A Promise to Get Back on Track and Growing Concerns

"So, I got the job." Misty tells Lincoln excitedly as they are sitting on the couch at his and Summer's home.

"Well, that's good." Lincoln finds himself, saying still a bit unsure of how things would end up working if she stayed around longer term.

"Yes, Sophia was actually impressed with me." Misty brags. "Imagine that, your mother still has it."

"Un-huh." Lincoln says.

"You don't sound so thrilled." Misty says a bit miffed with his reaction to her getting the assistant job at Hamilton-Winters.

"No, it's not that. I'm just…" Lincoln closes his eyes and thinks for a moment. "You know, I'm glad you're trying to put your life back together." He assures her. "I am. Especially if you're serious about wanting to repair your relationship with me and have a relationship with your grandchild."

Misty frowns. "Of course, I'm serious." She tells him shaking her head. "I don't know how many times; I have to tell you that. I'm serious."

"Well, I hope so. And I hope that this job is the start of you really turning your life around."

"It is, you'll see." Misty promises him. "And I will actually be making you and my granddnugget proud." A thoughtful look comes across her face. "Speaking of my grandchild, how is he and Summer doing?" She asks.

"Well." Lincoln nods. "Summer's getting a bit closer to her due date now."

"I saw that." Misty says. "But everything's going well with them?"

He nods. "Yes, she had another checkup everything is well." Lincoln informs her.

"Good." Misty replies. Her eyes then widen. "I have to say I was actually worried about them, when I heard about what had happened at Fen Baldwin's wedding."

Lincoln eyes widen as well. "Yeah, that was a bit crazy."

"Yeah, I mean who would knock a random woman out in a ladies bathroom, like that." Misty questions, perplexed. "Did they catch who did that?"

Lincoln shakes his head. "Unfortunately, no."

Misty shakes her head. "Well, I hope they do." She tells him. "I know I'm no saint by any means, but purposely trying to kill a random person like that, that's a big no." She then looks at Lincoln and chuckles. "I go after the people who I feel have truly wrong me, not random innocents." She nods. "I know who deserves to have me put the screws to them and who doesn't."

Lincoln makes a face when she says this. "Well, if only everyone had your sense of old fashioned justice, mom." He says sarcastically. They look at each other and laugh. Misty brightens up at him calling her mom. He didn't really do that often and hadn't done it in a while. Especially since their relationship had gotten more strained. It was nice to hear him call her that again.

"But seriously I'm glad no one hurt you, or Summer and your child." A serious expression comes on her face. "I'm not here for anyone messing with my family." They talk for a bit more and then Lincoln looks at his watch.

"Monty is supposed to show up shortly." He informs Misty. "We're going to order some dinner together. Summer is actually working late tonight at Newman." He tells her. "She's trying to get some extra work in before she takes her maternity leave."

"Well, I guess that's my cue to skedalle." Misty tells him. "I don't want to clash with your other family." She remarks dryly.

"Monty is a good dude". Lincoln tells her.

"Maybe so, but he has loyalty to Paula, and I know he's not a fan of me. No one in that family is."

Lincoln nods. "Well, maybe things will become smoother." He expresses cautiously. "You are trying and that counts for something."

"I just won't be getting any invites to any anniversary parties anytime soon." Misty jokes. They talk for a bit more and then she gets up to leave.

"I'll talk to you later." She tells him. "And I still want to come over one day and cook dinner for you and Summer." She tells him. "I enjoyed the dinner you guys made for me and I want to return the favor."

Lincoln nods. "That would actually be nice." They talk a little more and then he bids her good-bye, as she heads back to the GCAC.

A little while later, Monty shows up.

"Hey, brother." He says walking into the home with a smile.

"Hey dude, what's up." Lincoln greets him. "You ready to order some chow?"

Monty nods. "Yeah in a minute, I just want to sit for a moment and unwind from work."

"Rough day?" Lincoln asks his younger brother.

Monty makes a face. "Not exactly, well it was an interesting day…" He remarks thinking back to what happened at the photo shoot.

"The photo shoot went okay?"

Monty nods. "It went well, though some unplanned stuff happened."

"Like what?" Lincoln asks curiously.

Monty sits down on the couch and relaxes as he begins to tell his brother about his day. "Well, first two of our models didn't show up." He reports to Lincoln. "Apparently they overslept and missed their flight after they attended a late party last night."

"Well, that's not good." Lincoln notes.

"Yeah, so we were shorthanded two female models… And we had wanted four women and four men, but without those two women, the men outnumbered the women…"

"So, what did you do?"

"Well, Valentina…"

"One of your co-workers right…" Lincoln asks. "The pretty girl that likes to follow you on Twitter and Instagram…."

"Yes…" Monty nods. "She decided to step in as one of the models to help us with the shoot."

"That is interesting." Lincoln nods with a thoughtful expression on his face. "And how did that go…"

"It went great. She did a great job and looked great. She was really rocking those swimsuits…" Monty smiles when he thinks back to Valentina modeling the swimsuits. "She will definitely help us attract some new buyers."

Lincoln laughs. "Of course,"

"But…" Monty frowns when he thinks about what else had happened. "Things still seemed kind of testy…" He pauses for a moment and then continues.

"Testy between?" Lincoln asks.

"Between Valentina and Mattie." Monty informs his brother.

"Ah…" Lincoln says nodding. "Your pretty but more reserved co-worker that you talk about sometimes. And who is working on this Summer collections project with you…"

Monty nods. "Yes her…" He sighs. "For some reason Mattie doesn't seem to care much for Valentina. I don't think she really likes her." He speculates. "I mean I know sometimes Valentina can be kind of bold, and she does say stuff at times that I think pushes Mattie's buttons. Like at the shoot." He shrugs. "But I think that overall she's a decent person and that her heart is often in the right place."

"Though, her and Mattie keep clashing." Lincoln notes. "And you say that Mattie doesn't really like her."

Monty says. "Like not at all." He grows thoughtful. "I have wanted to bring it up with them especially Mattie, but I'm not sure how to broach the subject." He confides in his brother. "I just want them to get along." He declares earnestly. "Because at the end of the day, we all work for the same company and should be on the same side." He smiles. "And Valentina really came through for us today, when we were shorthanded with the models. I don't' think that the shoot would have turned out as well, if she hadn't volunteered to be a model." He speculates.

Lincoln nods as he listens to his younger brother's concerns.

"Do you think there may be more to why Mattie doesn't really like Valentina?" He questions. "Besides a difference in personality and some needling here and there."

Monty shrugs. "I don't know. I just wonder if it's mainly because Valentina's personality rubs her the wrong way." He thinks some more. "And they are like the opposite of each other, well mostly opposite." He remarks.

"Valentina is bold and confident and speaks her mind and is very forward and daring." He tells his brother.

"Whereas Mattie is more reserved and not as brash. Though…." He continues. "She's not afraid to speak her mind too." He states. "She's not afraid to tell me when she doesn't like something."

"Both women are very smart and hard-working." Monty tells his brother. "I can tell they have both worked hard to get to where they are at."

"Umm-hmmm. Well, maybe it's just them trying to get adjusted to each other. Because they differ in some big ways personality wise." Lincoln guesses. "Maybe that's all that it is."

Monty makes a face. "Maybe. I don't know. I just hope they end up getting along." He hopes. "They both have a lot to offer."

"And it doesn't hurt by the way you have spoken of them, that they are both easy on the eyes." His brother teases him.

Monty laughs. "Yeah, that doesn't hurt either." He admits honestly. "Valentina is very pretty and outgoing. And Mattie is also pretty and has this quieter refined quality to her, that is interesting and appealing." He admits to his brother.

"Un-huh…" His brother says. "Sounds like they appeal to you for more than just their work ethics." He teases.

Monty smiles. "I mean…they're my co-workers and sometimes you do have to be careful about stuff like that in the workplace... And at least one of them is taken." Monty tells his brother.

"Valentina?" Lincoln questions. "Or…"

"Mattie." Monty responds. "She has a boyfriend, I've asked about that before, when she was telling me stuff about her family and she didn't deny it, so it's probably true." He shrugs. "I can understand how a woman like her would have a boyfriend. And if she doesn't, she probably is not saying anything, because she wants me to think she does." He laughs. "She may not be saying anything because she doesn't want me to think she's single."

"Oh…?" Lincoln asks laughing. "A pretty girl is not interested in the best-looking Lattimore man in the family." He rolls his eyes. "Well, according to you. You say you're better looking than all of us, including dad."

"Hey, I can't help the truth…" Monty jokes. "We're all good looking men, but I am the best looking one. It is what it is." The two brothers laugh.

"Yeah, she's probably committed to her boyfriend, and may also not be interested in me like that." Monty surrmises nodding. "So that's that."

"And Valentina….?" Lincoln questions.

"Is very flirty." Monty admits. "But for all I know she may have a boyfriend too and just has a flirty nature. I definitely wouldn't be surprised if she had one too. Though, she seems like she may like to keep things light…"

"Yet, you might be looking for something more serious with a woman…" Lincoln guesses.

Monty makes another thoughtful face. "Hmmm, yeah, I…." He stops and shakes his head. "You know what. I should stop wondering about this type of stuff. I could be right about both of them. Or I could be wrong about one or both of them and their situations and intentions." He shrugs. "I don't know. I'm fine with being more focused on my career right now." He gives his brother a serious look. "Women will always be around…"

"And there will always be plenty to fawn over you…, because you are the best-looking Lattimore man in the family." Lincoln states again, laughing.

"And the smartest and most charming…"

"Whatever little brother…" Lincoln says, and the two men laugh again.

"Yeah there's time for more and all of that." Monty declares. "But for right now I mainly want to be successful at work, and I want both Mattie and Valentina to get along with each other. It's better for all of us if they do."

Lincoln nods. "Well, if the tension between them gets to a point, to where you feel you need to say something…"

Monty looks at him and makes a face. "Then I guess I will have to. But hopefully, they will learn to start to get along before it gets to that point." The two brothers talk a bit more and then order some food and enjoy eating it and spending their evening together.