Episode 3.11

Imagination Clothing

“Maggie, how did Daddy take it when you transferred to Metro?” Cassie followed her sister around the backroom as she checked stock before opening the gate.

Maggie turned to her younger sister, “Why do you want to know?”

Cassie looked down towards the ground, “I got early acceptance somewhere other then the Fort.”

“Where?” Maggie sighed, just was she needed a feud between her sister and father at Christmas. Things obviously weren’t complicated enough.

Rubbing her hands together she smiled when she looked up, “Pinõn Hallow Liberal Arts.”

“Are you trying to get Daddy to move to town? Please he harasses the guys I date enough as it is.”

“Not Conner McKay.” Cassie crossed her arms over her chest, “Daddy likes him.”

“However, Daddy is not the one dating him.” Maggie leaned against the wall, “Cassie I love you, but I don’t have time for this, its two days before Christmas and this place is going to be packed. Can we talk about this tonight?”

“When? We have to meet Mom at Home Cookin’ that new place at seven for dinner.”

“After that, we’ll make time. I promise.”

Film Magic

“Put the Elf DVD’s closer to the door. We want people to see them.” Conner instructed Eric Savoren shortly before it was time to open the gate.

“Yes sir, its good to have you back boss.” Eric quickly moved the display closer just as he saw Cassie Williams leave the dock door and step into the actual shopping plaza.

“Eric, pay attention.” Conner looked where he thought Eric’s gaze was going and saw Cassie walking off towards the food court, “She’s only seventeen, remember that.”

Eric turned back to Conner, “Don’t worry boss, I wouldn’t even think about it. I was just realizing its odd she’s around but I don’t see Maggie on her way to the Java Jet.”

“Maggie’s back at Imagination.” Conner then started over to the register and started going through the cash.

“So, what’s going on between you and Maggie?”

“Nothing at all.”

Eric wrinkled his nose, “You’re not even friends?”

“Its hard to be friends when you only fight when you see each other.” Conner closed the register, “Unlock the gate Eric.”

Eric took the key for the gate and unlocked it, tossing the metal guard up to the ceiling with a metallic thud.

PHPD

Siobhan sat at her desk going over the notes when Dan came over with what looked like one of the maids from Hallow Hills. “Detective, Elise has something she’d like to tell us about the night Kathryn Layden was killed.”

Siobhan stood up, “What can you tell us Elise?”

Elise tugged at her jacket, “Kip would freak if he knew I told you about this. You see he got home a little earlier then he told you. Its not that he killed Miss Layden, that he lied. He lied to keep me from being fired. His Mother really hates when he socializes with employees.”

“What are you saying?” Siobhan crossed her arms over her chest as she waited.

“Well Kip came home after doing all he said he did, and well we were in the pantry.”

“What were you doing in the pantry?” Dan asked as he sat down in the chair next to Siobhan.

Elise sighed, “Having sex.”

“We’ll have to ask Kip, you realize that right?” Siobhan uncrossed her arms.

“I know, I do know when you talked to him that his mother was right there. Of course he didn’t mention our time in the pantry.”

Siobhan looked at the clock on her desk, the maid had left an hour before and Dan was now bringing Kip in. “Hello Mr. Davis, we just wanted to check on something you told us the night of the murder.”

“Elise was here, wasn’t she?” Kip looked up at Siobhan, ignoring Dan.

“Yes she was, what do you think she told us?”

Kip sat up in the seat and sighed, “We were having sex in the pantry. I only left it out cause my mother was so close. She freaks if I hook-up with someone that works for us. Please that’s like the whole town almost.”

Siobhan sighed, she honestly had no reason to not believe him, “You’re free to go.”

Kip stood up, “Thank you, have a happy holiday.”

Hallow Hills—Twins Nursery

Abby tucked the twins in for their afternoon nap, just as Chad came into the room. “Miss Adams, could I speak to you a minute.”

“But of course.” Abby left the room and gently closed the door following him down the hall to the top of the stairs. “What’s going on Mr. Davis?”

“I know this is probably the worst thing I could do, but I was wondering that if tomorrow evening after the early church service you could come by the house and help me wrap a few things for the twins.”

Abby twisted the ring on her left hand, “No problem at all. I’ll come by after the service.”

“Ethan will be alright with that, won’t he?” Chad asked as they started down the stairs.

“He has several services that night and again in the morning, he won’t be able to spend the time with me this year. But its alright.”

Chad saw a sadness in her eyes and smiled, “Well he better start making time for you, he might just lose you again.”

“I doubt that.” Abby looked away from Chad as she felt her stomach flip flopping, “Ethan’s it for me.”

“I wish you two the best, its always amazing when you find the one.” He looked down towards the ground and then back up, “That’s how I felt about Bethany.”

“This must be a very hard time of year for you.”

“I have the kids, that’s what’s important.”

Pinõn Hallow Airport

“Mom, please let go of me.” Kip pleaded as he heard his zone called for his and Phyllis’ flight back to Florida.

“I’m just going to miss you.” She said as she finally let go. “Call more often.”

“I promise I will.” he sighed.

“Adel, darling please give this to Ethan. Tell him I’m sorry we had to rush off, but I just have a feeling I need to get home.” Phyllis handed Adel an envelope with Ethan’s name on it.

“I will, don’t worry. I’ll give it to him tomorrow after the service.”

“Thank you darling. Now we really must be on our way.” She took Kip’s hand and led him to the gate, leaving Adel standing alone watching her son walk out of her life once more.

The Java Jet

Cassie sat alone at a corner table sucking down her mocha latte when Eric came in to get his morning green tea. He saw her and pulled the chair across from her out and sat down, “What are you so sad about?”

Cassie snapped out of her daze, “Oh lots of stuff, right now Maggie and Conner for one. The two of them are so darn stubborn.”

“I know, but what can we do. They need to work this out themselves.” Eric smiled, “What else is wrong?”

Cassie leaned forward, “I got accepted to PHC, but I don’t know how to tell my Dad since he wants me going to the Fort.”

Eric nodded, “Well congrats on getting accepted, and I’m sure you’ll be able to tell your father and things will be fine.”

“I hope so, Maggie’s so wrapped up in pretending she isn’t in love with Conner that she’s driving herself into the arms of Dr. Carsyn.”

“Not a fan of him?”

Cassie shook her head, “He’s nice and all but I know my sister loves Conner. I’ve seen it in her eyes for years.”

“Conner loves Maggie, but after the whole kidnapping thing I think he’s scared of being honest with a woman. I mean they’ve been close to getting together before and something or rather someone always comes between them.”

A smile crossed over Cassie, “I’ve got a brilliant idea, the perfect way to get Maggie and Conner back together.”

“How?”

“Tomorrow night, after the church service. And if that doesn’t work New Years Eve.”

“I’m not seeing any details.” Eric reminded her.

“Oh come on College boy, you’ve got to be good for something.” She teased.

Eric tried to hold back a smile and a comment about her being too young to know, “Yes well I think between the two of us we could figure something out.”

“Good, then lets get Maggie and Conner back together, asap!”