Episode 3.09

The Bridge

Becker tapped his gloved fingers on the cement wall as he watched the icy water in the moon and streetlights. He knew this conversation was going to happen the moment he had first seen Sally, he was just glad he could keep his wife at bay for just a few more hours. His stomach was in knots as he saw her red hair in the distance under the beanie.

For a split moment he felt like he had ten years earlier when they had gotten married, or even how he had felt when they were in college. She was still beautiful he couldn’t deny that. But the life they were leading in the suburbia hell had killed the man he was and his only way to survive was some misguided idea to run off and create a new identity—he had been Joe Shamus and become Shamus Becker.

“Joe, I’m glad you’re here.” She hugged herself as she tried to stay warm in the Colorado cold.

“I won’t keep you long Sally, but I have to tell you please forget that we ever existed together. Forget that Joe Shamus ever existed.” His eyes pleaded with her, and he could still see the hope that he loved her in them.

She placed a hand on his shoulder and blinked to hold back tears, “Joe you’re my husband. The only man I’ve ever loved. Do you honestly think I could forget about that?”

He covered her hand with his, “I’m not that man anymore Sally. I’ve changed so much over these last few years. And I mean more then my name. I have a great life here and then one day I looked up and you were there.”

“Fate Joe, it was fate.”

Becker shook his head, “No it was just a coincidence. I have a great life, I don’t want you coming between it.”

Sally shook her head while taking a deep, unsteady breath, “No you just want Siobhan, right?”

Becker looked out on the floating water and then back, meeting her eyes, “I love Siobhan.” He was silent for a minute as he tried to find the right words that wouldn’t hurt but he knew that was impossible, “I love her in ways I couldn’t even fathom loving you.”

Ethan’s House

Abby kissed Ethan, she felt a need but somewhere inside of her she knew it wasn’t what it had to be for this to happen. She went about the motions mechanically. Kissing his neck, nibbling his earlobe—unbuttoning his shirt, letting her fingers graze his chiseled chest. She closed her eyes, as his hands took over, pushing the fabric of her dress away and his warm, soft lips tasted her shoulders.

They laid back on the bed, she was opening her self up for him, and yet he stopped. He climbed off the bed, standing at the foot, shaking his head. “Its not time yet Abs.” Ethan began to button his shirt back up.

Abby blinked and nodded, “Your right, we should wait. What’s the hurry right? We’ll have the rest of our lives.”

Ethan smiled, his white teeth almost blinding her, “Exactly the rest of our lives.”

Abby pulled up her dress as she stood up and slipped her shoes back on, “I should leave, no need to test temptation, right?”

Hallow Hills

Doug kissed Isabella’s forehead as he pulled her blanket up, and turned off the light. It was then he saw the lights flashing outside; quickly he went to the window and saw several police cars, and the medical examiner van. He quickly cursed before rushing out the door.

Chad could hear Doug running down the stairs and came out from the nursery, “Dad, what’s going on?”

Doug stopped, panic filled his face, “There’s several police cars outside by the pool house.”

“Why?” Was all Chad could ask as his heart pounded in his chest.

“I’m going to go and find out right now.”

Kip pulled on a pair of loose jeans and socks before grabbing his Heaven Beach University Sweatshirt as he slid on a pair of shoes and made his way to go outside and see what was up with all the lights flashing around.

Hallow Hotel Room 5

Sean McKay placed several vanilla scented candles throughout the motel room. He was thrilled to be able to leave his brother and niece alone for bonding time. He was starting to feel as though he had to be with them all the time, to make things less awkward between them. He was just so glad he would have tonight, his secret night to release himself. He would be able to do what he wanted, with the girl he wanted.

A smile crept across his face, and if anyone had seen Sean at this moment they might wonder what could be going through his mind as he began to light the candles.

Conner’s Apartment—Lysa’s Room

Lysa fluffed her hair in the mirror before she took a nice long slow breath, she smiled before applying a light coat of peppermint flavored gloss to her lips. She looked over at her bed, and the body pillow she’d stuffed under the covers. She opened her computer and put up her media player, hitting play on track 3 of the Ashlee Simpson album.

Turning off the lights, she opened her window and climbed out on to the fire escape and slowly started down the side of the building.

210 Shavano Court:

Maggie rubbed her eyes as she looked at the computer screen again, re-reading the e-mail she was sending to her father.

To:        Williams_l@flc.edu

From:    magpie69@pinonhallow.net

Subject:            Christmas

            Hi Daddy, I was talking to Carsyn and we were thinking that perhaps instead of me going to Durango for the Holiday and him going to New Jersey that you could come here to Pinõn Hallow instead. I understand if you don’t want to do that. Just please let me know. I love you Daddy!

Maggie

After she hit send, she looked over at the news paper article she had cut out sitting on her desk. Well more like the picture of Conner from the article, at the same time the radio broke in with Right Here Waiting. She chewed on her lower lip for a moment before picking up her car keys and going towards the door. She knew what she had to do, and where she had to go.

Abby’s Car

Abby turned on the radio just before entering an intersection in the middle of down town. The soft end of a Barry Manilow song ended, and the DJ or reporter broke in. Good evening Pinõn Hallow. The time is now 12:17 am and this is the news for the hour. Earlier this evening a body was found at Hallow Hills. The Police are investigating but no word yet on if it was a murder, accidental, or natural death.

Abby stopped her car and cursed as she started up again, changing the signal and turning left instead of right, and driving to Hallow Hills instead of home.

Conner’s Apartment

Conner looked at the box of Christmas ornaments he had thought he could convince Lysa to start with tonight but instead she wanted to go to bed. He had peaked in on her a little before and everything appeared to be fine. He sighed as he sank down onto the couch, and was about to turn the television up when he heard a knocking on the door.

Curiosity got to him as he padded over and opened the door, stunned to see Maggie standing their. Her hair pulled into a loose pony tail, her face make-up free, “Mags, what are you doing here?”

She looked down at her feet, still in her slippers, before looking up, and her eyes locking with Conner, “I had to talk to you. I had to see you.”

Conner smiled, “Come in then.”

She did and he gently closed the door behind her.

As Maggie looked around, “This last year has been insane, for both of us. I mean from Kevin, to Grace and anyone else in between. But I have to know Conner—do you still love me?”

A darkness came over him as he leaned against the couch, “Maggie, I want to say yes, because I do. But right now I need to focus on getting back into my life. I have a teenage daughter to raise and a business to run. I have intense therapy sessions dealing with my months locked up in the basement of that house.”

Maggie nodded and blinked as she tried to hold back the tears in her eyes, “If only I had realized you were down their.”

Conner reached out and touched her face, “Maggie, I always knew you would be the one to save me. You have in so many ways. I want you to be happy.”

She held his hand with hers and looked at him, “Don’t you get it though. You make me happy Conner. I don’t feel complete with out you.”

He licked his lips, “Their was a point when I thought I could have you back in my life, and then I found you at the bottom of a stair case in Nashville.” He looked down at their hands intertwined, for a moment not sure whose were whose, “But our window is gone Maggie.”

A powerful urge came over her and she held his hand tightly and stood only a few centimeters away from him, “No, our window will never be gone Conner. You and I will always have a chance. We both have to see it though.”

Conner pulled his hand away from hers and then stepped back, “Then I can’t see it right now Mags.”

“Fine, don’t see it. Just live this dark life, and feel as though someone is missing.” She said as she went to the door. “Just remember this moment Conner. Remember how I came here and told you that I love you. I always have and I always will. But I guess that right now I have to close the window on us, maybe someday in the future something will pry it open.”

The Bridge:

Becker took Sally’s hand in his and sighed, “Forget about me please. I’ll file for divorce. Just please forget that Joe Shamus ever existed.”

Sally pulled her hand away, tears glossed her eyes, I can’t do that Joe.” she snorted before looking down at the sidewalk, “I won’t do that. I’m not going to let you pretend you did exist. It almost killed your mother when you left, and your father—well he was heartbroken. How could you do that?”

“Because I had to. You can’t understand it now and you never will. Just let me divorce you, and then leave Pinõn Hallow forever and forget you ever saw me. Please, if you really love me then do this.”

Sally shook her head, “Maybe I just have to make you remember.” She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him.

Hallow Hills

Chad, Doug, and Kip ran straight over to Adel once they got outside. “Mom, what happened?” Chad asked, his breath circling them.

Adel blinked as she stared at the pool house, “Kathryn Layden was murdered.” she looked at Doug, “In our pool house.”

“What?” The three men all said at once.

“I found her lying their dead.”

“Mrs. Davis, may I have a moment with you?” Siobhan asked, before watching Chad lead his mother away from his father and brother.

“Is it alright if Chad stays with me?” Adel asked.

“Yes of course.” Siobhan watched both their body language, nothing abnormal at the moment. A woman in shock and her eldest child trying to protect her from more trauma. “I understand you found the body, what provoked the search of the pool house in the middle of December?”

“When I was coming home I saw the light was on, and immediately went to see if Chad here had come down here. But when I opened the door I saw Kathryn Layden lying there on the floor.”

Siobhan took notes, “And Mr. Davis, where were you at about this time?”

Chad looked up at the house for a moment, “I was watching my children sleep. When I got home I sent the baby sitter home.”

“Thanks, we’ll call if we need to know anymore.”

“Dad, I swear I had nothing to do with this.” Kip said as he rubbed his arms and tried to warm himself against the cold.

“I know Kip, Ryn had many enemies. She was a cold business woman, lord knows how many people she destroyed.” Doug explained as he saw the young rookie cop Dan Adams come near them.

“Hello Mr. Davis, Detective Lane sent me over to ask you a few questions. What time did you get home tonight?” Dan asked as he flipped open a small note book and took out a pen.

Doug looked at his watch, “An hour ago, just after Chad and right before Kip came home.”

Dan furrowed his brow, “You all came home separately?”

“Yes, we did. Chad came home checked on his kids, Dad came home and checked on my sister. I came home after them—I had to see someone.” Kip explained as he looked around.

“Who? In case we have to check it out.”

Kip licked his lips trying to fight the cold night air, “Pam Mitchell, only I found out she left town.”

“What did you do when you got home?”

Doug blew into his hands before he answered, “I changed out of the clothes I had been wearing at Home Cookin’ and then went and watched my daughter fall asleep.”

Dan looked over at Kip, “And you?”

Kip held back the desire to punch Dan at this moment, his animosity with the Adams Twins was really getting old and he’d been out of town for almost a whole year, “I went and took a hot shower and was getting changed when my Dad and Brother came running past my room.”

“Thanks.” Dan said as he jotted down his notes, “We may call on you again.” he closed the note book but dropped it when he saw Abby running up towards Chad Davis in the snow.

“Mr. Davis.” Abby said as she got close to him as Siobhan was walking away. “What happened? Are the kids alright?”

Chad turned and smiled when he saw Abby with her hair wind whipped and her cheeks rosy from the cold. “Miss Adams,” He pulled her to the side, “Miss Layden was murdered in the pool house.”

“Oh that’s terrible.” She held his hands tightly in his, “We should get your family inside its’ freezing cold.”

Chad pulled his hand from hers and brushed her hair away from her eyes, “Your wonderful to think of us. How did you hear?”

“The radio in the car on my way home from Ethan’s.”

Sadness drifted into his eyes, “That’s right you’re engaged to my cousin now.”

“Yeah, I guess I am. I sort of forgot.”

“Abigail!” Dan stood behind her, “Go home, this is no place for you right now.”

“I was just checking to make sure my boss was alright.”

“Well he looks fine, so go home I don’t want you around this.”

Abby smiled at Dan, “He’s over protective. I’ll see you in the morning Mr. Davis.”

“Thank you Miss Adams for being concerned.”

Home Cookin

Phyllis watched as Jeff checked on the last few things around the restaurant before he went to the jukebox and pressed play, “I bet you don’t remember this.” he said as Three Times A Lady began to play.

She lit up, “You remember our song.”

“How could I forget?” he held his hand out, “Care to dance.”

“I thought you would never ask.”

 

Hallow Hotel Room 5

Lysa lifted her hand to the door and began to knock. Her heart was racing, her palms were sweaty. She was about to meet IrishGuy face to face. He would bring her into his world, a world that had only been a part of her fantasies. In just a few moments it would be a reality.

She took in a breath as the door opened, only to release it too quickly when she saw her uncle standing there, bare chested and in just as much shock as her.

Sean pulled Lysa into the room and pushed her against the door, “What the hell are you doing here? Why did you follow me?”

Lysa wanted to scream, “I didn’t follow you Uncle Sean, I came here to meet IrishGuy.”

Sean could feel his stomach twisting into knots. The younger girl who he had been seducing online had been his niece? “No way, you can’t be GreekChick, you’re not Greek.”

She rolled her eyes, “But my name is. Lysa is short for Lysistrata, remember.” It then hit her who Sean was also. “You’re IrishGuy, great I’ve been plotting to get my uncle to take my virginity.”

Sean suddenly pressed his body against hers, pinning her to the door. “Is that what you were looking for in that chat room?”

Lysa’s heart raced as she looked deeply into his eyes, feeling every inch of him against her, “Why else would I be there?”

His lower body pressed against hers before cupping her face with his hands, “Do you still want me to do that?”

Lysa couldn’t speak, she could only respond physically, as she reached up, her fingers in his dark hair tangled, before she pulled his mouth to hers in a long kiss.

214 Shavano Court

Trista sat by the fireplace, with a cup of hot cocoa with just a little peppermint schnapps. Soft Christmas carols were playing on the stereo.

Kyle stood in the doorway, watching her relax. He loved this woman, and still at times couldn’t believe the lengths he had gone to win her back. He looked down at the box in his hand. This was the perfect moment, he was going to ask her to marry him. Just as he was about to step back into the room his cell phone rang. He looked to see who it was and cursed silently to himself, “Kyle Roberts. What’s going on?”

When the conversation was over he closed his phone and slid the box in his pocket, “Trista, I have to go. There’s a situation at Hallow Hills. I’ll be back late.”

She looked up from the book she was reading and smiled, “I understand. Just don’t be back too late.”

“I’ll try.” he said before picking up his scarf and winter coat.