Thorne was still standing in the doorway stunned to hear about Antonio and Brooke going out. Antonio looked, if possible, even more shocked.
Thorne: You’re going out? You two?
Brooke: That’s right.
Bridget: Mom, could you come up here for a minute? – screaming from upstairs.
Antonio was reminded of last night and again felt guilty.
Brooke: Sure, honey. Goodbye, Thorne.
She turned around and gave Antonio a look that said to not tell Thorne. She then headed up the stairs.
Thorne: Antonio, do you mind telling me what’s going on here?
Antonio: “Going on”?
Thorne: With you dating Brooke.
Antonio: Well, I asked her out to dinner. She’s seemed to be so sad lately and I just figured dinner would be nice.
Thorne: And what do you think of her?
Antonio: She’s a very beautiful, intelligent woman…
Thorne: Whom I love very much. Antonio, I asked you to come here and help her get over Rick’s death, not to start dating her.
Antonio: Thorne, it’s just dinner.
Thorne: I hope so. Because I sure would like us to stay friends.
With those words he left.
Bridget: I have nothing to wear, mum. Maybe I just shouldn’t go.
Brooke: Honey! What’s going on? A few days you couldn’t wait to go and now you’re making up excuses not to go. Did something happen?
Bridget: Of course not. I’m probably just nervous, like you said.
Brooke: I’m sure Paula will take really good care of you. It’s really nice that you two have become so close lately.
Bridget: She’s a wonderful friend. – Then why did you betray her? She thought.
Brooke: You and Antonio have become pretty close as well, haven’t you?
Bridget flashed back to what had happened last night.
Bridget: I guess...
Brooke: It’s really helped having him here. I’ve never needed him, but he’s done miracles with you.
Bridget: But I’m fine now, mum. So, maybe it’s time he moved out.
Brooke: Maybe he should. But then what about Teresa, honey? He’s been helpful towards her?
Bridget: Why is she so important to you?
Brooke: She’s been a great friend to me. Just as Paula has for you. Now, you better find something to wear. You can come with me to the office if you want to and borrow a dress at Forrester?
Bridget: I thought you weren’t going in today.
Brooke: I didn’t think so either. But I have a few things to take care of. And I’m also going to borrow a dress. There’s a really beautiful one that Ridge just designed.
Bridget: Why are you borrowing a dress?
Brooke: I have a date tonight.
Bridget: A date?
Brooke: That’s right. I’m going out with Antonio.
Bridget looked… well, shocked.
Teresa was sitting on the bed, thinking things over. Everything was much clearer now. There was so many bits and pieces to put together though.
Teresa: Ah, I need to focus on something else.
She picked up a magazine, she’d borrowed from Brooke.
The first article was one about Paula. Teresa immediately started reading it, thinking it would be fun to get some information about someone she’d met. It was mostly questions about her character on “All my Children”. But the last part of the interview was all about how it had felt for her being abducted before. Paula had answered: “Well, of course it was awful. Fortunately, I had my police education there to help and guide me through it.” And your boyfriend, Ricardo Torres? “That’s right. My EX boyfriend.” From the way her answer had been it was clear that she often got questions about her abduction and how she’d been rescued by Ricardo.
Teresa, however, didn’t notice. She had a weird look upon her face. Torres? Then the basic facts about Paula caught her attention. She had a sister named Gabi. Teresa again remembered the connection she’d made with the videotape and a woman named Gabi. And then there was that Ricardo.
Then, it ALL made sense.
Quentin: I have to admit, I was a little surprised by your phone call.
Kimberly: Really? Well, you shouldn’t have been. I think we’ve gotten a really good contact.
Quentin: I guess we have, haven’t we?
They laughed. Quentin was taken aback by her beauty. Never, had he imagined he’d meet someone like her. She was one extraordinary woman.
Kimberly: Actually, it was Jason’s idea for me to call you.
Quentin: The waiter?
Kimberly: Uhum. He thought it was such a beautiful day and that I shouldn’t miss out on it working.
Quentin: That’s nice of him.
Kimberly: He’s nice all right. Should we head on to the beach?
Quentin: Absolutely!
He had to admit, he couldn’t wait to see her in a bathing suit.
Brooke: OK, honey, I just have to take a quick shower.You haven’t had any breakfast. Why don’t you just go downstairs and eat something?
Bridget: OK.
Antonio: Bridget?
Bridget: Antonio. Good morning.
They smiled a bit uneasy. None of them was interested in a relationship. Their unease was mostly because of Paula and how it had happened. Antonio was also very ashamed, she was only 17. Not to mention that it had been her first time.
Antonio: I’m very sorry about last night.
Bridget: Me too. I don’t want you to think that I have some sort of feelings for you. I don’t even know why it happened.
Antonio: It was my fault. All of it was. I know it’s no excuse that I had been drinking, but…
Bridget: Look, Antonio… I really don’t want to talk about this. It was just something that happened. No one needs to know.
Antonio: Bridget, it’s very hard keeping such a secret. I know, I’ve been there.
Bridget: Fine, tell everyone. Do that. And then, you can face the wrath of my mother and my father. And I don’t think Thorne would appreciate that you, his good friend, whom he brought here to help me get over Rick’s death would use this kind of method.
Antonio: I’m sorry…
Bridget: I’m sorry too. I didn’t mean to sound so cruel. It’s just that I really regret letting this happen. No one else knows, Antonio. What’s to say they have to?
Antonio: OK. I won’t tell anyone.
Bridget: Thank you.
Darla came out of the elevator and immediately walked to her desk and sat down. She had an awful expression on her face. In her office, Sally had heard her coming. She’d just expected her to come inside too. Instead, she went to Darla.
Sally: Honey, what’s wrong? Your date didn’t go so good?
Darla: It was awful, Sally.
Sally: Well, what happened?
Darla: We had dinner at the Café Russe.
Sally: That’s romantic…
Darla: Definitely not. When I got there, I had to wait for an hour until he bothered to show up. And when he finally did, he didn’t even apologize. Not to mention, he wasn’t very good looking. I mean, it’s not as if I NEED someone good looking, but it’s always a plus.
Sally: I know what you mean. Then what happened?
Darla: He wasn’t anything like what he sounded to be on the phone. We had shared our hopes and dreams with one another. He knew about my fear of not getting married someday and I thought he felt the same way. That we were soul mates or something. But, he didn’t feel the same way. Instead he talked on and on about sports and women he’d met as if we were best buddies. Romance was definitely not in the picture.
Sally: Oh, I’m sorry. I know what high hopes you had for this.
Darla: I did. But it didn’t turn out very good. Oh Sal, I should have known that. These kind of things never work for me. I should just lock myself in a room and throw away the key. I’m a disgrace to humanity.
Sally laughed.
Sally: You are not. You’re the best secretary and “daughter” one could ever get.
Darla: You’re just saying that to cheer me up.
Sally: No, I’m serious. You know what I think? I think that if you just stop this search for a man, then someone will show up really soon.
Darla: I got work to do.
Sally knew that this time trying to cheer her up wouldn’t work. She just had to hope that someone special would turn up REAL soon.
Francesca: Well, Francesca, it looks like you’re back – she stated, with a very surprised tone in her voice.
She stood up and walked to the window. She just stood there for a while, admiring the view.
Francesca: I wonder what will happen next. When I tell everyone that I have my memory back, what kind of reaction will it give them?… and me?
Then she just started laughing.
Francesca: When did I ever get this serious?
Bootylicious: so… do U think this will go on 4ever?
Irresistible: don’t know, maybe…
Bootylicious: yeah, I remember when I first left my hometown… pretty tough.
Irresistible: it’s all so new… I just wanna go back home… where everything was so simple.
Bootylicious: it’s a challenge… I say, take it…
And Julian promised himself that he would.
Paula was talking on the phone with one of the arrangers of the Soap Opera Digest Awards.
Paula: OK, I’ll see you then. Bye.
She looked around and then at her watch, where was Bridget?
Reese: Hello Paula.
Paula: Reese…p> Reese: It’s been a long time. – she sat down.
Paula: How have you been?
Reese: Ups and downs. You?
Paula: Just fine.
The politeness in this conversation felt sort of forced on. Neither of them had really liked the other back in Sunset Beach. Reese had always thought Paula was too bold for her Megan. Paula on the other hand had always thought of Reese as someone who just used her children to get men. Not that it had really worked. After all Megan, Julian and Quentin all had different fathers who had all split. She supposed she should feel sorry for Reese, but she didn’t. How could she? By the looks of it, she’d really climbed her way up to the top.
Reese: I read in the paper you were presenting an award tonight.
Paula: That’s right. If you can’t be nominated yourself you make sure you get to present an award instead I suppose. I’ve heard some very interesting things about you as well.
Reese: Really?
Paula: Of course. What’s it like having so much money?
Reese: Like you don’t have some of your own…
Paula: No. I make just about what any other citizen of the United States make. Maybe a little bit more, but almost the same. You on the other hand…
Reese: I don’t know what you’re implying, but I have enough to make it.
Paula: Whatever you say. What brings you to LA anyway?
Reese: My daughter, of course.
Paula’s face changed to a little confused expression.
Reese: Listen, Paula. I know you and I have never had anything in common. I also know that we have always been honest about that. But…
Paula: But what?
Reese: We do share something.
Paula: What’s that?
Reese: We both love Megan. I’ve always known how special friendship you two shared, I think it bothered me a little bit that she never came to me with her problems. She went to you instead.
Paula: And I came to her with my problems.
Reese: But things changed for you two. Just like it did for me and Megan. I don’t know what happened between you and frankly, I don’t need to know.
Paula: Reese, if you don’t mind me asking… Where are you going with all of this?
Reese: Can’t we, you and me, can’t we help each other work things out with Megan?
Paula: I know for a fact that she doesn’t want to work things out with me.
Reese: Paula, please. I need to be part of her life again. I won’t be a whole person until I am.
Paula: Reese, you do know that I don’t like you, right?
Reese: Absolutely. And you know I don’t like you?
Paula: I do.
Reese: See, we have another thing in common. So, what do you say? Are you with me?
Paula was still kinda surprised by her proposal, it was a little weird.
Paula: I’ll think about it. Now, I really have to get going.
She had spotted Bridget outside. Reese: Don’t think too long.
Kimberly: OK, I don’t really like to bade.
Quentin: You can’t be serious. There is nothing like going to the ocean on a sunny day and take a nice cold bath.
Kimberly: Sure, I can go to the ocean. But mostly, I just try to improve my tan.
Quentin started laughing.
Kimberly: What?
Quentin: It’s just that, you sounded so much like a “California Girl”.
Kimberly: How do you know so much about California girls?
Quentin: I do have a TV, you know.
Kimberly: So you’re a “Baywatch” fan?
Quentin: Not anymore. I used to like it when I was younger. Don’t know why really…
Kimberly: And you should know that I’m from Nantucket. I wasn’t born in LA.
Quentin: Really?
Kimberly: You sound surprised.
Quentin: Well… it’s just that you fit in here so good. I mean, in a good way.
Kimberly: I think you’re right. Moving to LA was the best thing I ever did. It gave me the chance to meet so many new people.
Quentin: I couldn’t agree more. – he smiled. Now, come on! Let’s go get wet.
He rushed towards the water while Kimberly started walking, actually tip-toeing, very slowly.
Quentin: Oh, come on!
Julian was lying on the couch, just thinking. But it wasn’t about Megan. He had finally been able to forget about their lunch for a while. No, he was thinking about his Internet chatting. He knew that it was like an obsession sometimes. He could sit and chat for hours. He wasn’t even sure why he did it. It’s not like he was looking for something or someone special. It was… fun! Sometimes he’d be chatting about sports, other times about music and often about moving to LA, like he had in his chat with Bootylicious. He still though hadn’t found someone who caught his REAL attention. Mostly it was just kids having fun. He often thought that it would be fun to have someone to talk with about REAL things. What he didn’t know was that, soon he would be.
