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Previously...

• Kayla left a mysterious note behind before disappearing. Still unaware of the true reason she fled town, her family was left in utter shock that she would leave her daughter behind. Speculation from those close to her saw Rick and their eroding marriage as the true reason she fled. However, others have a much different opinion- and that lays the blame on Liz Bryant as the real reason Kayla was driven out of town.  
  
  
• After informing Jason that she knew what he was hiding, Helen informed him that she wanted to meet his new boyfriend. Relieved that she didn't know what he was truly hiding, Jason played along and told her that he would bring his new 'boyfriend' to an upcoming family dinner. While he had his sights set on Shane, he realized he felt more comfortable with Lucas and thus invited the latter to come and save the day.
   
  
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  Scene: Landon Manor.  

Emily Landon takes a sip of her wine as she stares intently at the short message written inside a letter with no return address. It reads, "I've never felt more at home. Send Haylie my love. I love you, Aunt Emily."

This was certainly not Kayla's style, she thought. The Kayla she knew would have so much more to say- simplicity was never one of Kayla's strong points. Emily produces a smile as she remembers how Kayla would go on and on when telling a story as a child. She never seemed to grow out of it, and when Kayla had something on her mind, she certainly let everyone know it.

But now Emily was left with this small note that frightened her more than anything. Was Kayla being forced to write this? Was someone else truly behind her disappearance? Why did Kayla suddenly want to reach out to her now after all this time?

She thinks hard to herself and tries to find a place where Kayla would feel most at home. She remembers the summer home they had in the mid-west, but Kayla never seemed to enjoy her time there. If anything, it was hell for the poor girl. She then remembers how Kayla went to boarding school in France as a child and she seemed more content than ever.

Was that where Kayla was now residing? Could she perhaps be back in France?

Emily knew very well that Kayla had family in France, but she and Vanessa had already contacted each and every one of them about the situation. She can't believe that one of the family members would lie and secretly take Kayla in.

She is suddenly interrupted when she hears a knock at the door. She knows exactly who it is and she pauses for a moment before she has to have this dreaded conversation.

"Emily! How are you, my love?" Felicia greets her at the door and embraces her with a hug.

"Not so well, my dear. Please sit down, we have some important matters to discuss."

"I don't like your tone, Emily. You're scaring me."

"Well, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared myself. It's about Kayla...I received this letter."

Emily hands her the note and Felicia examines it for a moment before looking back up at her.

"And? It seems she is doing well. Isn't this good news?"

"No, Felicia! This is not good news...I don't believe that she's happy where she's at and I know it must be killing her inside that she left behind her daughter like this."

"So you think the note is fake?"

"I don't know what to believe, Felicia. I just know one thing- I have to find her."

"And how are you going to do that?"

"I'm going back to France, Felicia. I already purchased the ticket and I leave tomorrow morning."

"This is so sudden. Don't you think you're jumping the gun a bit? How do you even know she's in France?"

"I just have a hunch- and they usually don't let me down."

"So when does your flight return?" Felicia inquires.

"I didn't purchase that yet...I'm not returning until I have Kayla by my side. I vow to you, I will find her."

"Oh Emily, I know your heart is in the right place. However, you do have a business to run."

"That's where you come into the picture, Felicia."

"Excuse me?"

"I want you to watch over Landon Points while I'm gone. I know you're a savvy businesswoman and I know you have what it takes. Besides, it will give you something to do. It will keep you out of trouble," Emily replies with a smile.

"Oh, I don't know...It's such a big company. I don't know if I have what it takes."

"I will always be one call away whenever you need anything. Besides, you're my most trusted friend, Felicia. I couldn't leave the company in better hands."

"What about Steve? Isn't he the current CEO? Shouldn't he have this responsibility?"

Emily takes her glass and slams it against the wall. "Screw him, Felicia! If I could get rid of his sorry ass, I would. He hasn't been home this entire week and he won't return any of my calls. At work he ignores me when I come into the office. It's like all of those years of history were just thrown away. He's totally kicked me to the curb, Felicia."

"I didn't realize, Emily. I'm so sorry. I know how much you love him."

"Loved him, Felicia. Past tense. I am finally concentrating on only one person and that is someone that really matters to me- that's Kayla."

"I understand. Well, I will give it my all, Emily."

"Thank you, Felicia. I knew you wouldn't let me down. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have one more stop to make before I depart town in the morning..."

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Scene: The Davison Estate. 

Ashley and Joe stand in awe as they look at the vivid colors painted on the wall. Standing in the new nursery next to Ashley's bedroom, a look of accomplishment covers their faces as they realize all the countless hours they spent on making the nursery the perfect place for their new child. Due any day now, it's only a matter of time before they will bring their precious new child into this nursery where they will watch the child grow.

"I can't believe it's finally done," Joe says as he squeezes Ashley's hand.

"All this hard work has finally paid off. This is the perfect room for our baby, Joe."

"Until we move into our own house," Joe says with a smile.

"Right," Ashley rolls her eyes, knowing that Joe has been pressing the issue like crazy. She loves Joe dearly, but if she was ready to move in with him at this point then she would have accepted his proposal. Something was just telling her to wait.

"Come on, we need to get downstairs. Dinner will be ready soon and this is the first time the family has gotten together like this in awhile."

"Will your sister be coming?" Joe asks.

" Kimberly ? Oh God no...She's practically been written out. She's had enough psychotic episodes for one year and she has burnt nearly everyone in the family...it really is sad."

"Yes it is," Joe agrees. "I don't know. Stacey has screwed up more than a few times, but we always take her back with loving arms. It's just what family does."

"In all due respect, Kimberly and Stacey are two people you can't compare. I understand where you're coming from, but sometimes it's just better to let go."

"Ash?!" Jason calls from downstairs. "Are you up there?"

"Yeah Jase, is dinner ready?"

"No, I just need to talk to you. Joe, do you mind?" Jason replies when he reaches the top of the stairs.

"Not at all." Joe responds and leaves the room.

"What's up, Jason?"

"A lot of things, Ash. I went to the doctor and my numbers are going haywire, it seems I might need to go on medication soon."

"Oh Jase, I'm so sorry." Ashley embraces him with a hug. "We'll get through this though. Trust me, we will."

"I know...and I've just been stressed with whether I should tell the family or not. It has been almost a year now. I just feel like it's time. I came so close to telling Grandma a few weeks ago, but I just couldn't. Instead I told her the big secret was that I was dating someone and she, of course, wanted to meet him. That's why we're doing this stupid dinner," Jason explains.

"Oh, and I thought it was just a family thing."

"No, she wants to meet this supposed boyfriend, so I'm having a friend come over to pose as my boyfriend. Please don't say anything."

"Oh please, you know you can trust me.

"His name is Lucas . He should be here soon."

"Lucas? As in the guy who Keith might have cheated on you with? Jason, what in the hell are you doing?"

"No, no...we've gotten past that. I've really gotten to know him and he's a great guy. He's really supportive and is really there for me when I need to talk."

"It sounds like you're already dating," Ashley snickers.

"No, no...I mean, we've gotten close, but there's this other guy I'm interested in."

"Look at you! Taking after your big sis!" Ashley laughs and pokes him on the arm. "You know, in my day, before I looked like a pregnant beached whale, I had all the boys knocking on my door."

"Very funny. It's not like that...Shane and I really just have this connection though."

"Then why didn't you invite him?" Ashley inquires.

"Because I would be a nervous wreck! I still get butterflies when I'm around him, Ash. I can't explain it...I haven't felt this way in a long time about a guy."

"Oh Jason...and so are the gays of our lives!"

"Nice, Ashley."

"Come on. Lets go downstairs. Dinner should be ready soon- and I have a feeling that this will be very interesting..."

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