Jessica Buchanan caught a glimpse of herself in the window, walking into the diner she had been familiar with for so many years. She looked perfect. She had had a hard morning at the office, avoiding questions about the Ace-napping, and just wanted some good old-fashioned diner food. Hopefully, Cris would be there. Hopefully, Antonio wouldn't. "Did I really just think that?" she asked herself. She tried to shake the thought from her head.
"Jessica," Carlotta cried, "how are you?" She stopped wiping the counter to talk to the blonde girl.
"Fine thanks. And you?"
"Fantastic," Carlotta told her. "I'm watching my favorite grand-daughter today."
"So Antonio's not around?" Jess asked, trying to keep the relief out of her voice.
"No dear, I'm sorry," Carlotta said. "Were you looking for him?"
"No actually," Jess informed her, sitting at the counter. "Just a roast beef sandwich and your other son."
"Coming right up," Carlotta told her, retreating to the kitchen. Jess drummed her fingers on the countertop. She didn't even know what she was going to say. How ridiculous was that? This was Cristian.
"Hey Jessica," Cris said, exiting the kitchen, and handing her the steaming hot plate. "You wanted to see me?"
"Yeah."
"What's up?"
"Nothing really," she replied, pausing to take a bite. "Just, you've been back for a couple of weeks now, and we really haven't talked. I mean we used to be-"
"Friends, yeah," Cris finished for her.
"Well I hope we were more than that," Jess replied, a little confused.
"We're family," Cris agreed. "You're my sister."
"Well when we lost you, it was hard," Jess said slowly.
"It must've been," Cris commiserated. "You had to help Natalie and Antonio. But you and he, you're perfect for eachother."
"Ya think?" Jess asked, her nose crinkling.
"Much better than Will," Cris snorted.
"What?"
'Well I mean, Will was a good guy and all-"
"What?" Jess asked sharply. "Since when do you like Will?" She thought he looked panicked for a second there, but when she looked again it was gone. She shrugged it off. Had she been imagining it?
"None of that matters anymore. What happened with Will."
"It'll always matter to me," Jess said quietly. "Megan was- It doesn't matter. Megan was a mistake, and losing her was the price I paid for what I did."
"I guess," Cris said. Jess looked at him. She knew Cristian would never say that to her.
"Well, I think you and Natalie are perfect for eachother," she told him, trying to change the subject. "Your wedding was perfect. Much better than your first."
"Yeah what a trainwreck," Cris agreed.
"What a bitch," Jess continued.
"Yes, Jen was," Cris stated.
"What?"
"What?"
"You said Jen," Jess told him.
"I did?"
"Your first wife was Roseanne."
"I know," Cris said. "But they were so similar.
"Yeah," Jess said uncertainly. "Cris I gotta go. Give your mom my goodbyes." She left the diner quickly. Something was definitely wrong.
"What can I get ya?" Nat asked, looking up from the bar.
"Beer," Antonio replied.
"What's wrong?" Nat asked.
"RJ."
"What'd he do?"
"He's suing for custody of Jamie," Antonio huffed.
"Really?"
"Yes," Antonio seethed. "As if I were a bad father. He's a criminal."
"Reformed criminal," Nat reminded him.
"Yeah right," Antonio snarked. "Jamie belongs with me."
"Look Antonio-" Nat cut herself off.
"What?"
"Nothing," she said too quickly.
"Tell me!" His face was very close to hers. She stepped back.
"You left Jamie in RJ's hands. He proved himself capable. But that's besides my point. You don't trust RJ, but you gave him your daughter, the thing you should cherish above all else. Instead of giving her to Carlotta. Instead of sucking it up, and dealing with your issues. You didn't trust yourself. Why should RJ trust you with his grand-daughter?"
"What is your problem Natalie?" he huffed.
"You!" she cried. "You treat my sister like crap, you treat your daughter like crap, and I am sick of it. Everyone treats you like this great hero, but you have such anger issues. It's preposterous. Jessica deserves someone wonderful, not someone who has abused her like you have."
"I am not an abuser," Antonio yelled, flinging his beer across the counter, sending it crashing to the ground.
Nat raised her eyebrows and smirked. "Yeah, right."
"Thanks for coming, Evangeline," RJ said warmly, holding out her seat at Capricorn for her.
"What can I say RJ, I was intrigued by your call."
"Let's get down to business," RJ told her. "I filed for custody of Jamie. But you are a better lawyer than my current ones. So I want your help."
"Why should I help you?" Evangeline asked. "Antonio's my friend."
"Wasn't Kevin Buchanan your friend when you took on Kelly's case in their custody trial?" RJ asked.
"Insulting me won't help your case, RJ," Evangeline said.
"Listen, Evangeline, you're not a lawyer for the ethics of it. You're in it for the challenge and the money. If you can defend criminals and monsters like Mitch Laurence, then you can help much less shady characters like myself get custody of their grandchild. I love Jamie. I have always provided for her. You know that. Antonio has been neglectful lately. He has anger issues. You may be his friend, but you know that as well." He looked at her, and then added, "I'd pay extremely well."
"I'd make you," she retorted.
"Is that a yes?"
"Answer this: are you doing this for Jamie or to screw Antonio over?"
"Jamie," RJ replied quickly. "Well maybe a little for Antonio."
"Good answer," Evangeline told him. "I never take on a client who lies to me." She stuck out her hand. RJ shook it heartily.