Previously…
– Matt shared with Sarah and Paula that the landlord who owns the building that houses Harbor Boulevard is planning to sell at the end of their lease.
– During her first design meeting since returning to Objection, Molly’s work was struck down by the rest of the team.
– Helen was outraged to learn that Sabrina Gage is still in King’s Bay and was somehow involved in the incident that left Spencer in a coma.

“Wow,” Matt Gray says as he exhales loudly. His gaze is fixed on the slip of paper in front of him, upon which a number — a rather large number — has been scrawled.

Beside him, Sarah Fisher Gray regards the sum with the same degree of shock. “That’s… a lot.”

“Sorry, but that’s the reality of business,” the man across the desk from them says. He is in his mid-50s, with hair that is an unnaturally slick black and a paunch that sticks out from his suit jacket and makes a shelf for his folded hands.

“This is just what it would cost to buy the restaurant’s space, right?” Sarah asks, although she already knows the answer.

The owner of the building nods. “That’s prime real estate. I got a remarkable offer.”

“And whoever bought it is just gonna knock the whole thing down and put up, what? Condos?” Matt says.

“Don’t know.” The man’s left shoulder rises and falls in a shrug. “For what they’re paying me, it’s none of my business. It’s a great location.”

“Harbor Boulevard is my father’s legacy,” Sarah explains, pitching forward in her chair. “Aside from that, it’s also an incredibly successful restaurant. Maybe there’s some value to that for the developer–”

“I can’t speak for the developer. Look, guys. I’d love to help you. You’ve been great tenants for years. I personally love the restaurant. But this is business. I’m not in this for charity.”

“We’re not asking for charity,” Matt says as a new edge seeps into his voice.

“Then you have your number.” The man points to the slip of paper. “You come up with that much, I’m willing to sell you the space as long as the buyer will go along with it. But it’s all one structure. I’m not even sure the developer would go for it — but that’s all I can do for you.”

Sarah and Matt turn to one another, neither wanting to admit defeat, even though they know there is nothing more they can say to change the situation.

—–

“At least I’m not going through this in the dead of winter,” Conrad Halston says. “I would be absolutely stir-crazy if I weren’t able to get out of the house for these strolls.”

Molly Taylor walks behind him, her hands gripping his wheelchair as she pushes him down the sidewalk. The heat of the summer day has subsided into a pleasant evening warmth, but the sky above them is still gleaming blue.

“Soon enough, you’ll be walking beside me,” she says. “At least, that’s how it sounds based on your physical therapy.”

“I hope so. I never imagined taking a few steps would be so agonizing.” He pats the tops of his legs, which are finally cast-free after so long.

They continue on in silence for a few seconds as Molly pushes him around a corner. The sounds of children playing burst out from a nearby yard.

“I really can’t thank you enough for letting me stay with you,” Conrad says. “As much as I hate to admit being wrong… I would have been miserable living on my own while I recovered.”

“You can stop thanking me. It’s really the least I could do after what a help you’ve been to our whole family.” She smiles wryly. “Though it is nice to be told I’m right about something. That happens pretty rarely these days.”

He looks up at her over his shoulder. “Is that a commentary on being back at work?”

“Very much so. It’s like I can’t do anything right since I’ve been back.” She goes quiet as she thinks about the way that nearly the entire design team shut her down during the meeting over next summer’s line. “I presented all these designs — designs I love — and they went over like a bunch of lead balloons.”

“The ones you showed me?”

“Yes!”

“Well, I don’t know much about fashion, especially women’s fashion, but they were nice,” he says.

“Thanks.” She sighs. “I just thought it made sense to continue what we’re doing for this summer. Trends don’t die completely after a season. After the winter, people are going to want free and flowing again. That makes sense, doesn’t it?”

“It does.”

“Some of the trend reports say that things are moving back toward clean lines,” she continues, “so maybe my instincts are off. I don’t know anymore.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

Thrown by the directness of his tone, Molly stops pushing the wheelchair. Conrad swivels to face her.

“When you started designing, did you look at trend reports?” he asks.

“I guess not.”

“Then maybe you should put all of that out of your mind. Forget about what’s popular now or supposed to be popular in nine months, or whatever other business you’re considering. What inspires you?”

She mulls that over for a few seconds. A couple walking a golden retriever passes them.

“I don’t know,” she finally admits.

“Maybe that’s what you have to tap into,” Conrad says. “I know you have a business to run, and there are other considerations, but if you feel boxed-in… Try and take some time to dig deep and see what speaks to you. What do you want to say? What do you need to say?”

Molly grins. “You sound more like an artist than a lawyer right now. Are you sure you don’t have some hidden talent for designing dresses?”

“I can’t think of something I’m less suited for.” He lets out a short laugh. “Though perhaps I do have some genius you can channel…”

“I might take you up on that.” Her mind is already in motion, and she takes the handles of the wheelchair and begins pushing him down the sidewalk again. “And as much as I hate to admit I’m wrong, you might have a point.”

“You’ll come up with something,” Conrad says as they move through the peaceful neighborhood. “You’ve done it before.”

“I just hope I still have it in me,” she says distractedly.

Thanks to the evening hour, things are quiet at Thaw Coffee & Tea when Helen Chase enters. Her attention goes immediately to the counter, where a dark-haired woman in one of Thaw’s trademark ice-blue aprons works the register. Helen approaches slowly, watching as the employee speaks with a customer.

“Do you have any of that wild mountain honey?” the customer, a middle-aged woman clad in yoga gear with her blonde hair in a tight ponytail, asks. “I like it in my tea.”

“We have honey and agave over on the bar,” the employee says. “If either one is empty, I’d be happy to refill it.”

“Yes, but I think it’s regular honey.” The customer huffs and then walks toward the condiment bar.

Helen steels herself and then steps up to the register.

“How can I help you?”

“Well, Sabrina,” Helen says with a cool glance at the woman’s nametag. “I’m Helen Chase.”

She watches the name register. Sabrina’s eyes widen, and her jaw lowers.

“Mrs. Chase,” she says softly, her eyes darting briefly behind Helen to ensure they have privacy. “I’ve wanted to come meet you, but I wasn’t sure–”

“You have some nerve,” Helen interrupts, taking advantage of Sabrina’s slight pause. “The audacity of staying in this town–”

“I promise, I don’t mean any harm.”

“Your name is painful for my husband and me! Don’t you understand that?”

Sabrina gulps. “I’m so sorry for everything your family has been through. Everything I’ve heard about Courtney — that she was a lovely woman–”

“How dare you speak my daughter’s name!” Helen spits.

“Mrs. Chase, I never met your daughter– I know what happened–”

“Why are you even in King’s Bay?”

Sabrina hesitates, her eyelids fluttering as she gathers herself. “I– I only came here because of what that woman — Shannon Parish — what she did. She stole my identity. When I woke up, I had to deal with all this legal stuff…”

“That woman was a monster!” Helen says. “And there are so many other places in the world for you to be.”

“I hadn’t had a job since my accident,” Sabrina explains. “My life was ruined. And then Philip offered me a position–”

“Of course you were working for that psychopath!” Helen harrumphs as she folds her arms. “Do you know I was arrested twice for the crimes he committed?!”

“I remember hearing that. I’m sorry you had to go through that!”

“Well, you should be!” Helen’s features stiffen as she stares down the younger woman. “And now you’ve managed to strike again.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Spencer Ragan! I know what you did, Sabrina Gage. I know that you pushed him down those stairs.”

—–

Matt pulls out a chair at the kitchen table for Sarah.

“Thanks for making time to see us,” he says as his wife takes a seat.

“Happy to do it,” Conrad says. He slides his wheelchair up beside the table as Matt and Molly also seat themselves. “I’m not sure how much I can help you.”

“We just want to know our options,” Sarah says.

Molly touches two fingers to her temple. “I can’t believe this is happening. If Dad were still here…”

“This guy would still be selling the land. He’s all about the profit.” Sarah takes a folded set of papers from her purse. “Conrad, if you could take a look at the lease… see if there’s some kind of loophole…”

“I’d be happy to.” The attorney reaches across the table and takes the documents from her. “Based on what you’ve told me, though, I’m not sure what options you have.”

Matt places his palms flat on the table. “We’re trying to buy the space that the restaurant leases, but he’s asking for a crazy amount of money.”

Conrad’s eyes flick over the lease papers. “I’ll have to do a deep dive into these. Maybe there’s something. But I don’t want to get your hopes up.”

“Thank you,” Sarah says.

“You’ve told Mom, haven’t you?” Molly asks. “How is she doing?”

“She’s hoping we can do something before we have to close down,” Matt answers. “It’s like…”

Sarah waits as her husband trails off, then picks up the thought for him. “It’s like losing Dad all over again.”

Molly bobs her head sadly. “That’s how it feels.”

Conrad observes the three of them, giving them room for their grief.

“I’ll do anything I can,” he says. “It sounds like your father was a great man, and I know how much he meant to all of you. Your mother is a lovely woman. If there’s anything I can do to help, I’ll do it.”

Molly turns to him, appreciation clear in her expression. “Thank you so much. It will mean so much to our mom — and to all of us.”

—–

“He really is so cute,” Jason Fisher says as Alex Marshall lays the infant in his arms.

Alex looks down adoringly. “He is. I can’t get over it.”

Jason settles back into the sofa with baby Chase in his arms. “Are you guys in a better routine with sleep?”

“We’re getting there.” Alex runs a hand over his eyes as he seats himself on the loveseat opposite his friend. “I don’t envy Trevor having to go back to work, though.”

“When’s he back to full-time?”

“He’s easing in. This week, he’s just doing a few hours a day.”

“I remember when Sophie was born, getting through a few hours at the office seemed insane.” Jason lightly rocks the baby. “I promise it gets easier.”

“I hope so.” Alex’s face crinkles as he smiles. “What’s going on with you? I miss the daily updates when you’d come home from work.”

“Things are good. Yeah.” Jason pauses. “Things are good. I’m… There’s something I wanted to run by you.”

Alex leans forward. “What’s that?”

“It’s Natalie. I’m thinking… I’m going to propose.”

“You are?” Alex lights up. “I wasn’t sure if you guys were really thinking of that…”

“I know things have moved faster than I expected,” Jason says, “but we have a son, and we have such a little family with the girls. It just seems right.”

“I’m really happy for you guys.”

“Thanks. I just…” Jason shakes his head in disbelief. “I really never thought I’d get back to this place.”

“You needed time. You needed to feel secure again,” Alex says. “Natalie is good for you.”

“She is.” Jason glances down at the baby, blinking his little eyes. “Do you think Courtney would like her? Not even like her — approve of her. I know that’s a weird question.”

“I think Courtney would be thrilled that you’re happy. She wouldn’t want you to be alone, Jason.”

Jason lets out a heavy breath. “I know. I’d like to think that. But… sometimes it still feels like I’m betraying her.”

“You aren’t.” Alex forces his friend to meet his gaze. “You aren’t. Just because you’re happy with someone else, it doesn’t mean you’re erasing everything you and Courtney had.”

“Yeah.” Jason allows the memories to wash over him for a long moment. “I can’t believe this is actually happening.”

“It’s happening,” Alex says encouragingly. “We’re going to be engaged at the same time.”

“Don’t jinx me!” Jason says with a chuckle as he continues to rock the baby in his arms.

—–

As the men pore carefully over the specifics of the lease document, Sarah excuses herself to use the restroom. When she emerges, she finds her sister waiting in the hallway.

“What’s wrong?” Sarah asks.

“Nothing. They’re talking and…” Molly stares off at the photographs of her sons on the wall. “How is Mom? Really. This has to be devastating.”

“Matt didn’t even want to tell her at first. But we had to.”

“Yeah. We have to do something.”

“Maybe Conrad will be able to figure something out.” Sarah shifts nervously from one foot to the other. “Listen, there’s something else I’ve been wanting to talk to you about.”

Molly’s eyes flare. “What is it?”

“This thing with Tori.”

“She’s still seeing that guy? Zane?”

“I thought she was done with him,” Sarah says. “She sounded tired of him — because he isn’t actually interested in her. And as much as it broke my heart to see her hurting, it was like… also a relief.”

“I’m sure.” Molly waits, then says, “I’m guessing it isn’t actually over.”

“No. He made a big show of apologizing. In front of me, of course. He’s still working me for that money.”

“Or what?”

“Or he’ll keep it up with Tori,” Sarah says. “I think I’m going to pay him.”

Molly does a near double-take. “What?!”

“What else am I supposed to do? I just want him to go away.”

“That’s–” Molly glances behind herself. “That’s a hundred thousand dollars!”

“And I have the money. I don’t want to do it. But… where else is this going to go? Is Tori going to marry this guy?”

“He isn’t going to marry her out of spite.”

“Not spite. Blackmail.”

“I thought we were done with all this. You outsmarted him. And Mom confessed.”

“And then he found a way to outsmart us. If it comes out that we covered up the video… I’ll lose my P.I. license.”

“And I’ll be in violation of my probation.” Molly crosses her arms as she turns the situation over in her head, her face creasing with concern. “You really think he would go as far as to marry her?”

“That’s the thing,” Sarah says. “I don’t want to find out. I need to put an end to this. And if it costs me a hundred grand… then so be it.”

—–

Behind the register, Sabrina freezes.

“Don’t think you’re fooling anyone,” Helen says insistently.

“Mrs. Chase, you’ve got this all wrong,” Sabrina manages to say.  “I was outside Spencer’s house. I was supposed to meet him — I’m the one who called 911–”

“That’s what someone who wanted to cover her tracks would say.” Helen points a finger at the younger woman. “Who else could have done it?”

“I don’t know.” Sabrina’s voice takes on a pleading tone. “I really don’t. I came over to see Spencer. I was bringing him something of Philip’s. I was outside, and I heard…”

“Heard what?”

“An argument. I don’t know. I heard Spencer arguing with someone.”

“There was no one in the house,” Helen says firmly.

“I swear, I had nothing to do with what happened to Spencer.”

“Mrs. Chase,” a voice says from behind them. “Leave her alone.”

Standing behind Helen are Tori Gray and Zane Tanaka.

“Victoria, don’t you worry about her,” Helen says. “This is about your cousin.”

“I would never hurt Spencer,” Sabrina says, with a look at Tori. “You have to believe me.”

“I believe you,” Tori says. She directs her attention toward Helen. “I really do.”

“Mrs. Chase, leave her alone,” Zane adds. “If something is up, I’m sure the police will figure it out.”

“The police?” Sabrina says, her voice catching in her throat.

“Why don’t we go outside?” Zane suggests, taking Helen gently by the arm.

Tori motions for them to go. “I’ll be right out.”

Zane leads Helen toward the exit, though she manages to toss one final scowl back at Sabrina. “I have my eye on you!” she declares as the door swings closed behind her.

Tori waits until they are gone before she speaks again.

“I do believe you,” she says over the counter.

“You do? Thank you.” Sabrina exhales with relief. “I swear to you that I wouldn’t have done anything to hurt Spencer. I had no reason. He was fighting with someone– maybe just over the phone–”

“Believe me, if I thought you were capable of something like that, I’d say so,” Tori tells her. “But you clearly aren’t. No offense.”

“None taken,” Sabrina responds with confusion.

Outside, the evening sun beats down on the pavement.

“If someone pushed Tori’s cousin, the police will work it out,” Zane says to Helen.

Helen watches Sabrina through the front window of the coffee shop. “I certainly hope so! Whoever did this to that young man should pay.”

“It could’ve been an accident.”

“Somehow, I doubt that.” Helen narrows her eyes. “I don’t trust that girl, marching around with a name like that, settling in a town where she has no business. Not at all. If she had anything to do with Spencer’s fall…”

Zane holds up both his hands, motioning for her to relax.

Helen purses her lips. She finishes the statement in her head: Then I will find out, and I’ll make sure she pays.

END OF EPISODE 886

Will Helen realize she’s wrong about Sabrina?
Can the Fishers save the restaurant?
Should Sarah pay off Zane to get rid of him?
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