Episode 39 – The Confessional
Previously on Lives To Live:
– Chardonnay said no to Luc’s proposal. Victor interrupted them, and Luc left. But he did overhear Chardonnay tell Victor she loved both Gabe and Luc. That evening Chardonnay was delighted when her bridesmaid Becca arrived. Becca, Chardonnay, Gabe and Luc went out to a club that night and Chardonnay was shocked to see Becca kiss Luc.
– April was shocked when Nate asked her out again. But even Kayla’s bitchiness didn’t ruin April’s good mood, and she told Paris all about her big date. That night a nervous Nate met with April, but both were unaware that Paris had asked Jacob to meet her at the bowling alley as well. Paris planned to ruin the night, but had a change of heart after seeing Nate and April together and decided to go somewhere else with Jacob.
– Chardonnay’s uncle and Leslie’s brother James arrived, with Charity, his girlfriend and wife to be. She was pretty nervous about meeting his family.
– Jacob was depressed about Kayla’s rumours about his sexuality.
– Cleo and Leslie both secretly did pregnancy tests. While waiting, they dreamed about losing everything if they were pregnant, with Cleo also worried another secret would be revealed if she was pregnant. Leslie worried about losing Victor and her children, and JJ not supporting her. The results came through, and one was positive, the other negative.
Thursday,
May 15th 2003, Samson Mansion, Morning
Sara McCarthy stood outside the door of the mansion, flicking through various sheets and checklists. She was calm and collected as usual, despite only having one day left until Chardonnay and Gabe got married. At this time tomorrow morning she knew that there would be a panic happening inside the mansion as Chardonnay got her hair and nails done, and also recovered from tonight’s party, with all her female friends. Sara smiled as she thought of Alex, but shook her head knowing now was a time to be professional.
She pressed the doorbell again, wondering where everyone was as it was taking such a long time to answer. Chardonnay should be home, after all she and Gabe had had dinner with her family last night and hadn’t went out afterwards. Sara sighed, and then turned to look out at the gardens.
The door opened and she smiled, before turning around.
“Hi…” She began, but stopped as she saw who it was. “Judi…”
They hadn’t spoken since that day a few weeks back in the bar, with Alex. Sure they’d seen each other around, once at the mansion, but still they hadn’t spoken.
“What do you want?” Judi asked.
“Look, I don’t want a fight. I’m sorry maybe some of the things I said were a bit hurtful.”
Judi smirked. “A bit? You really, really let me down Sara.”
“Who is it?” Came the voice of Chardonnay Samson, from behind Judi.
“Sara, she’s here to do all the final preparations.” Judi said, sweetly. She didn’t want her niece worrying about her and Sara not getting on. Chardonnay had enough to deal with at the moment with the wedding.
“Oh great. I was waiting for you. Mom is inside, bossing everyone as usual as she organises tonight. I think there is something she wanted to ask you, Sara.” Chardonnay said, a change in her voice as she mentioned her mother. “I want to ask Judi something.”
Sara passed the two women, and walked into the sitting room where Leslie was sat, beside Calista. The two were giving each other dirty looks.
“It is Sara who you were fighting with, wasn’t it? I heard the two of you.” Chardonnay said.
“Yeah it was.”
“She was the one who turned against you.”
“Yeah.”
“What happened though? Friends don’t suddenly turn against each other unless there is a man involved.” Chardonnay said, thinking about herself and Becca. She and Luc went out last night, while Chardonnay was at the family dinner, and had not returned to the mansion yet. Chardonnay knew that they’d probably slept together, after all it was what Becca had been planning.
“Remember months and months ago you saw me with a man in the Ritz Bar?”
“The guy you ran out on and wouldn’t tell me anything about?”
“Yeah. Well he was the man involved.”
“You poor thing. I can’t believe Sara would be like that though.”
“Well she is. So much for us being best friends again, after all that time. She’s changed a lot from high school. She was the nice girl, now she’s…”Judi stopped, realising she was going on a bit. “I’m sorry. It is your day tomorrow. I don’t want to go on about my messy love life to you.”
“No, it’s okay. It’s a break from everything else that I’ve got going on right now.”
“Chardonnay, just be thankful that you have a wonderful man like Gabe. You are so lucky.” Judi said, leaving her niece deep in thought. Gabe may be the wonderful man, but was she really the wonderful woman?
There was a silence, until Judi spoke again. “Look Chardonnay, I have to go now but I’ll see you tonight for your party.”
As Judi walked towards her car, a taxi pulled up outside the mansion. Chardonnay wondered if it was her great aunt Lila, who was supposed to arrive on Tuesday. All they’d gotten was a delay, saying that she’d been caught in an arresting situation, and that call wasn’t even from Lila.
Becca stepped out of the taxi, or more fell out, dizzily hitting the ground. Chardonnay ran towards her.
“Becca.” She said.
“Oh hey Char!” Becca greeted.
“What happened to you?”
“All I remember is being out last night, and then getting into this taxi. In between all seems like a bit of a blur.”
“Right. And Jean Luc?”
“Oh, Lucky?”
“Yeah, Luc.”
“Oh, no I call him Lucky! He was definitely one of the perks of my night, if you know what I mean Char honey. I’m sure you do.” Becca laughed. Chardonnay was slightly embarrassed. “Oh my god, he is sooooo sexy Char. His eyes, his lips, his body, his…”
“Right I think we better get you inside.”
“You already know all this of course. Been there, done him.”
Inside Calista was sneering at some of Chardonnay and Gabe’s choices for the wedding, most notably the venue.
“Look, the state of the place.” She told Alicia. “Quaint is what they describe it as. It looks far too small, and the aisle. The door is practically at the altar. No long, sweeping walk for Chardonnay. Poor girl. At least I suppose it’ll be better than Leslie’s affair. The thought of her dress makes me shudder.”
“Yeah.”
“Of course your father and I…”
At the other side of the room Sara and Leslie stood, discussing final arrangements for the following day.
“So they’ll be here at nine.”
“Yeah. You’ll have to have Chardonnay up early. Hopefully the pain won’t be too bad.”
“I don’t know why she was so against the idea of a weekend away with all her friends and family. It would have been far, far better.”
“Hey honey. I’m off now.” Victor interrupted.
“It’s the day before your daughters wedding. Surely you can take the day off.”
“I’m not going into the office. I’m going out for a round of golf with JJ.”
“JJ?”
“Yeah… JJ. You know him I think.”
“I’ve just got a headache coming on, that’s all. Wonder what the cause of that is?” Leslie said, turning to glare at Calista.
Outside in the hall Ethan and Max were making their way down the stairs, having just passed Chardonnay and Becca.
“You two ready?” Victor asked his younger brothers.
“Yeah.” They said in unison.
Down the corridor, in the swimming pool, James was sitting by the pool with Charity.
“So, what do you think?”
“Of your family?”
“Yeah.” James said. Charity turned to smile at him.
“They are great. Judi is lovely.”
“And Leslie?”
“I don’t know. She doesn’t really like me, I think.” She said, just as she and James were both splashed by Kyle jumping in, and joining Kate and Ryan.
On the stairs Chardonnay stood, having just put Becca to bed.
“Hey.” She said, throwing her arms around Gabe. She looked up into his eyes, seeing his love for her deep in them.
“You all set for tonight.” He asked. She nodded. “Not looking forward to it?”
“It should be okay. Better than some weekend away anyway, in some health spa with mom there.”
Gabe sighed. “What is it between you two? You should really sort out your problems with her before the wedding.”
“Yeah, well you know my mom and what she’s like.”
“To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Gabriel said. He was lying on Chardonnay’s bed, shirtless.
“It is a pleasure being in my company,
is it Gabriel?”
“Of course.”
Leslie moved closer to the bed, her
eyes fixed on Gabe. He noticed that she seemed
unsteady on her feet, sort of dizzy. He wondered how much she’d had to
drink.
“So are you looking forward to having
me as your loving mother in law?” Leslie said, sitting on the bed beside Gabe.
“Why wouldn’t I want you as my mother
in law?” He asked, lying back on a pillow. He could now smell
“I don’t know.” She replied, starting to stroke his chest seductively. Leslie then started to pull at her left strap, revealing some of her cleavage to Gabe. Leslie pushed Gabe back and started to kiss him passionately.
“Yeah, I do know what she’s like.” Gabe said nervously. Chardonnay smiled before continuing down the stairs and down the hall, into the kitchen. Her mother was standing there, making a coffee.
“Chardonnay…” Leslie started. “Look we have to sort this out.”
“What if I don’t want to listen to your latest lies?” Chardonnay retorted, angrily. “I bet JJ wasn’t the first man you cheated on Dad with, was he?”
Leslie looked away, as memories of her night with Gabe returned. She looked away from her daughter, embarrassed, yes, but also upset to hear her daughter speak like that.
“Oh mom. You make me sick. I better make sure you aren’t after Gabe next.”
“Chardonnay, I’m so sorry. It was just one night, a crazy moment. I’d just found out about your father and his latest mistress, and realised she’d been taunting me all along. He’d been here, in my home, standing beside her. She lied to me about who she was, and he’d done the same. I was just so angry. I got a drink and then he was there for me. Neither of us planned it. I’m so sorry, you’ll never forgive me for this, will you?”
Leslie took a deep breath, wondering how Chardonnay would react to the news she had slept with Gabe.
“How could you?”
“I’m so sorry. I never meant it to happen. Please Chardonnay.”
“You can just lie to me like this, about my father. He’s been faithful to you all through your marriage. He’d never do anything like that.”
Leslie didn’t understand. “What?”
“It’s only slimeballs like JJ who would do such a thing.”
“You don’t understand. It wasn’t JJ…”
“Yeah mom, it was you who did all the running. Do you know how pathetic you really are?”
Calista entered the room. “Sorry, did I interrupt some mother daughter bonding, before the wedding?”
Leslie snapped. “What do you want Calista?”
“Oh, sorry. Sara wants the bride to show her something. That’s all.” Calista said, a large smirk on her face. She moved out of the way and allowed Chardonnay to move past her, out of the room.
“Do I sense some tension between the two of you?”
“No.”
***
Russell’s
Apartment, same time
Russell Elliot sighed. What is she doing here? He thought, looking through the peephole of his front door. She’s got everything of hers hasn’t she? He took a deep breath, and prepared to face his wife.
Outside the door Camille Elliot stood, looking unhappy. A woman from upstairs had just passed by, and Camille had overheard her gossiping. She’d been incinuating to her friend that it was all Camille’s fault that her and Russell’s marriage had ended. Camille had managed to grin and bear, but the cheek of that woman. If only everyone really knew what had happened. She knew that she’d only get sympathy from everyone, and that wasn’t what she wanted.
Anyway, she thought as she composed herself, I’m happy now with Craig.
“Camille.”
“Russell.” She said, politely as she could manage.
“What are you doing here?”
“We need to talk.” She answered, pushing past her husband and striding confidently into what was once their apartment. She turned around to face Russell as he closed the door.
“What about?”
“Cleo.”
“I thought she was fine now. She’d stopped drinking.”
Camille’s face fell. “I don’t know if she has. She’s been really moody this past week, and I don’t know what is wrong.”
“Teenagers are moody.”
“Yeah, well she was fine last week. Well up until the weekend. I dropped by last Friday, and found some empty bottles.”
“And… what did you do?”
“She claimed they were yours. Were they?”
Russell looked away from his wife. “Look, I was pretty cut up about you leaving. Just after you left I got really depressed. You were gone and so was… I was really bad for a few days, and drink seemed to help. But now I’m fine. I saw what a hole I was in, and decided to change.”
“I see.”
“Look, I’m fine now honestly.”
“And could Cleo have been able to get some out of those bottles?”
“I honestly don’t know. Hold on…”
Camille raised her eyebrows. “What is it?”
“Now that you say it she actually was feeling pretty sick during the week. I have been on night shifts all week. And she was really bad this morning. This place was messy as well.”
Camille bent down, and reached in under the sofa. She pulled out an empty can.
“Hers I take it, unless you’ve changed brand.”
Russell sighed again. “I think we’ll have to have a talk to her.”
***
Hospital,
Lunchtime
Judi grinned as she looked down at a letter on her desk. It was from a charity organisation, looking for volunteers to go to Africa and distribute aid. They’d also give medical care. She’d been given the job, by her boss, of submitting any applications that nurses or doctors made. Also she would have to give the people deciding who went her opinion on the applicants. It’d definitely be a lot of work, but at least it would take her mind away from Alex and Sara, as well as Russell.
“Hi Judi.” Melody Scott said, entering the room.
“Oh, hi Mel. How are you?”
“Not too bad. That the letter from the charity?”
“Yep. Looks like I’ll have some tough decisions to make. That is of course if anyone puts their name down. How did you know anyway?”
“I heard through the grapevine. Apparently one of your bosses daughters is considering putting in an application, so your choice will be made that bit easier.”
“Oh great. Favouritism if I pick her, no job if I don’t. Are you going to apply?”
“Me, no I don’t think so. I talked about it with Corey last night, and he was telling me about the few years he spent in India, Rwanda and the Gambia. It wasn’t pleasant, and neither were the photos.”
“Yeah?”
“The suffering is just terrible. To watch people like that, he said, made you feel so bad.”
“I’d always wanted to spend a year out there, when I was younger. I always said I would go out to some of those countries and help after med school, but then Kayla came along and changed all that. I’d have loved to.”
“Yeah, it would feel good helping people though.”
The familiar sound of a beeper going off put an end to the conversation, leaving Melody thinking as to whether she should leave town, and leave Corey, to go to Africa and help out there. Sure the suffering was bad, but so was the suffering here. And if she didn’t like it, then she’d find a way home.
Judi walked down the corridor, towards reception, to find out why they were paging her. As she walked she looked down at the page in her hand, and decided to put it away.
“Oh, sorry.” Came a male voice that she knew well.
“No, I’m the one who should be sorry.” She said, slowly looking up.
“Judi, I haven’t seen you for ages.”
“For years more like, JJ.” She said. It had been around two years since she’d last seen him. He hadn’t been at any of the hospital fundraisers, or even the engagement party. They had first met through Victor and Leslie years ago.
“So how have you been?”
“Fine. What are you doing here? I thought I heard Victor and Ethan say they were going out golfing with you this morning.”
“Yeah, well accidents to happen.” He said. She looked down, and saw his wrist was bandaged up. She smiled at her friend.
“Silly you. Anyway I better go. Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, maybe.” JJ said, as he watched her disappear down the corridor. He entered a room, and closed over the door. Out of another room Russell emerged and walked towards the staff room. He had a question to ask someone, and knew he couldn’t put it off much longer. His talk with Camille had made him realise that she was getting on with her life, now it was his turn. She told him that Leslie didn’t mind if they went with to the wedding with different people, since their original invite had been sent out just before their break-up.
He walked into the staff room, and looked around. Melody was still there, enjoying her lunch. Where is she? He wondered.
“Hi Russ.” She greeted.
“Hey. Do you know where…?” He started, but turned around hearing her voice behind him. “Carla, there you are.”
“Yeah, it’s me.”
“Look, I’ve got an invite to the wedding tomorrow.”
“Judi’s niece.”
“Yeah, Judi’s.” He said, thoughtfully. He shook his head. “I’ve got nobody to go with, so I thought I’d invite you. So do you want to go?”
“I, I really don’t know what to say.”
“Yes, you’ll go.”
Carla sighed. “I’m sorry Russell, really I am. It’s just, well, I’m such good friends with Judi I don’t want to hurt her. She’s already been through enough, and if her friend changes sides like this, then…”
“So it’s a no?”
“Yes.”
“It doesn’t matter. I just won’t go.”
***
Gym, Early
Afternoon
“And a one, and a two, and a one, two, three.” The instructor said. “Now keep going.”
Elektra Bradshaw began moving around the room. She usually taught her dance classes here, but today she’d been asked to do an exercise class instead, as one of her friends was sick with a cold.
“Good, very good.” She told a woman. The woman smiled, and continued with her exercising.
Elektra’s mind drifted, to Max. Last night he’d left his family dinner early, just to see her. And tomorrow she would be going to his niece’s wedding with him. She couldn’t wait. It would be so good to meet his family at last. Although she was nervous about it, she knew that it didn’t matter. Max had told her he didn’t care what his family thought anymore.
Everything was going great for Elektra. Except, she thought, for one small thing. One thing which they’d never talked too much about. What was Max going to do when it was time to return home?
***
The Hotel,
same time
“I hate this case so much.”
“Why?”
Kat Hartford turned to her partner. “Just when we think we are getting somewhere the trail gets cold.”
“Yeah. I suppose it is pretty difficult.“ Harvey Kingston nodded in agreement. They looked around the reception area for any sign of Justin, Henri or Celia. They spotted Henri.#
“Sorry to interrupt you Mr. Laurent.” Kat said.
Henri turned and looked at the two police detectives. He knew what it was about – Justin. He wondered if they’d got some new evidence which would get Justin off. He hadn’t been charged yet, because of a lack of evidence.
“Oh, what is it?”
“We are here for the tapes of the night on which Ms. Manning was killed.”
“I see. I’ll just go and get them for you.”
Henri left, and Kat turned to Harvey. “I hope these show up something.”
***
High
School, a little later
“Hey, what is wrong with the two of you?” April Masters asked, approaching Joel Smith and her brother, Mattie.
“Nothing.” The two teenage boys said in unison.
“Well I know there is nothing wrong with you Mattie. Nothing the doctor’s can fix anyway.” She joked. Mattie pretended to laugh. “So what’s up with you then Joel? Cleo?”
“Yeah.” Joel said with a sigh.
“What is it?” Mattie quickly asked. Joel, caught up with thoughts of Cleo, didn’t notice Mattie’s quick questioning.
Joel turned and looked at April. “Okay, okay. I get the hint.” She said, before stopping walking with them. She turned around and saw Paris not too far behind her.
“Hey, I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”
“Yeah, well I was…”
“With Jacob?”
“Yeah, something like that.”
“Anyway, Nate asked me to the wedding tomorrow.” April beamed, delighted. She sure had been a lot happier of a person, and far more cheery than usual, since she and Nate had gotten together Paris noticed.
“Really?”
“Yep. I’m so happy.”
“That’s great. I’m going with mom and dad, so I’ll see you there too.” Paris said, feigning an enthusiastic smile.
Behind them Nate and Jacob were walking together. Most people now knew about Jacob and Paris being very close, including Nate. The rumours about them going out had spread far slower than the rumours that he was gay, a fact which didn’t really surprise Jacob.
“You and Paris seem to be getting on well.”
“So do you and April.” Jacob replied.
“Yeah, well she’s great.” Nate said, hiding his insecurities.
“April suggested the four of us should go out sometime.”
“Yeah, sure. That’d be great. Maybe next week.” Nate said.
A large group were a few steps behind Nate and Jacob. Kayla Anders was at the back of them. She’d swear that Paris had deliberately started going out with Jacob, just to spite her. Paris and her fake ways made Kayla so annoyed, so so annoyed.
“We slept together.” Joel told Mattie.
“And she wasn’t good?”
“No, she was fine. It didn’t feel right. There was something wrong between us.”
“Probably just because it was the first time.”
“Yeah…” Joel said, looking up and seeing Cleo in front. She was looking rather ill, probably the effects of last night. They had had a lot last night, and ended up falling asleep. Luckily he’d managed to wake up before her uncle arrived home.
***
D1
Nightclub, 9pm
Gabe smiled. “I don’t believe this.” He said, shaking his head. He’d just been surprised by a stripper. He looked around at the other men at his bachelor party. He only knew a few of them Victor, Ethan, Max, JJ, Henri, Luc – wherever he was.
Gabe wondered where he’d be tomorrow night. Would he and Chardonnay be starting their life as husband and wife?
Back at the table where the men were all sitting, they were all laughing and joking.
“Anyone coming to see what we’ve got lined up for later?” Max asked. Most of the men went with him, while Ethan, Victor and Henri went towards the bar.
“You coming JJ?” Victor asked.
JJ glanced up, and noticed a pretty blonde sitting at a table by herself. “No, I’ll be okay here.” He said. He watched them go, then decided to make his move. As he stood up though, a phone started ringing. JJ immediately put his hand on his pocket, but realised he had his cellphone powered off.
He then looked down at the table, and noticed it was Victor’s ringing.
“Hello. Victor’s phone.”
“JJ?”
“What…?”
“It’s me, Leslie. What are you doing with Victor’s phone?”
“He’s gone to the bar.”
“You haven’t told him anything have you?”
“No of course not. Why would I?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I should ask Natasha?” Leslie said.
“Anyway, why are you ringing him? To check up on him.”
“To make sure you’ve not told him anything.”
“Maybe I should tell him something.” JJ said, before hanging up. He smiled to himself, looked up to the blonde and saw her date had arrived.
Meanwhile on the other end, Leslie was worried and decided she needed something to calm her down.
***
LK’s
Nightclub, an hour later
“I’m just going to the toilets for a second.” Chardonnay told Judi.
“Okay. Hurry back though. I think Becca has got a few surprises left for you.”
“Oh great.” Chardonnay said, before leaving.
“Where is she gone?” Leslie asked a minute later, obviously drunk.
“Toilets. Are you okay Leslie?” Judi asked.
“I’m fine.” Leslie answered.
“Okay then. I’ll just go and catch up with Becca, see what she’s got left for Chardonnay. I heard something about a male stripper.”
“Bring him on.” Leslie shouted, giggling. Judi left, slightly embarrassed at seeing her older sister drunk. She hadn’t seen it too many times before. As Judi walked towards Becca, she passed Camille, and received a dirty look. She raised her head up and kept on walking.
Meanwhile, in the shadows a mystery person stood, watching and waiting. Their breathing became heavier as they waited, anxious for this to be sorted. This had to get sorted out, and it would be soon.
“Okay, okay. See you soon then.”
“Who was that?” Judi asked.
“Our gorgeous fireman.” Becca said, closing her phone. Judi turned, hearing Leslie behind her.
“A fireman. I hope he has a big hose.” Leslie grinned. Judi and Becca stood, slightly shocked while Sara, Celia, Alicia and Charity laughed. Calista tutted, while Nicole, who had been dragged along by Celia, wasn’t listening.
“Speaking of firemen, Camille’s got one of her own. She told me all about him the other day, didn’t you Camille honey?” Leslie continued, turning around to face her friend. Judi eyes met with Camille’s, and she smiled. Camille wasn’t as angelic as she liked everyone to think.
“Right. We better find Chardonnay to get her ready for her own fireman.”
“She just went out to the toilets a few minutes ago.” Judi piped up, still smiling to herself about Camille’s secret.
“Oh, I love this song.” Leslie said. “I want to dance.” She stood up on the seat and started to wildly throw her arms about.
“I really never knew she was like that. Such a funny drunk.” Becca said to Judi, before leaving to find Chardonnay.
“Pathetic.” Calista moaned to Alicia. “I would never do that, not in a million years.” Alicia turned to Charity and smiled.
“I’ll go get some more drinks.” Charity said. An orange juice for the two of you is it?”
“I suppose.” Calista said, looking disgustedly at her sister in law, now dancing on the table, and began muttering once again. “Making a show of the Samson’s. She’s no dignity at all. Absolutely none! Pathetic, like I said before Alicia.”
Calista looked around, Alicia was at the bar with Charity. She rolled her eyes, before walking towards Sara who was standing watching Judi trying to calm down Leslie.
Meanwhile, nearby, Celia was trying to cheer up her daughter. “This is great, isn’t it? Remember your own party, that Yasmin organised.”
“Yeah, that was fun.” Nicole said, solemnly and dully. She wasn’t exactly happy that she’d been brought here. She was still worrying, especially after today with the police at the hotel. She barely knew Chardonnay, only from when Luc was going out with her a few years back.
“Look, cheer up.” Celia said, putting her arm on Nicole’s shoulder. “I know it is tough and all, but…”
“I really don’t want to hear this now mom.” Nicole answered, moving away from Celia’s comforting hand. She kept walking and reached the stairs. Celia watched her go and sighed. She wished she’d stayed at home with Henri tonight. Maybe this wasn’t the best idea after all, despite Justin protesting about all the good it would do his wife.
Celia decided to follow Nicole up to the balcony, and suggest they leave.
Back at the bar Charity and Alicia were talking about Calista.
“She’s my mummy, and I love her. She’s just so bitchy about everyone and everything. It really does get annoying. And this whole thing with Felix.”
“Who?”
“Felix, my potential husband.”
“Oh god, his parents must have hated him to name him that.” Charity joked.
“It’s just she really needs to liven up.”
“Yeah.”
“Anyway, I’ll bring these over to Judi and Leslie.”
Charity handed in thirty dollars for the drinks, and as she waited for the change the effects of the previous drinks brought out a surprising side to her. Alicia’s words went around in her head. She really needs to liven up. Charity reached got one of the vodka’s and emptied it into Calista’s glass of orange juice and with a mischievous smile took her change and headed towards Calista.
“Gabe, it’s me. Thanks for the white limo. I’ll see you at the alter tomorrow. Don’t be late. Oh, I forgot something. I love you.”
Chardonnay pressed the button and ended the call, finished leaving her message on Gabe’s voicemail. She looked up, towards the door leading back into the main part of the club. As she walked back she felt a hand slide over her mouth. She tried to scream, but the person was wearing a glove.
“Sssshhh.” Came a voice from behind. “Don’t speak.”
She recognised that voice, and turned around to face him.
“What are you doing here?” She demanded to know.
“Come out here, I don’t want any of the others bursting through those doors and seeing us.”
“Luc!” Chardonnay said. He grabbed her by the hand and led her out to the car park. He stopped and looked at her. “What…?” She started, but never finished as Luc leaned in for a kiss. Chardonnay tried to stop herself, but couldn’t.
Back inside, Becca had just emerged from the toilets and was puzzled as to where Chardonnay was. She looked around, and noticed the doors leading outside.
Maybe she’s getting a breath of fresh air. She thought, and began walking towards the doors.
Up on the balcony Celia was talking to Nicole.
“Maybe we should go home.” She suggested.
“Yeah, I think so.” Nicole agreed. “Mom.. what are you looking at?” Nicole turned to see what her mother was looking at, and was surprised to see her younger brother standing there kissing his former fiancée on the eve of her wedding. “Wow.”
Inside the club Judi was at the bar, having gotten tired of trying to stop Leslie dancing on the seats. Camille decided to try.
“Leslie, are you okay?”
“Me, fine.” She answered, getting down off the seat. “Look I’m sorry for what I said about Craig.”
“It’s…”
Leslie continued. “Men, eh. They aren’t worth it.”
“I know. Russell.” Camille said, sitting back down beside Leslie.
“I really do regret what happened between us. It was such a mistake. Really it was. At least I think he’s changed. We never mentioned it at all afterwards much. Just one night.” Leslie said, rambling on drunkenly.
“Who are you talking about?” Camille asked puzzled.
“Me and Gabe, we slept together a few months ago. It was just…”
Camille turned away from Leslie and looked straight ahead. She was shocked. All those feelings that she’d had when she’d found out about Russell and Judi came back. She knew that was how Chardonnay would feel if she found out, only worse because she knew it was her mother who had done the cheating. Camille wondered what she would have done, if before her wedding, someone had told her what Russell would do.
She wondered if she could let Chardonnay go through with the wedding, knowing what Leslie had done.
Next Time:
The wedding! Two mystery guests, an arrest and plenty of motherly advice.