Installment 28:
Foxy's Diner
Henry Falmont stares around the busy diner looking for a place to
sit among the crowd. As he makes his way to a booth, he catches
sight of Nina sitting alone reading a book. Making his way toward
her, she looks up and gives him a look of dread.
"Fancy running into you here today." He laughs.
Nina rolls her eyes. "Yeah, considering that I always have lunch
here at the diner, I guess it would be amazing running into you today."
Nina looks back down at her book.
"Ouch, someone has gotten up on the wrong side of the bed.
Tell me, are you going through withdrawal now that finals are over or
are you always this cheerful?"
"If you must know, I am sitting here reading a book during my
only week off this summer." Nina retorts. "What brings you here?
Katie is at work right now, if that is who you were looking
for."
"No, I was actually looking for you and I'm so happy that I was."
Henry replied with sarcasm.
"What business do you have with me? If you are trying to hit on
me again, I'm going to tell you beforehand that you are wasting your
time."
" I think we do need to talk about our relationship because
there is something there between us and we need to deal with it now."
Henry explained while Nina slammed her book and got up.
"Listen, I admit that for a brief second, I was attracted to you
but the moment that Katie introduced you as her boyfriend, that went
out the door. The only person still confused is you, so let it go."
Henry watches her as she walks outside and then gets up to follow her.
Hope Falls Country Club:
Lillian Richardson pulls her purse closer to her body as she enters
the Country Club. She can't believe she let her boss, Malcolm, talk
her into having lunch at the country club. She folds her arms
across her chest and glances around the club. Her mood darkens
when she sees Lenore Falmont at her table. Instantly, she realizes
why she was dead-set against coming to the club. She turns around
to leave when she hears her name called.
"Why Lillian, how wonderful to see you today." Lenore remarks
as she approaches her. "I assume you didn't see me over at my table
so I came over to say hello."
"Oh, that was very thoughtful of you to do. However, you didn't have
to go to all that trouble just to greet me. I'm actually here to
meet my boss for a business lunch but I guess he is running a little
late." Lillian scans the dining room for her boss.
"Well, why don't you join me for a little girl talk while you wait
for your boss."
Lillian shakes her head.
"I insist you join me, I can't have you waiting here all by yourself."
"Gee, aren't you being sweet today. However, I'm sure that Malcolm
will be here in no time." Lillian answers trying to get out of sitting
with Lenore. Just then a server taps her on the shoulder. "Yes?"
"Ms. Richardson, I have a message from your lunch date stating that
he has to postpone lunch." The server passes Lillian
the message.
"Oh, now I insist you join me for a quick bite to eat." Lenore
states while guiding Lillian to her table. "So what is new with you?"
"Ok, Lenore, I don't know what you are trying to do but I can see
right through your routine. Remember, we used to be roommates in
college and I know when you are being fake."
"I can't put anything past you, dear old friend. I guess
I don't have the ability to stab people in the back like other people
do." Lenore said. Her tone was cold as ice. "Besides, I figured you
would be on top of the world right now with the latest news."
"What news are you talking about?" Lillian asks wondering whether
Lenore is on the level.
"Why the news that your daughter Gillian, I think that's her name,
is now working as Falmont Enterprises newest real estate agent. I
would assume your husband and daughter would have filled you in on
this great news." Lenore states with a sly smirk on her face. She knows
that she has just caused a little bit of trouble in her old friend's
life.
Oleary's
"Lunch at Oleary's was such a good idea." Alicia Salgado exclaimed
as she took a sip of Coke. "I am so stressed out right now with lesson
plans for the summer session."
"I knew that you needed a bite to eat when you snapped at me for
asking you for the time." Stephen Richardson replied as he took a bite
of his steak. "Hopefully, lunch and time with me will help take your
mind off of things."
"I certainly can use a vacation and I haven't even started to
teach yet!" Alicia knew that having Thomas in the same
town again was causing her to be on edge. She hadn't told
Stephen about that.
"You do seem very wound up and I think it involves something other
then nerves over lession plans, am I right?"
"You know me so well Stephen. There is something else that
has been troubling me lately and it has gotten worse over time." Alicia notices
Thomas Norris entering.
"What's wrong? You look like you just saw a ghost." Stephen asks
then turns around to see Thomas heading for the bar. "Do you know
him or something?"
"Yes, I knew him when I was living in California. He was
a close friend of my late brother, Luis. I didn't know that he was
living in Hope Falls until last week." Alicia replies with bitterness
and fury mixed together.
"It doesn't sound like you like whomever this guy is. What makes
you dislike him so much? Did you use to date him?"
"No, I didnt date him, though my brother Luis had a crush on him.
The first time I ever met him, I knew he was trouble but my brother
wouldn't listen to me. He always had trouble listening when people
tried to give him advice." Alicia pauses and thinks about that
time in her life.
"Believe me, I have two younger sister's and they never listen to
my advice, even though I know what I'm talking about. So, what ended
up happening between you and that guy over there?"
"He killed my brother." Alicia answers. Stephen's mouth
drops open in surprise.
Hope Falls Country Club:
"You are just trying to get me on my bad side. There is no way that
my daughter would be working at your husband's company. I mean I would
have been told about it." Lillian's voice raises in volume with each passing word.
"Perhaps, they figured that you would take the news badly. I
can't imagine why, since you seem to be handling it so well." Lenore
remarked, silently laughing inside. "If you don't believe me, you
are more then welcome to ask your husband."
"You know I am going to do that right now. I can't believe they
wouldn't tell me this. As always, a pleasure seeing you again."
Lillian gets out of her chair and stands. Lenore remains
seated with a gleeful smile on her face.
Lillian walks toward the front of the club angry at being lied to
by her family. She can't believe that her husband and daughter
are working at Falmont Enterprises. It was bad enough that they were
working there but to not tell her was unforgiveable.
As she walks outside the club, she looks around for her vehicle
and walks toward the parking lot. Not watching where she is going,
she runs into someone and falls backwards.
"Oh, I'm very sorry, let me help you up." George Falmont bends
down to help Lillian up. "Lillian?"
"Yeah, who are you?" Lillian asks while composing her thoughts.
She takes a clear second look to see who is in front of her. "Oh, my
god George, what are you doing here?"
"I think the question is what has taken us to long to run into one
another again." George remarks. Lillian realizes she is
facing the man who has caused her extreme regret for twenty- six years.
Outside of Foxy's Diner:
"Nina, wait!" Henry calls out. Nina continues walking down the
street in a daze. "We need to talk and you can't keep walking away
from me."
"I'll do as I please, thank you very much." Nina spat at him. He
quickens his pace. "Why don't you leave me alone and go visit your
girlfriend at work."
"No, we need to have this out now or else it'll be
hanging over our heads." Henry finally catches up to her.
"Which part of "I don't want you" do you fail to
understand? Do I need to draw a picture, act it out in charades, what?"
"Ok, maybe you aren't into me but I'm into you. I don't want to
date Katie if I'm into someone else. Especially, if that someone else
is her best friend." Nina cools down a little and nods in agreement.
"You need to deal with this on your own because you are the only
one who has a problem. I knew you were totally wrong for Katie
the first time she introduced you to me." Nina paused and sighed. "Of course,
she seemed so happy with you and I couldn't very well break her heart
by stating that her boyfriend was a pig."
"I find it very interesting that you were into me until you found
out that I was dating your friend. This leads me to believe that you
don't really think I am a pig, you are just saying that to cover your
true feelings."
"Oh, dream on Henry! I found you to be attractive for one second
and you assume that I'm in love with you. Spoken like a typical
male."
"Well, at least I am aware of my feelings and trying to deal with
them. You are pretending to not feel anything. However, maybe
you aren't pretending. Maybe you seriously aren't aware of your true
feelings on anything. I mean, you are very busy with school and this
internship. You wouldn't recognize emotions if they were dancing in front of
you."
"I'll have you know that I am in touch with my emotions! I
am feeling one particular emotion for you as I speak.
Trust me, you don't want to know what that emotion is." Nina retorts.
Henry stares at her with a smirk on his face. "Ok, tell me what you are
feeling for me right now. I doubt you have the guts to express
how you truly feel about someone."
"I hate that you are dating my best friend and making a fool of her
by making eyes at me! Man, why are men such pigs!" Nina screams
and pushes past Henry. He grabs her by the arm and pulls her close to him.
Their breathing becomes heavier by the second. "Just what
do you think you're doing?"
"Making you see what you are feeling and missing by being
such an angry, bitter person." Henry responds then kisses her
on the lips. The passion surprises both of them and Nina responds hungrily
to his kiss.
Neither of them are aware that Gillian Richardson is watching
them from a distance. Her mouth drops open.
Oleary's:
"Are you being serious?" Stephen asks Alicia as they sit dwatching Thomas
at the bar. "He seems like a harmless guy, I can't see him killing
anyone."
"Ok, he didn't kill my brother literally but my brother killed
himself last year and he named Thomas as the reason." Alicia replied.
"Well, that's a different take on the situation. However, you do
know that suicide is a very complex issue, blame is usually not
so easily handed out."
Alicia started to tense up again."How would you know that?
Have you ever lost a family member to suicide?" Alicia asked in anger.
"When one of your sisters decides to kill themselves, then you can sit there
and talk that kind of garbage. Until then, please kindly keep
statements like that to yourself."
"Alicia, I didnt mean to anger you. I'm very sorry about
your brother, I can't even imagine what that would feel like. Listen,
I think I need to head back, did you want me to give you a lift?"
"No, that is ok. I just need to cool off a little. I'll call you
later once I finish my lesson plans." Stephen nodded.
"I do really love you and I'm sorry that I snapped at you, I'm
not angry at you." She said quietly.
"I know that seeing a part of your past can cause emotions
dealt with to come rearing their ugly head. Anyway,
call me later when you are ready." Stephen kisses
Alicia before heading out the door.
Alicia sits at her table feeling stupid for snapping at
her boyfriend the way she had. She thought the emotions
flaring up had been dealt with but this is not the case. She looks up and notices
Thomas still at the bar having a drink. An unfamiliar guy joins him.
She watces Thomas talk to the guy and is reminded of how he used to talk to Luis.
Her renewed anger is flaring up again and she vows to make sure he never
hurts another person again.
