Chapter 739: Stafford Townhouse
Wednesday, March 23rd, Afternoon
Wednesday, sometime between the afternoon and evening, she found herself sitting in the parlor of her townhouse on Waverly Place in Manhattan, New York, New York. Printouts, books, and a laptop were laid out before her. She preferred to review her stuff here than in her office, only a flight of stairs above. Soft music played on the townhouse's sound system that was spec'ed by a friend.
Fallon found times like this less peaceful, especially with the stress of the coming meeting with the Federal prosecutor. Things looked grim for her.
Her doorbell chose this minute to ring. It was distracting her for a moment from the impending darkness. She picked up her smartphone and checked her doorbell camera. Getting up, she answered the door, finding a tall blonde woman around her age standing on her stoop.
"This is a pleasant surprise," Fallon said.
"I was concerned; Mom told me I should check in on you, and when Mom said that, it's serious. So what's going on, Fallon?" Christy asked. Christy had known Fallon Stafford for a long time, seeing as their parents had been close. Christy had always admired Baldwin Stafford and had been deeply saddened when she'd heard about what happened to him.
"Nothing too crazy, CeCe, just the usual bullshit," Fallon said, trying to lie.
"Okay, let me ask the question this way: how bad is it? On a scale of I need a cup of coffee to an entire pot of coffee?" Christy asked.
Fallon sighed, "A pot of Irish Coffee," she said.
"That- oh shit, that's horrible, Fallon," she sighed, "I do have something that may help, or at least ease your mind a bit," she smiled, reaching to pull her small backpack off of her back, "Cups or grounds?" She'd brought some of Fallon's favorite blend of coffee- both in K-cup and ground form.
"Come in, and we'll figure out how much we'll need," Fallon said.
She steps into the townhouse, smiling at the wave of calmness that had washed over her when she did so.
"Kitchen, as you recall, is downstairs," Fallon said, leading her to the stairs.
"Absolutely," Christy said and nodded. It had been quite some time since she'd been there, but she'd spent so much time there that it was easy to remember once she stepped back in. She followed Fallon downstairs to the kitchen.
"So, how is Lizzie?" Fallon asked.
"She's good; she's with Johnny and his family this weekend, per the arrangement," Christy said, smiling.
"That's good," As Fallon sat at the breakfast bar, "Knock yourself out with the coffee maker."
Christy pulls out the K-Cups, knowing there was a Keurig somewhere in the townhouse, and puts them in the cabinet; she then takes out the bag of ground coffee and, glancing at the coffee maker, grinned as she figures out how to operate it. Like it's second nature, she's got two of the most giant cups Fallon owns, and she's putting the finishing touches on the coffee.
"So, what's new with you? See anyone? Is Johnny seeing anyone?" Fallon asked.
Christy cleans up the coffee maker and turns around with both cups in her hand, handing one to her friend, "Johnny's girlfriend is a good friend to many mutual friends of mine, and she's still just as sweet as she's always been. She was my teammate at Fordham, too, so we know each other very well. It helps that she adores and respects my girl; that's all that matters to me. But you know Lizzie, as much as she's a Dalton, she's also a Carmichael and won't hesitate to call that woman out on her crap when she's overstepping, Terri, Kris, and Jen too. As for me, still happily single."
"Really, you should have people tripping over to date you," Fallon said, "Not like short, preteen-built people like me."
"I'm not saying I don't have suitors, Fallon," Christy sighed.
"Right, you're a worse workaholic than me," Fallon said.
"I have to be; I'm the shop's general manager and the director of paralegal services at the firm; that's just the professional responsibility. That little girl also requires much of my time, and she is growing up so fast!"
"Well, both you and Johnny are giants, but everyone is a giant compared to me," Fallon said, "I even think Keni will be taller than me."
"Not just physically," Christy chuckled, "I see her personality growth, too. She's got the best of both of us in her."
"You should see Keni, as well," Fallon said and nodded, "She's a handful; thank god I'm not there all the time."
Christy laughed, "Knowing you as I do, that's probably for the better."
Fallon nodded, "Yeah, hard to believe she's fifteen, almost sixteen; it's been that long," she said.
"Wow, really? Sheesh and I thought Lizzie was growing up too fast!"
"Yeah, she has her own little world down there, even a close-knit group of friends. Do you know what they call themselves?" Fallon said.
"Tell me," she laughed.
"The Isle of Misfit Toys," Fallon said and laughed.
"I bet they're a bunch of misfits," Christy laughed.
"They seem pretty much normal, but that is Keni's humor," Fallon said.
"That sounds like she gets it from her mother. How is Brooke, by the way?"
"She is a Queen in her Queendom; what she sees, she rules," Fallon said, "Pretty much normal, Brooke Davis."
"Did I mention Keni is still super tight with Sawyer Scott?" Fallon asked.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Christy smiled, about halfway done with her cup of coffee.
"Which part?" Fallon asked.
"Your sister having long-lasting friendships doesn't surprise me at all; I mean, I'm sitting here with you right now," Christy smiled.
"Hmm, yeah, I think they plan to come here for college, probably even the same school," Fallon said.
"We've got a bunch of great schools up here," Christy smiled, "They'll have their pick."
"Well, Keni is going to NYU; I told her that," Fallon said.
"Can she get in? It's noted as a Public Ivy for a reason, Fallon," Christy points out.
Fallon laughed, "I got in..." she said.
"Yes, but you and I got in because we had the grades. Fordham was never my top choice; NYU was, but Fordham recruited me to play lacrosse, and I wasn't about to play stupid games and turn down a free education. Law school debt? Well, I'm about 92% done paying that off."
"It's not always about grades," Fallon said, "Stafford carries some weight at NYU."
"You and I both know she can't rest on her laurels too much. How's she going to handle the real world coasting through life?"
"Keni, well, she'll just storm Area 51," Fallon said.
"Right- not just a Stafford, but also a Davis," Christy's eyes widen in recollection.
"That was her brother who got that idea in her head," Fallon said, rolling her eyes.
Christy smirks in amusement, "I can only imagine the wave of energy flowing through the Manor. I'll have to shoot Brooke an email to touch base soon."
"Yeah, and as for the rest, you see Trin regularly, and Izzy is in the news," Fallon said.
"It's always lovely to see Trin, even if I can only do so while serving her coffee. As for Izzy and I, we stay in touch the best we can; I try to stay connected with all of my people the best I can; that's another reason why I stopped by today.
"Chase?" Fallon asked.
Christy just shrugs.
"I saw how you reacted when I was face timing her," Fallon said, "And I also know she doesn't keep in contact with people from back then."
Christy just sighed; it was the most sore subject. And her heart broke every time she thought about it.
"We both know that your mom knows I have my shit handled; you are here for other reasons because what I could tell you about my legal issues could be done in a five-minute phone call," Fallon said.
Christy power drinks the last of her coffee, "Maybe we both needed the distraction."
"You're not over her? Sixteen years?" Fallon said.
"I've tried so damn hard...!" Christy buries her head in her hands.
"Therapy, all of it- I tried so damn hard, and I can't," Christy looked deeply pained.
"Well, I have been seeing someone," Fallon said.
"That makes one of us," Christy mumbled.
"I just can't do that to someone," she whispers.
"His name is Grant Coyle; he works at the Knight Gallery," Fallon said.
"I'm glad you're happy; you deserve it."
"Thank you," Fallon said, "He's one of us."
"One of us?" Christy asks.
"Upper East side type," Fallon said.
"I was barely an Upper East Sider," she laughed, "We were more upper middle class, lower high."
Fallon chuckled, "The stories we tell ourselves," she said.
"We both know damn right well I was only accepted because of what my mother did for a living," Christy snorted with a loud laugh.
"Well, anyway, why haven't you tried to reach out to Chase?" Fallon asked.
"You know why," Christy sighs softly, "She's a married woman with children."
"You were also a friend. I doubt Chase will ever return to New York; she only did it twice since she moved down there," Fallon said.
Christy's heart drops, 'Tell me something I don't know. She's moved on, and I swear, Fallon, I will do the same or die trying." Her voice doesn't have the energy it did at the beginning of the conversation.
"How about someone from the Foundation? They're all Upper East Side types, and I think one or two went to the same school," Fallon said.
"I just want my heart to let me move forward, but it won't for some god-awful reason," Christy nodded.
"Best way to get over someone, CeCe," Fallon said.
"God," she cackles, "You're not wrong. Feel free to play matchmaker."
"Alright," Fallon said and sent a message to Christy from her phone.
She looks at it, smiling, "Really?"
"Yeah, really," Fallon said.
"Terri? Why?" Christy raises a brow.
"Oops, wrong contact," Fallon said and laughed.
"Actually, I-" Christy blushed.
Fallon looked and signaled to go on.
"That summer, after they moved? Terri and I hooked up a LOT," Christy blushes beet red.
"So maybe she isn't necessarily the wrong person, but- we have Lizzie to think about."
"Hmm, what was I doing that summer? Oh yeah, holding Izzy's hair," Fallon said.
Christy raised a brow, "I don't want to know."
"Morning sickness," Fallon said.
"Oh-!" she nodded, cleaning her cup.
"I do have a picture of Keni," Fallon said.
"You can share it if you want to," Christy smiled, the cup cleaned up and back with the others in the cabinet.
Fallon pulled up the picture and showed it to Christy. It was a picture of Keni and Sawyer in their cheerleading uniforms after Tree Hill Girls's basketball team won the state championship.
"Also, have another cup; a whole pot is too much for my tiny body," Fallon said.
She picks up a smaller mug this time, pouring a hearty helping but managing to leave the room. She grabs the cream and places a dash in her cup, sitting back down at the table, "They look so happy; I wish I could remember what that feels like."
"Yeah, that's a fake smile on Sawyer," Fallon said.
Christy just nodded; she understood the art of the fake smile. She'd been wearing a manufactured smile for almost seventeen years.
"Sawyer would rather have been playing in that game than cheering it, but reasons," Fallon said.
"Just like I'm comfortable being alone, but I don't really want to be," she said.
"Yeah, well, do you keep up with Candi?" Fallon asked.
"All the time," she grinned.
"She's coming East for a bit to look after her dad; maybe you should come down and see her," Fallon said.
"You talking about going solo? I could always join you on that flight?" she throws the offer out.
"Unfortunately, I don't think I will be able to leave the state of New York," Fallon said, "But Izzy is down there."
"I'm not saying I'll go," she shrugs, "just that I'll think about it."
"Who knows, the change of scenery and pace might do wonders for you, and I'm sure Lizzie would excel at school down there," Fallon said.
"You want me to move to North Carolina?" she frowns, deeply puzzled by that thought.
"Just saying there is always a possibility you might like it down there," Fallon said and smiled, pulling out a business card from something on the breakfast bar, "Stay at the Beaulieu B great service, facilities, and food."
Christy sighs, "I could use the break." She copies the information via the Notes App and returns the card to Fallon.
"Keep the card. I have plenty," Fallon said.
She stuck it into her phone wallet.
"It's a whole other perspective on life," Fallon said, "Also, Ellie is down there, still."
"Good to know," she smiled.
"Not a fan of Ellie Scott?" Fallon asked.
"Just don't really know her," Christy said.
"You'll like her, very down to earth, but has the touch of Loki in her," Fallon said.
"I wonder how she'd feel about that reference," Christy laughed.
"She made it up," Fallon said, laughing
"Loki, though?" Christy snorted.
"Writers," Fallon said.
"Ah," she smiled.
"Yeah, that's Ellie Scott," Fallon said.
Christy smiled. She had already texted her dad, who said she was due for some time off, and John, Dave, and Maureen told her the same thing.
"Well, I'll be off; I have packing to do," Christy grinned.
"Packing?" Fallon asked.
"You made the pitch, and I got time off from both jobs," she grinned.
"Okay, and if you want to move, I happen to know the head of a recording label that is always looking for help in their legal department," Fallon said.
"I'll keep that in mind, Fallon," Christy smiled, leaving the coffee behind and taking the time to reseal the bag of grounds before placing it next to the coffee maker, "And hey, it's going to work out, I promise."
"I doubt it; nothing is ever clean when it comes to those things," Fallon said.
"I understand the realism," she grinned, "But we're too young to believe things won't be okay; best of luck, and I'll keep you in my thoughts. I'll call soon."
"Thanks," Fallon said.
Christy smiled, heading out.