INSTALLMENT 10 

 

Richardson Living Room:
 

   Lillian Richardson is reading the latest James Patterson novel when she
hears the front door slamming shut.  She notes Gillian entering the house
looking angst ridden which doesn’t surprise her mother.  As Gillian turns
around to look at her mother, she sits next to
her on the sofa.
 
   “How was your date with Dale tonight, honey?”  Lillian asks putting down
her book giving her full attention to her eldest daughter.
 
   “Well, it was an interesting evening mom.  I mean it started out
wonderfully at Luigi’s and he even invited me to go to the charity event at
the Country club later this week.”  Gillian replies.  “I was on top of the world
until he hit me with the most unexpected question.”
 
   “What question?  He didn’t ask you to marry him did he?”
Lillian jokingly asks until she notices Gillian’s reaction and realizes that she
hit the jackpot. “Oh, honey that is great news!  What did you say?”
 
   “I stopped him before he could even finish the proposal.  I wasn’t
prepared for that question at all; I mean I’ve only dated him for like seven
months.”  Gillian answers as she continues to display some of the
dramatic characteristics that Lillian has come to expect from her daughter.  
“I mean I feel bad that I didn’t even answer him at all!  What do you think I
should do mom?”
 
   “Well, I have to admit this is the first time in a long time that one of my
children has asked me for advice.  However, this is one situation that I can’t
tell you what to do.  You have to think about if you really love this boy, and
if you can imagine spending the rest of your life with him.”  Lillian advises,
heartbroken that she is unable to guide her daughter.
 
   “How does one know if they truly love someone?  How did you know
that dad was the one that you wanted to spend the rest of your life with?”
Gillian asks.  “I mean, I really care for Dale deeply and I think I even love
him, but how do you know if someone is the one?”  
 
   “There isn’t a procedure to determine if someone is the one or not.  I
think you just know, sometimes you know right away and other times it
comes to you slowly.  However, don’t rush into anything with Dale until
you know because you are only twenty two and there is plenty of time to
get married.”  Lillian advises.  
 
   “Mom, you were twenty two when you had Stephen!  What do you
mean that I have plenty of time?”  Gillian exclaims as she gets up to pace
around the room.
 
   “Honey, it was a different time back then.  Women got married at a
younger age then they do nowadays.  I mean you are smart, ambitious,
and full of life which is why I am telling you to not jump at your first
marriage proposal.”  Lillian replies while getting Gillian to come sit down
next to her. “You know, I haven’t told any of you kids this but your father
wasn’t the first man who proposed to me.  Before I met your dad, I was
involved seriously with this one guy.   Overtime I realized that he wasn’t
the man I envisioned spending the rest of my life with.”
 
   “You were serious about a man before Dad!  You guys always seemed to
indicate you were each other’s first love or something.”  Gillian states in
shock at hearing this new information about her mother.
 
   “Well your father was my true love but wasn’t my first love.  In fact, I
met your dad after things with this guy had ended.  I hadn’t realized the first
time I met your dad that he was the one, but after awhile, I realized that he
was the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.  Now, that doesn’t
mean Dale isn’t that guy for you but don’t just settle for the first guy.”  
Lillian advises while Gillian nods.
 
   “Thank you mother for your advice and I will definitely think about what
you have said.  Anyway, I am very exhausted tonight so I will just turn in.  
Good night mom.”  Gillian states as she hugs her mother good-night and
retreats upstairs for the night.
 
   Lillian sits back down on the sofa overcome with memories
of her first love.  She remembers the first time they met, kissed,
and even slept with one another.   She quickly snaps out of her thoughts
and puts those memories to the back of her mind.  Her focus falls on the
newspaper announcement of the charity event co-chaired by Lenore
Falmont and knows that will be impossible.
 
 

Foxy’s Diner
 


   Stephen Richardson enters the diner wanting to grab a quick bite of food
after a long night of parent/teacher conferences.  Normally, he welcomes
the conferences but his mind was elsewhere this evening.  As he settles
down into the booth, he is reminded of his earlier conversation with
Melinda.  Since that day, he had thrown himself into his work trying not to
think about her rejection of his feelings for her.  However, he realizes
tonight that he needs to move on.  Just then he notices a very attractive
Latina woman staring at him from the other end of the diner.  At first, he
assumes that she is staring at someone else, but comes to realize that he
is the only one in the direction she is staring at.
 
   Just then, she moves out of her booth and comes walking toward him
with confidence beckoning for attention.  She is around 5’6 with long
dark hair that falls just below her waist and curves that would drive
any man crazy.  As he is admiring her curves, she sits down across from
him. Her dark eyes staring deeply into his.
 
   “I couldn’t help staring at you from across the room and I know you were
looking at me with the same intensity.”  The woman states as she takes
the straw from his drink and licks the Pepsi off the rim of the straw.  This
act both intrigues and frightens Stephen but he can’t help staring at her.
 
   “Well, how do you know I wasn’t just looking at you because you
happened to be in my view?”  Stephen asks and she laughs.
 
   “If that were the case, you wouldn’t be acting so uneasy with me sitting
across from you.”  She replies and she rubs her leg against his leg which
causes Stephen to jump a little with surprise.  “See, if you didn’t feel the
same way, then you wouldn’t be acting so jumpy.  Perhaps introducing
myself will make you feel more at ease, the name is Alicia Salgado and you
are?”  
 
   “Stephen, Stephen Richardson and it is nice to meet you Alicia Salgado.  
So what is an attractive person like you doing out by yourself on a weekday
night?”  Stephen asks wondering why this is the first time he is seeing this
beautiful woman.
 
   “Well, I am more of a homebody but decided to go out tonight to do a
little soul-searching.  I had prayed to God for a sign telling me it was time
for a change and seeing you here all by yourself was the sign I needed.”  
Alicia replies as she continues to flirt with him. “You are so tense!  You need
to loosen up my friend.  You look like the world is weighing you down.”
 
   “Yes, the world is weighing me today.  I came back from parent/teacher
conferences just plain exhausted.  Who knew that my night would end with
as nice of distraction as you?”  Stephen states and realizes that
he is checking her out.
 
   “I am glad to be a wonderful distraction for you, but something more has
to be bothering you then just a rough day.  If you don’t want to talk about
it with me tonight, how about you and I go out for dinner this weekend?”  
Alicia asks which takes Stephen by surprise.  “Normally, I don’t ask a guy
that I met ten minutes ago out, but I am willing to make
an exception with you.  What do you say?”
 
   “Well, you definitely are an intriguing woman and I would like to talk with
you again so I accept.  I'll pick the restaurant and pay!”
Stephen offers. Alicia looks impressed with his assertiveness. “Hey,
I have to display my manhood on some occasions.”
 
   “Ok, you have a date.  Let me give you my number and you can call me
later.”  Alicia replies as she writes down her name and number then gives
Stephen a kiss on the lips before getting up.  “I must get
going, but it was so nice to meet you. I am never again going to doubt going out
to eat alone”
 
   Alicia then turns around and walks out of the diner leaving Stephen in shock,
just as the server comes out with his cheeseburger and fries.
He starts to eat and can’t believe his luck meeting someone as hot as
Alicia.  Perhaps, there is life after Melinda, he thinks and starts
to eat his cheeseburger.
 
 

Falmont Living Room:
 
 

   “What do you mean you are pulling out of the auction?  We only have a
couple of days before the event is set to begin.  You can’t just pull out
because you all of a sudden decided you couldn’t bear to part with
something.” Lenore Falmont screams into the phone to one of the
volunteers for the event.  “Well, fine go right ahead and pull out your items
from the auction.  Mark my words that you will never be able to set foot at
another garden club function for the rest of this year and believe me, I keep
my word.”  She states before slamming down the phone startling her
co-chair Misty Mcdonnell.
 
   “Who was that you were talking to Lenore?” Misty asks from her chair as
she drinks another gin and tonic.
 
   “Oh, Angela Martinez deciding that she couldn’t bear to part with her
ex-husband’s Monet painting.  It isn’t as if it was the real thing or
anything.  I guess it is just as well but we are still quite short on items for
the auction.”  Lenore states as she calms herself down.  “At least I got my
husband to appear at this function.  It does help when I mention that
contributing to this charity helps make Falmont Enterprises look more
charitable.  Thank heavens my husband’s new employee Thomas Norris agrees
with that sentiment.”  Lenore says as she calms down completely.
 
   “Lenore, I was wondering if perhaps your son Jonathan might want to
donate some paintings from his gallery.  Or even better, didn’t you say
once that he actually is a gifted painter?”  Misty wonders aloud. Lenore
realizes her co-chair has actually come up with a good idea.
 
   “Misty, you are a genius!  I don’t know why I didn’t think about that to
begin with.  Let me call him down.”  Lenore states while going to the stairway
to call for her son.  “Jonathan!  Can you come down for a minute?”
 
   She hears steps on the staircase and is happy to see her son coming
down the stairway to join them in the living room.
 
   “What do you want mother?  I was actually in the middle of a call with a
real estate company about some new property.”  Jonathan states with a
touch of annoyance in his voice.  “Don’t worry, the call is over right now
and I am back at square one.”
 
   “Honey, what happened?  I thought you were getting along great with
this new real estate company.”  Lenore asks.
 
   “I was but with this housing crunch, they aren’t willing to lower their
asking price.  So I had to say thank you but no thank you.  Besides, I think
I should wait until the real estate market eases up before deciding to
relocate.  I think the last thing people are interested in right now is paintings.”  
Jonathan states as he sits down after exchanging hellos with Misty.  
“What is it that I can do for you, Mother?”

   ”Well, before I get to that, I think you should continue searching for that
new piece of property.  I have read that it is difficult to sell property, but
the right time to buy it.  Plus, you don’t own the property you’re at right
now, you are renting the space and isn’t your lease coming up for renewal?”
Lenore asks while Jonathan nods.  “Then don’t give up, just keep looking.
In the meantime, I was wondering if you perhaps had some of your old
paintings you used to paint in college.”
 
   “I think I have some of my old paintings in the attic and few in storage.  
Why do you ask?”
 
   “Well, I know it is short notice sweetheart, but I was wondering if you
wanted to donate a few of those paintings to the auction this coming Friday?  
I mean you love painting and this would be a good way to use that gift in a
positive way.”  Lenore suggests while both she and Misty wait for his
answer.
 
   “Mother, you never cease to amaze me.  I would be honored to donate
a few of my paintings to the auction.  Once I get them from storage or the
attic, we can decide which paintings you want to use for the auction. Is that
all you need?”  Jonathan asks.
 
   “Yes.  By the way, I was surprised at how well you got along with Thomas
tonight.”  Lenore states and Jonathan gets a little red. “Oh, come on, I’m
your mother.  If your father and I can’t embarrass you then no one can.  Forget
I asked, I’ll let you go back to doing what you were doing, I love you sweetie.”  
Lenore kisses her son on the cheek before he heads back upstairs.
 
 

Mitchell Living Room
 
 

   Melinda Mitchell returns home from work exhausted over the
rush of the crowd at O'leary’s.  She is further in dismay over the clutter
surrounding every square surface of the living room.  Just then she notices
her sister Katie in the living room right at the center of the clutter on the
floor.
 
   “Hello there little sister!  I trust you had a productive evening
tonight, right?”
 
   “Melinda, I didn’t hear you coming in.  How was your night at O'leary’s?”  
Katie asks trying to keep the topics light since she knows how bitchy her
sister can be when working at O'leary’s.

   ”Well, I got to serve some very drunk people and give advice all night
long.  Other then that, nothing too exciting happened.  I did manage to
land the bar tending gig at a huge charity event later this week.”  Melinda
replies and hangs her navy coat in the closet.  “So are you interested in
helping your big sister at this event?  I hear they are still looking for some
volunteer servers.”
 
   “Nah, I have a date that night anyway.”  Katie replies  while painting her nails.
 
   “Oh, who’s the lucky guy?  Is it anyone that I would know or
have been told about?”  Melinda asks and sits down next to her sister.
She notices her brother Wally entering the living room.  “Hey Wally, do you
know anything about this guy your sister is seeing?”
 
   “Hello to you, too, Melinda. I had a wonderful day today?  How
should I know who she is dating. She was called the serial dater in
high school for a reason.”  Wally replies and Katie responds by throwing
a pillow in his direction.
 
   “Now guys, let's not do that.  So where is this guy taking you on your
date?”  Melinda asks turning the subject back to Katie. “Will I be
meeting this fellow as well before you go out with him?”
 
   “Melinda, you are not my mother but you will meet him soon enough.  In
fact, he is taking me to the charity event so we’ll be seeing you there.”  
Katie replies.  She finishes painting her nails and lies back on the sofa
waiting for her nails to dry.
 
   “Hmmm, OK,  I'll look forward to meeting this young man at the event.  
Just make sure he acts responsible and gets you home at a decent hour.  
Wally, What made your day so wonderful?” Melinda turns back to Wally, who has
made his way from the kitchen with a Coke in his hand.
 
   “Eh, nothing exciting just another A on an exam.  So Katie’s going to
the big charity event at the country club. How did you manage that?”  Wally
asks from the doorway of the living room.
 
   “Because of the simple fact that I was being me!”  Katie replies.
Melinda and Wally laugh as if to say, "Of course, how how could they even
think to ask such a question".

   “So why aren’t you going to the event, Wally?”
 
   “Too much studying to do thankfully, which reminds me, I have to get back upstairs.  
Night!” Wally laughs and heads upstairs while Katie starts to think about
something.
 
   “Melinda, I have the perfect idea to cheer our brother up!  I am going to
fix him up with Nina on Friday night while both of us are at the charity event!  
By the way, can bartenders take a date?”  Katie asks Melinda.
 
   “Katie, let Wally and Nina find their way to each other and I am
going without a date.  And before you ask another question, I have no
intentions of dating someone just for the sake of dating.  I trust you’ll clean
up the living room before bed because I am too exhausted to pick up after
either of you two.  Good night.”  Melinda goes upstairs.
 
   Katie thinks about how she can best fix up her brother and
best friend to go on the date.She knows that they both are shy but figures
that with the right pushing,true love will bloom.