Episode 22 – Catching Up
Previously on Lives To Live:
– Leslie and Victor returned home, following a three week vacation in Europe. They, along with Nate, walked in on Chardonnay and Gabe making love on the stairs. Later, at dinner, Nate mocked Chardonnay and Gabe, Chardonnay worried about starting work at Samson Enterprises, and Leslie got a phone call from Natasha Robertson, Paris’ mother.
– The Vincent family, Nicole, her husband, Justin, and daughter, Erin, arrived at their new home, where the Williams family had previously lived. There they met Jean Luc, Nicole’s younger brother.
– Alex flirted with a mysterious blonde at the bar. She had to leave, and gave Corey her business card to give to Alex. Corey gave Alex her business card, which suggested they should meet up sometime.
– The following day Judi arrived to catch up with Leslie, and discovered that her high school best friend, the woman from the bar, had turned up to plan Chardonnay and Gabe’s wedding. Sara and Judi caught up.
– After her first morning at work, an easy one by all standards, Chardonnay ran into her ex-fiancé , Jean Luc.
Monday,
March 17th 2003, Samson Enterprises, Lunchtime
The doors of the elevator closed, and a minute later Chardonnay found herself on the top floor. The doors opened and Chardonnay noticed a man, waiting to get in. She looked at his face, and realised who he was.
”Luc!” She shouted, without realising how loud she had uttered the name of her former fiancé.
Jean Luc didn’t respond. He knew when he’d arrived in town that he’d probably run into Chardonnay, but he didn’t expect it so soon.
“What are you doing here?” Chardonnay asked.
“I was at a meeting with your dad.” He answered.
“When did you get here?”
“I arrived a few weeks ago, to help run things at the hotel. And then your dad suggested we meet to talk about using the hotel to host conferences and to put up guests who he was doing business with, as the apartment he normally uses was burned down or something.”
“You’re living here?”
“Me, mom, dad, Nicole, Justin and Erin are all moving here. We all had a really bad year, and dad suggested we move away from Boston. And he said he’d always loved this town.”
“Sorry, can I please get into the elevator if you don’t mind.” Came a voice from behind Luc. He turned to see Macy, Victor’s secretary standing there, looking impatient. Chardonnay realised that while she and Luc had been talking, a couple of people had arrived to use the elevator. She stepped out, and stood aside for the people to get in.
“I guess I better be going. I want to get something to eat.” Luc said, as he moved nearer the elevator.
“Why don’t I come with you?” Chardonnay asked, remembering Gabe had a business meeting.
”I… okay then.” Luc said, as he and Chardonnay stepped in the elevator. Macy raised an eyebrow as she saw them together.
Thirty minutes later Chardonnay and Luc were sitting in a sandwich bar, a few minutes walk from Samson Enterprises.
“So what have you been up to since, you know…?” Luc asked, as he started to eat his sandwich.
“Well, actually I started working today. I’m head of cosmetics at Samson Enterprises.” Chardonnay answered.
“That’s great. How’s your first day been?”
”It’s been great. Though dad did make sure it was that way. I spent the whole morning testing new products.”
“I guess you really hated that. All those lipsticks and mascaras.” Luc joked.
“It was difficult.” She answered, laughing. Chardonnay couldn’t lay her finger on it, she just felt relaxed around Luc.
“I hope dad’s not worried. Maybe I should give him a call.” She said, as a thought suddenly entered her head.
”I’m sure he knows you’re a big girl now. He’ll probably think you’re out with friends or something.”
“And he’ll probably be having lunch with that guy – Garry.” Luc replied, though still not reassuring Chardonnay.
”Garry?” She asked, the name not ringing any bells.
”He is in charge of international relations. I think its Garry. He is really stupid, bad at his job.”
Chardonnay realised that he was talking about Gabe.
“So has there been anyone since we finished?” she began, trying to change the subject.
”No, nobody really. I’ve been out on a couple of dates, but nothing serious.” He answered. “You?”
“Well…” Chardonnay began, “it’s been the same for me.”
She only realised what she’d said after she’d finished talking. Why couldn’t I tell him about Gabe? She wondered. Chardonnay looked down at her watch.
“I have to go now.” She said, leaving down her half finished sandwich on the plate. She took out her bag and left some money on the table.
”Don’t want them to think your skiving off on your first day?” Luc asked.
”Yeah, something like that.”
***
Westside
High School, early evening
Kayla Anders left her rucksack down at the gates of the high school. She was waiting for Jacob Lewis and some of his friends so they could hang after school, and then walk home together. She and Jacob had been getting closer over he last few weeks, just as things had been deteriorating between Kayla and her cousin Nate.
Things had been strained ever since Kayla had threatened to tell Nate’s parents about the threats which he’d been getting for a couple of months. She’d even set a deadline, which had angered Nate and led to them arguing. As they argued, Paris Robertson, or as Kayla liked to call her, the school slut had been getting her claws into Nate. Paris had discovered that one of her friends’ Gayle Warren, was the one behind the threats.
Kayla looked down the avenue, leading up to the school, and spotted a sombre looking Cleo Brady on the opposite side. In the few months that Cleo had been at Westside High, they’d never really gotten on. This was because of Leo Williams. Kayla had liked Leo, but he liked Cleo and they’d gotten together. This angered Kayla, but then Leo left town with his parents, leaving Cleo devastated.
Not too far behind Cleo were Paris, Nate and some of their friends. Kayla pretended not to see them as they walked past, but was angry to see how close they were getting. She was sure that there was something going on between Paris and Nate, and she didn’t want to see Nate getting hurt because of Paris. Kayla and Nate had been close all their lives, until now that was.
“Hey.” Came the sound of a familiar voice behind Kayla. With all the staring at Nate and Paris, Kayla hadn’t noticed Jacob arrive beside her. She jumped slightly, and then turned to see Jacob.
“Look at them.” She said, turning her attentions back to Paris and Nate, who hadn’t noticed her narrowed eyes following their every move.
“Who?” Jacob asked, running his left hand through his blonde hair.
“Nate and that slut Paris. Look at them. I know she’s just after my cousin for one thing, his money.” Kayla commented.
Jacob rolled his eyes, realising that it would be a long walk home. He knew that pointing out the fact that the Robertson’s had plenty of money from their law firm and businesses wouldn’t help things.
Meanwhile, opposite Kayla and Jacob, Paris and Nate were chatting about her parent’s forthcoming holiday, which would see her forced to live with her eldest sister for three and a half weeks.
“It’s just that Kim won’t let me have fun like Rebekah or even Jimmy and Jodi would. She’s always the one who has her head buried in some book about court battles.” Paris sighed, talking about her eldest sister, a lawyer who worked at her father’s law firm.
“At least Chardonnay let me have some fun when mom and dad went away.” Nate smiled, though it quickly faded as he watched Cleo in front.
”Well I definitely won’t be having any parties, or friends over all day like you. I’ll be lucky if she’ll let me have someone over to study with.”
“She’s still not the same, is she?” Nate said. Paris knew immediately who he was looking at.
“Not the same? More like a totally different person. I haven’t spoken to her like I used to in ages. In fact I don’t think she’s spoken to me at all since Leo left. We really should do something.”
”Any ideas?” Nate asked.
“Well there is her aunt. Camille isn’t it?”
“And what? Tell her we’re worried about Cleo, and then have Cleo come back and shout at us for interfering.”
“When you put it that way…” Paris said, her face falling as she had no other ideas.
***
The Elliot
Apartment, later
“Hello. How was school?” Camille Elliot said cheerfully, as her niece Cleo Brady walked through the doors of their apartment. Cleo threw down her rucksack.
“Same as usual.” She muttered in reply. Camille looked unhappy, but tried again to talk to Cleo.
“Anything exciting? Any teenage traumas?” Camille joked, smiling.
“No.” Cleo answered, before leaving the room. Camille sighed. It had been the same for the past two weeks. She’d barely had two words from Cleo. Everyday Cleo would arrive home, toss her bag on the floor and go to her room. For the first week of so she’d check the post, but Leo hadn’t sent anything from Florida, and Cleo couldn’t write to him as she’d never been able to get the address due to her fight with him before he left.
“Right, I can’t take anymore of this.” Camille said. She stood up, walked over to the door which led to a hall, opened it, walked down the hall and then found herself at Cleo’s room. Camille gently knocked on the door.
“What?” Cleo asked, from inside the room.
”Cleo, we need to talk.”
“What about?” Came the voice through the door.
“About you. Please, just let me in.” Camille pleaded. The door opened and Cleo sternly looked at her aunt.
“What about me?” She asked. Camille walked past Cleo, and into the room. On the bed was a pile of photos, which Cleo had been looking at before Camille knocked on the door. The photos were off Cleo and Leo, before he left. On the table beside the bed was a framed photo of the couple, with another on the wall and a third on Cleo’s dressing table.
“You and Leo.” Camille answered.
”What about us?”
“I know you miss him, but you have to get on with your life.” Camille started.
“I don’t want to hear this.” Cleo replied.
“He’s gone Cleo, and he probably won’t be back. And…”
Cleo interrupted. “What? There are plenty more fish in the sea? That what you were going to say?”
Camille nodded. “Well…”
“I don’t want any other fish, I want Leo and I wish you and everybody else would get it into their stupid heads.” Cleo shouted, angrily. Camille had never seen her like this before, so angry and vicious.
“Cleo…”
“Just get out,” Cleo shouted. Camille didn’t move, “I said get out, get out, get out.”
Camille moved towards the door, tears welling up in her eyes as she watched her niece. Cleo’s shouts continued, for a couple more seconds, though they slowed down and then finished. She slammed the door after her aunt left, and then reached for the nearest thing to hand.
The glass on the frame smashed as Cleo threw it across the room. She quickly realised what it was she’d just thrown, and ran across the room to pick it up. She took up the photo of herself and Leo and stared at it, as tears streamed down both cheeks. A tear landed on the photo, and Cleo held it against her chest.
“Leo…” She cried, pulling the photo back and realising there was now blood on it from where she’d cut herself picking up the photo.
Outside the door Camille stood, wiping her eyes with a tissue. She made her way back up the hall and through to the living room. Camille spotted Cleo’s rucksack, lying on the floor. She wondered if Cleo had been the same, withdrawn individual at school as she was at home.
Camille pulled at the zip, and opened the bag. The first thing she saw was a white envelope, with something typed on it. She examined it more closely.
For the parents/guardians of Cleo Brady
Camille opened the envelope, and read the letter. It basically described how badly Cleo had been doing in every subject in the last week, and how her teachers were worried about Cleo’s lack of participation in class. Also there were some concerns raised about the fact that Cleo hadn’t turned up for some classes, while she had for others on the same day. Also there were details at the end of the letter, telling Camille that the school would like a meeting.
***
The Vincent
Home, a couple of hours later
“Hello.” Nicole said as she opened the door of her new home. She smiled warmly at her brother Jean Luc, who had arrived for dinner.
”There you go.” Luc said as he handed Nicole a bottle of wine.
“Thanks.”
“Where are Erin and Just?” Luc asked, looking around the newly furnished home. Although there were some boxes left lying around, their contents left untouched, nearly all of the boxes had been opened. The house was almost a home.
“They’re upstairs. You can go up if you want. I’m just finishing dinner.” Nicole said, walking towards the kitchen door.
“I think I’ll stay and talk to my sister.”
Luc followed Nicole into the kitchen, and watched her as she prepared the meal. He took a seat at the square preparation table.
“So, how’s everything going here?” He asked, as she took out the plates.
“It’s fine. I love the house. It’s just so cosy, and I feel as though it’s my home already, though I’ve only been here a day.”
“And you and Justin?”
”What do you mean?” Nicole asked, turning to look at her brother.
“Well I know you two had some problems before you left Boston, what with his affair and you’re…” Luc began, but realised that he’d put his mouth in it. His voice faded.
“My what? You can say the word depression Luc.” Nicole said, angrily. Things between her and Justin should be their business. “Oh, and you can tell mother we are fine.”
Celia Laurent wasn’t happy at her daughter’s decision to forgive Justin after his one night stand, when Nicole was suffering from post natal depression. Celia had been constantly checking up on Nicole, and Justin too, since she’d been told of his infidelity. She’d asked her other kids to keep their eye on her eldest daughter, and also regularly phoned them, to find out how things were. Adrienne had told Nicole all Celia was saying.
There was a short, though awkward silence, as Nicole stared at Justin for a second, before returning to her dinner preparations. Luc stared at the worktop, wishing he could take back all he’d just said.
“Look, I’m sorry.” He said, sighing.
“It’s not your fault.” Nicole said.
“No it is. I’m not being fair being down your back the whole time.”
“It’s okay, it’s all moms doing anyway.” Nicole answered, finally finishing the dinner.
“Justin, dinners ready.” She called.
***
The
Hospital Staff Room, same time
Carla Peterson stirred the tea, as she stood at the sink in the staff room. She yawned as she took out the bag and left it down. She then turned and took a seat at the table, opposite Judi Anders.
“So how are things?” She asked her friend, taking a sip of her tea but quickly realising it what too hot.
Judi looked up from the magazine she’d been reading and smiled. Carla had been a great support to her, as she chose between Alex and Russell.
“With Russell?” Judi asked. Carla responded with a simple nod. “They’re fine.”
“But is he ever going to tell his wife?”
”Well he says that it is really difficult with a moody teenager around, and
that he can never find a right time.”
“And have you thought about Alex?”
“No, not really. I’ve made my choice and now I have to stick by it.” Judi said. Carla wondered if Judi sounded like she regretted choosing Russell.
”And do you think he’ll ever tell her?” Carla asked.
“He’s promised me he’ll do it soon, but he has broken that promise before so…” Judi answered, but she was interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Melody Scott stood in the doorway.
“Carla, I need you to help me with something.” She said.
“But I’m on my break.” Carla answered.
“It’s urgent.”
“Okay then.” Carla said, standing up and pouring her tea down the sink. She left down the cup and then walked out the door.
”See you later.” Judi said, picking up her magazine. She started reading the article she’d been at before her chat with Carla.
Outside the door Russell Elliot stood. He sighed, closing his bloodshot eyes for a moment. He was exhausted after working an extra shift. And he’d just had to break the news to a family that their son hadn’t pulled through an operation. Russell pushed open the door, and spotted Judi sitting at the table, engrossed in a magazine.
She looks so beautiful.
“Hi.” He said, as she looked up from her magazine. A large smile appeared on Judi’s face. Russell walked towards his locker, and after entering the combination changed his clothes.
”You going home now?” Judi asked, watching Russell take of his white coat.
“Yeah, I was supposed to go an hour or so ago, but one of my patients died and I had to break the news to his family. The look on his mother’s face…”
Judi’s smile faded, and she looked at Russell sympathetically. It was always difficult telling someone of a death, and children dying before their parents were the worst. Judi stood up and walked over to Russell and gave him a hug, despite the fact that he was wearing no shirt.
Judi sighed, knowing now was not the time to add to his worries with the news of Camille’s newfound iciness towards Judi. They’d run into each other while shopping, and Judi had picked up that something was wrong, Camille was being extremely snide and icy.
“It wasn’t your fault.” She said, as she moved into kiss him. The door started to open, and Judi quickly pulled away. Melody Scott entered the room again.
“Hello.”
“I have to go.” Russell said, pulling on a shirt, and closing the door of his locker. He rushed out the door, past Judi and Melody.
“Was it something I said?” A puzzled Melody asked Judi.
***
The Samson
Mansion, same time
Ding dong.
“I’m coming.” Nate shouted, as he walked towards the front door of the mansion. Whoever was standing at the other side didn’t seem to have any patience.
He was on his own in the house, as Leslie and Victor went out with Chardonnay and Gabe to celebrate her first day. Nate had been invited, but had declined as he had so much homework to do. He silently prayed that whoever it was wouldn’t stay too long, as he didn’t want to fall behind in his homework.
Nate put his hand on the handle, and slowly pulled open the large door. He looked outside, and was surprised as he saw Paris, along with her mother standing outside, with six or so suitcases around them.
Next Time:
Alex and Sara go out on a date, as Judi picks up on more iciness from Camille.