillian can be. His eyes never linger too far from her beautiful face when she’s in the room. This time she has caught both of them.
Damien nearly gulps, which Clifton can hear from his side.
[.....]
Scene Three:
Stone Creek; Now Town
The Pit, Fitness & Athletics Club; Inside
His life hasn’t exactly been the easiest to navigate through, but it still hasn’t stopped him from pursuing what he feels is his. Especially now that his minds is a little more made-up. Aidan Jurado tries to catch his breath as he jogs along one of the treadmills. It was also true that his life in Paris was a far cry from the live he has started to carve out for himself here in Stone Creek.
Now he has his own place, as opposed to living in the home that his grandmother had bought for the family to live in while abroad. Aidan feels a lot more independent as he helps his cousin-in-law build-up an empire at the Lakeside Inn and with their reputation only skyrocketing, he also knows that time will only tell -- which should be soon -- the success of their careers in the next couple of years. His life is a definite far-cry from where it once was. Aidan couldn’t be anymore happier than he was in this moment. Until he thought about him pressuring Taylor into moving-in with him.
Aidan stops the machine and takes a few deep breaths while he stands idle. Taylor has began to pull away from Aidan and he can feel it, especially around his condo. His boyfriend has made many excuses as why he has to stay home in his apartment across town. With each excuse Aidan only feels even more discouraged.
“Are you okay?” A voice asks from the side of him. It’s strong and masculine and immediately Aidan can feel himself being torn from his thoughts of Taylor and his attention begins to focus on the new man in his vision.
He shakes his head only slightly, but it’s enough to get a smirk out of the man on the treadmill right next to him. Aidan has no idea how long this man has been there, he tries to recall if they had been jogging next to each other and for how long. But he only draws blanks, which makes his vocal reaction delay in response.
The man chuckles so effortlessly that Aidan can feel birds chirping in the distance. “You seem like you’ve got something on your mind. The way you tore-apart that run... you might want to pace yourself next time so you don’t run out of energy.”
“I --” No, he has no response and his english accent is enough to stumble over the next few words that emit from his lips, “Have you been watching me? I mean...” Aidan shakes his head to get a clear mind, but only gets more confident chuckles from the man next to him.
The man extends his strong and defined arm. “The name’s Chad.”
“Aidan.” He manages with much effort, his hands shake as they grip onto the other man’s for a minute. They pause and Chad smiles as if he were an angel from up above. This causes Aidan to melt like putty and briefly he stares into the other man’s sea green eyes. “I’m fine... Chad.”
“That’s good to hear, man.” Chad replies, his amused face never fading. “I’m not tryin’ to sound like a creep or anythin’. I’ve seen you around here a couple of times -- and stop me if I offend you at all -- but your body is rockin’ an’ I had to come an’ introduce myself.”
“Well, thank you,” Aidan chokes out, his face is becoming red with embarrassment and as mush as he has tried to keep his cool. He knows that he is failing miserably. As much as he wants to keep talking to this magnificent specimen. This beast of a man whose handshake is sturdier than anybodies he’s met -- especially Taylor’s... Aidan’s mind wanders back to Taylor. His boyfriend. The one that he professed that he wanted to move-in with.
Aidan shy’s away and knows that talking to Chad is a bad idea. “Thank you for the compliment.” He says again, unsure if Chad has realized that Aidan has only been running circles around him with his words. “I’m... sorry, Chad... I have a boyfriend. I can’t be talking to you.”
“You can’t?” The other man asks, “Or you won’t?”
The english man licks his lips. “I won’t. I’m actually leaving now... but, thank you.” He makes his way out of the gym and towards his car where he leaves the parking lot all together and in the direction of a fresh shower and then to see his boyfriend, Taylor.
[.....]
Scene Four:
420 N. Dayton St., Stone Creek. [Saunders Home]
Adrian, Gail & Violet’s Home
After the last twenty-four hours at the hospital, Gail Schmidt feels a lot more comfortable being able to relax at home and although their daughter had woken up a couple hours ago, Adrian Stone, has made it his mission to keep Violet occupied so that Gail can get some much needed rest. She appreciates this, Gail spends most of her time either at work or trying to sleep. So having Adrian understand her need for sleep helps her feel better.
She stands in the doorway of her daughter’s room, clad in a velvet pale yellow nightgown and the lighting of the moody dull morning peeking into the home through the large window. Gail watches as Adrian rocks their daughter in his arms -- his back towards her -- she smiles at the sight. She has always wanted this. To have a family with this man that stands before her. At one point she thought she would have it, but that was more than ten years ago and although she know has it... there’s something missing. As if everything she has visioned has substantially changed.
“Are you just going to stand there?” She hears Adrian call out lightly. Gail is surprised that he knows she is there, and has only to wonder if he knew of the many nights she spent awake while he slept so soundly. Not wanting to leave him hanging she makes her way into the baby’s room, the pops of yellow and pastel green sends her mind to when she was younger. These colors were once her mother’s favorite ones. Gail takes a deep breath.
“I couldn’t sleep, can you imagine that?” Gail scoffs, shaking her head she leans her body against Adrian’s strong bare back and looks at the baby girl in his arms. She was fast asleep. “It looks like someone else has found it easier than I.”
“I think you just need some hot tea.” Adrian replied, he places the baby in the crib and they turn to leave the room. It’s so early in the morning that neither of them were fully awake. “How about I go fix us something to drink and if you’d like to join me... or you can try and get some sleep, again...”
Gail turns the light off in Violet’s room. “I don’t think I’ll be getting any sleep anytime soon. As much as I’d like that I would also like to be awake when we go visit my father later on. Besides... Violet is finally asleep... can we just try and enjoy some time alone, just the two of us?”
“We can do that.” He smirks.
She joins Adrian as they make their way to the kitchen. A cup of hot tea does sound good and if Violet stays asleep then she can spend some much needed time with Adrian. With working so much she hasn’t seen much of Adrian. Gail remembers a time very much like this when they were younger and Helen Tyree had forbid the rebel from seeing her step-daughter... but they fought so hard to be together and eventually they ran away on the back of Adrian’s motorcycle.
“Can you get us some cups?” He asked, Gail smirks at the thought as it wavers in her mind. She knows where everything in the kitchen is... even if she had her eyes closed. So effortlessly she grabs two pale ceramic mugs and brings them over to him. “I have something I need to tell you.”
“I do as well.” Gail replies, her words heavy and dark.
The only times she has ever kept a secret from Adrian it never turned out well. So she places a hand on his arm and grips it lightly. “I want to go first... I don’t know why I didn’t tell you before, actually,” Gail tears up, she looks away briefly, “that’s a lie. I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t want you to have to worry about me anymore.”
“What’s going on Gail?”
“I fainted the other day at the hospital.” She admits. “I was lucky enough to have done it out in the open so everyone could see me. Imagine that?” Gail speaks with great irritation. “Dizzy was able to help me afterwards... I forgot how great of a friend she has always been to us. But she insisted that I tell you about the incident and the reason why I didn’t want to tell you was because I was really scared.”
“Are you okay, now?”
Gail shrugs, she feels as though she might faint again. She knows this time, however, it is out of nervousness and not because she had skipped a meal or two. “I’m fine now. Everything has been taken care of and my tests have come back. I don’t have diabetes... I don’t have anything wrong with me and even though my mother had suffered from Schizophrenia... I don’t.”
“I knew that.” He replies with a soft chuckle. Adrian makes his way over to her and kisses her forehead as he wraps his arms around her. The warmth of his body comforts Gail as she closes her eyes and sighs. She feels better with the results.
“What was it that you wanted to talk about?” Gail asks, in the middle of her tears she remembered that they both had something to talk about. She clears her eyes, wipes her nose and turns to Adrian with a slight smile. “Does it have anything to do with Violet?”
Adrian shook his head. “Actually, you might want to sit down for this... I wanted to talk to you about me perhaps getting a job at Alice’s Haven Cafe...”
“A job?” Gail gasps, her emotions have all but betrayed her as she holds her hand to her forehead in disbelief. “What do you mean a job, Adrian?... like working for Kirsten Sutton... Does that mean that you don’t want to take care of Violet anymore?...”
“I do! Of course I want to take care of our daughter... but Gail, we both know that we can’t live comfortably on just your salary. This isn’t our home, it still belongs to Kevin Saunders and we have to pay rent. There’s still so much other bills as well. I need a job so that you’re not doing this all on your own. But Violet won’t suffer... I won’t allow that.”
“Then what are we going to do with her?” It wasn’t that Gail meant she didn’t want to keep Violet. It was true... the amount of time that Gail hasn’t spent with Adrian pales in comparison to the amount of time she has spent with her baby girl. “I mean... do we -- do we, where does she go?”
Adrian smirked. “To a babysitter.”
“So your theory is that in order for us to make more money we have to pawn our daughter off on someone who is going to be a leech for money for watching her? I don’t think that’s how it works in the real world Adrian...”
“... Relax, Gail,” He speaks in a way to does in fact relax her. “I’ve talked to Kirsten already and she offered me the assistant manager position at the Cafe and also insisted that we convert the apartment upstairs into a daycare. Everything’s not for certain, but if we can do that... would you be alright with Violet being there?”
Gail frowns. “It’s not that I’m not okay with it...” she just didn’t know how she felt about her... Adrian working with his ex. girlfriend... “It’s fine.” Her false smile catches on with Adrian as she begins to pour them their tea. “Maybe we both need to venture out in the workforce and you’re right.. we can use the extra money. Just please, let’s keep this honest. I will watch out for my health as long as you keep me an eye on our baby girl.”
“Promise.” Adrian leans into to kiss her just as they both hear Violet crying from upstairs. “We can finish this conversation just as soon as I go and take care of our daughter.”
“Let me.” Gail insisted, she looks deep into his eyes and smiles lightly.
[.....]
[.....]
Scene Five:
549 Auburn Rd., Stone Creek. [Wilkinson Cottage]
Gideon, Daphne, Penelope & Bentley’s Home
“Is that the hospital?” Penelope Wilkinson asks, she steps into the living room where she last left Jeremy Joplin and appears with two drinks in her hands. Even though she knows her family wouldn’t approve of her emerging drinking habits at the same time she still needs something to calm her nerves. After all, today is the day she set aside to inform them.
Jeremy turned towards her.
His grey beard barely hides the obvious smile on his face. “Not exactly, I told them that I had some important business to take care of today and unless it is an emergency to please not beep me... I was actually on the phone with your daughter-in-law, Daphne.”
“Is she still at the hospital?” Jeremy nodded his head, but Penelope had already knew this. She smiles, moves over to the couch and hands him his vodka laced with orange juice. “I am just very anxious about telling my grandchildren and my daughter about the cancer. Especially now that Isabelle has been staying here for the last couple of days... I am really on edge.”
“Would you like to go somewhere?”
She shakes her head and cracks a smile. “Are you going to whisk me away in your father’s Volkswagen, mister Joplin?” It was such a sarcastic remark. Yet it was full of hope and much of her wanted to do just that. Of course it wasn’t Jeremy’s fathers car... it would be Jeremy’s, but it made no difference. “I cannot go anywhere. I need to face this and tell my grandchildren that my cancer has re-emerged.”
“I am sure they would appreciate that. Besides, having your family here surrounding you is a great thing. I have spent so much of my life envious of the Wilkinson family way.” Jeremy admitted, she smiles at the thought. “You should be glad to have Isabelle back in Stone Creek. Have the two of you spent any time together while she has been back?”
“She took me to a spa.” Penelope replies, and it become apparent how different the two are from one another. Although if Penelope has to be honest she really is glad to have Isabelle home, even if it’s for certain reasons. But to have her only daughter back home. Even for a couple of days. “It was nice... nice to spend time with her. She was telling me about her marriage to Ivan and how she really wants a child. My daughter... raising a child?”
“I think she will make a perfect mother.” Jeremy replied so hastily that it makes Penelope question if she were too harsh on Isabelle’s parenting skills. “Maybe you should just give her some credit. After all, you don’t want her to drift away from you through this entire process.”
“I almost lost her once, I will never let that happen again.” Penelope takes a drink of her self-made screwdriver and immediately thinks its not strong enough. So she takes Jeremy’s from him and insists on pouring more alcohol in both of them.
But Jeremy pulls Penelope closer to him. “I think they’re strong enough. Would you like your grandchildren to witness their grandmother hurling in the vase right next to them when she is supposed to be holding a family meeting?”
“That might be a little more relaxing, than getting all of my lovely family members together and telling them that I have indeed have cancer again...”
“Technically not all of your family members are coming tonight.” Jeremy reminded her. “But if I can clarify things for you... you drinking right now is not the ideal thing to do. Maybe we should just take it slow and get down to the root of why you are so nervous?”
She sighs, it takes a lot longer for Penelope to find her seat in front of Jeremy. Then it takes her another couple of minutes to find the words to answer his question. “I do not want to be a burden on my family. They have been there every single moment for Grady when I left Stone Creek... There is no reason for them to have to be there for me too...”
“They are your family Nell, they are going to be there for you. We are all going to be there for you but in order for this to happen you have to tell Greta and Bentley the truth, as well as Isabelle and Cory... I know that Cory cannot be here tonight. But at least at one point... he needs to hear it.”
“The first time I found out about the cancer I had this huge emotional breakdown.” Penelope finds herself telling him everything that was building-up inside of her. Her initial reaction is to let the feelings flood right out of her, but she holds back. “I really do not know... there is no way of telling how I am going to react when I see the look on my grandchildren’s faces.”
[.....]
Scene Six:
745 W. Lavender St., Stone Creek. [Old Granger Manor]
Damien & Gillian’s Home
“So is anybody going to tell me what exactly is going on here?” Gillian Sutton Crenshaw has spent so many lonely nights in the walls of the Holly Oak Manor, and sometimes she spends days here too, just dreaming her life away. So it is easy for her to stumble upon conversations just like the one she just stumbled onto. Her quick feet and wide-awake ears. Gillian folded her arms, her eyes etched into her husband’s which meant she needed him to explain the threats made against him.
She never quite trusted Damien ever since she found out about the plan he had to take over her families business. Throughout the Summer she spent nights trying to figure out if he actually loved her or not. But today, Gillian stands so sure of their love. Even if it was because of convenience in the beginning.
Damien steps forward, but can’t seem to say a word.
In which Clifton Briggs takes it as his cue to make some sort of action, he tilts his hat forward towards Gillian and then turns to Damien. “I’m going to take this as my cue to head on out... but don’t you forget about what we talked about.”
Once the older man was gone, Gillian unfolds her arms and walks over to her husband. “So I guess it is just the two of us. So please elaborate on what exactly just happened here Damien!... I thought I’ve already told you how much I detest that man... he’s a damned crook! You can’t be seen with men like him if you’re going to retain being the Mayor of Stone Creek!”
“I need him.” Damien defends, it’s something that she has become all too familiar with lately. So instead of doing the obvious and letting her husband off the hook, Gillian pushes forward. She studies him so eagerly, looking for any sort of cracks. She’s seen them before... she’s found her way in.
Damien steps away. “I’m not through with this conversation.”
“Please,” He spins back around, “Tell me exactly what you want Gill, I’m too exhausted to continue playing your game of poor little rich girl.”
Gillian is taken back by his retort. “I have no idea where that came from --”
“All you ever want to talk about is why nobody at Sutton Enterprises not taking you seriously and then you come here demanding to know everything about my business arrangements. Do you not understand that there are some things that are not in your control?” He barks back. “Those people at SE don’t respect you because of the way you forced yourself into your family’s business...”
“They wouldn’t have respected me anyways!” Gillian yells, she throws her hands around but finds herself calming herself down. “They wouldn’t have respected me anyways, Damien. You think I’m this poor little rich girl... just think about how they picture me. The truth is if I had tried from the bottom they would have all thought of me as the rich girl who bought her way into the company either way. At least I took a chance and got a huge payout.”
“Then act like it.” The words force their way into Gillian’s ears and she could feel tears coming to her eyes, but she stubbornly pushes them back and turns towards her husband. He’s so stoic, so pure strategist that sometimes she doesn’t know when his job stops and her husband starts. It had turned her on at first... but Gillian is starting to feel so lonely.
In a huff of pain, Gillian shakes her head and storms away, back up the stairs she had just recently came down. Back to her room to soak in the words of her husband and out of his earshot.
[.....]
Scene Seven:
Stone Creek; Boulstridge Mountains
The Lakeside Inn; Main Hall
After having spent most of the morning walking through the Inn and conversing with various guests and employees, Taylor Kern was able to meet up with Caitlyn Thurlow to discuss exactly how the guests will be able to check-in for the night of the Winter Wonderland Ball. His light blue eyes watch as the sun has hidden itself behind the deep grey clouds of the winter sky. He knew, statistically at least, that the winter’s storm was clearly on it’s way to Stone Creek and from what he’s heard... the worry has started to sit in.
“This is gorgeous,” Caitlyn says from behind him, he can feel her presence in the room and as he turns to greet her, Caitlyn is already wandering the huge hall and inspecting every section of it. Although he knows she has been here before. Taylor has heard about the Founder’s Ball when Caitlyn’s ex-husband revealed himself to her at the event in 2010 but he also knows that this is the first time that Caitlyn has put together a social event on her own. He knows she is relying on this.
Caitlyn joins him by the window, “this storm is not going to get us down. This year is going to be so different, I can just feel it in my bones.”
Her voice soothes Taylor of his problems in a way that only a mother could and although he knows that Caitlyn has recently lost her only child... Taylor still feels that she is a huge factor in keeping the Thurlow family together. “I promise you that we are going to do everything in our power to make the Winter Ball a success. I just have to ask you if you were able to get everyone on the city council onboard?”
“That won’t be a problem,” Caitlyn insists, “I haven’t really talked to Damien about it, which I hope nobody holds against me. Talking to my ex-husband isn’t exactly on the top of my priorities list. But I can tell you that because word has already gotten out about the event... it’s no longer in his control. The people of Stone Creek want this.”
“As long as we don’t get an enemy in the Mayor, I can jump onboard.” Taylor replies, he takes Caitlyn’s hand and gives her a twirl as they celebrate the immediate success of the Ball. “This is the first time that I am hosting a ball like this... especially with discounted rooms...”
“It’s going to pay off, don’t you worry about that.”
Taylor nods his head, takes a look around and knows that in the coming weeks there will be more than a hundred people here in this very room. They will be dancing, conversing and having a good time in celebrating one of Stone Creek’s massive disaster storms. Then he thinks about Aidan and their last conversation...
“Is everything alright, Taylor?” He can hear Caitlyn ask, and it hits him that he just might not be alright. He had been staying at his place for the last couple of days and, besides when it comes to work, he has avoided much conversation with Aidan.
She lingers in the middle of the hall. “Is there something else that’s bothering you about the Ball? Because if there is you can tell me... I really want you to know that I am really putting everything into this event and I will not let you down. I’ve already got at least over a dozen sources and endorsements out there.” Her words do comfort him, as they had did early in their meeting.
“This isn’t about the Ball, is it?” She asks, she finds herself beside Taylor and he realizes that there’s not anyway to avoid the next words coming out of her mouth, “Is it about Aidan?”
“...I don’t know how much that you do know,” Taylor replies, he turns to Caitlyn as she places a hand on his shoulder. “Aidan asked me to move in with him -- and although I was really flattered, after all it is a step in the right direction... I just don’t know how true he was being.”
Caitlyn sighed. “He came to me about that. I told him that if he really felt like moving in with you than he should talk to you first about it. I’m glad that you thought it was a step in the right direction, but I get the hint that you said no... have the two of you talked about it since?”
“We haven’t.”
“Then maybe you should? I mean, I probably shouldn’t be talking to you about this... you should go to him and talk to him about how you feel. Even if it’s not exactly what he wants to hear.” He knows it’s not what Aidan wants to hear, which is why Taylor had been avoiding it. “The fact that the two of you are communicating is the only way you’ll come up with a logical solution. We don’t live forever Taylor, we should at least spend that time with the ones we love.”
“Don’t give me that sad look!” Caitlyn protests, she places her hands in the air to stop his frown. “I know how everyone looks at me and when I spout out about our own mortality I see it in everyone’s face... I see it in your face -- don’t feel bad. Emily was a part of me that I will never get back. I loved her and I didn’t even get to know her...”
Taylor nods his head. “I really love him.”
“Then tell him that.” She smirks, rubbing his shoulder she dries her eyes and Taylor sees this. It’s not a sadness in her that he sees. There’s something more tranquil about Caitlyn these days... like she knows something that nobody else has had the time to figure out. “You need to tell Aidan how you feel.”
“And how is that?” The english man asks from behind them.
Taylor doesn’t even need to look up to know that Aidan was in the room but he does. He looks over Caitlyn’s shoulder and sees his boyfriend leaning against the entrance of the hall. His heart drops into his stomach. The words, the tone as it reaches his ears... it’s almost too much for him to take.
“I’ll leave the two of you alone.” Caitlyn remarks, she treads through the room and makes her way over to Aidan Jurado. “Give him time to explain his reasons. Because that man over there is a really good man and I would hate for you to let that go.” She whispers a goodbye and gives him a hug, leaving the room and the men alone.
“So what you were talking to Caitlyn about...” Aidan speaks, lingering in the room, “I suspect that is has something to do with me?”
Taylor gulps. “I love you Aidan...”
“Then why won’t you move in with me?” He spurts.
The blond leans back against the glass window of the room and shakes his head. “Because Aidan, I don’t know if you actually want that or if you think that is what I want! I do... I really do want us to move in together and start a life together... but I don’t want it because you think I want it. Not that long ago you weren’t even sure if you wanted to be with me or if you wanted to be with Amanda...”
“I want you.”
This gets a smirk from Taylor, knowing he has won the war against the cute but ditzy Amanda Tucker. He watches as Aidan steps closer to him. “Taylor Duncan Kern... I was confused at one point and we both know how annoying that was. I have a son out there somewhere in France with a woman... and then I met a man and he changed my life.”
“I wasn’t that man.”
Aidan shakes his head in agreement. “You weren’t, and I’m really happy that you’re not. When I met you I tried to convince myself that I was wanting to be with Amanda because I couldn’t bare to let my family down again after the Blood Diamond disaster that killed my mother...”
“Oh, Aidan,” Taylor breathed.
The younger man stepped closer to Taylor, close enough for the two of them to touch. He could almost taste the aroma from Aidan as the spice of his cologne filled his nostrils. “I chose you and I told my family -- not my father, yet -- but I will.”
“I don’t need you to!”
“I want to!” His tone is loud and overbearing... but it only turns Taylor on as the two stand toe to toe, hand to hand. He softens to continue his speech. “Look, I know that it probably overwhelmed you when I asked for you to move in... the timing was probably off. But I still want you to move in with me. This isn’t because I’m afraid of being alone... or because I think that is what you want. It’s because I want it.”
Taylor gulps. “So you can understand if I need a little more time to think about this?”
He watches as Aidan’s eyes gloss over. He knows that it’s not Aidan’s ideal answer because it hurts him to drag the question out... but Taylor still has a lot on his plate and he has spent his whole life keeping his professional life in the forefront. For a second he feels that he has lost Aidan, but then feels the man pull him into a hug.
From outside the window, through the thick ice that has somehow covered it and continued the fight of the heat from inside and the cold from the outside stands a woman watching the two men hug. If it bothers her, she doesn’t make any effort to show it. Instead she watches as they kiss, and from what it seems, they reunite.
[.....]
Scene Eight:
980 Cutler St., Stone Creek. [Faustino Cottages #12]
Diem & Leia Joplin’s Home
The loud New Jersey accent could be heard in the throttled chuckle that Melinda Lombardi lets out as she shares a story with her best friend, Diem Joplin. Tears form in the woman’s eyes as she reaches for her glass of Chianti red wine. 
“I can’t believe that I was afraid to leave Jersey because I didn’t think there’d be any good wine elsewhere... here I am,” Melinda raises her glass, “with one of my most cherished friends having a nice glass of wine and enjoying myself. To letting the past be exactly that... the past.” She smirks, clanking glasses with the other woman.
She can tell there is something on her friends mind, especially since Diem had asked Melinda to come over for some wine in the early evening. So she scoots closer to her friend and nudges her shoulder. “So come one, tell me exactly what you have been hiding from me!”
Diem shies away, but eventually gets the courage to confess. “I think that William was flirting with me last Christmas.”
“Drop it.” Melinda dryly replies, she places her glass to her lips, sips the wine and then places the glass back on the table before her. She turns her head slightly in remorse, but then nods her head and reinforces herself. “You can’t let that man get to you, Diem. After everything that that scum put you through... I’m on the verge of murdering him myself, but let anyone know that!”
Her laugh was back once again and she tilted her head back this time. “Seriously though, I’ve never seen you happier than when you’re with Seth Keeler. That man,” Melinda exaggerates her actions and lets out a grunted ‘Mmmmhm’ “that man is the man for you... not your ex-boyfriend.”
“I wouldn’t even think about leaving Seth.”
“Good.” Melinda can tell her friends mind is no racing to find a solution, so instead she tries to beat her to it. “William Maverick is just playing a game with you. He sees that you’re happy with Seth so he wants to bring you down. Don’t fall for it. Don’t fall for him. You are a way stronger woman that you were in the past.”
Diem tears-up, “I am, aren’t I?”
“You are.” The raven-haired italian beauty chuckles once again. She lifts her glass to her lips and finishes the last of her wine and turns back to the bottle only to find it empty. “Did we really go through that entire bottle? We must have been in need of some wine!”
“That was all you!” Diem protests, “You damned wino.”
The chuckle together. “I have no idea what has gotten into me lately, all I have been doing is drinking to fill this void, and thinking to fill the drinking.” Melinda places the glass back down as Diem gets up. “Where are you going you townie slut?”
Diem tilted her head and flipped her best friend off. “I’m going to find us something stronger, because what ever it is that you just told me... it needs some explaining.”
It only took Diem a couple minutes to produce a bottle of rum from the cupboard and it made Melinda question why she wasn’t around more often. Of course Diem lived hire upon Boulstridge Mountain than most could, so it was a drive from Melinda’s apartment in the city.
“Tell me what’s going on in your mind.” Diem asked, she handed a new glass to Melinda.
The woman looks down at the glass and her hair falls in front of her face. It takes her a moment to sort out her thoughts so she could go over them with Diem, once she has done that she pushes her hair back behind her ears and looks up. “I think I might have a small crush on my last client.”
Diem’s eyes bulge, which was exactly the reaction that Melinda knew she’d get. “You think it’s a bad idea.. don’t you?”
“No!” Diem muffles, her words stuck to the air in the room. “David is a good man... he wasn’t always a good man, I’ll have you know that. Now that he is free of Helen, I think he will only become a better man... but that’s just the thing, Melinda... he just got divorced.”
“I know that!” She turns away. “I’m the one who helped him get divorced from that witch!”
“He’s a good man.” Diem replies.
Melinda turns back around, clearly annoyed. “You keep saying that!”
“Because I don’t know what else to say!” Diem admits, they sip their drinks in silence as both take in the words left lingering in the room. She sighs, and Melinda can feel her friend start to break the silence, so instead she feels the need to do it first.
She places her glass down and clears her throat. “Stay with Seth... don’t go back to William. I want to see where things go with David and I really do care about your opinion, Diem. You’re my best friend here in Stone Creek... I have no one else but you.”
They take each other’s hands and smirk, the tension cut and the conversation starts to flow once again with Melinda explaining her time with Dr. David Schmidt and how he still doesn’t know that she blackmailed Helen Tyree into letting go of the house in the divorce.
[.....]
Scene Nine:
Stone Creek; Sage Gardens
Alice’s Haven Cafe; Inside
Was she right to agree and let Mac Kern be her study buddy when she returns to school? Cassie Lakhani really didn’t have an answer, but she did know that her school work needed to be her main priority right after her baby boy. So having Mac be able to tutor her would really help. She maneuvered Lucian’s stroller into the Cafe and found Kirsten Sutton helping her in. “Thank you.” Cassie says, hugging her best friend’s sister and looking around for a seat. “Sometimes I forget how huge this stroller is and doing a lot of the pushing and maneuvering on my own proves to be a struggle.”
Kirsten smirked, “Then let me be your knight in shining armor today. Is there anything that I can get you... maybe a coffee and a juice for this little guy?” She asks, bending over and tickling the little boy in the stroller. “We have other things besides coffee... if you’re looking for something else?”
The curly haired brunette smiles, “Do you have time for a chat?”
“I think I can work something out... but first, coffee or something else?”
“Coffee.” Cassie replies, she pushes Lucian over to a table and takes a small breath. It was still quite early in the day and although a lot has happened her mind was still stuck on smaller things. So when she found Kirsten at work at the Cafe there wasn’t anything else she wanted to do. Cassie watches as Kirsten walks behind the counter to grab their orders, she also talks to one of the servers.
It had been a couple of days since Cassie has talked to her best friend, and although it seems so strange to think this, ever since she had moved out of their apartment it had only been a matter of time. Still, she feels that the Thurlow family has become like a family to her so if talking to Kirsten was the next best thing... she would definitely try it.
“How are we doing, papa?” Cassie asks, turning her attention to her baby boy. She plays with his shoes that have somehow come un-tied although he hadn’t done any crawling around for the most of the day. “You must have had some little mice untying your shoes... because this is the third time it’s happened today!”
He replies in a slur of misplaced vowels and consonants.
“He sounds like he is ready to talk!” Kirsten speaks, her voice is a much needed distraction and Cassie looks up to see her beaming at them. “I remember Megan at that age... Gosh, it’s been so long ago, but Charlie --” She stops herself and Cassie knows that the older woman has found herself upon an old memory and lets her linger a bit.
Then Kirsten smiles. “I nearly cried when Megan said my name for the first time. I know that it’s silly --”
“I’ll probably have a meltdown when he says mine,” Cassie admits and the two share a beat. “Thank you for sitting with me and grabbing our orders, I just really needed someone to talk to and with Marina being busy at the paper...”
“I understand,” Cassie jumps when Kirsten places a hand over her own. It takes a moment for her to feel comfort out of it, she smiles and lets the other woman carry on, “I know because of your friendship with Marina you would rather talk to her about this. But I wouldn’t mind listening, you’ve become family over the years. Don’t hold out from us, okay?”
She nods. “I’m starting school in the spring.”
“That’s good!” Kirsten spoke, enthused.
The same server that Kirsten had talked to earlier comes over to their table with two coffees and a boxed juice, and the duo thank him. Kirsten takes a sip, “I’m really proud of you for continuing your schooling. Especially for Lucian, I think that can help you get out of your current predicament with...” She stops speaking and looks to the little boy.
Cassie turns away in embarrassment. “Clifton has been very good to us.”
“I don’t mean this in a rude way, because to tell the truth I don’t necessarily know him... but from what others have told me,” Kirsten locks eyes with Cassie, “Clifton Briggs has his hands in some very bad waters. He’s Lucian’s father and I know that... but if you are able to get a degree and you need to leave Clifton at some point... you will have the means to do it.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t have come...”
Kirsten leans back. “I’m sorry, I over stepped my boundaries, I get that. I just want what is best for you Cassie... from here on out I wont say anything bad about him. Like I said, I don’t know him personally.” She grins at Lucian. “He is getting so big Cass... It hasn’t been two years already, has it?”
“Yup.” She replies, a little drier than she had wanted. “I didn’t really want to give him a big birthday this year after everything that happened with my father... then my brother leaving town... I really wasn’t up for visitors, you understand?”
“Of course.” Kirsten sympathized. “Hey, you know what? If you’re going to be enrolling in school then someone is going to need to be watching Lucian. I was talking to a couple of parents around the neighborhood and I had this idea about starting a daycare above the cafe.”
Cassie looks up, vaguely remembering that there was an apartment overhead. “Really? Clifton was mentioning to me how he thought we should get a nanny... I was just coming around to it. But I’m still skeptical of a live-in nanny. Do you know when you’d convert the apartment into a daycare?”
“It’s still in the works.” Kirsten assured her, “but hopefully soon. I know what you’re going through with both parents either at work or doing something... like school. It can be really stressful finding good help. When I can get the place inspected and they approve us I will let you know. Just know that I am looking into this as we speak.”
“Okay,” Cassie nods. “That would be really nice to know he would be here. I ran into Mac Kern at school and he was telling me that he was willing to help with catching up and tutoring --”
“This was the kid you were dating, right?” Kirsten asks, almost insinuating something. “Do you think that that is a good idea? I mean... not that I’m judging you or anything. Maybe you should just focus more on school.”
“I am.” Cassie replies, with a forced smile. “Thank you for the coffee and for listening to me about my life. It was really nice of you, Kirsten, but I think it’s time for me to go. When you find out about the daycare just let me know because I can use it.”
Kirsten nods along, she looks back down at Lucian. “The two of you mean a lot to our family.”
Cassie gets up to leave. Her mind clear of what she has left to do and although she could get mad at Kirsten for stating her point-of-view, she can’t bring herself to do that. Instead she takes for what it is and give the other woman a hug goodbye, watching as Kirsten says her goodbyes to the little boy in the stroller. She knows that Kirsten is right about focusing on school, she also knows what she’s got to do next. A decision she is now sure of.
[.....]
Scene Ten:
Stone Creek; Now Town
Stone Creek Police Station; Inside
“I just flipped a house,” She spoke walking up to her husband, Miles Fowler. This morning Greta had many errands to run and one of them was a house renovation not too far away from her childhood home. Getting back into work has definitely been the one thing she’s been missing. Especially now that she is running her own semi-successful realtors company.
Her husband looked up with a smile. “The one you’ve been complaining about?”
“Not complaining.” Greta catches, she chides herself for complaining about the house before. Now that she has sold it and received a hefty sum for the place. To tell the truth, after the incident with Rodney Burnett taking her family hostage... Greta wasn’t sure if anyone would continue to support her business venture. She did, after all, show Rodney the house he held her hostage in before he even held her family.
A light knock on the door signals them to a visitor and once Greta looks up she cannot believe her eyes, “Laurie Jonas... when did you come back to Stone Creek?” She pipes up, a slight chuckle forces its way out of her lungs and she lunges towards the other woman with a welcoming hug. “And you’re working for my father again?”
“Working for the citizens of Stone Creek again,” Laurie corrected her, she stood up tall and looked between the two people in the room. “Am I interrupting something? Because if I am I will totally come back later. It’s just the reports you wanted about that spousal abuse case.”
Greta turned towards Miles in confusion. It was no surprise to her she was only hearing about the case now. Greta had spent her entire life living with a man who had to keep police reports and cases a secret, and had once asked her mother how she dealt with her father doing so. What bothered her was that Miles has yet to inform her about Laurie working at Stone Creek PD.
“I,” Miles starts, she can tell in his expression that he knows what she’s thinking and awkwardly shifts around. “You can go ahead and leaves those with me and I’ll look them over in a little bit. I was actually going to enjoy lunch with my lovely wife... who, of course, you already know.”
The two women face each other. “Your father explained your connection to Miles a couples days ago,” Laurie pipes up, she smiles brightly and this unnerves Greta. “I think it’s really nice that you found someone who shares interests with Chief Wilkinson. Of course, the apple didn’t fall too far from the tree... your parent’s must be really proud of you, Greta.”
“They are.” She remarks.
It comes off colder than she means and leaves Laurie speechless, so instead of continuing the conversation she hands the files over to Miles and speaks, “I was able to track down one of the friends of the husband, his statement is in there along with the neighbors. I’m sure that you will be surprised by what we’ve found.”
“I’ll look at them when I find time.” He insists.
Laurie nods. “It’s really nice to see that you’e doing well Greta, especially after that whole Rodney Burnett thing... which is probably not my place to state, I’m sorry... what happened was all too awful. So it’s just nice to see everyone returning back to normal. Your husband is a really good detective.”
“I know that.”
“Thank you, Laurie,” Miles says, it sounds more like a goodbye than a response and Greta watches as Laurie takes that cue, turning on her heels and leaving the lovers alone.
This gives Greta enough time to walk over to her husband and peer over his shoulder as he scans the file. “I thought you said you were going to look those over later? My grandmother wanted us to make an appearance at the house today, I really think it’s important news.”
Miles agrees, he closes the files. “This case is just a really big one...especially after what Rodney did. I want Stone Creek to feel safe again for everybody, yourself included --”
“I do feel safe.” Greta retorts, she softens at his touch. “Miles, you make me feel safe just being at work all the time and working on these cases. Having my father, and my mother and the rest of my family... it all makes me feel safe. What doesn’t make me feel safe is you not telling me that Laurie Jones was back in town...”
He shrugs. “Your father said the two of you went to school together, but I didn’t think it was a huge deal. Besides, Chief Wilkinson is the one who assigned us both to the case, I figured it didn’t mean anything. Laurie only recently arrived, just like your aunt Isabelle has done.”
“I have a feeling it’s going to be really big tonight.” Greta worries, her eyes gloss over and she can feel Miles wrap his arms around her body. The warmth that rose from her husband’s body calmed her down and made her feel... safe.
“I will always be here for you, forever.”
[.....]
Scene Eleven:
980 Cutler St., Stone Creek. [Faustino Cottages #12]
Diem & Leia’s Home
Diem Joplin is awake as soon as she hears the key unlock the front door and like a teenage child about to be scolded for drinking all their parents liquor, she bolts up from the couch and tries to hide the bottles on the coffee table. 
“It smells like a saloon in here...” her daughter’s voice trails off and Diem is sure she is headed right for her, so out of embarrassment mostly, especially for falling asleep on the couch she hides the Chianti bottle under the couch and places the now empty bottle of rum in the closest cupboard, Diem barely has enough time to fall back on the couch when Leia enters the room. “Where is she?”
The older woman clears her throat. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
As she tries to come up with an excuse as to why she’s sitting in the living room with the lights off it dawns upon her that the TV has also been shut off.. an instinct even drunk Diem remembers to do to conserve energy. Diem tries so desperately not to look at the TV, but once Leia’s eyes fall upon it, so do Diems. “Okay... fine, so we had a little to drink.”
Leia folds her arms. “When Aunt Melinda comes over...there’s no such thing as a little to drink.” Diem smirks at the realization that Leia still refers to Melinda Lombardi as her aunt, even though she has never officially held that title. It all stemmed from Leia’s childhood when Melinda would come over nearly every day after work to gossip. “It smells like you finished off the whole bar.”
Diem holds her arms up in defeat. “She got drunk and I put her in my bed. I was going to sober up but who knew watching Gossip Girl would actually put me to sleep... how was your day at work, sweetie?” Her change of subject duly noted.
“It was nice. I wish you would have told me that I was going to walk into this though... even still,” Leia sighs and breaks her ‘hard-ass’ routine and goes to hug her mother. “I’m glad that you still have her to keep you company. At least to talk to when you need it... I’m going to go take a shower and from the smell of you, I think that’s more of a demand from me than a suggestion.”
“I’ll take one when you’re done.” Diem nods and watches as he daughter heads out of the room and up the stairs. She looks around and finds amusement at what just happened. She was thankful to have her daughter and her best friend still in her life. “I’ll get that!” Diem calls out to nobody in particular when the doorbell rings.
She rushes over and opens the door only to find William Maverick on the other end. Diem slumps down, “I hate to tell you this, but your timing is the worst I’ve bared witness too... your daughter just went up for a shower. Maybe you should come back at a more decent time?”
“I’m here to see you.” The man spoke, his eyes dazzled as the locked with hers. In the pale moon light his skin smooth and light as milk chocolate. A sloppy grin on his face as he noticed her noticing him. Quickly she shook her head in resistance.
“Not going to happen, William.”
But before she could close the door he insisted she hear him out. It was the way he said the words that stopped her. Diem lingered in the doorway, she could feel this draw to him, but knew it meant nothing now. She holds the door tightly.
“Do you remember when we took Leia camping for the first time?” He asks amusedly, and she recalls this memory all too well. It was a couple years after William had left Stone Creek and only a few months after Diem told the man he had a daughter.
She rolls her eyes. “I’m never allowing you to take us camping again William Maverick, I just can’t believe that weekend actually happened. That I thought spending time with you would keep you around for our daughter... I remember thinking that you were actually going to amount to something that weekend. I thought that my life was going to get easier.”
“I can never make up for the person I once was.”
Diem sighs, heavily. She has no idea if it is because she just woke up from a nap and her body was trying to wake up or if it was the alcohol fighting her body for sleep. “I’m not asking that of you, that’s the funny part William. I’m not asking that of you again. All I am asking is for you to stay out of my life... you can stay in Leia’s all you want. From what I hear she enjoys your company. I’m really happy to hear that, for her sake --”
“Hear me out?”
“I’ve heard a lot from you and I’m not sure that I can take hearing anymore,” Diem replies, her body shakes uncontrollably. “Maybe at one point I was ready to hear you out. Okay? Let’s just say that if things would have gone differently after the camping trip... maybe I would have heard you out. I would have forgiven you... but you can’t build a home on maybes. You can barely build a home on a single-parent salary.”
“Oh, please!” He hollered, he turns away but immediately turns back to her. “You know your parents helped you financially with Leia so don’t kid yourself about not having enough money to finance our daughter’s needs... all I’m asking is for you to let me explain myself.”
“I’m closing the door now.” Diem insists.
William holds his hand out. “Your father told me to leave!” This obviously slows the process down and he takes this moment to continue, “I didn’t want to leave you after the camping trip but your father insisted that it was for the best. I don’t know exactly why... but he told me to leave Stone Creek behind and that he would help me establish a career... so I left. I took you on that one camping trip so that I would have something to remember and then I packed my things and left.”
The words were too much for a slightly drunk Diem Joplin to take. Her mouth opens before she can ever say anything and she hangs on his words. It wouldn’t make any sense for her father to do this... because for so long her father wanted nothing more than Diem to marry William. He berated her after William left the first time. The panic in her face began to fade as her surprise turned to anger.
She locked eyes with William. Wether he was telling the truth or not there is only one thing on her mind, she shakes her head as tears begin to fall and she backs away from him. “Well, you should have stayed...” Diem declares, the words linger in the doorway longer than she does.
Unknown to either of them, their daughter... having overheard their heated conversation sat perched at the top of the stairs, her hand covering her mouth as she breathes heavily into the open palm to keep from making any noise. Her light grey eyes puffy and red as tears fall down her hazel cheeks.
[.....]
Scene Twelve:
507 Auburn Rd., Stone Creek. [Wilkinson Cottage]
Penelope, Gideon & Daphne’s Home
“Dr. Joplin came and picked her up a couple of hours ago,” Bentley Wilkinson explained to his sister and brother-in-law, he sits in the kitchen with the two love birds along with his aunt, Isabelle, as the four of them share a bottle of Sangria. He felt comfort with having his family around, even though he knows that something still isn’t right.
Isabelle sighs heavily, which means there’s something on her mind, so instinctually they all look at her as she downs her glass and opens her mouth to talk, “I still don’t agree with my mother dating that man. After everything he put your grandparents through when I was a child --”
“He saved your life.” Greta pointed out.
Bentley nodded. “He’s a good man.”
“He wasn’t always that way,” she idly replies, a little too harshly. Bentley chalks it up to the bottle of wine and the conversation lingers as they find their bearings on the topic. “You know, when we were younger your father used to do this impersonation of Dr. Joplin...”
When she notices her niece and nephew aren’t reacting to her chagrin she goes over and pours another glass of juice. “Alright, I get it. You like the man. I mean, I can’t really complain about him... he did save my life as a baby. You got that right Greta, he did do that. I’m just so used to seeing my parents fight over wether that man was trying to steal my mother away from my father... now that dad’s in that home... can we change the topic?”
“It’s good to talk about your feelings.” Bentley insists.
“Is that what your therapist keeps telling you, kid?” Isabelle eyes.
He shrugs in defeat and lets the conversation draw for a second, like honey dripping from a jar. “It feels so weird being in this house after Rodney Burnett...”
“How are you feeling?” Miles says, the first thing he has said since they arrived earlier in the evening. It had almost surprised Bentley when he spoke and reminded him how long they had all been standing around the kitchen drinking. He looks outside at the night and then gazes upon Miles. “You know, being back here... I hope it doesn’t bother you that Greta explained why you didn’t want to be in our wedding?”
“You’re getting married again?” Isabelle asked, “Congratulations! Weddings are gorgeous occasions... I remember mine as if it were yesterday.”
Her facial expression changed immediately and Bentley could tell she was processing the conversation that was about to unfold. Isabelle tried to back track, her wine nearly spilt from her lips and with a hand on her hip she turned towards Bentley. It was the same look he had become accustomed too, so he reacted without even taking it in fully.
“Stop. Please, would everyone just stop acting like my cat got ran over. It’s the same look my mother gave me after she actually ran over my cat... I love you all, I really do, but this isn’t helping me cope with what happened. Walking on eggshells or not being able to express your experiences... it’s not bringing Emily back!” His breath caught in his throat. “So there’s no reason not to talk about it. Miles, I’m so glad that you’re giving my sister the wedding she has always wanted.”
Greta straightened up, her facial expression complex. “We love you, Bentley.”
“Thank you. I know this, but thank you. I’m not this fragile box that’ll break if you move me! You can’t keep treating me this way... I hate it! I hate going back to that apartment and sometimes I hate being here in this house when it’s extremely silent! I can hear every word that man said while he pointed his gun at ma’ and Cassie and grandma!”
The other three sat in silence as Bentley tried to calm down. He wipes a few tears from his eyes and places his hands against the counter for support.
“You need to talk about this...” Daphne Wilkinson spoke from the entrance to the kitchen, her husband and Bentley’s father steps into the room as well. It only takes the young man a split second to recognize them and like a child who just scraped his knee, Bentley rushes over to her and wraps his arms around Daphne.
She hugs her son back and he knows, even though he can’t see it, that all eyes are once again on him.
[.....]
[.....]
Scene Thirteen:
420 N. Dayton St., Stone Creek. [Saunders Home]
Adrian, Gail & Violet’s Home
He placed the car seat on the dining room table and unbuckled the sleeping baby girl, he did all of this while Gail Schmidt watched him, a smile creeps on her face as she thinks about how much fun she had just spending time with them. How much fun she has had today seeing her father and having dinner with him. Then it dawns on her that there was a time she never thought her father would accept Adrian Stone as the man of her dreams.Yes they’ve had hard times, Gail can count a number of them using both hands. But she doesn’t and as soon as the negativity starts to bubble to the top, she seals it away and steps over to the man. “I really, really enjoyed today, you know?”
“I did too.” Adrian replies, so subtle and loving that Gail almost gets lost in the reply.
She looks down at Violet and smiles. “I can’t believe you were able to get her to fall asleep on the car ride home... she never does that with me. I mean -- no, I don’t really want to talk about that because then it feels real and I want to savor this moment.”
“Oh, Gail,” He says, taking her into his arms. “The thing is, you need to talk about it. You need to talk about all of it because we don’t talk and it gets really frustrating. I don’t know how to read your mind sometimes and I hate to say it but sometimes I feel like you don’t want to be around our daughter.”
“I do!” She protests, but fails to find the words to follow-up.
“Then talk about it.” Adrian picks up their daughter and begins the journey up to her room where he places her in the crib and tucks the light skinned brown eyed baby girl.
Gail lingers in the hall and spots Adrian leaving their daughter’s room with the baby monitor in his hand. She shifts her weight. “I couldn’t put it into words before... because I really didn’t want to admit it to myself, but then I let it get the best of me and I fainted... we already talked about my mother, I was really scared that I might turn out just like her. How pathetic she was during the last five years of her life.”
“She raised you well --”
“My father raised me well.” Gail corrected.
“I love you.” The words trigger a reaction out of Gail, she lets them sink in and knows that he is telling the truth. He had no reason to lie to her, she knew this. But what they do the most is force her to realize how insane she has been the last couple of weeks.
“So, you’re going to be working with Kirsten?” She asks, her arms automatically fold upon themselves as she feels a chill in the room. “Don’t mistake me, I love you too Adrian... I just also know what that woman meant to you in High School”
“That was High School --”
Gail shakes her head, in disbelief, “High School tends to stay with us a lot longer than we think. I just hate to think that after everything we have been through... after running away from home, to the miscarriage to finding our way back to one another... I would hate for this to all be for nothing.”
“That’s all entirely up to you. There’s no way that I would ever leave you Gail.” He replies, taking hold of her arm and tugging lightly. He gets her to release her grip on herself and her hands linger dangerously close to his. “If we are honest with one another and keep each other in the know, then we have nothing to worry about. I love you. I worry about you. I want to protect you.”
She smiles eagerly and wraps her arms around his neck.
[.....]
Scene Fourteen:
1509 Mango Ln., Stone Creek. [Briggs Home]
Clifton, Cassie & Lucian’s Home
Cassie had once told her best friend that she needed to choose between Ryan Bauer and Ian Kiefer and she needed to stay with the one she chose. Eventually Marina did just that and she chose Ryan. As Cassie enters the home -- after a small chat with the guard at the gate -- she knows that she needs to take her own advice and do the same.
Of course, Mac was now in a steady relationship so her advice would have to be taken a little heavier than when she gave it to Marina. Living with the man who helped bring her son into the world was definitely a different experience and she had pictured this going a little differently when she was younger. When Cassie was nine, she thought she’d be married by now.
A smirk escapes her otherwise complacent face. “Clifton, are you home?”
She had seen his car in the garage so she knows the answer to that. But because of what has happened to her in the past she still finds herself calling out for him to respond and confirm his presence in the home. Sometimes once she arrives home she will go room-to-room calling out to make sure no one is there. Cassie lifts her son higher upon her hip and moves into the living room.
“Clifton, I’m headed for the living room,” Once agains she calls out in hopes that he will answer her sooner rather than later. She lingers in the hall and stares at the front door. She knows that there’s a guard not too far from there. Late at night he stays in the pool room towards the back of the house but is aware of his quick reflexes and becomes secure.
Cassie frowns when Clifton doesn’t respond, she makes her way towards her desired destination and opens her mouth once again, this time she looks at her infant son and tickles his stomach. “I have no idea where that daddy of yours has gone, but he better answer us soon!”
“Right here.” Clifton called, from behind.
She hears his voice before she sees him and when Cassie turns around she nearly has a small heart attack at his presence. “Oh my god! Don’t sneak up on me like that, Cliff.”
“I called out to you from upstairs but I guess you didn’t hear me.” He replies casually. His attention falls upon the boy in her hands and Cassie can tell he wants to hold Lucian so she gives him up and walks around the living room freely. “I brought some food home from Gladys’ not too long ago if you’d like to make yourself a plate?”
“Thank you.” Cassie finds herself saying, she massages her neck. “I was at Alice’s earlier talking to Kirsten Sutton and she gave me some advice that I think I need to take into consideration.” She tells him, taking a seat on the couch.
Clifton joins her with Lucian on his lap. “And now what is that?”
“I don’t really know where I see myself in the next couple of years,” She explains. When she was twelve Cassie thought she would be living in Wolf’s Point her entire life and by the time she was a teenager she became content with that. But then her brother disappeared and her whole life changed, “I know that I will have Lucian with me --”
“I’ll be here as well.”
Cassie finds herself nodding along. “I know that. You’ve been telling me this since we found out that you were... that you were his father. Clifton... this is the weirdest situation I have ever found myself in,” She chuckles lightly, if only to clear the tension, “...that’s saying a lot since my own father tried to kill me. You have been so good to Lucian and I. So I need to ask you something, and I want you to answer me the best that you can.”
“Anything.” He replies.
There’s no way that Cassie could start a life with Mac if he ever broke-up with Dizzy Roberts. One day Cassie knew that Mac would want a son of his own and Cassie couldn’t give him that. She would be forced to make him compromise for Lucian and although she knows he would... she also knows that Mac shouldn’t have to.
“You have to be completely honest with me about everything. I know that you’re in business with Damien Crenshaw and from what I’ve seen of him... he’s not that great of a man. So you need to tell me the truth, for Lucian’s sake.” She asks. “Is there anything that you’re keeping from me?”
He shakes his head, so eager to answer her question he shakes it. “I want to keep you and Lucian safe, that’s my only concern.”
“Okay,” she nods, reassured. “Look, I know I’ve been really hesitant about us in the past but it’s because I don’t need him losing one of his parents. Lucian is all that matters to me now, to subject him to what I went through with my mother and father... he deserves way better than that.”
“We will only give him the best.” Clifton replies, he rubs the boys flock of hair and looks into Cassie’s eyes and for a second she freezes if only to imagine a life that they could share. Cassie leans forward, her heart beating in her chest. “I will only give you the best.”
Cassie’s lips meet Clifton’s in a furry and they almost forget their son is between the two of them. They pull apart and look down at the boy who has no problem being smothered between the two of them and with a chuckle of relief she gulps. “I don’t want to get engaged or married... I don’t need you to call me by any nicknames Cliff...”
“I get it, Cassie.” He insists. “How about we just start by acknowledging that there is something here. That there was always something here. I can live with no labels as long as we get that out of the way so that we can give Lucian only the best.”
She nods. “There’s something here.”
[.....]
Scene Fifteen:
549 Auburn Rd., Stone Creek. [Wilkinson Cottage]
Penelope, Gideon & Daphne’s Home
“But I don’t understand!” Bentley stands up and all she wants to do is help him back into his seat and rock him to sleep like she used to when he was a baby. Penelope grips Jeremy Joplin’s hands harder than ever as her family reacts to the news of her cancer. Even though it is true that three of the people in the living room already knew about it, still, she feels like it has been her little secret for months.
Greta’s face has been buried in her husband’s shoulder since the revelation and Penelope can detect that the younger woman had probably already concluded this was the reason they were all brought together. She slips her hands into her husbands and weeps lightly as somewhere beyond her Daphne speaks up and continues the explanation.
“We have been tracking the cancer ever since its re-emergence. I know the first time we went the route of surgery and chemotherapy but this time we have to be a little more aggressive with getting it out. Which is going to put a lot of stress on Penelope --”
In the corner, with a glass of wine in her grasp, Isabelle scoffed, “You told us that the cancer was gone! Do you really think we can trust you now Daphne? I don’t want my mother going through any more surgery.”
“None of us do.” Gideon fired back.
Penelope could tell her son was holding back, she had always admired Gideon’s restrain around everyone else. He always seemed to keep his cool, just like her Grady used to and even though Gideon wasn’t related to them through blood he sure did have many characteristics taught to him by her husband.
“Daphne is one of the best doctors I have had the privilege working with and I am honored to have her intellect on staff,” Jeremy says, breaking Penelope from her thoughts, “I know that this is extremely difficult for you to process right now Isabelle... but you need to understand that your mother wants everyone to work together through this.”
“I’m not working with you,” Isabelle declares, shaking her head in disbelief, “I knew something was wrong when she called me and asked for me to come to Stone Creek. This family has been through some much hell in the past few months, so don’t you try to explain to me how important it is to be a united front. We tried being a united front against you at one time Dr. Joplin, don’t you forget that.”
“This is not about us.” He defends himself.
But Gideon steps forward this time. “Isabelle... this isn’t the time.”
“Then when is? You are all just sitting here and welcoming this man into our mother’s life and forgetting how much pain he put her through all those years ago. All the heartache he attached to my father’s memory... he’s not even dead yet and you’re swopping in for the kill?”
“That is enough!” Penelope snaps.
The room goes quiet, silent as the night had become. Bentley steps forward and wraps his arms around his crying aunt and pulls her back towards the couch as the other grownups look around at one another. His father, stoic and strong, is encouraging Daphne to continue the steps leading up to the procedure.
Penelope watches them all. Herself feeling like a stranger in a room of strangers. For a moment she tries to remember herself at a time when things were simple and she was just a housewife taking care of her children and getting dinner ready for Grady Wilkinson... but that time has passed, and so would this moment she has found herself lost in.
“The best course of actions is to transfer Penelope to Cuttlebone City,” Daphne informs the family, she lowers her head, “We don’t have the expertise that we need to continue the treatments here in Stone Creek, I really wish we did. But our best bet is to start in the city.”
“So we’re leaving her on her own?” Isabelle mutters.
Penelope shoots her daughter a look.
“I want to go with her.” Before Penelope has time to hear the words, she looks up to see her grandson standing up and in the center of them room. “I need to be there with my grandma and I can’t find a reason to actually stay here in Stone Creek. Maybe you don’t want me to go with you... but please would you consider it?”
“I would love for you to go with me.” Penelope speaks, her lips trembling.
“Well I’m not letting the two of you go alone,” her daughter spoke up, her words trembled with her body, and Penelope watched as Isabelle garnered their attention, “I am going to take a flight back home to Ivan and then I’ll head out to Cuttlebone City and find a nice place to stay for a bit.”
Penelope shook her head. “You can’t put your life on hold, not for this.”
“You’re my mother, I have to take care of you.” Isabelle replied, the words carrying more weight than Penelope would have liked them to. “So that settles it then? If you want, I will tell Cory and Mona and they can tell Jayne. You need to get your rest, mother.”
“I don’t need that --”
“Isabelle is right, my dear, “Jeremy insists, “You need rest before the surgery. I think we can all just try to enjoy the rest of the night and then tomorrow we will start to make the arrangements for the trip. I am going to try and visit the three of you as much as possible.”
“As will I.” Daphne speaks up. “I just want to keep track of your progress Penelope, and I think everyone else should keep a home base here. This town is going to be extremely quiet with you gone for so long. But we will get you back and we will get your health back as well.”
The group sat in silence before they continued with their evening.
[.....]
Scene Sixteen:
813 Crystal Hill St., Stone Creek. [Bayou Oaks Condos #21]
Aidan Jurado’s Home
“I’m not rubbing your feet,” Aidan Jurado declares, he scrunches his face and recoils, “have you smelt your feet?” He asks, half-jokingly. He can tell that Taylor has caught the joke and wiggles the five digits on his right foot dangerously close to Aidan’s face. “Keep doing that and I’m withdrawing my invitation to move in with me.”
Taylor snorted at the response, but removed his feet. “Fine, but can you at least give me a back massage? I swear, all I did today -- beside have that meeting with Caitlyn -- was run back and forth answering every stupid question known to mankind.”
“You’re the one who wanted this job.”
“I know.” He says, a little too quickly. After a beat, Taylor smirks, “It was really nice to see Caitlyn today though, wasn’t it? I think she’s doing a whole lot better. Now that she has the Ball to focus on I think she’s going to pull through just fine.”
He knows this. Aidan nods his head in agreement, but he knows how hard it is to lose a family member and knows that it must hurt Caitlyn even worse. Because not only was Emily Roscoe, Caitlyn’s daughter... but she never got the chance to know the younger woman.
Aidan locks eyes with Taylor. “This communication thing between the two of us... I really like it. I was terrified that you weren’t going to ever talk to me again after I tried to usher you into moving in with me. You’re right... there’s a lot that we still need to discuss. So thank you for getting me to at least realize that much Taylor.”
“Hey, I’ve been through a lot of the same shit that you’re going through. Not knowing when to move fast and when to go slow. I was new to the whole homo thing too, once. Things go at a whole different pace than straight relationships. But don’t worry about nothing, just let it go and we will see what tomorrow brings.” Taylor says, “Besides, we have this Ball to focus on and all of the guests.”
“She invited the whole town, didn’t she?”
Taylor nodded his head.
“I’m glad that she did. Aunt Caitlyn is right about one thing, this storm has painted itself a bad image and this could be the very thing that turns it around.” Aidan scoots closer to Taylor and eliminates the space between them. “Being a part of this is really neat. I’m starting to feel like I belong here in Stone Creek and in a strange way, I feel like I was born and raised here.”
“I feel the same way.” Taylor replies, he leans in. “Being here with you. I can’t lie thought, your stubbornness can be really tiring. Sometimes when you get really frustrated I can’t understand a word you say... but I’m glad that I didn’t give up on you.”
Aidan leans in and kisses the other man, their tongues meeting and dancing as the snow begins to fall lightly near the window and down below to the street. The cold, cold night in Stone Creek has begun to only get colder as the night wanes. In a distance, the stars twinkle and shine brightly and as the night comes to an end, the hope that the Winter Wonderland Ball success gets even greater.
[.....]
Next Time, On Concrete Shelves
- Clifton Briggs puts a plan into motion that could jeopardize his standing in Stone Creek and in Cassie Lakhani’s eyes when he squares off with Patsy Sutton-Clarke and her husband, Adam. While Cassie reassures herself that she has made the right decision.
- After hearing what William Maverick had to say, Diem Joplin, has to come to terms with what her father did years ago without telling her. But a plea from her daughter might just sway her decision and leave Seth Keeler out in the cold.
- Meanwhile, Amanda Tucker, the blond who once held a flame for Aidan Jurado comes back into the fold in a very unexpected way, which could cause problems for the already rocky relationship that both Aidan and Taylor Kern are trying to balance out.
- The Winter Wonderland Ball is underway, and with the late February storm comes many shocking surprises in store for the residents of Stone Creek, including the mysterious arrival of a face from the past that nobody saw coming...
