Episode 1.16

Pam’s Apartment

Standing in front of the mirror, Pam’s long dark hair was wet against her bathrobe covered body. Here eyes searched her reflection. She didn’t look any different yet she felt she should. She racked her hands through the wet strands, feeling her life crumble.

Pinõn Hallow Police Department

Siobhan brought her coffee mug to her lips, letting the warmth sweep through her body. Even though it was early October, the town was in an Indian summer heat wave, which caused the department to have the air conditioner on. Looking over the case file of the rape she couldn’t find the one thing which she needed to make sure Pam was safe and no other woman would fear the park at night.

“Hey Sis.” came Kevin’s voice from behind her.

She jumped in her seat at the break in her concentration, “Kevin!” she declared as she got up and hugged him. “Why are you here? What went wrong with Maggie?”

“Nothing.” Kevin said when he sat down in a chair next to the desk. “I went to surprise her with flowers and breakfast. Then some guy slammed the door in my face.”

Siobhan’s eyes widened, “Conner was there?”

“Conner? Conner McKay? Siobhan, why on earth would he have slammed the door in my face?” Kevin asked suspiciously.

“No reason. . .” Siobhan said looking down at her nails, “So who was it?”

Kevin shook his head, “Her father Larry. Let’s just say I don’t think I’ll be winning any points with him. .Though he mentioned Conner as well. So how about you tell me all about McKay and my Cowgirl.”

Siobhan continued to study her nails, “They’re friends and neighbors. Conner is a married man, working on rebuilding his marriage.”

Kevin placed his hand under her chin and forced her to look at him. “Siobhan Lane, tell me what is up between Maggie and Conner.”

“It’s not my place baby brother.”

Film Magic

Conner was behind the counter muttering to himself as he went through the list of reserves and special orders.

“Excuse me,” came a male voice that Conner knew very well.

Looking up, any ideas of frustration vanished, “Larry! How are you?” his eyes searched and he saw no sight of Cassie. “Where’s the princess?”

“Cassie is off with Maggie.” Larry said as he looked at the impulse items on the counter. “So why was some country song writer knocking on her door at seven-thirty in the morning?”

“Kevin.” Conner said very bitterly. “Siobhan’s brother. Maggie refuses to listen to me about him and about Bethany.”

“The ex-wife?” Larry asked

Conner nodded, “Yeah her, she showed up in July.”

“What is it she wants?” Larry asked as he leaned on the counter.

“At first she wanted me back, but now she appears to just want a chance at being a part of Lysa’s life. Hopefully I can get a divorce and it’ll all be over and then I can save Maggie from that moron Kevin.” Conner said, not realizing that as the tension grew in his voice it also grew in his hands as he pushed his pencil down and it snapped into two pieces.

“Not a fan of country boy either, huh?” Larry asked with a knowing smile, realizing that Maggie might be caught up in keeping herself occupied now that Bethany came back, and Conner was technically unavailable, but understanding that it just showed how much his daughter truly loved Conner.

The Java Jet

Bethany was once again reading about Lady Agatha. She hadn’t realized how many biographies on the woman existed. She was in detective mode, putting together the different pieces of a very odd puzzle and finding out the truth about the supposedly magical locket. She knew that the greater the legend, the more it could get for her.

As she got up to get her third mocha latte of the day she began to feel dizzy and then she fell over in the middle of the busy café.

Imagination Clothing

Maggie is stocking more baby socks as Cassie followed her around, “Cassie, I know you really need a coach and all but I’m not the right person. I gave that all up. I bet if we looked hard enough we could find the right person for you.”

Cassie sighed, “I understand, so let’s change the topic. Tell me all about this Kevin guy that dad obviously hates with a passion. I thought you and Conner were dating.”

“Conner and I were,” Maggie said sadly, “But then, Bethany came back to town and I thought the right thing would be for him to give her another chance. Wouldn’t you want Daddy to give Mom another chance if she ever came back?”

Cassie took a hesitant breath, “Maggie, she’s been gone for ages. If she were going to come back it would’ve happened by now, but she’s not. Besides why give her a chance if she ignored all of us?”

“How are you so wise and only sixteen years old?” Maggie asked.

Cassie smiled her bright, room lighting smile, “Thanks to you. So now you’re seeing Kevin, are you falling in love with him?”

Maggie looked down at her hands, “I think so, it’s not the same thing as with Conner though.”

“You’re in love with Conner?” Cassie asked a tad louder then she anticipated, thankfully the store wasn’t full at the moment.

“But I can’t have him, he’s with Bethany.”

Pinõn Hallow Mall

Kevin had been wandering around for about an hour, avoiding the lower level, and Imagination Clothing and Film Magic. He was in no mood to deal with Conner McKay or Maggie right now. What Siobhan hadn’t said was what bothered him. Had Conner and Maggie really had a relationship that only ended because of Bethany? Could he possibly lose the woman that won his heart so quickly, and made him feel alive each and every moment in which they were together?

“Hey Lane! I want to talk to you!” Called out the husky, harsh voice that Kevin knew was Conner’s.

Kevin turned around, and smiled politely, “Hey Conner, long time no see. How are you?”

Conner shook his head, “Forget the nice bull Lane, I have one thing to say to you and one thing only. Stay the hell away from Maggie Williams, or I swear you’ll regret it if you don’t.”

“Why should I? She’s a big girl Conner, if she chooses to see me she can.” Kevin said, feeling the rage boiling inside of him.

“Maggie is in love with me, and as soon as I get my divorce from Bethany finalized, I’m going to win her back and away from a creep like you.”

Kevin shook his head, “If Maggie wants to be with me, that’s her choice. I am head over heels madly in love with her.”

“I love her too and I have for a long time. I won’t let some country bumpkin ruin that.” Conner said, his fists clenching together.

Kevin looked at him with disbelief, “Country bumpkin? I grew up here in Pinõn Hallow, just like you. Remember my sister is Siobhan, one of your best friends?”

“Oh trust me, I haven’t forgotten that.” Conner said, with a hint of bitterness in his voice.

“What are you going to do Conner, hit me? Is that how you’re going to solve this?” Kevin asked, feeling his own fists clench together.

Conner shook his head, “You’d like that wouldn’t you? I hit you and you go running to Mags about what a big bad, jackass I am.”

“Mags? What the hell kind of nickname is that?”

“Oh and it’s supposed to be better than Cowgirl?”

“Oh that’s it McKay, you’ve gone too far.” Kevin said before he raised his fist and was about to punch Conner.

Siobhan’s Apartment

Siobhan walked out of her shower, wrapped in her fluffy bathrobe, as she dried her hair with a yellow towel. She couldn’t imagine the ideas that could be going through Kevin’s head right now, as he contemplated what had gone on between Maggie and Conner. She would’ve told him, wanted to but she knew it was something that Maggie had to explain herself.

Tossing the towel back into the bathroom she went into the kitchen and started looking through the freezer for something to eat. Just as she was pulling out a frozen pizza someone knocked on the door. Letting the cardboard box flop onto the counter she went to the door, not even thinking of the fact she was just in her bathrobe, sure it would be Maggie, Conner, or Kevin looking for advice.

However, when she opened the door she was greeted with a shocking surprise. There in front of her was neither of the three, instead it was Chief Becker, her boss.

“Chief! What on earth are you doing here?” She asked as she held her robe closed with one of her hands.

He smiled, a bit embarrassed by the situation, “Um, well Lane, I thought you could use some dinner.” He said lifting up the plastic grocery bags in his hand, “and I thought I could make it for you.”

“Sure.” She said, her eyes narrowed with confusion, as she tried to let the events that had just happened sink in, “Thanks Becker.” She told him, as she realized she had no idea what his first name was.

Pool House

Chad had spent most of the day in a drunken stupor and then passed out in bed. What his father had told him earlier that day, was not sinking in, and what he had seen before that was still haunting him. All of it made him think of Bethany, damn her! Why couldn’t she just be honest with herself and with him? Was it so hard for her to realize that he was head over heels, past the moon in love with her? He picked up the shot glass he had used that morning and threw it against the bar. Frustration was all he seemed to know anymore and when it came to Bethany, he was sick and tired of it.

Sinking down onto his couch he clutched his head in his hands, “I have to give her up, it’s the only thing I can do.”