Chapter 1

Setting: Edmund's office at Tempo - Tuesday afternoon in
March.

For months, Edmund had been trying to get Brooke alone long
enough to discuss the mutual attraction that seemed to be
stirring beneath the surface. Dimitri's "death" made Edmund
realize how much he still cared for Brooke. However, by the
time he had worked through his grief over loosing Dimitri,
Brooke seemed to be interested in Elliot Freeman. Edmund had
his own distraction with Alex. Looking back, it all seems so
fuzzy. He and Alex had formed an intense bond over their
mutual loss. However, his feelings for Brooke never waned.

Ever since his and Brooke's lives resumed their normal
course, or what passed for normal, Edmund had been trying to
make his feelings known to Brooke. Brooke had been the one
person who truly believed in him when Dimitri accused him of
killing Alex. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but he believed
Brooke still cared for him.

As Edmund sat at his desk in his Tempo office, he found
himself musing about his feelings for Brooke. "Hell, I've
been attracted to her since before Kit arrived in town. Boy,
that was a fiasco! He and Brooke had worked well together
uncovering Kit's identity. He was certain that Brooke
assumed he and Kit were an item. There always seemed to be
something in the way of them even having a real
conversation."

"Hold on, maybe I'm jumping to conclusions, here", Edmund
muttered under his breath. " Just because I've been having X-
rated thoughts about Brooke does not mean she reciprocates.
I mean, if she did, wouldn't she have sent some sort of
signal or picked up on the ones that I've been sending?
Well, wait. There was that time over at Brooke's after
Elliot came to say good-bye.."

Deep in his thoughts, Edmund did not hear Brooke knock.

"Edmund?"

"Brooke, I'm sorry ' just daydreaming. What's up?"

"Did you get a chance to contact Fred about his visit?" Fred
Knowles, CEO of Knowles Industry, is Tempo's largest
advertiser.

"Yes, I did. He will not be able to visit until the summer,
but he invited us to New York Friday night for dinner to
discuss the positioning of his Soy Burger ads. Are you
free?"

"Friday, as in 3 days?" Brooke asked annoyed. " I had
planned to take Jamie and Junior, er JR, to see that new kick
boxing movie"

"Brooke, you and kick boxing?"

"Not my choice. Jamie has been wanting to see it for weeks"

"OK, I'll call Fred and reschedule."

"Edmund, look, Tad just returned from Napa. I think he will
be happy to fill in. These days, he doesn't get to see JR as
much as he would like. This will give him the chance to
catch up with both boys. Let me check with Tad and I'll get
back to you."

"Brooke, are you sure? I can call him to reschedule."

"No, like you said, kick boxing is not my thing. Plus, I
have not been to New York in months. I'll go call Tad."

As Brooke turns to leave, Edmund picks up the receiver and
dials. "Hello, is Fred, there?"

"No, sorry. He is in Jakarta on business. He will be
checking in later today, is there a message?"

"Yes, please tell him Edmund Grey called to remind him of the
plans for Friday."

"Mr. Grey is there a number where he can reach you, in case
he needs clarification?"

"He can call me at my office. He has the number."

As Edmund, hangs up the receiver, Brooke's secretary walks
into his office.

"Excuse me, Edmund. Brooke asked me to tell you that she can
make the New York meeting on Friday. Should I make
reservations ' air or rail? What time?"

"I think we will use a limo. That way Brooke and I can
discuss our strategy with out interruptions. Tell the limo
service to pick me up from Wild Wind around 7 PM. Then we'll
go on to Brooke's."

"OK, will do. I'll let Brooke know to expect you around
7:15."

"Thanks!"

"Oh, Edmund, Brooke said she plans to leave early tonight '
in about an hour in case you need to see her about
anything."

"No, I've got a lot to do in preparation of our meeting
Friday night."

Part 2

Setting: Brooke's house - Tuesday night

"Brooke, hi. Thanks for having me over for dinner. You
don't know how relieved I am to escape the Valley Inn's
nouvelle cuisine."

"Friday night, you'll have another chance. I'm sure the boys
will want pizza or burgers before the movie."

"Speaking of that, did you clear it with Dixie, about me
spending time with JR?'

"You think Dixie will have a problem with your taking JR to a
movie? You're more a father to him than Adam ever can be. "

"Adam is not the problem. She wants him to spend more time
with Hayward. Yech!"

"Tad, I'll call her. Meanwhile, Jamie is upstairs. You go
see him while I finish dinner."

As Tad goes upstairs, Brooke calls Dixie.

"Dixie, Hi. Listen, something has come up Friday night. I
have to go to New York for a meeting for Tempo. I asked Tad
to take the boys to the movie."

"Brooke, I don't want JR to see Tad, at least not for
awhile."

"Dixie, Tad loves JR. He is a good father. It would be good
for Jamie and JR to spend time as a family, and Tad is very
much a part of their family."

"I don't know.. You're right. He is a good father, but I
don't want Tad coming in to my home and verbally attacking
David"

"Listen, let JR come here after school. Tad can pick the
boys up here. Since I don't know how late I'll be, and Laura
is in Seattle with Bianca, Tad is staying with Jamie Friday
night. JR is welcome to stay, too."

"Umm. OK. JR has soccer practice Saturday morning. Tell
Tad, JR has to be there by 10. He can stay and watch if he
wants. I will pick JR up after practice. Um Brooke, ask Tad
to stay util I get there, I'd like to see Jamie. It's been
almost two months."

"Dixie, thanks. I'll tell Tad. Jaime would like to see you,
too. He misses being with you and JR. Maybe the boys
should get together on a regular basis, alternating between
here and there."

"I'd like that. I know how you feel about David and me so I
was reluctant to bring it up."

"Dixie, the boys are what's important. As long as Jamie is
comfortable being with you and David and David does not
jeopardize my son's well being in any way, Jamie may spend
some time over there. However, Dixie, I don't want Jaime
hearing any negative comments from David about Tad, OK?"

"Brooke, David would never say anything negative about Tad in
front of Jamie. Let's talk next week to schedule their
visits."

"OK, bye Dixie."

As Brooke hangs up the receiver, she turns to see Tad
descending the stairs.

"Brooke, you look like the cat who swallowed the canary!"

Brooke responds playfully, "Well, Tad, Dixie said that you
have to get JR to soccer practice by 10 AM Saturday, and she
would like for you to stay until she arrives so that she can
see Jaime."

"What! I love you. I love you! You should be the handling
strike negotiations", Tad says as he gives Brooke a playful
hug and a kiss.

"Tad, Dixie and I decided that the boys need to see each
other on a regular basis. Umm, how would you feel if Jaime
spends time over with Dixie, and perhaps, David, if he is
around?"

"The thought of Hayward spending time with my son, sickens
me, but I know that Jamie misses JR and Dixie, so fine."

"I told Dixie that if Hayward uttered one negative comment
against you in front of Jamie, Jamie will not be allowed to
visit."

"Thanks, I appreciate that. Do you need a ride to the
airport or train station Friday?"

"Thank you, but we're going by car."

"We?"

"Edmund is going with me."

"Edmund?" Tad asks with a smirk..

Part 3

Setting: Wildwind Tuesday night

"Dimitri, you will have the house to yourself most of the
weekend?"

"Whoa, what, where are you and the kids going?"

"I have a little business in New York and Sam and Maddie are
going over to their abuella's."

"Oh no you don't!"

"Alex, I didn't know you were out of the hospital yet."
Edmund said, glancing worriedly at Dimitri.

"She was not being a very good patient so Joe released her a
few days early providing she got plenty of bed rest."

"Alex, having the kids around would be too much for you."

"Edmund, please! I think getting sticky finger hugs would be
the best therapy for me, right now."

"Edmund is right, Alex."

"All right. Let the kids stay with us Friday night. Dimtri
and Peggy will be here. I promise I won't over do it. I
will not get out of this wheel chair once except to sleep.
On Saturday, after breakfast, Peggy can take them to
Isabella's. Please!"

"OK, but I'll tell Isabella to be on stand-by Friday just in
case."

"Won't be necessary." Alex says pouting.

"So Edmund, the entire weekend?" Dimitri questions

"Yes, Brooke and I are meeting with some Tempo advertisers."

"Brooke is going with?" Alex says mischievously.

"Yes, business." Edmund says a little too quickly.