Heart & Soul
Episode 21
Family Secrets
By Allan Craig
Megan walked over to her bedroom window, overlooking the vast front lawn of Hollow Pines, the Sterlings’ stronghold that overlooked the entire city of Oakridge. A black car made it’s way up the long stretch of gravel to reach the circular area at the foot of the marble steps and stopped. The perfectly manicured green grass had been decorated with large stone pots of white flowers. Megan turned to the black outfit laid out on her bed and sighed; her first funeral, she knew it would not be an easy one.
The Sterling Mansion, Foyer
Greg placed yet another bland condolence card on the polished mahogany sideboard, adding to the collection that had already gathered there. Carrie walked out from the lounge.
"Who’s that from?" Carrie asked, fixing the flower arrangement that the maid had put in the vase.
"Dad’s old lawyer," Greg lifted up a small business card that was in the envelope with the card, "Stupid prick probably just wants to deal with the will."
"I’m sure that’s not the case," Carrie walked over and started rubbing her husband’s shoulders, "She’s not coming back Greg, there’s nothing we can do about it. Don’t lash out at the nearest target just for the sake of it honey."
"You’re right Car’, so how are you feeling? Any morning sickness so far?"
"None, I’m kinda worried actually, I don’t wanna start throwing up at the
funeral."
"You wont, don’t worry," Greg was interrupted by the doorbell
ringing, "More flowers, I’m guessing."
The Abbot House: Kitchen
Matt handed Alex a cup of coffee and read the paper over her shoulder.
"So are you going to the funeral today?" Matt asked, rubbing Alex’s shoulders.
"I don’t think so, I barely knew her," Alex took a sip of her coffee, "How about we go for lunch to Reilly’s?"
"Sounds great, I’ll call and book a table," Matt kissed his girlfriend on the cheek and walked out of the room. Wes came down the stairs and opened the fridge.
"There’s some coffee in the pot if you want," Alex looked up from her paper.
"I’ll be fine with a glass of O.J., thanks anyway. So, it’s the funeral today, you going?"
"I think I’ll pass, Matt and I are going to Reilly’s for lunch. What about you?" Alex turned the page in her paper, not reading what was in front of her.
"I’ve got a case to be cracking on with. Will’s going though, moral support for Megan. So does it say in there how she died?"
"Suicide, apparently," Alex scrunched her face up, "My bet is
she was murdered. From what I hear she rubbed a lot of people up the wrong
way."
"Well, we’ll never know now, will we. Anyway I was thinking we should get another lawyer to handle the divorce, as you know I never mix work with personal life. There’s this great young attorney at my firm, Madison Chase, she’ll have it over and done with before you-"
"Wow, this is out of the blue Wesley," Alex got up from her seat.
"Well, you and Matt want to get married as soon as possible, don’t you?"
"Yeah, you’re right. You’re a great guy Wes, I don’t know why I ever let you go."
"I’m still yours if you want me Alex, you should know that," Wesley walked closer to her, he could feel her breath. For a split second, they could have been the same Wes and Alex who first fell in love.
"How does 2 o’clock sound?" Matt interrupted, walking into the
room.
"Huh?" Alex looked away from Wes.
"Reilly’s? Lunch? 2o’clock?" Matt rolled his eyes.
"Oh yeah, right, 2 o’clock is fine." Alex
smoothed her skirt down.
The Abbot House: Ashley’s Room
"Yeah I miss you too," Ashley sat curled up on top of her bed, "I cant wait for 2 weeks, I wanna see you now!…Nick you know I cant, not right now…you come here!…well then I guess it’s two weeks then…well I better go, I said I’d do the groceries for my dad…okay, I’ll call you later…love you," Ashley hung up the phone and ran her fingers over the framed picture of Nick.
Josh & Jessica’s Apartment
Jessica pulled open the curtains, flooding the bedroom with light. Josh jumped out of bed, covering his eyes with one hand while holding up a bed sheet to cover his naked body with the other.
"Too bright!" Josh groaned.
"You need to get ready! We’ll be late for the funeral!" Jessica handed her fiancé his bathrobe, "Shower! Now!"
"Do we have to?"
"I promised Carrie we’d go. So we’re going. End of discussion."
Josh grabbed Jessica, letting the sheet drop. He undid her towel and pulled her onto the bed. His hands spread over her smooth back and her hands felt his toned, rippling stomach. They started to make love, Josh running his hands through Jessica’s damp hair. Slowly she approached her climax, breathing heavily while Josh continued to run his hands over her body. The buzz of the doorbell interrupted them.
"I better get that," Jessica jumped out of bed, "it might be Carrie. Go for a shower and finish yourself off," she winked, "I’ll be back in a second."
Jessica put Josh’s bathrobe on and walked through the lounge to the front door. She turned the handle and opened the door, pleasantly shocked by who stood in front of her.
"DADDY!" Jessica hugged the man in front of her.
"Hello Princess," he hugged her back. Josh came in with a towel around him.
"Who’s at the door?"
"Josh, this is my father, Patrick. Daddy, this is Josh, my fiancé."
Patrick extended his hand, Josh shook his future father in law’s hand, letting his towel drop to the floor. He tried to grab it quickly, but it was too late, he had exposed himself to the father of his future wife. Embarrassed, Josh blushed and picked up the towel.
"I better go for a shower before we miss the funeral," Josh walked off, "it was good meeting you Patrick."
"You too Josh," Patrick chuckled, "Funeral?"
"I’ll explain it all, just give me a sec to put some clothes on.
1 HOUR LATER
St. Luke’s Church
A sea of black filled the church. Greg cuddled Carrie, Will put his arm around Megan. The doors opened and John walked into the church and slid into a seat a few rows from the front, out of sight. Joseph Sterling, John and Jackie’s brother, came in with a woman on his arm. She sat at the back with Joseph.
The priest began the service.
"It is with great sadness that we are gathered here today. We are here to say goodbye to a mother, a sister, a friend; Jackie Sterling."
The woman at the back lifted her hat; it was Diane.
The Abbot House: Kitchen
Wesley and an attractive young woman sat at the kitchen table.
"Everything seems in order, and hopefully within a few weeks you’ll be a single man again Mr. Abbot," the woman said, straightening up her files and putting them in her case.
"Madison I need to ask you something, in confidence,
mind," Wesley leaned in closer to her, "What would be the best way
for me to get rid of Matt?"
She giggled, "Let me get this straight Wesley, you’re divorcing a woman even though you want her back?"
"Exactly."
"And how is this going to work?" she raised an eyebrow.
"If she thinks I’m divorcing her, then she wont suspect that I’m clinging onto the past, and make no mistake here Madison, I still love her very much. When I see her with him…it isn't right. She’s my wife. I want him out of her life and out of Oakridge."
"She trusts this guy, right?" Madison leaned in so that her and Wesley were extremely close.
"More than anyone else in the world," Wesley looked down with sorrow.
"Then break her trust. Get him into trouble. You’re a smart man Wes, you know what will make her end it. You’re a lawyer, you’ve dealt with hundreds, thousands, of divorces. And what seems to be cropping up the most?"
"Adultery?"
"Exactly," Madison smirked, "Make sure he has an affair with another woman and get evidence."
"He wouldn’t do that, he loves her too much, she’s his world."
"Then do something that will make her doubt him. I don’t know, get your daughter to say he came onto her, you’re son even."
"Let’s be realistic here Madison," Wesley sighed, "I don’t want Ashley, or Will, involved in this. I just want him gone."
St. Luke’s Church
"Jackie’s daughter Kendall was due to make a speech, but she doesn’t appear to be here," the confused priest looked around the church, "so we must say one last farewell to Jackie. Let us pray."
The priest led the silent church in prayer while the coffin was lowered into the ground.
The Bungalow
Pamela rushed around the busy restaurant. She’d been rushed off her feet since Gina left town with Ben. The telephone rang and a harassed Pamela picked it up.
"Hello, the Bungalow…Gina, hi! Please tell me you’ve called to get your job back…busy is an understatement," Pamela smiled, hoping Gina could move back to Oakridge, "Oh…that’s great news…yeah, of course…I’ll e-mail it to you when I get the chance…don’t worry, I’ll write you a good one. This guy will be begging you to come and work for him by the time I’m through…okay then…I’ll see you soon then…bye."
Pamela hung up the phone and sighed, she had lost a great waitress in Gina.
The Sterling Mansion
"So dad, how long are you back for?" Megan asked John. Everyone had gathered for the wake at the mansion.
"As long as it takes. Jackie’s dead now, I don’t know where I stand. I know it’s not the right time to be talking business sweetheart, but I could lose all of this," John downed his whisky in one.
"Everything will be fine dad, don’t worry. Kendall will know all of this is yours. Lets just hope Leo comes to keep her feet on the ground," Megan held her father’s hand.
Across the crowded room, Diane stood holding a glass of champagne, her private celebration, with Joseph.
"It’s sad, isn't it?" Diane ran her fingers around the rim of the crystal glass.
"Very. You know it’s hard to believe your own sister’s dead," Joseph agreed, his strong Texan twang coming through.
"I mean that John may not get all of this back, we all know its…upsetting…that Jackie isn't here anymore, but we should concentrate on the future now, not the past."
"You’re right. You know Diane, I’m glad you’re here. I don’t think anyone else talks as much sense as you," Joseph took Diane’s hand.
"I do, don’t I?" Diane secretly smirked as she took a sip of her champagne.
A young girl entered the mansion. Dressed in black, with a red belt around her waist. She had an angelic face, porcelain skin and long dark hair, and large, deep brown eyes. Greg spotted her and walked over, putting his strong arms around her and hugging her.
"I’m so sorry Kendall," Greg looked at his cousin.
"Don’t be, my mom was a bitch, everyone here thought so. Why should we lie?" Kendall took her coat off, "Now, where is my Uncle John?"
"Over there with Megan. Is Leo with you?"
"What do you think? Why would he fly back to Georgia when he’s having the time of his life in New York. He’s probably too coked up to even realize what day it is. Be a dolly and get me vodka and coke, will you Greg? I have urgent business I need to sort out," Kendall headed over to John.
"Can we talk somewhere private?" Kendall cut her Uncle off before he had time to tell her of his sympathy.
"The study, over there."
They walked through the house and reached the study. John sat down and Kendall shut the door, walking over to the seat on the other side of the desk, and sat down.
"Uncle John, let’s make this quick, ‘kay? The simple facts are that my mom left everything to me and Leo. And while I’m pretty sure my…darling…brother intends to stuff his half of everything my mom has acquired over the years up his nose, I intend to make good use of what I’ve got."
"But this is my house. $30million of your mother’s assets belong to me, and I want what is rightfully mine," John crossed his arms.
"Well legally you don’t have a leg to stand on, you can have your old job back at Sterling Enterprises on a salary of $1million a year, and you can live at this house, but by my rules. But you wont be getting it all back Uncle John, not by a long shot. I’ve been more than fair. Take it or leave it. Face it, it’s mine now, and it’s gonna stay mine. Sorry," Kendall fluttered her eyelashes, "but that’s the way the cookie crumbles, sweetie."
The Abbot House: Kitchen
Wesley and Madison sat at the table. Grey clouds were gathering outside.
"You need to make sure that when he breaks her trust, he’s out of the way,
so he can’t apologize," Madison crossed her legs.
"Like what?"
"Like prison."
"Prison? Madison, he’s done nothing wrong. As much as I hate the guy, I don’t wanna see an innocent man go to jail."
"Do you love her?" Madison poured Wesley another scotch.
"Of course I do!"
"Then you’ll go to any lengths to get her," Madison poured herself a scotch as well.
"Of course."
"Then let the games begin," Madison raised her glass, a mischievous smile appearing on her face. Wesley raised one side of his mouth, an evil glint in his eye, and raised his glass.
TO BE CONTINUED…