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Episode 41 Scene 1: "What are you doing here?" Jamie asked sharply after he was over his initial shock of seeing Kerri for the first time in a year and a half. Outside, he could hear the boys laughing and the splashing of water as they played in the pool. "Maggie, go watch the boys please." Gwen's secretary backed out of the room meekly, shutting the doors behind her. He kept his eyes glued to Kerri as she sat back down on the settee in his mother's office. "I want to see my son," she replied simply, looking up at him. "I've done what I was supposed to do. I went to a therapist three times a week for six months. I abided by your restraining order, Jamie. But now, I'm begging you, let me see Christopher." Without hesitating, Jamie answered, "No. Out of the question." "Why not? I don't want to hurt him!" Kerri exclaimed her voice rising in agitation. Jamie raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You've already done that, Kerri. He's healthy and very happy. You can't come back into his life like this and screw with his head. He's just a boy." "You're right!" She agreed, leaping to her feet. "He is a boy. A boy who needs his mother. His real mother." "No. What don't you understand here? You put him in the hospital repeatedly for no reason except that you craved the attention having a sick son gave you! I won't let you disturb what normalcy my son has right now!" "But I'm his mother!" Kerri hissed at him. "Not that slut you call a wife. Me. I gave birth to him not her." "According to the judge, you are not a fit parent, Kerri. And I still have a restraining order against you. I suggest you leave before I call the police," Jamie returned, his voice icy. Kerri took a step toward him but paused at the sound of Chris' laughter outside. "I'm not giving up so easily, Jamie. He's still my son and I'll get him back!" Jamie crossed his arms over his chest and waited by the door. He wasn't about to let that happen no matter what Kerri thought. If moving to Virginia had done anything for his family at all, it was to solidify their prominence. Kerri would never stand a chance against the Masons. "Get out now. I'm not letting you near him ever again, Kerri." "We'll see about that," she called back to him ominously. "We'll just see." Scene 2: Piper climbed out of Chase's silver BMW Roadster and said, "Thanks for taking me to rehearsal." "Anytime, Piper," Chase said, "I'll call you tomorrow." "Okay," Piper said with a wave. Life was good. Life was great. Piper practically skipped. The play was going wonderfully, Frank Farley paid extra attention to her, and as much as she didn't want to be made the obvious amateur, it made her feel much better. She had practically forgotten about Noah... Piper couldn't suppress a sort of strangled gasp, like a deer struck down by the hunter's bow, but it hadn't quite made it to her heart. She had to be hallucinating, all those paint fumes from helping paint the set for Midsummer's. Noah...most importantly Dinah and Noah. Dinah and Noah. Dinah and Noah. It was a chant in her head that wouldn't stop. Her best friend and the guy who she loved...and was completely oblivious to her (who could forget that painful aspect). Piper ducked back to the side of the Connie's Diner, pressing her palms to her temples. This was a nightmare, this was horrible, and the fact that it was Noah didn't hurt as much as the fact that it was Dinah kissing him. Her best friend, who knew everything she felt for Noah. Betraying her. This must have been a plan. Dinah must have been making her moves as she knew Piper would be busy with the play. Dinah would do something like that. Except. Piper couldn't even be angry. She had every right to be, but she couldn't...just sad...extremely sad. Scene 3: For this date, Rick managed to be on time. He cleared his schedule after four o'clock and left the office to ensure that no one would assault him with a last minute problem or issue. He dressed to impress in a navy suit that was worth every cent he had paid for it. For Jillie, he had stopped at Maxim's and ordered an overly large bouquet of roses. Maura liked lilies...Jillie had to be a roses kind of woman. And if she wasn't, she would certainly appreciate the gesture at the very least. Maura would chastise him and tell him he wasted his money. Jillie was different. At eight o'clock sharp, he rang the doorbell at the Conlan residence and hoped Maura would answer the door just so he could rub this in her face. But that wasn't to be. Jory answered the door, taking note of the roses and. "Let me get Maura for you," he said turning away. "No, I'm here for Jillie," Rick corrected. Jory nodded but kept his opinion to himself, leaving Rick in the foyer while he went for Jillie. The sound of the doorbell made her pulse leap and her gaze flew to the alarm clock on her nightstand. Eight o'clock sharp. A tiny smile crossed her lips as she brushed a fine sheen of rose oil across her pulse points, letting her gaze travel one last time over the image in the mirror. Her hair rested against her bare shoulders in sleek waves, glinting with golden highlights, while the smoky slate shadow on her eyes shimmered and brought out the darker tones in her icy blue gaze. But the piece de resistance was definitely the attention grabbing royal blue sheath that hugged her curves in all of the right places, gossamer straps emphasizing smooth skin and slim shoulders, while the eye-opening hem revealed legs that seemed to go on forever. It was definitely a far cry from her "professional" attire of every day...or at least every day since she'd joined The Observer. A knock on the door drew her attention from her reflection and she mimicked her brother's expression with a teasing arch of a brow. "Don't look at me like that, Jory." "Like what?" Jory asked innocently. "You've got a man waiting for you downstairs with the biggest bunch of roses I've ever seen. Isn't he the same guy that Maura was supposed to go out with a couple of months ago?" Jory asked. He wasn't prying exactly. Just curious. He and Jillie had grown apart a little since he had started at the law firm, but they were still closer than any of the other Conlan siblings. "Not trying to be nosey, just curious." "You can be nosey any time you want," Jillie sighed, "just don't look at me like that. Yes, he was supposed to go out with Maura a couple of months ago, but that was then and this is now. Besides, it didn't exactly work out between them. And did you say roses?" She smiled, leaning up to kiss his cheek lightly before she breezed past him. Her footsteps carried her quickly to the front door -- though she tried to appear casual, not too eager. However, it was hard to keep the smile from her face. Indeed, there were roses. Rick glanced up at the sound of footsteps on the stairs and smiled, drinking Jillie in with his eyes. Her beauty overwhelmed him for a moment. Maura had spoken of her beauty but until this very moment, he had always thought Maura prettier. In the time it took for her to cross the foyer to him and take the roses he offered, he changed his mind forever. "You look stunning," he complimented. "You're not so bad yourself," she grinned, eyeing him appreciatively before leaning forward to kiss his cheek much as she had her brother's. Of course, she wasn't exactly feeling sisterly towards the man who stood in the doorway of her home. He was, hands down, one of the sexiest men she'd ever come into contact with. "I have been known to look decent on occasion. Especially when I am trying to impress someone I like," he grinned. "Now, I have a reservation for us at The Fountains for 8:30. Shall we?" He offered his arm to her, feeling more like a romance novel hero than himself. Wasn't this the way it was all supposed to happen anyway? Accepting his proffered arm, Jillie took the roses and handed them to Jory. "Put these in water, won't you? And, uh, don't wait up." Her smile was pure mischief as she blew her brother a kiss, knowing that if he did happen to go to bed, she'd wake him up as soon as she got home, wanting to tell him all of the details. It was the downside of not having any girlfriends, and yet, being so close to Jory had always been a comfort. Even if she couldn't help but feel he disapproved of her current choice. He held the door for her, like a gentleman should. He played lite jazz in the car to keep the mood mellow. He helped her out of his car when they arrived and took her light shawl and checked it for her at the restaurant. Everything he was supposed to do, he did. This night would be perfect. There would be nothing to mar it, he decided as the maitre d' showed them to their table and left them with their menus. "Well, how am I doing?" He asked lightly as she went over the menu. "Am I the perfect date so far?" "Perfect," she echoed murmuringly as she scanned the wine list. "You know, there's something to be said for perfection." Her smile was playful, though she didn't look up. Was it an accident that her foot seemed to brush against his leg? "You're doing wonderfully, Rick, but it's not a test. I'm here, aren't I? I'd say you've already passed with flying colors." "Just trying to make sure you have the most wonderful evening of your life, Jillie," he replied, a little shiver of excitement coursing through his leg at her touch. "But I might be in over my head," he added with a smile. "Don't worry. I'll go easy on you." Jillie returned his smile, finally glancing up as a tuxedoed waiter arrived to take their order. Folding her menu, she handed it over, clasping her hands demurely in her lap as the man retreated. That small smile continued to play over her lips as she regarded her date, noting the way he seemed at fully ease in their fancy surroundings, and yet...he retained that virile air that had attracted her to him in the first place. Go easy on him? Perhaps she'd spoken too soon. Scene 4: "You don't have to say it then. I can get my answer another way," he added , dropping his hand to the belt of her coat and deftly untying it. He pushed the coat off her shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. Hallie's breath was caught in her throat as she waited for him to continue. She wanted him to continue, she realized as his gaze swept over her. He leaned closer to her staying just inches from her. Closing her eyes, she waited for the kiss she knew would come. But it didn't come. Opening her eyes, she stared into Stephen's amused expression. "What are you waiting for?" She asked. Stephen smiled and gave her a chaste kiss on the forehead. "You just gave me my answer, Hallie," he returned, picking her coat up off the floor. "What? That's it?" She pulled the coat over her shoulders wanting to be angry but not quite managing to be. She should be furious that he would pull a stunt like this. She should be scratching his eyes out. Curiously though, she was only disappointed that he would play games with her. "Hallie, I told you I loved you. I think you still love me, but you're too wrapped up in marrying this Conlan guy to realize it. You may love him too, but I doubt it. He doesn't know you like I do. you started out by using him. And now it's too late for you to turn back. You're stuck. I'll help you out of it, if you just ask," he said turning to the control panel, his finger hovering over the start button. "Ask you to help me break up with Luke? I don't think so," Hallie said regaining her composure. "Luke and I have a very good relationship. We need each other." "He needs your name and you need his position, you mean," Stephen sighed pressing the button. "I'll always be there to help you Hallie. All you have to do is ask me." The elevator started with a shudder as the two fell silent. The doors swished open and Hallie stepped out. She intended to storm away, that would show him, but she paused and turned to him. Say something, she thought as the doors closed with Stephen's eyes glued to her own. Hallie exhaled sharply. What had just happened? Was he right? Was she still in love with him? It didn't matter if she did or not. She had made up her mind to marry Luke. She was fond of him and he served her purpose. So what if she didn't love him exactly? Most marriages ended because people fell out of love with each other. At least she would never have to worry about that. She would marry Luke Conlan, but Stephen might be useful for other matters, she decided staring at the elevator with a smile. Other matters that were too...delicate for Luke to handle. |
