Chapter 3
At General Hospital, Monica walked into an exam room. A man was facing a wall.
"Oh! Excuse me," she said. "I thought this room was empty. Wait, Alan? Are you all right?"
Alan turned around. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Honestly?"
"Honestly."
"I needed a moment to compose myself. I gather that you are doing the same?"
"As Chief of Staff and your husband, I'm going to allow you to go home, Monica. You look like hell."
"Why, thank you," she joked.
"Monica, I am serious. Go home."
"I am working, and you should be too. We've made it an entire year without Lila. Today should not be any different."
"But today is the anniversary of her death! It is very difficult for all of us. I can see how difficult it is for you."
"I loved Lila. We all did. But she would not want us to stop everything for her."
"For God sakes, Monica! It is okay to stop for one day!"
"If this is such a big deal for you, why don't YOU go home?"
"I will."
"What?"
"I will. I will see you later tonight."
Alan walked out, leaving Monica alone in the room. She sighed heavily.
Chapter 4
Alan entered the Quartermaine mansion.
"Tracy?" he called out. "Tracy?"
Edward entered. "She's not here, Alan."
"Would you mind telling me where she is?"
"Ned and Dillon said she went to the office."
"The office? Why? Why today?"
"You know why, Alan. Working is the best way to keep her mind off your mother."
"Have you been able to talk to her?" Alan asked.
Edward shook his head. "Have you?"
Ned and Dillon entered the room. "Mother won't talk to anybody," Ned replied.
"What about you, Dillon?" Edward asked.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, Grandfather, but did I not just any ANYBODY?" Ned responded.
Luke entered, "Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Is it possible to go from one room to another in this house without being screamed at?"
No one responded.
"Hmm, I'll take that a 'no.'"
"What are you still doing here?" asked Edward. "Why hasn't my daughter thrown you out yet?"
"Because your daughter enjoys my magnificent presence. Don't you, Pops?"
Alan spoke, "We were having a family conversation."
"Yes, I can see that," Luke said nonchalantly.
"So, why are you here?" Alan asked.
Dillon chimed in, "Because he's family too. He's my step-dad. The coolest one ever, by the way."
"Why thank you, young Spielberg."
Alan sighed. "I'm going to the office," Alan told them. "My sister needs me."
"It's no use, Alan," Ned told him. "She is upset because we don't talk to her on a daily basis."
"Can you blame us?" Edward asked.
"I think we need to leave her alone," Dillon said.
Ned answered, "Dillon is right."
"I tend to agree," Luke announced.
"Nobody cares what you think," Edward said.
"Tracy needs to be by herself right now," Luke told him.
"No," Alan said. "I am going to the office. I will see you all later."
Alan stormed out of the mansion.
PREVIEWS FOR CHAPTERS 5 AND 6:
Georgie suggests that Brook Lynn talk to her grandmother; Brook Lynn considers the idea.
Alan tries to convince Tracy to come home and be with the family.