Scene: The
Davison Estate.
With a look of apprehension, Jason slowly raises his right hand to meet the door. He knocks a few times and begins to look towards the ground for a moment. He is here to see his sister, Ashley, although he didn't make plans to stop by. Instead, he was in the area and thought to drop in to tell her about his experience at the support group. He doesn't see his mother's vehicle in the driveway, and hopes that Diane is out for the day. Always growing suspicious that something is going on with him, the last thing he needed was a nosy Davison woman in his face.
To his surprise, when the door swung open that is exactly what he got.
"Jason, my dear. What a pleasant surprise!" Helen greets him and ushers him to come inside.
"Grandma. It's good to see you as well," Jason replies with a half-hearted smile. He can only imagine how much she was going to try and pry this evening.
"Sit down. I just baked some cookies. I'll bring you some milk as well to wash them down with."
"Thanks, Gram. Is Ashley here? I saw her car was in the driveway."
"No, she's not," Helen yells from inside the kitchen. "Joe picked her up not too long ago. I think they went out to dinner or something."
"Oh…" Jason mutters, knowing he should have called before he stopped by. Not that he didn't love Helen, but he knew that she could be even worse than his mother at times.
"You seem disappointed. Did you just come to see her?" Helen inquires, setting the tray of cookies in front of him.
"Oh, no…I just wanted to visit. I'm glad you're here."
"Well, I'm thrilled you stopped by! So what's new in my grandson's life?"
"I've just been getting ready for the new school year which starts next week."
"It's already that time again, eh? I thought you weren't too pleased with how things were being run at the school? Did you have a change of heart?"
"Yeah, I suppose. As angry as I might get at some things, I love the children. They can be quite the inspiration and they really get me through the hard times."
"I'm glad to hear that. I never did well with youngsters myself, but I think I've changed in the last few years. I think I'm turning into a pretty hip grandma."
"Hip?" Jason smiles.
"Well, you know… I listen to that Brinana girl and Lady Googoo."
"You mean Rihanna and Lady Gaga?" Jason laughs, trying his best not to put Helen down- as comical as her answer was.
"Oh yes, whatever. I love that new hit about riding a disco stick."
"Grandma, please…don't ever say those words aloud again."
"Alright, alright…" Helen smiles.
"So what's new with you?" Jason inquires, trying his best to turn the attention on her.
"Oh, we're still talking about you, my dear. There's something much bigger going on in your life- and you need to be honest with me."
Jason freezes for a moment and looks at her dead in the eyes. Is there an actual possibility that Helen knows?
"What do you mean?"
"You can stop playing,
Jason. I know exactly what you're hiding…and I think it's about time the rest of
the family should know as well."
Scene: Chez Rendezvous.
Joe sips his glass of wine; all the while Ashley sits there and looks at him playfully. "You're just teasing me, aren't you? You know I'm a wine lover and I can't have a single drop."
"I know." Joe smiles. "It's absolutely the best glass of wine I've ever had as well. I feel so bad that you can't have any."
"I'm so sure. Soon enough….One more month and the baby is due. It's going to come before we know it."
"It is indeed- and I can't wait until our little boy is born."
"Or girl." Ashley emphasizes, "we agreed that we wouldn't find out until he or she was born and then we would be surprised."
"I know, I know….I still can't wait though."
"You can't? I'm the one who has been carrying this child for all this time- going through the sickness, dizziness, and everything else accompanied with a pregnancy- including the wine withdrawals."
"Something tells me you'll live." Joe cracks a smile.
"I'll be fine. I just want the child to be healthy and safe. That's all I care about."
"I agree. We're doing everything right," Joe comments. "I know we'll be great parents together."
There's an awkward silence that cuts through the table for a moment. There's just over one month until the baby is due, and Ashley and Joe are still living in separate houses and have not even discussed marriage.
"Together, eh?" Ashley smiles, finally breaking the silence.
"Yes, together…."
Joe trails off and clears his throat as he drops to one knee. Others who are dining around them turn their focus to Joe and Ashley's table.
"What are you doing?" Ashley's face turns a lighter shade.
"I've done a lot of thinking, Ash. I really love you with
all my heart and I know that we've had our ups and downs, but we've gotten
through them and we have this great miracle to celebrate. I want this child to
grow up with a real family. With two loving parents who make each other
happy….Ashley, will you marry me?"
Scene: The Summers Estate.
Kimberly looked in horror as the blood streamed down Braden's face. A hint of remorse crossed her mind as she looked down at her shaky hands. He seemed as though he would be just fine….after all, she hadn't hit him that hard with the vase. At least that was the reasoning in her convoluted mind.
"You're going to be just fine…I just had to stop you….you can't call me crazy, Braden. Those words don't come off very well to me. I just get angry. I know you understand…"
A speechless Braden looks up into her lost demonic eyes as he searches for the right words. He can't turn her into the authorities due to the charade he had been playing all along with her. Indeed, it seems she has him right where he belongs- begging for mercy.
"I'm so sorry. I'll never cross you again," Braden finally mutters.
"Damn right you won't…" Kimberly hunches over to lock eyes with him. "Now, if you promise we can put this behind us and that you won't use any of those words again, I'll help you and let you go. Do we have a deal?"
"Yes…absolutely, my love."
"You still…still love me?" Kimberly trips over her words.
"Yes, my love. Always and forever." Braden plays along.
"That's so great to hear….I'm so sorry, baby. Let me get some bandages and we'll clean you up."
Kimberly leaves the room quickly and Braden forces himself to his feat. The bleeding has stopped for the most part, although he realizes he'll have a nasty scar when he looks into the mirror hanging on the wall.
"Son of a bitch…"
"What is that?" Kimberly overhears and calls out from the next room.
"I'm just in quite some pain, my love. Do you have any painkillers?"
"Of course. This house is practically a pharmacy. I'll be right out with some."
"Thanks, love."
Braden looks at his watch and hopes
to be out of the estate within the next hour. He needs to rest up, for he has an
obligation to fulfill the following evening. He just prays that 'Claudia', or
whatever else she called herself, doesn't get her psychotic genes from her
mother.
Scene: The
Davison Estate.
Jason stands frozen as he begins to feel his legs go weak. Fear consumes his mind, but is there a possibility that she could actually know? He wonders if Helen overheard a conversation between he and Ashley…was it truly possible?
"Look, Jason," she stares into his crystal blue eyes, "all the signs are there. Did you really think you could hide this much longer?"
Jason looks away breaking their intense stare and mulls over an adequate answer. "I'm sorry, Grams…I suppose I didn't want everyone to feel the pain I was going through."
"The pain?" Helen inquires.
"Well, of course. I can't tell you how many nights I cried myself to sleep when I first found out. I wanted so badly to blame someone, but in the end, the only one I could blame was myself."
"That bastard! I never imagined he was treating you badly…I don't like this one bit. I mean, this news should be joyful and uplifting."
"Joyful and uplifting? Excuse me?" Jason shoots a puzzled look into her direction.
"Well, yes! When I first told my parents what I was experiencing they were elated. Hell, it finally got me out of the house."
Jason shakes his head in disbelief; Helen looks back confused by his reaction.
"Grams, maybe we're talking about different things here…."
"I know exactly what you're hiding. You're finally settling down with a nice young boy and you don't want to make a fuss about it or introduce him to us. Well, I say it's about damn time!" Helen replies. "However, if he is putting you through this pain you're speaking of, well then….off with his head!"
Jason dissects her words carefully and realizes she is on a completely different page. He contemplates whether he should play along or not, although a large part of him finds the whole situation to be quite amusing.
"No, no…things have gotten better. Like I said, those were in the earlier days. He makes me really happy now."
"Good to hear. I'll be making dinner tomorrow night then. Invite this boy over so we can officially meet him. I'm looking forward to it- I'll make my special recipe!" Helen exclaims before leaving him alone in the living room.
"Oh shit…this is going to be interesting," Jason mutters under his breath as he realizes he needs to find a date quickly- one that will stand the drama and chaos that seems to surround the women in his life.
Scene: Chez Rendezvous.
Ashley instantly gets a queasy feeling in her stomach. She takes her eye off Joe for one moment and realizes those around her are all focusing their attention on she and Joe. The pressure intensifies each moment as she begins to hear her heart pound ferociously.
"Joe…"
"Yes, Ash?"
"Please get up…people are staring," Ashley whispers to him.
"Not until you say yes. I love you with all my heart, Ash…I can't see myself without you and I want this child to grow up with two loving parents."
"Can we discuss this later?"
"Excuse me?" Joe is instantly taken back.
"Can we discuss this in private?" Ashley emphasizes her last word.
"Is something wrong, Ash?"
"Look, you're making me feel really uncomfortable right now…Joe, just please get up."
Joe's face drops to the floor as his heart sinks. Was there an actual possibility that Ashley is saying no? He rehearsed exactly what he would say a million times it seemed…was there not enough force and love in his voice? He mulled over these very questions for a moment before he got back into his seat. Those who dined around them slowly turned back their attention to others; tears start forming in Ashley eyes.
"I'm sorry Joe, I just don't know if I'm ready and I don't want our decision to be based on the fact that we're having a child." Ashley finally mutters after a few moments of silence.
Joe simply stares back in silence. He tries to find the right words to respond, but simply can't…he's never felt so kicked to the ground and rejected in his life. He clenches the ring with his fist and realizes the cold truth.
"I'm sorry, Joe…I just can't say yes right now." Ashley says softly. "You know how I feel about you though….My God, please say something…anything."
Joe nods his head and eventually locks eyes with her once again. "I never knew love could hurt quite this much…and I've seen a lot, Ash."
Ashley bites her lip and peers into his heart broken eyes.
"Waiter," Joe lifts up a hand as their server nears, "May I
please have another glass of wine? It's turning out to be a long night…"
Scene: Braden McCullough's
Penthouse. One week later.
Braden looks into the mirror and studies the wound that is slowly healing on his forehead. He can't believe that just one week ago he was being held captive by the psychotic 'Claudia Deauville' or whatever her true name was. He only regrets that he didn't see the truth earlier- how could he have been so blind to an obvious truth? He realizes that perhaps he was so focused on fooling others that he himself was being fooled the easiest.
"Damn you, Claudia…you ruined everything…and now I have this to show for it." He takes one hand and covers his forehead for a moment. "And the worst part? I can't even go to the authorities…I'm helpless in this whole charade of yours."
Suddenly his thoughts are broken by the loud ring of his phone. He quickly picks it up and sighs when he reads the name on the caller ID. It reads Emily Landon, AKA the business partner from hell. She was also the woman he was so intent on deceiving, even if it meant showing his loyalty to her by deceiving an innocent woman. The woman, of course, was Emily's one and true nemesis.
"Braden. Nice of you to finally answer. You're busy I hope…"
"And what would I be busy doing?" Braden inquires.
"Finding the perfect words to lure Diane Davison right into your arms. I was serious, Braden. I want her to fall head over heels for you- and you're just the perfect man to make her do it."
"I understood your request perfectly. I understand the task at hand and will do everything in my power to win her over." Braden assures her.
"Everything in your power might not be good enough," Emily barks. "She is a very smart woman, Braden. She can see through most people. You really have to be on your top game here."
"Does she see right through you, Ms. Landon?"
"Excuse me? What is that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing. Forget I said that. It was quite rude of me." Braden cracks a smile on the other line.
"Look Braden, I don't have time for your rude remarks. There's only one game you're playing right now- and I'm control. You got it?"
"I understand perfectly. I'll meet her tomorrow and I assure you that everything will go as planned…"
To be
Continued...