Episode 5

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Episode 5

Scene 1:

Jamie left his mother and Chris in the attic room that she had taken pains to convert to a giant playroom for the boys. Chris was having a ball now and he only could imagine how Jesse would react when he saw it. He knew his mother well and seeing the attic as it was made him think she wanted them to stay at Four Winds...forever it seemed. Michaela would likely have something to say about that, he thought, descending the staircase to the main floor.

He paused in the grand hall before turning to his right and towards his father's study. His mother had her own office and had told him quite plainly that she had never been able to go back into James Mason's office after his death. He pushed the heavy oak door back and looked around at the gleaming wood and every item perfectly in place. Someone was caring for it, even if his mother couldn't bring herself to do it.

Stepping inside, he went to the window and drew back the heavy curtain, letting the early morning light fall across the room. That was better, he thought as he picked up a picture of himself and Ellen when they were about 10 and 9 respectively, from the large oak desk. While his father had been alive, Jamie had never got on with him as well as he did his mother. But Ellen...she adored their father and when he died, she left Four Winds and the Glen forever, swearing she wouldn't come back. She had her reasons, he knew, but what they were, he had no idea.

Setting the picture frame back down gently, he pulled the chair out and settled into it's soft back. He'd wanted to sit in this chair for as long as he could remember. As a child, he had wanted to be his father, but time and adulthood had taken that. Now he just wanted to preserve the good memories he had of his father.

"You look right in that chair somehow," a voice said softly from the doorway. Jamie jerked his head up in surprise.

"Jude!" He bounded out of the chair and over to his cousin. He and Jude had been as close as brothers as children despite the three year age difference. They embraced warmly, Jude laughing the entire time.

"Damn, Jamie! You'd think you hadn't seen a human being in years!" Jude laughed. Jamie let go and joined his cousin's laughter.

"Well, I saw Hallie this morning, does she count as human?" He asked, joking.

"Let me think about that one...no." Jude smiled and took a step back, looking Jamie over. "You look great Jim. Life must be treating you pretty well."

"It is," Jamie replied seriously. "For a change, I have everything I've ever wanted."

"So I hear. Where's this wonderful wife you have? Gwen says she’s beautiful and smart too. Quite a compliment for her Royal Highness."

"Michaela is selling the house in Florida. She should be here soon," Jamie answered offering Jude a seat on the divan. "You'll just love her Jude. She's everything Mother said she was and more."

"I'm sure I'll like her. Gwen tells me you two are expecting a baby?" Jude sat, relaxing on the small sofa.

"Yep, next month. I can't believe it's here already. We're a little nervous about it, but I'm sure it'll all be fine. What about you? Any attachments worth mentioning?"

"Not really," Jude shrugged. "You know me, serial dater. I mean, not like Dane, but I'm out there."

"No one is like Dane," Jamie replied, lapsing into silence for a moment. He wondered if Jude had plans to stay in the Glen, perhaps he could tolerate Dane and Hallie both if Jude were around. "Say, what are you doing now? Still working in Washington?"

"Nope. I've been bumming around Four Winds for about a month now. Gwen tried to get me to take over ME, but Dane and Hallie would have none of it. Not a real Mason, they said. Or actually, Hallie said. Dane didn't really say anything. Why?"

"I'm going to need a lot of help at ME..." Jamie started trailing off. Jude gave him a light frown and smiled, puzzled.

"Jamie, I'm not a businessman. I'm a politician...of sorts. Besides, there's Luke Conlan. He's been there for a while, knows the business better than Dane does and he's almost family. Why don't you ask him to help you."

"Because he's marrying Hallie. That answer your question?"

"Fair enough. There's still Steve Roth. Now that guy knows ME," Jude replied. Jamie shook his head.

"Nope. Used to be engaged to Hallie. Don't trust the guy. But I trust you. At least think about coming on board and giving me a hand." Jude gave him a thoughtful look before answering.

"Okay, I'll think about it. No promises though," he said standing.

"That's fine," Jamie answered, standing as well. Jude would say yes. He knew Jude too well and this was right up Jude's alley.

"Now, where's this Chris I keep hearing about? The way Gwen talks, you think he walked on the moon!" Jude said changing the subject. Jamie laughed and gestured towards the door.

"Up in the attic...come on, I'll introduce you."

Scene 2:

Hallie left Four Winds without a word to anyone, slipping out while the rest of them babied Jamie and his son. The scene disgusted her and she felt left out, the old feelings of being an outsider surfacing. The only other person who was as much of an outsider as she was, was Ellen. Hallie had managed to cultivate a relationship with her cousin despite their differences, keeping it low key until the time it became necessary to play her trump card.

She went directly to ME, the lone skyscraper in the Glen. The twin buildings seemed slightly out of place in the town but they held an air of majesty about them that made them a bit more acceptable. She went straight to the Commercial building where all the executive offices were located, not stopping until she reached Luke's office on the 9th floor. She didn't wait to be announced, but strode in closing the door behind her.

"We're in trouble," she announced to Luke, who looked up from his paperwork. He was breathtakingly beautiful, she thought as her eyes met his deep blue eyes. Every inch of him was beautiful, from his intense eyes to the tattoo on his shoulder that he kept hidden. She shrugged off her thoughts for the moment and leaned across his desk. "Dane is out as CEO."

"Out? As in fired? Or out as in quit?" Luke Conlan replied standing and leaning forward across the desk in imitation of her.

"Fired. There's a new CEO," she responded feeling slightly weak in the knees at the nearness of him. He had that affect on her no matter the day, time, or situation.

"Oh? And who is that? Roth?" Luke asked, with a slight smile. Hallie rolled her eyes at the mention of her ex-fiancé's name.

"Hardly. It's Jamie. He finally said yes to Gwen and she kept it quiet until yesterday. Apparently, she asked him a week ago. His first day is tomorrow."

"And why is this trouble for us?" Luke asked touching her hair lightly.

"Because Jamie isn't a pushover like Dane! We won't be able to push our own initiatives through like we did before," Hallie answered, trailing a finger across his cheek.

"Oh I don't know about that. All of our initiatives before were to keep ME from falling into complete financial ruin under your brother's reign as CEO. I think we just need to refocus ourselves. You see, Hallie darling, when Dane was here, we were too scattered, too uneven. Hell, we were too busy trying to keep this place from buckling under his lack of concern. With Jamie here, we can concentrate more on what it is we really want from Mason Enterprises. With the proper goal and the best means to an end, we should be just fine. Don't you think?" His lips brushed hers lightly before he continued. "Now what were you saying about trouble?"

She shrugged away from him and turned her back, breaking the spell they held over each other. "You don't know him like I do," she said coldly staring at a picture of Luke's family. Hers was nothing like his, she thought. But soon, the two families would be one. "He's very determined and...stubborn!"

"And what are we? Aren't we determined too?"

"Yes, but he despises me!"

"And you despise him. You're even. But I love you and I can deal with Jamie. We want Mason Enterprises, Hallie. Both of us. We can still do it," Luke said slowly stepping out from behind the desk. "There's no reason why Jamie should stand in the way."

"I hope you're right, Luke I just hate how he makes me feel inferior all the time!"

"You're not. You are every inch as Mason as he is. Besides, you've got me." She smiled at that. She did have him and he was much more of an asset than Dane any day. "That's more like it," he said seeing her smile. "Now, why don't you lock that door and greet me properly?"

With a quick nod, she moved to lock the door, but before she could turn around, he was there, his hands running lightly down her arms. His breath was hot on her neck and she thought briefly, before succumbing to him, that they would succeed because they were a well-matched team indeed.

Scene 3:

Maura stopped in the Conlan kitchen before heading to the diner for the breakfast rush. Kevin and Piper were enjoying a quick breakfast, chatting comfortably about her school stuff. Maura had been dying of curiosity about Jillie's meeting but hadn't seen nor heard from her younger sister since that day at Connie's. She talked to Piper though, Maura realized, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

"Hey, Pied Piper," she said, trying to keep her tone light. Piper turned her head and scowled at her.

"Don't call me that, Maura," she replied. "No one calls me that anymore."

"I just heard Jory call you that ten minutes ago!" Maura teased. "Your brothers can call you Pied Piper but your sisters can't?" Piper rolled her eyes.

"No, only you can't," she snapped.

"Piper...," Kevin started before Maura interrupted him.

"It's okay Dad. She's just mad because I made her work the other night. I'm sorry Pipe. If Jillie had been free, I would have asked her."

Piper turned around and glared at Maura. She was still mad about that night but more than that, she didn't feel like being mothered by her sister. Maura had a tendency to do that and it had only gotten worse since their mother's death. In fact, she had become almost fanatical about raising her and taking care of everything. Piper knew how her siblings felt about it but at least they were out of the house for the most part and didn't have to listen to her all the time.

"She was there. How come you didn't ask her?" Piper shot back.

"I think she was doing an interview," Maura answered smoothly. Come on Piper, tell me what I wanted to know, she thought. "It looked very important."

"Well, it was," Piper replied taking her dishes to the sink. She'd forgotten about Jillie's job, but apparently Maura didn't know. She certainly wasn't going to say a word to Maura, she decided. "I'm off to school now!" She said merrily, scooping up her backpack.

"Hey, do you know what Jillie was doing?" Maura asked in a rush, afraid she would lose the opportunity. The kitchen doors swung open just then and Jillie appeared, dressed in a light blue silk blouse and gray skirt, looking very professional as well.

"Why don't you ask her yourself?" Piper smiled.

"Morning Pipe," Jillie greeted as she walked through the kitchen door, oblivious to the preexisting tension. "Dad," she murmured, leaning down to kiss his forehead. "Maura." Trying not to roll her eyes, she moved to the refrigerator, grabbing breakfast and lunch with one fell swoop. "Who's asking who what?"

"Maura wants to ask you something. She's been bugging me about it but I told her to ask you," Piper answered giving Kevin a squeeze. "Come on Dad, you can take me to school." Kevin stood and eyed his two other daughters warily.

"Play nice," he warned them as he backed out the screen door following Piper to the car.

"Those two," Maura said rolling her eyes.

Jillie forced a smile and nodded vaguely, leaning against the kitchen counter as she bit into her apple. Crossing her legs at her ankles, she lifted her gaze to her older sister expectantly. "So what do you want to ask me?"

No beating around the bush, Maura thought, sizing Jillie up, just ask. "I heard you got a job at The Observer. That's great."

She nodded, still watching Maura with unconcealed curiosity. "Yes. And that's not a question," Jillie pointed out.

"No, you're right it isn't. Well, I wanted to know what you thought of the new editor? I've heard he's...very good at what he does." It wasn't the question but it would do. No doubt Jillie would be suspicious of any question she asked anyway. Better to stick to a safe one.

Her brows rose and Jillie tried not to laugh. "Well, you'd know, wouldn't you? I hear the two of you were...acquainted...once upon a time." How had Rick put it? Maura 'hated his guts'? Interesting that she was asking about him now. "He's a very...intriguing...man," Jillie responded, a sly smile curving her lips.

"Well, yes, I did know him in college," she admitted wondering exactly what Rick had told Jillie. "But that was college. It was years ago. I only wanted to know if you thought he was competent anyway."

"Competent?" Jillie echoed, her smile growing. "I think that man would be competent at almost anything."

"What are you talking about? He didn't...try anything did he?" Maura asked feeling her face flush a little. She didn't care, but he should have the decency to leave her sister alone!

Jillie laughed. "I'm twenty-six years old, Maura, and no offense, but if he did, you'd be the last person I told." Turning, she grabbed her coffee, took a last bite of her apple and tossed it in the garbage. "Now, if you don't mind, I have to be getting to work. Don't want to be late! Have a great day at the diner."

Maura watched her go, kicking herself for even trying. She pulled Rick's business card out of her pocket and stared at it. It really wasn't her business anymore. She and Rick were over. She'd made sure of that ten years ago when she'd walked away. But why was it that he should show up and throw her life into a dizzying spin? God, she hated him.....

Scene 4:

Piper met up with Dinah in the parking lot of Glen High School, still annoyed at Maura's attempt to get information out of her. She might be young, but she certainly wasn't dumb. Maura could pretend she was innocent as much as she wanted to, but Piper knew what Maura was up to, it was rather obvious. Dinah jogged over to her and studied her for a moment.

"What's the matter with you? Maura at you again?" Dinah asked after a moment. Piper nodded and started towards the school.

"When isn't she?"

"What is it this time?" Dinah asked following her. Piper paused by yellow convertible and turned around.
"It wasn't even about me! She wanted information on Jillie! As if I would know!" Piper added contemptuously. Dinah grinned.

"Well, did you know?"

"Of course, I did, but that's beside the point," Piper replied. "The point is she's always on my ass about one thing or another and I'm tired of it. On the way here, Daddy actually said, 'You know how Maura is.' I wanted to scream!"

"Sounds to me like you need a break from the Conlan clan. I have an idea, if you're interested." Piper looked expectantly at her waiting to hear the rest. "Well, I have Galen's car because I'm picking up Mia after school. How about we go for a drive?"

"Which car?" Piper asked slowly. Dinah's brother-in-law had two cars: a Buick and a cherry red Firebird.

"The Firebird," Dinah said dangling the keys in front of her. Piper's jaw dropped in amazement.

"How'd you get the Firebird? Did you steal it?"

"No. He told me to take the car and I must have grabbed the wrong keys," she grinned. "I think a drive to Richmond might be nice."

Piper bit her lip thinking. She wasn't really in the mood to sit in classes all morning. But Maura would have her hide if she found out...and it would piss off Maura royally. She smiled and nodded.

"I think Richmond would be lovely," Piper replied. "Shall we?"

"See?!" Dinah exclaimed. "You're not such a goody two shoes after all! Come on, I'll even let you drive for a while!" Piper ran after Dinah towards the Firebird. Even if Maura never found out, she felt better. Maura wasn't about to run her life.