INSTALLMENT 19  
 
 




Hope Falls Country Club 
 
 
   Laughing patrons greet Lillian Richardson as she quickly makes her way 
into the country club to confront her former friend.  All day she is thinking 
about what she wanted to say to Lenore.  However, everything she is 
thinking about saying comes out wrong.
 
   Approaching Lenore’s table, she takes a deep breath and quickly sits 
down.
 
   “Lillian, it’s a pleasant surprise seeing you today.  If I’d known you were 
coming, I would have ordered an extra bottle of Chardonnay.  Tell me how
you’ve been doing?  Did you guys have a wonderful Easter?” 
 
   “I’m afraid this isn’t a social call.  I am here to ask you not to interfere 
with my family or with my life.”  Lillian quickly states while Lenore’s smile 
quickly fades away. “I know all about my husband’s sudden job interview 
with Falmont Enterprises.  Go ahead and try to deny it.”
 
   “Ah, so now I understand.  You think your husband’s job interview at 
Falmont Enterprises was my doing? Really, I don’t think you give your 
husband enough credit.  Has it ever occurred to you that maybe HR saw 
his resume and wanted to call him?” 
 
   “If you weren’t married to the owner of the company I would believe that.  
Chase told me about the call and how he couldn’t recall sending his resume
 there. Funny, how hearing that made me instantly think you were behind it.  
He is going in for another interview so he must have made a great 
impression.”
 
   “Lillian, I don’t have any power over the decisions at my husbands 
company.  Now why are you really here?”
 
   “I already told you, I want you to stay out of my life.  We made that 
agreement years ago about co-existing in Hope Falls.  As long as we 
stayed out of each other’s lives.  Remember?”  
 
   “Yes, Lillian I do remember that agreement quite clearly.  I also keep my 
promises unlike you.  Do you want me to spell out how you have reneged 
on not only that agreement but also the loyalty of friendship?”
 
   Lillian just sits there unable to come up with a suitable reply.  Lenore just 
sits there with a huge smile on her face at winning this battle of wits.
 

Foxy’s
 
 
   “I don’t know how I am going to tell my sister!” Katie Mitchell exclaims 
out loud to Nina as she waves around the letter sent by her school.  “She’s
going to disown me and then kill me!”
 
   “Katie, what exactly did you do?  I know your sister is a little strict but 
she isn’t going to kill you.”
 
   “After she reads this letter she won’t be very happy with me.  That I know 
for sure.”  Katie replies while handing Nina the letter to read.
 
   Nina quickly scans the letter and then looks up with concern on her face.
 
   “Katie, how badly are you doing in your classes to warrant losing your 
scholarship? You haven’t been spending that much time with Henry, have 
you?”
 
   “He is a great kisser and really nice to be around.  I guess I let the new 
relationship with him go to my head.  However, I did pull a B minus average
on my mid-terms so I’m not failing the semester.  Besides, if you had a 
boyfriend you would understand.”
 
   “Again, you are changing the subject so let’s focus.  You are passing so 
that means you aren’t being kicked out of school.  Perhaps you can get a 
summer job and help your sister pay for college next semester.”
 
   “A JOB!!! Are you kidding me?  I’d rather my sister kill me then have to 
get a job!” Katie exclaimed while Nina just sighs heavily.  Katie notices this 
and takes a long, deep breath before saying. “OK, you’re right; I do need 
to get a job.  I just needed to get that out of my system, I’ve already been
scanning the want ads.”
 
   “Great!  I’ll help you find a job, that is, if you want me too.  I mean I 
already have a summer job/internship all lined up so I can focus on helping 
you.”
 
   “Where did you get a job at this summer?  Are they hiring?  If so, maybe 
I can get a job there and we can work together!!”
 
   “Well, I got an internship at Hope Falls Chronicle for the summer, is 
journalism something you are interested in as a career?”  Nina asks as 
Katie shakes her head.  “Ok, we just need to brainstorm on where you 
would like to work.”
 
   “Sure, we can do that later.  I was hoping to change the subject and talk
about Henry!” Nina just rolls her eyes at that statement while Katie is 
unaware of the reason why.



Hope Falls Country Club
 


   “I don’t understand why you can’t let bygones be bygones?  It wasn’t my
fault that my first assignment at the Chronicle involved me covering the 
charity you were co-heading!” Lillian states.
 
   “You could have told your boss that you couldn’t cover the event and 
asked for another assignment.  I know other journalist do it all the time, 
oh wait a minute, you aren’t a real journalist.  What was I even thinking 
suggesting that to you?  Lenore sarcastically retorts.
 
   “Why did I even bother coming here when you are so bitter and unable to
let go of the past!”
 
   “Interesting you would say that considering that you’re the one that 
caused this to begin with.  I’m still guessing your husband doesn’t really 
know about you and George?”  Lenore asks while Lillian sits in silence.  “I 
am going to guess by your silence that the answer is no.  I’m also going to
assume that he isn’t aware that you and my husband had a child together.”
 
   “Where are you going with this?”  
 
   “I have always believed that secrets come out.  Even though our 
agreement held tight for a number of years, fate had us interact again.  
This leads me to believe that your husband will find out about you.  I 
wonder how he would react to the fact that he’s been raising my husband’s
child all these years.”  
 
   “I don’t believe you would even tell Chase!”  
 
   “I wouldn’t dream of shattering his illusions of his first born son being his.  
Unless you cross me and then there isn’t telling what I might say in a fit of 
anger.”  Lenore looks at her watch.  “Now look at the time, I do believe I’m 
running late!  It was so nice to have this little chat with you.  We must do 
this again but call next time!”
 
   Lenore quickly gets up from her chair, waves at Lillian and makes her way 
toward the exit.  She is happy her day is off to a good start and hopes that 
the rest of the day shapes to be the same.
 


Foxy’s
 

   “Nina, I know that you don’t like him.  I figure it’s because you don’t 
know him that well.” 
 
   “I’m not going to say anything about your relationship with Henry 
Falmont.  If you want to date him then that’s your business.”  Nina quickly 
replies trying to push away thoughts of him.  She can’t quite shake her last
encounter with him out of her mind especially his deep dark eyes piercing 
her with his stare.
 
   “I feel bad because I want you to like him.  Believe it or not, your 
approval means the world to me and I don’t want to disappoint you.”  
Katie confesses
 
   “Katie, we’ve been friends since grade school and I think of you like a 
sister.  On that note, I guess I’ll try to be nice to Henry for your sake.”  
 
   “Thank you ever so much for being my best friend!  So enough about me, 
tell me about your weekend, did you do anything for Easter?”
 
   “Easter was good this year.  Dad cooked Easter dinner, and the meal 
turned out to be good.  Who knew my father could cook so well.  However, 
we also ended up meeting my brother’s new girlfriend over the weekend.”
 
   “Oh! What was she like?  Is she anything like my sister?”  Katie asks 
knowing very well that Stephen is dating someone but didn’t know how to 
break it to her sister.
 
   “The complete opposite of Melinda, I can’t put my finger on it.  I got 
some very weird vibes when she was over.”
 
   Katie is intrigued and wants to know about this other woman even if her 
sister isn’t interested in Stephen.  “What kind of vibes?”  
 
   “I can’t explain it.  She seemed very cheerful, a little out there, and 
eccentric.  I think something isn’t quite right.  Of course, she was talking 
about love and thinking that Stephen could possibly be the ‘one’.”
 
   “Nina, you aren’t known as a romantic so it’s possible you think she is a 
little off because of her romantic outlook on life.”  
 
   “Possibly, but Gil thought she was a little off and she’s a romantic.”  
 
   “So what are you doing to do?  I mean if you, and especially your sister, 
are getting strange vibes about her, you have to do something.”  
 
   “She seems like a nice person.  I can’t do anything unless she does 
something really off the wall.  Perhaps I’m just wrong.”
 
   “Nina, for as long as I’ve known you, you’ve been right about a lot of 
things.  I guess you should just wait and see.”  Katie looks at her cell phone.  
“Not meaning to change the subject again, but are you ready for our next 
class?”
 
   “As ready as I’ll ever be.”  Nina finishes up her milk shake and heads up 
front to pay for her meal before departing for class. 



Falmont Enterprises
 
 

   All around Thomas Norris, it’s business as usual as he quickly makes his 
way into George Falmont's office.  He quickly sits down in front of his boss
with determination to quickly spill out his concerns.
 
   "Mr. Norris, I understand that you were interested in talking to me about 
some concerns you are having?  I do apologize for the delay in getting back
to you.  What is it I can do for you today?  Are you doing alright?"  George 
asks while sending out an e-mail and focusing his full attention toward 
Thomas.
 
   "Yes, everything is going alright at work now.  I was just wondering why 
you decided to call my father.  If you have any questions or concerns, why
not just address me?"  
 
   "I did try to ask you a few times in the past but you kept stating 
everything was fine.  Your supervisor Larry has informed me about how 
distracted you are.  So I decided to call your father up and find out how 
you were doing.  Plus, gave me a great excuse to call and catch up with 
him.  Besides, he didn’t want to disclose anything personal and I respect 
that.  If someone was calling me about any of my children, I would feel 
the same way."
 
   "Then why even call my father if that is how you would feel?" 
 
   "Because you are an employee of mine and I need to make sure you are
still able to perform the duties given to you.  When I get reports about how
distracted you are, how your productivity is inconsistent, and how you 
keep to yourself, I have to be concerned.  Do you need a few days off or 
to take a leave of absence?"  
 
   "No, I’m fine, just adjusting to the move and finding a new place to live.  
Thankfully, I have a new apartment that I just moved into so things should
calm down."
 
   "Good to hear, but I’m going to be honest with you.  If I receive any 
other reports of your performance from your department, I will have no 
choice but to take action."  George explains gently while seeing from the 
corner of his eye his daughter Elizabeth waiting outside his office.  "Listen, 
I actually have a meeting right now.  I want you to come back later to 
discuss this."
 
   "Thank you Sir."  Thomas replies as he eyes Elizabeth coming into the 
office.  They exchange greetings as she enters her father's office for their 
meeting as he exits.
 
   "Elizabeth, I’m glad you were able to meet with me on such short notice.  
This shouldn’t take too long, just a quick meeting."  George motions for 
her to take a seat.
 
   "I just got your e-mail father and was wondering if your request has 
something to do with our advertising budget for 2008."  Elizabeth replies 
 
   "The budget proposal turned in looks fine to me.  I was looking for a 
progress report in regards to hiring a new photographer.  Just was 
wondering how the interviews were going?"  George asks.
 
   "I happened to have hired our new photographer this morning.  His 
experience is limited but based on his portfolio; I believe that he will be an 
asset."  Elizabeth hands George the portfolio and resume for the 
photographer.
 
   "Nico Rawlins, I trust your instincts so I will approve this hire.  However, 
I would like to talk to him personally.  Please give him a call and have him 
to come in by this Friday."  George quickly replies while Elizabeth nods her 
agreement as he hands back Nico’s information.  “Was there anything else?
I feel bad for pulling you away for such a short meeting.”
 
   “If I can be so candid, I couldn’t help overhearing part of your 
conversation with Thomas.  I know it isn’t any of my business but I can’t 
believe you actually called his father to snoop on him.  Before you say 
anything, I understand that you have to protect the interest of the 
company.  However, I still think you shouldn’t have called his father.” 

   “You’re right dear this isn’t any of your business.   I am glad that you 
have befriended Thomas, though.  I like the boy, but I do have to take 
action if he continues not fulfilling what he was hired to do.  Since he won’t 
talk to me, perhaps you and your brother can be there for him as friends.”

   “I will be his friend as long as you don’t to call his father or use to spy on 
him.  Do I have your word?”  

   “Yes, you have my word.  Now, if there isn’t anything else, I do have to 
get back to work.  I am expecting a conference call from New York in the 
next five minutes.”
 
   “Of course, I’ll see my way out.”  
 
   Elizabeth quickly exits her father’s office while walking down the hall 
dialing Jonathan’s cell phone.
 
   “Hello, Jonathan this is your sister Elizabeth.  Please give me a call back 
when you get this message.  I think you and I need to cheer up our new 
friend Thomas.  I’m sure hearing that will motivate to call me back.”  
Elizabeth then quickly closes her cell phone and heads back to work.  She is
hoping that her father is being sincere with his promise to her.  A part of her
then wishes that she had gotten his promise in writing.