Episode Thirty Three

River House

Jamie and Daniel walked out of the house again, and Jamie headed for the porch swing. He sat down and pulled one leg up to rest his chin on his knee. "Did you know I was seeing a counselor for a couple of weeks? Back in January and early Febuary."

"Why?" Daniel asked, sitting beside his grandson. "I can see you would after Mike.. after he passed on. But why back then?"

"Dad was worried," Jamie said. "He didn't know why I was so messed up in the head, but he knew I needed help."

"Did it help?"

"A little."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"I think I should go again."

"Then by all means go."

"It costs money."

Daniel scoffed. "Jamie, I will pay for you to see the best pyschologist in the world if that's what you need."

Jamie smiled slightly. "I like the guy I was seeing before. He didn't get all patronizing, and he didn't just reply to everything I said with 'hmm' or 'I see', so I knew he was really listening."

"Well, just tell the man's secretary to send the bill to my office," Daniel said. "However much it costs."

"Don't you care why I needed to see him?" Jamie asked.

"Of course, but I don't expect you to tell me."

"I... something happened to me last fall. Something pretty bad. And it had been eating me up all year. Finally, I had this bad nightmare on my birthday, woke up screaming. Dad got really scared and asked me to go see someone. He wanted to know that I was getting help."

"So you went."

"I went."

"I want you to do whatever it takes to be all right, Jamie."

"I am. I'm going to go back to seeing Paul, and I'm going to make sure my head's screwed on straight."

Heaven Falls Shopping Center

"What do you think?" Maria asked, standing in front of the mirrors in a black and gold corset style top and a pair of low rise jeans. "Sexy enough to remind Aaron that he hasn't really dumped me?"

Summer laughed. "Oh yeah," she said.

Both girls jumped then laughed again as Summer's cellphone rang. "Hello?" she said, still laughing, as she answered it.

"Hey beautiful."

Summer's laughter stopped instantly. "How did you get this number?"

"I have my ways," Pete replied. "You know, I think you looked best in the little red number you tried on earlier."

Summer's eyes widened fearfully and she started looking around. "Where are you?"

"Look over at the bookstore."

Summer did as instructed and saw Pete standing there waving. "Listen, just leave me alone, all right? I don't know who told you were I was, but I want nothing to do with you anymore."

"Please, like that pathetic little boy you've been seeing is anywhere near as good in bed as me."

"As a matter of fact, he's better," Summer said, glaring at her ex-boyfriend. "Unlike you he doesn't believe ripping my clothes off is a good way to go about things. Now just leave me the hell alone, Pete." She hung up the phone, still glaring at her ex.

"What's going on?" Maria asked, following Summer's gaze. "Who's that?"

"My pyscho stalker ex-boyfriend," Summer said. "He's been harrassing me since Febuary."

"Febuary?" Maria asked. "Why haven't you called the police?"

"And told them what? My ex had moved to Heaven Falls?"

"He's following you!"

"This isn't a big town, remember? The cops would think it was just a coincidence," Summer said with a sigh. "Don't worry, he's not brave enough to do anything more than talk."

Med Center

After dropping Daniel off at the offices for Grant Enterprises, Jamie headed straight for Med Center to try and arange an appointment with Paul. He smiled at the secretary in the Pysch floor of the hospital. "Hi, I was hoping I could see Dr. Paul Thomas? If he's not available now, it's okay, I'll make an appointment..."

"I think he's free, let me double check," the woman said, picking up the phone. "Your name is?" she asked Jamie.

"Jamie Bowen."

The woman relayed the information, then hung up and smiled. "He said to go on back to his office now, if you'd like."

"Thank you," Jamie said, doing as instructed. He reached the door and knocked briefly before walking in. "Hi," he said.

"Hey Jamie," Paul said, smiling. "Long time no see."

"Yeah, I know... I just... I didn't think I needed to come anymore."

"And that's changed?"

Jamie nodded, sitting down. "You probably heard, my dad died in a car accident back in April."

"Yeah, I heard. That's gotta be hard."

"You wouldn't believe it. A couple days later, I found out that my mom was the daughter of Daniel Grant Sr, a guy my dad has always hated. And now... now I'm living in the Grant mansion, accepting a brand new truck from him, and being told that when I turn 25, I not only get all the money that would have been my mom's, but also this house that was built in 1850 and has belonged to both Bowens and Grants," he said, rambling slightly. "And to top it all off I did the stupidest damn thing yesterday afternoon."

"Yeah?" Paul asked. "What'd you do?"

Jamie looked up. "You gotta remember, I've still got over a year of HIV tests to go through...."

"What happened, Jamie?"

"I made love to my girlfriend. Without protection. I put her at risk for nothing but an hour of happiness."

Paul let out a low whistle. "An hour? Wow. I guess youth does have the endurance..." Paul replied. When he saw that Jamie didn't find the ribbing amusing, he shrugged. "Sorry, I thought you could use a slight mood lifter."

"I'm just not in a laughing mood today," Jamie replied. "What if she gets sick because of me?"

"Does she know?"

"Yeah, I told her back in Febuary."

"Before or after you stopped coming to see me?" Paul asked, curious.

"Before," Jamie said. "I decided to stop after I told her."

"Because you had someone else to talk to."

"Yeah."

"Obviously she stuck around."

"She says she loves me."

"Do you love her?"

"More than anything. The only way I'd willingly give her up is if I could have my parents back, alive and well. And even then I'm not sure I would."

"Good, everyone needs a love like that."

Med Center Parking Garage

Drew was just getting into his car when Jenny ran up in a pair of jean shorts and a tank top. "Hello, Jenny," Drew said, blushing slightly.

Jenny smiled. "Are you getting off, Dr. Sanchez?"

"Yeah."

"Then could you please give me a ride home? My brother gave me a ride here, and I'm stranded. It's really too hot to walk home."

"Sure, hop in."

Jenny climbed in, still smiling. "Thank you, Dr. Sanchez," she said flirtatiously.

"You're a vixen."

"Don't I know it," Jenny replied. "So, how was your day?"

"Boring. Yours?"

"Disgusting. I gave a guy magazines and he puked on them."

"Hazard of the job."

"Still disgusting," Jenny said, crossing her legs. "So, do you like younger woman, Andrew?"

"Not too young."

"How young is too young?"

"Illegal is too young."

"Age of consent is 16," Jenny said. "And did you know my birthday was just last week?"

"Sorry I missed the party."

"You can come next year. Or you can help me have a late celebration sometime soon."

"I don't think so."

"Why not?"

"I could still go to jail, Jennifer."

"You're no fun."

"That's right, I'm not. I'm a grownup."

"And I'm a girl who likes older professional men," Jenny said, just as Drew pulled up in front of her house.She opened the door to get out then turned and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "See you later," she said softly in his ear before climbing out and waving. "Thank you for the ride Dr. Sanchez! I really appreciate!" she said for the benefit of her mother, who was standing on the porch.

"Who gave you a ride, Jenny?" Rebecca asked.

"Dr. Sanchez. He was just getting off work, and it was so hot out, so I asked him for a ride. Wasn't it nice of him to give me one?" Jenny asked, smiling pleasantly.

"Very," Rebecca agreed as she went inside.

Jenny turned back towards the street and smiled broadly at Drew again before heading inside herself.

End Of Episode Thirty Three