Previously...
Kimberly
curls herself into a ball and begins humming to herself softly. She soon begins to exhibit a rocking motion and the humming becomes noticeably louder. She does her best to cast the voices away that are seemingly taking over her mind right before her.
She slowly rises to her feet and stares into a mirror that is hanging on the wall. Shaking her head with disgust, she remembers a time when this very reflection seemed to consume her every thought. Her eyes begin to grow heavy with tears, eventually they slide down each side of her cheek.
Kimberly is soon taken back to an image of herself as a teenager. Her long blonde hair was neatly tucked behind her ears. Her use of makeup made her look well beyond her years. She was in a stage in her life where acceptance from her peers meant everything in the world. However, acceptance and self-esteem were the biggest struggles for Kimberly. Instead, voices of anger tormented her every move.
In her mind, she walks out into the kitchen and sees her parents sitting at the dining table. Steve is reading the newspaper, while Diane is sipping some coffee out of her favorite mug and scribbling some notes on a piece of paper. Inside, Kimberly is so proud as she recently got her report card which announced that she had a 3.0 average. In recent years, she had seen herself fall behind in school and she had worked extremely hard this semester to bring up her grades.
A smile crosses her face as she nears her parents, although she soon notices her brother enter the kitchen as well. Jason presents a beaming smile and pulls out a piece of paper and quickly shows it to their parents. Diane and Steve seem so pleased after perusing the report and realizing Jason has received straight As. Kimberly's smile quickly disappears as she takes a few steps back and leaves the kitchen unnoticed. All the pent up excitement was now gone; she could never seem to compete with Jason. To Kimberly, he would always be their best and brightest.
She suddenly snaps back to reality when she hears the doorbell ring. She isn't quite sure who would be here at this time, but after a quick glance through the window, she realizes it's her father. Steve
soon raises his hand to ring the bell once again. Kimberly instantly regrets parking her car in the driveway- after all that was going on recently, Steve was the last person she wanted to face. She couldn't bear to look into his eyes after what she was doing to him.
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Scene: The Davison Residence. 1562 Pacifica Blvd.
Jason
takes a deep breath before raising trembling hands to meet the door. He forces himself to knock, but quickly has second thoughts about his arrival. He is unsure who will greet him from the other side of the door, but prays to God that it's Ashley. She is, after all, the one who's been trying to contact him for weeks since they found out together he was HIV Positive.
He is quite relieved when Ashley
eventually answers the door. She is completely surprised to see him and lets out a sigh of relief before embracing him tightly. After a firm caring hug that seems to last an eternity, Jason and Ashley both realize they are shedding tears. They smile at each other in unison and Ashley ushers him into the living room where they both meet again on the sofa.
"So…you're here." Ashley smiles with complete relief.
"Yes, I am. I'm so sorry. I needed-"
"Don't even explain. I understand, Jason. It was just so hard not to be there for you when I know you've needed the support." Ashley cuts in.
"And I really appreciate that, Ash. More than you know- trust me. I feel terrible about how I reacted...I kind of went off the deep end and did some foolish things when I found out..."
"Like?"
"Like breaking into Keith's place and retrieving his phone list off of his computer and taking his journal that I found."
"I see…and what was in the journal? I know you went through it, Jase."
"Of course I did. And I did find some interesting things- nothing concrete though that would elude to him cheating on me. He did mention a new guy in his journal a few times though that he apparently met last spring."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, his name is Lucas. I even called the guy on the phone and started grilling him...pretty crazy of me, eh?"
"I don't think it was crazy, Jason. I just think you're desperate for answers right now. I wouldn't feel bad about it."
"Well, answers I did receive...just not the ones I was hoping for. Not that I was wanting Keith to cheat on me, but it would have put some closure on the whole situation. I'm still left wondering, you know?"
"Well, if there were other men, I'm sure he wasn't stupid enough to write about them in the journal. You know those things always have a way of coming to light."
"True." Jason agrees.
"So, things are getting a little better?" Yes, or no?" Ashley inquires.
"Somewhat. Believe it or not, I'm thinking about checking out this support group in the City. Apparently there's quite a few to choose from. I know I'll be a nervous wreck though."
"Oh, you'll be fine...and it doesn't surprise me that there are more than enough choices in San Francisco. The area in general has a very high percentage of men that are living healthy with it. There's a huge number of guys in the area, Jason- you certainly shouldn't feel alone. You know, you have me too..."
"Yes, I do. I really appreciate you bring there for me."
Suddenly the door from the dining area creaks open, causing Jason to whip around. He soon sees his mother in the doorway and instantly regrets having this very conversation when others are so close by.
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Scene: The Parking Lot of Dr. Michaels' Office.
Rick
slowly turns his key and the roaring engine comes to a stop. Kayla
still feels a vibration, but realizes it's coming from her trembling knees. She remembers the last time she spoke with Dr. Michaels...The impromptu meeting came last year when she nearly had a breakdown due to excessive problems with anxiety. Although she seemed to win the battle shortly thereafter, it was only a matter of time before other issue arose.
"I really appreciate you doing this, Kay. After our last conversation, I didn't think you would agree to come. It means a lot to me."
"Well, whatever is best for our marriage." Kayla concurs, although it took her a restless night to think it over.
"We're right on time." Rick glances at his watch and smiles as he exits the car.
Kayla quickly falls behind as she remembers how difficult it was to divulge all her problems to a stranger. Now she would be forced to share her deepest thoughts in front of Rick- something she wasn't sure she had the strength to do.
The two enter the office and Rick informs the receptionist that they are present for their appointment. Moments later they are ushered through the doors into a long narrow hallway. Kayla takes one last deep breath before they enter the office. Dr. Michaels greets them with a warm smile and motions for them to have a seat on the leather sofa.
Rick grabs Kayla's right hand and puts it on his knee where he holds it tightly. "Thank you so much for meeting with us, Dr. Michaels."
"It's all my pleasure, Rick. Please do call me Star though. Let's not be so formal in here. I want everyone to be comfortable." She smiles, realizing it must be nerve-wracking for them both.
"Absolutely." Rick responds.
"Kayla, it's good to see you again. How have you been?"
Kayla nods her head and takes a moment before she responds. "I've been well. The anxiety issues have really subsided since you put me on the Lexapro last spring."
"I'm glad to hear that. I really am."
"Thank you."
"Now I do understand there are other things you would like to discuss today"
"Yes, Star. We've been having some problems in our marriage and we thought it would be great for us to get some of the things we've had trouble with out. Another opinion can never hurt either," Rick says.
"You thought it would be great," Kayla quickly corrects.
"Rick closes his mouth and looks at Star without another word. The tension already seems to mount once again.
"What reservations do you have about today's session, Kayla?" Star turns her direction to Kay.
Kayla clears her throat and replies. "I just see this turning into a slaughter fest and I don't what that. I just don't want to hash things out which will only make matters worse."
"I don't think that's going to happen." Rick cuts in.
"In all due respect, Dr. Michaels, you can't be completely impartial. You're going to have to side with one of us- and I'm sure it will be Rick."
"And why are you so sure about that?" Star asks.
"Because I know he's about to bring up Liz Bryant- and I've never had a fighting chance when it comes to her."
______________________________________________________________
Scene: The Bordeaux Chateau. Northern Heights District.
Valerie
Valerie produces a smile and her strides grow longer as she quickly walks up to Terrence's
home. It's a beautiful French-style Chateau that has to boast nearly ten thousand feet. It's the first time that she's been invited to a man's home in some time- although she has no knowledge that it truly belongs to Terrence's mother, Felicia
.
She knocks on the door confidently, reminding herself that she comes from money as well. Although some of her actions would show otherwise, she tries not to be intimidated by the large home.
"Hi Terrence," Valerie greets him with a hug.
"Why hello there! Don't you look beautiful?"
"Thanks. You look great as well. It's good to see you again." Butterflies seem to emerge once again in Valerie's stomach.
"Please come in." Terrence ushers her inside as she looks around with amazement. A beautiful chandelier and breathtaking skylights are seen above.
"This place is beautiful," Val says. "I cannot believe you live here...I mean, it's just so big. You really live here all alone?"
"Yes. For now...until I raise a family, you know." Terrence flashes a quick smile and shows her through the living room and into the backyard. A beautiful waterfall can be heard in the far back, as well as a large fountain that appears near the barbecue area.
"I bet you've had your share of parties here, eh? I mean, wow" Valerie trails off as she looks around.
"I certainly have- but we won't go into details. Those were in my crazier days." Terrence laughs.
"Very well then. Perhaps I'll get it out of you one day." Valerie winks.
"I'm sure you will"
"So what's on the agenda for tonight? You said you were cooking?"
"I am indeed." Terrence confirms. "You said you enjoy seafood, right?"
"I definitely do. How can you live this close to the water and not?" Valerie smiles back.
"You have an good point there."
Terrence smiles back before jumping at the sound of the door. His mother, Felicia, is supposed to be in New York and he gave the staff the night off. He can't begin to fathom who could be walking through the front door.
His jaw nearly drops when he sees his mother entering the door through the back window. His mind soon begins to work in overtime to figure a way out of a very awkward situation. He soon ushers Valerie to the side of the house so he can show her the floral arrangements that would be sure to hold her attention for awhile. However, his plan quickly fails when Felicia spots them in the backyard and quickly walks in their direction. He knows very well how his mother treats the women he dates and is dreading the moments to come.
"Val, this is my" Terrence begins to introduce the two but is quickly interrupted.
"What in the hell is she doing here?" Felicia demands to know as she throws up her hands with anger.
Valerie looks back at Felicia with complete shock. Unbeknownst to Terrence, this is not the first time the two women have met.
______________________________________________________________
Scene: The Summers Estate.
Kimberly creeps down the stairway and begins to think of what she will say when she comes face-to-face with Steve. She knows she has to play it cool; she can't give off any suspicious vibes. While she would just love to ignore his presence altogether, Steve might become perplexed when he realizes she is ignoring him.
"Hey Dad!" Kimberly flashes a smile and puts on her best show as she opens the door.
"Hi Kim, how's it going?" Steve greets her and embraces her with a hug.
"I'm well, just having one of those days where the sheets engulf me all day. I've been catching up on some sleep," Kimberly responds, ignoring the fact that she hates being called 'kim.' Her father has always been the only one who could get away with it.
"Well, you certainly deserve it. You've done a great job on the house. Everything looks wonderful. I mean, no one could guess how much damage was done by the quake."
"Thanks, Dad. I really appreciate it."
"So, do you have a few minutes where we can sit and talk?"
Kimberly instantly feels apprehension as her hands begin to shake with nervousness. "Sure…"
"Good. Let's go into the living room and sit."
"Okay…"
Stay calm, Miss Kimberly….he's not here to hurt you. Everything's going to be just fine. You're above this. You must stay in control.
"I've really been following your growth in the last year- not only in your maturity, but also in your work performance," Steve says. "Not only have you excelled in the marketing industry, but you've truly taken ownership of this house and you've shown me that you can really persevere through anything."
"Wow, I really appreciate your complimentary words."
"I'm only expressing what I see, Kim. At any rate, I would like to offer you a position with my company. It would be in the marketing division and you would work closely with Emily Landon and me. You don't have to accept now- think it over a bit. I'm pretty sure there would be a substantial pay raise for you and it would give you some great experience if you really want to move up in the industry."
"I don't know what to say…I'm so flattered. I mean, wow…" Kimberly trails off with excitement as she does her best to digest her father's offer. A chance to get on the inside of a company that she's plotting to takeover is simply a dream come true.
"Well, you know where to reach me. I think this would be a great opportunity for you. I do want you to think about it though. It's a much larger role to tackle than you've previously held at other companies."
"I understand. Thank you again."
"Alright then, well I'm going to head off. I have some other errands to run this afternoon. It was good seeing you, hon."
"Likewise, Dad. The pleasure was all mine…"
______________________________________________________________
Scene: The Davison Estate.
"Jason." Diane calls out from the other end of the room in complete shock.
"Mom. It's good to see you…" Jason musters up the courage to respond. After the lashing he gave her the last time they met, he is unaware of how to greet her. While he is apologetic for his words, he isn't sure if he should bring it up or simply leave it in the past.
Diane rushes over to him and gives him a tight hug. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you."
"You too, Mom."
"Can you stay long? How is everything? Will you be able to join us for Easter dinner?" Diane bombards him with questions.
"Yeah, yeah…I'm fine. I should be able to stay- a good meal is just what I need. Sorry I didn't drop by sooner…I have a lot going on with this new teaching position and everything." Jason tries his best to conceal the real concern at hand and prays that his mother didn't hear the conversation between him and Ashley.
"I understand, hon. You don't have to explain anything." Diane is so overjoyed to have Jason in her home and realizes there is no room for prying or chastising him for his actions.
"I appreciate that."
"Yeah, Diane's been cooking all day. We're having some real goodies for dinner." Ashley chimes in.
"Yes we do! Ashley, do you mind giving Jason and I a few minutes?"
"Sure…" Ashley locks eyes with Jason. "No problem."
Ashley slowly exits and closes the door behind her. Diane and Jason stare at each other for a moment as they both try searching for the right words.
"I just want you to know that I don't have any hard feelings about last time." Diane begins to start, but is quickly interrupted by Jason.
"I'm sorry, Mom. I really am. I had no right to yell at you like that. I was going through a lot with Keith's death."
"No, you did. I'm the one who should be sorry. It was an invasion of your privacy and I feel terrible about going into your apartment like that. I was just so worried."
"It's okay. Really…" Jason trails off.
"SO what all is new with you?" Diane inquires.
"Not much. Just busy with teaching. This is my first year student teaching, and it's a lot more than I bargained for."
"You're teaching at the high school level, correct?"
"I am, yeah…God, you couldn't pay me enough to go back to high school." Jason jokes.
Diane is thrilled to get a smile out of him. "You're telling me. I got pregnant my senior year- finding a prom dress was hell."
"Well, thank God I didn't have the same problem." Jason laughs.
For a moment, Jason forgets about his past and present battles. He is once again simply a boy laughing with his mother- and this, he realizes, is what life is all about.
______________________________________________________________
Scene: The Bordeaux Estate.
"Do you two know each other?" Terrence asks, completely confused.
"Damn right we do" Felicia mutters as she is tormented with fladshbacks from an incident that occurred nearly two years ago
Felicia turns the key slowly and her heart stops when she hears moaning coming from the downstairs guest bedroom. She can't imagine that one of her maids would have the audacity to have sex in her home while she was away. Indeed, Felicia was supposed to be on a business trip in Europe, but she wanted to surprise her husband and get home early. He had bombarded her with messages about how much he missed her.
She creeps down the hallway, surely not making one sound as her hands begin to shake. She fears then worst- that her husband is in there with another woman.
She takes her trembling hand an puts it on the door knob and slowly begins to turn. When the door finally opens, the moaning comes to an abrupt stop and her heart skips a beat. Her worst fears become a reality when she sees her husband in bed with a much younger woman- a face that she would never forget.
"I could never forget a face like hers." Felicia snaps.
"Look, I should really go," Valerie says as she locks eyes with Terrence. "Maybe another time?"
"Over my dead body. There will not be a next time and we both know why, don't we?"
Valerie cowers and then turns away as she tries her best to bolt for the door. Just as she walks by Felicia, her hair is quickly pulled which makes her come to a sudden holt. She looks up at Felicia in complete fear.
"I have enough decency not to tell my son," Felicia whispers. "But if you stick around, I'll have no problems telling everyone what a disgusting whore you really are."
______________________________________________________________
Scene: Dr. Star Michaels' Office.
Rick rolls his eyes at the notion that Liz is solely responsible for the problems in their marriage. He knew the topic of Liz was bound to come up though and he was ready with an adequate defense.
"Yes, Liz Bryant. The woman who nearly saved Kayla's life and delivered our baby."
"Oh please, the woman did not save my life. I'm sure you agree that since you two have gotten so close that our marriage has gone downhill," Kayla replies.
"There is absolutely nothing between Liz and I- and there never has been. Your insecurities are what is making this marriage go downhill, Kay."
"Nothing going on? I'm not just some crazed lunatic. I see how you both look at each other."
"For Christ's sake, she helped deliver our baby. What else can she do to prove that she means well?"
"She helped deliver Haylie so she could win points in your book- and so you guys could bond. Those are the only reasons, Rick."
"That's just not true."
"If I may interject," Star says, "what specifically has Liz done to make these feelings arise?"
"Well, she's also snapped at me a few times. We've gotten into a few minor fights because she's always pulling Rick away from the house. Her attitude is just unbelievable." Kayla responds.
"Her attitude? Jesus, Kay."
"Rick, please let me talk. I'm really tired of your side comments." Kayla snaps back.
Rick looks back at Star with wide-eyes. He expects her to cut in once again, but to no avail, she is quiet.
"Thank you." Kayla begins once again. "She is extremely rude to me and the two spend so much time together. She's constantly calling him to have dinners with her and Rick gets home at such late hours. I mean, we do have a child to raiseyet I feel sometimes like I'm a single mother."
"Oh, that's just incredible. That's the last straw, Kay. I can't believe you would say something like that." Rick sighs deeply. "Shall we talk about how I take care of her entirely on the weekends when you get manicures with your aunt Emily?"
"I deserve to spoil myself- I take care of our child everyday."
"Please, lets not fight about who takes care of Haylie more. Have you ever thought that perhaps you were both not ready to have a child this early on in your marriage?" Star chimes in.
Kayla and Rick look at each other as an awkward silence fills the room.
"Look, the point is, it's either Liz or I. You need to choose, Rick."
"No, I don't," Rick replies. "You just made this choice for me."
To be Continued...