Previously…
– Tim informed Diane that Samantha had drinks with Tempest and that things seemed to be softening between the exes. Diane was careful to conceal her irritated reaction to the news.
– The Fishers were shocked to realize that Peter had gone missing from their Thanksgiving celebration — and so had Spencer.
– Spencer holed up in a motel with Peter and panicked that his rash actions would cost him custody of his son forever. He called Elly and paid her a retainer to help him. Elly came up with a plan.

“We’ll update you, of course, if there’s any further word on that Amber Alert,” Diane Bishop says into the hanging microphone inside the small recording booth in KBAY’s main studio.

Her cohost, Luke Berman, offers a solemn nod from across the desk. “We hope there’s good news about your nephew soon, Diane.”

A holiday-themed jingle takes them to commercial, and both Diane and Luke remove their headphones.

“You doing okay?” Luke asks.

“Yeah. Thanks. We all have a pretty good idea that Peter’s with his biological father and isn’t actually in danger, but still.”

“Scary, still. Can’t imagine how I’d feel if one of my kids went missing.” He shudders at the thought. “Gonna run to the men’s room before we do that next segment.”

Luke exits the booth, and Diane follows suit. After the uncertainty and stress of Peter’s kidnapping left her unable to sleep for much of the night, she could use a refill on her coffee. As she steps out into the studio with her empty cup, a familiar production assistant approaches her.

“More coffee?” Jaq, the P.A. with short, black hair, asks pleasantly.

Diane immediately hands her the cup. “Please. Thank you.”

Jaq shuffles across the room while Diane checks her phone. She has a smattering of text messages from Tim, Sarah, and Samantha, but still nothing solid about Peter. She was hoping that a call might come in to the station during her morning show, but despite Spencer’s car having been found hours ago, there has still been no sign of either him or Peter.

“Here you go,” Jaq says as she returns and hands the steaming cup of hot coffee to Diane. “Anything else I can do for you?”

“No, but thank you.” Diane gratefully accepts the coffee and breathes in its fumes, as if even the scent might give her a jolt of energy. As Jaq turns to go, however, Diane finds herself speaking again.

“Wait,” she says. “Actually, there is something else.”

—–

Elly Vanderbilt leans back against the closed door of the motel room. Hazy morning light filters in through around the edges of the drawn curtains.

“Are you ready?” she asks Spencer Ragan.

He rubs his palms together. Having not slept all night, he has a wildness about him, particularly in his eyes.

“Beyond,” he answers.

“Great.” Elly looks to the bed, where little Peter is curled up in a ball, fast asleep, beneath the tan, quilted bedspread. “It’s amazing how he’s slept through so much of this.”

“He must be exhausted,” Spencer says. “Our little adventure last night…”

“Could still land you in hot water. Scalding water,” Elly tells him.

He frowns. “You don’t think this is going to work?”

“I hope it will. And I think it should. But you never know. We’re dealing with a lot of wild cards, Spencer.”

“One in particular,” he says with a knowing lift of his eyebrows.

As if on cue, the door to the restroom opens. Both Elly and Spencer look in that direction, as a palpable tension lingers in the air.

“We’re all ready,” Elly says. “Are you?”

“As long as you hold up your end of the deal,” the visitor tells them.

—–

In Paula Fisher’s dining room, members of the family have set up a makeshift command center. Cell phones, legal pads, scraps of paper, pens, and laptops cover the surface that was occupied by their Thanksgiving feast last night.

“Okay, thank you,” Jason Fisher says with resignation. He doesn’t even wait for the person on the line to reply before he ends the call and sets his iPhone down on the table with a frustrated grunt.

“I’m all the way out to Olympia by now,” he says to everyone and yet no one in particular. “No one at any of these hotels has seen them.”

“Or remembers seeing them,” Sarah Fisher Gray chimes in. “Keep that in mind. They could’ve checked in somewhere hours ago and been completely unmemorable. Especially if Spencer left Peter in the car while he checked in.”

Jason’s face tightens as he looks at his sister, but he manages to redirect his annoyance away from her.

Instead he sighs loudly and says, “Or they could’ve ditched Spencer’s car and hopped on a train or bus. Peter could be god knows how far from here by now…”

“That’s why Brent has the KBPD covering every possible angle,” Sarah says. “And if we can get a subpoena for his cell activity…”

Jason bolts up from his chair. “I can’t just sit here. I need to do something.”

“Jason,” Paula says from the kitchen entrance, to no avail. She watches as her youngest storms into the living room and then turns back, throwing his hands up helplessly.

“What in the hell is wrong with Spencer?” he barks. “How could he think this would make things better?”

The others look around uncomfortably, silently communicating their relief that Tim and Claire stepped out to help Brent with something. If they hadn’t, the whole family would have to relive another of the tense, angry encounters between Tim and Jason that have periodically been igniting all night long.

“He was obviously desperate,” Samantha says from her seat at the dining room table, as she pushes her glasses up on her nose. “He made a stupid decision, but I sort of understand why.”

Jason shakes his head as he grits his teeth. “He’s been a loose cannon since the day we found out he was part of this family. He’s always wanted to hurt us in one way or another–”

“Please,” Paula says as she hurries toward her son.

But he barrels through the attempted interruption: “He has no loyalty to any of us. And why should he? He was raised by that monster Loretta–”

“Enough!” Paula bellows suddenly. Her uncharacteristic outburst throws the entire house into a hush.

“I know that you’re angry,” she says, once again approaching Jason. “You have every right to be. Scared, too. Spencer is going to face repercussions for what he’s done. But yelling and screaming right now is not going to bring Peter back.”

Jason merely grimaces at her, weariness and rage so clear on his face.

Before anyone can speak again, the urgent vibrating of a phone on the dining room table steals everyone’s attention. Jason rushes back over to get his ringing phone.

“It’s Natalie,” Sarah says, glancing at the screen as her brother grabs the device.

“Where is she, anyway?” Molly asks. “I thought she was coming over hours ago.”

“She told Uncle Jason she had to go deal with something,” Samantha informs her aunt. “He thinks maybe she ran off chasing a lead.”

“It would be nice if she told us what it was,” Molly says.

Jason answers the call. “Natalie. Where are you? Have you heard anything?”

His eyes widen in disbelief as he listens.

“What is it?” Paula asks anxiously.

“She has him,” Jason says, still holding the phone to his face. “Natalie is with Peter.”

—–

Jaq swings back around with that same professional-but-glowing smile she manages to exhibit at nearly all times while on the job.

“What can I do for you?” she asks.

“Well, this is a little unorthodox.” Diane moves closer to her. “You mentioned something about an ex recently. Does that mean you’re currently single?”

Jaq pulls the sleeves of her olive green hoodie over her hands awkwardly. “I…”

“Not for me,” Diane hastens to add. “I’m– no. That would be completely inappropriate. And I’m straight. This is about my daughter. And I should add, this is one hundred percent not some quid pro quo thing. I’m only bringing it up because you seem like a nice, focused girl. Young woman.”

She sees the production assistant exhale a little.

“Okay,” Jaq says. “Yeah, I’m single at the moment. I’m not sure that I’m ready for another relationship, but…”

“Even friendship would be great,” Diane says. “Samantha is really smart–she went to KBU and works as a copywriter at Objection Designs now. And she’s one of the most compassionate people I’ve ever met. Her coming-out was very tied up with her first big relationship, which turned out to be with someone who was… not a good fit.”

Jaq cocks one eyebrow. “Sounds dramatic.”

“Dramatic is putting it lightly. Sam is very trusting and very forgiving, to a fault. She put faith in someone who didn’t deserve it.” Diane sips her coffee and evaluates the look in Jaq’s eyes; the younger woman doesn’t appear to be uneasy or looking for an escape. “All I’m asking, if it isn’t too much, is to introduce you to Samantha. She doesn’t really have lesbian friends outside of her ex. If you girls hit it off, amazing–yes, I’m that kind of mom. But I’m not completely crazy. I’d just love for her to expand her circle. And,” she says emphatically, “you’re doing an incredible job here, and there’s no impact on your job or your future at KBAY if you don’t feel like it. More of a favor to a coworker than anything.”

“No, I could do that,” Jaq says. “I have a pretty big group of friends. Your daughter’s welcome to hang out with us. I know when I was coming out, I thought it was all about meeting the love of my life, but really… it was about finding a support system.”

“That’s exactly how I feel about Sam. She has an incredible family, but it would do her a world of good to have a group of LGBT friends her age, too.”

“Then set it up, and I’m there.”

“Thank you, Jaq,” Diane says with a broad, genuine smile. “I appreciate it.”

“Yeah, all good,” Jaq says.

“Thirty seconds ’til we’re back!” a producer calls out.

“I’ve gotta get back in there,” Diane tells Jaq, “but I’ll let you know.”

“Awesome.”

Diane holds her coffee carefully as she hurries back to the booth.

No way am I letting you get your hooks back in my daughter, Tempest, she thinks as she goes. Not after what you did.

—–

“I guess this is it,” Jason says as he pulls his car between the two faded white lines of a parking space outside the aged motel.

Paula, in his passenger seat, unbuckles her seat belt and then looks over at him. “I still don’t understand what’s going on.”

“Neither do I. It makes no sense.” Jason picks up his key fob from the center console and opens his door. “All I want is to see Peter.”

“Me, too,” Paula says as they exit the car.

A few spots over, Brent Taylor and another officer from the King’s Bay Police Department step out of a squad car.

“We’ll be right behind you,” Brent calls to Jason. “Which room is it?”

Jason briefly scans the numbers on the doors, points to the correct one, and proceeds in that direction. Paula follows closely behind him, and Brent and the other officer bring up the rear.

—–

Inside the motel room, Elly peers through the side of the curtains.

“Here they come,” she announces. “Ready? You only get one chance to do this right.”

“I’ve got it,” Natalie says. She bends down to pick up Peter, who has been standing by her side, and hoists him up onto her hip. She tries to smooth down his wild bedhead.

Seconds later, there comes a firm, insistent knock at the door. Spencer flinches at the sound.

“You get it,” Elly tells Natalie.

Natalie steps forward, undoes the deadbolt, and pulls open the door. Morning light floods into the room.

“Peter,” Jason says through a gasp. “Are you okay?”

“He’s fine,” Natalie says. “Absolutely fine. He slept through the night like a very good boy.”

“What are you doing?” Jason asks, his tone clipped and frantic. “What’s going on?”

“Daddy’s here!” Peter exclaims.

“I am,” Jason says in a softer tone. “Do you want to come to me?”

“Not so fast,” Natalie says, holding onto her son.

“We’ve been worried sick,” Paula says from behind her son.

Spencer steps up to stand beside Natalie.

“I’m sorry,” he says. “This was all a giant misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding? You kidnapped Peter,” Jason snaps.

Paula places a hand on her son’s shoulder. “Jason…”

Spencer sees Brent and the other officer waiting a few feet away on the sidewalk. He swallows hard, knowing that one wrong move could send this all to hell.

“Natalie, tell them,” he says. He takes a look at Peter, who thankfully appears unfazed by all of this.

“Spencer didn’t kidnap Peter,” Natalie says. “I… I asked him to bring Peter to me.”

Jason recoils as if from a punch. “What? You sounded completely surprised when I called to tell you–” His eyes flare. “Were you pretending? What kind of sick game is this?”

Elly stands out-of-sight to the side of the open door, listening carefully to every syllable uttered.

“Well,” Natalie explains, shifting Peter to her other hip, “I tried to talk to you when I dropped off Peter last night, right? I tried to get you on my side in this… this case.”

“Yeah. And then you left Peter with me,” he says.

Natalie takes a deep breath. “As it turns out, someone overheard our conversation.”

Spencer raises his hand.

“What is the point of all this?” Paula demands, exasperated. “We were up all night, so worried…”

“And I apologize for that,” Natalie says.

“Me, too,” Spencer adds. “Natalie and I– after she left Peter with Jason, I approached her, and we talked. We… made a deal.”

“A deal?” Jason asks. “For you to make us all think Peter had gone missing?” He whips around. “Brent, will you just arrest Spencer? He doesn’t have custody of this boy–”

“No one’s getting arrested,” Elly says as she steps into view.

“Elly?” Brent says with confusion at the sight of his niece.

“What are you doing here?” Jason asks. “I heard you were in town, but…”

“Spencer and Natalie retained my services as an attorney,” Elly explains coolly, “once they realized that their miscommunication could reflect poorly on Spencer’s capabilities as a parent.”

“He has no capabilities as a parent!” Jason says.

“I said this was all a misunderstanding,” Natalie cuts in. “I asked Spencer to bring Peter to me so that we could go ahead with our plan. He moved too early, that’s all. Once he got in touch, I realized I had to straighten things out before we let you know — otherwise I’d be putting him at unnecessary legal risk.”

Jason brings a hand to his face and swipes it over his tired eyes. “What in the hell are you talking about?”

“Jason, I gave you the chance to work together, and you didn’t bite,” she says. “So I made a decision — Spencer and I made a decision.”

Paula furrows her brow. Jason’s mouth hangs open, waiting for any of this to make sense.

Natalie reaches down and grasps Spencer’s hand. “Spencer and I are going to raise Peter together. We’re getting married today.”

END OF EPISODE 953

Did Natalie and Spencer’s news surprise you?
Will Jason be able to stay in Peter’s life?
Is Diane overstepping her bounds with Jaq?
Talk about it all in the comments below!

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