INSTALLMENT 26
Thomas Norris’ Apartment (Picking up right after last installment.)
“Tell me again why you’re here? I thought I did you a favor leaving
California, given your threats against me if I stayed.” Thomas closes the
door and faces Alicia.
“Obviously you don’t know me, I never leave anyone alone.” Alicia sits
down breathing heavy as she utters the following words. “The day you do
me a favor is the day you feel the same pain I felt when burying my brother.”
“You’re still angry with me over what happened with Luis, I understand.
You also have to admit that you had a hand in what happened last year.”
Thomas recalls how she threw herself at him.
“That’s so typical of you to pass around blame. His suicide note named
you as the reason he killed himself. I looked over the note and didn’t see
any mention of my name. Changing the subject, what have you been up
too?”
“It’s funny how you stand there and pretend to care. I assume you
already know how I’m since you’ve been calling and sending me letters.”
Thomas replies while Alicia laughs. “Don’t try to deny it because I won’t
believe you. Perhaps, you can tell me why you followed me all the way to
Hope Falls?”
“I didn’t follow you here, at least on purpose. I came here because Luis
loved Chicago and I wanted to feel close to him. There was an opening at
the University for tutors and I took the job. I’m hoping to get a teaching
job during the summer session. You do remember I have a degree in
teaching. I’m going to be teaching at the University full-time. So I’ll be
sticking around for a long time so get use to it.”
“I don’t know what your game is, but I want you to leave alone. Your
brother wouldn’t want you to be angry at me; he loved you very much and
wanted you to be happy.” Thomas tries to find anything to lessen Alicia’s
anger at him.
“Don’t worry I’m not interested in you in that way anymore. I just want
you to know that I’m here in Hope Falls. I’m going to be watching you to
make sure you don’t inflict pain on anybody else. Besides, I’m dating a
great guy who’s into me.”
“How do you manage to land him? Did you break up a relationship he
was involved in?” Thomas ponders while Alicia gives him the evil eye.
“I would be careful about the way you speak to me. Just remember that
I’m going to be watching you. If you hurt anybody else the way you hurt
my brother then I’ll make your life a living hell. Just remember that.” Alicia
turns to leave. “Don’t bother showing me out, I know the way out.”
Alicia exits his apartment while Thomas is still in complete shock over her
presence. Part of him is on top of the world that she wasn’t obsessed with
him, but the other half wonders if her words are just words.
Richardson House:
The television blares as Chase Richardson makes his way into the living
room with a bowl of chicken soup. He notices his daughter Gillian slamming
the front door and running upstairs to her room. A part of him wants to
follow her but realizes that she wants to be alone so let’s her be.
Just as he settles down in his chair to watch another episode of Extreme
Home Makeover, he is surprised to see his son Stephen also coming
through the front door.
“Hey there Dad, how are you doing?” Stephen asks as he sits down in
the living room and stares at the television set.
“I’m just enjoying a nice bowl of soup while watching my favorite reality
program. What are you doing home so early? Did Alicia and you have a
fight?”
“No. She had other plans tonight so we didn’t go out. Why did you
assume that we had a fight?”
“For the last two months, you guys have been joined at the hip. I figured
the only reason you guys aren’t together right now is because you had a
fight. At least, that was the only thing that kept your mother and me from
being together 24/7 when we dated.” Chase says remembering back to
that time in his life.
“No. We haven’t had a fight or anything we just needed a night apart.
Some couples need that every once in awhile so I figured why not. When
you go out with someone every night for two months, you kind of forget
what its like to be on your own for an evening.” Stephen reflects while
Chase nods his understanding. “So where is everyone tonight?”
“Your mother is at a meeting; Nina is at Katie’s house studying and your
sister Gillian is holed up in her room.” Chase replies while they both know
that Gillian is in angst. “As you can guess, your sister probably had a bad
night tonight and wants to be alone.”
“She’s always been like that for as long as I can remember Dad. Which
reminds me, how is working with Mr. Falmont?” Stephen asks, not
meaning to change the subject but anxious to hear how working for the
Falmont’s is going.
“It’s interesting working with the man. I haven’t been working there for
long but I think it’ll be a good fit. Why do you ask?”
“Just interested in hearing what it’s like working with one of the richest
men in Hope Falls. Has mom come around to the idea of you working
there?”
“She seems to have accepted it, but I can tell she’s still not happy about
it. She still won’t tell me why she’s against me working there, it is as if
there’s some deep dark secret.” Chase remarks. “I would hate to see
her reaction when she finds out that he’s asked Gillian to work there as well.”
“Talking about me dad?” Gillian asks from the staircase while Chase and
Stephen both smile at her. “I guess I should tell you guys that I’ve made a
decision about Mr. Falmont’s offer.” She remarks as they both wait to
hear her answer.
Foxy’s Diner:
Nina Richardson is greeted by a swarm of hungry customers as she
makes her way to a booth. She didn’t realize how late it was when she
finished studying and overcome with hunger. As she prepares to order her
standard cheeseburger and coke, she notices her friend Wally Mitchell
sitting by himself.
She pretends not to notice him but realizes that he is looking straight at
her. She decides to motion for him to join her.
“I hadn’t expected to see you here tonight. I thought you were over at
my house studying with my sister.” Wally remarks as he sits down across
from Nina.
“Yeah, we were studying but I had to leave. You know I love your sister
to death, but if I had to listen to her talk about modeling one more time, I
was going to snap.” Nina exclaims while Wally just laughs.
“Ah, you forget I live with her. I tried to talk her out of this modeling
dream but she’s determined to see it through. With this so-called casting
call not set for another couple weeks, maybe she’ll change her mind. I
doubt she’ll be able to hide it from Melinda for that long.”
“How are things going between her and Melinda anyway? I tried to ask
her tonight but she refused to even answer my question. I swear if it
doesn’t have anything to do with Henry or this new modeling thing, she
won’t talk about it.” Nina vents out loud.
“They are still not speaking to one another, and believe me, I wish that
would change.” Wally answers. “However, I think I might have something
that’ll make the two begin talking.”
“What would that be?”
“Mother’s Day is coming up and that holiday is a painful one for all of us.
I’m going to request that both of them spend it with me remembering our
mother. I hope it’ll work and they’ll be talking before I know it.”
“I’m sure it’ll work out. By the way, what were you doing here all by
yourself? Were you waiting to meet someone?” Nina asks observing the
preppy appearance of her friend.
“Yeah, I was supposed to meet someone but I guess they stood me up.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Were you guys supposed to be on a date?”
Nina asks.
“No. We were just supposed to hang out together. I guess I’ll be going
since she didn’t show up. I’ll see you later.” Wally slides out of the booth
and exits the diner.
Nina sits there noting how jumpy Wally got when she ask about his
mystery woman. The journalist part of her knew there was more then
meets the eye with her old friend Wally. At this point, she figures some
things are better left unknown.
Richardson House:
“So what have you decided, dear?” Chase asks Gillian as she comes
down the stairs.
“I’m going to take his offer and run with it.” Gillian replies. “I mean the
housing market is in a lull and I’m barely making enough at Macy’s. So the
opportunity came at the right time.”
“I’m very happy to hear that you’ve made a decision. I admit I was
worried when you came home and shut yourself in your room. I’m glad to
know why you did that.” Chase responds while focusing back on his
television show.
“Come on Gillian; let’s go in the kitchen so we don’t disturb dad.”
Stephen suggests while motioning for his sister to follow him into the
kitchen.
The two head for the kitchen not realizing that Chase is unaware of their
exit from the living room.
“So, what’s up? Why did you escort me into the kitchen?” Gillian asks as
she makes her way to the cupboard looking for something to eat.
“Because, I know something is bothering you. I don’t think it has
anything to do with this job offer from Mr. Falmont. Though I’m intrigued
with why you accepted a job working for him, especially after the way you
vented about his son Jonathan for weeks.”
“I need the change in my life and I figured why not just go for it. Isn’t
that what one is supposed to do when presented with an opportunity like
this?”
“Yes, that is true. Let’s not forget that you never make these spur of the
moment decisions unless something happened.” Stephen observes while
Gillian stands silent. “Now, I remember you mentioning all week to
everyone that you were going out with Dale tonight. How did that go by
the way?”
“It was a nice dinner.” Gillian quickly answers while Stephen waits for the
rest of the statement. “We talked, laughed, and then he decided he wanted
to take a break.”
“Gillian, that’s horrible! I’m sorry that happened, what can I do to make
you feel better?” Stephen hugs his sister.
“Just accept that I’ve chosen to work at Falmont Enterprises. So what if
my boyfriend breaking up with me got me to this decision. Isn’t the
important thing that I made the decision?” Gillian asks while Stephen nods
in agreement. “Good, now don’t tell anyone especially Nina. She’ll have a
field day with this latest turn of events.”
“I think you sell our sister short sometimes. Granted, she is the most
sarcastic person that I’ve ever encountered, but deep down, she loves you
very much.” Stephen replies. “Don’t worry; I won’t say anything at all.
This is your news to tell everyone, just make sure you do before dad does.”
Stephen remarks.
“You’ve got yourself a deal. Not to change the subject, but what are we
going to do for Mother’s Day? You know it’s coming up in the next few days.”
“Don’t worry, I have that all taken care of. A nice breakfast cooked by
yours truly, a card from your sister, and you can buy her favorite Frango
mints at Macy’s.” Stephen answers while she nods in agreement. “Let’s
get dad’s attention before he is totally lost in the lure of Extreme home
Makeover.”
Both Stephen and Gillian head out to the living room to sit with their dad.
They wonder to themselves how their mother will feel about her new job at
Falmont Enterprises.
