Previously...

James urged Miranda to reconsider her plans to divorce Brett.  James and Jordan tried to convince Ed Littleton to drop twenty year old rape and molestation charges against Nathan.  The assistant D.A. warned them that if Nathan returned to the U.S. he would be arrested.  Jordan struggled to locate Debralee Scott, a witness from the trial who claimed her relationship with Nathan had been consentual. Heather began seeing a psychiatrist.  Alex cryptically warned Renee that Nathan might be coming home.  Renee grew angry when Alex minimized her relationship with Jordan, then later casually hinted to Jordan that he should drop his campagin to free Nathan.  After Brandon quit, James hired Kenny as his retainer attorney, who helped get them out of trouble with environmentalists opposing the pipeline.  Brooke refused to let Ethan see Michael.  Renee gave James fifteen million dollars to bail Blackthorne-Reynolds out of financial trouble, and became parterns with him and Alex.  

Episode 53

"For Future Reference"

Miranda rushed about the lobby of Hotel Terranova like a woman on a life or death mission.  Toting a clipboard, she checked items off a list, yelled orders into her cell phone, and motioned for her banquet staff to follow her into the ballroom.   Decorators, chefs, and waiters flocked about the ten thousand square foot room, hurriedly getting preparations underway for a last minute party that happened to come to Miranda three nights earlier while laying in bed.

“No, I said doubloons!” she screeched into the phone.  “Not balloons!  Who ever heard of chocolate covered balloons?  If those coins aren’t delivered in like…now…then I’ll never use your company again for another event at this hotel, and you’ll be stuck doing bar mitzvahs in Northridge for the entire wedding season.”

She clicked off the phone just as Link, the hotel concierge, approached with a panic streaked expression on his face.

“Miss Blackthorne,” he began.

“What is it, Link?” Miranda asked, snapping her fingers at two men carrying in a giant swan ice carving.  “Get that out of here.  It’s supposed to be a mask carving, not a swan.  My God, that thing is atrocious.”

“Miss Blackthorne, the truck carrying the crawfish broke down on the 101.  It sat with no air conditioning for two hours and…”

“And what?” Miranda demanded.  She was out of patience.  She realized the party was last minute, but she felt like she was dealing with amateurs.  Nothing was going right.

“Well, the crawfish didn’t make it.”

“What do you mean they didn’t make it?” she asked.  “Isn’t that sort of the point?  I doubt any of our guests are going to want to eat live crawfish.”

Link shrugged uneasily.  “It’s just that…they were compromised.  Without air conditioning in the truck…”

“Jesus, get me the name of the nearest seafood vendor.  If we can’t use crawfish we’ll have to use shrimp.  There, problem solved.”

She turned and threw her hands up in resignation as Link ran off in the other direction.  Yes, she knew she was overcompensating for the train wreck her life was in, but at least she had something else to focus on other than her failed marriage.

“This is the worst thing that’s ever happened to me,” Alex fumed as she paced her office at Blackthorne-Reynolds, leaving a trail of cigarette smoke in her path.  “How could do you do this to me, James?  Allowing Renee DeWitt to buy herself into our company?  It’s ludicrous!”

James rolled his eyes, fed up with Alex’s melodramatic tantrum.  “We needed additional capitol to start the pipeline.  Renee was willing to give us a check for fifteen million dollars.  What was I supposed to do?  Say no thank you?  Every day that pipeline is held up we lose a hell of a lot of money.  This was the only way.”

Alex slapped her hands to her sides and sighed with defeat.  “So not only have I been forced into doing business with my ex-husband, but now I have to do business with Renee DeWitt too?  This is just great.”

“Renee and I are both in agreement.  The deal is as good as made, Alex.  You’re outvoted.  You’re just going to have to deal with it.”

Alex groaned with displeasure, puffing at her cigarette as she stared out the window of the twenty-story office in downtown L.A.  Renee had managed to insinuate herself into her life, not only with Jordan, but with James as well.  It was like twenty years ago all over again.

“I suppose they’re going together to the Mardi Gras ball tonight at Hotel Terranova,” she fumed under her breath while thinking about Renee and Jordan.

“What?” James asked as he flipped through a stack of mail.  He was no longer paying attention to her.  Every melodramatic word out of his ex wife’s mouth was beginning to get on his last nerve.

In the office next door, Renee was unpacking a box of personal belongings, smiling adoringly as she looked at a picture of Sierra.  She placed it neatly on her desk before floating across the room to pour herself a cup of coffee.  A second later, the door opened and Sierra marched inside, a garment bag slung over her shoulder.

“Hello Mother,” she said and looked around the posh office decorated in pastels and comfortable furnishings.  “Wow, this place is amazing.  Look at the view!”

“Sierra, what on earth-“ Renee began.  “I didn’t expect to see you here this morning.”

Shrugging, Sierra sat down on an overstuffed sofa and crossed her legs.  “I just picked up my costume for the Mardi Gras ball tonight and I wanted you to be the first to see.”

“Mardi Gras Ball?” Renee murmured.  She’d happily accepted Jordan’s invitation, but never thought of how to handle Sierra.  All of Hollywood would be there.  And as far as she was concerned, far too many people knew about her daughter already.

“Yes, it’s tonight.  You didn’t forget, did you?”

“Sweetheart, about the ball,” Renee began with uncertainty.  “I don’t think I’m really in the mood to go.  It’s just going to be a bunch of boring society types with nothing important to say.  Why don’t we go to the movies instead?  Then we can have a late dinner out together.”

But Sierra wasn’t budging.  She squinted hard at her mother and folded her arms in a huff.  “You’re still trying to hide me, aren’t you?” she asked.  “Just like last week when we went to Miranda Blackthornes’ party.  I felt like an intruder the whole time.  You didn’t even bother to introduce me to any of your friends.  Why?”

Renee knew it was hard for her daughter, but she was only doing it for her own good.  She walked across the room and sat down next to her.  “Darling, it’s not like that.  I just want to be careful, that’s all.  My life here is very complicated.”

Before Sierra could open her mouth to reply, the door opened and Kenny walked inside.  His eyes narrowed on Renee and Sierra as they sat on the sofa.  “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you had company.”

Renee shot to her feet in a panic.  “Kenny, what are you doing here?” she asked, looking back and forth between him and Sierra. 

“I work here, or are you forgetting?” Kenny replied with a devilish grin.  “Looks like fate would have us together even after everything that’s happened.”

Renee put her hand on the door and attempted to close it on him.  “Fate has nothing to do with it.  I’d prefer to call it misfortune.”

Kenny pushed the door open again.  “I’m sorry, I don’t believe I’ve met the young lady.”  He walked back into the room and extended his hand to Sierra.  “I’m Kenny DeWitt.”

“Nice to finally meet you,” Sierra said with a smile.  “I’m Sierra-“

Renee quickly shot into action.  “I really have a lot to do today, Kenny,” she said and pushed him to the door.  “Go see James and Alex with whatever it is you’re here about.”

Unable to shake the feeling that she was hiding something from him, Kenny grudgingly left the office and went out into the hall as the door was shut abruptly on him.  He frowned, finding it impossible to keep from wondering why Renee was in more of a hurry than usual to get rid of him.

Inside the office, Sierra walked toward her mother and folded her arms.  “Why did you do that?  Why did you throw Kenny out so fast?  You know I’ve wanted to meet him.”

Renee closed her eyes tightly, summoning all of her inner-strength.  She turned around and put a hand on her shoulder.  “I already told you.  Kenny and I are through.  I have no intention of getting you and he acquainted.  Now please drop it, Sierra.”

But Sierra wasn’t satisfied.  She eyed her mother skeptically and wondered if there was more to it than she was letting on.  Her desire to keep her hidden was extreme even for her.

Stormy sat cross-legged in Dr. Anderson’s office downtown, nervously drumming his fingers on the sole of his Gucci tennis shoes while the psychiatrist leveled a look of warning at him.

“Heather’s told me what a help you’ve been to her these past few weeks,” Dr. Anderson began.  “She’s very dependent on you, Stormy, and I’m afraid that’s only the beginning of the problem.”

“What do you mean?” Stormy asked.  “Isn’t Heather making progress?”

“No,” he replied matter-of-factly.  “Your ex-wife doesn’t have a very firm grasp on reality right now.  She’s blocking out the murder and everything that led up to it.”

“Another blackout?”

Dr. Anderson shook his head.  “No, no, not a blackout.  She hasn’t forgotten about what happened.  She’s simply refusing to talk about it.  She’s in denial, and suffering from severe displacement characterized by her dependence on you.”

“Me?” Stormy asked, full of surprise.

“In cases where a patient suffers from a guilty conscience, or a traumatic event, they sometimes latch on to someone, or a relationship, in an effort to distract themselves.  In Heather’s case that someone is you.”

“So I’m a distraction to Heather?” Stormy asked in bewilderment.

The doctor shrugged.  “In a manner of speaking, yes.  Let me ask you something, Stormy.  Are you and Heather becoming romantically involved again?”

Stormy shifted uneasily in his chair.  “Well, we’ve been spending more time together lately, but that’s just because I think she needs me.  But we haven’t talked about getting back together, or becoming involved.  We’re divorced, Dr. Anderson.  We’re just friends.”

“Heather doesn’t see it that way.”

Stormy rubbed his hand over his face and took a deep breath.  The last thing he wanted to do was lead Heather on.  “So are you saying I should step back and give her some space?”

“Not necessarily.  I’m afraid if you do, she’ll withdrawal completely.  As it is, you’re the only thing keeping Heather together.  Just be careful not to lead her on too much.  Don’t make her any promises and don’t push too hard to remember your past together.  Just be a friend to her.  Be there for her when she needs you.”

Stormy nodded and stood up.  He walked to the door and turned back before leaving the office.  “Is Heather going to be all right, Dr. Anderson?”

He hesitated and nodded his head.  “Yes, in time she will be.  But first she’s got to deal with what happened.  It’ll hit her one day when she least expects it, and the only thing that can help her through it is you. “

The remark chilled Stormy to the core.  He knew it was a big responsibility, but he had to do it.  This could be his chance to make it up to Heather for the way he wrecked their marriage.  Shaking the doctor’s hand, he left the office and approached Heather waiting in the lobby.

“Stormy…is everything okay?” she asked and clung to him uneasily.

“Everything’s fine,” he replied and tried leading her to the door.  “Come on , let’s go.”

She stopped and turned to him.  “What did Dr. Anderson want to talk to you about?  Did he say that there’s anything wrong?”

Stormy looked into her hazel eyes and forced himself to smile.   “No, there isn’t anything wrong.  Come on, I’m going to drop you off at home.”

“Where are you going?” Heather asked, her voice full of concern.

“I have to go to work for a while.  But I’ll try to finish early and pick you up for the party.”

Heather nodded uneasily, wishing that she could spend the rest of the day with Stormy.  She hated the thought of going back to her room at the mansion by herself.

Alex walked into Jordan’s office at Rydell Productions and stopped when she saw him talking on the phone while standing at the window.  She sighed, folding her arms and waiting impatiently for him to finish.

“You just said that she’s on a book tour,” Jordan said in a rage.  “She’s got to have a stop in Los Angeles coming up.  All I want is a chance to meet with her.”

Alex narrowed her eyes on him, realizing that he was probably talking to Debralee Scott’s agent.  The prospect made her even angrier and she considered taking the phone from him and throwing it across the room.  Why was her husband so intent on talking to this woman?  Even if she did come back to L.A., there was no guarantee that the D.A. would drop the charges against Nathan Blackthorne.

“Yes, see that she gets the message.  I want to talk to her today.”  Jordan hung up the phone and turned to Alex with a look of annoyance on his face.    “Did we have an appointment?”

She ignored his snide remark and strode purposefully toward him.  “Don’t be petulant,” she said.  “Who was that on the phone?  Or do I even need to ask?”

His eyes challenged hers and he sighed heavily.  “Leave it alone, Alex.”

Deciding that she should tackle one problem at a time, Alex dropped the accusing tone in her voice and focused on what she really came there about.  “Jordan, you need to do something about your new girlfriend.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Renee DeWitt.  She’s ruining my life.”

Jordan smiled and shuffled a few movie scripts on his desk.  “You mean because she’s you and James’ new partner?” he asked with a chuckle.  “It’s like a bad comedy bit.”

“Which is exactly why you have to talk to her and get her to back out.”

“I was under the assumption that she saved your asses,” Jordan remarked.  “Without her fifteen million, you would have been sunk.  If I were you I would accept the fact that she’s in it for the long haul and thank her for doing it.”

Alex was aware that he was on Renee’s side only because they were suddenly romantically linked.  He probably enjoyed the fact that she and Renee were thrown into a working relationship.

“Do you ever think of anyone but yourself?” she charged.  “I mean, think about what this situation is going to do to me.  You know that Renee and I have never gotten along.  Ever since that whole mess with-“

Jordan shot her a quick penetrating stare and threw his hands up in resignation.  “I think you’re just jealous,” he said.

“Jealous?” Alex gasped.  “Of her?  You’re delusional!”

Grinning, Jordan stepped forward and looked into her mesmerizing eyes.  “I think you just can’t stand the fact that I’m spending time with her, and now you’re being forced into a partnership with her.  You don’t want to have to see her every day and wonder if she and I are sleeping together.”

“You’re so full of yourself,” Alex declared.  She searched deep down and knew, however, that he was right.  At least partly.  She and Renee had a volatile history, but throwing her and Jordan together was the icing on the cake.

Jordan came so close to her that Alex could feel his hot breath on her neck.  She fought off the temptation, backing up a step to get away from him, but Jordan grabbed her firmly and pulled her closer.  Before she knew it, he was kissing her passionately.  She resisted at first, but then found herself kissing him back, her arms wrapped tightly around him.

Pulling away, Jordan grinned and knew that she wanted him as much as he wanted her.  Despite the horrible things they’d done to each other, the impending divorce, and the fact that he was seeing Renee DeWitt, they belonged together.

Alex backed up, fighting her feelings and racing for the door.  She bolted outside and left Jordan standing in his office, certain that he and Alex weren’t finished.

After a brief meeting with Kenny regarding the pipeline, James stopped by a costume shop in Hollywood before going home to check on Brooke and the baby.  He made his way into the nursery where Brooke was feeding Michael his bottle, snuck up behind her and kissed her warmly on the cheek.

“Hello there,” he said and stroked his hand through Michael’s soft fine hair.  “I expected you to sleep in today.  You were up every two hours with him.  Did you get any rest?”

Brooke smiled and gazed down at the baby.  “I don’t mind.  After all those months of being apart from him I have a lot of catching up to do.”  She noticed the garment bags in his hand and raised an eyebrow.  “What’s this?”

James kissed her again and continued stroking Michael’s hair.   “I took the liberty of picking up our costumes for Miranda’s Mardi Gras ball tonight.  I hope you like it.  You’ll be the most beautiful woman there.”

Brooke looked at him apologetically.  “James, I don’t know,” she said.  “I don’t think I can leave Michael just yet.  I know how important this is to you and to Miranda, but-“

“Brooke, you haven’t been out of the house since you were released from jail,” James said with a tender smile.  “I know you want to spend time with Michael, but you can’t withdraw from society.  You have to make appearances every now and then.”

Brooke stood up and laid Michael down in his crib before turning and wrapping her arms around herself.  “I thought that you of all people would understand,” she said defensively.  “You know what being apart from Michael did to me.  How can you stand there and tell me that making an appearance at some society event is more important than spending time with our son?”

James realized that he hit a nerve and he quickly tried to calm her.  “I never said that it’s more important.  Nothing is more important than Michael.  I just don’t want you to forget about yourself and your own needs.  Even the best mothers in the world need time away.”

“Well I don’t,” she said bitterly and turned back to the crib.  “Being with Michael makes me happy.  If you want to go, then go.  But don’t expect me to go out and drink champagne while my son is home by himself.”

“He won’t be by himself,” James insisted.  “The nanny will be here, and Leilani…”

“James, I said no!” Brooke exclaimed and burst into tears. 

Realizing that there was no changing her mind, James decided to let it drop.  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.”   He grabbed the garment bags and walked out of the room to the hall.