INSTALLMENT  23
 


Richardson House:



  Lillian Richardson is fumbling around in the cupboards when she’s
distracted by a noise behind her.  Quickly turning around, she is surprised to
see Nina walking into the kitchen in only her pajamas.  Looking at the clock,
she’s curious about why her responsible daughter is still at home.

  “Nina, I didn’t expect you be home still.  Don’t you have a class right now?” 
Lillian asks as she closes the cupboard and goes to sit down at the kitchen
table.

  Nina grabs a cup from the counter and pours herself a cup of coffee, “I
decided to skip class today.  I figured there wasn’t an exam so I stayed
home today.”

  “Honey, are you feeling alright?  For as long as I can remember, you’ve
never missed a day of class.  It isn’t like you.  Plus, you’re still in Pj’s, also
so unlike you.” 

  “If you promise to not say anything, I’ll tell you why I didn’t go to class
today.”  Nina states while Lillian nods.  “I think I like someone.” 

  “Nina!  Did I just hear you correctly?  You like a guy? Who is he? Do we
know him?”

  “I don’t think you know him at all.  I don’t even know him that well.  I
think I might have feelings for him.  But he’s dating someone right now.”

  “Ah, one of the classic obstacles in life, does he like you in return?”  Lillian
finds some cookies in the cookie jar.

  “Yes, he does and I think the feeling is mutual.  However, when he’s
dating your best friend, it seems wrong?”  Nina explains while Lillian’s eyes
widen.  “Now, don’t judge me mother, it isn’t like I’m in the love with him. 
I just need a day to gather my thoughts before I return to the real world.”

  “I’m relieved to hear that!  I don’t want you to make the same mistakes
that women have made throughout their life.” Lillian advises as she bites
into her cookie thinking to herself.

  “Trust me, I don’t intend to do that.”

  “You need to do more then just taking a day off of classes to think about
it.  You have to really examine if the feelings you have for this guy
outweigh the friendship you’ve had all these years.”  Lillian advises while
Nina nods while both share a hug.  “Listen, I have to get back to the office
right now.  Are you going to be ok?”  Nina nods as Lillian gathers her purse
and meets Stephen at the kitchen door. They exchange hellos before she
leaves.

  “Hey there little sister, can you do me a favor?”  Stephen asks Nina from
the kitchen doorway while she notices his girlfriend Alicia next to him.  “I
have to get back to school and I figured you could hang out with Alicia. 
Can you do it?” 

  Nina nods while regretting the fact that she skipped class.



Hope Falls Country Club



  George Falmont arrives at the country club seeking his wife out.  He
couldn’t get past the notion his wife was behind Chase Richardson being
hired.  As much as he couldn’t believe it, he knew his wife was capable of
stunts like this.  As he approaches her table, he tries to prepare what to
say.

  “This is a most unexpected surprise.  If I knew you were going to come
join me, I would have waited to order my first bottle of wine.”  Lenore
replies downing a glass of merlot like it was water.

  “Sorry to have to spoil your buzz but I figure you might be more honest
with me drunk then sober.”  George replies while she takes notice. “I met
one of my new employees by the name of Chase Richardson.”

  “That’s nice of you to let me know about all the new people that you are
hiring.  I don’t care as long as they are capable workers.  What was this
guy like?”  Lenore asks trying to steady herself as she pours another glass
of Merlot.

  “He seems like a hardworking man, in fact, I found out that he happens
to be married to Lillian.  You remember Lillian, your former college best
friend?  I must admit hearing her name was a total blast from the past. 
Then I realized how insistent Andrea Martin was to hire him and I know
how close you are to her.”

  “God, you sound just like Lillian accusing me of having her husband hired
onto the company.  I’ve never met this man, but it doesn’t sound like his
wife and new boss think very highly of his skills.  Wonder how he would
react to that!”  Lenore ponders out loud.

  “I’m sure you would enjoy telling him amongst other things.  Listen, I
know you aren’t going to admit to any wrongdoing, even though your
drunken actions to indicate otherwise.  I wanted you to know that you
have an excellent instinct in hiring people no matter the motives. I was
thinking it’d be nice to get together with Lillian for a college reunion. 
Wouldn’t you agree??”  Lenore smile vanishes with that statement.

  “It wouldn’t be the first time you’ve had any sort of reunion with her.  We
both know what I am talking about.”  Lenore utters.

  “Listen, I have to get back to the office but it was nice having this brief
chat with you.  Totally opens my eyes to the woman I married.”  George
gets up and heads for the exit.

  As Lenore digests what her husband just told her, he heads back to his
car outside while accidentally running into someone. 

  “I’m sorry miss; I wasn’t watching where I was going.”  George states
noticing that the woman looks familiar to him.  “This might sound cliché but
have we met before?”

  “No, I don’t believe so.  No harm done.”  She replies while gathering
herself together then takes a second glance.  “Now, that you mention it, I
think we met briefly at that charity event.  I’m Gillian.”



Thomas Norris Apartment:



  A knock at the door wakes Thomas Norris up from his deep sleep.  As he
makes his way toward the door, he wonders who could be bothering him
this early in the afternoon.  As he opens the door, he soon gets his answer.

  “Jonathan?  What are you doing here?  I thought you were down at the
gallery today.”  Thomas asks as he lets his friend in.

  “I was going to be but my new assistant told me that she was able to
handle things on her own. God help me but I decided to place my trust in
her.  My father mentioned that you had called in sick today so I figured I’d
come visit you.”  Jonathan replies making himself at home on the sofa.

  “I just needed a day off.  Call it a mental health day if you will.”  Thomas
replies back while heading into the kitchen.  “Can I get you anything?”

  “Only you.”  Jonathan answers while giving him the wink.  “No, I’ll take
anything you have.”

  “I don’t stock alcohol so here’s a Coke.” Thomas answers tossing a can
in Jonathan’s direction while sitting down.  “Actually, it’s cool you dropped
by but I’m feeling alright.”

  “I just wanted to find an excuse to come see you.”  Jonathan says while
inching closer to Thomas, who backs off a little. “I’m just playing around
with you, I didn’t mean to make you nervous.”

  “I know but I’m not use to being pursued or hit on.  I know you were just
fooling around but my natural instinct is to be cautious.”

  “I’ve noticed you’re very tense when I’m around you.  Why is that?  You
haven’t ever mentioned in great detail why.  Perhaps if you tell me, I’ll
understand better.”  Jonathan offers while Thomas tenses up at the
question.  “If you aren’t ready to tell me then I understand.  When you are
ready then I’ll be here to listen.  We men have to stick together!”

  “I guess we’ve hung out together for two months now so I guess I can
trust with you.”  Jonathan nods agreeing with Thomas. “Alright, the reason
that I’ve been acting a little tense is because I feel immense guilt.”

  “Over what?” 

  “My last boyfriend killed himself and I’m to blame for his death.”  Thomas
blurts out while Jonathan is struck silent unsure of how to react to the
statement.



Richardson House:



  “How are you enjoying Hope Falls, Alicia?”  Nina realizing it was a
question she must have heard a lot.  She tries to come up with a new topic
to talk to Alicia about but coming up with nothing.

  “As answered before, I’m enjoying myself here.  I hope to make this my
permanent home if all goes well.”  Alicia replies while drinking her coffee
slowly.  “Your brother mentions that you are quite an over achiever when
it comes to school.  What are you majoring in?”

  “I’m majoring in journalism and, in fact, I’m interning at the local
newspaper this summer.  Now, judging by your answer, you don’t sound
like Hope Falls will be your permanent home.  Why do you feel that way?”

  “I am currently tutoring part-time this semester and am waiting to hear
from the University board over whether I can start teaching summer
courses.  How come you are home?  Are you down about something?” 
Alicia asks.

  “Yes, personal issues came up and I’m taking today to think things
through.”  Nina answers.

  “I admire that approach to be honest.  I’m one of those people that let
things fester inside.  I have a tendency to pretend that everything is fine
until there is a point that any simple action will cause me to snap.”  She
sharply states as the coffee cup she’s holding breaks and coffee splashes
all over her clothes.

  “Let me get something to pick up the broken glass.”  Nina exclaims as
she gets up to start picking up the bigger pieces of the cup while noticing
Alicia just sitting there.  “Let me take your shirt and I can try to get some
of those coffee stains off.  I think you are about Gillian’s size, I’ll get a shirt
for you to wear.”

  “Thank you so much, I don’t know what gets over me sometimes.  I
guess I don’t know my own strength sometimes.  Thankfully, I’m in a good
mood so no harm done.”  Alicia marvels as Nina takes her shirt to put
vinegar and club soda on to wipe off the coffee stains.

  Nina heads upstairs thinking to herself that there is something wrong with
Stephen’s new girlfriend.  Of course, this was almost nothing in the scheme
of things.  She realizes that she doesn’t know what Alicia is capable of and
was afraid to find out.



Thomas Norris Apartment:



  “What do you mean by that?”  Jonathan finally asks after a moment of
silence digesting what he was told.  “Why would you blame yourself for
someone killing themselves?”

  “I started dating this wonderful guy and we were happy for a time. 
Sometimes people end up drifting apart without realizing it.  At the same
time, I was keeping company with his sister, who I didn’t know was in love
with me.  She hit on me, going as far as kissing me. I didn’t push her away
right away since I was in shock.  I did tell her that I wasn’t into her but I
guess her brother saw us kissing, got the wrong idea and killed himself.”

  “How do you know that he even saw you?  Usually people don’t kill
themselves because of one little situation.  Most times there’s a deeper
psychological reason for doing something like that.”  Jonathan gently
explains to his friend.

  “He left a suicide note stating that seeing me kiss his sister made him
realize that he wasn’t good enough.  He stated that seeing a gay guy
kissing a girl just confirmed that for him, I guess.  He blamed me for driving
him to kill himself and thinking back he’s right.”  Thomas sadly
overwhelmed with the memories of his last fight with him. 

  “I think I understand why you seem anxious when seeing myself or
Elizabeth.”  Jonathan states while Thomas looks at him.  “You don’t realize
it but it sounds like you are afraid history might repeat itself with me and
Elizabeth, am I right?”

  Thomas couldn’t answer the question but he’s answering with a loud yes
screaming inside his head.



Hope Falls County Club:



  “Yes, I remember you now.  How are you doing this afternoon Gillian?” 
George asks as he talks to her outside the parking lot.

  “I’m doing well.  I have a lunch date actually with my boyfriend and he’s
running a little late.”  Gillian answers as she faces back toward the country
club entrance.

  “Again I do apologize for my lack of sight in not seeing you in front of me.” 

  “Don’t feel bad about it.  You are the second person in the last two weeks
that I’ve run into.  I guess guys are just drawn to me.”  Gillian jokingly says
while he laughs.  “Anyway, I would love to continue chatting but I do have
to get a table.  It was nice running into you again.”

  “The pleasure was mine.”  George calls to her as she heads into the
country club passing by Lenore.  Lenore stares back at Gillian then stares
at her husband with a look of disbelief.

  “Can you be any more obvious with the way you are looking at that girl.”
Lenore states as she stands in front of her husband.  “Wait a minute, what
am I being insecure about, that girl is so out of your league.”

  “Honestly dear, I don’t know where you get these paranoid theories of
yours.  I accidentally ran into her and was just chatting.” 

  “You keep telling yourself that.  Just remember that’s how you and Lillian
acted with one another.  Fool me once, shame on you, and you’re not
going to be fooling me twice.”  Lenore states and walks toward her car.