Episode 2.01

Kevin’s Apartment—Nashville

Maggie walked down the stairs from the second floor of the apartment and into the living room. It still looked like the home of a single man, something that Maggie was very anxious to remedy. She went into the kitchen area and took out a pad and began to jot ideas down about colors and what to have to make it a family, married friendly setting.

Kevin walked in wearing Khaki pants, and a light blue button down shirt. “Morning sweetie.” He said as he walked by her, planting a quick kiss on her cheek before, going and pouring himself some coffee into a large travel mug. “What are you doing?” he asked.

Maggie looked up and smiled, “Just jotting down some ideas to de-bachelor this place.”

“Oh really, like what?” he asked as he went to the fridge and took out the milk and picked up the sugar bowl from on top of the microwave.

“Well,” Maggie started as she looked out at the living room, “A different coffee table, something with softer edges and no glass, maybe a different entertainment unit. Lighter colors in there for sure, the sofa is good and I think I can work with that. I figure this should take just a few days, and then I could get to work on the nursery.”

Kevin began to screw on the lid to his mug and looked at his wife, “What colors for the living room?” he asked as he looked about, there was really only two walls they could paint, unless she was going to paint the exposed brick.

“I was thinking a creamy beige tone, I think it’ll work with the sofa and the brick. Also maybe move some of the furniture around, which you’ll have to do.” She said as she gently rubbed her stomach.

“Don’t do any of this without me. We’ll go paint shopping tonight, how does that sound? And then tomorrow we’ll paint and move some of the furniture around, we’ll even look at new entertainment units tonight.” He said as he pulled her into his arms and kept her close, looking into her eyes.

She smiled, “Great, so I take it you have to go to the record company today?”

He nodded as his arms slipped away from her, “Yeah, I’m working with a new artist today so we’ll see how that goes.”

“Well good luck on that.”

The Java Jet

Adel sat at one of the tables in a corner going over the numbers from the holidays as she drank her own daily dose of vanilla cappuccino. The hustle and bustle had settled down, and now the mall was filled with the skiers that were staying in the hotels and up at the ski lodge. She was very thankful for that, even if it seemed like a slower time in the year, it wasn’t that much slower at all.

“Adel, I want to talk to you.” Said a voice from behind her.

Sighing Adel put her papers down and turned back to see the face she knew went with the voice, “Carla, you and I have nothing to talk about so just shoo.”

Carla ignored her and sat down across from her, “Where is Kip?” she asked, as her eyes drilled into Adel.

“Far, far away from you. He’s much safer where he is.” Adel said as she kept her gaze on the papers on the table.

“What about Chad?” Carla asked, as she reached for one of Adel’s papers.

Adel swiftly slapped her hand away, “Probably with his wife, Bethany.” She said as she began to gather her papers and stood up, “And if you do anything to disturb them, you’ll have to deal with me little sister.”

“You can’t keep him from me Adel. He’s my son.” Carla said as she stood up and looked into her older sisters eyes.

“He knows where to find you, obviously he doesn’t give a flying fig about you.” Adel picked up her coffee cup as she shook her head, “Did you even know he was married? That he’s about to have a child of his own? Besides, you left Chad and Kip with me, while you were off pretending to be dead Charlene. Good-Bye.”

Angel Ski Resort

Dan parked his car outside and picked up the pizza that had been ordered and walked into the ski lodge. It was amazing; at least two stories high, and beautiful wood walls. A few taxidermy pieces through out the large room and a huge fire pit in the middle of the room with several different seating areas’ throughout the whole place. He walked over to the front desk and thought he would die when he saw the most beautiful girl ever. She had dark eyes, and light red hair, and dressed in the silver uniform ski suit for the resort.

She looked up and smiled at him, “Hi, may I help you?” she asked.

He blinked a few times as he tried to get words to escape his suddenly dry lips and mouth, “I, um I have a pizza for Ciel Beaumont.”

“Oh you’re from Saul’s, I’m Ciel.” She said as she went behind the counter and grabbed her wallet and took out the money, “it’s 13.75 right?” she asked as she began to count out the change.

“Yeah that’s what it is.” He said as he looked down at the ticket, “Ciel is a very unusual name, especially for Pinõn Hallow.”

She smiled as she handed him sixteen dollars. “It’s just French for sky, my parents were hippie wannabees who were really yuppies at heart.”

He put the money in his pouch, “Well have a good day.” He said as he started to walk away, backwards.

“Wait a minute, you know my name, but I don’t know yours.” She called out and he stopped.

Dan’s eyes were wide with amazement, stuff like this never happened to him. “Dan Adams.” He croaked out as his voice cracked a bit.

Ciel smiled, “Nice name, maybe I’ll see you again Mr. Adams.”

All Dan could do was nod before he turned around and started to leave the lodge, but not before he walked into several different people carrying skis.

Pinõn Peaks Laundry Room

Conner had three washing machine doors open as he tossed in colors, whites, and delicates. The small radio in the corner of the room was on blasting Splish Splash by Bobby Darin and Conner was singing along. Siobhan walked in with her basket and looked at her friend that she hadn’t talked to since New Years Eve. She set the basket down on one of the dryers and began filling a machine, trying very hard not to laugh.

Conner turned around as he was closing the machines and saw Siobhan, “Oh, Hi.” He said feeling very embarrassed.

“Hey McKay.” She answered as she poured in the detergent and then moved over to the dryers and pulled herself up on one and looked at him, “So how are you doing? It’s been a while since we spoke.”

He leaned against one of his machines, “Yeah, Listen I’m sorry about the kiss.”

She nodded, “Thank God, so am I! I would’ve come to talk to you sooner, but I’ve been busy packing up Maggie’s apartment, and then getting Kyle settled in there instead.”

“Wait, the new guy got Maggie’s apartment? I thought she and Kevin were just gone for a few weeks.” Conner said feeling his heart racing, could she have left and not have said good-bye?

“You didn’t know?” Siobhan asked feeling like the biggest fool ever.

“I haven’t spoken with Mags since I found out she married Kevin.” He said as he kicked the machine.

Siobhan looked down at her painted fingernails, afraid to say anything else, “Then you don’t know about the baby either, huh?”

“What baby Siobhan?” he asked as he looked up at his best friend with panic.

JNC Records—Kevin’s Office

Brock Jensen sat behind Kevin Lane’s desk waiting for his favorite songwriter to walk through the door. He held one of the number 2 pencils’ that had sat on the desk and was tapping it as he leaned back in the seat, watching the door and humming the latest company hit.

The door finally opened and a young woman popped her dark haired head inside, “Is Kevin Lane here?” She asked as she walked in, wearing a sleek white dress with pink flowers on it.

“No he’s not here yet, aren’t you working on your first album with this company?” Brock asked, flashing his smile.

She blushed, “Yeah, I’m Jade Spencer. Isn’t Kevin supposed to be here by now?”

Brock stood up tossing the pencil on the desk, “Yes, he is. I think he’s still might be on Colorado time.”

She nodded and then looked around the office, “Um who are you?” she asked starting become curious as to who this was in her boyfriend’s office.

“I’m Brock Jensen, this is my company.” He told her, as he leaned against the desk, crossing his arms in front of him as he studied her, “Didn’t you and Kevin date before he went to Colorado?”

“Yeah we did. Actually we never really broke up.” She said with a hint of hope in her voice.

Brock nodded and realized he was about to witness a show and he was not going to miss it. He moved back to Kevin’s chair and sat back down and began glaring at the door again and tapping a pencil.

Jade looked up at him, “Do you have to do that?” she asked.

Brock nodded just as Kevin came in the door, “Brock, I am so sorry about being late. I had to convince Maggie to hold off on redecorating the living room.” Kevin apologized as he then saw Jade sitting in front of his desk.

“Jade! Oh my goodness, what are you doing here?” he asked as he placed his travel mug on the desk.

She smiled and jumped up and kissed him.

Kevin stood there shocked before trying to pull Jade off of him. Once he pulled back from her, he moved behind the desk. “I’m sorry I’m late Brock.” His eyes were still on Jade.

“No need to apologize, this just means I won’t have to watch my soap later today. This is gonna be enough drama for one day.” Brock said with a giant smile.

Kevin blinked as he looked at his boss and then he looked at Jade, “Um are you the new artist I’m working with?”

Jade nodded her head, very confused, “Kevin is that anyway at all to treat your girlfriend? And who the hell is Maggie?”

Brock stretched out his arms in front of himself, cracking his knuckles as he looked up at Kevin, “Yes Kev, who is Maggie?”

Kevin shot Brock a dirty look and then walked over to the chair next to Jade’s, “Um Jade, I don’t really know how to tell you this, but well. . .” he began as he lifted his left hand up for her to see, “I got married while I was away.”

Jade’s eyes grew dark as she looked at him, “Kevin Lane what the hell are you talking about? When you left to visit your sister you and I were still dating. How the hell can you have married someone else?”

Kevin looked down at the burgundy carpet of his floor, “I fell head over heels in love with this amazing woman named Maggie. We got married on Thanksgiving.” He explained as he looked up to meet her eyes, which were trying desperately to hold back tears, “We’re expecting our first child in August.”

Jade shook her head and stood up and then slapped Kevin across the face, “Damn you Kevin Lane! Damn you to hell! I loved you, I waited for you to come back.” She said as she picked up her bag from the floor and then looked at Brock, “Is there someone else I can work with on the song’s for my album?”

Brock thought for a moment as he moved his hands to rest behind his head and looked up at the ceiling, before looking back at Jade, “Actually no one, since Kevin was out of town he hasn’t worked on any album’s since July. Everyone else is booked up on at least three projects.” He said realizing this was partially for his own entertainment.

Jade and Kevin both glared towards Brock who then got up and picked a pencil out of Kevin’s mug on the desk, “I gotta go. All My Children is about to start. Have fun you two.” He said as he walked towards the door.

Kevin watched his boss leave and picked up his travel mug, “So you’re my new project huh?” he said as he sat down in his chair.

Jade had crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him, “I guess I am. But first things first, does the wife know about me?”

Methodist Church—Basement

Reverend Ethan Jacobs walked into the darkened area and turned on the fluorescent lights as he walked around. No matter what he did it always smelled like Preparation-H. He had burned incense, and scented candles, used Febreeze and even had a pot of potpourri simmer.

“Hey Rev!” Came the cheerful voice of Abby Adams as she walked into the room and over to Ethan.

He smiled when he saw her, “Hey Abby, I hope this means you’re coming tonight.”

Abby helped him take out one of the tables, “Ethan, speed-dating? I don’t know about that one. I haven’t even gotten the guts to try online dating yet.”

Ethan laughed, “Oh come on Abby, ya never know you might just find the one.”

They put the table up and she looked at him, “One condition.” She told him.

He leaned on the table and looked at her, “What’s the condition?” he asked as he started to get lost in her eyes.

She looked into his crystal blue eyes and smiled, “You have to do speed dates as well.”

Panic swelled up in his eyes like high tide on a beach, “No way, no how, not in this lifetime. Do you realize how many times I get hit on after a sermon each week?”

“Well if I was watching correctly last Sunday there were, what 10 different women, including Mrs. Henderson.” Abby said as she took out some folding chairs.

Ethan shook his head, “So see, I’m not doing speed dating. Besides someone needs to time everything.”

Abby sat down on one of the chairs, “Ask Leon to do it.” She said.

“I’m not leaving a fifteen year old in charge of speed dating just so I can have a five-minute date with every single woman that shows up.”

“But yet you want me to have a five minute date with every single guy that shows up? No way buster, if I’m doing it so are you.”

Ethan sat down on another folding chair and ran his hands through his short blond hair and then looked up at her, “Fine, I’ll do it, but only because its you.” He told her as he realized by going through this too, he would have a five-minute date with her.

Pinõn Peaks Laundry Room

Siobhan looked down at her hands, afraid to see the heartbreak that had to be in Conner’s eyes. “Maggie’s pregnant, she’s due in August. Kevin makes really good money in Nashville working at JNC Records. He has a two floor apartment with three bedrooms.” She looked up at him to see he was looking at the floor, “I’m not just saying this because he’s my brother Conner. I know your in love with Maggie, I know she loves you. She had to make a decision and she did. She chose him. I’m sorry, I really am.”

Conner leaned back against the dryers, “I just can’t believe she didn’t say good-bye at all. I at least expected that, at least for Lysa. I guess I was wrong, I guess Maggie isn’t the woman I thought she was.”

Siobhan looked back at her hands, “I’m sorry you had to find out from me like this.”

He nodded and looked at her, “I know you are, it shouldn’t have been like this. None of this.” He said as he took a step forward before looking up at the ceiling, “I guess all that matters now is that Maggie is happy.”

“Yeah, that’s all that matters now. Don’t worry McKay, you’ll find your perfect match soon enough.” She said with a smile, “You could come with me to the church and try speed dating.”

“Who’s going to be there that you like?” he asked.

Siobhan’s jaw dropped and she looked at him with mock rage, “No one, well Reverend Jacobs will be there.”

Conner rolled his eyes, “Why do you all and I mean all have a crush on him?”

Siobhan shrugged, and smiled, “Have you seen his eyes?” she asked.

Williams Home—Durango

Ariel and Cassie were sitting in Cassie’s bedroom going through her make-up. Ariel began shaking her head in disgust, “Cassie, you have seven different black eye-liner pencils. You only need one, two at most.” She told her young protégé.

Cassie sighed, “I can never keep track of them.” She said as she took several of them from Ariel and put them in a clear plastic box marked “back up” on it.

“Who helped you with make up before? Was it Maggie or Patty?” Ariel asked as she looked at the tubes of lipstick with shock.

“Mainly Patty, Maggie did once in a while but with her in Pinõn Hallow, she wasn’t around much.” Cassie explained, “Most of the time I stuck to what Maggie picked, rather then Patty.”

Ariel nodded, “Good idea.” She said as she tossed several tubes into a trashcan. “What I think we’ll do Cassie is set you up with three basic looks. One for school and every day, another for evenings and special occasions, and a third for pageants, how does that sound?”

Cassie smiled, “That sounds great, Ariel thank you so much for everything. I think I might actually go far with your help.”

“I think so to.” Ariel said when the alarm on her watch went off, “Darn, I have to meet my sister for dinner.” She reached into her purse and took out a journal. “This is for you, I’ll never look at it, all I want you to do is every night for thirty minutes, just write. Anything, what happened that day, a poem, a story, whatever comes to you. If I hadn’t done it when I was your age, I never would’ve been able to compose myself on stage during the Miss. Teen Colorado pageant, the only one I beat Maggie in.”

“Thanks Ariel, for everything.” Cassie said as she and her coach hugged before Ariel left.

Cassie sat down on her purple beanbag chair and thought for a moment about her father who had been single for ten years, and how well he got along with Ariel. Perhaps, Cupid and not Maggie had sent the young woman to them.

Methodist Church—Basement

Dan walked into the room that was already starting to fill with singles when he saw his younger sister at the other side of the room. As he made his way through the crowd he also saw Siobhan Lane and Conner McKay talking. “Hey Sis, I’m here but I don’t understand why.”

Abby smiled and slapped a nametag on him, “Welcome to Speed-Dating big brother. Hey, you’ve been wrong about Sam and Pam so far, he hasn’t mentioned her at all in his e-mails or phone calls kid. So you need to get a love life of your own.”

He rolled his eyes, “How long is this torture going to last? I could be at home playing Grand Theft Auto.”

Abby suppressed the very strong desire to wring her brother’s neck, “Daniel Quincy Adams, you need a life besides work and that video game. That’s what I’m giving you tonight.” She then smiled sweetly, “Do you really want to spend another New Years Eve with me?”

He groaned, “Okay point taken, but chill on the Quincy stuff. No need to let it out our parents are completely nuts with naming us. It’s bad enough our father is named John.”

“Don’t worry, and this is only lasting an hour at the most. The way Ethan and I set it up you meet each person for five minutes. We have it averaged so that you meet eight different people and then fill out a sheet on who you want to see again.” She told him, “and if you and one of the lovely ladies click you’ll each get an e-mail tomorrow afternoon with the other’s phone number.”

“Conner relax.” Siobhan told him as she looked around to see if she knew anyone and then saw her new next door neighbor walk in. She nudged Conner.

“What?” he asked a bit on edge, still reeling from the news about Maggie. “Who’s that?”

Siobhan rolled her eyes, “That’s Kyle Roberts, the new Assistant District Attorney, and my new next door neighbor.”

Conner looked at his best friend, “You and a lawyer? No way, the next guy you date and I mean really date none of this five minute stuff is going to be a cop.”

“And what makes you so sure about that?” she asked.

“I know you Lane, I have since we were playing in the sandbox. You’ll end up with a cop, not a suit.”

Kyle looked around, taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly. This wasn’t the sort of thing he would normally do, but then again he couldn’t really sit in his apartment night after night watching reality TV and sports much longer now could he. He had to get a life, meet people, make friends, and maybe try again at love, no matter how much it hurt to think about not seeing April ever again.

He found the registration table and put his nametag on when someone blew a whistle and stood up at a chair and asked for the girls to take their places at the tables. Kyle squinted to see if he was imagining it, the guy making the announcement looked like he was fifteen years old.

Once the ladies were situated several other teens who appeared to be hanging around, got the guys into groups and set them down at different tables. Kyle found himself in between a guy named Conner and another whom he recognized as Rev. Jacobs, or Ethan as his nametag said. This was most definitely going to be and adventure he’d have to write to Noah about.

Another whistle blew and Dan moved to the next seat and found himself looking at familiar redhead whose nametag just happened to say Ciel. He smiled and then looked down at the top of the table. “Mr. Adams right?” she asked in her soft voice.

“And you’re Ciel, which as you pointed out earlier is French for Sky.” He was feeling like a complete moron.

“So Dan, what brings you to speed dating?” asked Ciel.

He thought for a short moment on how to answer, “My younger sister Abby convinced me I should try it. She said that since I was wrong about my brother finding out he was on the same island as the girl he’s in love with then I needed to find a life of my own.”

Ciel sat back in the chair, allowing her red hair to fall back, “So you’re not an only child, so far a brother and a sister. Anything else I should know?”

“Well,” he said as he began talking with his hands along with his words, “I’m applying to the police academy for the summer session, so I hope to make it on the Pinõn Hallow Force, nothing could make me leave this place. I just love it here.” He said feeling himself blushing. “What should I know about you?”

Ciel moved forward and smiled, “Well I graduated from CU this past December, I’m a ski instructor, a Gemini, and my favorite color is yellow. I’m the oldest of three kids, and the only daughter. So far, I like Pinõn Hallow, if I find something worth sticking around for I just might.”

“Kyle its alright.” Siobhan said as she looked into his crisp eyes, “just don’t tell me this is the first time you ventured out at night in Pinõn Hallow is it?”

“I’m that obvious aren’t I?” he asked as trying very hard not to fidget.

Siobhan nodded, “It’s alright, I totally understand. I’m really only here to get Conner out of his apartment for a night.” She told him, “Normally I’d be home watching, well probably whatever reality show was on.”

Kyle smiled, “Yeah me to. I just haven’t felt ready to go out and discover the town yet. I figured try speed dating at the church first, then move onto the bars and such. Know any good ones?”

“Moonlight’s good, though its pretty much a cowboy bar, and Nebraska’s has a bar, but its mainly a eatery.” She told him just as the whistle blew causing Ethan to move in front of her.

JNC Records—Brocks Office

Brock was leaning forward on his desk as he stared at the television screen, mesmerized by what he saw when he suddenly yelled, “Damnit! Greenlee! How can you be so stupid?” he asked as he threw a crumpled up piece of paper at the television screen. He leaned back in his chair and picked up the remote, turning the television off.

The door opened and Kevin came in, “Brock, we’ve got to talk about this.”

“Nope, I’m not taking you off the Jade Spencer Album.” Brock said as he picked up a nerf basketball and tossed it in the air.

“Why not?” Kevin asked as he stood in front of Brock’s desk, leaning forward on it.

“Because, you’re the best. That’s what Jade’s album needs. She’s got the voice, she could outsell Kelly Clarkson.” Brock said as he looked to his friend, “Hell if we got a good first single, She could outsell Clay Aiken.”

“She’s got a country voice, it won’t play for top-forty and you know it.” Kevin said taking a step back, “Please Brock, I haven’t told Maggie about Jade yet and obviously Jade didn’t take the news about Maggie too well earlier.”

Brock stood up and walked over to Kevin and looked at him in the eyes, “Who’s fault is that? When you were seeing Maggie you should’ve clued her in on Jade, and well you should’ve called Jade and told her it was over.”

Kevin rubbed his eyes, “Fine, what sort of songs do you want for Jade?”

Brock smiled, “I want you to write something that describes Jade’s personality. Hell if you were a smart man, take the fact that you just stomped all over her heart and make it into a number one song. JNC needs a huge artist and right now we’re not doing to damn well. That damn American Idol stuff is just blowing everyone out of the water. It’s getting as bad as the boy band rage Kevin. I’m putting the future of the company in your hands for Jade’s album.”

“Fine, but if a pretty, pregnant blonde comes in here bitching at you, I’m sorry Maggie tends to stand up for what she believes in. So if she gets mad about Jade, and comes to you, I’m warning you in advanced.”

Kevin’s Apartment

Maggie tossed the book on the table and sat up. She was bored. She needed something to do with her day and Kevin had basically forbid her from redecorating without him. She understood why, really she did. Yet could he really expect her to just hang out in the apartment all day long, reading and watching television?

Someone knocked on the door and she went and answered it, “Hi.” She said to the pretty girl with dark hair on the other side.

Jade looked Maggie up and down and felt sick, a blond, of course. “Hi, I’m Jade Spencer. Is Kevin home?” she asked pretending she had no clue Kevin was married.

“No, I’m sorry he’s at work, could I help you?” Maggie asked with a smile.

“Are you the new housekeeper?” Jade asked with a devilish smile.

Maggie blinked and confusion spread over her face, “No, I’m Kevin’s wife Maggie. Who are you?”

“I’m his girlfriend.” Jade said bitterly.

“Wait what?” Maggie asked as she leaned against the door.

Jade pushed her way into the apartment and tossed her purse on the couch, “Kevin and I started dating last year, and we were dating even when he went to visit his sister in Pine Hills or whatever its called.”

“Pinõn Hallow.” Maggie corrected as jealousy took over, “Apparently Kevin didn’t have the heart to dump you over the phone, but he and I are married and have been since November. So I suggest you take your purse and get out of my home.”

Jade rolled her eyes and grabbed her purse and started for the door, “Kevin is mine, you might have him right now but I’ll get him back. I always get what I want.” She said before walking out the door.