Laws of Motion – Book 1
Written by: Ms Maggs / Edited by: KJT
Chapter 26
September 2, 2005
Celine's House
3:45 p.m.
"This isn't a house," Wendy remarked upon driving up to the guard gate. "It's a compound. Sean, what do Celine's parents do for a living?"
Eyeing the palatial home Sean replied, "She said her dad owns a casino and some hotels and her stepmom is a retired dancer."
Rolling down the window to speak to the approaching guard, Wendy thought…I'm dropping my kid off a mobster's house.
"Hello, ma'am." The guard couldn't ever recall seeing a mini-van pull up. "Mrs. Blake and Sean, I presume. Miss Celine informed me you'd be arriving."
"Yes." She nodded. "Sean is tutoring Celine."
Tipping his hat, he buzzed open the gate. "Straight up the drive."
"Thank you." While she pulled through Wendy glanced around looking for signs of armed guards patrolling the grounds and vicious hounds. "Son…if I don't get a responsible vibe from Celine's stepmom I'm going to say…'oh, no! I forgot we have company coming' and that will mean you can't stay. Got it?"
"Okay, Mom." Anxious to have a study session with a friend for the first time ever, he hopped out of the car and trotted up the nine stairs to the ornate glass double doors.
Only seconds later, Celine enthusiastically greeted her visitors. "Hi! Are you ready to study!"
"Is your stepmom around, Sweetie?" Wendy calmly asked while bouncing Ashley and peering into the museum-quality home.
"Here she comes now!"
Wearing her most conservative animal print dress, Brandi Campbell stepped outside and did as Celine had begged her to do…pretend to be normal and nice. "Hello, Mrs. Blake. It's so lovely to meet you. I'm Brandi."
Yep, she's a barely legal ex-stripper, just like I imagined. Okay, but so is Tawny and she's a wonderful girl and was an excellent babysitter. I don't want to be judgmental. My paranoia is based on my own loose teen years, and I really doubt Celine is interested in Sean for more than tutoring. "Nice to meet you, I'm Wendy."
"I know what you're thinking," Brandi said with a smile.
Wendy sincerely hoped she didn't.
"I look very young for my age…but don't worry, I just turned twenty-two and your son will be safe here. My husband is very protective of Princess Celine." She pulled her annoying step daughter close and feigned affection. "I'll have an eye on them at all times."
Wendy asked her standard question. "Will they have access to alcohol, prescription drugs or firearms?"
Brandi lied well, "All that stuff is locked up tight and my husband detests guns and violence."
"Okay, then…uh…" Wendy clutched Ashley tighter and turned to Sean. "Call me when you need to be picked up, Honey."
"Thanks, Mom." He remembered to play it cool and not give her an instinctual hug and kiss. "Bye!"
"Let's go make S'mores, kids!" Brandi announced with the verve of a first-year Girl Scout Leader. "I have both milk and dark chocolate.
Following his friend, Sean entered the lavish home excited about having S'mores and talking Chemistry.
Once the door was shut, Brandi bitched at Celine, "I'll be with my friends by the pool, so don't even think about using it! You owe me big so don't piss me off." With that she sashayed down the hall. "I don't want to see or hear you!"
"Yes, Mommy Dearest," Celine snarled while taking Sean's hand. "Come on…my bedroom is upstairs."
"Uh…your…." Sean felt his whole body tense. "You know…oh no! I think my mom forgot we have company coming." Slipping out of her grip he hurried to the front door and swung it open. "Oh…she's gone."
"What are you afraid of Sean?" she teased while posing on the stairs.
"I'm not supposed to be with a girl in her bed…I mean bedroom." He gulped. "And to study Chemistry properly you shouldn't be in a bedroom…because you need a table…and chairs…definitely not a bed. I've never been in a girl's room even…except my sisters' rooms."
"Trust me…I'm not going to let you touch me," she laughed while clamping her hand around his wrist. "Let's get busy."
University Trauma Center
3:55 p.m.
Snuggled up in bed with Nick watching Dodgeball, the movie he had requested the previous day, Carrie was bursting at the seams trying not to laugh.
Staring down his fiancée Nick goaded, "Admit it, you were dying to laugh at the scene just now."
"No, I wasn't." Taking a deep breath she denied the accusation. "I stand by my original thoughts on this film. It's low-brow locker room 'humor' and…" Her thought was interrupted by an uncontrollable belly laugh sparked by a hilarious movie moment. "Dammit!"
"Busted! I can't believe a guy getting whapped in the head with a wrench did you in, Miss High-Brow. That's laundry for a month you owe me, Darlin'."
"That's a very small price to pay for your smile." Carrie burrowed closer, relieved to see her tense man relaxing a bit. "And I didn't want you washing my clothes anyway because you'll intentionally shrink them."
"Oh yeah…especially your jeans." After another laugh Nick commented, "I think I finally know what it's like to be Greg."
"Huh?"
In a bewildered tone he explained, "I woke up lonely for a woman…then I was thrilled you showed up and kissed me. When you told me about…her, I plummeted to emotional rock bottom in a matter of minutes. Two hours later, planning the crisis center with you and Ron, I was on top of the world again. Then you broke the news about the arrest and I was emotionally all over the place. Now I'm snuggling with you and cracking up at a ridiculous movie. Up, down, up, down, sideways…all in half a day and I really have no idea how I'll feel an hour from now." He smiled, "I'm officially manic and out of control…I'm Greg, and for a control freak, it's a completely unnerving state."
"Are you craving hair gel and loud clothes?" she joked to keep the mood light.
"Now that you mention it…I do feel too conservatively dressed in a gray undershirt and navy pajama bottoms." He glanced over at the suitcase she had brought. "Suddenly, I want to wear a purple t-shirt with a stupid saying on it."
"Hey!" Carrie chuckled. "If you've really turned into Greg you should be able to sing. Belt something out and test the theory." One line into the tune she covered her ears. "No…you still can't sing."
"We've only heard Greggo sing when he's drunk," he stated. "Maybe I need to get tanked."
Wildfire Country Club
4:01 p.m.
Shaking his head, Greg watched his father walking towards him in the bar. "How much wine has Mom swallowed, Dad?" She had Tawny by the hand, boisterously introducing her to everyone.
"We've been here for over two hours, Son…what does that tell you?" Scott winked and slapped his boy on the back. "So, how was fooling around in your room with a girl? Was it everything you always thought it would be?"
"Better," he replied without hesitation. "And you'll be happy to know I was a very responsible teen and used a condom."
"Hmm…your mother told me you planned on stopping at second base."
"How wrong does that sound?" Greg laughed.
When he saw Becca enter the bar on Charlie's arm, Scott waved. "Hi, Sweetheart. Did my son have a chance to introduce you to the girl who captured his heart?"
"Yes." She forced a saccharine smile. "She's…" Irritatingly gorgeous and in my way of a good time. "…nice."
"Hey, Dr. Sanders," Charlie greeted, "Check out the chompers." He flashed his trademark Hollywood smile. "You really saved the day last month. If I get that starring role I auditioned for yesterday…you can be damn sure I'll be thanking you when I accept my Oscar."
"Deal." Scott shook Charlie's extended hand. "Going forward, keep your face out of the way of baseballs, and any other flying objects." Then he turned to Becca. "So, you think Tawny is nice?"
Charlie gently shoved his cohort. "What are you talking about, Becca? Nice? That girl is the catch of a lifetime. How did you reel her in, Greg?"
Keeping to their plan to almost tell the truth, Greg replied, "We met when I was taking a break from processing this nasty crime scene across the street from the restaurant where she was waitressing…The Cheesecake Factory."
"She's a waitress," Becca commented with glee. "Is that a summer gig while she's home from college? Because she does seem a tad on the young side. Where is she going to school? Come on, Hoj…tell us more about this Vegas mystery lady of yours."
"Actually…"
"Scott!" Lydia Atwell hurried over with a glass of Chardonnay in her hand. "When you introduced me to Tawny the other day, you didn't tell me she's Amish!"
"She's Amish!" Both Charlie and Becca yelled in disbelief.
Scott clamped his mouth shut so he wouldn't snip at Greg for going through with the ridiculous ruse.
"Uh…" Greg wondered why Tawny changed her mind when she had assured him only minutes earlier that she didn't want to lie. "She told you about being Amish?"
"No, your mother did. And, from the look on your little sweetheart's face, I fear she's embarrassed that Bev spilled the beans." Lydia turned and took off to listen to more details of Amish life.
"Ah…Mom told her." He nodded while looking at his dad who was thinking the same thing…no more wine for Bev!
Once Charlie caught his breath he said, "Shouldn't she be wearing a little bonnet and black dress instead of that sexy getup?"
"Right!" Laughing, Becca added, "Are you going to tell me they sell Manolo's at the Country Store? And why didn't you arrive in a horse and buggy if…"
"She left the order," Greg calmly explained while cursing the grapes that intoxicated his mother. "Tawny came to Vegas during her Rumspringa and never returned. After seeing movies for the first time, she fell completely in love with them, and for a while she dreamed of going to Hollywood to try her luck at acting." His face lit up when he said, "But then we met and now, those plans are off because my career is in Vegas and she..."
"Totally understandable." Charlie gave Greg a light slap on the back. "Yeah…those low-paying public servant gigs are hard to come by, and I can see why you wouldn't want to relocate to L.A. and have your bombshell girlfriend discovered by rich powerful men who would love to spoil her and show her a good time." He winked. "Just kidding ya, Sanders."
His protective nature kicking in, Scott said, "LVPD would miss Greg too much if he left. Just a couple of weeks ago, with his bare hands, he overpowered and captured a vicious child rapist and murderer. The guy is locked away in a mental hospital with the worst of the worst now thanks to my boy. His boss is nominating him for a 'bravery in the line of duty' award."
"Really?" Becca eyed her man with even stronger desire. "Wow, Hoj."
Scott focused on Charlie, the pompous man-child who believed in self-preservation above all else and chuckled, "I know how much you enjoy a beautiful blonde on your arm, but if you have any thoughts of trying to steal Tawny away from Greg, you better make other plans. When Greg was through with the six foot-three, two hundred and eighty pound psycho killer, the bastard's face was a wreck…permanently disfigured actually."
Becca had to fight the urge not to jump her man in front of the crowd.
"Uh…" Charlie's gaze moved from Mr. Sanders to Greg and back again.
Scott winked. "Using your words…just kidding ya!" Then he clarified, "Not about what Greg did to the psycho killer's face...that's the gory truth, but about you having ideas about putting the moves on Tawny." He tossed his arm around the boy's shoulders. "I know you're a much more respectable man than that. Now, let me buy you a drink because you look a little tense." As he walked him up to the bar Scott whispered, "CSIs go through some really intense physical and firearms training. They also acquire a lot of knowledge…like how to dispose of a body without leaving a stitch of evidence. It's fascinating stuff."
Finally having an opportunity to speak with Becca alone, Greg took her hand and led her to the corner of the room. "I have to ask…what exactly were you hoping to accomplish by telling Tawny I left my boxers at your place?"
"I was making sure your weekend playmate understood that you have someone else in your life…" Stepping closer she placed her palms on his chest and spoke softly. "…someone who isn't willing to go quietly because, I finally know that you're the perfect man for me, Hoj."
"The thing is…" He removed her hands. "…your epiphany came too late…it's not based on true feelings of attraction…and it's a moot point. I'm not the perfect man for you, I'm just the man you can't have and that's frustrating you because I've always been your go-to guy. Now that I've been in a relationship with…"
"You expect me to believe it's a relationship, not a fling?"
"Yes…it's serious."
"It's serious? Give me a break." Leaning against the wall she snipped, "Only a few nights ago you were groaning from having my hand in your pants while you shoved your tongue down my throat and felt me up."
"You know what that was about," he countered, once again feeling ridiculous for taking his point as far as he had. "Here's why Tawny wasn't upset when you told her about the boxers…she's the one who urged me to go see you that night."
"You expect me to believe a woman would send her man into the arms of the woman he lusted after for a decade?" She cracked up at the insane concept. "Now I know she's really Amish. Only a sheltered farm girl could be that naïve."
"She didn't do it because she's naïve," he replied with an edge in his voice. "When we discussed your IM…"
"You showed her my IM!" Livid didn't begin to describe her reaction. "I was baring my soul to you, talking about my divorce, telling you I loved you, and you read it to her! That was supposed to be for your eyes only!"
"We live together…she was at the computer when it came through." He left out the fact that he wasn't.
"You live with her?" The nightmare wouldn't stop unfolding. "In your apartment?"
"No, we have our own place," he proudly clarified. "A townhouse."
"This is insanity." Becca laughed in his face. "You left her at home and came to San Marino to get it on with me?"
"We have a very open and honest relationship. We talked it through and she didn't want me to be with her if there was a chance I was still in love with you. "
"You mean that asinine 'if you set a butterfly free and it comes back, it's yours' crap!" Incensed she snapped, "When you flew back to her did you tell her we were a breath away from making love when you put on the brakes? Or did you lie and tell her we shared one tender kiss in the driveway?"
Lowering his head he admitted, "I never expected to get so pissed off and let things get that carried away. That's why I apologized to you the other day. I didn't go there planning to teach you a lesson. Look…Tawny was right…I had a lot of pent up emotion over you."
"I know you do." Forgetting her animosity, she grabbed his hand. "I felt it that night. You can't fake that kind of passion. You're still in love with me and now I'm in love with you. We're finally in the same place at the same time." Bringing her palm to his cheek she waited for him to look at her. "Come on, Hoj…it's time to let the wrong girl down gently, so you can move ahead with the right one."
"You're right…you're absolutely right." Placing his hand over hers he removed it from his face, holding it tight. "There are so many great things about you Becca…unfortunately you rarely show them to anyone but me. And in spite of the fact that you didn't return my affection all those years, you gave me so much…you made sure I didn't get harassed at school, you taught me how to dance and play golf, you got me into every happening party when I wouldn't have stood a chance in hell on my own, and we shared a hell of a lot of laughs. We had some really great times…" His voice cracked. "…but, we had some really bad times too…actually that was just me, every time you broke my heart."
"Hoj…this is a new start." She assured him with a smile. "That's water under the bridge and I promise to make up for..."
"I'm sorry…" After a deep breath he confidently said, "I'm not in love with you, Becca. I'm in love with Tawny. And now that I know what it really feels like to be in love…I realize I was never in love with you at all…I was infatuated…I was in awe of you…obsessed even…but not in love." Pulling her in for a hug he whispered, "But don't worry, there's someone out there for you…someone much better than me…just like you always thought." After a quick kiss to her cheek he softly said, "I hope that was gentle enough."
From across the room Bev yelled, "Greg! We need you for a family photo over here!"
Swallowing his emotions he pointed. "I have to…"
Pursing her lips she nodded.
As he turned, Greg forced some humor. "Coming, Mother Dear!"
Hidden behind a decorative tree in the corner of the bar, Becca watched him slip into Tawny's arms. "It may have been gentle, but it still hurts like hell."
Jacqueline's Patio Café - Chicago
4:17 p.m.
When Drew held out her chair, Melissa smiled and took a seat. "Thank you."
"What made you pick this place?" he asked, slipping into his chair. "We've never come here before."
She glanced around the cheery outdoor setting. "It's out in the open and full of fresh air…just like our skeletons are now and our marriage needs to be."
"So, I take it you did all your required reading," he commented while sitting back and admiring her beauty as well as her brain.
"You know your mother scares the living hell out of me when she gets serious. I read all six with time to spare." Brushing an errant strand of hair from her face she confessed, "I've only had a couple hours sleep because I was up all night reading…and thinking."
"You wouldn't know it by lookin' at you."
"I need you to stop that," she stated while glancing down and smoothing a white cloth napkin over her lap. "Stop making comments about how I look. This is difficult enough without me being reminded that you're making judgments about my appearance."
"I'm sorry. I thought since it was positive…"
"It's just…"
The waitress interrupted. "Welcome to Jacqueline's. My name is Tori. What can I get you folks to drink?"
Drew looked to his wife. "You up for a nice bottle of wine?"
Tense as hell, she nodded. "Please."
University Trauma Center
4:17 p.m.
"Thank you," Grissom said to the male nurse who pointed him to Nick's door.
Since the door was ajar, Grissom could hear Nick and Carrie laughing hysterically. "May I come in?" he asked, not knowing exactly what was causing the laughter.
Thinking it was hospital personnel, Carrie yelled, "Yes, you may!"
Opening the door fully, Grissom stepped into the room. "I'm sorry it's taken me so long to…uh…"
"Gris!" Embarrassed, Nick scooted up in bed.
"Is this a bad time?" Grissom asked while trying not to stare at the couple dressed in capes, scarves and holding magic wands. "You said it was okay to come in so…and I never thought you'd be role playing when…"
"No…" Nick quickly removed his fake Harry Potter glasses and said, "We were just…"
"Is that a lightening bolt on your forehead?" Grissom stepped closer.
Nick quickly rubbed off the symbol his fiancée had drawn with her eyeliner.
When Carrie finally stopped laughing she explained, "We're watching the first Harry Potter movie. You know…day four cooped up in the hospital…we're getting a little stir crazy. His mom bought these outfits for us as a joke and…this isn't sexual hijinx." She felt compelled to tell the curious guest, "We were trying to be goofy…we asked ourselves what would Greg and Tawny would do to pass the time if they couldn't have sex?"
"Roxie!" Nick covered his face. "I don't know what's worse…you saying out loud that I was trying to be Sanders or you discussing my sex life with Grissom."
Stepping out of bed Carrie removed her cape and Gryffindor scarf. "How about I let the two of you visit while I step out and call Sara to see how she's handling her solo shopping trip?" As a joke she relinquished her magic wand to Grissom. "Careful…it's really powerful."
"Lawyers," he huffed when Carrie left the room. Copping a paternal tone he smiled at the patient and remarked, "Who needs magic when there's science? Right, Nicky?"
Returning the smile Nick agreed, "Damn straight."
Sitting in a guest chair and tossed the wand on the bed. "Sorry I didn't come to check on you sooner. I had Sara fill me in but, I should have made time."
Happy to hear the twinge of regret in his voice Nick grinned, "Hell…someone had to keep up the good work at the lab with Greggo and me sidelined."
"I have a feeling the two of you will return better than ever." Humoring the patient, he added, "Not that you had much room left for improvement, but Greg…"
They shared a laugh and then Nick said, "I'm really glad you stopped by, Gris."
The emotion in Nick's eyes caught Grissom's and out of the blue and genuine guilt for not visiting sooner surfaced. "You look good…bruises are healing. How are you doing on the inside?"
"We just got my latest ultrasound results thirty minutes ago and they were great," he boasted. "My spleen is healing. I definitely get to go home tomorrow." Grinning he added, "I can't wait for some uninterrupted sleep in my own bed. I don't get how you're supposed to rest in the hospital but these people keep coming in here pokin' you every hour."
"I remember that from when I had surgery," he replied without thinking.
"When did you have surgery, Gris?"
"Oh…" After shifting in his chair Grissom deflected, "I had my tonsils out as a kid."
"Ah."
"But, Nicky…when I asked how you were doing on the inside I wasn't referring to your spleen…although I'm glad to know it's healing. How are you coping with everything that happened with your brother?"
"Oh…you're asking me how I feel emotionally?" Nick chuckled. "I'm not used to that. You and I…we don't get up close and personal. Hell...you never even told me your mother's name was the same as mine."
"Yeah…I know. Honestly…I'm feeling incredibly invasive, but my wife is on my case about my people skills, so bear with me." He shrugged and slipped a little lower in the chair. "I've messed up a few times lately…like when I snapped at Carrie over withholding evidence in the middle of her nervous breakdown while you were in the ICU."
"Yeah…I heard all about that from Sara, my sister Barbara, my dad and my mom….they all had something special to say about you on the matter." Watching his mentor squirm Nick grinned, "Carrie though…she felt guilty so, she's not holding a grudge, and I can't pop you over it because I don't do that sort of thing any more." He flashed his rubberband. "It's against my therapist's orders and my fiancée will call off the wedding if I lose my cool again." On a day like today, he couldn't imagine a worse fate than Carrie disappearing. "But to answer your question…we have some family stuff to work out but, don't let the Harry Potter garb fool you…I'm mentally fine…yeah…I'm great…very strong." Fronting, he pointed to the file Grissom was holding. "Let's talk about what you have there."
"Oh." He rolled his eyes. "I'm afraid I started a war and you're a casualty of it." Grimacing, he explained, "You know I've always been at odds with a certain pushy blonde female CSI." Opening the file he pointed to a handwritten note attached to the file and gave him a moment to read it.
Grissom –
Mr. Stokes forgot to sign and date the final report. I'm quite surprised because over the last eighteen months, I've triple checked every report he's written and they have all been error-free and they've also been more detailed than reports from any other LVPD CSI. I was shocked to find this error!
- Sofia Curtis, Unbiased Quality Control Officer
Once Nick was done Grissom continued, "We're in the middle of a pissing contest over who is least biased and I happened to bring up your association with her and wondered, out loud, if during your…whatever it was…she ever cut you some slack or looked the other way."
"Thanks for dragging me into your grudge match." Groaning, Nick took the pen Grissom was extending to sign and date the report. "Now that I know Sofia isn't hoping I'll step out in front of a bus, I guess I let my guard down. For eighteen months I took anal-retentive to an extreme because I knew she was dying to crucify me."
"They say you learn something new every day…here I thought you were a perfectionist." Grissom grabbed the file and laughed, "But, now I know that the hard work that led to your promotion is really due to the fact you were afraid of your 'Ex-whatever she was to you'…and please don't fill in that blank."
Sonny's Cabaret - Vegas
4:25 p.m.
When Tony Mantello, a forty-six year old man with thinning hair but a body a twenty year old would be proud of, walked into the strip joint he took a moment to soak up the atmosphere, particularly the buxom dancers grinding against shiny gold poles throughout the club. After getting his kicks, he returned to work mode and headed for the bar. "Bottle of Bud," he ordered as he pulled out a stool. And when he was sure he had the bartender's eye he slapped a hundred dollar bill on the counter and asked, "Wanna keep the change?"
"Depends on the string attached," Carlos warily replied while wiping his damp hands on a towel.
"I'd like some information."
"Are you a cop?"
"Retired detective…moved here from Brooklyn a few years ago." After taking a swig of the icy brew he said, "Now I offer my services to the private sector."
Carlos gripped the edge of the bar and stared the guy down. "What kind of information?"
Reaching into his jacket pocket Tony produced a photocopy of an engagement notice. "The guy in the picture…I was told he's a patron."
After pocketing the c-note Carlos answered, "That's Slick Nick. Yeah, he used to come in once a week, sometimes twice, but he hasn't been in here for well over a year." Laughing he pointed to the woman he was cuddling in the photo. "She don't look like his type and she definitely don't look like the chicks who come to Sonny's to get tanked and watch the dancers."
Tony raised his longneck and sipped. "He ever do anything illegal when he was in here?"
"Are you kidding?" Tony leaned against the back wall. "He's LVPD. He drank like a fish but always caught a cab. No drugs. Never got bounced. Never started shit with anyone. This is a locals club…he was a local and nobody had a problem with him because he was a fun guy."
Afraid that this was what he'd hear, since he heard the same 'he's a great guy who never caused problems' everywhere else he'd been, Tony polished off his beer and stood. "Thanks for your time."
"Thanks for your money." Carlos smiled. "Hey! Don't you want your picture?" He held it up just as one of their dancers, Tisha, strolled up to the bar complaining and craving a pre-shift cocktail.
"You know I'm strapped for cash when I volunteer to work the five." Glancing at the photo Tisha burst out laughing. "Slick Nick got engaged! I guess that explains why he stopped coming…in here to see me. Hmm…that ain't Sofia in the picture. Looks like he traded in his naughty girl for a priss."
Tony backed up a few paces. "You know Nick Stokes?"
Tisha flicked her rich red hair off her shoulders and copped an attitude. "Yeah, but I don't know you."
When Carlos saw the guy pulling a fifty from his wallet he piped up. "Tisha, Baby…he paid me a hundred so don't take nothin' less."
Tony smirked and forked over two fiftys. "You better know something good."
Stuffing the money in her purse Tisha grinned. "I can tell you he has a birthmark where the sun don't shine and much, much more." Taking a seat at the bar she tossed her purse on the counter. "Buy me a cocktail, Handsome, and we'll gossip."
Wildfire Country Club
4:30 p.m.
On the club's East patio, which overlooked the tennis courts, everyone was in high spirits as the champagne flowed…everyone except Becca, though she was faking it well, even going so far as to buy a few bottles of bubbly to fuel the celebration.
Tawny and Greg sat happily together at a table with his parents as well as Robbie and Joyce, who were sans baby courtesy of doting grandparents. At the next table were Lydia Atwell and her husband Richard; Drake Evans, Scott's best friend; and then a dangerous trio…Charlie, Brian and Becca.
Having accepted the loss of her Hoj, Becca was determined to move on…with her plan to eliminate Tawny from the picture and win back her man. Of course Greg was in love with the girl she mused, while watching them together…she was beautiful and charming but most of all…she showered him with attention and affection, thrilling him and making him feel like a million bucks. But as far as being long-term marriage material, Becca knew the uneducated gold digging farm girl was woefully inappropriate to be Mrs. Gregory Hojem Sanders. Becca knew that eventually he would realize that. However, since she didn't have time to wait for him to get sick of boinking the vapid blonde, she sought to expedite his epiphany.
Laughing to herself, Becca was certain the poser didn't even know that Greg was pitifully one of the only guys at the club without a trust fund. It wasn't that his family was without the means. On the contrary, while it was true that Scott was from a blue-collar family and had gone to school on scholarship and loans while working part-time jobs, Bev's father had struck it rich in the market. But the controlling woman kept all of her father's riches locked away because if Greggy had some of it in his own account, he wouldn't need his mommy to play savior. "Tell me about this townhouse you bought, Hoj," she sweetly asked, moving her chair next to him. "I'm so happy for you that you finally got out of your apartment."
"We're only renting it," he corrected. Taking Tawny's hand he gave it a squeeze. "But we have plans for something else in the future."
Drake Evans raised his glass of merlot and remarked, "The market in Vegas is through the roof. Too bad you didn't buy ten years ago."
Becca gave a giggle. "Ten years ago Hoj and I were at Stanford and settling down was the last thing on his mind. He had big plans back then like when…"
"He still does," Tawny interjected. "As a matter of fact, he just had his first article published." Leaning over she pecked his cheek. "I'm really proud of him. The journal's publisher is already hounding him for more material and corporate headhunters are calling left and right to offer him positions…" Snuggling up to her man she boasted, "But he's right where he needs to be…helping make the world a safer place and bringing criminals to justice. I love him for that."
As Tawny waxed on about Greg's crime solving ability and Greg sat there basking in her adoration, Becca entertained thoughts of committing a crime or two of her own. "Tawny, Honey…we hear about Hoj all the time from Bev." Ad nauseum! "But what we really want to do is get to know you. It's obvious that you and Hoj are serious and therefore we'll be seeing you around for years to come." Fat chance! If I have my way you'll be running from the party tonight like Cinderella at the stroke of midnight. "Tell us about school life on the farm. Is it true that the Amish attend school in those tiny little houses and only until the eighth grade?"
Robbie Schwartz grabbed his wife's hand under the table and squeezed. He knew exactly what Becca was doing and it took all his strength not to scream because he had watched her manipulate Greg countless times in the past and enough was enough.
"It's true!" Tawny answered in a cheery tone. "We focus on the basics very intensely."
Becca looked over at Greg. "What a wild combination…a Phi Betta Kappa with a Masters and a girl with an eighth grade education."
Joyce Schwartz could no longer bite her tongue. "After spending time with Tawny I can assure you that her lack of an Ivy League education doesn't diminish her ability to hold an intellectual conversation. One of the reasons Tawny didn't return to the Amish culture was her desire to further her education. First she earned her GED and now she's in community college making fantastic marks. In her spare time she immerses herself in all sorts of learning experiences. Since I graduated from Princeton Summa Cum Laude, I think if I can say I never felt for a moment that Tawny was my intellectual inferior, it's safe to say…she's not yours." Her jaw clenched as she barked at Becca, "While she's damn pretty, she's also pretty damn smart." Then she picked up her wine glass and downed it.
"Thanks, Joyce." Tawny felt her eyes glassing up from the sentiment, but held her emotions in check since Becca would thrive on her tears.
Before Becca could lie, denying her comment was meant to be derogatory, Charlie, in the interest of sucking up to Greg 'I can kill you and get away with it' Sanders, laughed in her direction. "You know Joyce has you trumped, Becks. You have an un-ivied Stanford education and the only honors you got there were written on the walls of the men's locker room."
Tawny had a renewed respect for Charlie as the rest of the crowd sat quietly waiting for the scathing retort they were certain was coming. A few seconds later, Becca didn't disappoint.
"Pretty hilarious thing coming from a guy who found himself running down the beach naked in Malibu when some pissed off daddy busted him having sex and licking tequila off his eighteen year old daughter's newly silicone-enhanced breasts while they were both tweaked on X and doin' it in front of six other people." Her eyes landed on Tawny's chest. "Charlie has an augmentation fetish."
Brian laughed after choking on his martini. "Careful now…Tawny is an Amish girl from Kansas who doesn't even booze. Let's not scare her off with tales of wild California parties."
And in that moment, Becca and Tawny locked eyes.
Staring at the interloper, Becca grinned. What a great idea…I'll scare you off at the party tonight. First, I'll make sure you're good and freaked out. Then, I'll get Hoj wasted and acting like you've never seen him before. Lastly, when his guard is down, I'll make sure you see us in a red hot lip lock proving that 'your butterfly' may have flown home to you but, he's still willing to flutter my way if given a chance. After that revelation…it's back to the farm for you.
Returning the manipulative bitch's fake smile, Tawny thought…you're standing there thinking I'm a prude who will be shocked at that party. HA! I could work that party in my sleep, Honey. "What should I wear to the party tonight, Becca? Because I have a confession…what I'm wearing now is a bit risqué for me. None of this stuff belongs to me, it's all borrowed from Greg's co-worker's fiancée, Carrie…she's a real party animal. Will I stand out if I don't dress trendy?"
"Just be yourself, Tawny," Becca comforted. "You're so beautiful I'm sure even a paper sack looks fab on you."
Tawny saw Bev, Scott, Greg, Robbie and Joyce smile and prodded on. "Okay then…I'll just wear some nice jeans and a long sleeve blouse." Yeah…have that image in your head, so when I show up looking like 'the IT girl' wearing the tightest, tiniest dress and working the room like nobody's business, you'll be incredibly pissed off…or should I say, even more incredibly pissed off than you are right now! "I can't wait. Will there be dancing?"
Brian choked on his cocktail. "Yeah…there will be some dancing." Every hump and lump will be grinding in one non-stop bump, Baby and my night will be sweet if I accidentally get to brush up against you.
Tawny giggled in Greg's direction and continued her Oscar-worthy acting performance. "Maybe you can teach me some moves at home before we go to the party?"
"Sure, Honey." Greg kissed his sweetheart on the cheek. "But I'm sure these guys will tell you…I stink." Of course, they don't know you've taught me how to bust a move since the last time they saw me on the floor. "How about we watch MTV for a little while later and practice together?"
Tawny covered her mouth in shock. "But some of those songs have such obscene lyrics." She produced a blush. "But okay…just this one time I'll make an exception."
Celine's House
4:41 p.m.
Looking at the geeky boy sitting panicked on the edge of her bed Celine said, "I've never done this sort of thing with a boy before, only girls." Sizing him up she sighed, "But…there's a first time for everything."
"Uh…what are you going to do to me?" Sean inquired in a shaky voice as he wiped his sweat-drenched palms on his khaki trousers. .
"I'm going to make you hot!" Rushing over to her CD rack, Celine selected the proper music for the occasion. "And you're going to love it and feel great."
Remembering his uncle's advice regarding the ways to use his mouth, Sean yelled, "No! I don't want a BJ!"
Celine burst out laughing. "As if!"
Sean relaxed ever so slightly. "So you're not going to…" He pointed at his lap.
"Uh…no. I've never done that and I'm certainly not going to start with you. I'm giving you a makeover, not a BJ…I'm not even giving you a kiss on the cheek." Cracking up, Celine grabbed her cell. "While I gather the necessary resources, I want you to listen to one of my favorite songs. It's called Popular. It's from the musical Wicked…it's the backstory of the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz. She wasn't born wicked you know…she became that way."
"Really?" His curiosity was peeked.
"Listen carefully to the song and you'll know exactly what I'm going to do to you."
"Ah…" Sean swallowed hard, happy that he was only going to have his fashion sense assaulted and not his private parts. "Okay." While his 'friend' was on the phone he settled down and began listening to the screechy girl singing the showtune blasting through the stereo speakers."You really think you can make me popular? I'd settle for just not getting pounded." Sean thought of his brother's hip look and decided it wouldn't be so bad to be a little more with it. After all, looking different on the outside wouldn't change who he was on the inside. And maybe if he fit in…he wouldn't get picked on. "Okay." He nodded. "I'll let you give me a makeover."
Celine nodded. As if you had a choice. "When I get through with you, you'll look like a million bucks!"
The Mandalay Bay
4:55 p.m..
As Gil shut the door to the guest suite he called out, "Honey? I can't wait to see how you look in your new dress." He tossed his keys on the dresser and kicked off his shoes.
"I'm in the bathroom getting ready to polish my skanky toes," Sara griped, still sour from strangers judging her unpolished piggies.
"Skanky toes?" Gil stood in the doorway staring at his wife in her favorite pink cashmere robe. "Your toes are not skanky. I love your toes…all ten of them, but I'm especially fond of your second toes. I hope it's okay that I'm playing favorites with your appendages."
Working up a pout she slipped her arms around her husband's waist. "The mean girls in the dressing room called my unpolished toes skanky when they saw me trying on my new dress."
Framing her face with his hands Gil advised, "Don't you know by now that most of the time people are mean because they feel threatened?" After grazing her smile with his lips he moved on to whisper in her ear. "Obviously, those women were intimidated by your beauty in your new dress…" He snatched her lobe between his teeth for a little nibble. "…as I'm sure I'll be when I see it on you later."
"Wow…" Melting from his touch she broke into an easy laugh. "I should force you to spend time with Nick more often. You returned extra smooooooth."
Backing away he wiggled his brows. "And I think my quirkiness is rubbing off on him because when I got there…he was dressed like Harry Potter, complete with a penciled-in lightning bolt on his forehead."
"Well, we all know if Carrie asks him to do something, he doesn't say no," she quipped. "That reminds me though…I want to have a Halloween Party. I've always wanted to have one…I just never had enough friends to invite to one."
Without hesitation Gil announced, "I want to go as a bug-infested corpse. I did that once in college when I worked in the lab and everyone had to come in costume. It was great, I…"
"…scared off women all the way through grad school I'm sure."
"But will I scare you off?" He took the bottle of polish from her hands. "Or are you a strong enough woman to accompany a buggy corpse to a party?"
"I'll accompany you," she laughed. "But don't expect to get lucky because I'm not into necrophilia."
Craftily tackling her against the sheets he reasoned, "Then I'll be sure to get lucky, before the party. Speaking of which…"
"What has you so randy at five p.m?"
Shucking his shirt Gil informed his wife, "Nick can't have sex for weeks."
As she gaped at her disrobing man Sara guffawed, "Did he ask you to go home and have it for him?"
"No." He landed beside her and snuggled against the softness of her robe. "For the first time in history, I'll be able to claim I saw more action in a month than Slick." With that he abruptly headed due south.
"You usually finesse that a little better," Sara blurted. "Sorry…"
"Different destination."
"Oh." She smiled when he came to rest at her feet.
"I wanted to assure you that I love your toes."
Watching him cradle her right foot and bestow a juicy kiss on its big toe she suddenly burst out laughing.
"Ticklish?" Gil asked in surprise. "It's not like I haven't touched your feet before."
In stitches she answered, "But you haven't kissed them since the Greg and Nick toe sucking joke and when I saw you do that it popped into my head and now I'm just…squicked."
"I love it." Gil beamed with delight.
"The slash imagery?"
"No…" He rolled on his back laughing. "That your joke on me backfired, and robbed you of your own toe sucking-related pleasure."
"Try again." She wiggled her tootsies. "I can block it." This time just seeing him going in for a taste got to her. "Dammit!"
"How about this?" Gil grabbed the bottle of polish from where it landed. "I'll paint them. I've read in magazines that some women find that highly erotic."
"Yeah…when guys did that for me in college I always got hot." When she saw him freeze up Sara laughed, "Gotcha! Never happened."
"You can paint your own toes, Mrs. Grissom." Tossing the bottle he pounced on his wife. "I'll be too tired after I'm through here."
"Don't be too long," she warned while shivering from his well-placed kisses. "We need to be downstairs at six and you don't want to be late for your father's wedding because you were fooling around with a girl in your room."
Wildfire Country Club
5:16 p.m.
After dragging Tawny into the cabana his parents had rented for the entire weekend, Greg tugged the flaps down for privacy. "Just five minutes alone is all I need to regroup." In a flash he had her in his arms.
"Yes!" In his ear Tawny whispered, "Five minutes of not being raised Amish. It's really hard to keep up the ruse…much harder than I thought."
Snuggling her Greg apologized, "I'm really sorry my lush mother blurted it."
"Are you kidding?" she scoffed. "Becca would have had a field day with my GED otherwise."
"I'm so sorry." Cupping Tawny's face he placed a tender kiss on her lips. "While you were with my mom earlier I spoke with Becca and told her I loved you and that there wasn't a chance I'd change my mind. I let her down gently but…I get the sense that she's a little jealous."
"A little?" Tawny prodded.
Gripping his hair Greg admitted, "I'm trying not to hurt her while protecting you. I already confused her the other night by getting naked with her and then telling her off. I don't want to hurt her because she did so much to protect me…and you know how important that was to me considering what I had gone through at my old school. I still care about her…just not romantically…and I feel sorry for her. This side she's showing is her at her worst. I keep hoping she'll get it out of her system and then…no…that's a cop out. I'll talk to her again. It's just..." After a labored sigh he confessed, "I never had to deliver that kind of message to a girl before and it's hard…especially when it's someone you've known half your life and she's still hurting from a divorce that really shook her up. I'm not a player…I'm not good at cutting a woman loose or being an ass about it even if she deserves it."
"Aww Chuckles." She stroked his cheek. "That's the sensitive, compassionate man I love talking." Taking a moment she stole a kiss. "Don't say anything to her. We know no matter what she says or does it isn't going to impact our relationship. Honestly, I think she'll only stop when she finally gets smacked over the head with the reality that there's not a chance in hell you'll leave me."
"I think I know exactly when that moment will be too."
"When she sees the ring on my finger?" she guessed through a sunny smile.
"No." He shook his head. "Becca knows first hand that engagement is an easy commitment to break. She was engaged to someone else before marrying Peter and the jerk called it off a month before the wedding."
"Oh."
Smiling, he placed his palm on Tawny's womb. "It will be when she finds out you're having my babies…" Then he thought of the proposal and added a line from the song, "That's when she'll realize…I will love you until the end of time."
Jokingly she said, "Maybe it would help if you just suddenly belted out that song to me in front of her."
"Okay…" He gulped down the urge to release a joyful scream. "…if I find the right moment, I promise I'll go for it."
Author's Notes:
I hope everyone had a nice weekend!
Sean is getting a makeover and as September pointed out in the guestbook…he'll have it when he goes to drop off Lindsay's homework. ;-) For anyone worried that Sean is being completely changed, remember, it's still earlier in the game and he's just absorbing everything like a sponge (Greg!) and Celine, in her own way, is trying to 'help' him have an easier time at prep school (Becca!). (Note: that scene was edited from its originaly version to remove song lyrics and some dialogue to conform to the standards of this forum. )
Sara will be hosting that Halloween party.
Grissom and Nick…getting closer while protecting their secrets from each other by lying. At least Grissom fessed up as to why Sofia was checking Nick's work.
For the first time in his life, Greg had to let a girl down gently. He's never been on the giving end of that message and it was hard. Tawny understands that there is a lot of history between Greg and Becca and she knows that Becca kept him safe at the new school after his suicide attempt. Tawny isn't being a bitch about it and expecting Greg to tell off Becca in front of everyone, but rather she's continuing to manage the situation while letting Greg move at his own pace. She knows that Becca won't win and in the end the truth will be apparent even to the Queen of Denial.
Thanks to Misty J and Rojajifor your reviews :-)
Next Chapter Posting: Late Wednesday/Early Thursday
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts,
Maggs