Episode 15
Scene 1:
The afternoon rush
died down just enough for Maura to breathe . At some point in time, after
her return to the Glen, she had hoped the diner's business would pick up
sufficiently so that her father could relax a little. Now that it had, she
almost wished it was slower. It would be nice to go home at night with
feet that didn't ache for hours and a head that didn't pound at the
slightest noise. But if those were the only worries she had, she would
count herself lucky.
Since her last confrontation with Rick, he had left her well alone. She
wasn't sure if she was glad or sad by that. Yes, she was relieved that she
had managed to elude his questions, but then there was that nagging
feeling that she was passing up an opportunity. What did she want with
Rick? She wasn't sure. Her feelings for him, she had thought, had
diminished with time. The day he walked into Connie's she knew that her
feelings hadn't changed at all. All that kept her from taking him up on
his reunion talk was the knowledge that she had kept a rather significant
secret from him. How would he forgive her for that?
Looking around the restaurant, Maura sighed. The lunch crowd had faded
away and the chatter of early evening diners filled the air. Of all the
times of the day, she liked mid-afternoon best. It was the best time to
think and enjoy what she had. Though lately, she hadn't done much
enjoying. Shaking her head free of her roaming thoughts, Maura looked
towards the door as it opened. She smiled , recognizing her companion from
her disastrous night out on the town. Catching her eye, he nodded and
returned her smile as he walked towards her.
"Hello," he said taking a seat at the bar. "I was hoping you would be
here."
"Really? Did you just guess I would be here or do you have some secret
knowledge about me that I didn't share with you?" Maura replied leaning
her elbows against the counter flirtatiously.
"You mean like your last name?" He winked. "Well, it just so happened my
aunt knows you."
"I had no idea Gwen Mason was your aunt," Maura shrugged. "You're a long
way from Washington, aren't you, Mr. Fontaine?"
"Oh, so you know who I am. Well, that makes us even. Now that we're on
equal ground, Maura Conlan, I was hoping I could ask you a question."
Maura pulled back a little in surprise. "Of course," she said after
hesitating ever so slightly.
"Well, since you know who I am, you also know that I'm working for ME
now." Maura nodded slightly. Luke had told her quite a lot of what was
happening at ME. "Your brother keeps you informed. That's good. Has he
mentioned a black tie dinner ME is hosting for it's employees and the
press?"
"Actually, I think I heard Hallie mention it. She likes to play dress up,"
Maura added. "But I guess you would know that."
"Yes, I would. Well, since you know about it, my question for you is this:
Would you accompany me to the ME dinner as my date?"
Scene 2:
"Today is the day!" Chris sang from the back seat of the car. Jamie smiled
and listened to Chris' song about his family reunion. "Today is the day
when Mom is here to stay! Today is the day Jesse never goes away!" Sure,
the lyrics weren't original but it was the enthusiasm behind them that
made Jamie grin. "Today is the day called family day!"
"That's a good song there, Chris," Jamie said at it's conclusion. "I guess
today must be some special kind of day, huh?"
"Dad...you know it is! We're going to get Mom and Jesse from the car place
today. How come Mom and Jess didn't fly in a plane?"
"Well, son, your mom can't fly because she's having a baby. Her doctor
said so," Jamie answered anticipating Chris' next question. He pulled the
car into a parking space at Thrifty Rental. Michaela had phoned earlier in
the day to tell him that she and Jesse would be in Conlan's Glen by
mid-afternoon. The moment he heard that, the day had gotten decidedly
better.
It had been a long couple of weeks since he'd seen his wife and youngest
son. Those weeks had seemed like years. In the year and a half that he and
Michaela had been together, not a day had gone by that they hadn't been
together. Until this move to Virginia. All of a sudden he had been faced
with living without her. It had made him far more appreciative of her,
that was certain. When she arrived he would make certain she knew that
too.
"Look!" Chris yelled, jumping up and down, pointing wildly at the street
where a white Ford was pulling into the parking lot. Jamie turned toward
the car and caught a glimpse of his wife in the passenger seat. She was
smiling and waving. He waved wildly back at her, feeling as giddy as a
school boy at the sight of her. The driver he had hired stopped the car a
few feet from them. Jamie's eyes were locked with Michaela's and hers with
his. In seconds, she would be in his arms, he thought with absolute
happiness. Jesse threw the back door open, having wriggled out of the car
seat he was strapped into, and launched himself at Jamie.
"Daddy!" He yelled gripping him around the neck as Jamie knelt with open
arms. He squeezed the boy tightly as Chris ran to the car door and pulled
it open for Michaela.
"I missed you Jess. Have you been taking care of your mom?" Jamie asked
letting go to stand.
"Yes sir!" Jesse chirped. Jamie nodded, watching Michaela climb out of the
car with Chris' help and walk to him. She was bigger in her last months of
pregnancy and even more radiant than the last time he'd seen her.
"And I missed you too, Michaela," he whispered as she reached out to him
silently and embraced him. "More than you know."
Scene 3:
The Mason Foundation affair. On the surface, it didn't sound like a
hard-hitting journalistic opportunity. But Phoebe seemed to think there
was a story to be found. Jillie respected the older woman's instincts,
not to mention her experience.
But for right now, she had other things to think about. Like a dress.
Like Piper's little slip about a certain older sister being stood up for
a dinner date...and then having their sweet little sister lie to him when
he came by. A date...who just happened to be her own new boss. Now
*there* was a story.
There was definitely something going on between Rick and Maura, and Jillie
wasn't sure at all that she liked it. Was it something from their past?
Had to be. Looking back on it, there had been Rick's surprise that she
was Maura's sister. The faint tinge of *something* when he glossed over
speaking about her. Not to mention Maura's inquisition. The way she
jumped at the idea that Rick had made a pass at her little sister.
Had they been involved, Jillie wondered, holding up a slinky black dress.
Too...uninspired. She placed it back on its hanger, moving around the
rack. Lovers. Rick and Maura? It seemed so....
Actually, the mere idea of Maura having sex was beyond her. Especially
with a man as...intriguing...as Rick Upton.
What else could it be though? Just old friends? Not likely. And while
Rick had initially said Maura hated his guts, Maura wasn't the type to go
out to dinner with anyone she hated.
Reaching for a long, beaded red dress, Jillie grimaced. Lies. They were
such an impediment. But she had to admit...they made things a little more
interesting. There was no way she was going to let this little mystery
drop. Not until she'd gotten to the bottom of it. Pink? Purple? Lime
green? God, who *wore* these dresses?
Now, Rick was another matter altogether. Jillie didn't think she'd ever
worked for a man with such...presence? Yes, if presence meant sexy,
virile and powerful. It definitely added a spark to the work place. At
least, for her. And she wasn't used to these feelings being all...one
sided. It was all Maura's fault. What did he see in her? What did she
have that Jillie didn't, besides a *great* job at a diner and a few years
and wrinkles?
Putting the dresses away, she groaned in frustration. She had Rick's
interest, that's what Maura had. And why couldn't the damn boutique order
anything tasteful? Well, Jillian Conlan didn't give up easily. As
far as she was concerned, the other night's scene had just tipped the
scales in her favor. Well...maybe at least out of Maura's favor.
Maura had just left the door open a crack, and she was going to take full
advantage of it. Admittedly, she'd wanted Rick from the first moment
she'd seen him, but...the thought of taking him from Maura.... Oh, her
sister could say whatever she wanted, but all signs were pointing to the
fact that Maura still felt *something* for Rick.
A flash of color caught her eye and she pulled out a delicate dress of
deep blue silk. Holding it up to her body, she moved to one of the
mirrors on display. It brought out the blue in her eyes and contrasted
nicely against her blond hair and fair skin. Not to mention the cut would
be just sexy enough, while still being "professional". It was absolutely
perfect. Yeah. The best things came to those who didn't stop until they
got what they wanted.
Scene 4:
"A date?" Maura echoed, her eyes widening in surprise. When was the last
time anyone had asked her for a date? A year, maybe two.
"Yes. It would be a lousy first date, I realize this," Jude answered,
meeting her shocked expression with his own look of bemusement. "But it
ought to prove interesting. Your brother will be there. I promise, once my
work there is done and we have a few glasses of champagne, I'll take you
out and show you a much more interesting time."
Maura's first instinct was to politely thank him and tell him she just
wasn't into dating right now. It wasn't him, it was her. Thanks but no
thanks. Her second instinct was to say yes and ask what she should wear.
She thought of Rick standing her up and this man keeping her company while
she waited. What other answer could she give now?
"Okay. I think that would be lovely. You promise we can bail when the work
part of it is over?"
"Trust me, when that's done, we are out of there," Jude answered grinning.
"It's black tie. So dress formal and I'll be by your house next Friday at
six." He climbed off the barstool. "You won't regret it, I promise." He
turned to go, looking over his shoulder briefly. "By the way, nice to meet
you Maura."
Maura watched him leave and felt a silly grin creep across her face. She
was a fool, her saner side warned. He was just another man to hurt her
like Rick did. But Rick hadn't hurt her, her emotional side argued, it was
the other way around. Regardless, she had a date. For the first time in
ages, she had a date she knew she would enjoy.
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