Previously…
– Following a panic attack due to memories of Zane, Tori prepared to return to in-office work at Objection Designs.
– Tori accepted Landon’s invitation to dinner.
– Jason and Sabrina took their relationship to a new level when she brought him home to Iowa to meet her parents.

Inside the headquarters of Objection Designs, Molly Taylor has her head buried in sales reports — both digital and printed, causing her desk to look as cluttered as her mind feels right now. Her innate instinct is to clean up the mess, to get everything neat and organized, but she knows that she has to grin (at least inwardly) and bear it until she has gleaned what she needs from these reports.

When there is a declarative rap at the open door, Molly looks up to see her niece and assistant coming into the office with a full head of steam.

“Tori, what’s going on?” Molly asks, immediately concerned by the younger woman’s urgent entrance. “Are you having another–“

“No. No,” Tori says with an insistent shake of her head. “I’m fine. It’s actually nice to be back in the office.”

Molly takes off her stylish reading glasses and sets them down on the desk. “I’m glad to hear that. I thought rearranging that whole area might help you have a fresh start.”

“It did. It feels like a different space than the one I worked in when I was with Zane. So thank you.”

“Of course. Now what’s going on?”

“I need to know something,” Tori says, her voice sharp and thin like a razor’s edge. “Or, I need to know why you didn’t tell me something. Something really important.”

—–

“Thank you again for dinner,” Sabrina Gage says sweetly as she and her boyfriend stroll down the sidewalk in a bustling section of King’s Bay not too far from downtown.

Jason Fisher squeezes her hand, which he has been holding as they walk. “My pleasure. Seriously. It’s a treat to have a quiet night together.”

Above them, the summer evening sky is still a soft blue, though the intensity of the sun has dulled by now. The faintest whisps of clouds stretch across the tapestry, fine threads that taper off into nothingness.

The slight, raven-haired woman glances over at him. “I agree. I’m sorry I’ve been so busy–“

“What are you apologizing for?” Jason replies with a laugh. “You’re finally booking photography gigs. That’s huge.”

Sabrina bows her head ever-so-slightly. “I know. But it’s been a little chaotic in terms of schedule.”

“I’m proud of you for pursuing your dream, and now it’s coming true. You’re starting to make your entire living as a photographer.”

She exhales, and a relaxed smile appears on her face. “I guess I am.”

The pair turns the corner onto Sabrina’s block, and as they do, the urgent call of red lights against the serene sky grabs both of their attention. They look down the street and see a fire engine pulled toward the curb at a haphazard angle. Sabrina’s pulse quickens at the sight, while they stop in their tracks to make sense of the sight before them.

“Oh gosh,” she says. “I hope everything’s okay.”

“Yeah…” Jason’s words trail off, and for another few seconds, they stand there, staring, attempting to piece together the alarming scene ahead. Finally they resume walking, with more purpose now. The closer they get to the fire truck, the more they can make out the logistics: it is pulled up right outside Sabrina’s building, and the crowd of people clustered on the sidewalk are her neighbors. By the time Sabrina and Jason reach the scene, they are half-jogging, desperate to find out what is going on.

“Ann. Hi,” Sabrina says as they sidle up to a short Chinese woman in her thirties wearing a pink quarter-zip pullover and black yoga pants. “What happened?”

“A fire broke out about fifteen minutes ago,” Ann replies. “Thank goodness you weren’t at home.”

“We were at dinner,” Sabrina offers, as she glances up at the dated fourplex, its chipped siding now obscured by smoke and flame as the firefighters work to tame the blaze.

“That’s a relief. We weren’t worried when we didn’t see you out here, but we were hoping you were still at work or something,” Ann says.

With Jason right by her side, Sabrina quickly scans the small crowd, counting the other residents.

“Everyone else is out here?” she asks.

“Yes,” Ann says. “But the fire — it looks like it started in your apartment.”

“Eight… nine… ten!”

With a heavy grunt, Landon Esco sets down the weights on the gym floor. Travis Fisher bends down to pick them up.

“Not bad, man,” Travis comments as he tests the weight of the dumbbells in his own hands. “Did you take pre-workout or something?”

The two friends are in the small but well-appointed gym inside Edge of Winter Arena. The gym is never especially busy, due to its semi-private nature, and this evening, there is only one other patron present, using one of the treadmills.

Landon shakes his head. “Nah. This is pure adrenaline. Training up for my new job, you know.”

“I still can’t believe you’re gonna be working with my aunt,” Travis says as he begins his set of hammer curls. “Or that you’re gonna be a P.I. Nuts.”

“It’s only nuts that it took me so long to figure out what a cool job this could be for me. You know I’ve been trying to find my thing. And when I was on that trip with your aunt — I found it. It felt right, you know?”

“I get it,” Travis says. “That’s how I felt when I realized I belonged in a kitchen. I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks, Trav. And there’s actually something else I have to tell you. More news.”

Travis regards him with a suspicious side-eye as he continues the curls. “Good news or bad news?”

“Good news. For sure. Just wanna make sure you’re cool with it.”

With a grimace, Travis asks through an exhale: “Should I be worried?”

“Nah. It’s just… I kind of asked Tori to go to dinner. And she said yes. Well, she didn’t say anything at first, ’cause she had to deal with some work emergency, but later on, she said she wanted to do dinner, so that counts as a yes, I think.”

Travis nods along as he finishes the set. He places the weights on the floor. “That does qualify as a yes. And why do you have to tell me about it? It’s dinner.”

Landon widens his eyes. “It’s dinner. Like a… just-the-two-of-us dinner.”

“So you’re going on a date,” Travis says with a grin, still catching his breath. “That’s awesome.”

“Really? It’s awesome?” Landon asks with wonder.

“Yeah. Why wouldn’t it be?”

“‘Cause she’s your cousin, and I’m your best friend, and I don’t wanna make things weird for you.”

“It’s not weird,” Travis insists. “You’ve had a crush on Tori forever, dude.”

“Have not!”

Travis doesn’t even dignify that with a verbal response; he simply cocks his head to one side, applying silent pressure that doesn’t take long to produce a result.

“Okay, fine, maybe I have,” Landon admits. “But I didn’t really think it would go anywhere.”

“Tori’s been through a lot of shit. First Philip, then Zane, and everything both of them left her with. The idea of her being with you, my best friend, an actual good guy–“

“I guess I am pretty normal.”

“I didn’t say you were normal,” Travis says with a laugh. “But you are a good guy. You care about people. You give things your all. And you’re not a serial killer or an abusive blackmailer. I’ve got nothing to be upset about. Life is hard, and we’ve all been through a lot.”

“Are you and Rosie doing any better now?” Landon asks.

“We’re fine. We’re finding our way day-by-day,” Travis responds, suddenly sounding weary and burdened. “And that’s what I mean. You stopped to ask about me when we’re in the middle of talking about you. So you and Tori go to dinner, and have fun, and I hope there are more dinners.”

“Me, too,” Landon says, now unable to suppress his smile as he picks up the dumbbells. “Me, too.”

—–

Molly pushes back her high-end desk chair, its silver casters rolling gently over the low-pile berber carpet. She regards Tori with confusion.

“What didn’t I tell you?” Molly asks.

“It’s 2024,” Tori says.

Molly’s face scrunches. “I didn’t think you’d need a reminder of that…”

“That means it’s the 20th anniversary of Objection’s first fashion show. I know Camille technically opened the company in 2003, but you and she threw the debut fashion show in 2004.”

Folding her hands together atop the desk, Molly says, “I guess you’re right. With everything going on, I hadn’t paid it too much mind.”

“I think we need to,” Tori says. “We can make a whole thing out of it. Turn the fall/winter showcase into a major event for the 20th anniversary. A huge party, an iconic runway show — it’s a chance to announce that you’re back in control and have a clear vision for the future of this company.”

Molly finds herself nodding. “I hadn’t thought of it that way.”

Tori stands with her hands hanging by her sides. She wears an oversized checked blazer with wide-legged pants, her brown hair tossed into a casual up-do with a clip in the back. Molly can see the hope radiating from her niece; it’s been a long time since she saw Tori this passionate in and engaged with her work, and it’s a welcome sight.

“Do you think there’s something there?” she asks, suddenly sounding a bit cautious, as if fearing that she has overstepped.

“I think you’re brilliant for bringing this to me,” Molly says. “Let’s figure out how to make this happen.”

A bright grin breaks out over Tori’s face. “Great. Looks like we’re throwing one hell of an anniversary party. I’ll start making calls.”

—–

Some time later, the small crowd on the sidewalk outside the fourplex has begun to disperse, as they place phone calls in order to make arrangements for tonight and beyond. The fire’s intensity has dimmed, although curls of thick, intimidating smoke are still wafting up from the building, staining the still-blue sky above. Sabrina and Jason remain on the sidewalk, taking in the scene of destruction.

“I don’t know what to do,” Sabrina says, her voice quavering. “My equipment is in there…” Her thoughts race, as she struggles to keep up with them. “I have some stuff in the trunk of my car, so that’s safe, but…”

“Items can be replaced,” Jason tells her. “The important thing is that you’re safe.”

She responds with a nod, though it looks — and feels — as if she is trying to convince herself that there is a bright side to all this.

He wraps an arm around her. “And you are coming to stay at my house. No question about it.”

“I couldn’t impose on you like that–“

“It’s not imposing,” he says. “I want you there anyway.”

“What about Sophie?”

“Sophie can handle a houseguest. She’s gotten a lot more comfortable with our relationship.”

“Okay. Thank you.” She continues to watch the smoky building, as if expecting something shocking to happen at any instant. “I wonder what happened. I know I didn’t leave anything strange plugged in…”

“Accidents happen,” Jason says. “And these old buildings could have faulty wiring, or something could be up with an old appliance.”

A firefighter in full gear, complete with yellow helmet, approaches them. He is a sizable man, with several days’ worth of dark stubble on his face.

“Are you the resident of Unit 201?” the firefighter asks. “One of your neighbors pointed you out.”

“I am, yes,” Sabrina says as she folds her arms in front of her body. “Sabrina Gage. Do you have any idea what happened?”

“We’re hoping that you might be able to help us with that,” the man replies. “This fire — it doesn’t appear to have been an electrical incident.”

“What do you mean?” Jason asks.

“The fire looks like it originated at your apartment’s front door. We have reason to believe that someone set this fire intentionally.”

END OF EPISODE 1231

Who would target Sabrina like this?
Will Objection’s anniversary be a night to remember?
Did you enjoy Travis and Landon’s check-in?
Talk about all this and more in the comments below!

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