Heart & Soul

Episode 46

Happy Families

By Allan Craig

 

Carrie and Nate’s House

 

Nate handed Carrie a coffee as they both sat down on the sofa. Finally, the house was quiet. Adam had been up all night and neither had got much sleep. Carrie rested her head on Nate’s shoulder as he sipped his strong black coffee, knowing they wouldn’t be able to get any rest as Adam would probably wake up again soon. The silent, tranquil atmosphere was destroyed by the ring of their doorbell. Carrie jumped up, eager to get to the door before whoever was behind it rung the bell again and woke up Adam.

 

She opened the door to see Greg standing out on the porch, arms folded.

 

“Hey,” Carrie did her best to suppress her yawns, “Come in.”

 

Greg walked in and Carrie closed the door behind her.

 

“So what can I do for you?” Carrie asked, sitting on the arm of the sofa.

 

“I was just wondering if you’d be willing to bring Adam over later today to see the family. Everyone really wants to see him and I think it would be really nice to have a few drinks, you know, to wet the baby’s head and all that,” Greg suggested. He really wanted to still get along with Carrie, and for them to be able to reach some arrangement with her in regards to their son, but she wasn’t making it very easy for him.

 

Carrie sighed, shooting Greg a ‘don’t go there’ look as she tried to think of the right words. All she wanted to say was that there is no way in hell her son is having anything to do with Diane, but she couldn’t say that to Greg.

 

“I’m kinda busy today, and for the rest of the week,” Carrie insisted, already mentally planning her fake week, “I told Kristen I’d meet her later and we’d take Adam for a walk in the park. Then he really needs his sleep, it’s important to establish a routine for him early on.”

 

Greg rolled his eyes, folding his arms, sighing. He really was not impressed, “Why are you doing this? Why are you so against Adam getting to meet his family?”

 

“I’m not against it,” Carrie stood up, “I just think it’s important that Adam has some routine and stability and I think it’s best if we just keep things simple for now. People can come here if they want to meet him.”

 

“Is that just another way of you keeping my mom as far away from Adam as possible?”

 

Before Carrie could answer, Nate walked into the room. He stared at Greg, “I think you’d better leave.”

 

Squaring up to Nate, Greg broadened his shoulders and straightened his back, “This has nothing to do with you.”

 

“This is my house, and I’m not having you coming into it and talking to Carrie like this, so leave,” Nate edged closer to Greg, his presence causing Greg to feel increasingly more uncomfortable.

 

“He can stay,” Carrie interrupted, placing herself between the men, “He’s right, we need to sort out a routine.”

 

Oakridge Main Street

 

Jessica strolled out of her favourite boutique, happily clutching a bag containing her latest purchase. She headed for Fix, deciding she needed a coffee, and spotted Valerie Masters walking towards the same coffee shop.

 

“Valerie,” Jessica smiled, happy to see the woman who had been a second mother to her during her teenage years, “You look lost.”

 

“Well it’s been a while since I’ve been in Oakridge sweetcheeks,” Valerie hugged Jessica, “Treating yourself, are we?”

 

“As usual,” Jessica giggled, “There’s nothing better than a spot of retail therapy, is there?”

 

“You’ve got me there,” Valerie agreed, “So how do you fancy letting me treat you to a coffee, and you can fill me in on what this daughter of mine’s been up to.”

 

“As long as you let me buy,” Jessica held the door to the coffee shop open, “God knows I owe you for all the times you fed me over the years.”

 

Jessica and Valerie took a seat on one of the comfy leather sofas.

 

“So tell me what you know about this Nate,” asked Valerie, “Eric’s not really approving of him, thinks he’s dangerous.”

 

“Nate’s a good guy,” Jessica insisted, “Really. You know I wouldn’t let Carrie hook up with a guy who wasn’t good enough for her. He only wants the best for her and to take care of her, and Carrie deserves that after being treated like second best by Greg for so many years.”

 

“Well I suppose if he gets your seal of approval, he gets mine as well. But is Carrie taking care of herself? She’s looking ever so gaunt, and she’s losing that baby weight faster than anyone I know of.”

 

“I think she’s just always on the go with Adam,” Jessica explained, “She just doesn’t want anyone else to help. I’ve barely seen her since she got out of the hospital.”

 

“Maybe we should organise a little surprise for her,” Valerie suggested, “Something to remind her that she can have some ‘me’ time and still be a good mother.”

 

“Do you know what, Valerie, I think you’re right!” Jessica smiled.

 

Carrie and Nate’s House

 

Greg stood up and walked towards the door; he felt like he and Carrie were finally getting somewhere. She had agreed to let the Sterlings see Adam as long as Diane wasn’t around, and in return he’d respect that Adam has a routine that shouldn’t be broken.

 

“I’ll give you a call later and we can discuss what days you want Adam this week,” Carrie smiled, resting one hand on her hip.

 

“Thanks for this,” Greg reached for the doorknob, “I’m glad we’re finally sorting this out.”

 

Greg opened the door and pulled it towards him, just as Eric walked up onto the porch.

 

“Greg, it’s been a while,” Eric smiled amicably, extending his hand for his ex-son in law to shake, “How’ve you been?”

 

“Not too bad,” Greg had always got along with Eric, “I hear you’re moving back into town permanently?”

 

“Well we want to be around for the little guy growing up,” Eric walked into the house.

 

“We should catch up sometime then,” Greg grabbed his car keys out of his pocket, “I gotta run just now though, Kimberley’s back in town for a visit.”

 

“It was nice to see you, Greg, you take care,” Eric waved Greg goodbye and closed the door.

 

“So, daddy, I didn’t expect to see you today,” Carrie sat down on the sofa, followed by her father.

 

“I just thought I’d stop by and visit my princess while your mother treated herself to a spot of retail therapy.”

 

“More like you didn’t want to spend the day traipsing round shops after her?” Carrie laughed.

 

“You know me too well.” Eric joked, “So where’s this grandson of mine?”

 

“He’s sleeping. He’ll probably wake up soon, Nate’s upstairs so he’ll bring him down when he wakes up.”

 

Eric looked down at the mention of Nate’s name, causing Carrie to raise an eyebrow.

 

“What’s up with you?” Carrie folded her arms, curious to just why her father reacted that way to her mentioning of Nate’s name.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“The minute I mentioned Nate you went all weird,” Carrie insisted, “Do you have a problem with my relationship with Nate?”

 

Before Eric could answer, Nate walked down the stairs carrying a half asleep Adam in his arms.

 

“The little guy woke up,” Nate smiled, “I thought he might like to see his dad, but I guess Greg’s left, so what about his grandpa?”

 

Nate’s attempts to talk to Eric were met with a cold response. Eric half smiled and took Adam from Nate’s arms.

 

“Um, listen,” Nate scratched the back of his head, not quite knowing how to react to the awkward situation, “I’m gonna jump out and get us some groceries, do you need anything?”

 

“Not that I can think of,” Carrie replied, “Although I think I’m running low on yoghurts.”

 

“I wont be long then,” Nate kissed Carrie on the cheek, grabbed his car keys from the coffee table and walked out the door. Carrie turned to her father, eyes blaring, and shot him a ‘you should be ashamed of yourself’ look.

 

“What?” Eric shrugged his shoulders.

 

“You could have tried to make an effort with him,” Carrie watched as Eric barely looked up from Adam. She was determined her father wasn’t going to get away with this behaviour towards Nate.

 

The Sterling Mansion

 

Greg closed the door to the mansion behind him and headed straight for the lounge, where he saw his two sisters sitting deep in conversation.

 

“Kimberley…” Greg held out his arms for a hug, causing his stunning sister to jump out of her seat and wrap her arms around her big brother.

 

“God I’ve missed you, bro’,” Kimberley rested her head on Greg’s wide shoulder.

 

“You too, sis,” Greg pulled away from the hug and removed his jacket as the pair sat down on the sofa, joining Megan.

 

“So, tell me everything,” Kimberley insisted, tapping her perfectly manicured nails on the coffee table, “Where’s this little nephew of mine?”

 

“At home with his mother,” Greg rolled his eyes, “But that’s another story for another day. Look at you, sis! All grown up or what?”

 

“Well I do try,” Kimberley stroked her long blonde hair extensions, “Seems like I’m the only thing that’s changed over the years. Well, that and the fact that our parents are both single again.”

 

“Not quite,” Greg muttered.

 

“What do you mean?” asked Megan, taking a sip from her glass.

 

“Well let’s just say mom isn’t just Uncle Joseph’s roommate,” Greg bit his lip, knowing he shouldn’t have revealed that piece of information.

 

“What!” Megan gasped, nearly choking on the water she had just sipped.

 

“You have got to be kidding me,” Kimberley, open-jawed, was in disbelief.

 

“I wish I was,” Greg sighed, “But dad doesn’t know yet, so keep it quiet until they go public with it.”

 

“You say that as if they’re celebrities or something,” Kimberley commented.

 

“Aww, don’t worry sis,” Megan put her arm around Kimberley, “We all know that the only celebrity in this family is you.”

 

The three siblings chuckled, although their approval of their mother’s relationship with their uncle was hardly a laughing matter.

 

Carrie and Nate’s House: Lounge

 

Kristen sat down on the sofa, having just arrived at the house with Kyle, and picked up a cookie from the plate on the coffee table. Kyle sat on the arm of the sofa, playing with Adam, who was sitting in his baby rocker.

 

“Well at least you got the situation resolved,” Kristen commented, having just been told by Carrie that she had reached an agreement with Greg, “I was thinking Greg would never get to see Adam at this rate.”

 

“Don’t bother taking my side, sis, I mean it’s not like we’re related or anything,” Carrie rolled her eyes, “And besides, it’s not Greg I’ve got the problem with…”

 

“We know, we know, it’s his mother,” Kristen picked a small piece from the cookie in her hand and dropped it into her mouth.

 

Carrie bit her lip, eager to avoid confrontation with her hot tempered sister. She got up and walked towards the window, staring out onto the street.

 

“What’s up with you?” Eric remarked, having learned to deal with Kristen’s mood swings a good few years ago.

 

“Nothing at all,” Kristen shrugged her shoulders, “All I’m saying is that a man has a right to see his son.”

 

“Nobody’s saying he doesn’t,” Eric insisted.

”It’s just complicated, that’s all,” Carrie returned to her seat, having taken a deep breath, “Not that it’s really any of your business.”

 

“Well it’s hard not to make it my business,” Kristen argued, “For one, you’re my sister, and, and also, it’s all you talk about.”

 

Carrie sometimes wondered just why she was so close with her sister, considering the hard time she would sometimes give her.

 

“Anyone want a coffee?” Kyle interrupted, sensing the argument that was about to erupt. Kyle had grown up with his sister’s going from love to hate in an instance, and now he was getting good at stopping their fights before they started.

 

The Sterling Mansion: Lounge

 

Greg, Megan and Kimberley sat close together, all catching up on each other’s lives. Although Megan had been back in town for a few years, she hadn’t really bonded with Greg; it had always been Kimberley who held the rest of the family together, even though she was the one who could tear them apart the easiest.

 

“Well, the rumours are true,” the three siblings turned around to see their mother standing in the doorway, “At least this time I didn’t read it in the tabloids.”

 

“Mother,” Kimberley managed a half hearted smile as she stood up, “It’s good to know that age hasn’t affected your sarcasm, regardless of what it’s done to your body.”

 

“Likewise,” Diane gave her daughter a hug, but it most definitely was not a warm embrace. Both women pulled away after a matter of seconds, “So are you back for good, or is this just another of your fleeting visits to the Bank of Daddy?”

 

“I have my own money, mother,” Kimberley returned to her seat, looking in the complete opposite direction from Diane, “A quality I obviously didn’t inherit from you.”

 

Diane sighed. Her relationship with both of her daughters had always been strained, but Megan’s refusal to even acknowledge Diane’s presence, teamed with Kimberley’s tirade of insults, had really got to her, “Does your father know you’re in town yet?”

 

“Who knows?” Kimberley shrugged her shoulders, “I’m sure I’ll see him soon enough; it’s not like daddy has a reason to stay away from the house anymore. Nice rock, by the way, Uncle Joseph really is a lucky man.”

 

Kimberley sneered, referring to the engagement ring that Diane had forgot to take off. Greg buried his head in his hands; he couldn’t believe his sister had spilled the beans like that. Megan coughed, trying to disguise the smile that had appeared on her face. John walked into the house.

 

“In here, dad,” Megan yelled, watching as her father entered the room. His face lit up when he saw his youngest daughter sitting on the sofa.

 

“Well it’s been a while, Trouble,” John gave his daughter a kiss on the cheek, calling her by his little pet name for her. Although he tried to hide it, it was always obvious Kimberley, the baby, was his favourite.

 

“Hey daddy, what’s happening?” Kimberley patted a place on the sofa for her father to sit next to her.

 

“How long are you back for?” John asked, delighted to see his daughter.

 

“I dunno yet, we’ll see what happens.”

 

“I suppose it all just depends on when Carrie finally lets us see Adam,” Diane interrupted, eager to get in on the conversation.

 

“Yeah,” Kimberley got up from her seat.

 

The door to the mansion closed again, and in walked Leo, fresh from the gym. He walked into the lounge and glanced at Kimberley standing in front of him. Without even saying a word, Leo shot Kimberley a killer smile, as she ran over to him.

 

“Leo!” Kimberley squealed, wrapping her arms around him, “It’s been way too long.”

 

“Yeah,” Leo agreed, “I haven’t seen you since that night in Opal Lounge.”

 

“Oh god, don’t even remind me of that night,” Kimberley shuddered, “I can barely remember it.”

 

“So, apart from partying, where have you been all these years?” asked John.

 

“Um, you know, like, here and there,” Kimberley quickly changed the subject, “So, Greg, when am I gonna get to see my nephew?”

 

Carrie and Nate’s House: Lounge

 

While the recently arrived Valerie took Eric into the kitchen to fill him in on the surprise she and Jessica had set up for Carrie, Kristen, Carrie and Kyle sat on the sofas deep in conversation.

 

“So how are you settling in?” Carrie asked her younger brother.

 

“It still feels like a vacation,” Kyle commented, “Maybe once mom and dad find a place here and we move outta the hotel it will be a bit better.”

 

“The Metro’s nice and all that,” Kristen said of the hotel, “But it’s hardly the homeliest of places.”

 

“But, like, are you making friends and that yet?” Carrie asked, knowing that perhaps her brother would be quite alone until he started college.

 

“Well I’ve met this one girl,” Kyle began…

 

“Ooh, a girl,” Kristen teased, “Is it love?”

 

“Her name’s Natalie,” Kyle ignored his sister’s comment, “Natalie Denman.”

 

“No way,” Carrie’s jaw dropped, “She’s Jessica’s ex’s sister. She and Josh were pretty full on for a while, but then she met someone else.”

 

“Yeah, Detective Davis,” Kristen added.

 

“You mean the guy who was investigating Carrie’s disappearance?” asked Kyle.

 

“The very one,” Kristen nodded, “You know, Oakridge is quite the hotbed of scandal, isn’t it?”

 

Eric and Valerie re-entered the room, Valerie proudly carrying hr grandson.

 

“Carrie we were just thinking,” Valerie began, “Have you thought about when you’re going to christen Adam?”

 

“I don’t really know if I will, mom,” Carrie explained, “It’s not really my place to decide his religion, and we’re hardly the most religious of families, so it would be a little hypocritical.”

 

“And we all know Diane would, like, totally take over the whole thing.” Kristen rolled her eyes again as Carrie bit her lip. She loved her sister to pieces, but her constant sarcastic comments were beginning to grate.

 

The Sterling Mansion: Conservatory

 

Kimberley, Leo and Kendall sat in the conservatory, catching up on old times. Leo and Kimberley had always been close, and Kendall had always idolised Kimberley.

 

“Oh my god, do you remember that night we were in Chrysalis and Paris Hilton came onto you?” Kimberley laughed.

 

“For like the fifth time,” Leo tossed his head back, reminiscing, “I think when you ‘spilled’ your cocktail on her she finally got the hint.”

 

“I know, right!” Kimberley and Leo had been quite the double act on the New York party scene. Kendall, feeling totally left out of the conversation, got up and began to walk out.

 

“I’m just gonna get us some sodas.” Kendall exited the room. On her way to the kitchen, she bumped into Julie, the maid.

 

“Oh I’m sorry,” Kendall looked at the dustbin she had knocked over, “Let me help you with that.”

 

“Thanks,” Julie held out a bin liner as Kendall emptied the contents of the dustbin into it, “Are you okay? You seem a little…”

 

“Yeah, great thanks,” Kendall tried to hide the lonely feeling she had been feeling for the last few weeks, “Just didn’t want to interrupt the happy family reunions.”

 

“Well I’d hardly call them happy,” Julie remarked, “The whole family seems to have fallen out over all the plots and schemes from the last year.”

 

Kendall was taken aback, just how did the maid know about all of the goings on within the family? And just what else did she know?

 

Carrie and Nate’s House: Lounge

 

Nate closed the door to the busy house, feeling slightly intimidated by Carrie’s entire family being there. He had hoped it would just be the two of them for what he was about to do. As he watched Kristen, Kyle, Eric and Valerie in conversation with Carrie, took a deep breath, deciding there was no time like the present.

 

“Carrie,” Nate walked over to her, “There’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”

 

Nate reached inside his pocket, “Sorry, guys, for interrupting your conversation, but this is just too important to wait.”

 

Nate pulled out a small black box and opened it, revealing a pretty diamond ring. He got down on one knee as the Masters family looked on, open mouthed, and a smile of delight broke out on Carrie’s face.

 

“Carrie Masters…will you marry me?”

 

“Of course I will!” Carrie grinned, ecstatic, as she threw her arms around Nate. Their lips touched in a passionate embrace, oblivious to the family surrounding them.

 

TO BE CONTINUED…