Scene 1:

Jory motioned to the bartender, lifting his glass. He needed a refill. After the day he’d had, getting drunk was just what he needed. He’d spoken to three adoption agencies and all of them had politely told them there was protocol he would have to follow. As the last Director had told him haughtily, "You can’t buy a baby, Mr. Conlan. Babies aren’t property."

He knew that. It was Ellen who didn’t care.

The bartender dropped off a new mug of beer and stretched his hand out waiting for payment. Jory reached into his pocket and pulled out a fifty. "Keep them coming," he told the man. Pocketing the fifty, the bartender shrugged and went back to the bar to continue his conversation with a leggy blonde.

He shouldn’t have agreed to this, he thought staring at the floor. Ellen wasn’t thinking straight. She had trapped a man into a loveless marriage with the promise of an unborn child. Except, she wasn’t pregnant and didn’t intend to become pregnant any time soon. Instead, she enlisted Jory’s help in locating a baby to pass off as her own. And for what? So Ian wouldn’t go running back to the woman he wanted to be with. The very same woman Jory was now in love with.

Yes, he could admit it to himself even if no one else guessed. He was in love with Georgia. The thought of her with Ian made his gut clench in anger. That was something he wasn’t ready to let happen again. Agreeing to Ellen’s plan might have gone against his conscience but letting Georgia and Ian get back together went against all the emotions he had pent up inside. He couldn’t allow it any more than Ellen could let Ian go. So they were a team. And this was simply his way of ensuring that Georgia remained free of Ian.

He glanced around the room as he sipped his beer. The bar was beginning to fill up for Happy Hour but he could pick out the regulars. A forlorn looking businessman in a gray suit sat unhappily in the corner looking through a newspaper. A woman wearing a cream-colored suit and chunky jewelry stared back at him with a look of disdain. He raised his eyebrows and averted his eyes, catching a soft gaze from a petite blonde across the room. She smiled tentatively at the contact.

Surprised, Jory nodded with a half smile. She was very pretty with shoulder length blonde hair and deep blue eyes. The woman’s eyebrows pulled together in a slight frown and she bit her lip as if she were unsure of herself. With a shake of her head, the smile returned and she got to her feet, crossing the room in strong even steps.

She paused at the table, her hand resting on the back of the booth. An obscenely large diamond ring decorated her ring finger. If Hallie could see that, he thought, she would be jealous. He glanced up at her face and waited but when she said nothing he offered, "Hi."

Her mouth opened to reply, but she froze momentarily and clamped it shut again. She bit her lip again, staring at him.

"Is there something I can help you with?" Jory asked beginning to get annoyed with her presence.

"I know you think this is weird, I can see it on your face," she blurted out.

"Well, you are just standing there not saying anything. Are you all right?" He replied.

She sighed heavily and shook her head. "No, I’m not. But...maybe I will be. May I sit down?"

"Look, I’m just here to have a beer-"

"That’s your third," she pointed out.

"So?" He found it slightly odd that she knew how many beers he’d had.

"I’m just saying... Look, I know what you’re here for. I think I can help you."

That got his attention. "How do you know what I’m here for?" She slid into the booth without waiting for his invitation after all. He noticed again how striking she was but there was something in her eyes that he couldn’t place. Something was bothering her, yes, but there was something more serious there. "Well?"

"I saw you at Acceptance House. I followed you here."

Stunned, Jory nodded. "I was there. But..."

"You want a baby. Why else would you be there?" She asked anticipating his question. "Why do you want a baby?"

"That’s none of your business."

"Maybe it is. I have what you want. Or I will have," she added softly. He waited for her to continue but she only looked at him through misty eyes. "What’s your name?" She asked quietly.

"Jory Conlan. What’s yours?"

"Alisha Lewis." She wiped her eyes and smiled. "I’m pregnant Jory and I can’t keep this child."



Scene 2

"How is Dane?" Maura asked as Jude emerged from the hospital room.

Jude offered her a brittle smile and kissed her forehead. "He’s going to be fine. Already chasing after some nurse," he replied.

"Then what’s with that face?" She pulled back and gave him a searching gaze. "You look so serious."

"Gwen was in there." He jerked his head back at the door. "She makes me feel like a real jerk sometimes. You know she goes on and on about me like I’m five. It drives me crazy."

"I know. But she’s trying really hard, Jude. I hope you remember that."

"Every minute I’m in her presence." His lips thinned into a grim line. "Look, I’m going to go track Jamie down and say hello. Do you want to come with me?"

Maura shook her head. "No, I think I’ll head home. I’m not feeling so hot today." She gave him a kiss and waved as he headed off towards the elevators. She was feeling sick; that was the truth. Being in the hospital only made her feel worse too. She would head home and lay down, maybe have a bowl of soup and read a book. She turned around to head towards the exit, walking right into the solid chest of Rick Upton.

"Rick!" She exclaimed, stepping back from him as he clasped her shoulders trying to steady her. "I didn't see you there."

"I guess not since you almost knocked me over. What's your hurry?" He asked.

"I'm on my way home," she answered trying to loosen his grip on her. Rick wasn't her favorite person as of late and standing here having a conversation with him was not high on her to do list.

"Wait a minute. I'm glad I ran into you," Rick said keeping his hands on her shoulders. "I want to talk to you."

"About what? What a terrible man Jude is? No thanks, Rick. I'll just read it in your new paper," she snapped irritably. "Please let me go."

"Why can't we just have a normal conversation, as friends?"

She shot him an incredulous look. "Rick, you're trying to ruin the man I love! Why would I want to be friends with you?"

He flinched at her reference to Jude and dropped his hands. "I guess that answers that then. I just thought we could try to talk this out. I still care about you. Even though you're madly in love with Jude Fontaine...," he added trailing off.

Maura sighed, straightening herself. "Rick, you will always mean something to me. You should know that by now. But I've finally found someone to love and who loves me back with no conditions. I waited a long time for it. You should let me have my happiness."

"Even if I think you're making the biggest mistake of your life?"

"Yes! Now, please, Rick...I'm not feeling well and I really just want to go home. We can talk later if you want." She brushed by him not wanting to continue their never ending argument. She loved Jude. Once upon a time, she had loved Rick too. She still cared about him but it would never be the same. If only Rick would see that.



Scene 3

Jory stared at the woman with a mounting suspicion. There was something she wasn't telling him. He glanced down at the ring on her finger again. She wasn't some homeless person or a single woman who had found herself in a quandary. She was obviously married and had a lot of money.

"Look," he said after a moment. "I'm not at all comfortable with this."

"Why not?" She pressed looking surprised. "You know what you're doing isn't exactly legal. I'm offering to make your life easier here."

"Yes, you are, I'll give you that. But look at it from my point of view. You approach me and offer me what I've been after all day without telling me anything. I don't know you from Adam and you obviously have money. Not to mention a husband who might not take kindly to what you're doing."

"My husband," she spat bitterly, "is a controlling psychopath. I wouldn't let him near anyone's child."

"Wow, that's..."

"It's the truth," Alisha interrupted. "Look, you want to know something about me? Fine. A year ago, I was engaged to a beautiful man. Someone I loved and adored. We went through hell to be together. And in one day, the man I was forced to marry took it all away. Is that enough? Or do you need to hear more? Because I could tell you about every time he's humiliated me or hurt me in some way."

"No that's enough," Jory said quietly. He could tell just from her tone that she was telling the truth. Whoever she was currently married to must be a monster. "Does he know you're pregnant?"

"No. And he isn't going to know either." Her mouth firmed in determination. Jory raised his eyebrows. If her husband was so terrible, he would find out. As if reading his thoughts, she added, "He's been away on business for the last month. The last I heard, he wasn't coming home any time soon. And none of his employees will be able to tell him."

"Look, I don't know..."

"I don't have a whole lot of time here, Jory. I don't care why you want a baby. As long as you can assure me he'll go to a good home and be safe from my husband, I'll do whatever you need me to do."

"I'll have to talk it over with..." He paused searching for the right term for Ellen. "My client," he said after a moment. He reached into his pocket and withdrew a small leather address book and pen. "How can I reach you?"

"You can't. I'll have to contact you." She reached for a napkin and asked for his pen. She wrote his cell phone number down and handed his pen back, giving him a smile for the first time. She was very pretty and something about her smile sparked a memory in Jory. He'd seen her before but couldn't place her. "I have to go now, but before I go there is something I want to say. My husband is very dangerous, Jory. I won't ever lie to you about that. What I'm planning to do could very likely put us all in jeopardy. Make sure you tell your client that I'll do whatever I can to shield the three of you though."

She disappeared from the bar leaving Jory to stare after her. He didn't like this situation at all. She was scared, anyone could see that. But she was also determined to give her child away. He wondered if it was for her safety or the child's. He brushed the thought away and dropped some money on the table. He had to call Ellen. He waited until he had made it back to his hotel before calling her. She sounded anxious and annoyed with something or someone. "Well?" She demanded. "Have you got good news for me?"

"Maybe. I met a woman today who is willing to give her child to you."

"Jory, that's wonderful!" Ellen's tone changed completely. "When can I meet her?"

"Well, that's the thing, Ellen. She's skittish. Apparently she's married to a pretty rotten man and she says that if he finds out about this it could put us all in jeopardy."

"A bit on the dramatic side, isn't she? All right, so give me the bottom line Jory."

"The bottom line is she will call me in the next day or two to find out what you said and then we'll have to decide from there." He left his own misgivings about the whole deal out of the conversation. "So. What's the word?"

"Do it. I don't have a choice do I? Besides, maybe this woman is just off her medication or something. She'd have to be married to the devil himself to scare me off at any rate." She hung up leaving Jory to regret what he had gotten himself into after all.


 

Scene 4

Jude knocked on Jamie's office door, poking his head in at Jamie's greeting. Jamie smiled and shifted away from his computer gratefully. "Not bothering you am I?" Jude asked stepping into the office.

"No. I need a break from all of this anyway." He waved a dismissive hand over the desk. "Can't think straight anyway with the way things are with Dane. Have you been to see him today?"

Jude nodded. "He's fine Jamie. Just a little bruised right now. And he's got Gwen and Hallie hovering over him. He's going to be just fine." He paused trying to think of a nice way to say what he had come to say. "Listen, I wonder if I could get a favor?"

Jamie perked up immediately. Despite the strain that was still evident between Jude and Gwen, his own relationship with Jude had improved since Hallie's disastrous wedding. Jude had no desire to become the "Mason Heir" and wanted no part of the family nonsense. It was just as well, Jamie decided. The Masons were hardly a fully functioning family on a good day.

"Sure anything."

"Well, a few things first," Jude began. "I don't want to advertise this. It's meant to be a surprise and I want to keep it that way. So don't get Gwen involved."

"She really is trying, Jude. I know she comes off as overbearing but-"

Jude held up a restraining hand. "I know. I hear it every day from Maura. I know she's trying but it's driving me crazy. I just want this to be perfect and if she's involved, it won't be. Please try to understand."

Jamie shrugged putting it aside for the time being. "Fair enough. So what's this big surprise?"

Jude's face relaxed into a calm smile. Jamie couldn't remember the last time Jude had looked so utterly happy. "I'm going to ask Maura to marry me," he said simply.

Surprise and delight flooded Jamie's face at Jude's announcement. He clapped Jude on the shoulder enthusiastically. "That's great, Jude! I can't think of anyone better suited for you."

"You approve then?" Jude asked dryly.

"Of course I do! Maura Conlan is probably the nicest woman in this town. Not to mention level-headed and intelligent. She's just about the only person I've never heard Mother snipe about either. Now if you had gotten tangled up with Jillie, I imagine there would be a few scenes over that."

"Jillie has a good heart," Jude said flatly defending her.

"Oh I'm sure she does," Jamie replied hastily. "But we're not talking about Jillie are we? We're talking about Maura and you. God, this is wonderful. So what can I do to help?"

"I'm leaving for Pennsylvania for a couple of weeks. I want you to help me cover." Jamie gave him a puzzled frown. "There are still things I need to do with my parents' estate," he added referring to Doug and Jennifer Fontaine. "Their house is still sitting up there, empty. That has to be sold."

"Why do you have to go to Pennsylvania to do that? I can just call Brian Crown and ask him to-"

"There are other things I have to take care of up there as well, Jamie. The house is just one of them. Dad's lawyer has been calling lately about a few things that came up..." He trailed off leaving something unsaid that Jamie thought was the real reason for going back to his boyhood home. "Could you just tell Gwen I've gone somewhere on business?"

"Sure, I can do that. Will Maura know where you've gone?" Jamie asked.

"No. Stephen Roth knows and you. That's it. I want this to be a surprise for her."

"Sure. No problem."

Jude was about to add something but the door popped open on them and Gwen appeared looking harried. "Jamie, I want you to assign a new nurse to Dane. The one he has is just impossible... Oh, Jude. I didn't know you were here too. I thought you went home with Maura," she added smiling brightly at him.

"I'm heading that way now. Thanks Jamie. See you around," Jude replied and left without another word to either of them.

Gwen's smile disappeared. "He acts as if I were the devil incarnate."

"You aren't?" Jamie asked with a semi-serious tone. She scowled darkly at him. "Mother, Jude just has things on his mind. Leave him alone."

Gwen arched her eyebrows at him, giving him a dangerous look but only said, "Get a new nurse," before storming from his office and leaving him to his paperwork.


Scene 5

Hallie shoved the nurse out of Dane's room without waiting to hear her anymore of her excuses. She was quite possibly the most incompetent nurse in the hospital. Didn't she realize who they were? She turned to Dane who was shaking with laughter in his bed.

"And what is so amusing?" She demanded, her fists planted on her hips. "If it were me laying in that bed and the nurse spilled water on me, I'd be screaming bloody murder."

Dane gasped for air as he tried to control his laughter. "Come on, Hallie. She's a student nurse and you have to admit, it was funny."

"She kicked Gwen!" Dane's lips quivered with mirth. Apparently he thought it was funny that the girl had kicked Gwen in the shin as she leaned over Dane to clean up the water. "She's incompetent!"

"That was accident! Besides, I've always wanted to give Gwen a good kick. Now that someone else has done it for me, I can relax a little and live with the memory."

Hallie grinned at her brother as he leaned back with his hands laced behind his head. Dane caught the grin and returned it. The grin on his face was a welcome sight considering she had almost lost him. There was no one in the world she cared about more than Dane. If he had died... No, she told herself fiercely, she wouldn't think about that. He was okay and that was what mattered. Not what might have happened.

"What's so funny?" He asked. "Let me in on the joke."

"I was just thinking about last Christmas when the tree fell on you," she said sitting next to his bed.

"Don't remind me," he groaned. "I don't even want to think about what might happen this year. Maybe Gwen should hire someone to decorate her tree. I sure as hell don't want to do it."

"You'll do it," Hallie replied knowingly. "You can't say no to Gwen. Except for this blind date she wants to set you up on. I have to admit Dane, I admire your resolve. I would have folded weeks ago."

Dane sat up in bed, an alert expression in his eyes. "Can I tell you something Hal? Something I don't want repeated?" Hallie shrugged noncommittally. "I had the weirdest dream when I was out. These two people came into my room, a man and a woman. And they argued over me and talked about keeping me away from some woman. You know, at first I thought they were talking about Gwen...because I know she's out to kill me." Hallie snorted in amusement. "Laugh all you want, but Gwen is a menace. Anyway, these two people were dressed like they stepped out of Gone With the Wind. And they stuck around in the room for a while. I think they were real. The more they talked the more I started thinking they were talking about keeping me away from someone else. But I don't know who they could have been talking about..."

Hallie gave him a skeptical look. "Dane, you hit your head on the steering wheel. It was just a dream."

"It didn't feel like a dream. They disappeared right around the time this girl showed up in my room. She wasn't a nurse...but she was pretty..."

"Oh God, Dane. Do you always have to act like a teenager looking to get laid?" Hallie asked getting to her feet.

"Will you help me find that girl?"

"No," she returned sharply. "I love you, but Dane you need to rest and get better. And quit thinking about women. I'm going to get some lunch and when I come back I don't want to hear another word about this mystery woman." She leaned over him and gave him a kiss on the cheek before leaving. As the door closed, she heard him mutter, "I'll find her myself."



Scene 6

Alisha Lewis-Creighton left the bar she had met Jory Conlan at and ran right into her husband's employee. Fortunately for her, it was one of the few she tolerated. Tanner Hart grabbed her by the elbow and steered her into the alley behind the pub. He towered over her gazing down at her with dark blue eyes filled with worry. She didn't want his concern though; she wanted her freedom from Jack Creighton and his abuse. He had refused to help her on several occasions. This time, she knew, would be no different. She stared back at him defiantly, waiting for the scolding he was bound to give her.

"Alisha," he said at last, his voice soft with concern. "What are you doing? Are you trying to get killed?"

"Don't scold me Tanner," she replied quickly. She wouldn't lie to him but she could dodge his questions. He had yet to guess her condition and she wanted to keep it that way as long as possible. It would make what she was doing much easier if he never knew. "There's no need to be worried. I'm fine. See?" She spread her arms and turned around. "No bruises, no broken bones, nothing. Everything is fine." Almost everything, she added silently feeling a sudden fluttering in her belly.

"Sure, you're all right now." She knew what he meant. Jack knew she had left the estate.

"So what now?"

Tanner's expression hardened and his eyes shifted away from her. "We go back to your friend's home and get your things."

"And then?" They both knew what the 'and then' was but she wanted him to say it. It was back to the estate for her where she was little more than a prisoner. His gaze returned to her and swept over her with a look full of regret.

"And then, you and I are heading to Virginia."

"Virginia?" She repeated feeling a panic rise in her gut. "What's in Virginia?"

"Your husband," Tanner hissed. "He wants you with him. Aren't you glad you decided to disappear? Look where it got you." A flush of fear rolled over her and she groped for the wall of the building behind her for support. Tanner grabbed her shoulders roughly and pulled her closer. "Why couldn't you be satisfied with the estate? Why did you have to force this?"

"Let go of me," she said weakly. "I didn't think...I wanted..." She trailed off unable to choke out the words. "Tanner, take me away then. Take me somewhere he won't find me. Or us. Let's run away."

He let go of her at that, throwing her a ferocious glare at her. "Now? Why now, Alisha? Why not six months ago when I offered? Because you're afraid of Creighton? You're not. I know you, Alisha. You aren't afraid of anyone. Even if I did take you away, he would find us. It doesn't matter where we go." He paused, his eyes narrowing sharply. "You'd just run off to find him anyway."

Alisha recoiled as if he had slapped her. Him. He meant David of course. Tears welled in her eyes and slid down her cheeks. "He wouldn't want me now," she whispered. "No one would. Not after Jack..."

"That isn't true," he said touching her cheek. He didn't say it, but Alisha knew what he was thinking. Tanner would have her. They had begun as friends but their relationship had shifted to more than that. She knew that he was in love with her. And though she cared about him, she couldn't return his feelings. It wasn't her husband that kept her from loving Tanner. It was David, who believed she had deserted him in favor of a man with money and power, that kept her from falling in love with Tanner Hart.

Jack meant nothing to her other than the man who had ruined her life. David was the love of her life. Tanner... Poor Tanner had started as a distraction from all that she had lost and what her life had become. She felt sorry for him at times and, at other times, she was grateful for his presence and friendship. He was right though. If Tanner managed to free her from Creighton's grip, the first thing she would do would be find David Rowe.

"I can't help you run away, Alisha," Tanner continued. "There isn't a way for me to keep you safe on the run. Creighton has contacts everywhere. But if you stay, I can protect you." He held out his hand tentatively. What choice did she have? Her hand slipped into his. She felt his fingers clasp hers tightly, squeezing them reassuringly. He would protect her no matter what, she believed that. But Jack Creighton was no man to underestimate. He had wanted her inheritance and he had taken it the only way he knew how, through violence and threats. He would take her child too and leave her with nothing if he left her alive at all. Yes, what choice did she have?
 

On the next Episode of Secret Horizons...

"I'm here for a while, actually," she answered, swallowing the last bite of her grilled chicken salad. "My older brother seems to be putting down roots and the truth is, most of my family is here now. We all sort of gravitated when Tyler got in trouble." Angelina looked down at the empty plate and indulged in a momentary sense of sadness. "To be honest, I'm not sure what would be left for me to go back to. And...it's probably for the best if I remain with my family for the time being."