Another New Friendship and A New Search

"How are you doing?" Nate Hastings Jr. turns around as he hears the familiar voice. He smiles when he sees her face. She comes over and sits beside him as he's having a drink at the bar at the GCAC. It had been a long day at work and he just wanted to wind down with a drink and a good plate of food.

"I'm doing fine, Phyllis." He tells her smiling.

"Are you now?" Phyllis says looking at him. "I've haven't seen you in a bit." She remarks. "And I was wondering how one of my favorite men was doing." She leans towards him as they are sitting together.

"Long hours at the hospital?" She inquires.

He nods. "You can say that." He looks down at his drink for a moment with a thoughtful expression on his face. He then looks up at her.

"But it looks like you got a little break now." She observes astutely.

He nods again.

"And would you like some company?" She asks smiling at him.

He laughs. "Well, you're already here so…"

"Cool." Phyllis says. She orders a drink and then takes a sip of it and looks at him.

"So, Dr. Hastings what are you doing here by yourself?" She asks him curiously.

"Having a drink, getting ready to order a meal." He tells her in a matter of fact manner.

"That's fine and dandy…but…" Phyllis leans towards him and whispers, teasingly. "Why are you doing this by yourself?"

Nate smiles. "Well you're here, and since you are here, have you eaten yet?" He asks. "I haven't seen you in a little bit and we should catch up. So, if you would like I can buy you dinner and we could do that." He smiles at her again. "Since you're already here."

Phyllis taps her hands on the bar. "You know what I haven't. And yes, I will take you up on your offer. Thanks." She then looks at the menu at the bar and puts it down for a moment and looks at Nate.

"So… when was the last time you've done that?" She asks curiously.

"Try and catch up with you?" He asks.

She nods and makes a face. "Well, it's been a little bit, but I mean buy dinner for a woman. When's the last time you've done that?" She asks looking into his face.

Nate sighs. "Phyllis…."

She moves her head. "Answer the question. When's the last time you bought dinner for a woman. And not for a friend, but on an actual date?"

Nate sighs. "It's been, man I can't…"

"It's been a minute, hasn't it?" Phyllis concludes sitting back a little. She lightly touches Nate on the arm.

"Nate… you're a fine handsome man, and a successful doctor. You should be on a date. A real one." Phyllis insists.

"But then I wouldn't have the time to talk to you about not having one." Nate jokes.

Phyllis smiles. "I'm serious, Nate. You should be enjoying yourself…"

He nods. "Well, I've been busy at the hospital and handling tasks for the Board at Hamilton Winters."

Phyllis moves her head from side to side. "Excuses, Excuses." She gives Nate a serious look. "You should make the time for a personal life." A thoughtful expression comes across her face.

"You can't let some… failures in the past stop you from enjoying yourself again."

Nate turn and looks at her, a somber look on his face. He sighs again. "I don't know Phyllis. Maybe it's just best if I remain single for a while."

She shakes her head. "But you have been single for a while, Nate…. And don't you want to get back on that horse?" She probes.

"Not when the horses keep throwing me off." He says.

Phyllis laughs. "Come on Nate, you just haven't found the right woman." She becomes quiet when she thinks for a moment. "I mean let's look at your past situations."

Nate takes another sip of his drink. "I would rather not." He comments hesitantly. He waves his hand dismissively. "I really don't want to talk about that stuff."

Phyllis points a finger on the bar. "That stuff is regarding your happiness, Nate."

"Happiness, Happiness..." He says in a sing song voice. "I'm happy. I have a good job, a lot of family members that I care about, my good health and a rent-free penthouse…." He shrugs his shoulders. "What more do I need?"

"I don't know, A woman to share your life with." Phyllis says bluntly.

Nate gives her a look. "Un-huh. Well… I tried to go in that direction and some things happened and… well here I am."

"Un-huh, but you a great guy Nate and you shouldn't give up." Phyllis insists. "You're certainly a good friend. You know when I came back into town almost a couple of years ago... after I lost Jabot and had a rocky relationship with my daughter. you were one of the few people in town not to cast judgment on me." Phyllis reminds him. "I remember when we first started to get closer, I had sprained my ankle one day and you helped me… and we became friends." She smiles at him. "I think good friends."

Nate nods. "I would agree with that."

"And I've gotten to know you and seen the type of man that you are, and I know you have a lot to offer a woman."

Nate looks down at his glass and sighs. "Yeah..."

"And I know and have witnessed you try to offer it to some women and for whatever reasons, they weren't the right women, or it wasn't the right situation." Phyllis relays to him.

"Like with Abby." She begins.

Nate makes a face. "Yeah, Abby."

"I witnessed how hard you tried to relate to her and please her."

"Uh… Well, I was able to connect with her on some solid levels…"

"But in true Abby fashion, I believe that the relationship didn't grow as much as it could have grown. Or last as long as it should have lasted. That tends to be a pattern with her and her relationships. She's constantly failing at them." Phyllis states tersely.

"Well it takes two to make it work…" Nate adds.

"And I believe you tried, but it seemed like she would never let you all the way in." Phyllis taps her fingers on the bar thinking. "Maybe because of all her past failures with men, that caused her to be hesitant with a man who was a really good guy for her." Phyllis then makes some gestures with her hands.

"And then all that dragging of her feet, kind of doomed a union with you and her." Phyllis gives Nate a serious look. "I know you tried with her."

Nate nods. "I did and she kind of tried."

Phyllis laughs. "Ha-ha ha… Kind of, I love your honesty Nate."

Nate laughs. "Yeah, I mean… you know what... Abby is a nice person and I was grateful to get to know her better. It didn't work out and go as far I'd hoped, but I am still glad I got to know her."

"Un-huh." Phyllis says. She continues talking about his love life.

"And then after Abby.."

Nate closes his eyes not wanting to talk about where this conversation was headed next...

"Phyllis..."

"I know you don't want to talk about it, but you have to assess your past so you can make better decisions in the future." Phyllis advises him. "So after Abby you..."

"I let my feelings go to a place they shouldn't have. I overstepped when it came to my feelings..."

"You fell for..." Phyllis begins.

Nate shakes his head and closes his eyes. "It shouldn't have happened."

"You can't stop the heart from wanting what it wants... And your heart wanted..." She gives Nate a knowing look.

He looks at her. "You really are going to make me say it."

"Owning your baggage is a big step in really moving on and bettering your life. Trust me I know."

Nate looks off in the distance for a moment and then looks back at Phyllis.

He puts his hand up. "Okay... Phyllis I will say it." He sighs deeply. "I fell for my... cousin's girlfriend." He reveals.

Phyllis nods. "See that wasn't so bad." She tells him. "Admit the truth. Own it."

Nate shakes his head. "It still sounds bad."

Phyllis widens her eyes for a moment and she purses her lips. "But it's what happened." She says in a matter of fact manner.

"I don't want to rehash this again, Phyllis." Nate says. "Me falling for Elena was a mistake, one that had a negative impact on my relationship with my cousin."

"But you two are okay now." Phyllis interjects. "You're both alright. Devon moved on and has a new family." She pauses thinking and smiles. " And I think everytime he looks into his precious son's eyes and thinks about the life he's sharing with him and his wife, he's thankful things didn't work out between him and Elena. So you did him a favor."

Nate laughs sarcastically. "He didn't see it that way at the time... and it caused problems between us."

"But everything ended up working out. And you two are in a solid place again right?" Phyllis asks him.

Nate nods. "Yeah, it took a bit of time, but me and him... we're alright now." He reveals.

"Good." Phyllis nods. "And it helps that neither one of you ended up with Elena." She remarks bluntly.

Nate frowns and then lets out a laugh in spite of himself..."Phyllis..."

"I mean you didn't... I'm just saying..." She says truthfully. "And you know that is for the best. Devon would never have the family and love he has now had he stayed with Elena. And you..."

"Wouldn't be here talking with you about my failed love life..." He tells her, shaking his head.

"I was actually going to put a more positive spin on things." Phyllis says. "I was going to say you wouldn't be on the way to finding the best woman for you. Which wasn't Abby and even though you loved her, wasn't Elena either."

Nate looks down at his glass and takes another sip. "Right, okay." He says a bit skeptical.

Phyllis rubs his arm. "Come on Nate, you're usually more positive than this." She reminds him. "And there is a woman out there for you. And she's not going to drag her feet or refuse to let you all the way in. And she's not romantically involved with anybody else. A woman out there who will really appreciate you, and give you the love you deserve." Phyllis sits up a little in her seat. "Someone who you can share your happy life with."

"Un-huh and where do you suppose I find this woman?" Nate asks curiously.

"I don't know, but maybe I can help you find her."

Nate makes a face. "What?" He asks. "You're going to help me find the right woman for me." He turns his head to the side, giving her a look and then he smiles. "Oh-kay."

"I mean I could try. Maybe I could point you in the right direction." Phyllis suggests.

Nate raises his eyebrows. "Um-hum." He then looks around. "Where is our server?" He asks. "We should probably be ordering that dinner now."

Phyllis touches his arm again and he turns to look at her. "I'm serious, Nate. I could help you. At the very least. I could encourage you to mingle more." She tells him. "I mean when is the last time you've been to a club, or dancing?" She asks. "When's the last time you've had some real fun?" She inquires.

"Maybe you and I can pick a night next week and go to Society and dance and mingle with some people." She suggests helpfully. "A lot of ladies there would love to meet and interact with a handsome, successful, doctor."

"Well, like I've said, I've been really busy with work at the hospital and with the Board, so I haven't been exactly clubbing it up." Nate says sarcastically.

"But you have nights off at times, so let's pick one of them and go somewhere like Society, and mingle, dance and find you a nice lady."

Nate laughs. "I appreciate your offer Phyllis, but I feel like I am the one that should be in charge of my love life. I mean... I should find my own lady."

Phyllis leans back and looks at him. "Okay, that's fine, but I can still steer you in the right direction if I spot someone... And I could be your wing woman." She offers.

A surprised look comes across Nate's face and he laughs after she says that. "My wing woman?" He asks making sure he hadn't misheard her.

Phyllis nods. "Yes, I can be that for you."

"Phyllis...uh..."

"It's not as strange as it sounds, Nate. Like I said I could simply point you in the direction of nice women, maybe make some introductions and let nature take it's course."

Nate makes a face. "I don't know about that."

"Come on, I'm your friend and I can help you." Phyllis insists.

"Yeah... you are..." Nate says looking at her and giving her a sincere smile. "You are." He repeats.

"So..." Phyllis says looking at him, hoping he would agree with her idea.

"We can get together one night when I have off and we can go dancing. But all this wing woman stuff...eh..." Nate says unsure.

Phyllis lightly slaps the bar with her hand. "Okay baby steps. We'll start out taking you dancing and we'll go from there."

"Hmmm..." Nate says and then they look at each other and smile and the server finally comes over and takes their orders for dinner.

"Okay, so now that we've talked about my lack of a love life, let's talk about you." Nate suggests. "How are you doing?" He asks. "Everything going okay?"

"I'm doing fine." Phyllis tells him. "I'm excited about my new grandbaby that is on the way."

"Summer's doing okay?" Nate asks.

Phyllis smiles. "She's doing fine." She confirms to him. "And I can't wait to meet my new grandchild."

Nate smiles at her. "I'm happy to hear that." He tells her sincerely.

"Yeah, both Nick and I are excited. So is Summer's whole family really." She confirms to him. A concerned look then comes across her face.

Nate notices it. "What's up?" He asks.

"Well, I am concerned about one family member." Phyllis confesses to him.

"Who is that?" He asks curiously.

"My son-in-law's biological mother." Phyllis informs him. She then goes on to tell him what happened with Misty at the Lattimore's anniversary party. "She showed up the other night, unannounced, unvited to an anniversary he was giving for his parents."

"That's right, he's adopted." Nate remarks.

Phyllis nods. "And he loves his parents like crazy. But this lady, Misty, that's her name crashed through that party and made a big ugly scene... and whoo she feels like trouble Nate." Phyllis says to him, concerned.

"And if anyone knows what trouble is it's me." Phyllis says giving him a knowing look.

"Did she explain why she showed up like that out of the blue?" Nate asks her curiously.

Phyllis makes a face. "She claims she wanted to repair her relationship with her son and get to know her grandchild."

"That sounds reasonable..." Nate remarks.

"But... why make such a big scene like that, and disrespect the people who raised him?" Phyllis wonders. "I don't know Nate, the situation was very tense and it felt like trouble." She repeats. Her eyes widen for a moment. "And I think it's something I might need to keep my eye on. I don't want this Misty lady doing something that could seriously stress out my daughter during her pregnancy. Or in general."

"Well, you be careful when you are keeping your eye on things. And don't get yourself into trouble." Nate advises her.

"I'll try not to." Phyllis promises him. Their food then arrives and they enjoy it and continue to enjoy each other's company during the dinner, before they part ways and head home for the evening.