INSTALLMENT 49
Richardson Residence
Both Gillian and Nina stand in shock at seeing Stephen. The longer they stand there in
silence, the more curious Stephen becomes.
"This is a miracle, both of my sister's are speechless. I'll have to record the date of
this little event since it'll never happen again." Stephen jokes, wondering to himself what
he just walked in on. "Come on, fill me in."
"We were just discussing you and Melinda." Gillian blurts out. "We were both wondering
when you two were going to get together, now that you both are single." She finishes with an
emphasis on the word single.
Stephen turns bright red, "You'll have to ask Melinda. She's giving me the runaround
again, due to some crisis in her family."
Nina and Gillian stand in silence, waiting for their brother to continue.
Stephen looks at his watch, "Anyway, I'm running late for work, but why would you feel
the need to keep that from me?"
Gillian thinks for a second, "Because we were planning to set you two up on a romantic
dinner to get the ball rolling. We didn't want to get your hopes up, because we know how
you feel about any interference in your life."
Nina pipes in, "Gil is right, we didn't want to appear like we were interfering. What's
going in her family?"
Stephen walks toward the door, "It isn't my place to say, but I do think you need to give
Katie a call. She could use a friend right now. I'm grateful that you two care so much
about my romantic life, but I've been reminded again, that Melinda's focus will always be
her family."
"Stephen, just be there for her. If you really love her, be supportive and she'll
respond to that." Nina advises.
Gillian shakes her head, "Listen, if she's going to put her family in front of you again
then you are wasting your time." She feels a jab in her side, but she continutes, "I could
understand that when her siblings were young, but they are in college now. Besides, I find
it interesting that she pushed you off all these years until you moved on with Alicia. It's
a classic case of wanting what you can't have."
"Something you would know about, wouldn't you Gil." Nina retorts, "Listen, go to work
and we'll talk about this later."
Stephen nods before leaving the kitchen. After hearing the door slam, Nina relaxes.
"That was so close Gil. I have to give you props for that story you gave Stephen. I
might have to change my opinion of you." Nina says, "Now what are we going to do about
obtaining both of their DNA?"
"Let's divide and conquer. You obtain Stephen's DNA and I'll handle getting
Mr. Falmont's. What do you say?"
"How are you going to get Mr. Falmont's DNA?" Nina asks, a hint of concern in her voice.
"Don't worry about that little sister. You have it easy, in fact, since you don't have
class today, you could actually accomplish your task. I'll handle Mr. Falmont." Gillian
replies, with a smile on her face. "Anyway, I have to get to the office. Good luck."
Nina watches her sister leave and hopes she doesn't get into too much trouble.
Falmont Residence
The front door slamming shut brings Lenore out of her thoughts. Walking out into the
front foyer, she's happy to see both of her sons. Taking a second glance at them, she
notices their unhappy expressionsc.
"I'm so glad to see both of you." She remarks, giving them both hugs.
Henry starts to speak, "I'm sorry for screwing up again mom. I just couldn't stand by
and let them speak to Katie like that."
Lenore smiles, "I'm proud of you for standing up for Katie, however, I cant
condone you fighting that guy and getting in trouble with the campus police. You are very
lucky that serious charges were not filed."
Lenore turns to Jonathan. "Thank you for handling the situation with your brother. If
your father had found out, I dont know what would have happened."
Jonathan shrugs, "It was no trouble at all."
Henry just rolls his eyes, thinking to himself how his brother is always the golden boy
in their mother's eyes. If he didn't like his brother so much, he'd be jealous.
Lenore smiles, "Did you want to stay and chat for a bit?" She asks, noticing Jonathan's
tense stance, "I have a feeling something's weighing on you, am I right?"
Jonathan nods, as he and Henry follow their mother into the living room. Making
themselves at home, they wait as their mother prepares the both of them a cup of coffee.
"So what do you need to tell me sweetheart?" Lenore asks, handing both her sons a
cup of coffee.
"Well, you know how much I enjoy running my own art gallery, right?" Lenore nods,
"Due to the drawnout recession, my art gallery is barely breaking even. So I've decided to
close it down before it loses any more money."
"I had no idea that you were having trouble with the gallery." Lenore replies, "Is there
anything that I can do to help you save the gallery? Do you need any money? Or perhaps we
can throw a benefit at the gallery?"
Jonathan shakes his head, "Thank you for your offer of help, but I have to turn you
down." He takes a deep breath, "The truth is that the gallery has been operating at a loss
for awhile and I've been using my trust fund to stay afloat. However, the economy isn't
picking up and the company I'm leasing my space from is raising the rent effective next
month."
"So is that why you decided not to relocate your gallery?" Lenore asks.
Jonathan nods, "Yes, because I wasn't sure if I was going to keep it open or not. I also
was wondering if I could perhaps move back home?" He notices her expression changing, "It
will only be for a little while until I figure out my next step."
Lenore smiles, "Ofcourse you can move back home. Your room is just the way you left it."
She notices Jonathan's worried expression, "Don't worry about your father. I will handle
him on your behalf as well."
Jonathan smiles and gives his mother a hug. Just then, the doorbell rings and then the
front door opens and slams shut. All three look to see who is at the front door. To
Lenore's dismay, a fired up Lillian marches into the living room.
"Lillian, what a wonderful surprise." Lenore expresses, trying to figure out what is
bugging her former friend.
"Don't mess with me today! What did you tell my daughter!" Lillian responds, her
nostrils flaring.
Alicia Salgado's apartment
Alicia is awakened by the sunlight streaming in thru the window. She sits up in bed
and notices Wally sleeping soundly next to her. Leaning down to kiss his bare skin, she
feels a mix of euphoria and confusion over her feelings for him. What started out as
purely a spitful move has developed into a comforting arrangement for her. "Guess a girl
needs some fun" she thinks to herself, leaning over him and kissing him softly on the lips.
He starts to stir under the barrage of kisses and opens his eyes. Before she knows it,
he rolls her over and gets on top of her.
"Good morning, I hope you slept well." Alicia purrs in his ears.
"Yes, I did. What time is it?" Wally asks, looking over at her nightstand and seeing
the time. "Man, I have to get to class in two hours... ugh!"
"Normally I'd say blow off your class, but as a teacher, I have to encourage you to
go." Alicia responds, kissing him one last time before he gets out of bed.
Wally stumbles around for his pants and notices his cell phone with the message screen
flashing. Picking it up, he rolls his eyes when he notices the number on the caller id.
"Whose been calling you? Not an old girlfriend I hope." Alicia asks, startled by the
hint of jealousy in her voice.
"Just my sister Katie bugging me. She tried to call five times and left two messages, I
can't imagine what she would want." Wally ponders.
"I swear I've never met anyone as close to their family as you. What's the story with
that?" Alicia asks.
Wally takes a deep breath, "Well it has to do with the fact that our mother died and our
worthless father decided that three children were not part of his new life. So my sister
gave up her dreams to raise my sister and I. Even though we both get annoyed with her,
we're both grateful for what she gave up. Though sometimes we have trouble showing that."
"Have you heard from him since he left?" Alicia asks, trying to get a better
understanding of what made her lover tick. He shakes his head, "Not even a letter or a
birthday card?"
"Yeah, we got a few birthday cards and some money. It doesn't replace having a father
in one's life though. Sometimes I wonder how different I would have been if my father
hadn't taken off. I certainly would known how to talk to girls at an earlier age."
Alicia smiles, "You certainly don't have that problem now."
"Yes, well I do have a good teacher. In and out of the classroom." Wally responds,
kissing Alicia again.
Wally then dials for his voicemail, sitting down on the bed to listen to all of his
messages. As each message is retrieved, his facial expression changes to an angry scrowl.
Once the final message is heard, Wally flips his phone shut then angrily knocks over a
chair. Pacing around the room, he scrambles to find his shoes with swear words coming out
of his mouth. Alicia notes this with interest and wonders what's wrong.
"Bad news?" Alicia asks, already knowing the answer.
"What? Oh yeah, my sister just told me the worst possible news you could hear!" Wally
responds, sitting down to tie his shoes.
"What could be so bad?"
Wally looks up, "Oh, just the fact that my son of a bitch father blew into town
yesterday."
He gets up, puts his coat and marches out of her apartment in anger. Alicia just sits
there wondering how this will affect things between her and Wally. Shaking her head, she
then speculates how her tearful phone call to Gillian last night went over. She'll find out
at lunch today, she thinks to herself. Smiling with glee, she gets up and prepares for
another day.
Falmont Residence
"Lillian, now isn't the time to discuss whatever issue you may have with me. Perhaps,
we can get together for lunch tomorrow?" Lenore suggests, trying to call attention to the
fact that there is an audience in the room.
Lillian turns around and realizes what Lenore is getting at. She shakes her head and
stands motionless.
"No, this can't wait. We need to talk this out right now!" Lillian replies, hands
firmly on her hips.
Lenore walks over to her sons, "Perhaps, you two can go out and get a bite to eat? My
treat." She walks over to her purse and pulls out a fifty dollar bill.
Jonathan takes the money, realizing that this was their queue to leave their mother alone
with this woman.
"What do you say? Breakfast on mom?" Jonathan asks his brother.
Henry thinks for a second, "I guess since mom is footing the bill, why not. It
certainly beats all the health food crap in your apartment."
Both Jonathan and Henry exit out the front door. After waiting a moment to make sure
that neither of them are coming back, Lenore turns angrily to Lillian.
"Do you mind telling me what you are thinking? Storming into my house without calling
first? What if George were here?" Lenore demands.
Lillian laughs, "Oh come off it. We both know your husband spends more time at the
office then he does at home. Now answer my question, what the hell did you tell my daughter?"
"As soon as you clue me in to what you're talking about, I'll be more then happy to
answer."
"Apparently, Gillian has figured out Stephen's paternity." Lillian responds, noting the
color draining out of Lenore's face.
"How did she figure that out?" Lillian points her finger at her, "Please, I hardly know
the girl." Lenore wonders out loud, "Did she actually come out and ask you about Stephen?"
Lillian shakes her head, "Then how do you know? What exactly did she say?"
"She was talking to me about a topic she saw on a talk show and she happened to ask me,
point blank, how a woman could hide the paternity of her child from her husband." Lillian
replies, realizing right then how stupid she sounds.
"Oh my god, are you that stupid? Talk shows have topics like that all the time, or so I
hear. Let me guess, you freaked out. Am I right?" Lenore asks.
Lillian nods, "Yeah, thinking about it now, I guess I jumped to conclusions. I mean we
did make a pact all those years ago. I havent told anyone, not even my husband."
Lenore just stands there, shaking her head, "Listen, we are the only two people who know
about this. It will stay that way as long as I have something to say about it. Can you
imagine the ramifications if this got out? My marriage would be ruined and then he'll
look your way again."
"Lenore, he can look, but I will never give him the time of day. I love my husband
and would hate for this to come out. Not only for our sakes, but what about my son. He's
grown up thinking Chase is his father, he'll be devastated if he ever found out the truth."
"Then we are in agreement that your daughter has no idea." Lillian nods her reply, "I
think you need to do some damage control with your children, just in case they are curious."
Lillian nods, "I'm sorry again for bursting in. If it is any consolation, I am not a
threat to your marriage."
"I know that now." Lenore replies, as she watches Lillian leave.
Falmont Enterprises
Sitting in his office, George alternates between his e-mails and Blackberry. "Trying
to coordinate a work schedule should not be this stressful", he thinks to himself. Just as
he finishes his last e-mail, there's a knock at his door.
"Louise, I don't want to be disturbed!" George yells into the intercom. When there
isn't a response, he pushes the intercom button again. Before he speaks, there's another
knock at the door.
"Mr. Falmont, it's Gillian. Your assistant wasn't at her desk, or else, I wouldn't have
knocked Do you have a minute?" She asks from the other side of the door.
George's stance relaxes at the sound of her voice. "Sure, come right in."
He remains fixed on her as she opens the door and makes her way into the office. As
she walks in, he can't believe how incredibly attractive she is. Probably has to beat the
men off with a stick, he thinks to himself.
He waits for her to sit down across from him, his eyes moving up and down over her form
fitting dress. "Just as appetizing now as last night at dinner", he thinks to himself.
"So what do I owe the pleasure of your visit Ms. Richardson?" George asks, a grin
plastered on his face. Anyone could read what he was thinking at that moment.
Gillian smiles, thinking to herself that this was like taking candy from a baby. "I just
wanted to say that I had a great time with you last night. Perhaps we can do it again?"
George leans back, grin in tact, thinking to himself how he still has it. "I would very
much like to do it again." He pauses, leaning forward till his face is right in front of
her's, "Next time, lets talk more about the present and less about the past."
Gillian nods, "Does the past bring back any unpleasant memories?"
George shakes his head, "No, but why go back when I can look forward, perhaps even with
you."
Gillian smiles then gets up from her chair. "I'm very flattered, Mr. Falmont but I must
let you know that my career comes first."
George then gets out his chair, following Gillian to the door. He catches up with her,
makes sure the door is locked and kisses her on the lips. As they kiss, she realizes now
is the perfect time to accomplish her mission. "This is too easy", she thinks to herself,
as she puts her hands over his thick salt and pepper hair. Giving into the intensity of
the kiss, she pulls on his hair, enhancing the intensity of their kiss.
Once they part, both breathing heavily, she adjusts her hair with her left hand and keeps
her right hand closed. "Sorry about that Mr. Falmont, sometimes I get a little too
passionate for my own good. I hope I didn't pull too hard."
George waits till his breathing returns to normal, "Not at all Gillian." He peers down
at his watch, "I actually have a conference call in fifteen minutes, but I'll call you when
I'm free."
They share another kiss before she exits his office. Once his office door closes, she
pulls out a plastic bag from her purse and slips his hair into it. Mission accomplished,
she thinks to herself.
