Chapter 77


Rebecca's Boutique, approaching midday

Dorian smiles broadly as she prances toward a full-length mirror in a fancy purple dress that she is having custom-made for her soiree for her son, which will be in less than a week. She turns and glimpses the fall of the hemline."Rebecca!" she calls as she frowns at the seamstress. "This is all wrong! Ugh! The hem!" Rebecca rolls her eyes. Sighs.

"Mrs Lord," Rebecca begins.

Dorian: I told you to call me Dorian. We have known each other for several years now.

Rebecca: DORIAN.

Dorian(smiles): Better. We've shared things with each other, right? How are things going with Randy?

Rebecca: Well. Thanks for you assistance with letters of recommendation for medical school. I don't know how we're going to pull it all together. I happy but a bit stressed.

Dorian: Is it the shop?

Rebecca: I shouldn't be talking about any of this. I'm sorry.

Doran: Quite all right. You will do whatever is necessary for your son. He's a fine young man. You should be proud.

Rebecca: Yes he is and again, thank you. About the hemline.... it is exactly an inch shorter than the last time you asked for the adjustment.

Dorian (looks sideways at her image in the mirror.): Perhaps you're right.

Rebecca: I measured it. I am correct.

Dorian: This is very important to me, you know? Wait! (Raises a finger and then rushes to her purse. She reveals a picture from her wallet.) He gave this to me! I didn't have a picture of him in my living room.

Rebecca (raised brow): Yes. He is handsome.

Dorian: Nash. My son.

Rebecca (returns the picture): He looks like Mr. Buchanan.

Dorian: That he does. (Nods in agreement.) And he has my look of mischief, you know the smile. (Beams.)

Rebecca: All right. Yes, I do know this is important to you. (She takes a deep breath and mutters to remind herself just how important this is to Mrs. Lord, er, Dorian.)

Dorian: I don't know about this. (Dorian says as she inspects the dress in the mirror.) Look. It's the wrong length! Do you see when I turn?" (Dorian slightly twirls. She stops at witness to at visitor who enters the fitting room. )

Viki: Oh. I am sorry. (Turns to leave.)

"Viki!" Dorian says with a shocked expression that leaves her momentarily speechless. Dorian glances down at Rebecca, who is now on her knees and doing a measurement before Dorian with annoyance adds, "I thought you said this would be a good time?"

Viki:For Heaven's Sake! You need not worry Rebecca. (Dorian shakes her head.) Karen did not realize you were still here with Mrs Lord. (Karen rushes in, covers her mouth.)

Rebecca: I'll handle this. (Karen exchanges a glance with Rebecca and then leaves.)

Dorian: Well Karen should have checked the appointment book or checked the room herself before allowing you to enter. What if I were undressed? (She glances at Rebecca with a raised brow.) Perhaps, you should fire her!

Viki: Dorian, don't be ridiculous! The girl is new. It was an error!

Rebecca: Mrs. Lord?

Dorian: Is it so difficult for you to call me Dorian?

Rebecca: Dorian, would you like me to finish or?

Dorian (says as the seamstress stands): Oh just leave it! (The picture of Nash slips from Dorian's hand.)

Rebecca folds her arms and looks at Dorian."Leave it, hem length and all?"

Dorian: Well, for now! (Viki is admiring the dress. Dorian catches her eye.) So, Viki how's Jessica?

Viki: Jessica. You want to discuss Jessica?

Doria: Not really. However, is she coming to my son's soiree?

Viki (is very abrupt): Dorian, to tell you the truth I do not know!

Dorian (to Rebecca): Do you see how she takes that tone with me? (Dorian seems slightly bothered by Viki's answer.) I see. Rebecca could you give Mrs. Davidson and me a few minutes alone? (Rebecca looks at Viki with uncertainty.)

Viki (nods at the seamstress before Rebecca leaves): I must say (Viki pauses, clears her throat and gives a smirk.) Dorian you look very beautiful.

Dorian (disregards the compliment): What was that between you and Rebecca?

Viki: What are you talking about?

Dorian (is silent for awhile, before Dorian gives a stiff upper lip.): From now on she can address me as Dr. Lord.

Viki: What is your point, Dorian or do you want me to refer to you as Dr. Lord as well?

Dorian: Jessica.

Viki: I thought we had settled that I know nothing about whether she plans to attend this whatever you want to call it for Nash. Didn't she RSVP her intent?

Dorian: No she hasn't. I can't believe she's going to hurt Nash this way.

Viki: Well Dorian if you really want me to give you my opinion, I doubt that she will go to this little get together of yours. But I think I made it very clear that I did not know.

Dorian: Now that Nash is my son is he suddenly not good enough for your Jessica?

Viki: You see now you are being unreasonable.

Dorian: But not wrong.

Viki: Your being Nash's mother certainly complicated matters for Jessie and that baby.

Dorian: Jessica is your only concern.

Viki: And Nash, and our grandchild. Boy does that sound strange.

Dorian: You're not telling me everything.

Viki: I am not telling you everything. Suppose you tell me what you think I am hiding? (Shakes her head, shrugs)

Dorian: You are uncomfortable. You have that tick.

Viki: OK, Dorian, what do you want from me?

Dorian: I don't want anything from you of all people Viki.

Viki: Then what is this about?

Dorian: It's not what I want from you-- it's what Nash needs. And unfortunately, what Clint would want for our family and for our shared grandchild.

Viki: Your family with Clint? (smirks)

Dorian: Yes.

Viki: What are you getting at? Is this another one of your tricks--yours and Clint's?

Dorian: Don't take out the hostility you feel toward me on my son or influence Jessica in her feelings toward him.

Viki: Dorian! I am supporting my daughter through this current crisis and the strained relationship between her and Nash, now that, now that Clint is, Clint is Nash's biological father. I mean come on! Will you stop at nothing from turning a situation into being all about you and yes, what you want?

Dorian: No, except when it involves Nash or anyone else in my family.

Viki: OK then, let us make this about you because it always comes back to you doesn't it? If Jessica does not want you as her child's grandmother...

Dorian (interrupts): There's nothing she can do about that.

Viki: I am not finished! If Jessica does not want you as her child's grandmother, it also is because you murdered Megan and left Jessica on the side of the road to die!

Dorian (is upset): I didn't leave her on the side of the road.

Viki: You are denying it?

Dorian: No. I, I heard voices. I knew that she would get help.

Viki: And so you left her there.

Dorian: Yes.

Viki: Is that all that you have to say about it?

Dorian: And you've tortured me over the years as well, a fact you'd easily like to dismiss. Well excuse me, primarily your alters as you like to remind me. The point is we all make mistakes, out of fear, anger and in this case with sincere regret. We do things that we'd like to change. You know Viki, by some miraculous turn of fate, destiny in the form of my son gave Jessica another child and you a grandchild.

Viki: Another child, another child? That does not undo what you did to her and our family! Clint's family and yet he... nevermind.

Dorian: No it doesn't change a thing. Neither does hurting Nash because Clint and I slept together thirty years ago, have a child, and are together now. Do what you will! I'm done. Consider what I've said. Now if you'll excuse me I have to change. (Dorian turns, collects her clothing and leaves the area to go into another fitting room. When she leaves, Viki notices the picture on the floor of Nash and she picks it up. "Mrs. Lord!" Rebecca calls before she enters the dressing room and questions "Mrs. Davidson?" Viki answers. Rebecca asks, "Is everything OK?" Viki looks at her and replies. "No--not for a long time now," before she passes Rebecca and leaves.

----------------------

Llanfair, just after noon

Kelly and Kevin are on the garden patio. Kevin feels Kelly's pregnant belly and kisses her cheek. The doorbell rings and Kevin answers it. Duke and Mark greet Kevin and they are met in the library by Kelly.

Kevin: Well I gotta admit, this has got me curious.

Kelly: Kevin.

Duke: Curious.

Kevin: This is unusual. Mark. (Kevin nods at him.)

Duke: What are you curious about?

Kelly: Nothing.

Mark (sits next to Duke while Kevin and Kelly sit across from them; there is silence and quick glances.): Duke wanted to speak to you privately. I didn't want that.

Kevin: So does Duke always do what you want?

Duke: Mark let me handle this.

Kevin: Is this about BE?

Duke: No.

Kevin: Then, why the special meeting with Mark, here?

Duke: Dad you're kind of making everybody feel uncomfortable with this.

Kelly stands and suggests, "Can I make anyone a drink?"

Duke: No. No, Kelly. (He sighs.) How's the baby?

Kelly: Everything's fine with the baby, Duke. Thanks for asking.

Duke: I'm glad. No I don't want anything to drink.

Mark: Just a tonic.

Kevin is staring at Mark before Kelly asks, "Kevin?"

Kevin: Gin.

Kelly says, "Right," before she begins preparing drinks.

Kevin: Mark, I've been meaning to tell you how much I appreciate the way that you were with Duke after the accident. I think I began to see for the first time how close the two of your were.

Duke: We are close. (He glimpses Kelly who gives a drink to Mark and then, Kevin.) I think there are some things that have been difficult for me to face.

Kevin (sips his drink and loosens his tie): Like what kind of things? (He glances at Kelly and then back at Duke.) I thought we had settled things between us after what happened, well, Kelly. (Kevin clears his throat.)

Kelly: It is resolved. It's over.

Duke (looks at Mark): It never should have happened. Mark helped me to see that.

Kevin: Mark?

Mark: We haven't known each other very long but Duke is important to me.

Kevin (takes another sip of his drink): Yeah, yeah, I'm getting that point. Why don't you tell me what's on your minds?

Duke: Dad, Mark and I

Kevin: You and Mark what son?!

Kelly: Kevin, please.

Mark (to Kelly): Are you all right?

Duke: You look pale.

Kelly: Fine.

Kevin (with concern): Kelly?

Kelly says, "OK maybe a little light headed."

Kevin: You wanna lie down?

Kelly: No, honey, I'm fine.

Mark: Maybe we should do this another time.

Duke: Or not at all.

Kelly: No don't be silly.

Duke (looking at his father's worried expression): I don't want to do anything that would upset Kelly.

Kevin: No. Kelly and this baby are my top priority. Anything else can wait.

Duke (looks at his father for awhile before speaking): I understand.

Kelly: I'm OK.

Kevin: You have a medical condition that requires careful monitoring of your blood pressure.

Mark: I'm sorry. I was insistent on being here with Duke. (He stands.) This can wait.

Duke stands, as does Kelly and Kevin. Duke approaches Kelly and then stops. He says, "I'm glad that you and dad have been able to work things out between the two of you. You make him happy and so does this baby."

Mark offers his hand for Kevin to shake. Kevin hesitates as he is still glancing at Kelly and Duke. When he notices Mark's hand, he looks him in the eyes and he shakes his hand. Duke says, "Dad, I'll get with you later. I think we need to have a father son type conversation." Kevin looks at Kelly and replies, "Yes. I agree."

Kelly: Duke we are a family. There's nothing that you can't share in front of me. I'm not fragile.

Duke: No. This isn't a good time. (He looks at Mark.) I think I've just decided that I'd like to speak to my father privately.

Mark and Duke leave. Afterwards, Kelly turns to Kevin and asks, "What do you think that was about?"

Kelly: It's it obvious? They are lovers.

Kevin: That's nonsense.

Kelly: Is it? Or are you just in denial?

Kevin: C'mon! Do I have to point out the obvious to you of all people? The two of you slept together. He had a thing with Adriana.

Kelly: And none of it worked out. Kevin, how would you feel if you found out a Buchanan was a homosexual? And don't use me as an excuse again for not dealing with it. (Kelly leaves Kevin in the living room.)