Lily stood beside Rick, holding his mug of coffee while he continued working on the white tarp.

"Will it all be ready by the big day?" Lily asked.

Rick looked up, and sighed. "I hope so….or Jessie will kill me!" he said, with a small smile.

Lily held the coffee out for him; he drank a little, glad for the warmth. It was 6:00, and getting fairly dark, with a small snip of cold air coming in.

"She really does appreciate this…." Lily said, wrapping her fingers around the mug.

Rick nodded, and went back to stretching out the tarp, "well….she's my little girl….I'd do it regardless…." He murmured.

Lily smiled, she loved this man…. always would, she knew.

"Did you get to say goodbye to Eli before he left?" she asked, taking a small sip of the coffee.

Rick nodded, "hmm….shame we didn't have room…" he murmured, "it was good having the whole family back….under the same roof….like…"

"Old times?" Lily supplied.

Rick looked up and nodded, "It was nice having all the kids here…with us…." He added, standing up straight again, looking into his wife's face.

But Lily turned away. Old age bought tears on so easily for her now…. she cried at the drop of a hat…. she cried especially, when Rick mentioned…. children.

"Lil?" he spoke softly, reaching out and smoothing her cheek with his rough, but warm hand.

She quickly swiped away fresh tears, and looked him in the eye with a forced smile that let him know she was ok…. but she wasn't.

"I know" was all he murmured, and she was glad that no words needed to be passed between them…he knew….and that alone made it easier.

LILY we tried….once the kids had packed up and left…the house was empty…which wasn't such a bad thing…because we could be together, and we love that. But it just felt right (sad laugh)….it felt right, probably because we both wanted it so badly.

RICK it seemed so easy to decide to have another child….we didn't even really need to talk about it….we just exchanged this look….and we both knew, instantly, what the other wanted. (sighs)…

"I'm ok" Lily murmured, reaching out and squeezing his hand, "lets not talk about it…not when Jessie's day is so close…." She murmured, and brought her lips close to his, kissing them quickly and softly.

"Soon!" Rick comforted, and Lily nodded, unsure, but she still nodded as though Rick was right. "Soon…" she repeated, and took his hand, "that's enough work for tonight…." she said, leading him into the house.

RICK (gets up off seat and walks out of shot)

LILY AND RICK (Rick walks in, taking a seat beside Lily…reaching out and taking her hand, they sit together, looking at one another…) soon (they both say, quietly)….


Grace unlocked the door, and stepped inside the hotel room. It was black, no light on, only the beam coming from the t.v screen as re-runs of the Brady Bunch played.

Eli was lying on the bed, half asleep, half enthralled in the Brady Bunch storyline….Marcia had just been hit with the football….it was a good episode….

"Hey" Grace said, peeling her brown jacket off and throwing it onto the bed.

"How was dinner at you're dads?" Eli asked, not looking away from the t.v

"Fine….Tiffany burnt the meat….Domonique splashed some ketchup on me…"

Eli looked over at Grace; she had a red stain on her turquoise top.

"But Zoe seemed happy to have a room to herself…." She added, sitting down on the edge of her bed.

Eli nodded, turning back to the television.

"How was you're mum's?" she asked.

"Kerri and Michelle had a fight over the computer….there was a lot of screaming and stomping…." He said, simply.

"You're cousins?" Grace asked, and Eli nodded.

They sat in silence for a moment, the cued applause on the t.v filling the hotel room.

"Surf and Turf tomorrow night?" Eli asked, turning to her, and Grace nodded in agreement, "sounds good…." She said.

And they sat for another moment.

"Marica!" Carol called out on the t.v, "its time for school". Marcia came sulking down the stairs with a bandage on her nose and her arms crossed, the audience was cued to laugh again, and their noise filled the room.

"Well…. I'm going to have a shower…." Grace announced, standing up. She had never been a big Brady Bunch fan…. and Marcia was her least-favourite character. She liked Jan.

Eli watched as she walked into the bathroom, she was clearly bored with her mundane evening, and he wondered what sorts of things she'd do on campus…. what her evenings were like…. parties, drinking, music…. guys?

He creased his brow and tried to concentrate on the storyline…but his mind drifted again….

That Carol girl had called him a stick-in-the-mud, is that how Grace had described him to her friend? A boring, sensible shoe-wearing, stick-in-the-mud? Probably!

He hadn't told Grace about the phone call…. he wanted to mention it subtly, at the right time…. or wait for her to get in contact with Carol, and let the embarrassment sink in!

Or maybe he could prove her wrong….take her for a night out on the town….show her a really good time…..get some drinks at a nice bar…..listen to some music…..that'd prove that he wasn't a stick-in-the-mud!

He suddenly found that he was asking himself; 'what would the old Eli have done?'…

Well…the old Eli…the Eli who wore torn jeans, dirty sneakers and had spiked dyed hair would have taken her to a new club where a hot band was playing some loud music…would have bought her a few drinks….danced with her….or watched while she danced…..the old Eli would have shown her a good time.

The bathroom door opened and Grace came out, wet hair, wearing green pyjamas. She gave him a small smile, as she opened the closet and put her clothes away.

ELI the old Eli would have shown her a good time….

He debated whether or not he should order her to get dressed, take her by the hand, run out the door, get in his car and go cruising for a good club…..find one with some loud rock band playing, step inside and find a quiet booth somewhere, order some drinks…talk and dance the night away? That's what the old Eli would have done!

Grace turned around, towel-drying her hair as she watched the t.v.

Then she ducked back into the bathroom, and Eli could hear as the blow dryer was going for a minute or so. When she came out, her hair was dry and straight.

"Well….I guess I'll get off to sleep then…" she said, in a lifeless tone.

Eli nodded, still debating whether or not they should go out.

She untucked the covers and hoped in, rolling this way and that for a moment, trying to get comfortable, but eventually closing her eyes, blocking out Marcia's annoying, whiney voice.

Eli sat up, "you want to go out?" he suddenly asked, with a small, brave smile on his face.

He looked over at Grace's sleeping body, and sighed, the smile gone now…..

"Never mind!" he said, and picked the remote up, flipping through the channels….

ELI the old Eli would be dancing the night away right now….I guess….the old Eli doesn't exist anymore…..


Eli got a business call on his cell at around 3:00 in the morning….he hadn't been kidding when he'd said he was a heavy sleeper…..Grace had to get out of bed, walk over to his side, and shake him quiet furiously before he even batted an eyelid.

"Eli!" she grunted, shaking him, "Wake up! Phone!"

"Hmmmmm?" he murmured, rolling over.

"Phone!" she said, angrily.

"Isabelle?" he mumbled, and Grace stopped shaking him.

She stood, in slight shock for a moment….but then the phone's tenacious ringing continued, so she took it upon herself to answer it.

Rifling through Eli's bag; shoving aside jocks, jumpers, shoes and pants….the neon glow of the surf and turf was still, for some reason, shining into their room, and it helped her find the little black mobile phone.

She held it to her ear, "hello?" she asked, groggily.

"Well hello! And who may this be?" a woman's voice asked.

It took Grace a moment to collect herself, "pardon? Who is this? This is Eli's mobile….." she stammered, and then yawned.

The woman cleared her throat, "ahem…. is Mr. Eli Sammler there, please young lady?"

Young lady? Grace already didn't like this female, "yeah….sure…." she mumbled, stumbling over to his bed.

"I hope you realize its 3:00 in the morning!" Grace said, bitterly….and then yawned again.

The women didn't say anything; she remained silent, waiting for Eli.

"Eli!" Grace said, shaking him again.

"Hmmmm?" he murmured, still in a deep sleep.

Grace yanked his blanket off, and hit him, lightly in the arm; "Eli!" she said, more aggressively.

"What!" he said….finally! signs of life!

"Phone….woman….wants to talk to you….sounds mean!" Grace muttered, shoving the phone in his face.

"Huh?" he said again, taking the phone from her, and slowly brining it to his ear.

"Hello?" Monica said.

"Mon….Monica?" Eli asked, yawning.

"Well hello Eli! That young lady was a fire-cracker!"

"What? What young…..oh! You mean Grace?"

"Grace….hmmm….haven't heard you mention a Grace before….."

By now, Grace was back in bed, snuggled beneath the covers….but still half listening to the conversation Eli was having.

"She's my…." Eli started to explain, when he realized what the time must be, "why the hell are you calling me at…" he looked over at the clock, "3:05?" he asked, angry.

Monica gave a small laugh, "I'm a night owl….forgive me!"

He sighed, then yawned, suddenly cautious of the sleeping Grace; "what do you want, Monica?" he whispered.

"I want to know how things are going with you…what ya up to?"

"Are you serious…. because if you are…. I am not happy!"

Monica sighed angrily; "don't leave me in the goddam dark, Eli! I am apart of this business aswell!"

"What are you talking about?"

ELI crazy…. crazy woman!

"I mean….somebody informed me that both owners of Booklovers….the original booklovers….live somewhere quite close to where you flew off to….infact…. I heard they live practically down the street!"

Eli sighed….she really was a stupid one!

"Of course they do, Monica! They are apart of my….step-family…" Eli said, not quite knowing what Judy and Jake's official names were, in relation to him.

Monica sighed again, "So who was the girl?"

"What!"

"Macy….."

"Grace!"

"Who is she?" Monica demanded.

"What the hell?" Eli muttered (was Monica actually jealous?)

"Who is she?"

"She is my…." Eli deliberated whether or not he should call Grace his ex, to fuel Monica's sudden jealous streak, or put her to rest and say she's his stepsister.

"She's my ex!"

"Ex? Ex what?"

"Ex….girlfriend….my ex-girlfriend!"

In the other bed, Grace's eyes widened; what the hell was he talking to this woman about!

"Are you…." Monica started, but Eli cut her off.

"Goodnight Monica….and don't call me again!" and he hung up, put his phone on the night stand, and lay down again, closing his eyes.


"In the arms of an angel fly away from here… from this dark cold hotel room and the endlessness that you fear… you are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie… you're in the arms of the angel may you find some comfort there…"

Eli rolled over at the sound of a soft, delicate voice coming from the bathroom; a small smile crept across his lips as he secretly listened to Grace.

The bathroom door opened, and she stepped out, wearing jeans, and a towel wrapped around her top half.

"Morning" Eli murmured.

Grace jumped…and almost let go of the towel….she looked over at Eli, blushing.

"Morning!" she smiled, and rummaged through her suitcase, pulling out a yellow shirt.

"Nice singing…." He commented, sitting up and running a hand through his tousled hair.

She blushed redness, "thanks…." She said, warily.

"I didn't know you could…." He said, and Grace looked over at him questioningly.

"Sing that is… I didn't know you could sing…."

"Oh!" Grace said, with a nod, "well Carol is in the choir….she dragged me along to a few rehearsals…."

ELI Carol! The one that called me a stick-in-the-mud!

"Carol?" Eli asked, scratching his head.

"U-huh" Grace replied, looking for a black belt, "she's my room-mate….and best friend…."

"Oh! That's why that name is familiar!" Eli said, and Grace looked to him.

"She called you're private line…. I answered….and she said to ask you to call her….a-s-a-p!"

Grace nodded and bit her bottom lip, "Oh….thanks….for telling me…."

"Anytime!" Eli said, mischievously.

And smiled to himself once Grace ducked back into the bathroom.


Grace didn't even get a chance to step inside her house, when the door opened and Jessie practically came bolting out, her face flustered, panting slightly.

"Oh Grace!" she said, outstretching a hand and squeezing Grace's, "Thank god you are here!" she sighed, relieved and breathless.

"What's wrong?" Grace asked, not really too panicked by Jessie's anxious state.

"Oh!" Jessie sighed, dragging Grace onto the porch, over to the swing seat, and plopping herself down.

Grace took a seat next to her, and managed to get her hand back from Jessie's tense clasp; "it's just the relatives!" Jessie sighed, and brought a hand to her forehead, rubbing it the same way Grace's father does when he's doing his tax returns.

"What about the relatives?" Grace asked….trying to sound concerned…although she was really too tired and grumpy to have any real concern….and, truth be told, she was a little angry that she was kicked out of her own home!

"OH! Its as though they didn't know I was marrying Katie…a girl….well, they knew….I just suppose it's a shock for them to see us kiss and hug and those sorts of things….." Jessie sighed, cringing slightly.

"What!" Grace asked, trying to justify Jessie's ramblings.

Jessie sighed impatiently, "Well, Aunt Susie came into the kitchen last night, and saw Katie and I kissing…." Jessie started, sighing and rubbing her brow again, "and ever since then she's been casually mentioning how she's worried about her friend in Alabama and she thinks she should fly back to look after her…"

Grace nodded, trying hard to concentrate on Jessie's problem….but finding that she was just too utterly tired….and all she could do was muster up some cheesy, comforting words. "Well Jess….I'm sure its nothing personal….some people just aren't all that open minded…but I'm certain that in the end she'll remember why she came here in the first place and stay to see her niece happily wed….."

But Jessie didn't really seem to buy Grace's helpful words….instead she just nodded, slowly, looking down at her hands, brow creased….thinking hard about what Grace had just said.

JESSIE what if it all doesn't work out? What if being together and getting married are just two different concepts and we cant make the marriage work like we made out relationship work…what if Katie turns around one day and decides she doesn't want to be married to me anymore!

Grace waited for Jessie to say something….but she just sat there…nodding, looking at her hands, frowning….and suddenly Grace got very sick of it all and stood up.

"I need to speak to Carol!" she announced, heading inside, knowing that Jessie probably hadn't heard her and probably didn't care….she just sat there…nodding, rubbing her forehead…and Grace was just too tired for it all!

GRACE Eli's stupid mobile….stupid mean lady….stupid neon light! Stupid Aunt Susie!

In her room, boxes piled high in the corners of the room, her bed, which Aunt Susie had taken up, was unmade and her suitcases were lying at the foot of the bed, underwear and clothes strewn across them.

She dialled hew dorm number and fell back onto the bed, not caring that it was unmade and tangled.

"Hello?"

"Carol!" Grace beamed, relieving a smile across her lips.

"Grace!" Carol exclaimed loudly, and then hushed herself; "err….what's wrong? You ok? How are ya? What's happening?" she sounded….awkward…

Grace frowned, "what do you mean 'what's wrong'?…" she asked, and then smiled, "I'm just calling my best friend in the whole entire world to see how she is!" she added, and heard Carol sigh with relief; Eli obviously hadn't mentioned anything!

"I'm sorry I didn't call and tell you about my moving in with my dad…. you wouldn't believe what's happened…." Grace said, and didn't wait for Caro to guess; "Zoe and I were sharing a room at my dads…which we both hated….Eli got kicked out for the same reason as me….relatives needing a place to stay….so we….Eli and I… are both sharing a motel room!"

There was a silence on the other end that Grace didn't expect. She thought Carol was screech, then badger Grace for all the goss….but there was nothing….and Grace was slightly concerned.

"What's wrong!" She asked softly….thinking perhaps Carol had some bad news for her that she had wanted to share before Grace rudely burst in with this flimsy story about her and Eli sharing a room….but in reality, Carol was thinking to herself that if Grace and Eli were sharing a room….Eli was bound to tell her sooner or later, about their phone conversation…and it's probably be better if Grace heard it from her first….

"Oh….Grace…." Carol moaned, and then sighed, and then moaned again.

Grace sat up, her jaw dropped, panic slowly setting in; she had never heard her friend so…upset and exhausted before….

"What! What's happened!" Grace asked, trying to concentrate on her breathing.

Carol sighed again, and Grace thought to herself how annoyed she was with everyone sighing and being just plain 'high strung' lately….she thought how she much preferred coming home when there wasn't a wedding on which involved wedding planning….she liked coming home just be with her family and have fun and try and be young for a little while….

"Grace….I am so….so sorry!" Carol spoke with such sincerity and concern….Grace just knew that whatever she had done…it was very serious….

"What?…." Grace asked, slowly, preparing herself.

"Well…" Carol started, and went on to explain the entire fiasco; which really wasn't so bad, when you think about it….but still….Grace seemed upset.

GRACE (holds head in hands) why me? Why me?