 The Clifford Group, the next day Sue Ellen rested her head in her hands and tried to focus on her paperwork. She couldn't think of anything but Jack, and the more she thought about it, the angrier she got. How dare he do that to her! “Sue Ellen.” It was Jack, sticking his head in her doorway. She wondered what kind of cosmic force was punishing her. “I'm busy,” she said harshly. “We need to talk. I don't care if you're busy.” “Nice you care about something.” “Will you stop that!” Jack said, closing the door and walking into her office. “What do you want me to say? That it's all OK. It's not.” “She drugged me. I couldn't do anything…” “That's crap and you know it! Are you telling me that she did EVERYTHING? That you didn't enjoy that little…that little tryst?” She threw down her pen. “I can't believe you would do this to me!” “I was trying to help you was what I was doing. Why do you think I associated with her in the first place---for my own pleasure? I was trying to help you, and Cally. I saw how that was upsetting you.” “Noble motivation, stupid execution Jack. God, should I be surprised though? J.R., Don, now you. I really have a problem, don't I?”
“I am listening to you, and I don't care anymore. I am NOT going to tolerate being humiliated again. Not after everything that I have been through with J.R. in the past.” “Why does it always come back to him?” Now Jack was letting his anger speak. He wasn't thinking. The words were just flying out of his mouth. Sue Ellen ignored that. “I can't forgive this.” “I love you.” “Then you wouldn't have done what you did.” Jack threw up his arms. “We're going around in circles! What can I say that will get through to you?” Sue Ellen leaned forward in her chair. “You tell me that it meant nothing. That you didn't enjoy it.” There was a second of silence, but it hung in the air like a black cloud. “It didn't mean anything,” Jack said. But did it? He loved Sue Ellen, he was sure of that. But he knew deep down that there was a part of him that did enjoy it. He could have resisted if he didn't, couldn't he? Sue Ellen leaned back and crossed her arms. “That's what I thought.” “Thought what?” “Nice hesitation.” She turned her head towards her paperwork. “Get out.” Jack knew there was no point in resisting. They were getting nowhere. He quietly walked towards the door and left Sue Ellen's office. Then he started to get angry. VERY angry. Damn Dominique. Why did he ever even cross paths with her? Jack answered his own question in a minute. J.R., that's why. If not for that stupid plot, and the custody case, and Sue Ellen not being upset then Jack would have ever met Dominique and none of this mess would have ever happened. He would have been happy with Sue Ellen and everything would be perfect. Now everything was messed up, and he lost Sue Ellen forever. He loved her. He really loved her. But she was gone, and it was all J.R. Ewing's fault. Jack was mad now. He tried to control his anger, but it was futile. It was all J.R.'s fault, and Jack prayed that he didn't let his temper take control and really do to J.R. what he was thinking.
Melissa was startled by the sudden pair of hands that wrapped around her waist. She put down the bar of soap and turned around to see John Ross standing in the shower with her. “Happy Valentine's Day…” “John Ross, you scared the hell out of me!” “Whoa, what's got you so uptight?” “Nothing…just stress. I've got a lot to do at work today.” Melissa was lying, but she couldn't tell him the truth yet. She knew blabbing off to Pamela Rebecca had been a mistake, but Pamela Rebecca had hit a nerve. Now, Melissa wondered if maybe she was right. Did John Ross really love her? “I think I can relax you before you go.” “Oh yeah?” “Yeah, I think so.” John Ross took the bath sponge and began to lather it up with soap. He then worked it up her back and to her shoulders, before going around to the swell of her breast. She turned around, wrapping her arms around him, and then she kissed him. But all the kissing and the pelting water from the shower didn't wash away her fears and insecurities. Why hadn't he already asked her to marry him?
“Eric, your detective work surprises me. I can't believe you've found it already. You're like…Sherlock Holmes or something.” Eric smiled, glad that Karen was impressed. “It's just a matter of knowing the right people. So, are you going to go in, or not?” Karen grasped her seat belt and looked out the car window at the sign in the yard. The house was for sale. “I can't believe he's in there.” “Go find out for sure.” “Will you come with me? Please?” “Sure.” Eric stepped out of the car and Karen did the same. She sucked in a cold breath before walking to the door and ringing the doorbell. A lady in her early 30s came to the door. “Yes? Can I help you?” “I couldn't help but notice what a beautiful house this is,” Karen said. “We were driving by and just had to stop and look at it. You can only imagine our surprise when we saw that it was for sale.” “Well, you need to contact the realtor at the number listed on the sign. They'll arrange a time to meet with you and show you the house.” “You know, my…husband and I live out of state and we were looking to move here. We're going back home today and won't be in the area. Do you think you could possibly let us have a peek at the house? That way, we could carry out the other business on the phone.” The woman sighed. “Sure, I suppose it couldn't hurt. Come on in. My name is Jan.” “It's nice to meet you Jan.” Karen and Eric filed into the house, glad to be in out of the cold snow. Continuing the charade, Eric commented on the house. “This is an amazing house. I love what you've done with it.” “How many bedrooms?” Karen asked. “Three bedrooms.” “That sounds perfect. Eric and I have a son. He said he wanted a nice big bedroom. Do you think we could have a look? I'd understand completely if you said no…” Jan smiled. “Sure. Right this way. Be warned though, my son Austin doesn't always do the best job of keeping his room clean.” Austin. That was Karen's son. The son she'd given up for adoption was living here in this house. “Typical kid I guess,” Eric commented.
“Hi,” he said shyly. Karen's heart ached and her eyes welled up with tears. This was her son--her son. Her son was calling another woman Mom. Jan and Eric both noticed Karen's reddened eyes. “What's wrong?” asked Jan. “Nothing…it's just that, seeing your son reminded me of my own. I haven't seen him in two weeks. Eric, we really should get home.” “Is there anything I can do?” Jan was concerned. “No, I'll be okay.” Karen looked at her son one last time and the tears began again. She turned and walked away. Eric turned to Jan. “Thank you for letting us have a look at the house.” “You're welcome.” Jan showed them to the door and then they left.
Pam had vowed to herself that she would focus on the task at hand, rather than letting Bobby's sudden departure get to her. But, it was obvious when she saw Afton in her wedding gown, that that wouldn't be the case. Memories of her own wedding came flooding back and it seemed like years ago, but it had only been a bit over one year. “Pam? What's wrong?” There was concern in Afton's voice. Despite their disagreements over Lucy and Cliff during the past couple of years, Afton still cared for her friend. “Bobby's gone.” Pam shocked herself by how fast she came out with that. “What? Where?” “He's gone away to think about our relationship—or at least that's what he said.” “Oh Pam…I'm sorry. I thought everything was going so well for you?” Pam didn't intend to go into any details on why she was upset with Bobby. “Things were, but then something happened—I'd rather not talk about it.” Pam wiped away a tear. “BUT, on the other hand, you are marrying my brother today and I want you to look the best. And Afton, I have to confess…I thought Bobby and I picked the best day of the year to be married, but I think your Valentine's Day wedding may top that.”
Pam cast her glance to the floor. “No. I was on my way to do that right now. But, what about Cliff's son…Eric? Couldn't he take Bobby's place?” Afton rolled her eyes. “Unfortunately, Eric is out of town on business of some sort and he's not going to be able to attend.” “It's just too bad that Bobby didn't think about who else he might be hurting by leaving town. Afton, I'm going to tell Cliff. I'll be back soon to help you add the finishing touches to your make-up and hair.” Afton nodded and watched Pam leave. Her attention soon directed itself to the phone and she walked over to make a call. The sooner she took care of this—the better. Several blocks over, Neil Lancaster rushed to answer the ringing phone. Lucy was still asleep—he hoped she'd stay that way. He had a bad feeling that this phone call would be a repetition of the one on Christmas Eve. As he raced to silence the ringing, he thought back to that morning:
"What are you doing calling me here, are you insane!"Thankfully, the other party had ended up canceling the meeting, due to some unforeseen problems. But, Neil knew it was only a matter of time until he had to face the consequences of what he had done. That time was about to come. There was no avoiding it now—he'd taken Lucy to Australia and then to Colorado, hoping to avoid his mistake, but now was the boiling point… Neil's heart raced as he answered the phone. “Hello?” “Lovely morning isn't it Neil?” Across town, Afton smiled at the shear brilliance behind her plan. “Happy Valentine's Day…” “Was a lovely morning. It stopped being lovely the moment I answered the phone and found out it was you.” “It's time Neil. Remember the drill?” Neil remembered it very well. They had gone over and over the plan, months ago. “It's time you know that I'm not going through with this. I won't hurt Lucy like that—not now or not ever.” Afton frowned. “You're not bailing out on me now. Either you can do it or I can do it.” “You're bluffing. Don't think I don't know what you have to lose by doing that. You've managed to convince Cliff that you've changed for the better and he's going to marry you. How do you think he'd feel if he found out you're still just a conniving bitch who is hell bent on hurting Lucy? You know he obviously still cares for her.” “I have changed. I love Cliff. But my feelings for Lucy will never change—I hate her for what she's done to me…and my family.” “I love her.” “Wasn't supposed to turn out this way, Neil. You know that.” Paranoid that someone was listening, Afton did a quick scan of the doorway behind her. “Yeah? Well it has. Lucy is a wonderful and caring person and I will not hurt her and neither will you. Count me out of your plan and I'll do everything in my power to make sure she doesn't find out about this. And if by chance, she does, you'll regret the day you ever met me.” “Who do you think you are anyway? J.R. Ewing?” “In a way, I am like J.R. See Afton, I spent ten years of my life growing up on the streets of Chicago. I did a lot of things I'm not proud of, but I also helped out a lot of people. You don't know much about things like that do you? A lot of people owe me favors—people who wouldn't think twice about killing an insignificant bitch like you. Don't think I won't call in one of those favors if I need to—because I will. And if you try to hurt my wife, that's exactly what I will do. Lucy Ewing is my life. If you take her away, I don't have anything else to lose.” Afton was speechless. Before she could protest and remind him who was in charge here, there was a loud click and then the shrill sound of the dial tone. She frowned when she put the phone back in the receiver. This might just be enough to put a permanent damper on what was supposed to be a glorious day for her. |
“I'm not like J.R.! Why won't you listen to me!?” Jack was getting more upset with the moment. 
Jan opened the door to Austin's room. The five year old was sitting on his bed, watching television. “Austin, we have some people here to look at the house.” 
Afton smiled. Their wedding had been postponed for so long and she hoped it would be well worth the wait. “I'm sorry to keep going back to this subject, but Bobby was supposed to be Cliff's best-man. Have you told him?”