INSTALLMENT 20 
 
 


Oleary’s



   The semi-busy atmosphere greets Alicia Salgado as she sits at the bar 
waiting to meet Stephen for dinner.  Looking at her watch, she can’t 
believe that he is running late.  As she continues to wait for Stephen, she 
decides to order herself a drink and motions for the bartender.

   Melinda Mitchell approaches noting to herself that she hasn’t seen this 
woman before, “What can I get you?”  

   “Hmm, I don’t usually drink that much.  I was wondering if I could get a 
screwdriver to start with.”  Alicia orders while Melinda starts to formulate 
the drink.

   “I haven’t seen you here before, are you new to the area?”  Melinda 
notes Alicia reaction to the question.  “Sorry, I usually have a whole group 
of regulars who come here and I haven’t seen you before.  I get a little 
nosey sometimes.”  

   “Actually I was surprised you knew that I was new.”  Alicia starts to sip 
the screwdriver as she replies to the question.  

   “I usually have a good memory and can remember someone quite well.  
You seem kind of anxious, are you waiting for someone?”  

   “Yes, my boyfriend.  We were supposed to have dinner tonight but he’s 
running a little late.  So I told him that I would come early and try to get a 
table.”  

   “I’m sure he’ll enjoy it here at Oleary’s.  Have you dated him for long?”  
Melinda asks.

   “No, we only met a few weeks ago.  For me, it was love at first sight!   I
know it’s early to say that but its how I feel.”  

   “I’m impressed.  You just moved into town and have a boyfriend already.  
You must have a certain charm about you that attracts guys.”  Melinda 
feels jealous that this perfect stranger already has a boyfriend.

   “I think of it as confidence.  I saw him looking a little lost and
just fell in love with him.  I think the charm you are speaking of is 
confidence.”  Alicia replies.  “By the way, I don’t believe we’ve exchanged 
names, I’m Alicia Salgado.”  She extends her hand out to Melinda to shake.

   “I’m Melinda Mitchell, it’s nice to meet you.”  Melinda shakes her hand 
back. 

   Alicia muses aloud, “Hmm, that last name sounds familiar to me.  Oh well, 
I guess it’s a common last name.  My date is actually at the door right now.  
It’s a shame because I was enjoying our conversation.”

   “I know but if you have a date, you can’t stand him up!  Perhaps we’ll run
into each again in the future.”  Melinda replies noticing from the corner of 
her eye Stephen coming toward them.  “Speaking of which, here comes 
one of Oleary’s regulars right now!”

   “Hello Melinda, how are you tonight?”  Stephen asks awkwardly as he 
notes both Melinda and Alicia talking to one another.  “Quite a busy night 
tonight, isn’t it?”

   “Well, it is a weekend evening.  So what brings you here tonight?”  
Melinda notices Alicia and Stephen staring at each other.  “Oh Stephen this 
is….”

   “I know who she is Melinda!  I was actually meeting her tonight.”  
Stephen explains. 

   “She is here to meet her boyfriend for a date…..”  Melinda stops herself 
when she realizes something.  “Stephen is the guy you were talking to me 
about?”

   Melinda didn’t need to hear their answer to realize they were on a date 
with one another.



Thomas Norris’s Apartment:



   Watching Employee of the Month is what Thomas Norris needs to get his
mind off of things.  All week, he’s been trying to keep things together but is
failing in his attempts.  He is starting to relax a little and figures it’s because
no notes or phone calls have come his way since moving into his new place.

   Just as he settles down to push play, he hears the doorbell ring.  Getting 
out of his chair, he rushes to the peep hole.  He is glad to see that it’s both
Jonathan and Elizabeth Falmont.  Opening the door, he pulls both of them 
into the apartment and shuts the door.

   “I don’t know if I should feel flattered or confused over that greeting.”  
Jonathan jokes as he makes his way toward the living room to have a seat.

   “I wasn’t expecting any company tonight.  If I’d known you two were 
coming over, I would have dressed up a little.”  Thomas replies as he 
tightens his burgundy silk robe.

   “You look fine from where I’m sitting Thomas!  Don’t you agree with me 
Elizabeth?”

   “I do admit it’s your color, so there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.  
I figured we would surprise you with a little house-warming gift.”  Elizabeth 
extends to him an apple pie.  “I know its a little old fashion but people 
present that as a gift.”

   Jonathan motions for both Elizabeth and Thomas to come have a seat.  
“Seriously, we both wanted to give you something warm and inviting.”

   “I felt really bad about our father checking up on you as if you were a 
common criminal.  I tried to defend you to him.  Our father is set in his 
ways so we figured we would hang out with you tonight.”  

   “Thank you both so much for the thought and the company.  I admit that 
I’ve been acting very withdrawn and neglecting my duties at work.  There 
have been some personal issues that have been plaguing me for awhile.  
Mr. Falmont was correct in stating that I need to get a handle on things.  
Your company might be the way to go.”  

   “Good to hear, isn’t it Jonathan?”  

   “Yes, I’m most excited to hear that you are welcoming our company.  
Now is that in a friendship kind of way or something?  We’ve been 
wondering about that.” Jonathan explains.

   “I don’t know what you mean.  I‘m going to say friendship only for both 
of you.”  Thomas replies while Jonathan and to a smaller extent Elizabeth 
are sadden to hear that.  “However, that can change with time and getting
to know one another.”

   “Do you mean for both of us or just one of us in particular?”  Jonathan 
asks while Thomas grins and shakes his head.



Luigi’s Italian Restaurante 



   “You have to try this wonderful glass of merlot dear.”  Lenore Falmont 
insists as she lifts her glass up to her lips for another drink.  She’s trying to 
get her husband’s attention but her efforts are thwarted at every turn.

   “Like I haven’t had a glass of merlot before?”  George barks back at his 
wife while regretting that statement.  He realizes that she’s trying to put 
the spark back into their marriage.  Then admits to himself that he isn’t 
making the same effort.  “Please forgive me for being cross.”

   “I understand people have bad days, I certainly am no stranger to being 
a bitch.  However, something is bothering you and it worries me that you 
aren’t talking to me about it.”  Lenore says trying to get him to open up to
her.  She can’t believe she has actually gotten her husband to agree to dine
with her alone.

   “I know that I’ve been shutting you out more, but doesn’t it seem like 
both of us have changed?”  Lenore dislikes the sudden shift in tone in his 
voice.

   “All couples go through changes.  You can’t expect to be the same 
person that you were when you were twenty two, right?  I think I know 
what’s going on, I think you are overworking yourself at work and miss 
our daughter.” 

   “You’re right.  I do miss our youngest child but she loves to text message 
us so that isn’t it.  What I mean is that we are totally not on the same page 
anymore on even the simplest things.  Take for example Henry.”  

   “We’ve always had different methods of parenting are four children.  That
doesn’t mean that you close yourself off from your wife of over twenty six
years because of how we handle situations.”  

   “It doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that we parent differently.  
What I am trying to say is that we have grown apart over the last few years.  
It makes me wonder about some of the decisions I have made over my 
lifetime.”  

   “What exactly are you trying to say dear?  Are you saying that you want
to work on things? Take some time apart? Or do you want to end our 
wonderful marriage because of some mid-life crisis?”  



Thomas Norris Apartment



   “What do you think?”  Thomas Norris asks.  He can’t believe that he’s 
being asked that question considering he isn’t in the market to date anyone.

   “I think my brother was trying to ask you whether you preferred men or 
women.  I don’t think he meant anything by that question other then that.  
Isn’t that right Jonathan?”  Elizabeth asks with gritted teeth.

   "Yeah, I wasn’t coming onto you or anything.  I was just curious because
you and I seemed to have developed a connection during the last few 
weeks.”  

   “Listen, I’m flattered that both of you are interested in me.  Not sure if 
this is some sort of brother/sister competition but I’m flattered.”   

   “Rest assured that I’m not interested in you for anything other then 
friendship. I came over because I was worried about you after the way my
father was talking to you.  Let’s just forget my brother’s thoughtless 
question and continue to enjoy our evening.”

   “As much as I would like that, I can’t forget it.  Don’t think it’s because of 
you guys because you’ve been awesome.  I just have some issues that I 
need to work on.  Once I can resolve those issues then I can truly move 
on.”

   “Both of us understand, right Jonathan?”  Elizabeth jabs her brother in 
the side.  This makes him nod in agreement while both decide to try to 
change the subject.

   “Listen, just continue to be my friend and help me with your father as 
best as you can.  That is all I ask.”  

   Thomas silently knows that he is drawn to both Elizabeth and Jonathan.  
However, he’s afraid of having history repeat itself a second time.



Luigi Italian Restaurante 



   “No, I am not suggesting that we end our marriage.  I am just being 
honest with you, isn’t that the reason you insisted we have this dinner 
tonight?”  

   “Yes, but I want to know what you are thinking.  Based on what you are
telling me, you are soul-searching about the decisions you have made 
over the years.  This leads me to believe that our marriage is one of those 
decisions so I want to know the answer you are leaning toward.”  

   “Lenore, I love you and will never regret marrying you.  It was one of the
happiest days in my life.  We have to face facts that we have both changed
since that day.”  

   “It would help if you were more open, like you are being right now, with 
me.  You have to let me in because I am not a mind reader.  I know that 
we’ve grown apart over the last several years but I am making an effort to
spend time together.”

   “I understand what you are doing, but I think it will take more then just 
spending time together to bridge this gap between us.  You can’t just 
control the direction of how this marriage will go by yourself.”  George 
hears his cell phone start to buzz.  Looking at the cell phone, he notices 
that it is a business call but is hesitant.

   “Go ahead and take the call, I’ll still be here along with the topic we are 
discussing.”  Lenore quickly states while he smiles before answering the call.  
He gets up to go outside to talk to someone while she instantly grabs her 
cell phone.  She decides that she needs to make a call as well.

   Quickly dialing her phone, she waits for the person on the other end to 
answer.  As she takes a sip from her glass, the person on the other end 
picks up.

   “Andrea Mason?  This is Lenore Falmont just calling to find out how Mr. 
Richardson did on his interview?”  Lenore smiles at Andrea’s reply.  “Glad to
hear that, I trust you know what to do?”  She smiles as she hears Andrea’s
answer then hangs up the phone.

   Lenore quickly pours herself another glass of merlot.  She stares out the 
window at her husband on the phone.  She knows having Chase Richardson 
work at Falmont Enterprises is a risk given that he was married to Lillian.  
She also knows that if she controls the Richardson’s future, then anything 
was possible.



Oleary’s



   “Yes, I’m the guy that she was talking about.  I was trying to find a way 
to introduce her to you without it being awkward.  There goes that plan.”  
Stephen states.

   “Perhaps I should go find us a table.”  Alicia volunteers quickly as she 
takes her drink and heads up front after Stephen nods in agreement.

   “Listen, I’m sorry that you had to find out this way.”  Stephen started to 
say while Melinda quickly stops him from continuing.

   “Stephen, you don’t owe me any explanation at all.  You asked me out 
and I turned you down.  It’s perfectly understandable to go back out and 
meet someone.  I wish I had the ability to do that myself.  I guess not 
everyone is blessed with that ability.”  Melinda rearranges the bottles on 
the shelf trying not to look at Stephen.

   “Again I apologize that I didn’t introduce you to her earlier.  You have to 
understand that this just happened so fast!  I wasn’t even prepared to 
meet someone so quickly but she’s amazing.  I think you would really like 
her if you got to know her.”

   “I admit that I did chat with her before you came in and I like her.  I 
admit she is a little brazen but seems nice.  Listen, I am cool with you 
dating her.  Why spare my feelings?  I turned you down, not the other way
around.  Remember?”

   “I know, but you are one of my best friends.  I’ve known you for over 
half of my life and I want to maintain that.”  

   “I have a great idea!  Why don’t we all hang out with one another?”  
Melinda eyes her boss in the distance staring at her.  “Listen, I’d like to 
continue chatting but I’m needed back at work.  Talk to Alicia and see if she
would be cool with that.”

   Stephen nods as she returns to work.  He hoped going out with Alicia 
would help make things easier him and Melinda.  At that moment he 
realizes how wrong he is.