Episode 2

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Episode 2

Scene 1:

Connie's Diner ran like a well oiled machine...most days. Today, Maura thought, was not one of them. She loved Connie's but on days like this, she wished she were anywhere but there. As she led the Hughes to their usual table, she settled on exactly where she would rather be: in bed with a book. No phone, no people. Just her and a book. She handed the Hughes their menus and left them to decide knowing full well that Mr. Hughes would order Irish stew and Mrs. Hughes would ask for a turkey sandwich on white, no dressing thank you, and a side of fruit. That was how predictable her life had become.

And yet, she would have it no other way. She was home with her father and siblings. There were no surprises around the corner anymore. Perhaps that made her dull. A far cry from the party girl she had been in college. But years had passed and she was an adult. And as an adult, she would leave the childish antics up to Jillie and Piper.

She passed Noah Wallace, her one reliable waiter, on her way back to the bar. "Do I even need to stop by the Hughes' table?" He asked with a grin. She shot a grin back at him and rolled her eyes, nodding. "Okay, but this time, I'm going to suggest they break out of their routine!' He called over his shoulder. Laughing, she slid behind the bar and past her father who was engaged in conversation with a few of the regulars. She smiled in greeting but didn't pause to join the chatter. Someone had to do a little work, she thought, gazing affectionately at her father.

Kevin Conlan was an old dear who pretended to be full of bluster and brag, but Maura knew better. She knew that deep down, he was nothing but an old softie who'd had his share of heartache. Of course, she knew that Kevin favored her over her brothers but it couldn't be helped. Luke had made his own choice in life and it was not to take over Connie's. And Jory...well, he'd always been Mom's favorite, she thought.

"Mo, come tell your dad that he's full of it!" Danny McKeown called to her as she edged past towards the hostess stand. The lunch crowd was filtering in slowly and she had work to do.

"I can't Dan," she replied with a smile. "I've got work to do." She met Noah again at the stand as he came for a set of menus. She liked Noah a lot. He was reliable but always fun to have around. She even credited their increase in students from the high school and Faith College to him.

"Jillie's in the break room," he told her offhandedly. Maura raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"Really? Actually that might be okay, I could use another hand," she replied.

"I don't think she's here to help," he shrugged. "She's dressed up." She watched him leave, wondering why Jillie would be here and dressed up to boot. Shaking her head free of the thoughts she turned back to the door as it opened and froze. There was no mistaking the person in front of her. He hadn't changed a bit. He was still tall with imposing shoulders and long legs. His striking blue eyes searched hers for a moment before a lazy grin spread across his face.

"I hoped you would be here but this is even better than I bargained for," the man said sweeping her into a hug.

Scene 2:

There was a time when Rick would have been shocked to see his ex-fiancé. This was not that time. The moment he had been offered the position at The Observer in Conlan's Glen, he knew this moment would come. He had been waiting for it, in fact. Poor Maura, he thought, would be completely blindsided. He found a bit of excitement at seeing her after so many years. How could he not? If nothing else, he might get a few answers he'd needed since her departure almost 10 years ago. He had taken the job in The Glen with that thought in mind.

Even setting up this interview at Connie's, the diner he knew her family owned, he had set his own course. He wanted to see her. Needed to, almost. She had left him without so much as a goodbye and there were answers he needed. He had moved on...not quite as successfully as he would have liked...but he had fallen in love again and even married, though that hadn't lasted at all. He wasn't pining for her, but he certainly wanted to close the book on their love affair.

Standing in front of her again, he was taken by the sharpness in her eyes and the way her hair seemed to fall around her shoulders like silk. He'd forgotten how fine her hands were and how graceful her neck was. There were no thoughts for him now as he realized that yes, this was Maura Conlan, the girl he had loved in college and had wanted to marry.

"I hoped you would be here but this is even better than I bargained for," he said softly sweeping her into his arms. He kissed her cheek gently as he let go of her and laughed at the stunned expression on her face. "I'm sorry, I surprised you didn't I?"

"Rick..," she stammered. "What are you doing here?"

"Long time no see, Mo. I'm fine thanks for asking. How are you?" He replied with a smile.

"I'm good...and I'm sorry. It's just I'm so surprised to see you! Why are you in The Glen?"

"A job actually. You're looking at the new Managing Editor of The Observer," he told her. "I'm interviewing someone here. Kind of a lunch interview." He watched Maura's face as she thought. He could always tell when she was thinking. "What? You want to ask something, what is it?"

"No...I don't. Just congratulations," she replied dropping her eyes. "Let me show you to a table." She turned on her heel and started towards a corner table away from the bar. Well, that didn't go quite as I had planned, Rick thought following her. She paused at a table and laid a menu down on it. "I hope this will do," she said formally.

"Maura...let's have dinner. Talk about old times? What do you say?" He asked suddenly. Her face blanched a pale white as she shook her head.

"I don't think so, Rick. I don't want to play catch up. Good luck with your interview," she said walking away. He watched her leave, furious at himself that he would let all his plans go down the drain. Well, they were in the same town now. She could run but she couldn't hide.

Scene 3:

The meeting had been scheduled for the afternoon and Jillie had taken great precautions to dress the part of the professional young woman seeking employment. No need to let her reputation precede her, now was there?

The bells on the diner doors chimed as she stepped in, her gaze scanning over the lunch crowd. As if the scenery around here ever changed. But the man in the corner booth stuck out like a sore thumb...mostly because there was hardly anyone in the Glen that Jillie didn't know, and she'd *definitely* never seen him before.

Tucking her long blond hair behind her ears, she strode determinedly to the table, watching as he turned his gaze to her. Wow. No one had told her the boss was so...wow. Swallowing lightly, she hoped her expression remained calm as she stood, letting his hand engulf hers. He had *very* nice hands, too. They matched the rest of him...or at least, as much as she could see.

"Jillie, it's nice to meet you...at last."

"The pleasure is mine, Mr. Upton," she murmured, her gaze flashing quickly before she slid her hand from his. Smooth, Jillie, she told herself. Sexual harassment in the workplace...pretty much a sure way *not* to get a job. Setting her portfolio on the table, she sat down, crossing her legs modestly and folding her hands atop her knee. Inside the black leather folder were photographs and articles she'd accumulated over the past few years of various internships and freelance jobs. If it wasn't enough to get her this job, she wasn't quite sure what she'd do.

Bypassing mere formalities, he looked at the portfolio in front of him and tilted his head. "May I?"

"Certainly." She unzipped the case and opened it before him, letting him peruse at his own will. It was good work, she knew. Perhaps not all illustrations of hard-core journalism, but then, she was still beginning her career.

Her work had promise. He skimmed a few of the short articles making a note to read more of them later. A waiter came by and paused. Rick glanced up as the waiter smiled at Jillie, barely noticing him.

"Hey, Jillie," he said smiling. "What can I get you?"

"Noah," Jillie smiled, a vaguely flirtatious glimmer in her light blue eyes. The men in this town were too easy -- even the young ones. "I'll just have an iced tea," she replied, handing him her unopened menu.

"And for you, Mr. Upton?"

"Coffee," he said shortly before turning back to the interview. "I see you're familiar with Connie's. Does that mean you're related to the Conlan's that own it?"

"Irrevocably," Jillie answered with a good-natured grin. "This place is Daddy's pride and joy...well, after my older sister, that is. Now he has them both, since she returned to the Glen after our mother died and my older brother decided he was above managing a diner."

"Your...older sister?" Rick choked out after a moment. Did he hear her right? Was this Maura's sister? He looked more closely at her. She had Maura's coloring and complexion. But the eyes were an icy blue, not the warm gray of Maura's. So this was Maura's sister. Now that was an interesting twist, wasn't it? "And you're not interested in being a part of the family business?"

“I'm not interested in working with Maura, she wanted to say, but she didn't. "Well, I don't think it was ever my calling. Dad always thought Luke would take over, and when he didn't, Maura saved the day. If she hadn't, I suppose it would have fallen to me, since my other brother has a promising law career. And Piper, well, she's a bit too young to start running the family business," Jillie smiled.

He nodded but filed away the tone of her voice. She wasn't even close to being enthused over her family's business. There would be another time to deal with her relationship to Maura. "Why would you want to work at The Observer when you obviously have the talent to have your work published just about anywhere?"

"Well, Mr. Upton, as for why I'd like to work for The Observer, I agree, I have talent. But I'm sure you've noticed I'm lacking long-term experience. To be completely honest, I can't say that I see myself at The Observer for the rest of my life, but I would like to hone my skills."

"Please, it's Rick. I'll be honest with you Jillie. Phoebe Cameron gave you a thumbs up today. She loves you. Thinks you'll reenergize some of the staffers we have. Kick 'em in the ass, so to speak. Meeting you is just a preliminary today. I'd say if the City Editor likes you, you're pretty much in," he added with a grin.

Jillie couldn't contain a wide smile and a small squeal of excitement, which drew a few curious looks from the afternoon lunch crowd. "Thank you, Rick," she grinned, calming slightly as she tried to keep some semblance of dignity and decorum.

"No need to thank me. Just do a good job," he replied laughing. "I think you're going to work out nicely. Besides it'll be nice to have someone local working with Phoebe. She's from Colorado and still trying to get used to the town. Me too for that matter. I'm still looking for a house."

"Oh? But you're familiar with Connie's?" She took a sip of her tea. "I mean, I just gathered from the way you asked if I was related to *those* Conlan's...."

"Oh, caught!" He grinned. "I went to college with your sister. Though I had no idea she was your sister until just now," he added.

"I'm not in journalism for nothing," Jillie teased. So he knew Maura, hmmm? Now why did that give her the feeling there was more to the story? She'd definitely have to look into that later. "Well, I'm sure it must be nice to have a familiar face around."

"It would be if she didn't hate my guts," he said lightly looking over his shoulder. "But hey, at least I have a place to eat."

Scene 4:

Finishing up her meeting with Rick, Jillie left Connie's, not wanting to head home at the moment. She had yet to come down from her ecstatic high, though when she thought about it, she wasn't quite sure why she was so happy about establishing more ties to the Glen. After their mother had died, Jillie had longed to leave it all behind. She'd loved it when she'd been called off on assignment, traveling to places like New York and LA and even Egypt for an excavation shoot she'd worked on for "TIME". Just as long as she was as far away from Maura as possible....

Of course, there could have been a direct relation between Maura's return to Conlan's Glen and Jillie's new determination to set up shop here for the time being. It was like a sickness, she thought, a bad habit. She couldn't stand the person she was when Maura was around, and yet...some force inside of her insisted she submit herself to her sister's standards.

Shrugging out of her suit jacket, Jillie walked to her car. Ahhh, that was better. She shed that businesswoman aura as surely as a snake shed its skin, removing the sedate earrings and useless wire-rimmed glasses. Opening her car door, she tossed her clothes into the backseat before switching her skirt for a pair of jeans and her flats for her tennis shoes. It was just one of those talents, Jillie figured, being able to change in the back of a car without being noticed. Or maybe people just expected that sort of behavior from her. Climbing back out, she went to her trunk and grabbed her bag. What better way to finish off a great day than behind the lens of her new camera? It had cost her over a thousand dollars, and she was just itching to try it out.

Locking up, Jillie looped her camera case over her shoulder, pocketed her keys and headed down Crown Road towards Halwood Park. Invariably, her thoughts turned back to her older sister. Maura the wonderful, Maura the beautiful, Maura...who could do no wrong. As opposed to herself. Jillian Marie Conlan. She wasn't the perfect one, or the smart one, the shy one or the black sheep...no, her siblings cornered the market on those. So she was who she knew how to be...the wild one, the party girl. It was a title that had gotten her into more trouble than it was worth...especially with Kevin Conlan. It seemed like there was nothing she could do right, nothing she could do to live up to the image he had of his eldest, his first-born. Maura.

She strolled along the sidewalk, noting the simple beauty of the Glen. "Picturesque" was the word that came to mind whenever she thought of her hometown. There were good memories...birthday parties in the park, her first kiss under the bleachers in the high school gym, stopping by Connie's after school for a cookie and just to listen to Mom talk. And there were bad memories...break-ups in the parking lot after class, breaking her leg as she fell out of the tree in front of the house, the hospital room where Maeve Conlan had spent so many days battling cancer before finally giving in. But bad or good, Conlan's Glen was her home. Just like, for better or worse, Maura would always be her sister.

Sometimes life just dealt you a bad hand. Luckily, Jillie had perfected her poker face.