Holly arrived at the club bar at 7:30. Roger was nowhere to be seen. She sauntered up to it and asked about him. The bar tender shrugged. Holly ordered a white wine and waited. Midway through her glass she felt a hand on the small of her back.
"I'm so sorry I'm late, slight problem at home, but that is all settled now"
Holly turned on her stool and studied both sides of face, eliciting a bemused look. "I was just checking for claw marks." She said.
"Jenna is fine, thank you for asking" he said in reply.
The Maitre'd came over and advised them that their table was ready. Holly took her wine and Roger guided her with a hand on her back. Holly took her seat which was pulled out for her with a smile. Roger sat across from her and quickly placed his drink order as Holly finished hers and requested a second.
"I'm surprised you have any tolerance for alcohol left after the way I found you this morning."
"I have a built-up tolerance for all things toxic to my system"
"So, I assume you're here to take me up on my job offer" he said getting down to business.
"If I said I was not interested I'd be lying. I do miss working."
"Well then how about you start Monday?" He picked up his menu which Holly reached over and pulled down.
"How about no. How about you tell me why you made the offer."
"I already told you. Jenna and I are going to run Spaulding together, and since I hold an interest in the station, I want only the best station manager that money can buy, and that my dear is you"
"Right. Now tell me the catch. You think that by throwing me this bone that I will what, only give you and in turn Spaulding good press?"
Roger gave a wry smile. "That thought hadn't crossed my mind, Holly, but if you're willing, I'm not going to turn down good press."
Holly rolled her eyes. When the waiter came, they placed their orders and got back to their discussion.
"So, is that a yes then?" He reached a hand over the table.
"That's a maybe."
"No good. I need a yes or a no before we leave this table. It is a limited time offer, Holly"
"Why, Roger? What is so pressing that I need to decide by the stroke of midnight?"
"I'd just like an answer is all. I would like to have legal work on your contract and the sooner I inform them that you are on board the sooner they can start." He shrugged.
Holly finished her second glass of wine, studying him over the rim, only to spy Ed and Michelle entering the dining room. "Shit" she sputtered when Ed locked eyes with her.
Roger turned slightly. "Ah, Sir Galahad. I take it you told him you would be home washing your hair tonight."
"Shut up Roger" she said through gritted teeth.
She watched as Ed's mouth formed a thin line as he pressed his lips together. He did not take his eyes off of Holly as he guided Michelle through the dining room. Michelle looked her way too, but then promptly stared at the floor, obviously on orders from her father. Holly raised a hand to wave but decided against it. She felt guilty but was not sure why.
"Trouble in paradise?" Roger asked when he turned around.
"I said shut up Roger."
"You sure are testy. You have not been this upset about Dr. Ed since you were sleeping with me while lying to him. History sure does have a way of repeating, doesn't it?"
Holly threw her napkin on the tabletop and angrily pushed her chair back. "Roger, I have an answer for you"
He leaned back and grinned. "I'm waiting."
Holly looked over her shoulder. She could see Ed and Michelle quietly eating in the corner, oblivious to what she was doing. Retaking her seat, she laid the napkin in her lap again.
"I will come back to the station but under a few conditions."
"Name them, we will put them in your contract."
Holly put her hands under her chin. "Gilly answers to me, to me alone. You do not give her assignments, you don't try to sway her, and you cannot fire her. She will be executive producer with compensation to go along with it."
"Fine. Is there anything else?"
"Yes, I don't want Jenna anywhere near me or my office. In fact, I'd prefer her not to come to the station at all."
"Well, you know my wife. She has a mind of her own, but I will try. Spaulding will keep her pretty busy."
Holly shook her head. "She would have to if she married you after the citizens of Springfield warned her against it. Finally, Roger, you cannot fire me. I am co-owner of the station. With that and my media experience I am more than qualified to do my job. So, unless I break a law, or the FTC comes after us for something egregious, I keep my job. Understood?"
Roger hemmed and hawed for a moment but then jut out his hand. "I accept Holly, but I have one point of my own." The corners of his mouth lifted.
"Fine, but we haven't signed anything yet."
"You cannot fire anyone I personally hire."
Holly began to protest, but Roger retracted his hand "Well then, I suppose we will have to continue to negotiate over dessert then, but for now that is my final offer."
"Fine, but I'm telling you, if you've hired some young blond who can't count to ten without using her fingers and toes, I swear I will make your life miserable" She offered her hand which he took and shook. "I suppose we should make a formal announcement to the staff. How does Monday at 9 sound?"
Roger nodded his head. "Sounds good, but do not make it a long announcement. I must be at Spaulding by 10"
Holly saluted him. "Have a nice weekend, Roger. See you on Monday" She pushed her chair back and laid her napkin softly on top of her plate.
Roger leaned back in his chair, his hands behind his head. "I wonder how she's going to feel about a red headed secretary" Roger though as a smile broke out again.
In the meantime, Holly walked across the dining room and stopped at Ed and Michelle's table. They were having chocolate lava cake and talking about their weekend plans.
"Hello, I'm sorry to have interrupted but I saw you come in" Holly pointed to the door.
"Hi Holly" Michelle sounded sad.
"Hello Honey." Holly reached out and pat her shoulder. "I am sorry I could not let you come over earlier. I really did not feel well when you called"
"It is alright. Dad was able to find someone to cover his second shift, but now he is going to have to cover that person on Saturday."
"Saturday huh? Well, I have no plans. You could come over and spend the day with me" Holly smiled.
Michelle looked at her father. "I already asked Bridget if you could go to the boarding house."
Michelle's shoulders slumped. "I'd rather go to Holly's."
"I told you I already made arrangements for you, Michelle, and I'm sure that Holly has other things to occupy her time with this weekend"
Holly tried and failed to hide her annoyance. "I do not and since I am going back to work on Monday I'd like to spend as much time with Michelle as I can when I'm free. I really do not mind Ed. I enjoy spending time with Michelle" She punctuated her name.
"Please Dad, please. I promise I'll be good. Please."
Ed sat a little straighter. "You are going back to work? For him?"
"Yes, I'm going back to my former position."
Ed scoffed. "Once a hypocrite, always a hypocrite" he said under his breath.
Holly inhaled deeply. "Michelle, I'm sorry, but I think your dad has made up his mind. Another time."
In anger Michelle knocked her glass over, spilling the contents of it on her skirt. She jumped out of her seat, trying to clean it up with a cloth napkin. Holly reached out and grabbed her hand.
"It's alright honey. Why don't you go to the restroom, I will clean this up."
She tried to hide them, but tears had formed in Michelle's eyes. Holly reached down and hugged her, whispering in her ear "It will be alright. Let me talk to him."
When Michelle was gone Holly took one of the unoccupied chairs and reached over to take Ed's hand in hers.
"Ed, you said I am good for her, and Lord knows she is good for me. Would it really cause any harm if she spent the day with me having fun instead of with Bridget who will be too busy with customers to really keep an eye on her?"
"No, I suppose not, but Holly, if I find out Roger Thorpe was anywhere near my daughter, I will never trust you with her again." His finger wagged at her.
"I cross my heart" She smiled smugly.
"Alright, fine. I work the 11 to 7:30 tomorrow. Unless there is an emergency, I will be by around 8"
"Really Dad? I can go?" Michelle returned with a smile on her face.
"Yes, you can spend the day with Holly" Michelle yelped. "Thank you, Dad, thank you Holly" She wrapped her arms first around Holly's waist and then around her father's shoulders.
"You two have a great rest of your night. I will see you tomorrow."
After a fun filled girls' day with Michelle the pair settled in to watch a movie when the phone rang.
"Lindsey residence" Michelle said answering for Holly.
"Oh, hi Dad. Yes, she is here, hang on a second"
Holly handed Michelle the bowl of popcorn as she took the phone. She scrambled off the couch and into the kitchen so as not to interrupt the movie.
"Ed?" Holly asked.
"Hi Holly" She could hear voices in the background, one being Eve's. "There was a major accident at the waterfront. A warehouse collapsed. I am obviously not going to get out of here as I planned"
Holly looked towards Michelle who was shoving a handful of popcorn in her mouth while laughing. "Don't choke!" Holly called out to her before turning her attention back to Ed. "Ok, I guess I know not to ask when you'll be homeā¦"
"Correct, but I don't know what to do about Michelle. I cannot have you drop her at the house, no one's there."
"She can stay here." Holly suggested.
Ed did not have time to argue "Ok, that is fine. I will come by and get her when I am done. Do not let her stay up past ten, ok? Listen, I've got to go" He hung up the phone.
Holly clapped her hands and went back to the living room where Michelle looked at her expectantly.
"Your Dad is not going to be here as planned. You are going to sleep here until he can get away from the hospital."
Michelle shrugged and went back to the movie. "He told you my bedtime is at a 11:30, right?"
Holly sat back down beside her and reached for a handful of popcorn. "Nice try, when this is over you can take a shower and be in bed by 10. There should be a night gown in Blake's old dresser that should fit you. It might be a little long, but you'll be more comfortable in pajamas."
The pair settled in and watched the movie until Holly announced that it was bedtime.
"Awe come on, it's not that late" Michelle complained.
"It is already 10:30, thirty minutes after your dad said you had to be in bed. Now scoot young lady" Holly said. "Do you need me to tuck you in?"
Michelle suddenly became sad. "No, I haven't been tucked in since the night Mom left." She stopped dead in her tracks as she reclaimed the memory. "I knew something was wrong. She tried to hide the fact that she was crying, but I knew"
Her chest felt heavy, and her eyes burned. Holly was not sure if she should hug her or let her get this memory out without being disturbed. "She told me she loved me, and that I was not to blame for anything that might happen. She hugged me and told me to stay in my room no matter what I heard. I could not fall asleep so when I heard the cup break, I ran downstairs. She yelled at me. She held her arm out like this" Michelle showed Holly the ram rod straight arm. "I did not have shoes on, and she did not want me to get hurt, but I wanted to help her. If she would have let me help her, she would not have left." She was openly crying now.
Holly stood and pulled the girl into her. She could feel her back heaving with sobs. "Oh honey, I am so sorry." She bent down and kissed her on the top of her head. "I know you don't want me to, but I am going to tuck you in. Come on, let's go" Holly guided her to Blake's old room. She held her with one arm around her shoulders while pulling the comforter down with the other. When Michelle climbed in, Holly sat on the edge of the bed. She brushed the bangs off the little girl's forehead. For a moment she could see Blake at this age, but the image quickly dissolved into a murky haze.
"I love you" Michelle whispered before turning onto her side.
Holly bent over and kissed her temple. "Get some sleep" she said, unable to say those three little words and regretting it immediately. As they had just watched Han Solo tell it to Leah, Holly said, "I know" She sat on the bed, hands folded in her lap until Michelle's breathing became even.
"Sleep well" she whispered but got no response. Michelle was asleep. Holly stood and stretched. She went closed the door to the guest room quietly and looked at her watch. It was already 11, but she was not tired. She went to the front door and made sure it was locked and the shade drawn. The news was starting so she turned the television on and the volume down. The first story was that of the massive accident on the waterfront. Holly sucked in and held her breath until it was over.
She had not meant to fall asleep but must have. She woke to some B rated science fiction movie on the television and knocking at the door. She had been laying on her arm awkwardly she surmised as it had a pins and needles feeling through it when she looked out the edge of the blind. As expected, it was Ed. She turned the dead bolt and opened the door.
"I am so sorry Holly" Ed said apologetically.
He looked exhausted she noted. He had stubble on his face, though he was freshly shaven when he left the house for his shift.
"It's fine, I remember what it was like being married to you, and you being married to Cedars"
"I remember too." He wanted to add "That's when you started sleeping with Roger" but it did not matter now.
"Michelle is sleeping" Holly pointed to the guest room.
"I figured" Ed said rubbing his face. "I hate to wake her"
"Then don't. I could make us some coffee. It is morning"
"That would be great" he said. Holly moved to the side to allow him entry.
Ed collapsed on her couch, loosening his tie and buttons on his shirt. "How was she today?"
"She was fine. We went to the mall. She got some new earrings, we had dinner in the food court, and then we came home and watched Star Wars, Return of the Empire I think."
Ed laughed "You mean, Return of the Jedi?"
"If that's the one with the giant slug, and those little gerbil-like creatures, then yes"
Ed was so tired he laughed uncontrollably for five minutes, complete with tears running down his cheeks. Holly hated to bring it up, but she felt she had to.
"Then I put her to bed, and that was rough."
"Did she try to convince you to let her stay up?" Ed asked wiping the tears from his eyes.
Holly went back to the kitchen and poured their freshly brewed coffee. "You still take it black." It was more a statement than a question. She brought it back to the living room and handed it to him.
"I asked her if she wanted me to tuck her in."
Ed swallowed the coffee, not caring that it was hot. "She said no, right? She has not wanted me to do it either."
"I think I know why" Holly said quietly. She then shared the story of Maureen's last night with him.
"Damn it" Ed said. "I had no idea. Maureen was already gone when I got home. Michelle was obviously upset, but at that point I had no idea what was happening." He laid his head against the back of the couch.
"I'm listening" Holly said surprisingly calm.
Ed let out a pent-up breath and rubbed his eyes. "Holly, it was stupid. Please know that I did not plan it." He looked at her, but her eyes gave away nothing. "Maureen was fixated on having a baby. I thought that is what I wanted too so I went along with it. When it did not happen the first month after her surgery, she was disappointed and so was I, which surprised me. As the months went on with no luck, she just got increasingly angry."
Holly could not relate to this. She got pregnant with Blake without consciously thinking about conception.
"The angrier she got the more distant I got. Then she started working for Vanessa and the rift grew wider. I felt undervalued as her husband." He paused "Wrongfully so. I mean you know what it's like to live with me. The pager goes off and I am out the door, or you make dinner for 7 and I waltz in the door at 9. Yet the second Maureen carved a niche out for herself that did not revolve around Michelle, and Ed Bauer I lose my mind. She stopped seeing me, and I stopped seeing us." He sighed.
Holly leaned back and closed her eyes. It was ironic, the reasons he outlined for his affair were the exact reasons why she had leaned into Roger all those years ago.
"Now in all fairness, I did not set out to have an affair. I never intended to cheat on Maureen, it just happened."
Holly opened her eyes and shot him a look. "Ed, car accidents just happen, affairs do not. There was obviously an attraction between you and, who are we talking about here?" She lifted her eyebrows. She wanted to hear him say Eve's name.
"Hang on, I have to give you some back story."
"There's more?" Holly was incredulous. She simply wanted to hear that Eve was young, and willing, and able and that is what drove him to it. It would make breaking whatever this was easy.
"She was sick."
Holly gasped. "Who Maureen?"
"No, not Maureen."
He sighed. There was no way around it now. He was going to have to tell her. He took her hands in his, touched his knee to hers and with great trepidation said
"Holly, I had an emotional affair and ultimately a physical encounter with Lilian Raines"
