INSTALLMENT 59
 




Falmont Art Gallery






   "What is she doing here?"  Lillian asks frantically, her body 
tensing up.

   Lenore turns to Lillian, "I don't know, but getting worked 
up about her isn't going to help matters."

   Lillian nods and takes a deep breath.  "You're right.  I have to 
focus on tonight and not let anything ruin my evening."

   "Exactly, but I'll keep an eye on her just in case."  Lenore 
vows, watching Alicia walking around the gallery.  "There is 
something about her that makes me uneasy.  What do you know about 
her?"

   "Well I know she came from California and she moved here last 
year to start teaching at the University."

   "And you say she dated Stephen?"  Lillian nods.  "What was she 
like?"

   Lillian thinks for a second.  "I mean I didn't spend a lot of 
time with her, but she seemed nice enough.  Maybe a little aggressive, 
but nothing out of the ordinary.  Why?" 

   "Just wondering if she ever lost her temper, exhibited questionable 
behavior.  That kind of thing." Lenore wonders, recalling her own 
encounter with Alicia.

   "No, not that I can remember."  Lillian replies, noticing just 
then Stephen and Melinda entering.  "There's my son, I have to go
warn him about Alicia."

   "Lillian, he's not blind.... he's going to see her.  I'll keep
an eye on her, you go relax and leave your son alone." Lenore 
instructs before heading out into the crowd.

   Lillian grabs a glass of champagne from the waiter and downs 
it in quick fashion.  Nothing can ruin tonight, she vows to 
herself.

_________________________________________________________________________



   Stephen can hardly remember a time when he wasn't in love with 
Melinda.  He couldn't remember the exact date his feelings for his 
best friend changed, but he knew he couldn't imagine life without
her in it.  Patiently he waited for her to be ready, and just as
he'd given up hope, she finally admitted her feelings for him.

   Since then, any free time they'd had were spent together. At 
this second, he felt like nothing could spoil his good mood.

   "Hello Stephen." A familiar voice says behind him.  He turns around
and sees Alicia standing there with an odd expression.

   "Alicia... what are you doing here?"  Stephen asks, his body tensing
up at the sight of his ex-girlfriend in front of him.

   "Relax, I'm here with a date.  He's around here somewhere."  Alicia
replies, noticing Melinda coming toward them.  "I see you're here with
Melinda."

   Melinda hands a glass of champagne to Stephen.  "Yes, he is and he's
having the time of his life.  How are you Alicia?"

   Alicia's jaw clenches as does her fist.  "I'm doing fine, just
enjoying the evening.  I wanted to come over and say hello. I want
you guys to know I harbor no ill feelings and that it's great to
see how happy you guys are."

   Melinda nods, noticing Alicia's clenched fist. "Thank you.. um I hope
you have fun tonight."

   "You know I will,"  She sees her date Rex waving.  "If you excuse me,
my date is summoning me.  Again it was nice to see both of you.  We must
do this again."

   Alicia hugs Melinda and Stephen before making her way over to her date.
She happens to notice Wally staring at her with a jealous look on his  
face.  Good, she thinks to herself, serves him right.

   Melinda breathes a sigh of relief then tenses up.  "Oh, this just keeps
getting better."

   "What now?" Stephen follows her gaze over to his father and her father
talking.  "Nice to know both of us have someone here that makes us 
uncomfortable."  He takes her in his arms.  "Listen, lets just forget about 
your father and my ex-girlfriend and just enjoy the evening."

   Melinda puts her arms around Stephen and kisses him.  "Your wish is
my command."

______________________________________________________________________________



   A hand waves in front of Wally's face, distracting him from watching
Alicia walk across the gallery.

   "What's up?" he asks, turning his attention toward Nina.

   "That's just what I was going to ask you.  Where were you just now?"  

   Wally debated telling Nina about Alicia, but decided against it in fear
that she'd have to do the right thing.  Even though Alicia wasn't his 
professor, he knew that it looked bad for her to be dating a student.  
Especially in Nina's black and white shaded eyes.

   "Oh, I was just thinking about the fight I had before I picked you 
up tonight."  Wally replies, his eye still fixed on Alicia laughing it up
with her date.

   Nina puts her arm around Wally and gives him a quick hug.  "Was the
fight that bad?"  Wally nods.  "Listen, why not just forget about it
for tonight and then tomorrow you can try to make up with this mystery
person.  Who by the way, I've yet to meet, let alone learn their name."

   Wally turns toward Nina.  "You're right, I'll just put it out of my
mind for tonight.  And I'd prefer to keep my personal life private."  He 
then gives a side glancevin Alicia's direction, which Nina takes note of.

   "Why do you keep looking over at Alicia?"

   "You know her?"  Wally asks, then realizes that she probably has her for
a teacher.

   Nina laughs, "I should say I do.  That's the weirdo my brother broke up
with."

   Wally's eyes widen, "That's her?!?"

   "Yeah, why do you care so much?  Do you know her or something?"  Nina 
asks, then a thought comes over her.  "She isn't the one you've been 
seeing secretly have you?  Oh god, tell me she isn't!"

________________________________________________________________________________

   
   
   "Did you just say that she's your date for tonight?"  Chase asks, 
trying to determine if he heard correctly and why he was feeling a tinge 
of jealousy.

   Gerald nods, pulling Bianca closer to him.  Bianca looks at him with 
a mix of disgust and tolerance.

   "As I told you earlier, this isn't a date in the traditional sense."  
She casually moves his arm away from her waist.  "He's just accompanying 
me as a friend and nothing more."

   Bianca gives Gerald a razorsharp look, he inches away in fear. 

   "Bianca, can I spare your 'date' for a few minutes?  I promise I won't 
take up too much of his time."  Chase requests, making an effort not to 
stare too long at her.

   "Take all the time you need."  Bianca replies before making her way
over to where Misty is standing.

   "Can you make this quick pal, I have her right where I want her."

   Chase laughs, "Were you just here?  She shot you down."

   "I don't give up easily.  Besides, she's just playing hard to get. 
Once I unlease my full charms, she won't know what hit her."

   "If you say so old friend.  Anyway, the reason I wanted to talk to
you was because two of your children are here tonight."

   "They are?"  Gerald looks around and spots them.  "Well I'll be, I 
must make a point to go over to them."

   "I think it best you give them both some space."  Gerald gives him a
dirty look.  "Trust me, they're still getting used to you being back
after all these years.  Just give them a little breathing room and 
eventually they'll approach you."

   "Listen buddy, I know we go way back, but if I want advice from you on
how to raise my kids then I'll ask for it."  Gerald then pushes Chase
out of his way and starts to walk away.

   "They stopped being your kids the moment you walked out on them all
those years ago."

   Gerald turns around and walks back up to Chase.  He looks around and
notices a few people around them are watching them.

   "I know what this is about buddy."  Gerald pauses, trying to suppress
the urge to punch his old friend in the jaw.  "You have a thing for my
date, don't you?  And it's eating you up that she's with me and not you."

   "Who are you talking about?"  Lillian asks, drink in hand.

   "I didn't see you there.  How long have you been standing there?" Chase
asks, his face turning a bright shade of red.

   "Long enough to hear his last statement."  Lillian turns to Gerald.  "So 
whose your date?"  

__________________________________________________________________________

   

    Alicia becomes bored listening to her date talking shop and excuses 
herself.  She looks around for a waiter and accidently runs into Lenore.  

    "Why Lenore!  Fancy running into you here."  Alicia remarks, grabbing 
a glass from the waiter and takes a sip.  "Quite a beautiful set-up you 
have here." 

   "Thank you,"  Lenore replies.  "What the hell are you doing here?  I 
don't recall you being invited."

   Alicia takes a deep breath, trying to keep control of her temper.  "I 
know that, but my date happened to be on the guest list."  She points her 
finger over to her date Rex, talking to an attractive woman.

   Lenore looks over and nods, "Rex Issacson, the head of the History 
department.  I do recall inviting him because of his sizeable contributions 
to our charities.  How did you manage to get a date with him."

   "You should be asking how he managed to get a date with me," Alicia 
smirks, taking another sip of her champagne.  "So where's your husband?"

   "He's on his way,"  Lenore answers.  "I hope you were able to follow 
through on your end of the bargain."

   "Yes, I put on an award winning performance,"  Alicia answers, crossing 
her finger behind her back as if in junior high.  "I'm sure you'll have
nothing to worry about."

   "It's you that has something to worry about, not me."  Lenore can see 
Misty in the distance signaling for her, "If you don't mind, my co-chair 
needs my help."

   Lenore starts to leave but Alicia grabs hold of her arm.  "You think 
you hold all the cards, but before you dismiss me, I do want to leave you 
with a thought.  Your husband is at work and so is Gillian."

   "Yes, so?"

   Alicia smiles, "I was raised to believe once a cheater, always a 
cheater,"  Lenore starts to walk away, "And like mother, like daughter."

   Lenore ignores Alicia, but secretly bothered by her statement.  She 
reaches her into her black pocketbook and pulls out her cell.  As she 
waits for the beep, she tries to convince herself Alicia's just 
messing with her.

   "George, this is your wife.  Please call and let me know when you 
plan on gracing us with your presence."

   She disconnects the phone, and starts to imagine the worst.