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EPISODE TWO: "'Til Death Due Us Part"
It's a sunny afternoon in Baltimore. Brooke is driving north on Charles Street, heading toward The Brew to meet Kyle. Brooke talks nervously and quickly on her cell phone as she pulls her green Honda Civic into the parking lot across the street from the bar.
"Okay, so everything is ready to go. It's around noon now so I will meet you there this afternoon at 3:00 so we can make sure everything is set up for the reception. Please don't be late because I have to be at the wedding rehearsal by 5:00 and I'm already cutting it close." She pauses and listens to the caller on the other end of the phone. " Thanks so much. I'll see you then." Brooke ends the call transmission on her cell phone, drops the phone in her purse, and opens the door of her car to get out. As she stands up and leans into the car to grab her jacket and her purse, a hand touches her shoulder from behind and startles her.
"Why are you so jumpy today, beautiful," Kyle asks as Brooke turns to see his familiar smile. She smacks him with her open palm on his chest and then gives him a hug to say hello. "So you didn't answer me, why are you so jumpy today? Thinking of ways to get out of this, eh?" Brooke smacks Kyle again and laughs, "Yeah, I just called my travel agent and I'm on a flight to Budapest tonight." Kyle shoots Brooke a pouty look and the both of them laugh again. "But seriously, I just got off of the phone with Faith and everything seems to be in order for the reception. How are things going on your end?"
"Well, the cook quit this morning, the wait staff are all out with the flu, and we just realized we double-booked for tonight so the rehearsal dinner has been cancelled," Kyle jokes. Again greeted with a light smack across his chest, Kyle smiles. Kyle reaches over to Brooke and puts his arms around her. "Everything is under control." He kisses her on the forehead. "Now, I want you to relax and take a deep breath and start enjoying all of this. Tomorrow is your day and I don't want it to be ruined by this obsessive need to control everything." Brooke pulls back from Kyle and looks at him. "Faith will handle the reception and the staff at the bar will do an excellent job with the rehearsal dinner," he continues. "The only thing you have to do is make sure you show up and everything will be fine." He gives her a reassuring smile and the couple starts walking toward The Brew.
As Brooke and Kyle cross Charles Street and head into the front door of the bar, someone watches them from the parking lot. Once they are inside The Brew, the person watching them pulls onto Charles Street and drives away.
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Meanwhile, a few blocks northwest of The Brew, in Bolton Hill, Holly and Paul
are sitting at their kitchen table eating lunch. "So I have to run to
Professor Erlich's office and drop off my term paper, track down Professor
Martin, and then head to The Brew to meet everyone," Holly explains to
Paul. "What are your plans?" She takes a bite of her
sandwich.
Paul chews and swallows a bite of his sandwich and answers, "I have to run by the financial aid office and make certain my tuition has been paid in full. I don't want to go through that mess I went through last semester, especially since it looks like I am going to make graduation in May."
"Oh, that reminds me. Where did you put that check from my father? I should put that in the bank today while I am out running errands," Holly adds. Paul lays his sandwich on the plate and leans back in the chair. "I don't know why he has to send us money, Holly. And I don't know why you keep accepting it," he says to Holly angrily.
Holly gets defensive and snaps, "I don't know why this whole money thing is such a big deal to you. My father has money and he's generous with it." Paul gets up from the table with his plate and half-eaten sandwich, and drops it into the sink. Holly continues, "You really need to let this pride thing go. It's really starting to get old--this whole idea that you're not a man if you aren't supporting 'your woman.'"
Paul turns and looks at Holly, still sitting at the table but now turned in her chair facing Paul. "It's not pride, Holly. It's called independence. And one of these days you'll learn what it's all about and you'll realize that we don't need your father's help every time we get a bill in the mail." Paul walks out of the kitchen and down the hallway. Holly watches in disbelief as Paul grabs his jacket from the staircase banister and heads out of the front door.
Later that evening, after the wedding rehearsal, Brooke, Kyle, Alex, Holly,
Paul, Jamie, Bret, Catrina, Valerie, and the other members of the wedding party
arrive at The Brew. Everyone is laughing and enjoying the buffet and
cocktails in the upstairs banquet-party room. Brooke walks over to Kyle
and comments on the crowd having such a wonderful time. As the two watch
their friends and family chatting, eating, and drinking, Jamie walks over to the
couple. "Everything is wonderful. This food is so delicious and
the staff has been great," Jamie compliments. Brooke and Kyle smile
and Jamie continues, "except they can't seem to keep enough Raspberry Stoli
up here. Alex told me there is stock downstairs. Do you mind if I
run down and grab a bottle?"
Brooke and Kyle laugh and Kyle sarcastically replies, "Maybe if you sipped your drinks instead of guzzling them, we wouldn't keep running out." Jamie and Brooke both laugh and Jamie jokes back, "You try living with Bret and see how much vodka you drink. Brooke adds, "I'll get it for you. I have to run to the restroom anyway and I'll just pick it up on my way back." Jamie thanks her and as she heads down the steps, Kyle and Jamie return to mingling with the crowd.
Several minutes later, downstairs at the main bar by the front door, Brooke is waiting for the bartender to pass her the bottle of Raspberry Stoli when someone walking into the front door catches her attention. As Brooke stares in amazement, Ashley walks over to one of the barbacks. Ashley asks him about Kyle and the barback points up the stairs toward the party room. As she heads across the room and toward the stairs, Brooke heads her off at the bottom of the staircase. "What in the hell are you doing here," Brooke demands. Just as Brooke blocks Ashley's path up the steps, Jamie walks partially down the staircase and stops when she sees the verbal altercation begin.
"I just moved back to Baltimore from New York and I thought I'd stop by to catch up with an old friend. Now if you don't mind getting out of my way, I'm going to say hello to Kyle," Ashley bites. As Ashley attempts to use her arm to move Brooke and clear a path to the stairs, Brooke grabs her arm and holds it tightly. Ashley quickly pulls her arm away and steps back. "How dare..."
"I don't know why you're here and I don't know what you want, but I'm going to say this once and only once so you listen closely," Brooke threatens. "Kyle and I are getting married tomorrow and I'll be damned if your oh so coincidental appearance in Baltimore is going to mess things up again. So why don't you hop on that train or take that plane or grab your broomstick and fly yourself back to your little life in New York City. Nobody, especially Kyle and myself, wants you in Baltimore."
Ashley snickers at Brooke and then turns and heads toward the door. As Brooke watches to make sure she leaves, Ashley stops and turns around. "You know, Brooke, you would think after all of these years, you would be secure enough in your relationship with Kyle that my presence wouldn't threaten you. However, you've made it painfully, and pitifully, obvious that you know Kyle will never love you the way he loved me." As Ashley turns and walks out of the door, a tear runs down Brooke's face and Jamie walks down the stairs and steps beside Brooke.
"Are you okay, sweetie?" Jamie asks, placing her arm on Brooke's shoulder.. "Who in the hell was that?" Brooke wipes her eyes and smiles at Jamie. "Oh that was an old friend," Brooke tells her. Brooke races to the bar, grabs the bottle of Stoli, and heads up the stairs. "Come on, Jamie," Brooke says, forcing a smile as she shakes the bottle in the air. "I'm going to have one of these with you." Brooke turns and heads up the steps and Jamie walks over to the front window and watches Ashley get into her car--the same car that was at the parking lot earlier in the day when Brooke and Kyle were there. "An old friend, eh? I'd hate to meet one of your enemies, Brooke," Jamie whispers aloud, talking to herself. Once Ashley has pulled from the lot, Jamie turns and heads upstairs to rejoin the party.
Later that night, in the party room at The Brew, Brooke and Kyle are seeing off their guests. Catrina approaches the couple and thanks them. Kyle gives Catrina a hug. "Now, Catrina, I'm leaving it up to you to be certain Brooke isn't late tomorrow," Kyle jokes. "It's too bad Scott couldn't make it tonight. Hopefully he'll be feeling better tomorrow and will be able to make it to the wedding and the reception," Kyle adds.
"Oh, I'm sure it's some twenty-four hour thing and he'll be fine in the morning," Catrina replies. "He's probably at home now nursing himself back to health because I know he wouldn't want to miss your big day, Kyle," she laughs. "Maybe it will even get him in a marriage mood and my wedding will be the next one." The three of them laugh.
Brooke turns to Kyle and kisses him. "Catrina is going to give me a ride home," As Brooke grabs her coat from a nearby chair, she turns to Kyle and finishes, "and you, Mr. Fletcher, better not be here too late because you need to be at your best tomorrow." Brooke smiles at him and he replies, saluting her in military fashion, "Yes ma'am, Mrs. Fletcher, yes ma'am." Brooke gives Kyle one last peck on the lips. She says, "Mrs. Fletcher? I like the sound of that!" She and Catrina head down the steps. Kyle walks over to one of the tables and starts cleaning up dishes.
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Downtown,
at his office, Scott is sitting at his desk with a bottle of Tequila and a shot
glass. He is pouring himself shot after shot. As he does yet another
shot, a voice calls out from his opened office door. "Are you
planning to drink all of that yourself or can an old friend help you
out?" Scott looks up from his desk and across his office and sees
Ashley standing in the doorway. Laying the shot glass on the desk, he gets
up from his chair, stumbling a bit because he is so intoxicated.
"Ashley? I can't believe my eyes." The two meet in the
middle of the office and hug their hellos.
Scott walks over to the desk and sits on top of it as Ashley makes herself comfortable in a chair beside him. Scott pours another shot of Tequila and hands the shot glass to Ashley. "I haven't seen you in years. What brings you back to Baltimore?" he inquires. Ashley dumps the shot down her throat and her face squinches as she swallows the alcohol. "Well, I decided that New York City wasn't my style and I missed all of my 'hons' down here in good old Bawlmer," she says mocking the infamous Baltimore accent. "And I hear there's a big wedding tomorrow. I guess my invitation just got lost in the mail."
Scott laughs at Ashley. "You can have mine if you want it," he says with a half-serious/half-joking tone. Ashley reaches across Scott's lap and grabs the bottle. She sits back in the chair and crosses her legs while pouring herself another shot. "So you're still hung up on Brooke?" she asks while putting the shot glass and bottle down on the desk, standing up, and rubbing her hands on Scott's legs. "I would have thought that such an intelligent prize catch, like yourself, would have come to his senses by now." Scott grabs her wrists and pulls her into him.
"Prize catch, huh?" Scott pulls Ashley even closer and attempts to kiss her. She immediately pulls away from him and steps back from the desk. "Don't you ever put your hands on me like that again!" she yells. Scott stands up and apologizes. "Lighten up, Ash. Geesh, you used to be fun like that." Scott turns and walks around the desk and sits in his chair. He props his feet on the desk "I guess life in a big city like New York has changed you. You used to be so carefree and now you're just a little too uptight for me." Ashley returns to her seat in the chair on the opposite side of Scott's desk.
She looks at Scott. "That's why I've come back to Baltimore. I want my old life back and I think you're the only person who can help me get it," she explains, "You hate Kyle and you're in love with Brooke. I hate Brooke, and Kyle's still in love with me. We have to make sure this wedding doesn't happen tomorrow." Scott quickly throws his feet to the floor and leans over his desk toward Ashley. "You've been gone far too long for anyone's good, Ash, and I would have to agree that if anyone could break the two of them up, it would be us. There's just one problem--Brooke and Kyle are so in love with one another and their getting married tomorrow. I think it's probably too late to stop the wedding now--at least by doing anything short of crashing it and snatching them both away from one another at the altar."
Ashley goes on, "I am going back to The Brew tonight to see Kyle. I'm sure I can get an invite to the wedding tomorrow. Chances are, Kyle won't see Brooke until the ceremony so she'll be shocked, to say that least, to see me when she's walking down the aisle. Once she sees me, the wedding is as good as over." Ashley flashes an evil grin to Scott and stands up. "When Brooke is devastated because she realizes that Kyle still wants me in his life, you can take the opportunity to be her comforting shoulder. She and Kyle will postpone the wedding indefinitely, break it off, and Kyle and I will live happily ever after. And Brooke and yourself can ride off into the sunset together--or whatever it is you do in your little fairy tale fantasy." Scott just stares at Ashley as she turns and heads to the door, calling out just as she leaves, "I am counting on you to help me here, Scott. Don't let me down."
As Ashley disappears into elevator, Scott pours himself another shot and drinks it. He picks up the telephone and presses a speed dial button. A voice on the other end of the line answers, "Front desk security." Scott replies, "Yes, this is Scott Reynolds in suite 1103. Could you get me a cab out front. I'm heading home for the night." The voice replies, "Yes sir. I'll call for one now." He hangs up the phone and pours himself one last shot. He finishes the shot and grabs his jacket and briefcase and heads out of the office, closing the door behind him.
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About a half an hour later, Scott arrives at the house he shares with Catrina in
Mt. Vernon. As he walks in the door, Catrina is standing in the foyer by
the closet door, hanging her coat on a hanger. Scott closes the front door
behind him and looks up at Catrina with surprise that she is home.
"Hey there. I didn't expect you to be home so early. Did you
have a good time?" Catrina walks over to Scott and takes his jacket
from him 
and hangs it in the
closet next to her own. She doesn't say a word to him. "What
did I do now?" Scott inquires. Catrina just looks at him and heads up
the stairs to the bedroom.
A few minutes later, Catrina is laying in bed and Scott walks into the bedroom. "Are you going to ignore me forever or do I get to know what's bugging you?" Catrina sits up and follows Scott with her eyes as he gets undressed and walks back and forth across the floor, putting his clothes in the hamper and his shoes in the closet on the other side of the room. He walks over to the bed and pulls the covers on his side of the bed down. "Well?"
Catrina begins, "Well first of all, I'm sick of making excuses for you. You never come out with the gang anymore and tomorrow Kyle and Brooke are getting married. It would have been nice if you would have been there tonight to support them. Secondly, you wreak of alcohol. You come home from the office late all of the time and you wreak of alcohol. It's getting really old, Scott. I know you work hard, but once in a while I would like some of your attention."
Kyle lays his head back onto the pillow and pulls the covers over himself. "I was actually going to show up tonight, you know, but now I'm kind of glad that I didn't," he tells her. She looks down at him inquisitively and he continues, "Ashley is back in town." Catrina quickly interrupts, "I know. She showed up at The Brew. Luckily, Brooke was able to stop her before she caused any trouble. She left, but not before upsetting Brooke. How do you know that Ashley is back?" Scott picks himself up and turns on his side facing Catrina and rests his head on his hand. "Ashley came by the office a little bit ago. And from what she told me while she was there, I don't think Brooke has stopped her from causing trouble." Catrina listens. "She is planning to show up at the wedding, hoping to cause a big fight between Kyle and Brooke. She going to make sure there isn't a wedding tomorrow."
Scott reaches up and switches off the light on the nightstand beside his bed. Catrina, with just a slither of moonlight across her face, is staring into the dark room. "Then I'll just have to have make sure that there is a wedding. Ashley shouldn't have come back to Baltimore. Tomorrow, if she shows up at the wedding, she is going to regret it." Catrina lays down and rolls over with her back facing Scott. "The bitch should have stayed in New York."
====================================
Meanwhile, back at The Brew, Kyle is closing the bar--he is turning off the
lights, arming the alarm, and he walks out of the back alley door and locks it
behind him. He walks up the alley toward his car, which is parked behind a
neighboring building. As he is walking, he is fumbling with his
keys. Once he finds the key on his keyring that he is looking for, he
looks up at his car and sees Ashley leaning against his driver side door.
He walks
up to the car and moves her out of his way. He opens the car door and
turns to Ashley. "I don't know why you're here or what you could
possibly want, but you need to just get in your car and go back to New
York." Kyle gets into his car, starts the engine, and looks once
again at Ashley. He sees that she is crying. He hits the power
window button and calls to her, "What? Why are you crying?"
"He beats me, Kyle. He beats me," Ashley tells him, sobbing. "I came home because I need help. I don't have anyone else to turn to." Kyle gets out of the car and walks over to Ashley. She stretches her arms out, still sobbing, and wraps them around this shoulders while his arms remain at his sides. "I had to leave or he would have killed me, Kyle. I packed a change of clothes and just left. I left it all. I'm so scared," she continues.
Kyle reaches up and pushes Ashley away from him. He looks down at her and angrily into her tear-filled eyes. "I don't care what kind of problems you have. I don't care why you've come back to Baltimore. I'm getting married tomorrow, Ash. I'm marrying the woman I love. I'm marrying Brooke. So you need to pack your things up with this story and your lies and you need to get the hell out of this city." Kyle lets Ashley go and gets back into his car. He looks over at her through the still opened window and threatens, "The last time you were here I almost lost Brooke. If you do anything to mess things up this time, I'll kill you."
Kyle speeds away as Ashley stands and watches his car drive up the alley. She wipes her eyes and screams in the direction is which Kyle drove, "You still love me, Kyle Fletcher. You still love me. You still love me...." She repeats this as she falls to her knees in tears again.
The next morning, at the Mt. Vernon church where Brooke and Kyle are exchanging their vows, Catrina and Jamie arrive at the church and immediately track Brooke to a small room off of the main entrance of the building. After a few minutes attempting to calm Brooke's jitters, Catrina, looking out of the window from the room into the church parking lot, abruptly excuses herself . Brooke and Jamie just look at one another as Catrina scurries out and closes the door behind her. Catrina walks to the main entrance of the church and stands there staring at the doors. The doors open and in walks Ashley.
"Ashley, I didn't know you were going to be here?" Catrina inquires. Ashley walks into the church and looks around. She turns to Catrina and asks, "Where is Brooke? I want to talk to her now."
"I don't think that's a good idea, Ashley. Brooke is about to marry Kyle and you are the last person she wants to see," Catrina pleads. "Just leave. Please leave. You don't want to be here. It will just make it harder for you and everyone else."
"I"m not leaving until I talk to Brooke so you can tell me where she is or I can find her myself and disturb everyone in the process," Ashley threatens. Catrina finally gives in and tells Ashley to follow her. They both walk down a long hallway off of the main entrance until they come to a door near the end. Catrina stops and turns to Ashley. "I'll give you two minutes with her and no more."
Ashley walks over to the door and opens it. Just as she opens the door, Catrina pushes her from behind and she falls into the room. Catrina slams the door and locks it from the outside. She leans against the door and says, "I'll be damned..." she looks up and makes the sign of the cross in front her, "...I'll be damned if you're going to ruin Brooke's day, Ashley." Catrina walks away and goes back to the room where Brooke and Jamie are waiting, leaving Ashley locked behind the door.
Several minutes later, the wedding is about to begin. As Catrina, Jamie, and Brooke stand at the main entrance waiting for their cue to walk down the aisle, they can hear faint banging from the end of the hallway. Brooke looks at Catrina and Jamie and asks, "What in the world is that?" Catrina looks at Brooke and declares, "Oh, it's nothing. Probably just an old furnace or a rat or something."
In the closet, Ashley is banging on the inside of the door. "Catrina, let me out of here. You're going to be sorry when I get my hands on you."
Scott, who was standing just around the corner when Ashley came in, and saw the entire incident, looks at Catrina and smiles. Jamie leans over to Catrina, in front of her in line to walk down the aisle, and asks, "What did you do, Catrina? Who is making that noise?" Catrina, looking forward, begins to march down the aisle on cue, followed seconds later by Jamie. Once they are at the altar, Catrina leans over to Jamie and giggles, "I locked an old friend in the closet so she wouldn't ruin Brooke's wedding." Jamie snickers, but quickly controls her laughter, remembering how Brooke referred to Ashley as "an old friend."
The bridal music begins and the doors open at the back of the church. Brooke is standing there in her wedding dress and Kyle has taken his place at the altar. As Brooke begins her descent down the aisle, Jamie leans over and asks Catrina, "This wouldn't be Brooke's old friend from The Brew last night, would it?" Catrina just smiles and they both turn to watch Brooke walk down the aisle.
TO BE CONTINUED.....
Look for Episode Three: While You Were Away... published by January 28, 2001
Disclaimer: All characters and situations in this story are completely fictitious and any similarities to real people or situations are completely coincidental. The characters and storylines have been created by and are the property of Craig Kile. Please contact the author at CraigKile@aol.com.