Kelly Cramer checked her curly blonde hair in the mirror- perfect as usual. She walked down the stairs of her Aunt Dorian's house, and into the living room. Perhaps a martini she thought, before heading to the bar to make herself a drink.
Ding Dong. Kelly strode purposefully towards the door and swung it open.
"Joey!" she cried, enveloping her brother in law in a hug. "I didn't know you were coming." Joey allowed her to hug him, but remained stiff, before gently pushing past her into the living room.
"Martini?" Kelly asked, following him.
"Scotch," he replied brusquely.
"When did you get in?" she asked, pouring his drink.
"We got in yesterday."
"We?" she asked. "Did Clint come too?" Joey nodded. "Joey, what's wrong?" Kelly asked. "Why are you being so distant?"
"I hear Natalie paid you a visit," Joey stated, nursing his drink, and ignoring her question.
"Oh yes," Kelly whimpered. "She was horrid. She was awful and crazy with hate!"
"I think she was right." His statement hung between them for a few seconds, whilst Kelly collected herself.
"What?" she asked, flabbergasted still. Joey stared at her for a few seconds.
"Who are you?" he asked, finally, as if seeing her for the first time. "Where is the girl I used to know? Who is this lying, sniveling bitch?"
"I am not a liar or a bitch, Joey," Kelly declared. "How dare you say that to me."
"The Kelly I knew would never steal a baby."
"I didn't steal him! Paul did!"
"Then the Kelly I knew would never keep a stolen baby then," Joey roared. "She would never hide her son's death from his father. She would never tell him Todd Manning was the real father-"
"I did all that for Kevin!" Kelly cried. Joey looked at her incredulously.
"Do you actually believe the crap you spew?" he asked. They were quiet for a minute. "Maybe you are her."
"What?"
"The Kelly I knew never would have slept with her husband's brother," Joey explained. "Maybe you were never the Kelly I knew."
"You said Kevin and me were perfect for each other," she spat at him. "Last time you were here, you said that. You were over it."
Joey shook his head in disbelief. "Grow up, Kelly," he fumed. "I will never be over it. I was trying to make it less awkward, but I will always hate you for what you did!"
"And Kevin? Will you hate him?"
Joey looked at her silently. He shrugged. "He's my brother."
"And what am I?" Kelly asked.
Joey looked a little lost. His eyes clouded over. "Nothing." He drained his scotch, put it on the table, and brushed past her. Kelly stared after him, dumbfounded.
--------------------------------
Evangeline Williamson unlocked the door to her apartment, and threw her briefcase on the couch.
"Long day?"
She turned abruptly, and then breathed a sigh of relief.
"John," she whispered. "You scared me."
"Sorry," he apologized. "You told me to meet you here."
"Yes I did," she smiled, drawing him closer for a kiss.
"So what was so terrible?"
"RJ," Evangeline told him, rolling her eyes.
"What'd that creep do this time?" John asked, jaw clenched.
"Hire me," Evangeline answered him simply.
"What? For what?"
"Jamie's custody case," Evangeline answered, putting her coat away.
"Against Antonio," John said accusingly.
"For Jamie," Evangeline corrected him. John walked away from her. "John?"
"I can't believe you," he said. "Antonio's our friend."
"RJ's a good grandfather," Evangeline told him. "She makes him a good person."
"Doesn't mean he deserves her," John retorted. "Why you?"
"Why not me?"
"After all he did to you? Stalking you?"
Evangeline sighed, and sat down. "I've thought about this a lot John. RJ did have reason to suspect I cheated, because I had. I was wrong. I shouldn't have slept with you until after I had broken up with RJ. This is a way for me to make things right."
"Screwing Antonio is not the answer," John retorted.
"I'm not backing away from this case," she shot back. John shook his head.
"I have to go," he told her coldly. He walked out. Evangeline sighed, and buried her face in her hands.
------------------------
"Hey there beautiful," Cris said, kissing Nat hello. She smiled back. This was a nice surprise in the middle of a boring work shift, she supposed.
"Hey," she replied. "How was your day?"
"Okay. I saw Jess."
"Did you?" Nat asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Yeah." He frowned.
"Baby, what's wrong?" Nat asked, placing her hand on top of his. All she felt was coldness. She had to force herself to keep it there.
"Antonio," Cris replied.
"Oh yeah," Nat replied. "I heard."
"John McBain is such a creep," Cris fumed. Nat was startled to hear John's name.
"Wait, what?" she asked, confused.
"Antonio is friends with that dirt bag. Why, what were you talking about?"
"Jamie's custody case," Nat replied. "RJ's suing for custody."
"What? We have to help him."
"No, we don't," Nat retorted.
"He's my brother."
"And he hurts my sister, like, all the time," Nat told Cris. "And by the way, John's not a dirt bag. He's saved my life."
"Yeah, and he's killed me," Cris yelled at her.
"No, that was the Santis," she told him. "We know that now. It was Antonio's family, not John."
"So it was Antonio's fault?"
"No, I'm not sayin-"
"I can't believe you Natalie."
"Look Cris, I'm working. I can't fight now," she whispered tersely.
"Fine," Cris fumed. "Should I wait up?"
"I don't care," she snapped. Cris stormed out. Nat sighed, and started wiping down the bar. Rodi's was almost empty. She reached down to pick up a stray bottle cap. A shadow fell upon her- someone was at the bar. She looked up, flipping her hair behind her shoulder.
"Buy you a beer?"
"Oh yeah," Nat replied, as she placed two beers on the counter, one in front of her, the other in front of John. They drank in silence, each trying to drown their misery.