Previously…
– The Fishers worked feverishly to prepare for the grand opening of the new restaurant on the pier.
– Paula knew she’d be unable to attend the grand opening because of her house arrest sentence.
– Sarah paid Zane the blackmail money so that he would leave Tori alone, and he texted her that he had to leave town for a family emergency.

 

The silvery moon rests against the navy blue sky, spilling its light down in beams and spatters onto the placid surface of the bay. On Pier 22, four figures stand in formal attire, staring toward the end of the dock.

“Wow,” Tim Fisher says.

“It looks amazing,” Molly Taylor comments, nodding her head.

Sarah Fisher Gray places a hand on Tim’s shoulder. “I think Dad would love it.”

“Yeah,” Jason Fisher says. “He definitely would.”

Ahead of them is a restaurant, illuminated from inside, just where all four of them remember their father’s business being located for so many years. And now, as of tonight, it is back where it belongs, even if Bill is no longer with them.

“I wish Mom could be here,” Molly says.

Tim sighs. “I know. But she wanted to get things up and running more than she wanted everyone to wait for her to hold the grand opening. And we can FaceTime her in as much as we want.”

They stand in silence, gazing at the new restaurant and its electric blue sign. All four of their hearts are heavy with memories of their father and the knowledge of his absence. The spell is broken by a pair of headlights pulling into the parking lot at the foot of the pier.

“Should we get inside?” Sarah asks. “Before everyone starts showing up?”

“Let’s do it,” Jason says. “Let’s make sure this place kicks ass so that it can do Dad proud.”

As his siblings let out cheers of agreement, they all begin walking down the pier. Tim holds the door for the other three and then follows them in, with the brand-new sign glowing above them, broadcasting its new name proudly for the world to see: Bill’s on the Pier.

—–

The house where the four Fisher siblings grew up is quiet tonight. Paula Fisher has the occasional thought that she should put on some music to fill the air and to create more of a celebratory atmosphere for herself, but she feels too scattered to hold onto the thought for long enough to select anything. Instead, she stands in the living room, wearing a dark blue dress with lacy shoulders that Molly insisted would look fabulous on her, so that she can participate in the grand opening via FaceTime.

Her hands shake slightly at the prospect of speaking to all those people, and her heartbeat tries fervently to assert itself. Normally, she does not mind public speaking, but she cannot help wondering what everyone will be thinking tonight — how the widow of the man who inspired the restaurant cannot be there because she shot and killed a man. Her gaze drifts down to the monitor wrapped around her ankle.

I’m going to sound like a fool, she thinks.

She finds herself gravitating toward the mantel — and to the photos that rest upon it.

“Oh, Bill,” she says as she reaches for a framed portrait of her late husband. “I hope you enjoy what we’ve done. I just don’t know that I can do it justice.”

She stares at his face, smiling and so open, just as she remembers him. The photo is one that was taken on Jason and Courtney’s wedding day, zoomed in and blown up following Bill’s death. Seeing him this way, though, it is still difficult for Paula to believe that he is gone.

“Everyone has worked so hard to make this restaurant perfect. I don’t want to do anything to distract from that,” she says to the portrait. Holding it in her hands, she steps backward and sits on the couch, relaxing into the cushions. The softness of the couch makes her aware of how weary her body is; she knows that she has probably been holding in a lot of tension and anxiety over tonight’s grand opening and everything going perfectly. She has been doing everything she can to help out from the house, primarily perfecting the menu with Matt and placing follow-up calls with various vendors.

“It’s going to be wonderful,” she says aloud. Sometimes it makes her feel better to talk to Bill as though he is still here, as though he might have dipped into the other room to grab something and will be back in an instant, the two of them continuing the nonstop conversation that they seemed to be having from the moment they met until the moment he passed away.

She relaxes into the quiet for a long moment, feeling suddenly very at-peace. And then the voice startles her:

“I’m sure it will be.”

She hears it in her head all the time, but this isn’t in her head. This is… out there. It is real.

She sits up with alarm. “Bill?”

“It’s me.” He stands in the doorway that joins the living room to the entryway, wearing a dark suit with a red tie. “I’m here, Paula.”

—–

Back at the restaurant, the guests have begun to arrive in full force. Brassy big band music plays beneath the din of conversation and laughter. Members of the waitstaff move through the cozy, wood-paneled space, passing out miniature versions of the appetizers that will be available on the regular menu.

At one of the copper-topped tables, Samantha Fisher accepts a slice of fried pickle from one of the waiters and thanks him.

“Oh, that’s good,” she says to the other two women at her table. “Really good.”

Her cousin, Tori Gray, holds up a hand. “I’m not a pickle fan.”

“I can take ‘em or leave ‘em,” Rosie Jimenez says before popping her own slice of pickle into her mouth. She chews it for a moment. “Okay, that is really good. These weren’t on the menu at Harbor Boulevard, were they?”

“They’re new,” Tori says. “My dad and grandma added some stuff.”

“Uncle Matt had Grandma go through all of Grandpa’s old recipes,” Samantha explains. “There was a whole box in the attic. And there were things that were on the old Fisherman’s Pier menu that they decided to bring back.”

“Well, so far I can say that they’re batting a thousand,” Rosie says. “Though if they keep bringing stuff around, I might be full before the actual dinner is served.”

“Don’t do that, or you’re really gonna be missing out.”

The three women turn to see Travis Fisher, in his white chef’s coat, approaching the table.

“How’d you manage to escape?” Rosie asks her boyfriend.

He swoops down and gives her a kiss. “It’s only a matter of time before someone realizes I’m not in the kitchen. Shhh. But I wanted to come say hi so you weren’t just hanging out alone all night.”

“How dare you,” Tori says with mock indignation. “Samantha and I are doing a pretty kickass job of keeping Rosie company.”

“We decided we’d all stick together and not worry about being dateless,” Samantha adds.

Travis looks to Tori. “Zane’s still not back?”

As Tori shrugs, her discomfort shines through her attempt at indifference. “He’s texted me a few times to say he’s really busy with whatever family thing is going on. It’s weird. I have no idea when he’s supposed to be back in town.”

“Some people are really good at compartmentalizing,” Rosie says. She doesn’t notice the sideways glance that Travis throws her way.

“Maybe that’s it,” Tori says. “But, like, how long am I supposed to wait around?”

“Do you want to wait around for him?” Samantha asks.

Tori mulls this over for a quiet moment. “Yeah. I think so. I really like him.”

“Then tell him to get his ass back here!” Rosie says.

As the others laugh, Samantha glances toward the door. Travis watches his sister carefully.

“Mom said Tempest isn’t coming, by the way,” he says.

Samantha snaps back around to face him. “Really?”

“They thought it would be…” He searches for words. “…more respectful of the family or something. Tempest texted me to congratulate me. I think she’s really trying to give you space and didn’t want to cause a scene tonight.”

“Good,” Samantha says. “This night is supposed to be about everyone’s hard work. And remembering Grandpa.”

Across the way, another man in a white chef’s coat is making his way toward the kitchen when someone grabs him by the arm.

“There you are,” Sarah says as she gets her husband to stop his march through the dining room. “Do you have a second?”

“For you? I guess so.” Matt grins before planting a kiss on her cheek. “What’s up?”

“I have a surprise for you.”

“A good surprise? We’ve been managing to keep the train on the tracks so far tonight…”

“A very good surprise.” She takes him by the hand and leads him through the crowd. “Do you think we can squeeze in a few extra place settings?”

“I dunno,” Matt says. “What are you…” And then he sees what she has been leading him toward.

“No way!” he says as he takes in the sight of his brother, sister-in-law, and nephew. “What are you guys doing here?”

“C’mere,” Jake Gray says before wrapping his brother in a bear hug. “You think we’d miss this?”

“Sarah invited us weeks ago but wanted to keep it a secret,” Mia Davich Gray explains.

“I thought a little surprise would be fun after all your hard work,” Sarah says.

Matt beams. “It’s a really great surprise.” He hugs Mia and then turns to his teenaged nephew.

“Hey, Uncle Matt,” Marcus Gray says bashfully. “Congrats. The place looks great.”

“Thanks,” Matt says. “It’s been a real family effort. I knew this was gonna be a good night — but it just got a hell of a lot better.”

—–

Paula stares across the room in shock. “It can’t be you. It can’t.”

“It is.” Bill’s wide smile, so reassuring, so familiar, is just the same as she remembers it, as if she saw it in the flesh just last night. But she didn’t. He has been gone for two years.

“How can you…”

She trails off, and he responds by walking nearer to her. His footfalls echo through the big, empty house.

“What you’ve done to protect our family,” he says, “is nothing short of incredible.”

“I killed a man. Even if it was Philip Ragan — I killed him.”

“And you’re serving your time for that. But you stepped up and protected our daughters from that madman. You did what you had to do. And when Molly was in trouble later, you spoke up and took the punishment so that she wouldn’t have to.”

She cannot stop looking at him, her eyes unblinking. A soft light seems to radiate around him.

“The restaurant is opening tonight.” Her words spill out in a hot rush. “We named it Bill’s on the Pier. It — it’s back on Pier 22, where the Fisherman’s Pier was. You’ll love it. I just know you will.”

“I do love it. I’ve seen it. You all did an incredible job.”

She sighs. “I’m supposed to speak tonight. Over the FaceTime. I feel like a fool, all dressed up, sitting at home because I’m under house arrest–”

“You were protecting your family.”

“Sometimes I’m so disappointed in myself,” she rattles on. “I think about Loretta Ragan — even with all the evil things she has done — and I think about how I’m the reason her son is no longer here. The same way that Philip took you and Ryan from me.”

“You were protecting your family,” Bill repeats. “If someone wants to judge you for that, so be it. But the people who matter — they don’t.”

Strong emotion swells in her throat, and she feels her eyes growing misty. “Oh, Bill. I’ve missed you so much.”

He lowers himself down onto the arm of the sofa. “I’ve missed you. But I’m always with you. I will be tonight, too.”

“I need you so much,” she says.

“I’m always with you.”

His face glows with such warmth. It has always felt like home to her, and it always will. She reaches out for his hand. But when she reaches, his hand seems to grow further away, even though he is still there. She strains, reaching harder.

“Bill…”

“I’m always with you,” he says, though he suddenly is very far away, as if the couch is a thousand yards long. In the distance, a sharp ring sounds.

“Bill!”

The ringing grows louder. Bill moves further and further away, his form growing blurrier. The ringing seems to envelop him, somehow.

Suddenly she realizes what it is.

Paula’s eyes snap open. She is still sitting on the couch, in her living room. But there is no sign of Bill. The couch is its normal size. Beside her, the cell phone is ringing. With her head still spinning, she picks it up and sees a FaceTime request from Tim. Flustered, she stabs at the button to answer.

Her son’s face comes into view. She can see the party swirling behind him.

“Mom?” he says. “Mom, you there?”

“Yes, honey. I’m here.”

“I wanted to do a test before we set you up on the monitor to speak. Do you feel ready?”

Paula takes a deep breath and looks around, hoping against hope that she will find Bill somewhere in the room with her. But he is not there. It was all a dream.

“Yes,” she says. “I’m ready.”

—–

On his way back to the kitchen, Travis stops to chat with his mother and Brent. He is hugging Claire and about to get back to work when he hears someone calling his name.

“Trav! We’re here!”

He turns and sees his other mother, Kathleen Bundy, hurrying toward him. She wears a magenta wrap dress and gold statement necklace, and Jimmy Trask is by her side, looking ill at-ease in a black suit.

“Isn’t this just amazing?” Kathleen says as she embraces the son she only met a few years ago.

“I can’t get over how good this place looks.” Jimmy gives Travis a hearty handshake. “You guys really outdid yourself.”

Claire beams proudly. “We were just telling Travis how impressed we are. I’d seen some photos, but the real thing is so far beyond what I’d imagined.”

“It’s going to be a big hit,” Brent says. His hand rests gently on Claire’s back. “Especially if the dinner is as good as these appetizers going around.”

Kathleen quickly swivels her head. “I’ve got to get me some of those! I’ve been saving up room for dinner all day.”

Jimmy snickers. “Except for that snack we grabbed.”

With a roll of her eyes, Kathleen explains, “We stopped by the state fair earlier. I couldn’t resist a little punch and pie. But that’s it! I can’t wait to try what you’ve been cooking up, Trav.”

“Speaking of, I should get back to the kitchen,” he says. “But I’m stoked you’re all here. I’ll be back once we get dinner out the door.”

He slips back toward the kitchen’s swinging door.

“I’m so proud of him,” Kathleen says as she makes eye contact with Claire. “And so very thankful to you and Tim for raising him to be such a good man. You did an amazing job. There’s not a thing I could do that would be thanks enough.”

“He’s a great kid– man, I should say,” Claire corrects herself. “We’re proud of him, too.”

“Excuse me,” a voice calls out from the front of the room. “Could I have everyone’s attention?” A few others help out by clinking their forks against glasses, and soon all heads have turned to acknowledge Tim, who stands with Molly, Sarah, and Jason beside a large television screen that has been rolled in.

“We’d like to thank you all for being here tonight,” Tim says. “For those who don’t know, I’m Tim…” He gestures down the line.

“I’m Molly.”

“Sarah.”

“And I’m Jason.”

“Our father was Bill Fisher, who over 25 years ago fulfilled his dream of opening a restaurant when he opened a place called the Fisherman’s Pier in this very location,” Tim announces to the crowd. “Our mother couldn’t be here in person tonight, but thanks to technology, she’s able to join us and say a few words. Let’s see if we can get this to work…”

He presses a few buttons on his phone, and suddenly Paula’s image appears on the monitor. The Fishers’ dining room is visible behind her.

“You’re good to go,” Tim says to the phone. Paula nods and then nervously adjusts her posture.

“Hi, everyone,” she says. Her voice is a little more measured and practiced than it normally is, the edges of her words more precise and flattened. “I’m Paula Fisher, Bill’s wife. Thank you so much for being with us to share this special night — a night that we hope is only the beginning of a long, happy tradition for all of King’s Bay. As you might know, the Fisherman’s Pier was closed over a decade ago following a rather unfortunate incident, and my husband relocated to the far side of downtown and opened a restaurant called Harbor Boulevard. And although that restaurant thrived, Pier 22 has always felt like home to us. It was where Bill’s dream first came true, and it was where our family celebrated so many wonderful milestones.”

Molly takes Tim’s hand in hers as they watch their mother speak. She can tell that memories of their father are washing over Tim, just as they are for her.

“And so, when it came time for Harbor Boulevard to close, it was only natural that we return here,” Paula continues. “That we return home. I have to thank my son-in-law, Matt Gray, who is the head chef and whose persistence is the reason that we were able to reopen in this space that means so much to all of us.”

Tori, standing beside her father, forces his hand into the air, and guests applaud.

“This has truly been a family effort. Everyone has pitched in,” Paula says. “Matt has led the staff in putting together a remarkable menu. My grandson, Travis, has worked tirelessly as part of the kitchen staff — which I know would have Bill rejoicing. And so many others have done their part, and more. In just a minute, we’re going to have a special performance by my daughter-in-law, Danielle Taylor Moriani, who is a very talented singer. Afterward, dinner will be served. Thank you so much for being a part of this night with us, and welcome to Bill’s on the Pier!”

The guests clap and cheer, their joy filling the dining room. In another corner, Danielle stands at a microphone with her acoustic guitar, and Jimmy is stationed at a keyboard behind her. She begins strumming the first notes of a ballad.

“So many nights have gone by,” she sings. “So many nights that I’ve cried…”

The crowd grows somber as they listen reverently to the song. Jimmy joins in, the sounds of piano accompanying Danielle’s guitar.

With arms folded, Kathleen watches her boyfriend play as Danielle sings. She never tires of seeing Jimmy in his element like this.

“They’re terrific,” the woman beside her, who wears oversized earrings, says. “And you can just see the chemistry between them!”

Kathleen stiffens.

“I think I heard they have a kid together,” the woman adds. “You can just tell what a bond they have.”

“Yeah,” Kathleen mutters, now observing the performance with a completely different perspective. Her stomach feels as if it drops to her knees.

Danielle’s voice soars as she launches into the chorus:

“Whenever I meet you again…”

Tori is watching quietly when she feels a finger tap her on the shoulder. Startled, she whips around.

“What are you doing here?” she asks.

Zane Tanaka grins back at her. His dark hair is parted neatly, and he wears a black suit with a black silk tie.

“I wouldn’t have missed this,” he says. “I just got back.”

Tori throws her arms around him.

“It’s good to see you,” Matt whispers as he leans toward the young couple.

“You too, Mr. Gray.”

At the front of the room, Sarah’s body stiffens with alarm. It can’t be. He can’t be back. He wouldn’t dare.

“I know that day will come… I’ll walk into the sun… Whenever I meet you again…”

END OF EPISODE 897

Is there anything Sarah can do about Zane now?
Were you happy to see Bill again in Paula’s dream?
Should Kathleen be worried about Jimmy and Danielle?
Discuss all this and more in the comments below!

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