Jamie watched as Chris played in the park with Jesse. He'd made a mess of things. Kerri was at her absolute worst and working hard and fast to ensure that she could at least have visitation rights to their son. And the worst was that Michaela had no idea. She was going to be pretty pissed when he did work up the nerve to tell her.

"Which one is he?" Jamie looked up at Ryan, moving over slightly to let his lawyer join him. He nodded to Chris at the swings with a small girl. "Looks like you," Ryan added. Jamie gave him a curious glance, but only nodded. "Kerri's new lawyer called me today."

"New? What happened to her last one?" Jamie asked, frowning.

"Fired him. Didn't get the job done. This new one though...Jamie, we have a problem."

"Why? Who is it?"

"Okay, first of all, listen very closely to me. This doesn't change anything. Did you have a woman named Cynthia Mitchell working for you in your legal department?"

Jamie nodded, feeling his stomach give way. Jude had told him, hadn't he? What was it he had said? Cynthia had moved to Conlan's Glen to be near him but he had shut her off and within 24 hours had turned in a resignation claiming she was ill prepared for the corporate world. She was upset and didn't want to be at ME anymore, that was obvious. But this? Was this her revenge on Jude? By making Chris suffer? No, not likely. It was chance that was all, he decided.

"So you know her?" Ryan asked, seeing the look on Jamie's face.

"Yes...well, no. I know of her. My cousin knows her very well."

"That would be Jude Fontaine. I've heard a little about that. Secondhand gossip. Friend of a friend. So she left ME. Why?"

"Apparently, she wants a relationship with Jude but he is already involved. Turned her down. He told me she resigned, but I had no idea she was interested in child custody cases."

"Yes. Well she is. Yours specifically. I don't think she's out for revenge on your cousin. I do think she's looking for a name for herself. What better way than to take on the Mason Heir? She's got a lot of press contacts. You'll need to tell your wife. Today."

"Okay, I was planning on it anyway. What does this mean for Chris?"

"Nothing. We go on as planned. Kerri still has a weak case," Ryan replied standing. "You should tell Chris too. He needs to be prepared."

Jamie nodded. This was getting worse every day. Well, now was the time to tell. He would have to tell everyone in the family. Not just Michaela. They had to be prepared. Kerri would take them all down if it meant getting Chris back.

 

Scene 2:

The kid had nailed him good. Chase frowned at the massive bruise over his nose. The frown remained when he checked his watch to see Piper was late as usual.

"You're late," he barked when she finally made her appearance.

"I know, Frank held us behind...what happened to your face?!" Piper cried as she approached him and saw the bruise.

Chase casually shrugged. "Oh, it's nothing."

"Did you get in a fight?" Piper asked, gently touching his face to examine the bruise.

"Um...yeah," Chase said sheepishly. "Don't get mad. It was bound to happen."

"Mad? Bound to happen? What?" Piper asked.

Continuing to feign sheepishness and regret, he looked down at the ground, "I got in a fight with Noah."

"Noah wouldn't...," Piper began before biting her lip. "What happened?" She finally asked.

Chase had to refrain from doing something...bad to Piper at her immediate defense of Noah. The kid was an ass.  "It was just a mess, Piper, don't worry about it. No one really started it, it just kind of happened," Chase explained, deciding to take a different approach.

"Oh," Piper said shortly. "I'm sorry."

"Eh, it's not your fault," Chase said, lifting her chin up with his finger. "Don't worry about, beautiful." He gave her a soft kiss on the lips which was half heartedly returned, but went unnoticed by him.

Who was she dating? Why was she dating him? Noah wouldn't..., but she had never thought Noah would date her best friend...people change. Piper felt like she didn't know anybody anymore, even herself.

 

Scene 3:

Rick finished picking up the last of his laundry from the floor of the bathroom and threw it into the hamper. He was getting neat again now that there was a woman visiting his apartment. He'd let it slide when it was just himself and no one else. But now there was Jillie to impress and somehow he didn't think she'd be too impressed with his dirty socks laying in the middle of his bathroom floor. Then again, he didn't think she would have cared too much. Unless he had her wrong and he doubted he did.

There was a lot he didn't know about her though. He could be completely wrong about her. After all, he'd been wrong about Maura all along. She was cold and insensitive when he had thought her to be caring and kind. A hard lesson learned. He'd be more careful with this Conlan sister. The doorbell rang through his penthouse, breaking his thoughts. He walked to the door to open it, thinking briefly that if this relationship worked out, maybe he'd just give her a key. Save himself a lot of wear and tear on his heels, he thought grinning like an idiot. He did amuse himself.

"Hello," he said pulling the door open. Yes, she still took his breath away. She was probably the most beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes on and the simple fact that she was at his doorstep made his foolish grin grow wider.

"I hope this means you're happy to see me," Jillie smiled back, planting a lingering kiss on his lips before moving past him and into the apartment. "Did you miss me?" she asked, rocking back on her heels as she clasped her hands behind her back, a few strands of her hair falling free from the loose ponytail that bobbed up and down as she moved. "I come bearing gifts," she told him, not giving him time to answer before she held out the bag of take-out in front of her.

"Gifts are not necessary but accepted nonetheless," Rick replied taking the plain brown bag out of her hands and setting it on the bar before opening it to inspect its contents. "What do we have here? I'm guessing it isn't from Connie's." He took out a Styrofoam container and sniffed it carefully. "Hmm. It smells wonderful. And yes, I missed you," he added as an afterthought.

"No, not Connie's. My tastes are more refined than just a white, middle-class version of Soul Food." Sidling up behind him, she wrapped her arms around his waist, her breath warm on his skin as her lips barely grazed his nape. "Mmmm," she inhaled softly, "it does smell nice. But something tells me I should have saved the food until after I was greeted properly.

"And what would constitute a proper greeting, Miss Conlan?" Rick asked twisting around in her arms to face her. "Would it be something like this?" He demonstrated with a slow, thoughtful kiss that made him want more. "Was that what you were expecting?" He asked breaking away from her.

"It'll do...for a start," Jillie acquiesced, smiling again. "But right now, I'm starved. Stop hogging the food. Or is that a male thing?"

"I thought you said it was a gift for me," he pouted, handing her a container. "But I can share."

"You are so considerate. How could you not be the perfect man?" Grabbing a paper wrapped set of chopsticks, she took the container of Pad Thai, stole a napkin, and headed over to one of the chairs, settling down Indian style as she flipped open the top. "I wasn't sure what you liked, so I got a variety."
Rick picked up a container and settled down with a spicy chicken dish. He watched as Jillie picked at hers for a moment. "So, what have you been up to today? Work or play?"

"Is that a trick question? I mean, you are my boss...." Letting the container rest in her lap, she shrugged casually. "Actually, I developed the shots I took this morning for the rally at the Mason Foundation. Then I dropped them by the paper. After that, I played for a while before heading this way. It's been a beautiful day."

Rick nodded and reached for his briefcase. He opened it and pulled an envelope from it, taking his time opening it and unfolding the letter inside. "This is interesting. I got this at work today. Want me to read it to you? Listen to this," he said, clearing his throat. "Dear Mr. Upton, it is with great pleasure that we inform you that a member of your staff has been chosen to win the Charleston Award. As you know, this award is given to outstanding photojournalists across the country and only a handful win this award each year." He looked up at her and smiled. "Guess who won a Charlie?"

"You're kidding me," Jillie laughed, unfurling her body as she rose and moved to his side, perching lightly on his thigh. "Let me see that!"

"I'm not done reading!" Rick laughed, holding the letter higher. "Miss Conlan's work has shown exemplary style and technique. She shows remarkable talent and promises to be an exciting addition to the journalistic world. She also has a remarkable body and beautiful face. Sincerely, H. Q. Peterman."

"Give me that!" she laughed again, swatting at him as he continued to hold the paper just beyond her reach. Climbing over him, she grabbed the letter and settled down on his lap, her eyes greedily soaking up the words on the paper. "You're such a liar," Jillie grinned, leaning over to kiss him soundly. "Quite a handsome liar, but a liar all the same. And...thank you."

 

Scene 4:

"Dad, have you seen Jillie?" Maura asked, coming out from her office. The decorations of white and red roses wound their way around the diner, ending in a beautiful bower above the entrance way. It was beginning to look like a party here, she thought, laying a stack of red and white napkins on the counter. "She was supposed to bring the cake from Marlene's and I haven't seen or heard from her all day. Any ideas?"

"Jillie doesn't tell me her life, Mo," Kevin admonished. Maura wrinkled her nose at him.

"I don't care where she's gone Dad, as long as she shows up with a cake big enough to feed teat least twenty people, I'll be happy."

"Twenty people? What do you mean twenty? We closed the diner for twenty people?" Kevin blustered.

"Dad, we talked about this. Someone had to throw the bridal shower for Hallie. I'd rather it wasn't me, but since the maid of honor is in California, I get nominated. All I asked Jillie to do was pick up a cake. I'm not looking to pick a fight," she added truthfully. "I just need the cake. You know me, gotta have everything just right."

"God, isn't that the truth," Jory remarked, bumping into Maura from behind.

"Hey, have you seen Jillie?" Maura asked, ignoring his comment. Jory settled himself at the bar and played with a napkin for a moment, his eyes staying decidedly away from Maura's. "Jordan Matthew, where is Jillie and am I going to have a cake for tonight?" She demanded.

"I hate it when you call me that!" Jory replied, scowling like a five year old. "I don't know where she is. The last time I talked to her, she said she had someone to see before she picked up the cake."

"Someone like Rick Upton?"

"Maybe."

"Oh great, now the cake won't get here before the guests," Maura muttered chewing her lip.

"Wait a minute...aren't you going to freak out that she's gone to see Rick?" Jory asked giving her a surprised expression. "That's so unlike you!"

"Jory. Jillie has a right to see whomever she chooses. Right now, I have other things to worry about...like just who is going to show up for this bridal shower."

"Didn't you get the RSVP's?"

"No. No one sent one back."

"Who would have guessed.? The barracuda has no friends," Jory smirked. Maura shook her head disapprovingly, but couldn't hide a slight grin.

"Now, you don't know that. Maybe they were all busy tonight." She looked at her watch quickly. "Jory, would you go get the cake from Marlene's? It would mean a lot to me if you did. Please?"

"Okay, but don't expect me to stick around if no one else shows up for this wake," he remarked getting up off the barstool.

"Don't be sour, Jory. Just be sweet and get me that cake," Maura commented, keeping her own thoughts, which just happened to mirror Jory's, to herself. Time to get this wake started.

On the next Episode of Secret Horizons...

Episode 60