Slowly, Jamie felt as if he belonged at ME. It had taken some doing but he felt as if the employees were taking his sudden take over with a bit more tolerance than they had started with. There was still the faction that believed he had ousted Dane , but he couldn't help that. They would believe what they wanted. Jude was doing a good job keeping any questions at bay as well. All that was left now was the public announcement and that would be made next week after Michaela and Jesse arrived.

He couldn't wait for that. The separation from her and Jess was wearing on both himself and Chris. He looked down at his calendar at the circled date. Just one more day and she would be in Conlan's Glen. He couldn't wait to show her their new home and Chris couldn't wait to show Jesse around the backyard that was a kid heaven with it's tree house in the old oak and the jungle gym Jamie had installed yesterday. They would be a family again soon and that was all that mattered.

His intercom buzzed, breaking his thoughts. He picked up the phone and greeted his assistant. "There's a Phoebe Cameron here to see you," Marnie told him.

"Phoebe Cameron? You're kidding," Jamie said slowly. Last he had heard, she was still in Colorado. He shrugged and asked Marnie to send her in. He stood and went to the door, straightening his tie. He opened the door before she knocked and motioned her inside. "Well, if it isn't Phoebe Cameron. The last time I saw you was in Colorado at the Demmelmaier memorial service."

Phoebe smiled and took the seat that Jamie offered. "Yes, a memorial service for people who weren't dead," she said with just a trace of bitterness. "I suppose you knew about their problems?"  

"No," Jamie answered taking a seat. Though they were some of his dearest friends , they had chosen not to tell him anything about their issues. "In fact, I was just as surprised as you were, I'm sure, when I heard they had resurfaced. And in Florida as well. I saw them before they moved to Italy. Very happy."

"Yes, I'm sure they are."  

"And what are you doing in Virginia if I can ask," Jamie continued.

"I'm glad you asked. I'm the City Editor for The Observer," Phoebe replied. "I've been here for about three months. Longer than you've been back I guess. I had no idea you were coming back to take over the family business."

Jamie nodded and studied Phoebe. She was sharp that was certain. And she still had her reporter's instincts. Jude would have a fit if he knew he was talking to a member of the press but he couldn't turn her away. She was after a story, he was sure of that.

"That's...very good. You know I can't talk about it," he said after a moment. Phoebe's expression hardened just a bit but the smile remained.

"Oh it's strictly off the record anyway. And you don't have to tell me anything," she said sweetly.

"Good. Michaela will be interested to know you're here. She thinks she won't have any friends in the Glen."

"You're not going to tell me anything are you?" Phoebe laughed. "Can't say I didn't try." Jamie's intercom buzzed again and he picked up the receiver.

"Yes, Marnie? Jude...okay, send him in." Jamie stood as Jude entered the room. He gave Phoebe a curious look but joined Jamie on the other side of the desk. "Phoebe, I'd like you to meet my cousin, Jude Fontaine. Jude, this is Phoebe Cameron with the Observer."

"Are you talking to the Press?" Jude queried looking from Jamie to Phoebe. "Because I thought we agreed..."

"Oh no. Phoebe and I are old friends, Jude. But you know what? She seems to think there is a story here. What do you think?"

"There's a story all right," Jude agreed turning to Phoebe. "But not today. Maybe next week at the Annual Stockholder's Meeting."

"I'll go you one better Jude. I think there's a story at the Employee's Dinner. Perhaps, we could give her an invitation, maybe access to you and I during the dinner," Jamie added.

"But Jamie," Jude interrupted playing along, " The Employees Dinner will be held before the Stockholder's Meeting. That would mean Miss Cameron would get an exclusive."

"Okay, enough. I get the point," Phoebe cut in at last. "I'll take it. If I can't get an interview now, I'll take the next best thing." She rose from the chair and offered her hand to Jamie and then Jude. "Mr. Fontaine it was nice to meet you. Jamie...as always. Say hello to your wife for me." Jamie nodded and watched her leave.

"What are you doing Jamie?" Jude asked as the door closed.

"Making a friend in the Press, Jude. Making a friend."


Scene 2:

Chris Mason liked his grandmother's house. It was big and had a great yard for him to play in but he was lonely. Since Jamie had married Michaela last summer, they had never been apart for longer than a couple of hours at a time. He missed Micki. And even if he wouldn't admit it out loud, he missed his younger brother too. Jesse would love Grandma Gwen's house. He would love the yard and all the fun places to explore. But Jesse wouldn't be here for another whole day and the anxiety of it was killing Chris.

He picked up a ball and tossed it across the yard, letting his dog, Jump, run after it and bring it back. Jump was a good dog but not Jesse. He sighed and rubbed the dog's ears as he dropped the ball. When Jesse and Mom got to the Glen, he thought, everything would be better. he'd had a weird feeling lately that he couldn't tell his dad about. It would only worry Jamie and Chris didn't want to worry anyone again. When he was a kid, he'd been in the hospital a lot and he knew he worried people then. He wouldn't do that ever again.

Chris was a smart child though. He knew that his time in the hospital hadn't been his fault completely. He knew that his mother, not his Micki-mom, but his real mom, had hurt him sometimes. But he had been a bad boy and that was why she had done it. It was his fault he had been bad but her fault that he was always in the hospital. Sometimes when he thought about it, it made his head hurt. He didn't understand most of it. Dad had tried to explain it to him, telling Chris that he hadn't been a bad boy, but he just didn't know why his mother would hurt him if he hadn't been bad.  

Jump barked loudly at something by the tall iron gates at the end of the drive, taking off at a gallop towards whatever it was that was bothering him. "Hey Jump!" Chris called jumping to his feet. "What're you doing, you crazy dog?" He called using a phrase he'd heard his father use. "Come back here!" He ran after Jump, getting to the edge of the driveway before he caught up to the dog who was staring intently at something on the other side of the fence.  

"What is it Jump?" Chris asked peering towards the brush. The leaves of the bushes rustled and a woman stepped out shyly, smiling at him. Chris took a step back and shook his head. She wasn't supposed to be here, he thought. Dad had said that she wasn't allowed near them. He blinked and looked again as she held out her hand.

"Christopher," she said, her voice low. "It's Momma. Won't you come give me a hug? Or open the gate so I can give you one. I've missed you so!"  

Chris shook his head vigorously, pulling on Jump's collar. "Come on Jump. Come back to the house." He pulled at the dog and walked backwards. He had thought about her and she had showed up. He was a bad boy, he thought as she disappeared back into the brush. He turned on his heels and ran back to the main house, throwing himself through the front door and running to the attic, the one place in the big house he felt really safe. Dad wouldn't be happy if he told him he had seen his real mom. It would worry him. Well, then, Chris decided, he wouldn't tell him. He wouldn't worry anyone.


Scene 3:

Maura kept herself busy in the office at Connie's. She knew Rick would show up and the last thing she wanted was a run in with him. He had stood her up and she had refused to see him last night. She had put herself out there and he had made her feel rotten. It was a payback but she had her pride. Once five o'clock rolled around, she gathered up her coat and purse and stole out through the kitchen, not risking him seeing him in the restaurant.  

She was at her car when she heard his voice. Of course, he would lie in wait by her car, she thought. Didn't he have a job? Shouldn't he have been there? She turned slowly and faced him, feeling like a fool.

"What do you want?" She asked coldly.

"I want to apologize," he answered, getting near her.

"I don't need your apology, Rick. Go away."

"Nope." He crossed his arms and planted himself in front of her. "I'm going to make up for last night and take you to dinner now." Maura shook her head stubbornly. "Yes I am."

"No...you aren't. You stood me up, Rick. You got some kind of petty revenge, okay? I felt like a fool. I feel like a bigger fool now. Let's call it even okay?" She turned back to the door or her car and pulled it open. Rick stepped reached for her arm, holding her from getting in.  

"You think I would deliberately hurt you like that? What kind of person do you think I am?" Maura didn't answer, only stared at him with steely eyes. "There was a late breaking story. I tried to get out as soon as I could. I was late to the restaurant because I stopped to pick up some flowers for you."

"And I should believe this why?"

"Because it's the truth, Maura. I didn't set out to humiliate you."  

"Well, you did," she replied dropping her eyes. "I waited for you."

"Just like I waited for you," he said after a moment. "I wasn't getting some kind of revenge no matter what you think. Please, can't we start over?"

"No, we can't Rick. That's the point. You and I were over a long time ago." She took a deep breath and looked him straight in the eye. She had told many white lies in her day but none so painful as this one. "We weren't meant to happen. I realized that ten years ago. I wish you would figure it out."

Rick stepped back, dropping her arm, as if he had been slapped. "You don't mean that," he whispered.

"I do. I do mean it." He nodded his head, slowly stepping away. "I'm sorry," she added as he inched away.

"I thought you might be when I got to town. But you're not. Don't kid yourself or me." He turned his back to her and walked away without another word . Maura's hand flew to her mouth and smothered a sob. Leaving him had been easier when she hadn't had to face him. But this was the worst thing she had ever done and old wounds that had started to heal, tore open with a fresh grief.

 

On the next Episode of Secret Horizons...

Episode 14