Chapter 60

The Palace Hotel, nighttime

Natalie is having dinner with her uncle Bo. They discuss the good news about James Clinton. Later, she tells him that her and John have split again.

Bo: I'm sorry to hear that. (squeezes her hand.) You OK?

Natalie: Fine. I don't think that we were good for each other.

Bo: John, well he can be, he can be.

Natalie: Difficult.

Bo: I was going to say kinda complicated.

Natalie: It’s no body’s fault. I think we just realized we weren't making each other happy anymore. Uncle Bo you should never have to work that hard to be happy.

Bo: Yeah. I know whatcha mean. You said anything to Clint and Viki yet? When did this happen? I just saw you two together at the station. I saw the tension. I figured it was just another fight.

Natalie: Yes, my parents know and the station…..Uncle Bo, I'm gonna, my dad mentioned that he'd train me to work at BE.

Bo: What?

Natalie: There’s no easy way of saying this. I'd like to resign from the LPD.

Bo has a stunned look on his face. At the bar, RJ is on the telephone. He is speaking to Dorian.

RJ: Yeah. No. (He glances around him and then moves to the corner of the bar and whispers.) They searched her room and didn't find anything.

Dorian (still at the hospital): Fine. I'm going to use my connections to get some tests run here to determine if Clint and I are Nash's parents.

RJ (chuckles): You are going to convince Clint to be tested?

Dorian: No, Clint has a mind of his own. He'll agree to it because he will want to know if Nash is, is our son. I can't take this anymore.(Rubs brow. Nervously looks around her.) I've gotta know for sure! (She turns and sees that Clint is approaching.) Thanks for everything. I owe you.

RJ: You owe me with interest.

Dorian quickly hangs up.

Clint: You ready to leave this place? I was thinking we could stop by The Palace for dinner and we can talk to Echo about Nash. (He snuggles up to her and kisses her.)

Dorian's nose twitches.

Clint (suspiciously): What?

Dorian: Clint I have another idea.

Clint (smiles, flirts): We can be creative. (More seriously) Or should I ask?

Dorian (caresses his cheek; looks into his eyes): It won't right the wrong but it could tell us all that we need to know. Well ya know, it, it, it could, it could involve something unethical.

Clint raises a brow.

At the Palace, Bo tries to convince Natalie to reconsider. Bo gets a call from Mathew and has to go. Natalie tells him that she wants to stay for one more drink before leaving. Bo leaves Natalie and bumps into Lindsay.

Lindsay: Oops! Sorry.

Bo (looks at RJ at the bar): Nope. My fault. I suppose you and RJ are kind of meeting here. (He frowns.)

Lindsay: Yes. You seem baffled by it. Why?

Bo: Well, no.

Lindsay: What?

Bo: Just strange seeing RJ here at the Palace you know. I expect to see him at the Capricorn or someplace. I don't know. Just forget that I said anything.

Lindsay: You're thinking of the night of Spencer’s murder, aren't you?

RJ is now behind Bo.

RJ: As far as I can tell this is America and a black man in America can come and go as he pleases from a public place.

Bo: Right, right. Is it always about race with you?

RJ (chuckles): In response to your actions—yes.

Bo: I'm gone. (He walks away.)

Lindsay (folds her arm): He’s not prejudice, you know.

RJ: He wouldn't be toward you.

Lindsay: All right he's gone. Why are we here? You hate this place.

RJ (smiles broadly): I want you to meet a new investor. He is staying here at the Palace and he has agreed to a meeting here.

Natalie is on her cell phone. She is talking to her mother about Jessica and Nash. She says will stop by in a little while to discuss things with her about her future plans, which do not include John. She is upset.

As she hangs up with her mother, Lindsay approaches her table with RJ.

Lindsay: You all right?

Natalie (wipes her eyes): Why don't I look it?

RJ: I'll go get our table in the restaurant (He leaves.)

Lindsay sits down.

Natalie: You don't have to stay here with me.

Lindsay: This is about John?

Natalie: Who else?

Lindsay: You suddenly looked at you relationship with this wonderful man and you realized that your world revolved around him and you had no life of your own.

Natalie: Oh so you've been there.

Lindsay (touches her arm): You need your family and you need your friends. You aren't alone. Things will be difficult for awhile but you're a Buchanan. And the one thing I learned from dealing with Buchanan men is they are a tough bunch.

Natalie: Grandpa used to say that all the time. I really miss him.

Lindsay: That ol’ coot! I sorta miss him, too. (Grins) Don't tell anybody.

Natalie (smiles): You know I told Uncle Bo tonight that I was leaving the police force and going to work with Kevin, Duke and my dad at BE.

Lindsay: You're trying to get away from John.

Natalie: You think that’s bad.

Lindsay: I think that’s courageous if learning the family business is something that is of interest to you.

Natalie: Well, I'm gonna give it a try.

Lindsay: Hey I have to go join my dinner date. (Stands) Why don’t you join us?

Natalie: No I don't really want to, but thanks for the offer.

Lindsay: I'm not just offering to be nice.

Natalie: You are but I appreciate it. I'm going to finish crying in drink and then go visit my mom.

Lindsay: Chocolate. Jen always told me that chocolate and girl talk with me always helped. Godiva. I have plenty of it (she turns to leave)

Natalie: Lindsay. (Lindsay stops to look at her) Jen was pretty lucky to have you for a mother.

Lindsay: Thank you. That means the world to me.

As Lindsay is about to leave she sees Dorian.

Lindsay (sigh): RJ has already left to get us a table in the restaurant.

Dorian: Clint is doing the same. I just excused myself to freshen up and well, well, I decided to say hello.

Lindsay: Save it.

Lindsay is about to walk away before Dorian stops her.

Dorian: What happened between the two of us?

Lindsay: I discovered you were more of a user than a friend. And I already gave at the office. (Lindsay leaves.)

Dorian: Well. (She sees Natalie and mutters, “Should I ignore her or say hello?” Dorian pauses before approaching her table.)

Natalie glances her. “Great. Hello, Dorian.”

Dorian: Natalie.

Natalie: Where’s dad?

Dorian: He’s getting our table. I just made a stop to freshen up and I saw Lindsay from the corridors and now you here. Natalie are you all right.? (Natalie puts money on the table and stands.)

Natalie: Fine, Dorian. If you'll excuse me. (She walks away. Dorian shrugs.)

In the dining area, Clint is with the maitre de as he looks around for Dorian and sees Natalie. She gives him a kiss on the cheek. Clint caresses her cheek.

Clint: You've been crying. Why don't you join me and Dorian for something to eat?

Natalie: No. I'm not really good company.

Clint: Natalie, I'm not company. I'm your dad.

Natalie: Another time, OK. Look, I'm gonna leave. I told mom I’d stop by and see her.

Clint: You sure?

Natalie kisses her dad’s cheek and they wave good-bye. She presses the elevator button. Miles Laurence is in the elevator. They look, smile at each other. Natalie enters the elevator and he exits it. He looks around and goes to the maitre de. Clint glances at him and frowns. Clint comments, “Excuse me, not to sound rude or anything. But have we met?” Miles says, “No.” RJ approaches, he nods at Clint and then he and Miles exchange polite conversation before leaving for their table. Clint has a curious look at Miles before Dorian embraces him at the elbow. She startles him. She comments, “I'm famish. Clint?”

Clint (looking at Miles, mutters): I'll figure it out. (Smiles at Dorian.) Hey you're not that hungry when you've been keeping me waiting on ya while you tend to your looks.

Miles looks across the room as Dorian and Clint are seated. RJ remarks, “Dorian Lord and Clint Buchanan.” Miles smiles. Clint glances at him. He has a look of recognition, and a squint before he says, "Miles Laurence."

Goodness, I have been so busy lately. I did manage to read your story a couple of days ago though Cheryl, I just had to print it out and take it with me! Sorry I haven't had a chance to post a comment untill now. I had to re-read it just so I was sure I didn't miss anything! So much for summer being restfull and slow paced.

I like that you have Natalie interacting more with Clint and Dorian. I think we need to get more of them with his children on the show. If only there were more children there. I'm glad that Jessica basically already gave them her blessing. But that was when she thought she would die. Now I'm pretty sure she was sincere on the show but I would still like to see all this played out.

C&D were cute in this chapter, but we need more! Ahahah. And I love that at least SOMEONE is giving us some Lindsay and RJ. Well we did get some Lindsay on the 4th of July, but not enough for me! And when was the last time we saw RJ?

I remember you teasing a while back, saying you weren't sure who their child was going to be, or if he did indeed die. I can't wait to see where you take this.

I also want to see more Dorian and Echo. Those two always seem to get into it when you write...

Ahaha, longer review then I expected to write. I promise, by the end of this week I AM going to update my story!

Oh one more question, Is Miles going to be zas much a freak in your story as he is in the current OLTL story? I'm not liking Miles at all, when he first came he was tolerable but now, he's just over the top and so completely annoying. He makes me want to throw something at the tv every time I see him on screen. I think if he was less deranged and more evil he would be acceptable, but at this point, he's not worth my time.

I was hoping to finish this story, but it didn't quite work out that way. I have to write when I'm in the mood. Thanks for hanging in there.

I really hope we get that on the show. I am thinking we will with the upcoming story with Asa.

In this story, I got Natalie involved because I want her at BE with everything that will be happening with Miles, Duke, Mark (Duke's lover), Kevin, Clint. Nash may even begin working at BE.

I agree. MORE Clint and Dorian. Sometimes I have to have them take the backseat momentarily so that I can develop other parts of the story. Believe me, the whole thing could be nothing but Clint and Dorian. It's just difficult for me to write a story that way. My mind keeps wanting to pull other people in to develop the story that will be centered on Clint and Dorian.

There will be DNA test results soon that may or may not give the answer. So maybe you will have your answer and maybe you won't. Dorian and Clint will believe they have the answer. It's a case of be careful what you ask for and who you ask.

That's coming soon.

That's terrific! Look forward to it.

I haven't totally made up my mind about Miles. However, I anticipate he is different, quirky. I don't think I'll make him nuts. He does have issues with his brother Mitch. And he knows alot that could affect the residents of Llanview. I wanted to see what the show was going to do with this character. That's part of why I paused from writing. I haven't liked what they've done. So, it will be different. At least that is what I am thinking for now.