INSTALLMENT  15




Hope Falls County Club 
 
 
   Lillian Richardson enters the country club with a feeling of dread.  As she 
makes her way into the dining room, she notices Lenore sipping Merlot in 
the corner.  As if Lenore could hear her thoughts, she looks up and 
gestures her former friend to come to her table.
 
   “Lillian, glad you were able to join me today for lunch on such short 
notice.  I am glad to see that you are capable of keeping a promise.”  
Lenore says with a slight touch of venom.  She gives a quick hug to Lillian.
 
   “Well you sounded very serious on the phone.  I figured it was important 
that we do this face to face.  Though meeting at the county club seems 
more public then I would have liked.”  Lillian remarks and she takes a quick
look at her menu.
 
   “I figured that we could have a quick lunch, catch up on our lives, and talk 
about other matters at hand.”  
 
   “I am glad that we came face to face after all these years.   I want to 
clear the air and put the past behind us at long last.”  Lillian replies.   
 
   “I’m sure there is a lot your husband isn’t aware of about our past.  Let’s
start with the fact that my husband cheated on me with you!  I sometimes 
try to forget that fact, but alcohol and botox can only do so much.”  
 
   “Lenore, I can’t tell you how badly I feel about all of this.”  Lillian replies.
 
   “I could believe it if it occurred one time, but we both know that isn’t true.  
What I find most interesting is how you ended up pregnant!  Does your 
husband know about that?”  Lenore yells but she is unaware that people 
are staring at her.
 
   “Lenore I know you are upset about running into me last week.  However, 
I refuse to continue talking about this here.  I need to head back to the 
office.  I knew this was a bad idea.”  Lillian quickly throws her napkin down 
on the table and walks out of the dining room.
 
   “Go ahead and run away Lillian!  It’s what you always do when you are 
caught doing something that tarnishes your perfect halo!  You haven’t 
heard the last of me!”  Lenore screeches as Lillian leaves the country club.  
“Waiter, I need another drink now!”
 
   Lenore sits at table fuming with anger at her former friend.  She realizes 
that Lillian will never want to speak with her about the past.  As she starts 
to drink another glass of Merlot, a bright idea forms in her head.  She 
quickly pulls out her cell and starts to dial Andrea Mason in Human Resource.
 
   “Andrea, this is Lenore.  I have a favor to ask of you.  I recall hearing 
how Falmont Enterprises is seeking some new blood.  I have the perfect 
person for you to recruite.  I believe his name is Chase Richardson, and
I hear that he’s a wiz at real estate.  Thanks a bunch dear!”  
 
   Lenore sits back in her chair while complimenting herself on her newest 
idea.  It sometimes pays listening to her co-chair Misty talk on and on.  If 
she didn’t listen to her, then she would never have known that Lillian’s 
husband was looking for a job.  This was turning out to be a good day she 
thinks to herself and continues to drink her wine.
 
 

Foxy’s Diner:
 
 

   Nina Richardson returns to the diner after her one o’clock class starving 
for a late lunch.  She realizes other than school; she spends the majority 
of her time at the diner.  She needs to shake her life up, she realizes, but 
has no idea how.
 
   “Hey there, long time no see.” A male voice calls to Nina. 
 
   Nina turns around to see whose addressing her.  She admits to herself 
that she doesn’t recognize the guy standing in front of her.  He looks 
familiar to her but can’t place him. 
 
   “Have we met before?”  Nina asks quickly.  “If we met, I apologize 
because I don’t believe I remember your name.”
 
   “We did meet briefly a few weeks back.  I remember running into you 
and causing you to be late for a study group.  My name is Henry.”  Henry 
extends his hand out for Nina to shake.
 
   “Now that you mention it, I do recall running into you here.  You also 
wanted to buy me dinner to show how sorry you were.  I feel bad about 
how I acted that day since I came across as such a bitch.”  
 
   “If it makes you feel better, I sometimes come across as being cocky.  
Since you don’t look like you’re in a hurry, why not join me for lunch?  It’s 
the least I could do.” 
 
   “That would be great!  So how come I haven’t seen you around all that 
much?”  
 
   “Well, I’m a student at Northwestern when I go to class.  I’m weighing 
my options about whether I want to remain in college or travel the world.  
To answer your question, I am usually in Chicago a lot and not around here.
 
   “I’m usually so immersed in my studies that I tune out the world so 
that’s why I was asking.  I guess you could call it a character flaw.”  Nina 
sits there staring at Henry realizing how attractive he is.  However, she 
quickly realizes that they wouldn’t have a thing in common.

The waitress arrives at their table and they order burgers, fries, and
chocolate shakes before resuming conversation.   “What are you thinking about?” 
Henry asks knocking Nina out of her thoughts. “I know I’m good looking!  
You see that’s part of the cockiness I was just mentioning.”  
 
   “No, I was just thinking about something else to do with school.  Besides,
this is just a one time makeup lunch for almost causing me to be late, 
nothing more then that.”  
 
   “If you say so, but it isn’t a crime to think someone is attractive.  I think 
you’re attractive and intriguing even if you come across as guarded.”    
 
   “I don’t think you are attractive at all.  Your cockiness overrules any 
physical attractiveness you might have.”  Nina replies.
 
   “No, I don’t do that.  I'm the type of person who believes their studies and 
career aspirations come first.  My sister is the exact opposite. She believes 
that her prince charming is going to ride up to our house and whisk her away.  
I don’t understand that type of thinking but again what does a journalism major
know anyway.”  Nina answered defensively. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to give you 
so much information.”

   “What was his name?  I mean you seem very much against men.  I am 
just was curious about what bought that on.”
 
   “That isn’t any of your business.  I don’t know you well enough to be 
talking to you about my personal life.  Listen, we are just having a quick 
lunch and that is it.” 
 
   “Ok, if that’s the way you want it, your wish will be my command.  I’m 
actually dating someone right now for your information.  Sorry to 
disappoint you but I didn’t want lead you on.”  
 
   “Spoken like a typical male.”    
 
   Their food arrives and they eat in silence, staring at each other between bites. 
Both pray that the meal will end and neither will see each other again. 
 
   The door opens and Katie walks into the diner and approaches their table.
“Hey guys!  I didn’t know you knew each other.”  Instantly, Nina and Henry realize 
what is going on.  “I guess I don’t need to introduce you two.  So, what’s up?”  Katie asks
as she sits down and grabs a few fries from Henry’s plate.  She is unaware of the tension between 
Henry and Nina.
 
 

Richardson House:
 


   “Just make yourself at home.”  Stephen Richardson informs his date 
Alicia Salgado as they make their way into the kitchen.
 
   “I must say when you invited me for lunch, I didn’t expect to be
eating in your family’s house.  Are you sure you don’t have them stashed
away waiting to meet me?”  Alicia jokingly asks and sits down at the 
kitchen table.
 
   “Of course not, I think they are all either at work or at school.  It does 
pay to have a half day at school and I figured I’d ask you to come over for 
a bit.  I hope you weren’t busy.”  
 
   “No, my tutoring schedule was clear for the rest of the afternoon.  Are 
you sure it’s ok to make ourselves at home?  I would hate to impose.”
 
   “Alicia, I live here.  We are eating food that I bought with my own money.  
To change the subject, what made you decide to move to Hope Falls 
anyway?” 
 
   “I guess I was just looking for a new start.  My brother had come to visit
Chicago several times over the last few years and loved it here.  I’m 
working part-time as a tutor until I can start teaching during the summer 
session at the University.”  
 
   “So, tell me about your family?  Are you guys a close knit family?”  
 
   “Well I come from a Latino family so the answer is yes.  My brother’s 
death last year hit our family hard so I just needed to get away for awhile.
I still talk to them but I enjoy having some distance from them.”  
 
   “I am glad you decided to move to Hope Falls.”  Stephen tries to then 
kiss Alicia who pulls away.
 
   “Stephen, this is your parent’s house!  I can’t make out with you in their 
kitchen.”  Alicia declares and Stephen gives her a perplexed look. “Hey, you can take 
a girl out of a Latino household.  However, you can’t take the Latino household out 
of the girl.  My family is old fashioned about this kind of thing.”
 
   “Well, I guess I can understand that.  Perhaps we can go out this 
weekend and do something fun.”  Stephen suggests making Alicia smile.  She 
reaches over and gives him a long, deep kiss. “Hey, I thought you didn’t 
want to do that in my parent’s house?”

   “Sometimes you can take the Latino household out of the girl but only 
on occasion.” Alicia replies as they continue to kiss.