LORNA'S HOUSE/EVENING

LORNA holds GABRIELLE, who's fallen asleep in her arms. HAYLEY watches them with a smile.

HAYLEY
She looks so content.

LORNA
I'm glad she is. I want her to always be happy. I have to be sure of that...since Gabe isn't here to raise her with me.

HAYLEY
Gabe was your true love, wasn't he? I can see it in your eyes...I can hear it in your voice every time you mention his name.

LORNA
(quietly)
Yeah. He was.

HAYLEY
Do you think someone can have more than one true love?

Lorna is quiet for a minute.

HAYLEY (cont'd)
I'm sorry...if you don't want to talk about it...

LORNA
It's not that. I'm just thinking about it. I don't know. Matt and I have a history. We've gone through a lot together. I think a lot of our relationship is built on the fact that we've both been disappointed...so we're alike.

HAYLEY
Do you see a future for you and Matt?

LORNA
I can't look at the future, not if it's about love. I look at the future in terms of Gabrielle growing up, in terms of you, and getting you through school. I don't look at the future as getting married, as spending my life with someone.

HAYLEY
Maybe you should. Maybe you should be looking for love instead of worrying about everyone else.

LORNA
I'll just let things happen, Hale. So, I did talk to the woman in admissions at BCU. She said you can come in and talk to her after the new year, but she doesn't see any reason you can't be admitted for the spring semester.

HAYLEY
I don't know...

LORNA
You don't know what?

HAYLEY
I just...I want to be a normal college kid, but I feel like I'm way beyond that. I want to be able to think about him without bursting into tears.

LORNA
It's going to take time, sweetie. I know it seems so hard right now, but it's going to be okay...

HAYLEY
Have you seen him again?

Lorna hesitates for a minute.

LORNA
You know that Gary and Josie are two of my closest friends. It's inevitable that I'm going to see them. It's inevitable that you'll cross paths with them at some point. Can you handle that?

HAYLEY
You want the honest-to-God truth?

LORNA
Of course.

HAYLEY
I don't know. I don't know if I can handle seeing my son being raised by another mother, by another father. But then I look at the alternative, which is leaving Bay City and leaving a family I just found. Leaving a family I've come to love. I can't imagine leaving you or Felicia.

LORNA
And I don't want you going anywhere. But I also don't want you to be miserable.

HAYLEY
So we just need to face facts and realize that there IS no easy solution. I can either deal with my emotions or leave town. And I know what my choice is.

LORNA
(smiling)
I was hoping that would be your choice.

She stands up, cradling Gabrielle in her arms.

LORNA
I'm going to put her down. Tell you what...why don't you call Tito?

HAYLEY
(in surprise)
What for?

LORNA
He probably needs a place to go for Christmas. And I think it would do the two of you good to see each other again.

HAYLEY
But that's just an extra person---

LORNA
What's one more person for dinner? I have a ton of food, Hale. Go call him and invite him over.

She walks out, and Hayley watches her go. After a moment, she reaches for the phone.

CUT TO:

MATT is holding JASMINE as he takes in the scenes of CARL with CORY and ELIZABETH, and sighs. It is obvious that, even though he is glad to be with his family, a part of him longs to be with Lorna. RACHEL cuddles her kids, gives Carl a quick peck on the cheek, and heads toward her son.

Rachel smiles at Matt and Jasmine.

RACHEL
So, how is my beautiful granddaughter and her dashing Daddy?

Matt smiles a bit for Jasmine, who tries reaching for his nose, while she spouts baby gibberish.

MATT
Ah, we're both just fine, aren't we, Jasmine? (Jasmine grabs Matt's nose and squeals with delight) That is, I *will* be fine if my daughter doesn't keep punching me in the nose.

RACHEL
She's a fighter, just like the rest of us. (Rachel pauses, giving Matt the once-over) I couldn't help but notice that you looked a bit down a minute ago. This wouldn't have to do with the absence of a certain redhead, now, would it?

MATT
(Looking at Jasmine) Your grandma is too shrewd for her own good, sweetie. (To Rachel) I guess you could say that I was hoping for Lorna to be here with us, yeah. But with everything that's happening with Hayley...

RACHEL
Exactly, honey. Hayley needs her sister right now. I'm sure that come tomorrow, you both will spend some quality time together. I'm just glad that you're here...and that Lila was willing to part with Jasmine for a while.

MATT
Well, Lila gets Jasmine tomorrow, so it's a satisfying arrangement. She'll be doubly spoiled.

With a laugh, Rachel strokes Jasmine's head as Matt kisses Rachel's cheek.

MATT (cont'd)
Merry Christmas, Mom!

CUT TO:

JOE AND PAULINA'S HOUSE/SAME DAY

REMY puts a gift under the tree, then proceeds to put a few gifts into a large shopping bag. JOE walks in as she finishes.

JOE
Almost ready to go to the family party, Rem?

REMY
I'm ready when you guys are. So what usually goes on at these family parties?

JOE
The usual. Sappy toasts, opening gifts...but it's all in fun.

REMY
Why didn't Sofia come home for Christmas?

JOE
It's hard for her, Rem....after Matt and Lila had Jasmine, she didn't think Bay City held the same appeal. You know that.

REMY
Yeah, I do....in her case and mine.

JOE
(glances at her surprised)
What's that supposed to mean?

REMY
Just that I know what it's like to be the odd person out when someone you care about has a baby with someone else.

JOE
Tito again?

REMY
(sighing)
Tito again. Look, Joe, since it's Christmas Eve, I'm not going to fight with you about this. But I want you to know that I can't just turn off my feelings about all of this.

JOE
I don't expect you to do that. But I also think you're missing out on a lot since your break-up with Nick. Letting go of him was a mistake, Remy, and I'm not going to pretend it's not.

REMY
I know you care, Joe. But it's my life and they have to be my decisions, especially about my love life.

Joe hugs her.

JOE
I know. And Paulina and I are both here for you, no matter what, you know that.

REMY
(with a grin)
How did I get so lucky?

JOE
So, have you picked a major yet? School starts in a couple of weeks.

REMY
I signed up for a few theater classes. But as for a major, I don't know. Maybe English. Maybe Dramatic Studies.

PAULINA walks in with Dante, smiling at the two of them.

PAULINA
How about becoming a cop? Then you can work with Joe every day.

Remy laughs and shakes her head.

REMY
Somehow I have a feeling we'd end up killing one another. (She takes Dante from Paulina.) Come on, kid....let's go have Christmas Eve dinner.

Remy and Dante leave through the front door. Joe and Paulina smile at each other, then pick up the bags of gifts and leave.

FADE OUT