Heart & Soul

Episode 52

Our Little Secret (Part 1)

By Allan Craig

 

Megan’s jaw dropped to the floor…was she really hearing this? Will, her ex boyfriend, was, in fact, her brother? No way, no way, it couldn’t be, it just couldn’t be true. She felt a sinking to the pit of her stomach, she just couldn’t believe it.

 

Suddenly it hit her…if Will really was Johns’ son, then she’d slept with her own brother! Megan wanted to be sick. She couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. She could feel the colour draining from her face…

 

She didn’t know what to do…but she knew she had to get out of there…fast. She ran as fast as her legs would carry her back down the corridor and through the foyer, almost reaching the door but knocking over a vase in the process. It fell to the ground and shattered across the marble floor, echoing through the house.

 

John came running out to see the commotion, followed by Will. John looked at his daughter’s stunned and devastated face and could instantly tell what was wrong.

 

She knew.

 

Joseph & Diane’s Penthouse

 

Diane rushed to answer the door; the frantic ringing of the doorbell proving too much for her head to take. She hurried down the stairs and pulled open the heavy wooden door to see Kimberley standing in the hall, holding up a piece of card.

 

“What the hell is this?” Kimberley handed the card to her mother as she barged into the spacious apartment. Diane looked at the familiar lettering…it was an invitation to she and Joseph’s engagement party.

 

“I think that’s quite obvious,” Diane placed the card on the sideboard, “Joseph and I are having a party to celebrate our engagement, and against my better judgement I’m inviting you.”

 

“What, so you’re just going to flaunt this little arrangement and not care who it hurts?” Kimberley had only just got home from the gym to find the invite addressed to her mixed in with the rest of the mail.

 

“Joseph and I have nothing to be ashamed of,” Diane insisted, “I’m divorced. He’s divorced…”

 

“AND YOU WERE MARRIED TO HIS BROTHER FOR OVER THIRTY YEARS!” Kimberley yelled, the commotion causing Joseph to come into the room.

 

“Ah, Kimberley,” Joseph smiled, “I thought I heard screeching.”

 

“Oh hello Uncle Joe, tried to steal any more companies lately?” Kimberley smirked.

 

“Had any more naked photos of yourself leaked onto the internet lately?” Joseph retorted; he and Kimberley had always had some good banter even before his relationship with Diane…they would both say the most horrible things to each other but both knew the other was only kidding.

 

Until now, that was. Kimberley hated Joseph for what he tried to do to Kendall, not to mention the fact he was making a mockery of her beloved father.

 

“Whatever.“ Kimberley rolled her eyes, “I just can’t believe you’re making such a big spectacle of this farce.”

 

“I can assure you there is nothing farcical about this,” Diane rested her hand on Joseph’s shoulder, “We love each other and intend to celebrate this with our family.”

 

“How touching.” Kimberley’s sarcastic and blunt tone had always got on her mother’s nerves, “So what do Taylor and JJ think of all this?”

 

Kimberley folded her arms, demanding an answer from her uncle…and soon to be stepfather, by the looks of things. Joseph’s hesitance to reply caused Diane to turn and face him, wanting to know what Joseph’s children thought, herself.

 

“They don’t know about it,” Joseph murmured, “I’ve not invited them.”

 

A wicked smile appeared on Kimberley’s face, loving the fact that her Uncle had screwed up royally, and noting the confused expression that was appearing on her mother’s face.

 

Kristen’s Apartment

 

Kristen rested her head on Greg’s bare chest, running her hand along his rock hard stomach as he stroked her messed up hair. She couldn’t believe she had just had sex with Greg, she felt confused, yet happy; tired, yet refreshed; torn up, yet turned on…but that tension was gone…no more awkwardness about her feelings for Greg, she knew it was mutual.

 

“You know,” Kristen couldn’t keep the smile from her face, “Even though I know deep down this is wrong…I don’t care.”

 

“This isnt wrong though, Kristen,” Greg felt so relieved that finally his feelings for Kristen were out in the open ,”You’re single, I’m single…sure, things may be complicated, but we’re doing nothing wrong.”

 

“You’re right,” Kristen sighed, sitting up as Greg climbed out of bed and put on his white fitted boxers, followed by his jeans.

 

“Besides, in just a few weeks time I’ll be officially divorced from Carrie,” Greg fumbled around the bedroom for his shirt.

 

“Only if she plays ball,” Kristen got out of bed in her silk negligee and put on her satin bathrobe…it was only the middle of the afternoon but it seemed like first thing in the morning again.

 

“Do you really think she won’t?” Greg pondered, his tanned, hairless torso glistening in the sunlight from the window, “One way or another I’ll be getting access to Adam, and if she doesn’t arrange some set times for me to see him alone she could risk losing custody of him altogether. Carrie wouldn’t be that dumb, would she?”

 

“You know what she’s like.”

 

“That’s the problem. Where’s my shirt, by the way?”

 

“I don’t know,” Kristen smiled, holding the aforementioned t-shirt behind her back, “But even still, I think we should take things slow…at least until this whole mess with Carrie is over.”

 

“Me too,” Greg spotted shirt dangling behind Kristen’s back and went to grab it from her, a playful smile appearing on Kristen’s face as Greg grabbed her and the pair rolled onto the bed again.

 

The Sterling Mansion

 

Megan stood motionless in the foyer of the mansion, parts of the shattered vase scattered around her feet. John’s mind struggled to find the right words to say to his daughter…but how did he make this right? How did he make up for the fact she’d just discovered her high school sweetheart was, in fact, her half brother?

 

“Megan, honey,” John walked closer to Megan, resting one hand on her shoulder, “I can explain…”

 

“Get off of me,” Megan shook John off, “Get away from me…”

 

“It’s not what you think,” John tried to explain himself, the situation was exactly how Megan thought it was, but he was trying his hardest to soften the blow.

 

“Yeah, it’s not…”

 

“And you!” Megan began to shake, the utter shock of the situation had taken over her entire body, yet something inside her exploded, “What kind of sick pervert sleeps with his own sister?”

 

“I didn’t know back then…” Will insisted, “I only found out a few months back.”

 

“A few months? You’ve known for months?”

 

Megan glared at Will, who nodded remorsefully…”But…why didn’t you tell me when you found out?”

 

No answer from Will, but from the look on John’s face, Megan could just tell her father was behind it.

 

Josh’s Apartment

 

Natalie struggled to button up her coat; her ever-growing bump had made many of her old clothes become too small for her.

 

“Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?” Josh emerged from his bedroom rolling up his sleeves, “To save you carrying all those bags around with you.”

 

“I’ll be fine,” Natalie grabbed her purse, “I’m only going to the mall, Josh.”

 

“I know, but…”

 

“But what?” Natalie found her brother’s sudden over protectiveness amusing, “But I’m pregnant? I think I can handle a trip to the mall to get some maternity clothes okay, and if not, I’ve got my cell.”

 

“Okay, but promise me you’ll get a cab to and from the mall,” Josh handed Natalie a pile of ten and twenty dollar bills…clearly more than enough for a cab to and from the mall.

 

“If I must,” Natalie joked, “See you later.”

 

Natalie opened the front door and walked out of the apartment. Josh had barely just shut the door behind his sister when there was a knock at the door.

 

“What did you forget?” Josh opened the door, expecting Natalie to have left her keys on the table or something, but it was Amber who was standing in the hallway.

 

“To thank you for being there,” Amber smiled.

 

“Amber…I thought you were…”

 

“It doesn’t matter who you thought I was…” Amber strolled into the apartment, Emily riding in front in her pushchair, “I just thought I’d stop by to let you know that I’m leaving Oakridge on Friday.”

 

“What?” Josh couldn’t believe he was hearing this, just when he thought he’d convinced Amber to stay.

 

Joseph & Diane’s Penthouse

 

“You haven’t told your kids about us?” Diane felt so humiliated by Joseph…and it just had to happen in front of Kimberley.

 

“Someone’s busted,” Kimberley scoffed.

 

“It just isnt the right time,” Joseph tried to explain, “And Margo wouldn’t let them come anyway.”

 

“They’re both old enough to make up their own minds,” Diane took on a stern tone, “So get into your den and call them…now!”

 

Joseph rolled his eyes and walked into his study, closing the door behind him and leaving Diane and Kimberley alone again.

 

“Well it seems Uncle Joseph isn’t the great guy you thought he was,” Kimberley joked…deep down she did feel a little sorry for her mother, but she wasn’t about to let her know that, “You aren’t even married yet and he’s lying to you.”

 

Diane ignored her daughter’s remark, “Listen, Kimberley, I’d really like it if you came to the party. All of you. It would mean a lot to me.”

 

Kimberley slowed down the frantic chewing of gum, “Sure, why not,” she shrugged, “I love a good freak show. Anyway, I gotta book…I’m meeting up with Greg and a real estate agent to look at some places.”

 

“So you’re staying in Oakridge?” Diane’s face lit up…could this finally be the opportunity to build bridges with her daughter?

 

“For now,” Kimberley picked up her bag, “But yeah, I’m running late so…”

 

Kimberley headed for the door and walked out of the apartment. This was Diane’s big chance to make things right with her daughters…she wasn’t going to blow it.

 

The Sterling Mansion

 

“You kept this from me?” Megan’s eyes welled up with dears, devastated by her father’s deception, “And you made Will do the same?”

 

“It was for your own good…after everything you’ve been through this past year the last thing you needed…” John tried his best to explain, but was cut off by his angry daughter.

 

“You don’t have a clue WHAT I need!” Megan screamed, “Because you DON’T know me…you don’t have a clue.”

 

“Megan, all I’ve wanted is what’s best…”

 

“For who? For me? Will? This family? Or yourself…that sounds more like it…you know, I thought we were getting somewhere…I thought with Kim back in town we could be a family again…but you’ve blown that…you’ve torn it all apart.”

 

“Megan, please, try to understand…”

 

Megan raised her hand and slapped it right across her father’s face, with a noise so loud it made Will jump.

 

“DON’T tell me what to understand…DON’T tell me anything. God,” Megan began to laugh through her tears, “What did I do to deserve a father like you? I mean mom’s bad enough…but you…you’re something else.”

 

The laughter soon faded, with her eyes beginning to stream with tears, “Don’t you ever speak to me again. Ever.”

Megan couldn’t contain it anymore…she burst into tears as she bolted out of the mansion.

 

Nate & Carrie’s House

 

Kristen walked up the steps to Nate and Carrie’s townhouse and knocked on the door, looking around as she waited for Carrie to answer the door, but when the door opened it was Nate standing behind it.

 

“Hi Nate, is Carrie home?” Kristen began to walk into the house, but found Nate wasn’t budging.

 

“She’s gone out with Adam for the day,” Nate stated bluntly.

 

“Do you know when she’ll be back?” Kristen was taken aback my Nate’s rudeness, “I kinda need to talk to her.”

”Unless it’s to apologize about what you did the other day, I doubt she’ll be interested.”

 

“She told you…”

 

“Of course she told me?” Nate raised his voice, “And what the hell were you thinking setting her up like that?”

 

“I was just trying to make this situation better,” Kristen explained, although she really didn’t like having to explain herself to someone she didn’t particularly like, “For everyone.”

 

“Well you didn’t do too good a job of it, did you?”

 

“You need to keep out of things you don’t understand,” Kristen’s eyes narrowed.

”I understand perfectly…you’re new in town, don’t know many people, so you have to create little real life dramas to entertain yourself…have you not heard of SoapNet or something?”

 

“Well here’s what I understand; Carrie is MY sister and you’ve known her for what? Like, a year?” Kristen’s growing defensiveness was bringing out her angry side, “You don’t have a clue about this family, yet you bark out the orders like you’re the one that’s in charge. You and Carrie might be engaged, but you’re NEVER going to be a part of this family, so don’t be telling me what to do with MY sister.”

 

Josh’s Apartment

 

Josh sat down on his sofa, trying to let Amber’s announcement sink in.

 

“What is it with you, Amber?” Josh was dumbfounded, “All we seem to do is go around in circles and nothing ever gets resolved. You want to leave, then agree to stay, and then you want to leave again. I just don’t get it.”

 

“What is there to get?” Amber sat down next to him, “I can’t help it if I change my mind a lot. Deal with it, Josh, I just don’t want to stay in Oakridge.”

 

“Why? Because you’ve got John Sterling on your case now?”

”Yeah, like some old guy’s going to scare me into skipping town,” Amber rolled her eyes, “I just get restless. There’s nothing to keep me here.”

 

“Cool,” Josh got up and walked over to the fireplace, gutted that Amber didn’t view him as a reason to stick around.

 

“You know fine well what I mean, Josh,” Amber followed him, “I’m starting to fall for you…that’s why I can't stay here. It’s for your own good.”

 

“How is it for my own good, Amber?”

 

“You know why…I can't stay here…I need to move on and forget the past, and I can't do that here.”

 

“I don’t care about your past!” Josh insisted, “I don’t care about April Bradshaw or River’s Edge. All I care about is right now…me and you…”

 

“I have to go,” Amber was taken aback by Josh’s honesty. She opened the door and pushed Emily out in her pushchair, leaving Josh standing alone in his apartment.

 

The Sterling Mansion: Front Lawn

 

Megan ran and ran as fast as she could, determined to get as far away from her father as possible. The overwhelming feeling of sickness in her stomach was enough to cause her legs to buckle, and she collapsed on the grass. In that split second, her mind had flashed millions of thoughts. What if Will really was her brother…what did that mean for them…what did that mean for the whole family?

 

She felt a hand touch her shoulder and looked up to see Will standing over her, reaching out his hand to help her up. Her first instinct was to reject him, but looking into his eyes she was overcome with a feeling of warmth and trust. They may have had a rocky past, but Megan knew she could rely on Will…she knew his intentions weren’t bad ones. She smiled and took his hand as he helped her up and their eyes locked.

 

So what if their past hadn’t been all that great…she knew she could trust Will…he was her brother…

 

TO BE CONTINUED…