Episode 3

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Episode 3

Scene 1:

"When's Mom and Jesse comin' to Virginia?" Chris whined as Jamie settled him into the rental car. It had only been the tenth time Chris had asked since their plane had taken off that morning and Jamie's patience was wearing a bit thin. But he understood Chris' desire to know. He himself felt odd without Michaela and Jess nearby. He felt lost in a way without them so he did understand his son's questions.

"Soon," he said smiling. "Mom has to sell the house and finish up a few things in Florida," he added closing the door and walking around to the driver's side.

"Are we going to live with Grandma Gwen?" Chris asked.

"No...well, only for a little while. See, while Mom's selling the house in Florida, we'll be looking for a new one here. We'll have to find one with a great big yard for you and Jesse..."

"And Jump," Chris reminded him. "Jump's gotta have room to run because he's a dog and dogs like to run." Jamie hid a smile as he pulled the car out onto the highway. Chris was becoming more of the average little boy every day. And not a day went by that Jamie wasn't thrilled with his son. He'd made such progress since they'd won custody and his mother had been denied access to him. She hadn't tried to contact him in the last year and Jamie prayed she would continue to keep her distance.

"Oh yes, you're right Chris. A big yard for Jump. You know you're going to have a great big family now. You'll get to meet my cousins and I think I can talk your Aunt Ellen into visiting us once we're settled."

"Does she have kids?"

"No," Jamie laughed. His sister with kids would be a sight. "But she lives in great big house in California. Maybe we'll go see her instead," he added.

"What about your cousins? Do they have kids?" Chris persisted.

"Nope, sorry kiddo. I'll bet we can find some friends for you though if that's what you're worried about. My cousins are nice though. You'll like them." Well, they were mostly nice, he thought to himself. Jude was great, almost like a brother to him. Dane was an okay guy. Knew nothing about business but he was pretty easy to get along with. Hallie though, was something else all together. Michaela would hate her, he was almost sure of that one.

"How much longer 'til we're there, Dad?" Chris asked interrupting his thoughts.

"Not too much longer. About a half an hour to the Glen and then another ten minutes to Grandma's house. Think you can hold out for that long?"

"Sure," Chris shrugged. "Can you?"

"Absolutely," Jamie replied. Any time away from his extended family from now on would be a gift.

Scene 2:

Maura watched as Rick and Jillie chatted comfortably as if they had known each other for years. Why did he have to come back now? Why, when everything was finally okay again, did Rick have to show up in her hometown? It had taken her years to get over Rick Upton and now he was back and sitting with Jillie of all people. It had taken every bit of courage to walk away from him ten years ago. She wasn't sure she could sustain her courage with him back again. Of course you can! She told herself. That was ten years ago. Time heals all wounds. She watched as Jillie left the diner beaming and Rick made a beeline for her.

"So, that was Jillie," he said sliding into a seat at the bar.

"Yes, that was Jillie," she replied picking up a towel to wipe the counter off and to busy herself. Maybe if she ignored him, he would go away.

"She's beautiful. Of course, I only saw her in pictures when we were together, but she has grown remarkably..."

"Oh brother!" Maura said rolling her eyes. "Yes, I know she's gorgeous. I hear it all the time. Get in line, Rick. Every guy in this diner will tell you she's gorgeous. Tell me something about her I don't know."

"Well, if you insist. Did you know she is extremely talented?" She stopped wiping the counter and raised her eyebrows.

"Really? I'm sure that was the first thing you noticed about her," Maura replied snidely.

"As a matter of fact, the first thing I noticed was her eyes. But her eyes didn't get her a job at the Observer." Rick smiled at her but she was frozen in place. Jillie had a job at the Observer?! Where was the fairness in that? She would work with Rick and have the career that Maura had always wanted. Rick stood and leaned across the counter and tucked a business card in her apron pocket. "Thought that might get your attention. That's my office number and cell phone. When you get over the shock of seeing me again. Call me."

Scene 3:

Piper Conlan dropped her books on the counter and looked around. She saw Noah delivering a tray of drinks to a group of college kids and her heart sank. She hated seeing him flirt with anyone. He wasn't hers, but she did hope he would be someday. It would be her luck though that he treated her like a baby sister for the rest of her life, she thought, watching him laugh with a tall redhead. Piper hated redheads.

"What's the matter?" Dinah asked sitting next to her. Piper turned a sad look to her friend and nodded towards Noah. "Oh, I see. Hey, don't worry about that. It's his job. You know Maura told him to flirt with anything wearing a skirt." Piper smiled a bit thankful for Dinah's quick estimation of the situation.

"Yeah, you're right. I don't know why I get so annoyed. It's not like he even looks at me."

"It's because you are in lo-ove!" Dinah giggled. Piper rolled her eyes and looked back at Noah who stopped at a table where her sister, Jillie, sat with a strange man.

"I wonder who that is with Jillie," she mused as her eyes caught Noah's. She blushed as he winked at her and walked towards them. "Oh my god, he's coming over here!" It was Dinah's turn to roll her eyes.
"Pipe, you've known him for a year...there is no need to get all flustered whenever he talks to you!" She scolded as Noah leaned against the counter next to them.

"Hey guys, what's going on?" He asked casually.

"Oh same old same old," Dinah replied. "Who's with Jillie over there?" She asked voicing Piper's own curiosity.

"Don't know," he shrugged. "But he sure got Maura in a bad mood. She talked to him for two minutes and went outside for a smoke. And you know she's pissed when she smokes."

"Maura smokes?" Dinah asked with a giggle. "Somehow I can't see Miss White and Uptight smoking. What does she smoke, Noah?"

"Camels," he replied enjoying the joke. "Hey Piper, you better get outta here before she ropes you into working a shift. Marty called out sick...or hungover however you want to look at it."

"You think?" She asked a moment to late as Maura appeared from the kitchen and caught sight of her.

"Too late, you're doomed," Noah said standing straight. Not doomed, Piper wanted to say. Not doomed if you're working, that is. Maura made a bee line for her without hesitating. So she would work tonight instead of hanging out with Dinah. At least she would be with Noah. "I feel for you. I would have stayed for Mo, but I've got finals coming up," he added.

Piper turned and stared at him. "You mean you're leaving?" She asked not quite believing her bad luck. He nodded and offered her a quick apology. Just her luck, she thought miserably. Not only was Noah leaving but Maura looked absolutely pissed. She was doomed.

Scene 4:

"Dane! I heard a rumor you were let go as CEO! Tell me it isn't true!" Dane looked up from his morning coffee and grinned at his sister.

"Yes, Hallie. I've been fired," he said trying to sound serious but not succeeding very well.

"Who? Who did this to you?" She demanded. Dane Lennox laid his paper down and shrugged. He was actually glad to be out of the hot seat and back to his normal life for a change. He hadn't wanted the position anyway. Hallie had wanted it, but not him.

"Who do you think?" He asked. "Look, it's not that big of a deal. I hate that place anyway. I'm happy to go back to what I do best. Playing." Hallie pulled a chair out next to his at the dining table and sat down.

"Gwen fired you? Why would she do that?"

"Because she has someone else who is better suited for the job, that's why. And she didn't fire me, Hal. Geez, you make it sound like it was the worst thing on earth. It was a mutual decision. I am so not upset by this," he replied. She gave him a contemptuous look and flipped her hair over her shoulder.

"I think you should be! Mason Enterprises is as much ours as it is Gwen's!" She told him haughtily. "Uncle James said so in his will."

"He also said that Gwen was in control until Jamie decided to take over," he pointed out. Hallie had an intense dislike for Jamie that he had never figured out. They had never gotten along...or at least Hallie had never gotten along with Jamie. Jamie was pretty easy going and never really bothered much with ‘High-Strung Hallie.’ "So, it's a done deal. What Gwen says goes."

"Honestly Dane, your lack of ambition is disgusting!" Hallie snapped. "Luke says that if you tried you could be very successful."

"I am successful," he replied picking up his paper again. "And what would your fiancé know about successful? Doesn't his family own a diner?" Hallie stood abruptly shoving her chair back with a loud scrape on the floor.

She ignored his comment and tried another tack. "Dane, Mason Enterprises is our inheritance. Do you want someone outside the family to run it?" Dane smiled wickedly at her over the top of the newspaper.

"Who says it's someone from outside the family? And why do you care so much?"

"Look, if Gwen thinks you're doing a poor job, she should let someone else there give it a shot. Someone who's been there for a while, who knows how it all works."

"Like Luke Conlan? Ooooh, or wait, you?" Dane let out a belly laugh. "Get real, Hal."

"Fine!" She shot back her temper flaring. "If not me then who did she find to run ME?"

"I guess that would be me," Jamie replied from the open door of the dining room. "Sorry Hallie. Didn't mean to interrupt. But I thought you should know, I'm taking over at Mason Enterprises starting today."