INSTALLMENT 25
Hope Falls Inn:
The pounding on the hotel door wakes Nico Rawlins out of his alcohol
induced sleep and out his wild dream of him with the girls from the reality
show “The Girls Next Door”. He drags himself out of bed and opens his
door to reveal Elizabeth Falmont on the other end. She charges into the
room noticing he’s only in his boxer briefs.
“My God, put some clothes on. I have a major bone to pick with you
and I can’t do it while you are in your underwear.” Elizabeth demands so
he puts on a pair of Seven of Mankind jeans and a t-shirt.
“Don’t act like you haven’t seen me in my underwear before. If I recall
correctly, you saw me in a lot less then this.” Nico states while he
approaches Elizabeth, who backs away. “Ok, I’m sorry, what is it that I can
do for you? I don’t recall doing anything to piss you off so why not spill it.”
“I just got back from being chewed out by my father and your boss
about my lack of judgment in hiring you. After hearing your comments,
I’m starting to believe my father has a point.” Nico has a feign look of hurt
hearing this. “Don’t try to pretend that you’re hurt by what I’m saying.
There is a reason why you are a photographer and not an actor.”
“Why would your father ream you out for hiring me? I haven’t done
anything to make him angry. What gives?”
“For starters, you were late to a meeting my father set up. A meeting
set up to discuss our company’s strategy for breaking into the modeling
business. When you did grace everyone with your presence, you proceed
to say you know nothing about the modeling business. Then you blurted
out that we set up a Myspace ad asking for models? What is going on with
you?”
“I thought it was a good idea. He gave no indication that he was unhappy
with what I was saying. Seriously, why are you so bent out of shape? Is it
because daddy yelled at you? You certainly aren’t acting like the girl I met in
New York over two months ago. I guess once a girl is back in her natural
surroundings, she changes.”
“I never pretended to be anybody that I wasn’t. If you recall, I did tell you
that I was there on business and was looking to blow off some steam. I
never indicated that I was this wild and carefree girl back home.”
“You can say that again. I wonder what your dad would say when he
finds out that his favorite daughter, and you know you are, isn’t so
innocent.” Nico muses out loud.
“That statement is such a retro throwback to the fifties! My father
doesn’t care what I do as long as I produce the numbers for his advertising
division. He could care less that I had a brief fling with a photographer in
New York.”
“You are right about that. However, I wonder how he would feel if he
knew his daughter got knocked up and proceeded to have an abortion. I
don’t think he would look at you the same way.” Nico remarks while
Elizabeth freezes.
Luigi’s Italian Restaurante
“Dale, you didn’t have to go to all of this trouble. My birthday was over
two weeks ago, there was no need to take me out.” Gillian Richardson
remarks. Both knew that if he hadn’t taken her out for her birthday, he
would never hear the end of it.
“It isn’t everyday that the woman you love turns twenty three. I felt so
bad about my business trip calling me away that I had to make it up to you.”
Dale pours Gillian a glass of white wine while kissing her.
“The dinner and my diamond Juicy Couture watch more then made up for
that. It is like you’re reading my mind.” Gillian exclaims. It has been two
months since Dale made an attempt to propose. She thought to herself
how things were getting back to normal between them. “So how has work
been going for you?”
“As you can see, I am always on business trips. It seems like being a
financial planner’s work is never done. Not that I’m complaining mind you.
What about you?”
“Funny you should ask. Remember I told you how my father recently
started working for Falmont Enterprises?” Gillian asks while Dale nods. “I
guess he is being given responsibilities to acquire new properties and
businesses. I was called by George Falmont himself and asked about
possibly working for his company. He wants me to be a freelance real
estate agent for the company.”
“Honey, that’s great. What did you tell him?” Dale asks knowing that he
had met the man at a charity event and didn’t care for him. However, if
Gillian didn’t have a problem working with the man then he wouldn’t stand
in her way.
“I told him I had to think about it. I mean I haven’t been happy in real
estate for a long time now and I’m enjoying my part-time job at Macy’s.
I’m actually thinking about maybe going back to school.”
“Listen, I know I come across that I care only about money.” Dale
admits while Gillian laughed knowing that was true. “However, I want you
to do whatever makes you happy. If working at Falmont Enterprises
makes you happy, then I’ll support you.”
“Just hearing that makes me feel lucky to have such a great guy in my
life. It feels great being able to have dinner with my boyfriend and enjoy
his company. Even though we’ve been dating for over nine months, I felt
that the last two months have been filled with tension.”
“While when one tries to propose marriage and stopped dead in their
tracks. It does make things awkward. I’m just curious about something.”
“What?” Gillian asks realizing the can of worms she has just opened.
“Why didn’t you let me propose to you? Also, why haven’t you talked to
me about it for over two months?”
Gillian is left trying to come up with an answer.
Oleary’s
The weekend crowd’s crying for their drink’s make Melinda Mitchell want
to tear out her hair. She couldn’t quite grasp why she is so agitated. She
figures it’s because she is still on non-speaking terms with her sister Katie.
As she continues to be distracted, her boss Lester motions for her to take
a fifteen minute break, which she gladly accepts.
As she makes her way from behind the bar, she notices Thomas Norris
entering. Waving him down, she motions for him to join her at a table
which he happily obliges.
“Hey there, stranger! Long time since we last saw each other, how have
you been doing?” Melinda asks while motioning for her co-worker Tina to
bring them both a Miller Lite. “Been shopping in any more boutiques since
we last hung out?”
“No. I’ve been very busy at work. I’m relieved that I had a free night to
go out. Have you noticed when one has a free night off, they often find
they don’t know what to do with that time?” Thomas asks. Melinda nods
knowing that feeling well. “Plus, I’m so relieved to find a friend to talk too.”
“I admit that it is nice to talk to somebody that is only a friend, without
any of those other feelings to mess it up. I take it things with Elizabeth
and Jonathan are still confusing?”
“It’s hard when you like both people for different reasons. I’m friends with
both of them and I think they both like me but I don’t know. I just don’t
want to make the same mistake with them like I did back in California.”
“Yeah, I remember that conversation very well, what happened with
those phone calls and letters?”
“Strangely, ever since I moved into my apartment, I haven’t received any
phone calls or notes. Perhaps, my stalker doesn’t know where I live and
I’d like to keep it like that. I haven’t told either of them about this. I don’t
want either of them to worry.”
“Just be on your guard because the person who’s this is still out there.
Perhaps, they will stop but a part of me would always wonder. Now, in
regards to your other statement, I’ve known both Elizabeth and Jonathan
for years. I doubt very much that history would repeat itself.”
“I know you’re right because they are different people, especially
Elizabeth. You should be lucky you never met this other girl back in
California. She was nice but there was always something off about her.”
Thomas shivers at the memory. “Anyway, what has been going on with
you?”
“Just regret over how I handled two different situations.” Melinda replies
while noticing her boss Lester motioning her in the background. “Listen, I’d
love to talk more but I have to get back to work. Will you be alright?”
“Yes. I actually have to get home but it was nice catching up with you.
We should go shopping together sometime.” Thomas remarks while
Melinda nodded as she went back to work.
Thomas quickly pays his tab and walks toward his apartment unaware
that someone is following him.
Hope Falls Inn:
“Go right ahead and tell my father. I don’t care what you say to him
because he would understand why I aborted our baby. After meeting you,
he would be on cloud nine that I ended the pregnancy.” Elizabeth retorts
back to Nico.
“Ah, you are playing a card that I had not anticipated you playing. Don’t
worry; I’m not going to tell your father anything. My job seems to be on
thin ice so I won’t make waves.”
“I don’t want my father to know that you and I had a fling in New York.
He’ll assume that I hired you to work at his company because of personal
feelings. Which we both know is not the case.”
“Why did you decide to hire me to work at your father’s company? I
admit I was surprised to hear from you. One day I woke up, and you had
packed your bags and went right back to Illinois without a good-bye.”
“I felt bad about that but I had to get home. I couldn’t bear to look at
you after having the abortion. To answer your other question, I hired you
because I saw all of your photos at your apartment. I saw you had raw
talent for photography. So I figured that I’d help you get your foot in the
door.” Elizabeth replies while Nico smiles at the answer.
Nico holds Elizabeth deep in his arms. “Thank you for the vote of
confidence.”
“You need to get your act together with my father or else he won’t be
able to see how great you can be as a photographer.” Elizabeth breaks
out of Nico’s hold. “Just don’t screw up with him, ok?”
“You have my word that I won’t.” Elizabeth just shakes her head before
heading for the door. “Where are you going? I thought perhaps you and I
could have some fun together.”
“That would be a bad idea. Just do a good job and stay out of trouble.
I’ll see you Monday.” Elizabeth exits the room.
Luigi’s Italian Restaurante
“To be honest, I don’t have a clear answer for you Dale. All I can say is
that I wasn’t ready for marriage. I was afraid of what I would say if you
asked me.” Gillian replies.
“I would have been disappointed but understanding if you had turned me
down. However, you wouldn’t even let me ask the question. Not only
that, you wouldn’t talk about it with me for over two months. I’m actually
surprised you’re talking about it now.”
“I didn’t mean to bring it up. I figured we had moved beyond that whole
episode.” Gillian realizes just then that she’s just said the wrong words. “I
didn’t mean for it to come out like that.”
“No, I think you meant it. What I don’t understand is why you never
bought it up. What were you afraid of?” Dale asks trying to understand
his girlfriend but finding it hard too.
“I don’t know why I’m afraid to marry a wonderful man like your!
Perhaps, it could be that I am only twenty three and unsure of what I’m
meant to do. I envisioned myself to be a crackerjack real estate agent
but that dreams gone down the tubes. I also thought I would not be living
with my parents right now but I still am!” Gillian exclaims out loud.
“So you are mad with the current direction of your life, so is half the
population! What are you going to do to change the current direction to
something that will make you happy?” Dale asks while she has no answer.
“Perhaps, it is a good thing you didn’t let me propose to you. I see that
you are incapable of having a serious, mature conversation about anything.”
“Dale, where are you going with this?”
“I just realized that I am dating someone so immature that she isn’t sure
about anything. Until you decide what you want out of life and our
relationship, we shouldn’t see each other.” Dale waves for the waiter to
get the check.
“Dale, you don’t mean breaking up, do you?” Gillian ponders while Dale
just stares at her. “Come on, couple’s have fights all the time.
“Yes, you are right about that. I stand by what I just said, and maybe
that will jolt you into thinking about things.” Dale signs the bill and gets up,
leaving Gillian in complete shock.
Gillian watches Dale make his way up front toward the exit and out of her
life. She just sits there in shock over the turn of events. She realizes she
needs to talk to someone, just can’t decide on whom.
Thomas Norris Apartment:
Thomas enters his apartment relieved to be home. As he makes his way
into the kitchen, he notices Jonathan’s jacket in the living room. He
couldn’t explain it but he feels secure with Jonathan, even though they
hadn’t known each other that long. He realizes he felt the same way about
his partner Luis back in California, scaring him to the core. Just as he
selects a frozen dinner from the freezer, he hears a knock at his apartment
door.
Making his way toward the door, he wonders if perhaps Jonathan or
Elizabeth are dropping by to flirt with him. So often on the weekends, he is
greeted by both of them and enjoys their company. It helps him to feel
more at home and to believe that anyone can start over if they really want
to. As he opens the door, he is surprised to see who is standing behind
the door.
“What the hell are you doing in Hope Falls?” Thomas asks with both
surprise and anger.
“Is that the way you greet the sister of your late boyfriend? I would have
thought you would be happy to see me. I guess when you have guilt over
killing my brother; I can understand your anger.” Alicia Salgado pushes her
way into Thomas’ apartment. He stares in complete shock at seeing the
woman who made him to leave California and his family behind.
