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Continued...
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Scene: Landon Manor. Northern Heights District.

Kayla Landon shuts off the ignition and takes a deep breath before exiting her car. All is calm in the courtyard of Landon Manor, not even the birds are heard which usually sing away. Her heart begins to race quickly as she nears the front door and begins to knock. She feels she is being forced to make a decision about the direction she wants to take her marriage with Rick...a decision that might mean the end to everything she has with him.

Her mother answers the door to Kayla's surprise and greets her with a hug. She wasn't aware that Vanessa was back from France. Originally her plan was to seek advice from her aunt Emily, the person who she realized would still offer sound advice. Her mother, on the other hand, was one who had offered lackluster advice in the past.

"Hey honey! What a pleasant surprise. I was just going to call and tell you that I was back in town," Vanessa says with a smile.

It's good to see you as well, Mom. Uhm, is Aunt Emily here?"

"Yeah, she's upstairs. Is there something you need to talk with her about?" Vanessa can sense that something is troubling her daughter.

"There is, yes... but I really need to talk to her, I'm sorry. I'll call you later on this week and we'll talk about things."

"Okay hon, well she is upstairs. The damn woman is out of that wheelchair and is marching around like the Queen of England once again" Vanessa lowers her head and points to the second floor.

"Look Mom, in all due respect, I don't have the energy to hear about how much you dislike her. I just really need to see her right now."

"Okay, then. I guess I'll just wait for your call then..." Vanessa rolls her eyes and walks back towards the bar.

Kayla sighs and begins walking upstairs. She is quickly met with a beaming smile when she reaches the top of the stairs.

"Kayla! How are you?"

"I've been better to be honest...do you have a few minutes?"

"Of course. I always have time for you. I'm sorry to hear that something is troubling you."

"It's Rick, and the baby...and just everything. Everything is such a mess right now, Aunt Em."

"What did the bastard do now? I warned you about marrying a damn Preston. They're all fucked up people if you ask me."

"Look, I didn't come to bash the whole family. I just need to vent about Rick and some other things going on right now."

"Alright dear. I'm here to listen."

"Now looking back, I just feel like we really rushed into things, ya know? The whole initial attraction was purely physical- and while he made me laugh, I never got to learn about his other qualities. Why? Because I became pregnant and we leaped into a marriage we both weren't ready for."

"I agree. I think you both should've waited. But, in your defense, you were thinking about Haylie. You wanted her to grow up with two loving parents in the same house. You can't blame yourself for that."

"True...but looking back, it's only going to hurt Haylie now."

"What's going to hurt her?"

"The divorce that I'm pretty sure we're getting."

"Divorce?! I didn't realize things had gotten so bad. I mean, things must be pretty serious." Emily comments.

"Well, I overheard some things he was saying to his so-called best friend, Liz, the other day...and honestly, my heart broke. You should've heard some of the things he was saying about me."

"Like what?"

"Saying that I was acting irrational and that I was overly jealous about his relationship with Liz. I mean, it was ludicrous. I honestly didn't see her as much of a threat until I heard how they were speaking to each other now. She completely supported him getting a divorce from me. I'm so angry that he would go to her and not I...I can't even face him again."

"Again? As in you can't see him ever again? That's a bit overboard, don't you think?"

"I don't know what I'm saying, Aunt Em, I honestly just want to run and leave this whole mess behind me."

"But you have that beautiful little girl to think about. You have to think about Haylie and what's in her best interest, okay? She needs her mother right now."

"Don't you think I know that? These problems have been persisting for months now. I've tried my hardest to work things out for Haylie's sake, but I feel like I'm at my end. I don't know what to do at this point."

"Well hon, it seems Rick is making that decision for you. He seems to want a divorce. If you agree that the marriage can't be saved, then perhaps it's for the best."

"I know...I guess I just don't want to face the truth- and I certainly can't face him right now."

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Scene: The Preston Estate. Northern Heights District.

Today Liz Bryant seems like she is another world. She slowly sips her coffee and gazes out the window in a daze. She has so much on her mind right now- overwhelmed by the situation with Rick and feeling as if her biological clock is ticking away. Nearly thirty-two and without children, nor having the pleasure to marry yet, she begins to think that something is terribly wrong with her.

Am I really pining after a man with a wife and child of his own? I can't believe I can't get Rick off my mind? How much longer will this continue?

Liz continues thinking to herself, perhaps wishing she was in Kayla's spot right now. Unlike Kayla, she feels like she wouldn't take the marriage with Rick for granted.

"Oh, what am I thinking?" She mumbles under her breath. "I need to force myself back to reality real quick here...there's no way...just no way."

"Wow, so do you come here often to talk to yourself?"

Liz whips around when she hears a familiar voice from behind. She recognizes it as Terrence's and smiles.

"Hey Ter, how's it going?"

"Apparently better than you're doing...is everything okay?" Terrence smiles back sarcastically.

"I've had better days to be honest," Liz replies. "I just need to clear my head, ya know?"

"I understand. Well, I was going to ask if you wanted some company...but I don't want to interrupt."

"No, nonsense. Sit down, Terrence. Apparently I can use some company so I don't talk to myself."

"Alright then," Terrence responds before seating himself. "So, what's on your mind?"

"Too much for even I to understand...well, I suppose you know part of the situation. You were at the dinner party from hell."

"Ah, I suppose this has to do with Kayla?"

"How did you guess? Liz rolls her eyes.

"Yeah, she's a bit much. A bit high-strung I would say."

"That's putting it lightly," Liz comments. "The woman is out of control- and she doesn't appreciate what she has."

"And you would appreciate it more?" Terrence asks.

"Excuse me? What does that mean?"

"Meaning, you would appreciate being in Kayla's shoes a bit more..."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Liz responds and shakes her head.

"Oh, come on...I can see how you look at him. There's obviously something there."

"There's nothing there, Terrence. You've gone and lost your mind, boy."

"If you say so... perhaps Kayla can see it too though. Perhaps she feels threatened."

"Kayla has nothing to feel threatened about." Liz gets on the defensive and continues, "Rick and I are just friends."

"Alright, I get it. I'm just saying, you have to look at the situation from different angles."

"I can see your point, and I suppose I can see hers. It's just a very complicated situation."

"Of course it's complicated. You're into a man who is married. Whether he is happily married or not, well that can be debated I guess."

"You're telling me, although there's nothing really to debate. It's plain obvious."

"So are you just waiting the whole thing out?" I mean, that seems kind of pointless if you ask me. What if a guy comes along that is truly good for you?" Terrence inquires.

Liz takes a moment before responding. A part of her believes that Terrence is speaking about himself, although she would rather not revisit those feelings. While she did want to explore things with him at one point, she felt suffocated more than anything while they were dating.

"That's a good point, Terrence. A very good point...so, onto you. How has the love life been?"

Terrence laughs, indicating that it's basically a joke. "Well, I went on a few dates with Val, which were quite interesting to say the least. I just don't know if it's going to go anywhere. I have a problem with finding women who want to commit."

"Ouch," Liz takes the comment personally with wide-eyes.

"I didn't mean that about you. I'm sorry Liz- and insert foot."

"It's okay, really. I suppose I don't know what I want...and while I'd like to believe that I do, I honestly don't"

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