013

 Previously, On Concrete Shelves…

• During a business meeting with her father, Patrick Sutton, and their newest business partner, Reichen Calbourne, Gillian Sutton Crenshaw was accompanied by her two children, their nanny, and her driver. In the heat of the moment, the toddlers got into mischief, resulting in her son, Phoenix, slashing his arm.
• Jane Wilkinson discovered that her father, Corey Wilkinson, had stolen a series of properties from his niece, Greta. Jane insisted on speaking with him on her behalf but found out he was secretly meeting with his boss within the building he had recently acquired from Georgia Kettner.
• Reid Maverick returned to Stone Creek under the guise of pursuing a burgeoning tech movement heading into California. Although he has caught Cree Summers’ eye, he has also reconnected with an old friend, Megan.

Dancing in A Burning Room

September 1st, 2027

On Concrete Shelves | Revisited

013 - PART TWO

Scene One

Now, Town; Stone Creek Memorial Hospital

The last time Gillian Sutton Crenshaw stepped foot inside this space was likely when the twins were born. To be honest, she didn’t really step foot in it—more like rushed in, feet up, in a wheelchair, seconds away from giving birth. Gillian recalls how furious her husband was when he discovered that her water had broken at the city council office instead of in their bedroom, where he had left her before leaving for work.

Fortunately for Gillian, and the twins, everything turned out well, and Damien even softened his stance after seeing their babies. This time, she can feel the wobbly sensation in her legs as soon as she steps into the hospital. It’s an experience she’s only felt once before in her life. Although that memory is tucked away with the rest of her memories from her time in Barbados before she met her husband, Damien.

Gillian’s senses begin to return, and her legs regain their strength. Her father stands tall with Phoenix in his arms, while Robin holds Charlotte tightly in her own.

“Dr. Bassey,” Gillian calls out, and the first nurse closest to them responds by going to check on Phoenix. “We called ahead for Dr. Bassey.” Gillian states, as a second nurse joins the group in the ER waiting room.

“Is he in any pain?” the first nurse asks.

“Well, he has a large gash in his arm, so I’m certain he is,” Gillian replies curtly. “Where is Dr. Bassey?”

“Sweetheart,” Patrick says, trying to soothe his daughter.

However, Gillian dismisses his words and turns back to the nurses. “He’s been crying since we started the drive here. There’s a trail of blood running through town! My son is in too much pain to be sitting here being questioned by the two of you!”

“We tried to bandage him as best as we could, but there’s so much blood,” Robin adds.

With the information she has gathered, the first nurse, with the help of the second nurse, gets Phoenix into the nearest cubicle. Gillian rushes forward, followed by her father and Robin, but a third nurse stops everyone except Gillian from proceeding.

“We can’t let everyone through; only the mother can go past this point.”

Gillian turns to see the commotion. “I’ll be fine, Daddy,” she looks at Charlotte, “just take care of my daughter and let Damien know where we are once he arrives.”

Patrick nods his head, then turns to Robin and Charlotte, who in turn begin to move towards the waiting area. Sven finally arrives at the emergency room after parking his SUV. He has Charlotte’s favorite doll in his arms. Upon seeing it, Charlotte immediately pushes Robin away and rushes over to him, ripping it out of his grasp.

An overwhelming feeling washes over Gillian. Just hours ago, she was intensely focused on the meeting she had planned between her father, herself, and Reichen Calbourne. Although things didn’t go as smoothly as she had hoped, primarily due to her father’s ego — which constantly reminds her of its significant growth over the years — the three of them reached a semblance of understanding.

However, now that understanding is the furthest thing from her mind. Her greed in attempting to push her aunt Kimberly and her spiteful cousin, Peter, Jr., out of the family business has caused her to lose focus on her children.

Gillian turns back to where the nurses were tending to her son. She knows that once Damien arrives at the hospital, he will undoubtedly lecture her mercilessly. So, she prepares her mind through a forced smile, locking eyes with her son, Phoenix, as the nurses carefully remove the bandages.

Our Love. Our Fights. Our Friendships.

On Concrete Shelves.

Forever, They Shall Be Remembered.

Scene Two

Sage Gardens; Heading to Now Town

“I’m sorry if I’ve put you in an awkward situation,” Greta Wilkinson Fowler says, the first words spoken by either occupant in the vehicle. The words feel heavier than she intended them to be, but she hopes to continue the conversation as they make their way to the building that Georgia Kettner had contracted out to her uncle instead of her.

She can see her younger cousin, Jane, straighten up in the passenger seat of her car. “You’re not exactly the one who put me there.”

“Still,” Greta responds, her hands tightening on the steering wheel. “I have a feeling that I may have infiltrated your friend group now that Lark is working for me at the agency.”

Jane tilts her head towards Greta. For a moment, the two of them lock eyes before Greta returns her attention to the road. The good news is that Sage Gardens has a direct connection to downtown, so for the most part, it’s a straight drive.

However, this doesn’t help the silence in the car.

“Lark is really grateful to work for you. She talks about it all the time. Sometimes, it’s a bit too much, but I understand,” Jane says. “Once you find something you’re good at, it feels like everything else falls into place.”

Greta nods. “I appreciate her. She’s been an amazing addition to the team.”

“She’s a great team player,” Jane responds. There’s a slight hint of venom in her voice that Greta picks up on, but she decides not to point it out at the risk of making their drive feel more drawn out. Luckily for her, Jane continues, “Unlike my father, apparently. I guess I just thought higher of him.”

“That makes two of us,” Greta agrees. They return to silence, with the gentle hum of a country song playing in the background. She considers turning up the volume to drown out the silence, but she also doesn’t want to create any more tension between them.

“I just don’t understand why my father would swoop in and take a client from you without saying anything?” Jane starts the conversation again. “He has witnessed the struggles you’ve faced in the last few years just to break even.” The words sting a little. Something about the inflection in her cousin’s voice felt sharp. “Unless, there’s an ulterior motive that we’re not aware of.”

“What do you mean?” Greta recovers.

Jane turns back to her, the sound of her whipping the seatbelt to her side as she holds out both of her hands. “I mean, moving back here to Stone Creek wasn’t entirely for me. I know my parents care deeply about staying close by, but mama was really starting to make a name for herself back home. It just felt wrong when they told me they were joining me here for my residency.”

“Your mother is very protective of your father,” Greta states. The last conversation she had with Mona plays in her mind as she signals to make a right turn. “I think they’re both very protective of their child. I can relate to that.”

“Are you on my father’s side or your own?”

Greta sighs. “I’m just reminding you that your parents care deeply about you. If one of my children were in your place right now, I would hope that someone would be telling them the same thing.”

She turns her head to meet her cousin’s gaze. “I can point out the obvious and be angry at my uncle at the same time.”

This elicits a chuckle from the younger girl. She then straightens up and points out the tall building that was once contracted to Greta and her agency. “There it is. He must be somewhere in there.”

“I think I know exactly where,” Greta snips, guiding the car to a stop so that she can safely turn into the parking garage. The code for the gates comes to her mind from the last time she toured the building with Georgia, that snake of a woman.

Scene Three

Sage Gardens; Alice’s Haven Cafe

Lark Maverick finds herself seated in a booth across from a slice of key lime pie as the sounds of chatter fill the building around her. After pitching the idea to Greta, this was the last place she thought she would be, but Lark was also surprised by the appearance of her friend, Jane.

A Noah Kahan song plays softly in the background.

“You wanted to meet me here?” Megan Sutton appears from behind Lark. She is dressed in a black graphic tee and a pair of straight-leg jeans. Her backpack and denim jacket are casually thrown on the opposite booth across from Lark. “So, what’s all the commotion?”

Lark clicks her tongue. “Jane stopped by the agency a couple of minutes ago.”

Megan looks around. “So, where is she?”

“She didn’t stop by to see me. Jane actually wanted to talk to her cousin, alone.”

The two girls sit in the café, intrigued, for a moment before a petite waitress approaches them. She asks Megan if there’s anything she’d like. There’s a familiar connection between them, which isn’t surprising since Megan’s mother owns the café.

“Actually, can you check if there’s any more coffee cake in the fridge, Aimee? My mom keeps a stash,” Megan says.

“In the second fridge behind the yogurt,” they say simultaneously, sharing a giggle.

Aimee taps Megan on the shoulder. “I’ve got you, girl.”

They sit in silence for a few more seconds before continuing their conversation. “So, what did Jane want to talk to Greta about?”

“The conversation we had at brunch the other day,” Lark replies. “I think she had that conversation with her father, even though we told her not to. I feel like all of this is somehow my fault. Maybe we shouldn’t have said anything to Jane.”

Megan shrugs. “She would’ve found out eventually.”

“Yeah, but it wouldn’t have been through us,” Lark says. “I just feel like there’s been a rift between the three of us lately. After that brunch conversation, things just haven’t felt right.”

“What do you want to do about it then?”

This stumps Lark. She’s usually the one with all the answers, but ever since she fumbled the contracts with Georgia, she hasn’t felt balanced. Things have just felt off.

Lark looks up at Megan and shrugs, a small smile forming on her face. “I guess there’s nothing we can do right now since Jane isn’t here. It’s bad luck to talk about a best friend when they’re not present. Let’s just shelve it until we can all get together again?”

“I like that idea.”

“Good,” Lark sits up straight, clapping her fingers together. “Because I don’t feel like I’ve had many good ones lately.”

Aimee returns to their table with a mocha and a plate for Megan. Before once again heading towards the buser she’s been flirting with since Lark entered the café.

“That’s the second time you’ve done that. I don’t like these vibes. You’re not the only one in this friend group with low energy.” Megan retorts. “I understand that this was a big client, but Greta has already said it wasn’t your fault. I think it’s time to let yourself off the hook.”

Lark smirks. “I know you’re right.”

“Then it’s settled.” Megan’s phone buzzes with a text message from Lark’s cousin, Reid.

Scene Four

Now Town; Stone Creek Memorial Hospital

Damien Crenshaw walks through the emergency room doors, his mother-in-law close behind. He had been in a meeting discussing the liquor budget for the Charity Gala when his assistant, Leo, alerted him to Gillian’s message.

Charlene, he had met in the parking lot. Apparently, one of the nurses is the sister of one of her waitresses. The fact that no one had sent a message to Charlene seemed to confirm this. Despite this, Damien was grateful for her presence, as she was one of the few level-headed members of this family.

He first spotted Patrick, but heard Charlotte’s voice second. The toddler ran over to him and threw herself at her father. When Gillian had revealed her pregnancy to him, Damien didn’t think he would ever hear the news again. He felt unworthy of being a father again, especially after the terrible things he had done to Caitlyn with Danielle.

However, now that he had both of his twins, Damien couldn’t think of anything else. “Oh my sweet girl.”

“I was wondering when you’d get here,” Patrick exclaimed.

As he handed his daughter to her grandmother, Damien turned to meet Patrick’s gaze. “I wouldn’t have to be here if you and your feud hadn’t consumed my wife’s mind so much.”

“Oh, please,” Patrick scoffed. “My daughter knows better than to stand down when her family is being attacked.”

“I distinctly recall advising you not to let Gillian get caught in the crossfire of this absurd war or yours, Patrick!” Damien seethes. “I suppose I should have been more explicit! My children are also involved in this mess.”

“Boys,” Charlene says, holding Charlotte’s hand as the child moves further behind her grandmother. “Let’s try to keep our voices down and remember our purpose for being here.”

“I remember. It’s crystal clear,” Damien grunts. He turns back to his father-in-law. “This man can’t seem to resist getting into trouble. I mean everything I said, Sutton. This feud you have with your sister and nephew keeps dragging my wife into more turmoil. I won’t stand for this anymore!”

“Damien,” Gillian says from behind the group. He turns to see his wife, looking more somber and sullen than usual, as if she’s been through a rough night. The other people in the room become more aware of him as well, and he begins to calm down from his rage.

Damien breaks away from the group and moves closer to his wife. From the corner of his eye, he sees Charlene and Charlotte keeping Patrick Sutton at bay.

“How is our son doing?”

“Phen is a strong boy,” Gillian replies, trying to regain her composure with her hands on her hips. “As for me, not so much.”

Damien pulls his wife into an embrace. “I’m not so sure about that. I happen to think that you’re the strongest person I know. Especially considering that you gave birth to and raised two of the bravest and strongest children on this planet.”

“What do the doctors say, darling?” Charlene asks from her spot in the room.

Gillian takes a deep breath and sniffs away a few tears. “He had to have a few stitches—which he will probably find amusing, but the bleeding has stopped, and there isn’t any significant damage to his overall health.”

“That’s a relief,” Charlene states.

Patrick steps forward. “I told you it was nothing to worry about.”

“Watch yourself, old man,” Damien warns.

“The two of you need to stop!” Gillian snaps, standing between the two men. “I overheard your conversation earlier, and I’m pretty sure the entire hospital did too. Daddy, you need to understand your boundaries when it comes to my family. And you need to know my boundaries when it comes to work. I work with my father because I enjoy what I do. This is who I am—not just a wife and a mother.”

“I just want to make sure you’re safe. I can’t keep protecting you every time the Suttons get into another wild west shootout.”

Gillian places a hand on his chest. “Then don’t. I don’t expect you to protect me; I can do that for myself. Having you here to protect our children has been so much more than I ever had growing up. I appreciate that from the man I married.”

“You act like you grew up in a saloon.” Patrick huffs.

“That’s not so far off.” Charlene chimes in, holding onto Charlotte.

He backs down.

.:On Concrete Shelves:.

Scene Five

Sage Gardens; Alice’s Haven Cafe

“What is my cousin doing texting you?” Lark asks, accusatory. 

The atmosphere in the cafe falls silent; the music fades, and the people blur out, leaving both Lark and Megan staring at each other.

Megan picks up her phone, but Lark reaches out a hand to stop her from pulling it away from her vision. “Megan.”

“Would you believe that both Reid and I spent a lot of time together after I got sent to boarding school?” She watches as Lark takes in the information and slowly releases her hand. “It was a long time ago.”

Lark queues up once more. “That still doesn’t answer my question, though. In fact, it only raises more.”

“Look, I’m not trying to hide anything from you, bestie,” Megan responds with a forced smile.

“Then, don’t.”

She lets out a deep breath, one she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “When I was sent away, I didn’t exactly make many genuine friends. Not like I have with both you and Jane. Reid just happened to be in the same school, and since we grew up around Stone Creek, we ended up hanging out a lot more.”

“I understand, that makes sense.” Lark furrows her brow. “But why would you keep all of that from me for so long? And why try to hide a text message from me, bestie?”

“It’s complicated.”

Lark rolls her eyes. “Everything with my cousin is complicated.”

“He’s not that complicated,” Megan tells Lark. “I just think Reid is more misunderstood than anything.”

“Then please, help me understand.” Lark scoffs. “Do I have to worry about something going on between the two of you? Because, let me tell you, Reid isn’t the kind of guy who has relationships. If you know him as well as you say you do, then you would know that.”

Megan leans back from the conversation, picks up her fork, and continues eating her dessert. She looks back up at Lark. “I would feel like an outsider if I said something about Reid that he hasn’t said about himself.”

“So that’s where this conversation is going to go?” There’s a tension between the two of them that Megan has never felt before. “Somehow, I’m the one on the wrong side of this?”

“He’s not here to defend himself, Lark.”

Lark starts to scoot out from her side of the table. “Which is good that he has you here to do that! I don’t understand why you’re defending my cousin to me. I know the kind of trouble Reid gets himself into. I’ve seen it. I think if there’s anyone who would understand it would be me… so I just don’t get why you’re the one hiding his problems here.”

“I’m not.”

Lark shrugs. “Then I’m leaving.”

“Lark!” Megan calls out, getting the attention of the other cafe guests and the most talkative person in the city, Aimee.

Despite this, Lark still grabs her things and, with a shake of her head, heads straight for the door and into the streets.

“So, I shouldn’t split that check?” Aimee asks from a table away.

Scene Six

Now Town

The drive from the agency to Now Town wasn’t as awkward as Greta had anticipated with her cousin, Jane. It was more comforting to know she wasn’t as crazy as she felt. Greta parks the car across the street from the towering building that was supposed to be contracted out to her. As much as she wanted to park in the underground parking garage so they could at least access the elevator, there was a security guard and a barrier preventing them from doing so.

Now more than ever, she feels flats would have been a better idea when getting ready for the morning. The duo rushes across the street once traffic subsides and as close to the sidewalk as possible, nearly hugging the building. There’s no way of knowing if her uncle was still inside the building. However, the possibility of seeing him with his employer does entice this whole endeavor.

“What now?” Jane whispers to her older cousin.

This elicits a shrug from Greta. “I guess we need to get access to the building. Do you remember if they mentioned any instructions about where they were going to meet?”

“Greta, that text message was a blink and you miss it kind of message,” Jane bites back. “Would you have felt better if I had yanked his arm so I could read the entire thing?”

“That would have been better than wandering around a building at night in the city,” Greta snips back, so much for the comfort of her cousin by her side. “Look, if I remember correctly, there’s a side entrance down that alley. It should get us access to the elevators.”

“I don’t think we should be taking the elevators. It would alert them,” Jane argues.

“I’m not walking the stairs in heels,” Greta retorts.

Jane scoffs. “Do you want to catch the two of them or do you want to stand her in the open arguing instead?” She turns to walk away from her cousin and disappears into the darkness of the alleyway.

Slowly, Greta follows behind her cousin, Jane.

As they walk through the alleyway, Greta recalls the first sensation that returned to her when she woke up in the basement of the house she was showing to Stavros Lakhani. The dampness of the alleyway filled her nostrils, a combination of wet cardboard and cold cement evoking the helplessness she had felt after he had kidnapped her.

A knot forms in her stomach, and her heart thuds rapidly as she grapples with the possibility of being back in that basement.

However, a hand pulls her out of the memory, and the flashlight on Jane’s phone beams in her direction.

“Are you okay?” Jane asks, her voice filled with concern.

Greta shakes her head, trying to gather her thoughts. “I’m fine, fine,” she reassures her cousin as they continue their journey through the alleyway. Behind a dumpster, they discover the door that leads to the location Greta had mentioned; a long hallway opens into a larger, dimly lit room.

“Are you sure that you’re okay?” Jane inquires, her voice tinged with worry. She turns off her flashlight once they enter a well-lit room. “When I turned back to you, it felt like you were somewhere else.”

Greta admits, “I’m okay, but I just want answers about why Uncle Corey stole the contracts from me.” She tries her best to push the memory of her kidnapping back into the shadows, away from the light of the present.

“What exactly do you want from this situation?” Jane asks, her curiosity piqued.

“Jane, I believe our priority should be finding them first,” Greta responds.

“I’m just trying to keep the conversation light and easy to navigate through this difficult time,” Jane explains.

Greta turns to face her cousin, her expression serious. “While small talk may seem like a good idea, it could also lead to our capture. I think we need to maintain the element of surprise, and this conversation right now doesn’t contribute to that.”

“This place is enormous,” Jane observes, her voice filled with concern. “Who will even hear us in here?”

The two cousins turn on their heels and open a door, only to find themselves in a confrontation with a very tall, muscular security guard. “I think the question is, who can’t hear the two of you?” the guard challenges them.

“Uhhh…,” Greta attempts to find a way to justify their presence here, but her mind is blank.

“The jig is up, Nancy Drew,” the Security Guard announces, advancing towards them. This causes both women to step back. “I believe it’s time for the two of you to accompany me.”

Before they can react, they’re passing through the service elevators, down a main hallway, and out the front doors of the building. The Security Guard slams the doors shut and locks them out.

“Well, that was productive,” Greta sarcastically remarks.

On Concrete Shelves

Revisited

Next Time, On Concrete Shelves…

• There’s a minor time jump; three weeks have passed by and things in Stone Creek are moving along. Kirsten is doubling down on her husband, Charlie, being the father of the unborn baby as they prepare for a visit with her OBY/GYN.
• James Thurlow is checking-in on those around him while the merger inches closer to the final stages. Though a few confrontations start to reveal where he sits within the newest endeavor for Thurlow Industries.
• After a conversation with her mother, Megan, tries to figure out exactly what type of person that she wants to be. Her confrontation with her best friend, Lark, a few weeks ago hangs heavy, and so does her position at HEAT Magazine…

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