Author Anon

“Ashley, I hope there’s room for more guests,” says Belle. “Claire tells me her brother just came home.”

“Darling, I always make room for more men,” says Ashley. “Especially, if they’re good-looking.”

“Well, I’ve never met him, so I couldn’t tell you,” says Belle. “But he is interested in having a book published.”

“Oh,” says Ashley. “What kind of book? Is he one of those geeky guys? I guess it doesn’t really matter. I can always work with that.”

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“This is glorious,” says Melanie, face-down on her beach towel.

“You are glorious,” says William, leaning over and kissing her neck. “Have I told you how beautiful you are?”

“Only ten times today,” says Melanie, turning around, kissing him. “Who would believe I’d be laying out on the beach in December?”

“Enjoying yourself?” asks William.

“Tremendously,” says Melanie. “I feel a bit guilty about it.”

“You’ll learn to take it all in stride.”

An attendant approaches them. “Mr. Golde, there is a phone call for you in the lobby.”

“I wonder who it could be?” says William as he gets up and follows the attendant into the hotel.

A cat-call startles Melanie into sitting upright. She turns around and sees Carl.

“What are you doing here?” she asks, angrily. “I told you to keep away.”

“Don’t worry, honey,” says Carl. “Loverboy, never paid any attention to me in the office so it’s unlikely he’d recognize me. Besides, you told me to keep away from Brighton.”

“Why are you here?” asks Melanie.

“Just to assure myself that the situation is under control.”

“I told you we were getting married.”

“Yes. Very quick work. It made me somewhat suspicious. You’re not falling in love with him, are you, sweetheart?”

“What does it matter to you?”

“We’re in this together, remember? I still consider you my property. So don’t think to backstab me.”

“You’d better go. I see William coming out again.”

“Just be careful how you carry yourself.”

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“Michael!” cries Stephanie Van Ness. “Just the man I was looking for.”

“Stephanie. I heard you were in town.”

“You don’t seem happy to see me,” she says, sending him a dazzling smile.

“Considering our history, I don’t know why you would assume any different.”

“Michael,” she pleads. “I brought Lucas to see you.”

“Stop it, Stephanie. I won’t play any of your games. I have never accepted and will never accept Lucas as my son.”

“Yet, you’ve been paying child support.”

“The court ordered it, but I insisted on a repeat paternity test,” says Michael, trying to control his fury. “Instead of which, you ran off with the child.”

“Well, I’ve come back. And I’ll make it all right with you. I’ll submit Lucas to another paternity test and you’ll have to swallow your words.”

“If it proves beyond doubt that I am his father, I will do my duty by him. But I will watch all the procedures carefully. I don’t know how you did it the first time, but I know you tampered with the tests.”

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“That was a wonderful meal, Blanche,” says Amanda.

“I’m sure your mother is a wonderful cook,” says Blanche.

“She is, but I hardly have meals with my parents these days,” says Amanda.

“Busy at work?” asks Blanche.

“It’s always busy as a resident,” says Amanda.

“I hope we’re not imposing on your time,” says Lisa.

“Not at all. I did promise Rick to look after you,” says Amanda.

Lucy yawns. “That was a wonderful dinner, Mama. I think I ate too much. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll skip the coffee and head on into bed.”

“You may go,” says Blanche.

They move into the living room, where Blanche is distributing the coffee.

“Rick will be home after the Silverman ball,” says Lisa. “Tracy will leave after that.”

“Will you be going to the ball?” asks Amanda.

“We weren’t invited,” says Blanche.

“Oh, that’s strange,” says Amanda.

“I thought so, too,” says Lisa, disappointed. “I know we’re not that important but Rick did hold a high position at Golde, Inc.”

“Well, why don’t you come as my guests?” asks Amanda.

“Won’t you be going with David?” asks Blanche.

“I wasn’t planning on it,” says Amanda. “Besides, we’re both invited so we’ll most likely meet there, anyway.”

Lisa looks at Blanche expectantly. “This is the Silvermans’ first ball, Nana. It will be so exciting.”

“We have no business being there,” says Blanche. “Besides, it will probably not be as exciting as you think. If they’ve never planned anything this big before, there’ll bound to be many things that go wrong.”

“That’s what will make it memorable,” Lisa persists. “Don’t you think we’re good enough to be there?”

Blanche looks at her hard. “If you wish to go, you may go,” she relents. “But on no condition should Lucy be allowed to go. She cannot stay out late.”

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Filed under: All That Glitters