Heart & Soul

Episode 57

Nowhere Left To Fall

By Allan Craig

 

The Sterling Mansion

 

Pushing the reject button on her ringing cell phone for the hundredth time that morning, Amber returned to her breakfast as Emily sat on her highchair at the table playing with her colouring book. John strolled into the kitchen and smiled at his houseguests.

 

“Good morning,” John made a conscious effort to act as if Natasha’s sudden arrival last night had never happened, “Are you okay for coffee or anything?”

 

“Fine, thanks,” Amber smiled as she took a bite of her toast, “Listen, John, I know I might not have said this enough but thank you so much for letting Emily and I stay here. You really didn’t have to put yourself in the middle of all of this and I’m really grateful for you opening your home like this to us.”

 

John couldn’t believe what he was hearing, was this the same girl who he overheard talking to her own mother so unkindly the night before? It was as if she was a totally different person, “It’s not a problem, stay as long as you like. Although, tell me to mind my own business, but I really think you should talk to your mother.”

 

Amber sighed, the one topic she was hoping wouldn’t come up at all was the first thing John mentioned, “I guess, but she’s just going to try and make me go back to River’s Edge, and I don’t want to go back there, it’s just not ‘me’ anymore.”

 

“But it’s your home,” John sat down at the table next to Amber, resting his mug full of coffee on the tabletop, “And far be it from me to preach to you or anything, but don’t you think your family might need you at a time like this?”

 

Amber knew that John was right, but the very thought of going home at a time like this was the one thing she didn’t want to do, “It’s not that I don’t want to be there for my family, because I do, really, it’s just that…well, the reason that I left in the first place was because I just couldn’t take it anymore. People were planning my whole life out for me before I’d even had a chance to decide for myself what I wanted to do, and River’s Edge is a small town; people talk and mud sticks. I just want to be me, not Philip Bradshaw’s granddaughter, or that rich girl who got pregnant while she was still a teenager, or that girl whose brother died…that’s the thing about River’s Edge; you get defined by the people around you, not by who you really are. In Oakridge, I can be anyone I want to be; and I like that.”

 

John knew exactly where Amber was coming from, but even still, she couldn’t stay in Oakridge forever, especially with a mother like Natasha, “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said…”

 

“No, don’t be silly,” Amber insisted, “I just need to sort some stuff out in my head, so the last thing I need is my mother just turning up like that, ready to force her opinions onto me.”

 

Their conversation was interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell bellowing through the large house. Julie entered the kitchen shortly after, “There’s a Natasha Garrett at the door?”

 

“Do you want me to stay?” John asked.

 

Amber knew it was time to bite the bullet, “No, it’s fine, better to get this out the way sooner rather than later.”

 

“Well if you need a hand, I’ll be in my den,” John picked up his mug and stood up, “Send her in.”

 

Julie exited the room, as did John, leaving Amber to gather her thoughts. She took a deep breath and psyched herself up, vowing not to let her mother walk all over her. Julie re-entered the room followed by Natasha.

 

“Can I get you a coffee or anything?” Julie asked, but Natasha simply shook her head as she walked closer to her daughter and granddaughter.

 

“So are you ready to act like a grownup and talk?” Natasha asked, but the last thing Amber felt like was an adult, in fact she felt like she was five years old all over again, about to get into trouble for breaking her older sister’s Barbie doll.

 

Shane Baldwin’s Private Jet

 

Somewhere over Arizona, Shane handed Kendall a glass of champagne as they relaxed in the luxury of his private jet.

 

“I know it’s premature, but I’ve got a good feeling about this deal, Kendall,” Shane smiled, pouring a glass for himself.

 

Although she had grown up around rich people and had flown in countless private jets, Kendall felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman; in awe of her surroundings and the company she was in, and terribly awkward as she tried hard not to make a fool of herself, “Me too, To a long and prosperous business partnership?”

 

Shane never usually toasted a deal until the ink was dry on the contract, but with Kendall he felt like he could make an exception, “I think we’re going to work very well together.”

 

As their glasses clinked together, Shane smiled. He knew he was opening a whole new can of worms getting involved with the Sterling family after so many years had passed, but part of him was embracing the challenge, knowing that this latest deal was bound to come with it’s fair share of surprises. That was one thing he’d remembered from his dealings with Jackie; the Sterlings were always unpredictable.

 

Oakridge Country Club

 

Sitting in the elegant dining room, Diane and Joseph perused the leather bound menus as the sun beamed in from the floor-to-ceiling windows that adorned one wall of the spacious restaurant.

 

Across the room, Eric and Valerie Masters smiled as they sat down at their table and were handed their menus by the hostess, who quickly ran off to assemble their drinks order.

 

“Well this is civilized,” Valerie noted, her eyes already quickly scanning the menu, “You haven’t taken me out for Sunday brunch in ages.”

 

Eric smiled at his wife, ever since they had their first child, time for just the two of them had gone out the window, “I thought I’d treat you, you’ve been so busy helping Carrie with Adam and getting the house sorted that it’s almost as if we’re both working full time again.”

 

“Yes dear, because golfing takes up so much of your time,” Valerie teased her husband, although she knew Eric had been busy helping Kristen get the restaurant ready for opening, “And any excuse to check out the competition, right?”

 

“You know me too well,” Eric cut himself off as the waiter placed his coffee and Valerie’s tea on the table and took out his notepad to take their orders.

 

“They’re really letting anyone in here now,” Diane remarked as she spotted Eric and Valerie across the room.

 

“What’s that?” Joseph looked up from his menu.

 

“Eric and Valerie Masters,” Diane muttered, “Carrie’s parents.”

 

Joseph could see the trouble brewing on Diane’s face, and felt a his heart sink to the pit of his stomach at the unavoidable clash that was about to occur, especially if Diane had her way, “Don’t you do anything stupid, the last thing Greg needs is you having a run in with Carrie’s parents.”

 

“Well I just hope they’re proud of their scheming little twit of a daughter,” Diane took a sip of her iced tea; “The way she’s been treating Greg lately has been abominable. Imagine keeping his son from him like that. If it wasn’t for Greg making me promise not to get involved then believe you me, I’d be suing for custody.”

 

Joseph rolled his eyes, Diane getting fired up like this was the last thing he wanted, “Just calm down. Just think, it’s our engagement party in a fortnight.”

 

“I guess,” Diane smiled, but her gaze was still fixed on Eric and Valerie, “Speaking of which, have you had any word from your children about whether or not they’ll attend?”

 

“Taylor’s hoping to make it but Jared’s got finals that week so he cant really miss them, but he said he’s going to visit at some point once they’re over.”

 

“How did they take the news?”

 

“Surprisingly well,” Joseph explained, “Although I don’t think Margo’s too happy about it all. Apparently she wanted to get remarried before I did, and is fuming that I’ve beat her to it.”

 

“That woman is unbelievable,” Diane scowled.

 

“Tell me about it, no wonder I divorced her…”

 

“Not her,” Diane interrupted, “I’m talking about Valerie; look at the way she’s looking around like she owns the place.”

 

Joseph sighed, knowing that this was going to be one long brunch.

 

The Sterling Mansion

 

Amber had never felt so uncomfortable in all her life. She squirmed in her seat as Natasha lifted Emily out of her high chair and kissed her on top of her head, “I’ve missed you little lady, yes I have! And you too, April, I’ve missed you more than you’ll know.”

 

“Please don’t do this,” Amber rubbed her forehead, already feeling a headache begin to fester behind her temples.

 

“Do what?”

 

“You know fine well what,” Amber pushed her flowing red hair back out of her face as she massaged her forehead, “Try to guilt trip me into coming home.”

 

Natasha sighed as she lifted Emily back into her high chair and sat down next to her daughter, putting one hand on Amber’s shoulder, “Well you know it’s the best thing for…”

 

“…for who? Because it’s certainly not the best thing for me, or my daughter for that matter.”

 

“How can you say such a thing?” Natasha was taken aback by the outburst, “The amount of opportunities available to both you and Emily in River’s Edge…I just cant understand why you’d want to sacrifice that.”

 

“Because I’ve had enough of it,” Amber didn’t understand why it wasn’t getting through to her mother that she was going insane living in River’s Edge, “What part of that is it that I’m not making clear to you?”

 

Their conversation was interrupted by Julie entering the room, “Excuse me, Amber, Josh Denman is here to see you. Will I tell him to come back later?”

Amber felt the colour drain from her face, the last thing she needed right now was for Josh to be here, and the last thing Josh needed right now was to put up with Natasha’s inquisition, But she knew she couldn’t leave Josh hanging again, “No, it’s fine, tell him to come through.”

 

“So who is Josh?” Natasha folded her arms, “I knew there was another reason why you’re avoiding coming home.”

 

Amber was becoming infuriated by her mother’s constant need to find the reasoning behind her actions despite the fact she was ignoring the truth, “It’s not like that, Josh is a friend. He actually listens to me, which is more than I can say for anyone back at home.”

 

“I’m sorry, am I interrupting something?” Josh asked, appearing in the doorway.

 

Natasha stood up and faced Josh, looking him up and down as she inspected every inch of his being, “If you wouldn’t mind coming back later, my daughter and I have a lot to talk about.”

 

“No, Josh, I want you here,” Amber snapped, who the hell was her mother to be deciding who came and went in John’s house? Natasha didn’t realize that she wasn’t going to get away with bossing people around the same way she would in River’s Edge, “I want you to stay.”

 

Josh could sense that he had walked right into the beginnings of world war three, and was keen to not be dragged into it, “If you’re sure?”

 

Amber got up and walked over to Josh, turning defiantly to face her mother, “I’m totally sure. So what brings you by?”

 

“Um, you left this at my place when you came by to tell me you were leaving town,” Josh explained, bringing out a delicate chain from inside his wallet, “I thought you’d be somewhere else by now but was hoping John would maybe be able to forward it onto you. Now I guess there’s no need.”

 

“Thank you so much,” Amber smiled, taking the chain from Josh and sliding it into her jeans pocket.

 

“And you are?” Natasha interrupted, much to Amber’s horror.

 

“Josh, Josh Denman,” Josh’s attempts to shake Natasha’s hand were ignored.

 

Amber was absolutely mortified at the way her mother was acting, she couldn’t believe Natasha’s ignorant and snobbish behaviour towards Josh, “Forgive me, Josh, this is my mother Natasha. Who was just leaving.”

 

“I most certainly am not!” Natasha insisted, “Not until you listen to what I have to say young lady.”

 

“I’ve heard it all before, I’m not interested,” Amber was determined not to let her mother get her own way, although she could already feel her reserve crumbling, “And I’m not going back to River’s Edge.”

 

“Now you listen here…” Natasha began, but was mortified when Josh interrupted her.

 

“No, lady, YOU listen here. I don’t care who you are or why you’re here, but I think Amber’s made herself pretty clear. She’s a grown woman and if she doesn’t want to do what you want her to do then she doesn’t have to. Now if you’re here to bully her into going back home when she’s made it pretty much crystal clear that she doesn’t want to, well then I advise that you walk right out that door and leave her alone, because I’m not going to let that happen.”

 

“How dare you?” Natasha gasped.

 

“Don’t worry, she says that a lot,” Amber rolled her eyes. Trying to see her mother’s point of view was just not working anymore, and Josh’s presence had lead to her confidence boosting, she now had an ally in the face of defeat and, while she knew she wouldn’t be able to hold up and say no to Natasha forever, with Josh by her side she’d be able to put her foot down, if even just a little.

 

“What’s going on here?” John emerged from his study and instantly wished he had just stayed in it, the tension in the room was unbearable and all he could notice was the confused look on Emily’s face…the young toddler clearly had no idea what was going on in front of her.

 

The Abbot House

 

Will strolled down the staircase into the darkened living room. Wesley sat on the sofa staring into space, although he had not yet saw fit to open the curtains despite the fact it was now well into the afternoon. Will walked past the man he’d thought was his father and headed to the window, opening the curtains and submerging the room in light, watching as Wesley grimaced and shielded his eyes from the protruding rays.

 

“Are you planning on doing anything today?” Will asked, noting that Wesley was still in his robe and jogging trousers, “Or are you just going to sit about all day by yourself?”

 

Wesley felt like it was him that was the child and Will the parent, not the other way around. Ever since Christmas he hadn’t really done anything, too busy reliving the events of his encounter with Alex as he struggled to make sense of it all, wondering what had possessed him to do such a thing.

 

“Whatever,” Will rolled his eyes, he’d become used to not getting a response from Wesley, in fact Wesley’s silent state had almost become normal. He didn’t know what was wrong with Wesley, but he was determined to find out.

 

Sterling Enterprises

Boardroom

 

“And this is the boardroom. Forgive me,” Kendall began as she entered the empty boardroom followed by Shane, “As this deal was a little rushed I haven’t had time to set up anything official, but I thought it would be good for you to get a little look around the place.”

 

“Not a problem. I mean I don’t usually do business deals on a Sunday, but I thought I’d make an exception for you,” Shane winked as he followed Kendall to the window that stretched along one wall of the boardroom, with a view of Oakridge that stretched for miles.

 

“I feel so privileged,” Kendall laughed, “If you want to follow me I’ll take you to what could become your office.”

 

“What’s with the rushing?” Shane turned around from the window to face Kendall, “I’m in no hurry, I like to get a feel of things before making a decision on things, Kendall. You should do the same, life’s too short to rush things.”

 

“Sorry,” Kendall was just so eager to get everything signed and sealed that she didn’t even consider the fact she might be rushing things.

 

“And what about Leo? Will he be joining us today?” Shane asked, taking a seat at the top of the table in an attempt to get a feel for what it would be like being in charge of Sterling Enterprises.

 

Kendall cleared her throat and folded her arms as she turned her back to Shane and stared out of the window, “I haven’t told him what’s happening yet.”

 

“Well don’t you think you should?” Shane advised, he really didn’t want things to be awkward with Leo when they inevitably met again, “How is Leo, anyway?”

 

“Yeah, he’s doing good.” Kendall lied, but she hardly thought it appropriate to tell Shane that his son was a drug using, two timing party animal who’d gotten a girl he barely knew pregnant.

 

Shane smiled as he stood up and returned to where Kendall stood, he felt right about this latest move and thought that buying into Sterling Enterprises would be very beneficial for him, but he didn’t know if he could face opening another can of worms with Leo, “That’s always good to know. So, Kendall, shall we talk numbers?”

 

“I thought you’d never ask. Make yourself comfortable and I’ll go and get the necessary paperwork.”

 

“I was thinking we could so somewhere a little more…relaxed? My treat, of course.”

 

“Well if you insist,” Kendall rolled her eyes jokingly.

 

The Sterling Mansion

 

With the tension in the room getting to epic proportions; John, Natasha, Amber and Josh, along with little Emily looking puzzled at the whole situation, stood in the immaculately kept kitchen of the mansion.

 

“Well?” John demanded, his arms folded as he glanced around at the people standing in his kitchen, “Does someone want to tell me what’s going on?”

 

“My mother was just leaving,” Amber insisted, turning her back on the elegant blonde woman and smiling at Josh.

 

Puzzled, Josh stared blankly at Amber, “Aren’t you going to tell me what’s going on? I mean I think I have a right to know here Amber, don’t you?”

 

“Why is he calling you Amber?” Natasha interrupted.

 

“That’s what I’d like to know,” John added, confused as to why he knew nothing about this situation, “I’d like to know exactly what is going on here, because I for one am sick of all these lies.”

 

“Not at all hypocritical there, John?” Natasha rolled her eyes, “As I seem to recall, you are hardly truth and virtue personified.”

 

“Well as I seem to recall, you weren’t always such a prude,” John retorted.

 

“Does someone wanna tell me what’s going on here?” Josh raised an eyebrow.

 

“I don’t really think that’s any of your business,” Natasha snapped, not liking the presence of the young man in the middle of her family dispute, “Now if you don’t mind this is family business.”

 

Josh couldn’t believe he was being spoken to like this by a complete stranger, “Where the hell do you get off?”

 

“Josh I think you’d better leave,” John quickly interrupted, knowing all too well the firecracker that Natasha could be.

 

“Not until I know what’s going on,” Josh insisted, “I’m not letting you bully Amber into going back to Texas when she doesn’t want to.”

 

“Listen young man this has nothing to do with you so I’d appreciate it if you kept your nose out of things that don’t concern you!” Natasha gave up on her attempts to remain ladylike and poised as her control of her temper spiralled out of control.

 

“So what, don’t I get a say in this?” Amber interrupted, “After all, it’s my life you’re all discussing.”

 

“It’s not just your life anymore April,” Natasha turned to her daughter, staring at her with a mixture of love and hate, “You have a child to think about. You have responsibilities to Emily as well, you cant just be gallivanting all over the country. She needs stability.”

 

“And she has stability,” Amber insisted, “Just not the type of stability you want her to have. You want her to grow up just another little Bradshaw, going through the same little routines that Jodi, Jered and I had to go through, just to get the approval of small minded people from a small minded town that I don’t give a damn…”

 

Before she got the chance to finish her sentence, Amber dropped to the floor, clutching her head as an overwhelming sense of pain took over. Natasha and Josh quickly dropped down to help her whilst John shuffled over and lifted Emily out of the room.

 

“April, honey,” Natasha pushed her daughter’s flowing red locks out of her face, “Are you okay?”

 

Oakridge Country Club: Ladies Room

 

Valerie opened the door to the restroom and rested her purse on the marble countertop which housed the sinks, fumbling around and re-applying her makeup with a smile on her face. She was enjoying her day with Eric and it showed on her face, she was positively glowing. The door opened again and Diane walked in, causing the smile to drop right off of Valerie’s face.

 

“Valerie Masters,” Diane faked a smile as she pulled lipstick out of her purse and began to reapply it, “They really are letting anyone in here these days, aren’t they?”

 

Valerie took a deep breath, determined not to let Diane ruin her day, “Hello Diane, I’d say it’s nice to see you but that would be a lie.”

 

“Oh Valerie, how your little attempts at wit amuse me,” Diane rolled her eyes, “It’s just such a shame your daughter didn’t inherit that from you. The dim little thing doesn’t have much of an intellect; she can only play childish games to get what she wants.”

 

“Excuse me?” Valerie couldn’t believe what she was hearing, how dare Diane insult her daughter like that?

“I think you know exactly what I mean. Carrie is using her son as a bargaining tool and just because she cant get what she wants she’s throwing all her toys out the pram. I told Greg he was a fool for marrying her and I was right, she’s nothing more than a spoilt little girl with no style or substance to her.”

 

“I’d advise you to bite your tongue, Diane,” Valerie did her best to keep her composure.

 

Diane let out a sly chuckle, drawing a stray lock of hair out of her face as she stared wickedly at Valerie, “Or what? You’ll keep me from seeing my only grandchild? No, wait, your little bitch of a daughter is doing that, isn’t she? Well you can tell Carrie that Greg is suing for full custody of Adam and that she’ll be hearing from our lawyers. And believe me, we only employ the best.”

 

“Greg wouldn’t agree to that,” Valerie’s heart sunk to the pit of her stomach, the very thought of her family losing Adam was enough to bring her to tears, although she was determined not to let Diane have the pleasure of seeing that.

 

“Wouldn’t he?” Diane raised an eyebrow, and it was clear to Valerie that Diane wasn’t joking, not in the slightest. Valerie picked up her purse and shuffled past Diane, out of the restroom as the tears began to fall from her eyes.

 

Metro Hotel: Alex’s Room

 

Will smiled as Alex handed him a coffee, watching as his dishevelled mother curled up in her armchair, wrapping her long, baggy cardigan around herself. He could see that she was shaken by something, that locked up behind her vacant eyes was something terrible. Faking a cheerful disposition, Will took a sip of his coffee before resting it on the coffee table.

 

“So I got a postcard from Ashley the other day,” Will tried to make small talk with his dazed mother, who was staring blankly into space, “She’s in Madrid just now and she’s really loving it.”

 

Will looked at his mother, hoping for a response, but he got nothing except a half smile from Alex.

 

“Okay, what’s wrong?” Will leaned forward, staring intently into his mother’s eyes, “I know you’re keeping something from me, mom. And isn’t keeping secrets what got us all into this mess in the first place?”

 

“I’m not keeping anything from you, Will,” Alex insisted, “I just feel a little under the weather, that’s all.”

 

Will rolled his eyes, “Yeah, right. Look I can tell something isn’t right with you and if you’re not going to tell me what it is then I might as well give up now.”

 

“I’m fine, honestly,” Alex lied, resolving to give up when it was clear that her son wasn’t buying her story, “It’s just…complicated.”

 

“Complicated pretty much sums up the last six months, mom, you’re going to need to be a little more specific.”

 

“Can you just stop pressuring me?” Alex got up from her chair and walked over to the window, folding her arms as she stared out over Oakridge, watching the cars passing on the street below, “I’m not ready to talk about what happened yet.”

 

“What do you mean, ‘what happened’?” Will followed his mother over to the window.

 

Alex sighed; she couldn’t hold it in any longer. She’d been waiting so long to tell anyone, and now it was right on the edge of her tongue. Tears began to trickle from her tired eyes, “On Christmas Day…I…I went to visit you at Wesley’s place, but you weren’t home.”

 

Will watched as his mother continued her story, confused as to where this could possibly be leading, “But he was staying with aunt Macy on Christmas.”

 

Alex shook her head, “No, he was home. We got into a bit of an argument and when I tried to leave he wouldn’t let me. He got…he got violent.”

 

“He hit you?” Will asked, already confused about his father’s lies about Christmas never mind a sudden violent streak.

 

Biting down on her lip, Alex was already regretting opening up to her son about something so terrible. She shook her head again as she broke down into tears, “He…I don’t know how to say this…he attacked…”

 

Will felt the colour drain from his face, knowing all too well what Alex was going to say next, and wishing more than anything this was all just a nightmare, “He raped you?”

 

Alex nodded as she collapsed into her son’s arms in a fit of tears. Will wrapped his muscular arms around his mother, wanting nothing more than to protect her and tell her everything was going to be okay…knowing all too well that things were definitely going to get a lot worse before they got remotely better.

 

Oakridge General Hospital

 

People scurried back and forth in the busy hospital; nurses dashing from one room to another, doctors making the rounds, and people walking around trying to find the correct room to visit. Despite the ongoing activities, there was an air of silence for John and Josh. Closing the door to her sleeping daughter’s private hospital room, Natasha managed a half smile as she approached John and Josh, who sat playing with Emily, trying their best to ignore the fact that they were going out of their mind with worry over Amber’s collapse.

 

“How’s she doing?” John asked, standing up as Natasha approached.

 

Natasha sighed, deflated as she took a seat on one of the well worn sofas that adorned the lobby of the hospital’s eighth floor, “Yeah she’s okay, just resting. Apparently she had a panic attack.”

 

“Oh god, you don’t think we all caused it by arguing, do you?” Josh felt a churning feeling in his stomach.

 

“I don’t know,” Natasha tugged on the sleeve of her cardigan. She looked absolutely worn out, as if she hadn’t slept in days. The last two hours had really taken it out of her. Spotting a pretty brunette in a long white lab coat approaching, Natasha stood up.

 

“Ms. Garrett?” the woman smiled. Natasha nodded, causing the woman open her flip chart, “I’m Dr. Melissa Stafford. Could I have a word with you?”

 

Natasha nodded, smiling at John and Josh as she followed the doctor along the corridor to outside Amber’s room, “Tell me, doctor, is my daughter going to be okay?”

 

Melissa looked at Natasha, who was glaring at her with a look of hope and worry. Melissa took a deep breath, conveying a positive manner as she began to talk to Natasha, “It’s a little bit more complicated than we originally thought. Although April had a panic attack, we’re inclined to think there may be something more serious that’s causing her discomfort. Tell me, have you noticed anything unusual about your daughter lately?”

 

“Well we haven’t really seen each other in a few months,” Natasha explained, “But the last few days, since I came to visit her here, she has been acting rather odd, almost as if I’m talking to a total stranger some of the time.”

 

“While this is far from an official diagnosis, and we would need to run some tests with a specialist in the matter, I think it’s a very strong possibility that your daughter is suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder.”

 

“What? Like multiple personalities?” Natasha could amost laugh. While she’d never had time for them, she’d heard of soap operas having storylines like this, but never did she think it could be a real problem.

 

“You could put it that way, yes,” Melissa nodded, managing to radiate warmth and a calming disposition despite the severity of her prognosis.

 

Natasha wanted to burst into tears, but her mind refused to let her do so, needing to know more, “So how long will it be until you can find out if this is what’s making my daughter ill?”

 

“I can assure you that your daughter is perfectly healthy, well, physically anyway. There is a specialist I can strongly recommend in New York that we could call, but it may cost…”

 

“Money is no object,” Natasha insisted, “Just as long as my daughter is okay, that’s all that matters.”

 

TO BE CONTINUED…