INSTALLMENT  17
 
 


Falmont Art Gallery 
 
 

   Bach playing over the speakers greets Gillian Richardson as she enters 
the art gallery.  She looks around in awe of the small, intimate feel of the 
gallery.  She wonders why this client is anxious to move from this beautiful
property.  She vows to keep this opinion to herself as she notices Jonathan
Falmont in his office.
 
   He waves at her as he finishes an e-mail.  He shakes her hand and 
motions for her to come into his office.
 
   Jonathan looks her up and down. “I take it you are Ms. Richardson?  As 
you know I am Jonathan Falmont owner of this Gallery!”
 
   “You have a beautiful gallery Mr. Falmont.  I was happy to hear you were
looking to talk to us about your real estate needs.  I also understand you 
were looking to speak with me personally.”
 
   “Your boss Bianca spoke somewhat highly of you. I figured I had to meet
you since your boss was raving about you.  So what do you have to show
me today?”
 
   “I was wondering about the type of location you were interested in.  
Such as demographics, rent level, location.  I have a few ideas about some
properties within twenty minute radius.”  
 
   “A more suburban location is what I have in mind.  I figure that suburban 
locations are few and far between.  I figure moving to the suburbs might 
make my gallery more noticeable.  Last night, it hit me that I’m doing well 
in this location.  I am now thinking I should hold out a little bit longer.”  
 
   “Are saying you are not interested in relocating?”  Gillian tries to breathe 
slowly as she asks the question. 
 
   “I decided this last night and didn’t have the heart to tell you over the 
phone.  I’m sorry for you having to drive into the city; I can compensate 
you for the gas mileage?”  
 
   “No, that won’t be necessary.  What really made you decide to change 
your mind about moving your gallery?”
 
   “I usually don’t discuss my reasons for changing my mind.  Just accept 
my apologies for making you come out here on a Saturday.”  Jonathan 
replies as his cell phone starts to ring.  “Listen, I have to take this call.  
Just take the fifty dollars I am offering you for your trouble.  
 
   Gillian just stands there looking at the money given by Jonathan.  She 
couldn’t believe she drove all that way just to be turned down like that.  
As she exits the art gallery, she vows to herself that she will somehow 
make her mark.   She’ll show everyone that she is one not to be pushed 
aside.  She just doesn’t know how she will accomplish that goal.



Richardson house: 



   Since receiving the phone call from Falmont Enterprises the day before, 
Chase Richardson is preparing for the interview.  He happily is awaiting his 
wife to wake up so he can share the news with her.  Already, his attempts 
to tell her had been thwarted by her working late at the Chronicle. 

   As he busily prepars an early lunch for his wife, he looks up at the time 
and notices how late it is getting.  Just as he is about to wake her up, Lillian
comes through the kitchen door.

   "I didn’t know that you were up? If I had known, I would have made 
lunch earlier." 

   Lillian sits down and starts pouring herself a cup of coffee. "I had to go 
into the office early today to finish an article.  I didn’t want to disturb you.  
Thank you for lunch, I’m starving.   I also meant to ask you how the job 
interview with the mortgage company went yesterday?" 

   "The job is out of the realm of possibility for me.  They were looking for 
someone with less experience and for less money.   I did get a call late 
yesterday and I have an interview with them this coming week." 

   "Fantastic!! Who is the company that called you, anyone that I've heard 
of?" 

   "They are a pretty big company.  I was surprised I was even under 
consideration for a job.  Falmont Enterprises wants to interview me?" 
Lillian almost chokes on her coffee at the mention of that company name. 
"Are you alright, dear?" 

   "Yes, I just didn’t know that you were interested in working there.  So 
do you know what job you are interviewing for?" 

   "I don’t recall what job they were looking at me for.  I was wondering if 
your connection with Lenore might have had something to do with it.  You 
haven’t spoken about Lenore since the party.  I assume it wasn’t as bad 
as you had thought?" 

   Lillian tensed up when hearing Lenore’s name.  She started to wonder if
her lunch with Lenore resulted in this. "I wouldn’t say that but it did put 
things into perspective.  Are you sure you want to interview there?  We’ve 
been fine all these years without working or associating with the Falmonts.”
"Normally I would agree with you.  However, our income has decreased 
quite a bit since I was let go.  What harm is there interviewing with the 
company?" 

   ”I just think that Falmont Enterprises is not the right company to work at.  
Surely there are other jobs out there right now.”

   "The economy is horrible right now especially in the mortgage industry.  I
can’t afford to pick and choose when it comes to a job.  I have a job 
interview next week and I’m going to go to it, whether you like it or not.”

   Lillian fearing what will happen once they mix with the Falmonts remarks.
"I know I can’t stop you from interviewing with the company.  I just wish 
that there was another way." 



Sampson Boutique 



   Relief swells over Melinda Mitchell as she enters her favorite boutique in 
downtown Hope Falls.  Marveling at all the accessories on display, she tries 
to restrain herself. Even though she has just gotten her income tax refund, 
she has to be practical in what she purchases. 

   As she makes her way around the trendy boutique, she accidentally runs 
into Thomas.  She notices him looking through the diamond pendants and 
is curious over seeing him. 

   "We run into in the most unusual of places.  What brings you here?" 

   "Melinda, right?" Thomas asks while she nods. "We do seem to run into 
each other in the weirdest places.  Perhaps we should hang out since we 
seem to run into each other a lot." 

   "I never turn down anyone as a friend.  Unless you hurt me or my family,
then I draw the line." Melinda notices Thomas acting all nervous. "You need
to loosen up my friend.  Every time I see you, you are acting tense." 

   "You're right.  I have some personal issues weighing very heavily on me.
Would you like to get a cup of coffee and hang out in a more neutral setting?" 

   "It’s cool that you like shopping at boutiques.  Your secret is safe with me!  
I also accept your offer for some coffee.  What is new with you?" 

   "Just working at Falmont and getting the hang of the Midwest.  I think 
Mr. Falmont likes me a lot.  Sometimes he asks me the weirdest questions
about my life in California.  Of course, he went to school with my father so
maybe he's trying to get to know me but my instinct tells me differently." 

   "I don’t believe you mentioned that your father knew George Falmont.  
Remember I told you about how everyone seems to know everyone here?”  
Thomas nods recalling that statement from before.  "I found out last week
that my sister Katie is dating George Falmont's son Henry.  How is that for
six degrees of separation." 

   "Yeah that is wild. I came from California, where everyone pretty much 
kept to themselves, so this is a nice change of pace." 

   "I am actually curious about what made you move from California all the
way out to the Midwest.  Usually people are heading to California, not the 
other way around." 

   "Let's just say that a lot of things happened to me in the last year.  I 
wanted to leave behind California and move to new surroundings.  I 
decided on Hope Falls because my father told me that his old college friend
was looking for new employees." 

   "Hmm, and what exactly happened to you last year?" Melinda notes 
Thomas tensing up at that second. "Sorry, in my line of work, everyone 
tells me everything.  Force of habit." 

   "All I can say is I needed a change and thought moving to Illinois would 
do the trick. The past has a funny way of following you no matter where 
you go.  Since coming to town, I’ve gotten several calls and notes.  I have 
no idea if this is just a joke or if it is related to my life in California." 

   "Why exactly did you leave California?  Were you involved in an abusive 
relationship?"  

   "No, I had a wonderful relationship with someone very special.  I ended 
doing something that caused the end of the relationship.  What really hurt 
me was not that they broke it off, but that they killed themselves." 

   "What exactly could one do that would cause someone to take their own
life?" 

   "I was drunk one night and ended up making out with my partner's sister.  
I don’t know why they didn’t confront me about it.  I guess that’s a 
question that will haunt me for the rest of my life." Thomas replies quietly 
lost in memory.

   "I can’t even imagine how that would feel.  If you want to talk about 
something else then I understand." 

   "No, it’s fine.  I actually feel better talking about this.  Although, we need 
to talk about something fun, so did you see anything you liked in the 
boutique?" 

   Melinda is happy with the change of subject since she is at a loss for 
words.  What can she say to someone who lost the love of their life to 
suicide?  She doesn’t know the answer to that question and isn’t about to 
tackle that subject just yet.