Checking In On a New Friendship

"How have you been feeling lately?" Lily asks Nick as they are sitting together at Crimson Lights. They were having breakfast together and catching up.

"Good." Nick tells her taking a sip of his coffee. He looks down at his cup and lightly taps the side with his fingers. "I mean much better."

He thinks for a moment and then continues. "You know I thought that going back to Newman would be kind of weird, but it's not. I am actually enjoy settling back down their again and picking up the ropes." He admits to Lily.

Lily looks at him and smiles encouragingly. "I'm glad to hear that Nick. And it probably helps that you're working closely with your sister again…" She speculates.

"And don't have my father lingering over my head…" Nick finishes. "You know it really does feel different ever since Dad finally stepped away and let Vic run the company." Nick informs her.

Lily nods. "Yeah. I'll bet. Newman probably does have a different feel now that your father has stepped down."

Nick nods. He makes a face reflecting on things. "It really does. There isn't as much tension in the air, things feel a bit more free over there." He then laughs.

"Now don't get me wrong, Victoria is serious about being CEO and running the business. She runs a tight and efficient ship over there, but things still feel a bit more..., I don't know calmer." He pauses for a moment and smiles. "Things are a bit more relaxed now that she has taken over." …

"I'll bet." Lily says smiling at him.

"Dad finally letting her take over, made my decision to return to Newman easier." Nick thinks again and then frowns.

"But even if dad hadn't finally decided to step down, I still would have considered going back to Newman over working for my low life of a brother at Dark Horse." He grimaces. "The thought of working for him makes me ill. Especially considering all that he's done to me. Taking my company and…" His voice trails off and he sighs.

"Getting custody of Christian." Lily finishes for him. She reaches out and lightly touches his arm. "I know losing Christian, really hurt you Nick." She tells him comfortingly.

Nick closes his eyes and frowns and then opens them. "It did, Lily. Several months later and it still hurts."

Lily looks at him understanding. "I know." She expresses sympathetically.

"And I just couldn't work with my brother. Even though he offered me an olive branch …" Nick uses quotations marks when he says olive branch. "For the good of the family..." Nick shakes his head.

"You know Lily he is so full of it… I believe he offered me another shot of working at Dark Horse, because he likes to lord over the fact that he took my company and Christian."

Lily nods listening. "But you didn't take the bait."

Nick shakes his head. "No, I didn't." He states empathically.

Lily smiles. "You took my advice and took some much-needed time to reset your life and figure out what it is you really wanted to do."

Nick looks at her and smiles. "And that was really good advice, Lily." He pauses and continues. "And I just want you to know, I have really appreciated your friendship these past several months. You really helped me when I was going through a dark place."

Lily smiles again. "I saw a person going through a dark time and I had to step in and help. I've been there…" She pats Nick's arm. "I'm just glad things have gotten better for you."

Nick smiles. "Me too…. He pauses thoughtful for a moment. "And I'm glad to have a friend like you, Lily who has helped support me."

"I'm glad I could be of help." Lily tells him. They talk for a bit more and then a familiar face comes through the door of Crimson Lights and heads over to their table.

"Hi, mom." Mattie says smiling at her mother.

"Mattie!" Lily exclaims happily. She gets up and hugs her daughter.

"I'm so glad to see you." She grabs Mattie by the hand. "I'm so glad you're home."

"Me too, mom." Mattie says. She pulls up a chair and sits in between Nick and Lily.

"How it's going Nick?" She asks Nick smiling.

"Pretty well, actually." Nick says smiling at her. "How are things going for you?" He asks her. "Your mom had told me you were pretty excited to be starting work at Jabot in a few days."

Mattie smiles brightly. "I am. I am really excited about starting this next Chapter in my life." She rests her hands lightly on the table. "Now that I have graduated from college, I am ready to start my life as working woman. I want to help make my impact on the business world."

Lily puts her hands together and smiles proudly. "Mattie applied for and was accepted at positions for different companies. But she finally settled on Jabot." She informs Nick.

Nick nods. "I think I heard you applied to Newman. We would have been happy to have you on board. I know you are a bright young lady and could really add a lot to our company." He tells her encouragingly.

Mattie nods. "I did. But I decided on Jabot. I know they focus a lot on women and have been about empowering women. And creating products that help do that. And… well... I want to be apart of that." Mattie says smiling brightly.

Nick nods. "I hear that, though if you ever change your mind, we definitely have a place for you at Newman."

"Thank you." Mattie says smiling.

"And she also always has a place at Hamilton-Winters." Lily says looking at her and smiling. A somber look then comes across Lily's face and she reminisces. "You know that is what your grandfather wanted for you." Lily tells Mattie giving her a poignant look. "He wanted for you to work at Hamilton-Winters and some day along with your brother and Moses help run the company."

Mattie nods and a sad look comes across her face. "Yeah, I know. I miss grandad." She expresses sadly.

Lily reaches over and pats Mattie's hands. "I do too sweetie." Everyone is quiet for a moment as they reflect on the passing of Neil who had passed away about two years ago.

"He was a great man, and definitely wanted the best for his family." Nick interjects remembering Neil.

"That he was." Lily says.

Mattie nods thinking. "You know mom, I will always appreciate the offer of working for grandad and Uncle Devon's company, but for right now Jabot is where I want to start out at, but…" Mattie pauses for a moment and then gives her mother a smile. "Who knows where I may end up at. I may end up working for the family company some day after all."

Lily smiles. "That would be great…" She sighs. "But you do you, and if that is working for Jabot right now. I totally respect that. You and your brother may have chosen different career paths than working at Hamilton-Winters but that doesn't mean I will support you any less. I am proud of both of you and will continue to support you in whatever it is you want to do."

"Thanks mom." Mattie says and reaches over and hugs Lily.

Nick then looks down at his watch. "Okay, I have to get going to Newman. I will see you ladies later." He tells them getting up. He smiles at both of them.

"See you later, Nick." Lily says smiling at him.

"See you." Mattie tells him.

"Good Luck." Nick says to Mattie and leaves.

Mattie looks at him walking away for a moment and then turns to Lily and smiles. "So, you're having breakfast with Nick again, so this is a thing you guys do." She remarks giving Lily a sly look.

Lily rolls her eyes and smiles. "Not this again, Mattie I told you we are just friends." Lily insists.

Mattie makes a face and shrugs her shoulders. "I mean you have been spending quite a bit of time with him the last several months and I just wondered if it was going anywhere." She ponders curiously.

Lily shakes her head. "Mattie we are just friends. I mean I saw someone who was in a dark spot and I reached out to him."

"And it became a friendship and now you guys spend quite a bit time together, including scheduling coffee dates." Mattie remarks in a matter of fact manner. She pauses for a moment and then becomes thoughtful. "It's okay to want to move on Mom, whether it's with Nick or someone else." Mattie puts her hands on her face for a moment thinking some more.

Lily laughs. "Oh, I'm glad to have your permission to move on Mattie." She sighs. "I'm not a hermit you know. I go on dates sometimes." She informs her daughter.

Mattie makes a face. "But none of that ever goes anywhere. And I just well... mom, you have a lot to offer and I want you to be happy. I want you to find you someone special like…" Mattie's voice trails off.

Lily nods understanding. "Like your father has." She finishes.

"Yes, like Dad. I mean dad has been living a happy life in Europe, and I want the same for you." Mattie pauses and thinks some more. "I mean dad has found happiness in a new relationship, and so has Uncle Devon... and now Ana is engaged to Fen..." Her voice trails off.

Lily makes a face. "And now you're worried about your dear old mother, because I am one of the members of this family, that is not booed up". She says sarcastically.

Mattie makes a face. "Well..." She gives her mom a sincere look. "I want you to be happy and living the best life you can live."

Lily smiles and then reaches over and touches her arm. "Oh, Honey you and your brother are my best life."

Mattie smiles. "Oh, mom, we know, but we still want you to be happy. And if that's getting you a man, then we'll get you man..." Mattie suggests.

Lily laughs. "Okay, if I want a man, I will get my own." She shakes her head. "And… shouldn't I be giving you this talk?" She says looking at her daughter. "My beautiful, intelligent, single daughter. I feel like I should be having this talk with you."

Mattie smiles. "Oh, mom, I'm not really thinking about dating right now. I want to get my career started." Mattie tells her firmly.

"Okay, but it's okay to have fun and get yourself a boyfriend, or just get to know a nice guy." Lily gestures towards her. "I mean you're young and you don't have to rush into anything." Lily tells her.

Mattie nods. "I know, but I'm not really doing that right now."

Lily gives her a look. "So, no one special, huh?"

Mattie shakes her head bashfully. "No." She admits.

"Well, you're a great girl, and men will come knocking at your door. I can promise you that." Lily says touching her hand.

"Especially as you get out there into the real world. All types of men will be interested in you and I know that I raised you well..." Lily pauses and smiles encouragingly. "You will choose the rights ones to interact with and date." Lily gives her a big smile. "You'll find someone good for yourself to date, when you are ready. I know you will." She assures her daughter.

"Oh, mom..." Mattie says and smiles. Her face then becomes serious again. "I really am just focused on starting my career right now." She repeats. "Romance and stuff can come later, I guess." She muses.

Lily laughs. "You guess? Yeah… okay..." Lily pauses and thinks for a moment. "I don't have to guess. I know."

Mattie smiles. "Uh… we'll see."

Lily nods. "Yeah, you'll see. But for now, I can totally understand you wanting to focus on your career. I get it." Lily takes a sip of her drink. "And hopefully you will meet some new and good people at Jabot that will help you. You already know Jack and Billy and Kyle…"

Mattie nods. "Yeah..."

Lily smiles. "And you should meet some new people as well..." A thought then hits Lily's mind. "Speaking of, there is actually a young man that was hired at Jabot and should start around the same time you will. He's Summer's brother in law." Lily pauses thinking some more about the information she knew regarding the young man.

"His name is..." Lily continues to think for a moment "Monty. Monty Lattimore. And actually, one of his brothers, Summer's other brother in law, is a well-known filmmaker. Darryl Lattimore, Jr. Darryl also used to play in the NFL along with Summer's husband." Lily informs her.

Mattie nods. "Yeah Charlie had entered some contest he had for young aspiring filmmakers. The top winning documentary gets to shadow him... as he makes a film." Mattie makes a face. "Or something like that."

Lily nods. "Yes, I remember Charlie telling me about that. He's convinced his documentary will win and then he will be able to shadow him."

"Yeah, he think this will catapult his career." Mattie says making a face, skeptical.

"Hey, your brother is very talented." Lily reminds her. "Let him have his dreams. Like you have yours. And who knows maybe his documentary will be selected. You never know."

Mattie nods. "Yeah and that would make Charlie very happy. So, here's hoping it does work out for him."

Lily nods. "Well Monty is Lincoln and Darryl Jr's brother, and he is one other young person I know that will also starting at Jabot."

"So… someone from a famous family is working there and…" Mattie's voice trails off as she thinks.

"You could meet a new friend." Lily suggests. "Just giving you a name and some background information in case you guys bump into each other there... Which you probably will." Lily guesses.

Mattie makes a face. "Okay, well good to know, but I'm not at Jabot to make friends mom, I'm there to..."

Lily holds her up her hand. "Jumpstart your career. I know. I know." She leans towards Mattie. "But making connections with people in the workplace is not a bad thing. It's good to build a good rapport among your co-workers. It makes your work experience all the much better."

Mattie nods, taking in what her mother is saying. "Okay, noted."

The two women talk some more and then part ways with Lily going to work. They agree to meet up later and have dinner together.