It's mid-evening. Lance Grimes and Rosamond Tucker are at the Plumtree Inn enjoying their first romantic dinner. They're at a table by the window. A crystal bowl holding a candle is in the center. Rosamond is staring out the window. Lance reaches across the table and gently grabs her hand.
Lance: Rosie.....Rosie. What's so interesting out that window?
Rosamond: Huh? Oh....sorry Lance. I was looking at the water. (She squeezes Lance's hand)
Lance: Sometimes I wonder what thoughts go through that beautiful head of yours.
Rosamond: Right now I'm thinking about Cordy and Everett and the gorgeous home they bought. And how nice it would be to have a house with a big yard, a garden, pets, and kids----
Lance: We're going to have that someday Rosie. All of it. It would be so wonderful to be married to you, to have children with you.
Rosamond: What about your child with Eliza? Where does he-or she-fit in?
Lance: We'll deal with it when the time comes. Tonight is our night Rosie. Aren't you having a good time honey?
Rosamond: Of course I am. (Looks at the band playing in the corner) Would you like to dance Lance?
Lance: I'd never thought you'd ask. I've been wanting to hold you in my arms all evening. (They both get up and head for the dance floor. Russell Gault and Dorothy Sherwood, sitting at a table by the fireplace, see them).
Russell: Isn't love funny?
Dorothy: What do you mean?
Russell: Lance Grimes. Just like Paul, another wealthy, successful man finding romance with a woman who isn't wealthy, and it's pure bliss. I married a wealthy, successful woman and was absolutely miserable. But I do know I'm having a great time with you Dorothy.
Dorothy: Thank you Russell. You know, I've always thought rich people would be happier if they didn't have so much money. Maybe that's why Paul and Lance fell in love with the women they did. More relaxation, less pressure to keep up appearances.
Russell: At least Paul and Lance are nice guys. When I was married, a lot of my then-wife's friends were the snobbiest bunch of creeps you would've ever seen. But Paul and Lance are cousins, so I guess it runs in the family. Speaking of family, I wonder how Paul and Kane are doing.
Dorothy: Tess told me they're getting along beautifully. Why don't we dance and I'll tell you all about it.
Russell: Sounds good to me.
Paul Harper and Kane Garrett are in Paul's comfy living room drinking coffee. Kane is out of the wheelchair, and lying on the sofa. Paul is in a recliner.
Kane: It's too bad Tess couldn't join us, but I'm actually glad to spend some more time alone with you.
Paul: We have a lot of catching up to do. (Pause) Dad, tell me about Gretchen. Aunt Ingrid mentioned her briefly after we got home from the hospital, but from what she said, she seemed like a nice lady.
Kane: She was an angel. After Valerie and I drifted apart, I went back home and graduated from high school. Then I left Portland for good. I traveled the country and ended up in Cincinatti. I got a job with a company that sold Apple computers to office buildings. I got good enough to move up from sales rep to senior technician. I was 22. One day, I was at a community college in the city fixing a machine in the human resources office, when I saw this pretty blonde girl sitting at her desk eating a pear. I went up to her and said hello. She told me her name was Gretchen Parish, and she was working in the office to pay for her tuition. After I fixed the computer, I asked her out. A year later we were married. My parents didn't come to the wedding, but Ingy, Marcus, and little Lance did.
Paul: Did she know about me?
Kane: I told her right after we were married. She was the one who bought my plane ticket to Maryland so I could visit you. She couldn't have children, and we didn't want to wait to adopt, so we poured all of our energy into starting my business, and trying to get you to come out here to visit us. But as you know, the Harpers wouldn't allow it. Anyway, we were together for 22 terrific years.
Paul (softly): Then she got sick.
Kane: She developed breast cancer. She had mammograms, but nothing was detected. Then it came so quickly. She looked so peaceful when she died. Her last words to me were "Kane, I love you, and I hope you'll find Paul----no, I know you will. And I know he's just like you, the most wonderful man in the world." (Begins to tear up. Paul gets up out of his chair and goes to his father, hugging him).
Paul: I'm so sorry Dad. I wish I could say something to make you feel better.
Kane: You don't need to say anything. Just being here with me is enough. (The two continue to hold each other).
Meanwhile, Valerie Talbot is in her hotel suite getting ready to go out. As she heads for the door, Drennen appears.
Drennen: Where are you going at this time of night?
Valerie: It's only eight o'clock. I'm going for a drive.
Drennen: You're going to the Grimes house you mean. To see if your son and your ex-lover are there.
Valerie: They have names Drennen. Paul and Kane. Besides, you can't stop me from seeing my son. That's why I'm here. You can complain all you want, but it won't do you any good. (She begins to open the door, but Drennen grabs her wrist).
Drennen: You're not going anywhere Valerie.
Valerie (shaking her wrist loose): How dare you try to hold me here against my will! (Laughs bitterly) You know, I thought giving up my hippie lifestyle to settle down and marry you was the best decision I made in my life. Now I know it was a mistake. You're nothing but a dominating tyrant. If Zoe and Amaya knew what you were doing now, if they saw you, they'd leave.
Drennen: That's what you want isn't it Valerie? You want to leave me, take our daughters, and run off with Paul and Kane. You disgust me.
(Valerie slaps Drennen hard on his right cheek. Startled, he steps back, rubs his face, and looks at her with suprise).
Valerie: That's your first warning. Now I'm leaving. I don't know when I'll be back. Tell the girls when they get back where I went. I'm going to tell you something Drennen, and I'm only saying it once. You do anything to ruin my chance of having a relationship with Paul, me and Zoe and Amaya are gone. Gone. You got that? (She gives him one final glare, then opens the door and slams it behind her, leaving Drennen to just stand there in shock).....
End of Episode 30
Next on come nightfall....
Lance gets passionate with Rosamond----but will she respond?
Valerie confronts Ingrid and Marcus.
The Talbot sisters meet Paul and Kane, but don't tell them who they are.