Episode 2.03 [Valentine’s Day]

Ramada Inn—Denver

Conner finished signing his registration card and was handed the key to his room of the hotel. Carrying his dark charcoal duffel bag he got on the elevator, a moment later a fairy like woman got on after him. She looked up at him as he towered over her and smiled bright. Her short ashy blond hair made her mystical. She had one of those sticker name tags on, and in expert penmanship it said, simply Joan.

“Are you here for the retail conference?” he asked as he listened to the music that wasn’t real music.

She smiled, “Yeah I am. I’m actually trying to find a new job. I have to get a new one soon or I’ll go crazy at my current one.”

Conner nodded, “I understand. I’ve got to work one of the employment booths. Maybe I’ll see you there later.”

Joan looked up at him as a sheepish smile, “What company or mall?”

Conner looked down at his feet, “Pinõn Hallow Mall.”

“That’s on my list, I hear Imagination Clothing needs a new manager.” She said as the elevator car stopped.

“Yeah, I guess I’ll see you later at the convention then.” He said as the door opened and he got out and went in search of his room. He looked back and saw Joan walking down the hall towards a room with her key in hand.

Pool House

Bethany and Lysa were curled up together on the couch watching a Disney movie when Chad came in carrying groceries. “How are you two girls doing?” he asked as he walked into the kitchen.

“We’re doing fine.” Bethany answered as she noticed her daughter basically ignoring Chad. “Lysa, are you alright?”

“Yes Mommy.” She said as she gazed at the cartoon figures.

Chad came in and Bethany shrugged. He nodded, he knew it would take time for Lysa to get to know him. Though he was starting to wonder if Bethany would have that time. Dr. Silversky had been very unclear about the whole situation, and it was starting to make Chad wonder how much time Bethany really had left and how much of it she would get to spend with her daughter and the child on the way.

Dan and Abby’s Apartment

Abby pulled the afghan up around her a bit more as she slouched down into the cushions of the couch as she got more involved in the historical romance novel she was reading. She was reading quickly, turning the pages as she lost herself in a time of pirates.

“Lady Abigail!” Called out the strong, husky voice of her captor. She had been so close to escape, a chance to go back to her home in the colonies. She turned, her hands holding together the tattered fabric of her dress.

He was tall, muscular, his skin darkened by the sea sun, and his hair long and blond. His eyes a striking blue that always made Lady Abigail’s heart race as though a stampede of horses were riding through her body.

“Please sir, let me leave. Let me return to my family. I will not turn you in. I promise.” she pleaded desperately, her eyes searching his for some compassion.

“Never!” he declared as he in one swift motion picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder. “You are mine now Lady Abigail, and I will not be letting you go at any moment in time.”

Tears were threatening to burn her eyes as she tried to move enough to fight him.

“That will only make your punishment harsher.” he said as he carried her back onto the ship and to his cabin. He tossed her on the bed and then locked the door. “You are mine now Lady, do you understand that?”

Her breath was short, strong gasps as her brown eyes watched him move about the room. “At least tell me your name,” she finally asked.

He crossed his arms over his bare chest and smiled, “You may call me what all the others do, Captain, and only Captain.”

Rage grew in her eyes, “That surely isn’t your given name, now is it?” she asked in a huff of anger.

“Given names mean nothing on the sea,” he told her as he took a calculated step closer, causing her to lean back.

Lady Abigail swallowed hard as for the first time his crisp icy eyes met her coffee ones, causing her heart to race once more. His large hands were each rested next to her as he leaned in closer, his sun kissed lips, pressed softly on hers. It had not been what she expected at all. She had expected a harsh violent kiss. Not one that would make her melt into his arms, and definitely not one that would make her ache to touch him.

Abby put the book down and took a deep breath as she stared up at the ceiling, and realized that as she was reading about Lady Abigail and Captain, she had pictured Ethan as Captain. She chuckled to herself; she had just had a fantasy about her minister being a pirate.

JCN Records—Brock’s Office

Resting the ice bag on his head, Brock leaned back in his chair, breathing slowly and deeply trying to relax himself. He needed to stop all the drinking and bar hopping and girl a nights to get his mind off Joan. Nothing had ever worked though, he always thought of her, no matter which girl was in his bed that night or which drink he was on.

The door opened and Kevin came in, looking upset once again. “Kevin, whatever it its, it’ll have to wait until later. My show is almost on.” He said trying to get things in perspective.

“Sorry, I am not going to wait Brock. Please give Jade to someone else. She went to my home last night and pretended to be surprised to find my wife there.” Kevin said as he towered over him, casting a dark shadow.

“I already told you to deal with it. Everyone else is busy, you took several months off from the company, you get the new person. You know the deal Lane.” Brock sat up, his eyes drilling into Kevin, “You’ll find a way to deal with Jade Spencer, I will not lose her from this company, is that understood?”

“Fine! But if she does anything crazy again, I’m leaving JCN do you understand?”

“Yes Kevin, I do. I know you love your wife and don’t want to loose her. If she really loves you, she won’t leave.”

“I wish I knew if you were right Brock, because sometimes I don’t think I’m really the man Maggie wanted to marry.” Kevin explained as he sat down.

Brock leaned forward, wondering if he was going to need a does of soap opera for the day or not, “why is that Kevin?”

“When I met Maggie this summer, right after Eddie was killed she had just broken up with my sister’s best friend Conner. See his wife left him like ages ago and then suddenly came back to town. Well Maggie thought they should have a chance to be together as a family, which makes a lot of sense considering that her mother walked out on her father and her and her sister. Conner loves Maggie with this amazing intensity, he and I got in a fist fight over her once actually. But I know she’s been faithful to me, its also however why we came to Nashville instead of me setting up in Pinõn Hallow.”

“Kevin, she married you, not this Conner guy. You have nothing to worry about. This is real life not those soap operas I watch.” Brock said as he tossed the ice bag onto his desk.

PHPD

Chief Becker rushed into the squad room, “Alright Everyone, listen up! We’ve got a situation on the college campus. Apparently about twenty minutes ago, during the board meeting several men took the members of the board hostage. I need Lane, Henderson, Thornton, and Martin to get ready cause we’re going to go get these people out of there.” He said as he walked to his office and saw that everyone was gathering their stuff. This was not what he ever expected to be dealing with here in Pinõn Hallow, not by a long shot at all.

Angel Ski Resort

Dan walked into the lodge carrying a pizza and found himself at the front desk, and looking at Ciel Beaumont once again. “Hey, I have an order for an Evan Paris.”

Ciel looked up and smiled at Dan, “Thanks, I’ve got the cash right here.” She counted out the money and then began to speak again, “So um Dan, have you ever partaken in night skiing?” she asked.

Dan’s eyes immediately grew wide with anticipation, “Not since high school, why?”

“I was wondering if maybe you’d like to go with me some time, like tonight.”

“That would be wonderful, I’d love to.” A goofy smile seemed to cover his face, not wanting to hide at all.

“great, be back here at say 5:30? We can grab a quick dinner in the dinning room and then head out, sound good?”

“Yeah, that’s perfect.” He said before starting to leave.

Kevin’s Apartment

Maggie logged onto her Pinõn Hallow e-mail account and her eyes grew larger with the sight on Conner’s address. Slowly, and as controlled as she could possibly be she clicked on the message, letting the information seep into her mind as she read it slowly, several times.

To: FilmBoy69@pinonhallow.net
From: MagPie23@pinonhallow.net
Subject: RE: Major Question
Conner,
I am without a doubt 100% sure that my husband Kevin is the father of my child. The thought that the child came from the love that you and I share didn’t cross my mind, not once. I know that I hurt you by marrying Kevin, but I wasn’t going to come between your marriage and break up your family. Please give me that same respect.
Maggie
Love if friendship set on fire

She reread the message she had written and she started to wonder if perhaps Conner was right, could he be the father of her child?

Pinõn Hallow Mall

Abby tried to juggle the bags from the different clothing boutiques in her arms. She hated having to buy new clothes but the sales they had this weekend nothing could be better. Especially with it being Valentines Day and all, who needs a boyfriend when you have a credit card and no debt!

She was just outside the Java Jet when she saw a glove on the ground. She picked it up, feeling the creamy smooth leather resting in her hands. She looked around, knowing it had just been dropped, when Chad Davis walked out of the shop holding the mate to her glove. “This must be yours.” Her voice came out nervous and it surprised her.

“Yeah, thanks I was wondering what happened to it.”

Abby handed him the glove, “Have a good day.”

“You to, thanks again.” He called out, watching her walk away before moving on to the candy shop.

Williams Family Home

“Cassie! Cassie where are you?” bellowed the voice of her coach Ariel Baptista.

“Cassie!” cried out her father Larry, neither one of them could seem to find the young girl. What on earth could’ve happened to her?

As the two went into the living room Larry sighed, “I don’t know where she could be. She knows about the appointment, she’s never done this before in her life.”

“It’s alright Larry, maybe she went to be with a boy from school, and it is Valentines Day after all.” Ariel suggested as she sat down on the couch, crossing her jean covered legs.

Larry smiled, he and Ariel had been around each other a lot lately, and he even knew her younger sister since she was in one of his classes. “So what are your plans for tonight?”

Ariel rolled her eyes, “Probably just crashing at my sister’s dorm room since she had a date tonight after seeing The Vagina Monologues. What about you?”

“Nothing, just watching TV or reading a book. I haven’t really done the Valentines Day thing a long, long time.”

“Why don’t we go to dinner, then we can go watch The Vagina Monologues, together up at the main stage.”

Larry nodded, “That sounds like a great idea.”

The front door open and Cassie came in, her ice skates having over her shoulder and her face rosy from the Durango cold. “Hi Dad, Hi Ariel.”

“Cassie where have you been, you and Ariel were suppose to meet at 3, its almost 5.” Larry exclaimed.

“Sorry Dad, I thought that was tomorrow. I went ice skating with Jeff.”

“Jeff? The guy with the piercing?” Larry was shocked, “He’s one of my students!”

“Yeah so? Dad, it’s alright we just went ice skating, no biggie.”

“It sure as hell is!” he was standing now, his face red with anger, “Do you know what College guys want?”

Cassie smiled and nodded, “Yeah, but their a lot more patient then high school boys.”

“Please tell me you don’t know from experience.” Larry pleaded; in fact the tone in his voice had both Ariel and Cassie thinking he’d be on his knees.

“Dad, I want a white wedding, don’t worry.”

Ariel and Larry both sighed with relief, “Well I better go, um I’ll be back in say thirty minutes and we’ll find some place for dinner. See ya then. Cassie, we’ll work tomorrow at ten am, SHARP.”

Ariel then left and Cassie was left to face her father, “Are you dating Ariel now?”

“No, its just dinner and then going to see The Vagina Monologues, that’s all.”

“Oh.” Cassie said and she realized her plan to leave the two of them alone had worked. “Well I better go to my room. Have fun Dad.”

Pinõn Hallow Methodist Church

Abby walked into Ethan’s office, carrying a large folder filled with children’s activities she had found online. “Ethan, are you here?” she called out as she sat down at the secretarial desk she seemed to find herself in quite a bit of the time. It wasn’t a bad thing though; Ethan was always a nice treat to see on a cold winter afternoon. She began to look around the desk for the note pad and a pencil when her eyes stumbled upon a to-do list of sorts. Ask Abby out for coffee, Write this week’s sermon, and practice this week’s sermon. Abby blinked several times as she reread the list, “Ask Abby out for coffee?” she shook her head, it had to be some other girl named Abby, no way was is it her, Abigail Adams childcare provider and Sunday school teacher, no way no how. Reverend Ethan Jacobs would not be going down that path for them in any way at all.

Ethan walked in and saw Abby at the secretarial desk, and it appeared she had found his to-do list. “Hey Abs, what’s going on?” his voice hinted at the nervousness floating around in the core of his body. Why on earth did she do this to him? No other female ever made him this nervous, not even his Grandmother.

Abby’s eyes looked up from the paper, the coffee color seemed to fade a bit into a darker more chocolate type when they met with Jacob’s ice blue eyes, “Nothing, I just wanted to drop off these activities I found online. We need some more stimulating things for Sunday school, the kids are getting a little bored, ya know part of it’s the weather ya know, I mean snow all over the place and such.” She put the list down, on the desk, “it was on the ground, figured why let paper lay on the ground.” She knew it wasn’t convincing and she knew Ethan well enough to know he wouldn’t buy it.

Ethan sighed, “So I guess you know my big plan.” He leaned against his desk and crossed his arms over his chest, letting his eyes and smile soften.

“What big plan?” she asked trying to keep from giving herself away.

“You mean you didn’t read the part about me asking Abby Jefferson out on a date?” he watched her as she grew red with what he thought was jealousy.

Abby took a slow deep breath and then looked up with a very fake smile, “Abby Jefferson huh? I didn’t realize you liked girls like her.”

“You mean the kind that never go to church, and when they do its just to hit on the new single young minister?”

“Yeah exactly.” Bitterness filled her voice as she put the folder down and stood up, “I should go, I have to e-mail my brother Sam.”

“Abs, do you honestly think I would go for Abby Jefferson? I mean goodness I thought you knew me.” He was hurt that she actually believed him and he realized he had taken that bit just one step too far.

Abby let a hand run through her dark brown hair and blinked, realizing for the first time tears were starting to build up in her eyes, Did she herself have a crush on her minister and best friend Ethan? “What I think doesn’t matter Ethan, what matters is you being happy.”

He smiled and gave off the cocky vibe with it, “Abigail Adams, I will never ask Abby Jefferson out, I couldn’t I’m too crazy about you.”

“You’re, you’re crazy about me?” she asked, stumbling over her words, trying to contain the emotions growing inside, “Wait, are you asking me out Rev?”

Ethan laughed a short, playful sound and smiled, “Yeah Abs, I am. So will you go and have coffee with me?”

Abby gulped, “Yeah I would love to.”

Hallow Hills—Main House

Adel walked down the stairs in her black dress and saw Doug at the bottom waiting with several yellow roses. “Oh Doug.” Adel said softly when she saw him holding her favorite flower.

“For you my love, are you ready for our anniversary dinner?” he extended his hand free of the flowers to her and pulled her closer, letting his lips capture hers in a soft, sweet, nostalgic kiss.

“I love you Doug, I just don’t want you to go and spend another six months in Europe. Can’t you do your work here, or send Jeff or Laura?” she asked, her eyes soft, trying to be reassured her husband loved her and wasn’t really carrying on an affair in France.

Doug held his wife close to him, “I’ll only be gone a week, checking on things in the office. The last time I was there I hired someone to run it. I just have to check on them every now and again.”

Kevin’s Apartment

Kevin hid the box of chocolates behind his back with the dozen roses as he kicked the door as a knock. Maggie opened the door and smiled at her husband, “Why didn’t you open the door?” she asked him

“Cause my hands are full.” He said as he walked in, pushing her backwards a few steps before kicking the door closed, “For you my love.” He said showing her the flowers and chocolates.

“Oh sweetie! They’re wonderful, thank you so much.” She kissed him and then pulled him into the kitchen, “dinner’s almost ready. I made pasta, with a thick red sauce, and chopped chicken.”

“Sounds great!” he watched her in control of the kitchen and then went over to the stereo and put in a CD he had brought home from the office.

“What’s this?” she asked listening to the instrumental, but it didn’t sound familiar at all.

“Oh just something I did today.” He said turning the volume up, as his singing voice filled the room.

Maggie registered it and looked at him, “Is this you?”

Kevin nodded, “Yeah I’ve been working on this for you, well for a while.”

Her eyes welled with tears as he came over and hugged her, “Its wonderful Kevin, I love it. Thank you so much.”

His lips met hers in a soft, naive kiss, unaware that his wife’s heart truly belonged to another.

Crimson Night Bar—Denver

Conner sat at the bar, nursing his Guinness and checking the hockey scores on the television. Someone slide in beside him at the next stool over and he looked over, seeing the familiar face of the woman from the elevator. “Hello Again.”

She looked over and smiled, “Hello to you do. I’m Joan, and you are?”

Conner took her hand in his and smiled, “Conner, pleasure to know your name.”

“Rum and Coke.” Joan said to the bartender before putting all her attention on Conner, “So is this your Valentines Day as well?”

He nodded, “Yeah, well what would you expect I’m alone in the big city, no one to cuddle up to.”

She smiled, “Well you can come cuddle up with me for the night.” She took a sip from her new drink.

“That’s an interesting offer, I might take you up on that.” He said before taking another sip of his drink.

Joan just smiled before letting one of her hands fall on Conner’s knee. “Good, but lets turn that might into a definitely.”

Conner’s hands removed Joan’s top as the fumbled around his hotel room, trying to find the bed. Their mouths were together in a tantalizing kiss as bodies ached to be closer to the other. His hands slid down to her waist and he picked her up, her legs wrapping around him, before the tumbled onto the bed.