Episode 29

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Episode 29

Scene 1:

Some things in life were incredibly unfair. Like being the President of the United States of America...yet being remembered only for getting caught with your pants down around your ankles in the Oval Office. Or being misdiagnosed with cancer, but only learning the fact after you'd had a hysterectomy and lost part of a lung. Or finding *the* perfect dress, but not in the color you wanted.

"Be right back," Jillie told her father as she sprinted back upstairs towards her room. She'd almost forgotten something very important. The right accessories could make or break an outfit. Running back into her room, she rushed to her dresser, opening the antique jewelry box that sat in front of her mirror. Blue was her signature color. Blue matched her eyes. Blue was the color of most of the jewelry she owned. Sapphire earrings, blue topaz choker. She didn't own much...pink.

It hit her suddenly. Her mother's pearls. They would compliment the dress nicely. Searching through the box, Jillie frowned. They weren't there. And she knew she had them. They had been her favorites since childhood and their mother had given them to her right before the last time she'd gone into the hospital. So why weren't they there?

Ire sparking to life in her blue eyes, she flung her door open, screaming her sister's name down the hallway. "Maura! Maura!"

Seconds passed with no reply and Jillie stomped down the corridor to her sister's room. "Maura!" she shouted, pushing open the door without waiting for an invitation. Well, that answered that. Her sister was nowhere to be seen. For some odd reason, that only made her more angry. As if Maura had deliberately fled the scene, just to spite her. Wouldn't have surprised her.

Glancing around the room, Jillie sighed, sliding her hands into the back pockets of her jean shorts. If she were Maura, where would she hide something? She eyed the bed suspiciously, before dismissing the idea. No, Maura wasn't that spiteful. She wouldn't actually hide them from her. Would she? Besides, Jillie wasn't so sure she wanted to find anything that might be hidden underneath Maura's mattress. Some things were better left uncovered.

Moving to the dresser, she opened the top drawer, poking through the underwear there. Nothing. And geez, Maura needed to take a walk on the wild side a bit more often. The second drawer proved to be just as disinteresting, as was the third. But finally she stumbled across Maura's
accessory drawer. It made sense, she figured, that if Maura had borrowed the necklace, she might have *mistakenly* stored it with the rest of her trinkets.

Sifting through scarves and chains, Jillie arched a brow as her fingers made contact with something that felt distinctly...un-accessory-like. Curious, she pulled out the envelope, testing its weight and thickness. If she were to guess, she would have said it was a photograph. Opening the flap, she turned the envelope upside down, letting its contents spill out. It was a picture after all, and she couldn't help but briefly wonder if perhaps it was a photo of an old flame. "Tristen" the back read.

Wasn't too much of a hint, though she could tell it wasn't written in Maura's hand. Turning it over, her curiosity peaked. It was a girl, no more than ten or eleven. She didn't look familiar, or rather, she was no one Jillie knew. She did, however, seem familiar. Despite her dark hair, there was something strangely...what was it?...uncanny about the girl's face. Her eyes. They were so....

Why did Maura have this picture? Why was it so important that she felt the need to tuck it away in her dresser drawer? Slipping it back into the envelope, all thoughts of the pearl necklace gone,
Jillie slid it into the drawer and turned to leave. Still, she was unable to shake the feeling that something was very, very wrong with this big picture. Nothing was adding up. And that bothered her.

"Jillie!!!" Kevin's booming voice shook Jillie from her reverie and she exited Maura's room, stopping by her own to grab her purse. A glance at her watch told her the they was on the verge of being late. Taking the stairs three at a time, she made it outside just in time to see Jory being to pull out of the drive. There was Maura, looking for all the world as if she had nothing to hide. It just didn't add up.
"Finally ready?" she heard her father ask and she nodded.

"Yeah, but, how about we take my car? Just in case...I have to make a quick exit." Her tone was dry but she caught her father's disapproving look. This was, after all, one of Luke's big nights. Whatever. She had better things to do than mingle with the future in-laws, connections be damned. Tonight was something she'd been looking forward to since she'd last spoken to Rick...and not even thoughts of Maura could ruin that.

Scene 2:

Hallie paused at the landing and surveyed the guests milling about on Gwen's back lawn. Today was certainly her day, she thought with guilty pleasure. She had waited to be the center of attention her whole life and today was just the start. Tonight, she intended to be the most beautiful woman in the room. Not even Jillie Conlan would outshine her. Her eyes fell on Ellen Mason standing slightly off to the side staring intently as Gwen made her way through the crowd. With a smile on her face, Hallie made her way to her cousin, greeting guests with a gracious hello and thank you for coming.

"What's the matter, El? No good looking men to flirt with?" Hallie asked sidling up to her cousin.

"Oh, flirting is your forte, Hal. Not mine," Ellen laughed. Hallie giggled with her and hugged Ellen.

"I am so glad you made it!" Hallie exclaimed drawling Ellen towards the tent and some shade. "I can't believe no one told me you were here!"

"Well, so far the only people I've talked to are Jamie and my mother. And Jamie was....well, he was Jamie. My mother on the other hand was even nastier than the last time I saw her. So I'm not surprised no one told you I was here. Now, If Dane had seen me, he would have announced it to the world," Ellen replied grinning.

"I'm so sorry. Was Gwen rude? Do you want me to talk to her?" Hallie asked. Of course Gwen was rude, that was how Gwen operated with someone who intimidated her and Ellen scared Gwen to death.

"No, don't bother. She's being herself I suppose...no sense ruining her fun." Ellen snagged a glass of champagne from someone on the wait staff as they passed by. "Look at this spread! What did you do? Blackmail Gwen to get this?"

"No, I let her son fire me from ME and threw a huge temper tantrum," Hallie replied sweetly.

"Temper tantrums are always a surefire way to get what you want."

"They've always worked well for me in the past. Why give it up if it works? Now, where are you staying? Not here?"

"Not a chance in hell," Ellen said, her voice tinged with bitterness. "I don't know yet, actually. I was hoping you weren't living in this house so I could stay with you. But since that isn't going to happen I guess I'll rent a room at The Windsor."

"You know Luke's family has plenty of room if you want to stay with them for the week."

"Uh...no, I don't think that would be such a good idea. Hotel is fine." Ellen waved her hand, dismissing the idea. "Now where is this fiancé of yours? I hear about him all the time but I don't even know what he looks like!"

"He's tall dark and handsome!" Hallie grinned scanning the crowd for him. "There he is," she said at last spotting him talking jovially with his brother and Dane. "He's talking to Dane." Ellen's eyes followed Hallie's pointing finger and watched as Dane joked with two attractive men.

"Which one is he?" She asked, her eyes glued to one in particular.

"That one, the one Dane is talking to...," Hallie replied only to be interrupted by a waiter.

"Miss Lennox? Your aunt wishes to speak to you in her office." Hallie sighed and stood. She patted Ellen's arm affectionately. "Go introduce yourself. I'll bet he would be thrilled to meet you. I have to go deal with your mother now. But don't worry, I'll tell her it was all your idea!" Ellen rolled her eyes at her as she walked away. This conversation with her aunt ought to be interesting, Hallie thought with glee as she climbed the steps to the back entrance. Today was shaping up to be a remarkable day.

Scene 3:

"If you'll excuse me, I see someone I should greet," Luke said interrupting Dane as best he could and moving off towards the buffet table. Jory watched him leave with a grin and wished he were as clever as Luke. Dane's chatter was absolutely annoying. He turned his attention back to Dane for a moment but Dane's words died on his lips suddenly. His eyes went wide with surprise before he broke out into a grin.

"Ellie!" He exclaimed, ignoring Jory completely and grasping a dark haired woman who had approached them. She laughed in spite of herself and let Dane lift her off the ground, spinning her around in circles. "My god! I can't believe you're here!"

"Dane!" The woman choked out between laughs. "Put-me-down! I can't breathe!" Jory watched the scene with amusement feeling like an invisible outsider. The woman was beautiful, more beautiful than even Hallie or Jillie and that was saying a lot. Her skin was a creamy color and free of makeup with the exception of just a hint of peach blush on her cheeks. She caught his eyes and smiled, making him blush just a little. Dane set her on her feet and hugged her one more time.

"I just can't believe you're here!" Dane echoed. "Has Hallie seen you?"

"Yes, she has. She's the one who asked me to come." She turned to Jory and extended her hand politely. "I'm sorry, my cousin has the manners of porcupine. I'm Ellen Mason, Hallie's cousin."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Jory replied taking her hand. He looked down at it in wonder at the softness of it before looking back up and blushing furiously as he caught her eye. "I'm right there with Dane," he replied lightly. "I'm J-..."

"Don't worry," Ellen smiled. "I know who you are. It's nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you."

"You have?" Jory asked with a puzzled expression. Hallie must have thought more of him than he thought of her. He shrugged and nodded politely, still not quite able to pull his eyes from hers. "Mason?" He queried. "As in Mason Enterprises and all that? And just how are you related?"

"Oh directly I am afraid. Gwen is my mother...unfortunately," she muttered as an after thought.

"Oh...wait. Now I know. Ellen Mason. You're the one who left after Mr. Mason's funeral," Jory said finally remembering the name. "I'd forgotten all about you."

"Thanks," Ellen replied caustically. "Good to know I made an impression."

"Wait, that's not what I meant," he said, trying to correct himself. She held up a hand to him and silenced his protests. "It's quite all right. I have been gone for a long time. So if you'll excuse me, Dane and I have a lot of catching up to do!" She took Dane's arm and led him back towards the house. "That was interesting," she said when they were out of earshot.

"Aw...he's not so bad," Dane grinned. "Just a little socially inept."

"Then why is Hallie marrying him for Pete's sake?" Ellen asked irritated. Dane stopped and looked at her quizzically. She thought that was Luke Conlan? Hmmm...he thought, letting evil thought stake over...there could be some fun in that mix-up.

"He's sweet. give him a break," Dane replied with a straight face. "Now, Smelly Elly, tell me all about your life."

"Don't call me Smelly Elly," Ellen replied with a short glance over her shoulder at the man Hallie planned to marry. "If you call me that," she went on, "I'll just have to remind everyone about that time you were locked in the attic with no bathroom..."

Scene 4:

Dinah lost Piper in the mad rush around Hallie Lennox which was just fine with her. Hallie Lennox was a spoiled brat and Dinah wasn't entirely sure why she was there in the first place. Oh yes, she reminded herself. She was here because Piper had begged her to keep her company. The promise of lots of attractive men didn't hurt either. She made her way towards the buffet, saying hello to Piper's brother Jory. He was so odd, she thought casually. Worked all the time but still acted as if he was still a college kid.

Grabbing a plate, she started piling fried chicken and potato salad on it. It was certainly a nice spread and who was she to let it go to waste? Grabbing a cold can of Diet Coke out of a tub of ice, a concession, she was sure, that Hallie made to Luke, Dinah trudged to the tables that lined the back portion of the Mason acreage. All this money and these people had no idea what to do with it, she thought picking up a chicken leg.

"Eating alone?" She looked up into Noah's dark eyes and smiled.

"Not anymore," she replied scooting over. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"Maura asked me to come. She said I was a part of the family though I am sure her brother would disagree."

"Luke? He's a creep. Deserves to marry a harpy like Hallie Lennox. Don't listen to a word he says." Dinah set the chicken back down and looked around again for a sign of Piper. "Where's Piper? I lost her."

"Last time I saw her someone had her trapped near the house," Noah answered taking a sip of soda. "What are you doing here? Maura invite you too?"

"No, Piper dragged me here with the promise of rich young bachelors. So far, the only bachelor I've met is you and I know you're not rich!"

"What? You're looking for a rich man?" Noah asked, watching her from the corner of his eye.

"No...but if one comes my way, I won't turn him down," she remarked with a toss of her head. "So there."

"Okay, just be careful, you might get what you wish for and rich men aren't always the nicest guys," he warned standing up. "I wouldn't want you to get hurt by some jerk."

Dinah nodded, smiling. Was it possible that Noah cared? It was possible, very possible. Tonight might just be the best night of her life, she thought watching him walk away before returning back to her chicken.

Scene 5:

"Why didn't you tell me?" Gwen demanded as Hallie entered Gwen's office. Hallie hid a smirk behind wide eyes.

"Tell you what?" She asked demurely. Gwen flashed an angry look at her and went around her to the door, shutting it tightly behind her.

"You ungrateful brat. I felt sorry for you and let you have this disgusting display in my home and this is how you repay me? By inviting my daughter who has not spoken to me since her father's death? How miserable are you that you would stoop to that?"

"First of all," Hallie said holding her head high. "You brought this on yourself when you asked Jamie to take my position away from me! So don't preach to me, Gwen, about being miserable. Second of all, what did I do that was so awful? I invited Ellen to my engagement party. Ellen is my dearest friend and cousin. She is going to be my maid of honor at my wedding! It only seems fair to invite her. Is it my fault she chooses not to speak to you?" She watched as Gwen flinched at her words. "Am I to blame that you have done something so awful to your own daughter that she cannot stand the very sight of you? No, I didn't think so. Now if you'll excuse me Gwen?" Hallie titled her head and waited, dared Gwen to respond.

"This is not over, Hallie," Gwen warned. Hallie walked to the door and threw her aunt a look over her shoulder.

"No, it isn't Gwen. Not by a long shot."