Lives To Live

Episode 26 – The Web of Lies

Previously on Lives To Live:

– Camille arrived at the hospital, and put her plan into action. She pretended to be ill, so she could see Judi. Judi then told Camille that she was pregnant. Judi later broke down in tears, realising Russell had lied to her.

– Chardonnay was at Samson Enterprises, when Luc turned up in her office. He asked her why she had lied about her engagement to Gabe. They got interrupted by a phone call, from Gabe. Luc left a note telling Chardonnay to meet him at the Ritz Bar that evening.

– Chardonnay arrived that night, and she told Luc that she had lied because she hadn’t wanted to hurt Luc. She quickly left, but Luc offered to walk her to her car. As they walked towards the car park, Victor saw them as he drove past. When they reached her car, they almost kissed but Chardonnay pulled away.

– Cleo was having problems with her Geography teacher. He deliberately put her and Joel together to annoy her, after she asked to be paired with Paris for a project. Then Joel almost got in trouble when he stood up for Cleo. At the end of Cleo thanked him, but said she didn’t need his help.

Wednesday, April 2^nd 2003, Judi’s Apartment Building, 10 a.m.

“Judi.”

Judi Anders turned around as she heard her name called out behind her. Russell Elliot was quickly approaching Judi. She turned back around and continued walking, towards the door.

“What is it?” Russell called out. “Please Judi.”

Again Judi turned around and looked at Russell.

“How can you pretend you don’t know?” She shouted loudly, catching the attention of a security guard.

“Know what?” Russell asked, finally catching up with Judi.

“Just go away.” She said, raising her voice again.

“I’ve been waiting here for two hours, and have tried knocking on your door and phoning you. I think I deserve to know why you have been ignoring me, and why you’ve been out of work.”

Tears started welling up in Judi’s eyes again. She had spent most of the previous night crying. Kayla had asked what was wrong, and Judi had lied, pretending it was a cold.

“I know that you slept with Camille, when you told me that you and she hadn’t slept together in months. You lied to me.” She said, as more tears ran down her cheeks.

“What? How did you find out?”

“Well how do you bloody think! I was the one who told her she was pregnant Russell.”

“Pregnant? When?”

“Yesterday, when you were seeing some patients.”

“I didn’t know she was…”

“How couldn’t you?,” Judi said, her voice now faltering slightly as she spoke, “She said she was going to tell you yesterday, after you finished work.”

“She never told me.”

“But…”

“She didn’t.”

There was a short silence, as both took in what they other had said. Russell was shocked, but equally delighted, that he was going to be a father. Judi, meanwhile, was shocked that Camille had never told Russell, despite what she had said as she left the exam room.

“You still slept with her though, and you told me that it was finished – t hat you two hadn’t slept together in months.”

“It was only once, when the two of us were together. You have to believe me Judi.”

“You think I am bothered that it was only once? Well I’m not. You still slept with her whether it was once, twice or a hundred times.”

***

The Elliot Apartment, later

“Are you going to work now?” Camille Elliot asked.

“Yeah, see you later.” Her husband said, distractedly. He gave her a quick peck on the cheek and headed towards the door.

“Russell, wait. There is something I need to tell you.”

He sighed, before turning around. “What?”

“Why don’t you take a seat?” Camille suggested, putting her hand on the seat beside her.

“I’ll be late for work.”

“It’ll only take a moment.”

Russell walked back to where his wife was seated, and took a seat.

“What is it?” He asked, although he already knew what Camille was about to say.

Camille took a deep breath. “I’m… pregnant.”

Russell tried to look surprised. “Wow, I…”

“Well say something.”

“That, that’s great.” He said, putting his arms around his wife. “I’m going to be a father.”

Both looked up as the door opened. Cleo walked in, a couple of bags in her hands.

“Here are the things you wanted. Will I put them in the kitchen?” She said, smiling.

“No, it’ll be okay,” Camille replied, pulling away from Russell. “Cleo, there is something we need to tell you.”

Cleo immediately became worried. “What is it? Is it about Mom?”

“No… Cleo, I’m going to have a baby.”

Cleo was silent as she took the news in.

“Are you okay?” Camille asked.

“Yeah, congratulations. I’m going to have a little, baby cousin.”

Cleo left down the bags on a chair, and walked over to her aunt. She and Camille shared a tearful hug, as Russell looked on, deep in thought.

***

Friday, April 4^th 2003, The Vincent Home, afternoon

“Who could that be?” Nicole Vincent asked, looking down at her daughter, Erin, who was sitting in a playpen. Nicole flicked of the soap opera she’d been watching and picked up her daughter, before making her way to the front door.

“Hi.” She greeted, spotting her mother standing on the step.

“Hi darling. I just thought I’d drop around and see how you were settling in.” Celia Laurent said, walking past her daughter.

“We’re fine mom.” Nicole answered. She looked down at Erin and smiled. The baby laughed, as if she knew what her mother was thinking.

Celia walked into the sitting room, as Nicole followed. She then placed Erin back in her playpen.

“If you and Justin want to go out tonight for his birthday then…” Celia began as she took a seat.

Nicole interrupted. “Luc has already offered, and I said yes.”

”Oh…” Celia said. “So how are things between you and Justin?”

“Fine.”

“I know how much he hurt you when he slept with that girl.”

“Please, I don’t want to listen to you badmouth my husband. If that is all you are going to do then get out.”

”I’m just worried about you.” Celia said, her eyes now swimming in tears.

Nicole was silent for a moment. “Well don’t be.”

***

The Park, same time

A faint smile appeared on Judi Anders face, as she watched the children who were playing chase at the other side of the lake. They reminded her of Kayla and Nate when they were that age. She and Leslie had always taken turns in bringing them to the park. But gradually that had fizzled out, as the children grew older, into teenagers. And now Kayla and Nate weren’t even speaking, from what Kayla had told her, although Judi knew no reasons for their fighting.

Across the lake, one of the children tripped and injured himself. He started crying and a brown haired woman ran over to the child and kissed his hand.

“Hello.”

Judi looked up and saw Russell Elliot standing beside her. She hadn’t noticed him approaching.

“Hi.” She greeted weakly. Russell sat down beside her. In response she moved away from him.

“So, why did you call me?” He asked.

“We’re finished Russell.”

“But…” He started.

“I don’t want you to call me or to talk to me at work, unless it is about a patient. People are getting suspicious because of you following me around, trying to talk me round.” Judi said. She then stood up and started to run away.

”Please Judi.” Russell called out, after her.

Without turning around she shouted, “No, we’re finished.”

A tear rolled down Russell’s face, as he watched Judi leave. He loved her so much, but there was never the right time to finish with Camille. And now that she was pregnant it was so much more difficult. He hadn’t meant to sleep with her, but after they had went to a hospital fundraiser, it had just happened.

Meanwhile Judi was almost at the gates of the park. Her car was parked in the small car park opposite the Red Dragon Chinese Restaurant and the Ritz Bar. As Judi reached the gates she spotted someone she hadn’t seen in weeks – Alex. He was throwing a couple of troublemakers out, with help from one of the bar staff.

She remembered the last time she’d seen him, when she had walked out on him while they were on their first date. Judi now wished she had stayed with her decision to choose Alex.

As she watched him, she remembered how nice he was. She wondered if they would have had a chance if she hadn’t went to Russell’s apartment that day and slept with him. Maybe he is still single…

***

Chardonnay’s Office, same time

Chardonnay Samson let out a soft sigh, as she rubbed her finger along her lip as she read. She just couldn’t seem to concentrate, and this was evident in the large pile of files and mail which lay in her inbox tray. In comparison her outbox contained three files, despite the fact she’d been for hours. Every day she arrived in her office, to see that the pile had grown overnight. Of course, fresh additions were also added throughout the day.

She closed the file she’d been looking over, and pushed it away from her. She then swivelled around on her leather chair, and looked out through the large glass windows which made up one wall of her office. She could see most of the town, and beyond it the deep blue shades of the sea. It was a clear day, with very few clouds in the sky. She stood up and walked closer to the window, pressing herself against it as she looked down at the people far below on the streets.

Knock knock

“Come in.” She said, turning around.

“Hi.” Gabriel McLoughlin greeted warmly, as he entered the room, leaving the door behind him open.

“Hi. What are you doing here?” She asked, walking past her chair and around her desk, towards her fiancé.

“I thought I’d surprise you.” He said, a large smile on his face as his eyes followed her curvaceous figure, and then rose to meet her bright blue eyes.

Chardonnay threw her arms around Gabe, as he slid his arms around her waist. She looked up at the handsome man before her. His chiselled features, furrowed brow, sexy, mysterious eyes… She felt Gabe’s hands on her spine, squeezing her closer to his body.

“Oh really.” She said, arching an eyebrow. His lips hovered over hers, she could now feel his…

“Oops, sorry.” Came a third voice – Macy Rodgers had entered the room. “Ever so sorry to interrupt, but your dad wanted you to look over these.”

“Thanks.” Chardonnay muttered, reaching out for the papers, but Macy walked past her and Gabriel and placed the papers on Chardonnay’s desk.

“I’ll leave you two… to it.” Macy said, smiling, as she left the room.

Chardonnay and Gabe drew closer together again, and this time managed to kiss without being interrupted. But Chardonnay suddenly felt guilty as she remembered her and Luc’s time together just a few days previously. Gabe looked puzzled that Chardonnay had pulled away so quickly, and she quickly picked up on this.

“So what did you drop by for?” Chardonnay asked, trying to cover.

“To ask you out for dinner tonight.” Gabe replied, a playful smile appearing on his lips.

“And what if I’ve got other plans?” Chardonnay teased.

“Well you’ll just have to choose, won’t you.”

“So will it be business or pleasure?”

“A bit of both. It’s with Johnny Robertson.”

“Why can’t dad go if its business?”

“He doesn’t deal with Johnny much, prefers his dad, but since JJ is away Victor thought he’d send me.”

Chardonnay thought about the proposition. She’d been out at dinners for the last two nights, and before that she had been consumed with worry over her and Luc, until she came to the conclusion that it was Gabe she loved, and that she had just had a moment of weakness with Luc, who she didn’t love anymore.

Despite this conclusion, it still didn’t stop thoughts of Luc occasionally wandering into her head, and what might have happened if she hadn’t left him, back in Canada over a year ago after that silly argument they’d had.

All day she’d been looking forward to a relaxing Friday evening, with a romantic comedy, bottle of wine and an early night, all with Gabe, and now it looked like she would have to sacrifice her evening.

“Will Jodi be there?” She asked. Gabe nodded, with a pleading childlike look upon his face. “Okay then.”

“I better go. Got loads of paperwork to get through.”

Gabe quickly left the room and Chardonnay returned to her desk, and picked up the papers Macy had left down.

“Thanks.” Chardonnay said, as she and Luc reached her car.

“It was my pleasure.” He smiled down at her. She smiled back, but her facial expression soon became more serious. Luc moved closer to Chardonnay. Their lips almost met, but Chardonnay pulled away.

“I better go.” She said getting into her red Porsche. She started the engine and drove away.

“What do you think about the increased sales figures since the advertising campaign started?” Victor Samson asked, as his head appeared in the doorway, ending Chardonnay’s flashback.

“What?”

”The increased sales figures since… It was all in the papers, Macy sent down. I thought you’d have read them by now.”

“Oh, yeah. It is great.” Chardonnay said distantly.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, fine.”

“It’s Jean Luc, isn’t it?”

“How…?”

“I saw you two the other night, in the car park.”

“But…”

“I was going past. You two were on the pavement.”

“Oh dad, I didn’t mean for us to get so close. And when he tried to kiss me, I…”

“He tried to kiss you?” Asked a shocked Victor.