Previously…
– Sonja traveled to Hawaii for Christmas, and while she was gone, Spencer experienced a confusing memory flash of an argument with Natalie.
– Zane told Sarah that he has genuine feelings for Tori and has no plans to break up with her, despite their initial deal.
– Matt’s brother, Jake, and his wife, Mia, announced plans to relocate to King’s Bay.
– Molly and Conrad separately pondered turning their relationship into more than friendship. Conrad announced that he’d found a new home in King’s Bay and would be moving out of Molly’s house.

 

“There’s some room in that box,” Paula Fisher says, pointing. Her granddaughter scans the living room before locating the exact box to which Paula is referring, and then she steps cautiously over the floor, which is a bit of a minefield as they clean up and put away the Christmas decorations.

“At least we’ll be done with the tree soon,” Tori Fisher comments as she sets the two ornaments in the box. “That seems like the hardest part.”

“It’s the most daunting.” Paula takes a step back and looks over the almost bare tree. Its green branches have been stripped of the strands of lights and most of the colorful ornaments. “It always makes me a little sad to take it down.”

“Why? It’ll be Christmas again before you know it.”

Paula chuckles, thinking about what different outlooks she and Tori have on life. For Tori, time is seemingly endless, a lush green field that keeps sprawling out further and further ahead of her. As for Paula, that field rolls out more tentatively, less freely; especially since Bill’s passing, she has come to view every single step, every foot, as a gift and not assume that another is guaranteed. That is why she has not spent her time on house arrest waiting for the day that her sentence is over, but rather, trying to regard each day as one in which she can do something special. She has been more successful on some days than others, but she suspects that this attitude has helped keep her sane while she is confined to her home and the yard, missing so much of the world.

Outside the house, Matt Gray inserts his key into the front door’s lock.

“I think they might like it more than we did,” his wife is saying as they enter the house.

Matt pulls down the hood of his raincoat, and a few beads of water shimmy their way down to the floor. “You’re probably right.”

“How was the house?” Paula asks as she appears in the doorway to the entry, flanked by Tori.

“Matt wasn’t the biggest fan,” Sarah says, unwinding the scarf from around her neck, “but I think Jake and Mia might like it.”

“Bad kitchen,” Matt grumbles while removing his shoes.

“Well, you can’t have that!” Paula says.

“It’s just small and could use a little updating,” Sarah explains.

“I still can’t believe they’re moving here.” Tori beams at the thought. “It’s gonna be fun having them in town.”

Paula watches as they hang their coats. “It’s good of you two to scout out homes for them. It’ll save them some time with this move.”

“Especially since it’s happening so fast,” Matt says.

They move into the living room, where Sarah observes the stripped tree and the various boxes littering the floor.

“Wow, you guys made good progress,” she says.

“Tori has been a big help,” Paula comments. “How many more houses are you looking at this weekend?”

“Just two,” Sarah says, “but I’m going to the next one alone.”

“I have to go into the restaurant this afternoon,” Matt explains.

“Maybe Tori can go with you,” Paula says.

Sarah and Matt look at their daughter, who shrugs noncommittally.

“I mean, it’s not really how I wanted to spend my afternoon,” she says as she glances at her phone, “but I guess it’s for a good purpose. And it’ll be good practice.”

Paula tilts her head curiously. “Practice?”

Tori’s lips fold in on themselves, but a twinkle radiates in her eyes, as if she concealing the world’s greatest secret. Finally she comes out with it: “Zane and I have kind of talked about moving in together after I graduate.”

“What?” Sarah asks sharply, more a demand than a question. Matt turns to her, surprised by the force of her reaction.

“I mean, we would definitely have to find a new place,” Tori goes on, “because his apartment is kind of a dump.”

Sarah’s teeth chatter and her fingers twitch as rage surges through her body. She has to keep herself from mentioning that she knows what a dump Zane’s apartment is because she’s been there — when she gave him the check that was supposed to keep him away from Tori forever.

“Aren’t you… concerned that might be a little fast?” she asks, careful to keep her tone as even as possible.

“Not really,” Tori says. “It’s been a year. I hang out there so much anyway.”

“That isn’t that long–”

“Hey, hey,” Matt says, placing a hand gently on Sarah’s shoulder. “Isn’t it the dad who’s supposed to be the crazy overprotective one?”

“I’m not crazy,” Sarah says, flustered. “I just think… you’re young, and you’re finishing college… so maybe you don’t need to rush into a commitment with anyone. Live with a friend for a while. Enjoy yourself.”

Tori folds her arms. “I’m not just gonna live at home forever.”

“I didn’t say you should,” Sarah replies.

“I think Zane is a very nice young man,” Paula interjects. “Tori deserves to be happy, especially after everything she’s been through the past few years.”

“Yeah, she does,” Matt says. “Let’s all agree on that.”

“I do agree on that,” Sarah says, wishing so badly that she could explain her outsized reaction to Tori’s declaration.

“Why don’t we all start moving these boxes out to the shed?” Paula says.

Sarah stoops down, snaps the lid on a plastic bin closed, and picks it up. “Fine by me.”

“Matt, would you get one, too?” Paula lets out a chuckle. “I don’t need a repeat of what happened last year.”

“I think Mom’s more likely to lock me in the shed,” Tori says.

Sarah tries to join in on the laughter as the others pick up boxes, but flames of anger threaten to consume her from the inside out — and it has nothing to do with her mother’s joke. She would let them lock her in that shed if it would keep Zane away from Tori. All she knows is that she has to figure something out.

—–

“Are you sure I can’t help you?” Molly Taylor asks with concern.

She stands in the foyer of her home as Conrad Halston wipes his shoes on the mat and sets the empty hand truck against the wall.

“No, but thank you,” Conrad says. “I can handle getting my things out to the car.”

Molly purses her lips. “I just don’t want you jeopardizing your recovery.”

“I promise I’m not pushing myself too hard. Besides, there isn’t that much.”

“It’s good to see you moving around so well again,” she says before taking a careful sip from the mug in her hand. “I still can’t believe you’re actually moving out.”

He shrugs. “It’s nice to feel more like my old self. And I want everything over at the townhouse before I leave to go watch Bree at Nationals. It will make coming back easier.”

“Yeah, how early were you up this morning?” she asks.

“I got out of bed at 6 or so. I wanted to get a jump on the day. At least it wasn’t pitch-black until 7:30 like it had been.”

“The nights are getting shorter now. Hot chocolate?” She raises her mug.

He thinks about it for a moment. “Actually, that sounds great — if it isn’t too much trouble.”

Molly laughs. “It isn’t.”

Conrad follows her into the kitchen. Her tablet, a number of paper sketches, and several fabric swatches cover the table.

“Seems as if I’m not the only one who got an early start on work today,” he comments.

“I’m trying to get some things out of the way before the boys come back from Brent’s. There’s so much to do so that we can get this Conviction collection into production quickly.” Grimacing, Molly rubs her forehead.

“The important part is that it’s happening. You did it. Not everyone is able to overcome adversity the way you have.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you.” She fills a pot with water and sets it on the stove to boil.

“That isn’t true,” Conrad says.

“It is.” She switches on the burner and turns to face him. “You’re the one who gave me the idea to stop running away from what I went through and to use it as inspiration instead.”

He shrugs. “It only seemed natural.”

“Well, I needed the push. I’m going to miss having you around.”

“Oh, come on,” he says with a grin. “I’ve imposed long enough.”

“You aren’t imposing. At all.” She looks at him, taking in his handsome face and his eyes that always seem so alive, so full of knowledge and curiosity at once. “I’ve really enjoyed having you here.”

“I’ve enjoyed being here.”

An electric charge pulses in the air, invisible but so real, at least to Molly. Looking at Conrad, she is certain that he feels it, too. Both of them have lips parted, tongues poised, as if prepared to say something but not certain what it should be.

Molly hears the gentle flickering of the stove’s flame behind herself.

She draws a deep breath to steel herself and then moves toward him. She sees the surprise in his face, but before he can even finish reacting, she stands on her toes and reaches her face up toward his. Her eyes close and her mind goes blank as their lips meet. They stay like that for several seconds, kissing tenderly, until Conrad takes a step back.

His brow crinkles as he studies her. “What was that?”

—–

Sonja Kahele pads down the first-floor hallway of Tim Fisher’s house. She stops outside the office that has been converted into a bedroom and raps her knuckles against the closed door.

“Rise and shine!” she trills through the door.

“Come in!” a voice calls from inside.

She enters and finds Spencer Ragan already in his wheelchair, zipping up a red hooded sweatshirt. His dark hair is still wild from sleeping.

“It’s late,” he says groggily.

“I came by about an hour and a half ago, but you were still asleep. I thought I’d let you get your rest.”

“Thanks.” He rubs his eyes. “Do we have to do therapy right away?”

“You can get some coffee first. Your dad and I left some in the pot.”

Spencer raises an eyebrow. “Sounds like you guys are hitting it off.”

Sonja’s shoulders rise up, nearly swallowing her neck as her cheeks flush with pink. “Your father is a very nice man.”

“Yeah, he is. And he hasn’t had it easy.”

“I have no intention of complicating things for him,” she says, touching her hand to her chest. “He’s been a very generous host. If I’ve done anything unprofessional–”

His grin sparkles knowingly. “I think it’s cool that you guys are… getting along. Don’t let me stand in the way of anything.”

Sonja titters nervously. “Don’t be silly.”

“I’m just saying…”

“Well, thanks.” She looks to the unmade bed as her head races. “Did you sleep well?”

“Very. Yeah. Thanks.”

“Good. I really do think that white noise makes a big difference. You must have so much going on in your mind… How many nights do you think you forgot to use it?”

She folds her hands, anxiety flowing through her veins. Spencer simply shrugs off the question.

“Two or three? I don’t know.” He begins to wheel himself toward the door. “I’m going to get some coffee. Once I’m awake, we can do some exercises.”

“Sounds great.” She fixes a pleasant smile across her face. “I’ll be ready.”

As she watches him go, the voicemail from her other boss rings in her head:

“I hope you’re enjoying Hawaii, because if Spencer remembers anything while you’re gone, it’ll be the last trip you ever take.”

Sonja still doesn’t understand why Loretta Ragan is so hell-bent on making sure that Spencer’s memory remains at bay, but she agreed to do a job, and the extra money is making a serious difference in her mother’s care. As long as no one is getting hurt, she is sure that she can keep making sure that Spencer uses the white noise app — and whatever subliminal messages Mrs. Ragan planted in the recording to keep him from remembering. She has no other choice.

“I’m glad you had time to meet,” Sarah says across the copper table. “I had to get out of the house.”

“Your mother’s driving you nuts? I know how that goes,” Diane Bishop replies.

They sit at a table in the dining room of Bill’s on the Pier, forks poised over the salads that have just arrived.

“For once, it isn’t my mom,” Sarah says.

She glances up from her food to find Diane staring intently at her.

“Then what the hell is it?” Diane asks in her usual brash way.

Sarah sighs as she mentally reviews the conversation at the house earlier. She hates feeling like a crazy person objecting to Tori’s relationship with Zane when no one can understand why she takes issue with it — but, even more, she hates that her daughter is being used and manipulated by a criminal. Sure, maybe he does find Tori attractive or enjoy spending time with her — both of those things make perfect sense to Sarah — but she knows what he is capable of, and she doesn’t for a second trust him with Tori’s heart or her safety.

“It’s nothing.”

“Oh, come on. I see right through you, and you know it. What’s bugging you?”

Sarah’s shoulders slump, an admission that her friend is right, and she takes a bite of the salmon atop her salad as she thinks.

“Nothing big,” she lies. “I have this really annoying case I’m working on, and Matt’s brother and Mia asked us to go look at a bunch of houses for them before they come out next week. I have to go see one after this. I feel slammed, that’s all.”

“I’ll go with you, if you want. Staying busy is what’s keeping me sane lately.”

“Have you talked to Samantha since Christmas?”

“Just texts. We’re supposed to sit down and talk this week.” Diane seems to drift off into her thoughts as she chews a bite of her salad. “I’m trying to stay optimistic.”

“Good. I get why she’s angry at you and why she’s struggling with all this–”

“Believe me, so do I.”

“–but if you guys can really hash it out, it’ll be good for both of you.”

“That’s what I tried to tell her. I don’t want us to wind up like my mother and me. I can’t even get through a meal with the woman.”

“I didn’t talk with her much on Christmas day, but she made a few comments that were a little…” Sarah widens her eyes.

“That’s the Claudia Bishop I know and occasionally attempt to tolerate.” Diane pauses to take a sip of her water and winds up shaking her head. “I never want Samantha to think of me that way. I know what I did was terrible, but if there’s any chance of salvaging this relationship, I need to take it. I’ll do whatever I can.”

“And that is the Diane Bishop I know and love.”

“Samantha’s the most important thing in my life. I’ll do everything I can to make sure she has the best possible life. And if it turns out that that means not having a relationship with me, then so be it.”

“Don’t say that.”

“I’m just being honest,” Diane says. “If it’s ultimately best for her to cut ties with me, I’ll respect that. But I’m not going down without a fight.”

“You shouldn’t,” Sarah says. “But I respect you for having that attitude toward this whole thing.”

Diane’s left shoulder rises and falls, as if to say, “What else would I do?” As Sarah takes another bite of her lunch, she considers her friend’s situation and is unable to keep from correlating it to her own.

Mid-bite, she stops chewing and lowers her fork.

“What is it?” Diane asks, concerned. “Something in your food?”

“No.” Sarah sets the fork against her dish as things crystallize in her mind. “But I just realized exactly what I need to do.”

“About the case, you mean?”

“Um, yeah. Exactly. About the case,” she says as she resumes eating her salad.

—–

Molly instinctively follows Conrad’s lead and takes a step backward, too.

“Oh, my gosh.” She covers her mouth with her hand. “I’m so sorry… I thought…”

“No. No!” he hurries to say. “I didn’t mean — that wasn’t unwelcome.”

He offers an overly enthusiastic smile, and her stomach begins to climb back up from her feet, where it plummeted in that instant after their kiss ended.

“I wasn’t expecting it, that’s all,” he says. “But I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about doing the same thing.”

Relief floods Molly’s being. “Really?”

“Really.” He leans in and places another peck on her lips. “See?”

“I do.” She feels herself beaming. “I’m glad I didn’t make a total fool of myself.”

“You didn’t. I promise. I just haven’t wanted to be presumptuous — or to put you in an uncomfortable position after all you’ve done for me. I thought it would be best if I waited until I had a place of my own.”

“And I thought you were in a hurry to move out because you didn’t feel the same way!”

He grasps both her hands. “Absolutely not true.”

“I’m really glad to hear that.”

“I can do more than tell you.” Again he kisses her, and this time, the gentle beginning gives way to something more passionate and primal.

Molly feels an urgent heat running through her body. They separate again, but their faces remain mere millimeters apart.

“We have a few hours before the twins come back,” she says, “and Danielle is out giving lessons all day.”

He glances at the table. “I thought you had work to do.”

“It can wait.” Her fingers toy with the front of his shirt. “I promise.”

“Good.”

They kiss again, but she suddenly pulls back. “You don’t still want that hot chocolate, do you?”

“I had already forgotten about it,” he says, reaching to turn off the stove.

Bodies entwined and mouths pressed together, they move clumsily toward the hallway and up the stairs, pausing only long enough to be sure that Conrad can keep his balance. By the time they reach the master bedroom, Molly is tugging his shirt over his head, and she welcomes his weight on top of her as they tumble onto the bed together.

END OF EPISODE 907

Are you glad that Molly and Conrad heated things up?
What is Sarah planning to do now?
Are Sonja’s efforts going to blow up in her face?
Talk about it all in the comments below!

Next Episode