Episode 30

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Episode 30

Scene 1:

Gwen was happy with the turn out of her friends to her nieces' engagement party, though in retrospect, after what Hallie had pulled, she wished that her friends had stayed away in droves. Inviting Ellen was fine, in fact it was wonderful. But to invite her and not tell Gwen was traitorous. She waited until the barbeque portion of the day had ended before attempting to speak to Ellen at all hoping that the day's festivities had left her daughter in a talkative mood.

"Ellen," Gwen said as she descended the staircase for the evening ball dressed in a beautiful red dress. "You look so beautiful. You're father would be so proud of you." Ellen paused in front of her mother, her eyes filled with contempt.

"Do you think so? Proud of me because I look decent in a dress?" She returned bitterly. "Excuse me if that means so little to me, Mother."

"I didn't mean anything by that!" Gwen said, feeling as if she had been slapped. "Don't you think you're overreacting just a little Ellen? It's Hallie's night after all and she wanted us both here and getting along."

"Mother, Hallie invited me to ruin your evening. We both know that. Quit hiding behind your sanctimonious facade. Whatever you did to Hal, this is her revenge. And I'll tell you, I don't mind being the one who carries it out in the least!" Ellen smiled sweetly and turned away from Gwen. "Now if you'll excuse me, there are guests arriving and I don't think we should make a scene on Hallie's night, do you?"

Frozen in place, Gwen watched her daughter float away towards the arriving guests, playing hostess just as if she had never left the Glen. Ellen had grown even more defiant in her years away, Gwen realized. She had taken her anger at Gwen and let it grow until she no longer had control of it. Of course, Ellen had no idea that you had to control your anger to exact revenge. Gwen knew that. And tonight she planned to find out exactly what had made Ellen so angry all those years ago.

Scene 2:

Maura paused on the terrace looking into the ballroom at Four Winds. She was at a society party and not having a very good time either. It was early in the evening still but so far all her thoughts had centered around the picture tucked away in her bureau at home. Was she crazy for wishing she could have been there to see her child turn ten years old?

She sighed and watched as Hallie entered the ballroom dressed in a daring halter top and skirt. She made Maura feel positively ancient. Hallie had her whole life ahead of her with no mistakes so far. What did Maura have? A precious secret that she could never talk about. She could admit that she was jealous of her brother's fiancée. Who wouldn't be? She was young, beautiful, confident, and smart. And she had no secret to guard.

Sighing, she wandered away from the terrace and out towards the gardens on the expansive Mason estate. Somehow, women like Hallie...and like Jillie...always got what they wanted and Maura always settled. She was settling for living at home and running the diner and having no social life. Jude Fontaine was nice and fun to be around but he couldn't be her social life. She was tired of settling.
Stepping into the rose garden, she paused and looked up towards the sky. It was a perfect night for making a grand decision, she decided. Of course, Maura had no decisions. She only had duty. Duty to her father and duty to her family.

"Maura." The voice, so familiar to her, shook her from her thoughts and she dropped her eyes to meet Rick's. Of course she would see him here. Wasn't that the way her life was going these days? She couldn't escape him.

"Hello, Rick," she replied trying to sound casual, as if they met every day like this.

"You look stunning tonight," he remarked.

"Thank you." A painful silence fell between them as they both tried to remain aloof. "Do you know Hallie?" She asked breaking the silence. She knew he didn't know Luke.

"Actually, no," he replied with a shrug. "But I know her brother. Dane has been working at the Observer since the Masons bought the paper. He's a good guy. A little on the flaky side, but okay. Knows nothing about running a newspaper."

"So Dane invited you?" She asked politely. She hated this dancing around each other but there was no other way to deal with him. If she let her guard down even for one moment, she felt that tonight of all nights, she would tell him everything.

"In a manner of speaking," Rick replied. "He dragged me here...along with poor Phoebe. I think he has a crush on her."

"Oh, Phoebe's here too? I'll have to find her to say hello." Rick nodded and smiled.

"Well, I guess I better let you go. I'm sure Jude Fontaine is probably looking for you."

"Why would he be?" Maura asked. "Is something wrong?"

"Oh no. I just thought you were with him, you know..."

"Oh. Well. Um, I guess so yes. You're probably right. I'll save him the trouble of trying to find me and go find him instead. It was nice to talk to you Rick," she added as she turned away.

"Oh Maura!" He called after her, making her pause and smile inquisitively at him. "Is Jillie here?"

"Yes, I saw her by the champagne fountain before I came out here. Why?"

"Oh, I owe her a dance is all. Have a good night Mo." Maura watched him walk back towards the mansion, her jaw gaping open slightly. Jillie? A twinge of jealousy bit at her chest as she thought of her own sister with Rick. No, Jillie couldn't be interested in Rick! Or maybe Maura was just to wrapped up in her past to see her present.

Scene 3:

Piper shifted in her uncomfortable heels. Somehow she had lost Dinah in the crowd and it was impossible to find her. Dropping back down on to her feet, Piper let out a frustrated sigh. She hated not having Dinah around to talk to, she felt so out of place. A few people smiled and said hello, but moved on with the conversations they were involved in with someone else. Piper had no one to talk to, all she could do was sip her wine and twiddle her thumbs. She probably looked like a huge loser. Wait, was that Noah? Piper rose back up to try and catch his eye, but failed . Trying not to think too negatively, Piper dropped back down. Maybe she could convince Dinah to get Noah to dance with her, that is if she could find Dinah.

Luke pressed through the crowd looking for Piper. She was around here somewhere he decided, probably staring after that goofy waiter Maura liked so much. He caught sight of her sitting forlornly off to the side, drinking a glass of wine and looking positively beautiful and melancholy. He grinned and strode towards her, nodding to the guests as he went.

"Piper, what are you doing drinking that wine? If Dad sees you, he'll ground you for sure," Luke commented dropping into the chair next to her.

Slightly startled, Piper turned towards her brother. With a glance at her wine glass, she shrugged, and laughed nervously. "It's all they have," she said with a sheepish grin.

"Uh huh," Luke answered nodding towards where Hallie was holding court with a group of socialites. "I'm not surprised given my future wife's taste for the finer things in life." He wrapped an arm around her and gave her a gentle squeeze. "You look sad, Pipe. What's the matter? The waiter won't dance with you?" He teased.

Piper tried not to make a face at the mention of Hallie Lennox. She pulled away, a blush creeping up her neck, "No, I'm just kind of bored. Dinah must have found herself someone and she's disappeared."

"Bored, hmmm? Well, actually that's good news. Come with me, there is someone I would like to introduce you to," Luke said pulling her to her feet.

"No, really I'm fine," Piper said, tugging slightly at the grip Luke held her in. Piper finally gave up and with a sigh she reluctantly followed her brother. "I'm sure I can find Dinah, this really isn't necessary," she protested.

"Dinah has snagged some rich cousin of Hallie's by now," Luke told her half seriously. "And she's probably talking his ear off. Come on now, I promise this won't be painful."

"Yeah right," she mumbled under her breath. Piper sighed once again. "Luke," she whined, before she noticed he was gesturing to someone. She looked to him for an explanation. What was he doing? Trying to play matchmaker?

"Come on Piper, you are the only one without a dance partner. See?" He pointed towards the dance floor. "Maura's dancing with Jude over there and Jillie snagged herself a tall dark stranger...even Jory is dancing with someone. You have to dance," he admonished as he waved a young man over. "If you don't like him, fine. But I guarantee that you will." The young man approached and Luke smiled broadly. "Piper, this is Chase Garrett, he's an intern at ME this summer. Chase, my sister, Piper."

How about the ground open up and swallow her instead? Piper forced a smile, but not before sending Luke an 'I hate you' look.

"It's a pleasure, Piper," Chase said coolly as he lifted her hand to place a kiss on it.

"Yes," Piper said, feeling incredibly awkward as she once again sent Luke another evil look. "Pleasure to meet you to," she finally finished.

Luke ignored Piper and turned to Chase. "Did I tell you that Piper just won the lead in a production at the PAC? She's quite an actress, our Piper."

This had to be one of the most embarrassing moments of Piper's life.

One eyebrow raised up in curiosity, "Oh, what play?" Chase asked.

"A Midsummer's Night Dream," Piper answered, looking at her hands, her feet, just not at Chase.

"Shakespeare," Luke added as if to make it seem that much more important. "Oh damn. Hallie needs me," he added looking off towards his fiancée. "Chase, make sure my sister has a good time. And Piper...play nice," he said with a wink before leaving the pair.

Scene 4:

Ellen danced and had a wonderful time. She laughed and smiled and made herself a sought after companion. And in her slow moments, she caught Gwen's eye and flashed her a triumphant look. She had won tonight. For a change, Gwen Mason was powerless to force her to behave the way Gwen thought she should.

Taking a break from the festivities, Ellen stepped outside for a breath of fresh air, coming face to face with her disapproving mother. She tossed her head, letting her long dark locks flip over her shoulder.

"What are you doing prowling around outside Mother?" She asked sweetly but the look on Gwen's face made her pause. "What?" She asked as her eyes locked with Gwen's.

"I'm tired of waiting for you to come to me, Ellen. I want to know why it is you have decided that I am the devil incarnate," Gwen replied calm and cold. Ellen could have laughed.

"Are you listening to yourself? You are so self-righteous! How Daddy ever stayed married to you after...," Ellen exclaimed catching herself before she said too much.

"After what, Ellen? Finish it. Obviously whatever this is has been eating away at you since your father died."

"Fine! I'll say it!" Ellen spat back. "I know about you and Morgan Birch! And I know about Jamie too!" Gwen's face turned an icy white as the color drained out of her face.

"How...?"

"How do you think? Daddy told me. You betrayed him, Mother. In the worst way and I will never forgive you for it!"

Scene 5:

Luke stepped back into the shadow of Four Winds at the beginning of Ellen's confrontation with her mother. Hallie had hinted that Ellen was the key to bringing Gwen and Jamie to their knees but he hadn't really believed her. Until now. Who was Morgan Birch, he wondered, and how did Gwen betray James? More importantly, what was Jamie's place in all of this?

He concentrated on their words for a moment before the questions that raged there took over. Hallie must not know this information. She had always claimed that Ellen was angry over something but hadn't been able to get it out of her. This of course, had to be it. And he knew. Or he knew something.
Morgan Birch. Why was that name familiar? He was someone but Luke couldn't place him just yet. And what was his connection to Gwen? He listened for more information but Gwen had had enough.

"I won't let you accuse me of that!" She told Ellen. "If that is the reason you have stayed away then this is my reason for forbidding you to return!' She stormed away leaving a seething Ellen behind. Luke smiled to himself as a thought occurred to him. Hallie didn't know. If she did, she would have acted on it already. If he found out what Gwen's connection to Morgan Birch was before she did, he could use it for his own benefit. He waited until Ellen had walked away before easing out of the darkness. This might be considered Hallie's "special night" but he had just found a way to make it his as well.