LIFE GOES ON Pt.1

 

AUTHOR:  Bobbie S. 

 

Email: luvleopard2@yahoo.com

 

RATED:  R. Adult Language and Situations

 

AUTHOR’S NOTE:  Life Goes on is about relationships, old and new, and
tying up loose ends.  This story begins the evening that “Antarctica”
ended. Too many loose ends were left undone; the old relationships
involving Nick, Lulu, and Burton.  How did the arrival of Baby Anne
affect each of their lives?  Whatever happened to Jake and Kate?  In the
effort to tie up some of those dangling loose ends, I borrowed some
familiar characters and situations from episodes from all three seasons
of TG.  All other characters are fiction, as well as a geographic
location or two. This series will have at least five episodes that are
complete, with the exception of typing and posting.  I hope to have them
posted soon. (I am a middle-aged college student with homework and a
busted computer.  Please be patient with me.)

 

--+--

 

Life Goes On.

 

      Nick drove home feeling totally exhausted and depressed.  If he
ever felt like getting wasted, it was now.  He shut off the car radio. 
It seemed that every song was about someone falling in or out of love,
hurt feelings and broken relationships.  He couldn't handle that right
then, not when he should have been experiencing one of the happiest
weeks of his life.  He had just become the father of a beautiful baby
girl and he was finally finished with his probation and community
service at LSP.  That meant no more 12 step meetings, no more random
drug tests and urine samples and no more Alvin forever on his back about
something.  Alvin.  Where the hell was he anyway?  Nick had to carry on
the funding meeting all by himself.  Due to Alvin's disappearing act, he
had to declare himself to be the one "in charge" in order for the
funding board to listen to LSP's needs.  As the result he landed the
responsibility of managing the entire operation that he had tried so
hard to avoid during the past three years.  Well, he only did what had
to be done for that moment.  After all, the work done at LSP is very
important.  Even that thought did not make him feel any better.

 

      Everything good and positive was overshadowed by the negative. 
One of his teenage clients got stabbed by another with the very ink pen
that Alvin had just given him as a going away gift.  Due to that
incident, Nick was late for a very important meeting at Fallin &
Fallin.  That was the last straw that caused him to get fired.  /"How
the hell does one get fired from the firm that one had founded?"/  Nick
had asked himself over and over. 

 

      Nick sighed heavily to release a bit of the depression that seemed
to be choking the breath out of his being.  'Man, could I use a drink,'
he thought.  He was afraid to even think about cocaine even though his
probation was over, he could still go to jail if he ever got caught
using it.  That would definitely ruin any chance of him ever having a
relationship with his newborn daughter.  “/So/, he thought,  “/That is
what it is;/ /this heavy cloud that has been smothering me all week. 
That is why I feel like crap.  It is Lulu”’/  He suddenly got the
revelation that what he had been denying, he must eventually accept, and
the sooner the better.  Lulu did not want him to be a part of her life
or her daughter's.   "/But she named the baby Anne, after my mother,"
/he tried to reason/.  "But still, she does not want Anne to have my
last name.  Lulu would rather it be as if Anne has no father at all than
to acknowledge that I am her father.” /

 

      /‘She really is ashamed of me.  Kim tried to tell me that, when
she and I broke up, but I didn't listen.  Kim also said that Lulu always
wants what she can't have until she gets it, then she destroys it like a
black widow spider destroys its prey.  I hope you wake up, Nick before
she destroys you.  That was/ /what Kim told me.” / Nick said to himself.

 

      Burton had sensed his son's depression when they were both
visiting Lulu and the baby at the hospital.  Out of the blue he told
Nick, "Be patient, Son.  Often women go through what they call
postpartum blues after they have given birth.  It is because their
hormones are out of whack and they say and do things that they really
don't mean.  Had Lulu told Burton there was no chance of her and Nick
ever getting married?  Had she told Burton she and the baby would not be
attending his Sunday dinners when she got back on her feet? Did Burton
know that Lulu didn't love Nick and wanted no parts of him other than
child support?  Those were questions that haunted Nick's already
tormented soul.

 

      Nick was two blocks from the nearest liquor store.  He could taste
the tequila in his mouth.  He could feel the warm liquid trickle down
his throat, again and again until he felt numb.  Then he could tell
Lulu, the firm and the whole wide world to kiss his ass.  That's what he
really wanted to do; get pissy drunk and tell everybody to kiss his
ass.  And what or whom was to stop him?  He was no longer on probation. 
He could drink in his own home if he wanted to.  It was Friday night and
he did not have to go to work in the morning unless he wanted to.  Work;
now that was a joke.  He pulled upon the parking lot and just sat.  He
could not bring himself to get out of the car to purchase the bottle of
instant gratification.  He sat there coming up with countless excuses of
why he deserved to get drunk.  But, he could only come up with one good
reason why he should not.  That reason was Baby Anne.  He pulled off the
parking lot and drove straight home, settling instead for a hot shower
and an early trip to bed.

 

      The next morning Nick dressed in faded jeans, black faded tee
shirt, sneakers and black sunglasses.  He looked as if he had stepped
out of a rebel with a bad-attitude movie.  He stopped at his favorite
bakery and purchased a bag of assorted pastries and black coffee, which
he munched and sipped while he drove.  He was headed to the garden
center to purchase a tree for Lulu's yard and a rosebush for his, to
plant in honor of his daughter's birth.  The tree and rose bush would
grow as Anne grew and she would know they were planted just for her.  It
would have been easier to get on the phone and order what he wanted from
a nursery and have some one to come out and plant them for him.  But
this was a project he wanted to do himself.  He needed to work off his
depression and sexual tension.  He was so horny, he had thought about
calling one of his old stand-bys; ladies who wanted the same thing he
wanted, sex without strings.  Two of his old stand-bys were old enough
to be his mother; one being a friend of his father's.  Actually, he
preferred these older ladies because they were not interested in
marriage, relationships, or expensive gifts, just sex.  With the
exception of his little fling with Suzanne Pell, Nick had been faithful
to Lulu the whole time they were together.  He still wanted to remain
loyal to her because he still had hopes of marrying her.  But what he
was going through was not easy.

 

      He drove past the new Baby Boutique, the place his dad had
mentioned that his old friend Hattie Wilson had opened a few months
ago.  Already, she owned a bridal shop.  Nick thought he would turn
around and stop in and browse a bit before he got his clothes dirty out
at the garden center.  When he entered the store he inquired as to
whether Mrs. Wilson was in.  The clerk behind the counter informed him
that she was expected to arrive at any moment.  Nick went to the newborn
section and picked out several outfits that he thought were very cute. 
There were several women in the shop, but one stood out from the rest. 
This lady looked to be in her late twenties or early 30’s.  She was
petite; standing approximately 5 ft. 2in. tall with green eyes and long
brunette hair that was caught up with a barrette at the nape.  Her curly
ponytail flowed midway the length of her back.  She wore very little
make-up, with the  exception of lipstick and mascara, which emphasized
the freckles on her nose and cheeks.  Several times, she caught Nick
staring at her.  He thought the freckles made her appear a little
girlish?  Country? Mischievous?  He didn’t exactly know.  All he did
know was that she was beautiful and rather mysterious.  .  She seemed so
quiet and somewhat shy.  Who was that woman?  She looked very
professional in her business attire.  She wore a straight black skirt
that stopped just above her knees, sheer black hose and low-heeled black
pumps that accented her plump shapely legs.  Nick was quick to notice
that the clingy black and white short-sleeved top revealed that she had
round, full hips, a small waist-line and a top-heavy bosom.  That figure
of hers was knock-dead gorgeous for someone as short as she

 

      Nick's thoughts had turned from infant clothes to lust. 
“/’Wouldn't I love to undo that bra and barrette?  Maybe I could
accidentally bump into her and let my arm graze her chest a bit.  But
she is so short.  I don't know if I pull that off with her.  She isn't
wearing a ring, maybe I should just bid her good morning and, no, I'll
ask her advice on my purchases.  I'll ask which of the two dresses she
prefers and then I can introduce myself.  Damn, then she will assume I
am married or spoken for.  But she do not have to know that the baby I
am buying for is mine, unless Hattie comes in and blows my cover.  Dad
told her that we both would be in. She just smiled at me.  Did she catch
me staring at her or can she read my mind?“  /Nick smiled back/. “Let's
see, since I have her attention maybe I could just….."/

 

      Just then Hattie Wilson came into the store and spotted Nick right
away.  "Nicholas, it is so good to see you, darling.  Your father told
me about the baby; congratulations.  Oh, what lovely things you have
selected for little, uh Anne is it?” 

 

      "Yes, after my mother,"  Nick replied.

 

      "That is so sweet, rest her soul.  You must bring the baby in for
me to see.  I just know she is a beautiful baby.  You are handsome and
Burton tells me that her mother is strikingly beautiful.  Does she have
your eyes and dimples?"

 

      "She has dimples, but it is too soon to tell about her eyes."

 

      "Do you have any photos of her?"

 

Nick shook his head no.  "Well, if I may be of any help you just let
me…"  Hattie stopped in mid-

sentence.  Her cheerful demeanor suddenly changed into rage.  "Excuse me
Nicholas."  She turned and stormed towards the brunette.  "Mrs. Johnson,
I thought I made myself perfectly clear when I told you that I was not
interested in anything you are peddling!  Do you not understand English?"

 

"Mrs. Wilson, I did not come to take up any of your time, I realize you
are a busy lady.  I would just like to leave my portfolios for you to
browse at your leisure and a copy of my business plan, if you would be
so kind,"  The brunette stated in her professional voice.

 

"I would not be so kind!  I am telling you for the last time that I am
not interested in your dog and pony show.  This establishment has a
certain reputation to uphold with our clientele and I will not have you
or anyone else degrade its image with your penny arcade snap-shots."

 

"Mrs. Johnson, you haven't even seen my work, if you would…"

 

"Mrs. whatever you said your name was. If you are not in here to
purchase merchandise, please leave now or I will call the police."

 

The brunette looked as if she was in shock, she couldn't believe what
she just heard.  When she found her voice to speak again, it cracked as
if she was about to cry.  "Well,  I left some of my cards and brochures
on your counter for your customers and I would really apre….."

 

"Leave my store at once and take your trash with you!  Perhaps you
should peddle your wares

at one of those blue light special stores at the edge of town!  They
cater to your kind."

 

The brunette started to run towards the door like a frightened rabbit,
then she suddenly stopped and started walking, as if to save her
dignity.  Hattie took the cards and brochures from the counter and threw
them into the trash can.  A stunned Nick looked at Hattie, the clerks,
and the customers and they all were laughing and cheering Hattie.  Nick
threw his armload of clothing on the counter and retrieved the items
that Hattie had thrown away.  As he ran out the door, he heard Hattie
calling him, "Nicholas, what about your purchases?" 

 

"Shove them up your ass!"   He spotted the brunette just as she was
getting into her 1990 Chevy Lumina.  He ran to her car and tapped on the
window.  She was crying and very upset.  He motioned for her to roll
down the window.  She ignored him and fumbled in her purse for something
she just couldn’t seem to find.  He kept tapping on her window.  She
finally rolled it down. 

 

"What?"

 

"Can I talk to you for a moment?"

 

"Go away!"

 

She tried to roll the window back up, but Nick put his hands on the
glass to stop her.  He had figured out that they were manual windows and
he was in no danger of losing any fingers.

 

"What do you want?  Please leave me alone," she just couldn’t find a tissue.

 

"Look maybe I can help, can I get in for a moment."

 

"I don't know you, and why would you want to help me?"

 

"I don't know you either, but I do know Hattie.  I want to help you
because what happened in there was wrong and I didn't like it one bit." 
The brunette reached over and opened the passenger door, allowing Nick
to get in.  She noticed that he did not look comfortable so she adjusted
the seat to accommodate his long legs and knees. 

 

"My feet won't touch the pedals, unless I pull the seat up to where I
had it before, she sniffed and swiped at a tear."

 

Nick handed her a handkerchief and she thanked him as she dabbed at her
eyes, noticing that her mascara was smearing.  Nick seemed to read her
mind.  "You may keep it."  She then wiped all of her tears, and blew her
nose.  Nick continued, "I heard a part of your conversation and I take
it that you wanted to take photographs in the boutique.  How long have
you been a photographer?"

 

“Since my daddy gave me an Instamatic camera for my eighth birthday.”

 

“Just out of curiosity, why did you choose Hattie’s boutique?”

 

The brunette was calmer now and she perked up when Nick seemed
interested in her craft.  “I chose the Baby Boutique because it is a
good quality store that attracts people who does not mind paying for
quality service.  My work is very good and I want to attract clients who
appreciate good work. I have my own studio in my home and I am ready to
open it up for business, but I need some public exposure.”

 

“Is photography what you do for a living?”

 

“No, right now it is my hobby.  I know better than to quit my day job at
the advertising agency.  But, I am tired of wasting my time and money on
people who want my services and are too cheap to pay me what I am
worth.  You can’t run a business like that. Friends and relatives think
I should photograph their brats for free.  They have no idea what it
cost me to  buy supplies.  So, what would be better advertising for my
business than to photograph babies and toddlers at a shop that caters to
them.  If their moms liked my work, they would keep coming back for more
portraits as their kids grew.”

 

“It sounds like you have a pretty good idea of the goals you are aiming
for and how you intend to achieve them.”

 

"Yeah, it would not have cost that old witch a dime.  I would have been
paying her for the use of her space.  I just wanted her to look over my
portfolios and draw her own conclusions about my work.  Even if I didn't
do any photo shoots, I wanted to post my ads and brochures in her shop
for her customers."

 

"That sounds reasonable to me, I don't understand why she would object."

 

"She thinks I am trash.”

 

“Why in the world would she think that?”

 

"Because I have red working class blood running through my veins, not
blue like her and her snobbish friends.  She thinks that because I don't
have a family tree of rich people that I am nobody.  When I first talked
to her on the phone, she seemed fine with what I wanted to do until she
started asking about my background, where I was born, my family, what
finishing school I attended.  It didn’t matter that I graduated art
school with honors."

 

"Well from what I know about her, you are absolutely right, her snobbish
ways, that is"

 

"How do you know her and how can you help me?”

 

“Hattie is a friend of my dad's.  Not a close friend, but they belong to
the same country club."

 

"Is your dad a snob?  I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that."

 

"It's okay.  In a way he is in some situations, but he is a good man,
very fair and he has a heart.  He came from a small steel town, and a
poor family.  He worked his way through college, went to the navy; did
all the things that the blue-collar class does.  Worked his way through
law school and made the sacrifices he had to make to start up his own
law firm.  He married into a family who had a little money and social
class, but I don’t think they qualified as snobs because my mom married
him, despite his background.  I always thought that my grandparents
liked him.”

 

“So, you had a wealthy mother and a poor daddy, what does that make you.”

 

“Just some jerk trying to come to the aid of a beautiful damsel in
distress.” 

 

The brunette smiled.  “Thank you. But if I hadn’t wanted something from
that old witch, I would have duked it out with her on the parking lot.”

 

Nick, looked at her in amazement.  “You mean duked it out, like?”

 

“Like slapping the hell out of her, Who does she think she is?” 

 

Nick couldn’t believe what he was hearing coming out of the mouth of
this same little woman who only a few moments ago was acting like a
scared little rabbit.  She was actually crying.  He found her anger to
be amusing.

 

“What happened to all those baby things you had in the store?”  She
asked, now feeling a bit calmer.

 

"I threw them on the counter and left.  Hattie asked me what to do with
them and I told her?" 

 

"What did you tell her?"  Mischief flickered in her eyes, as if she
already knew the answer to what he was going to say.

 

"The obvious; to shove them up her ass."

 

"No you didn't!”  She squealed as she put her hand over her mouth.   And
I thought you were a gentleman, handing me a hankie and all." 

 

"Yes I did, do you see me with any baby clothes?  And I am a gentleman,
well most times."

 

“You are a bad boy, that’s what you are!  I took one look at you when
you came into the shop and you looked like you had a chip on your
shoulder and you dared someone to knock it off.  Hattie knocked that
chip off your shoulder, and you let her have it!”  Nick’s new friend was
besides herself, giggling and showing him deep dimples far more
beautiful than Lulu’s.

 

“So, you noticed me, did you?”  Nick flirted.

 

"Only because you kept staring at my boobs.”  She flirted right back. 
She noticed Nick’s face flush with embarrassment.

 

 

“I may have been looking in your direction because I was wondering if I
should ask your opinion about some of the things I was going to purchase
and, well I am sorry if I gave the impression I was staring at you.”

 

“No problem, it isn’t the first time.  Hey, you've got a new baby,
shouldn't you be at home with your wife?"

 

"I don't have a wife."

 

"Then your girlfriend."

 

"I don't have a girlfriend."

 

"Then who just had a baby?  Mrs. Wilson acted as if the baby was yours."

 

"She is mine.  She's a beautiful little girl, named Anne, after my mother.”

 

"Then who is her mother?  What are you a surrogate father?"

 

"The baby's mom and I split up before she was born.  She didn't want to
get married; before, or after the baby.  Nor do she want Anne to have my
last name."

 

"Which is?"

 

"Oh, I am sorry, Fallin, my name is Nicholas Fallin, call me Nick.”  He
extended his hand.

 

"Pleased to meet you Nick.  I am Ramona Lisa Johnson.  Call me Mona." 
They shook hands.

 

"Mona Lisa?" 

 

"That's what my mom used to call me when she was mad at me, only she
would shout it.  My daddy on the other hand, use to sing “Mona Lisa” to
me.  So why don't your ex want to marry the father of her baby?"

 

"She don't want me, it is that plain and simple."

 

"Did you do something that made her mad?

 

"Maybe."

 

"Okay, it is none of my business, that is between the two of you."

 

“Well, she had also been married before and it didn’t work out; it
lasted less than a year.  Uh Mona, do you still want to work in Hattie's
shop if I could smooth things over with her."

 

"Yeah.  I know it may seem strange after what just happened, but I have
to do what is best for my business.  Hattie wouldn't be sorry and she
would be making a profit from my sales.  She never gave me a chance to
explain anything to her.  I had it all written down for her so she would
know what to expect."

 

"May I see that?"  Mona handed him a word-processed piece of paper and
he read over it.  "May I see your portfolios?"  She retrieved them from
the back seat.  Nick looked very impressed.  These are great, you are a
very talented photographer." 

 

"I am also an artist."  Mona stated proudly. 

 

"What type of artist?"  Nick asked with interest.

 

"I do paintings, some portraits, you name it, I can do it.  I work in
all medias.  And I can do advertising and interior decorating.”

 

“How about murals?”

 

"Yes, I've done a few.  Do you know someone who wants one?"

 

"Maybe, I'll let you know.  I will see what I can do where Hattie is
concerned.  So here are your cards and brochures; I will keep a few for
myself and my friends."

 

"Thanks.  I knew Hattie threw them away, I heard them hitting the bottom
of the trash can as I was leaving"

 

"Well, that is okay for now.  You handled the situation very
professionally; that's important.”

 

"I heard all of those biddies laughing at me."

 

“We will see who will have the last laugh.”

 

As Nick and Mona exchanged business cards, Mona did not ever expect to
see or hear from Nick again and Nick could not wait for an opportunity
to see Mona.  He would have to think about how he was going to approach
Hattie Wilson and convince her to give Mona an appointment for which she
could discuss her business plan.

 ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~

 

At 7:00 pm that same evening, Nick’s cell phone rang.  He was in his
front yard planting Anne's rose bush.  He looked at the caller ID. 
"Yeah, Dad?"

 

"Where the hell have you been?" Burton snapped.

 

"I've been out."

 

"I gathered that.  I received a very disturbing phone call from Hattie
Wilson."

 

"Really.  What did she say?"

 

"You know exactly what she said, don't play innocent with me.  I want
you to call her and apologize to her at once and then I want you to send
her some flowers to her shop the first thing on Monday morning."

 

"Why?"

 

"Because it was in her shop where you disrespected her."

 

"I am not talking about the flowers, I have no intentions of wasting my
money sending that old bat flowers.  I want to know why I need to
apologize to her?  Nick’s voice was filled with agitation.

 

"Nicholas, you are testing my patience!"  By the sound of Burton's
voice, Nick could visualize that his father's face had turned red with
anger and that vein in his neck was popping.  "Now you listen to me,
young man.  I have been friends with Hattie and her late husband since
you were in diapers and I will not have you ruin our friendship with
your rude behavior.  Do you understand me?"

 

"What did she say, Dad?"  Did she tell you that she was the one who was
rude to a friend of mine and I took offence?  Did she tell you that? 
Did she tell you that I was about to purchase several hundred dollars
worth of baby things before she threw my friend out of her shop?.  She
was showing off for her friends who were in there.  I refused to spend
my money in a place that treated any one as disrespectful as she treated
Mona.  Yes, she asked me what I wanted to do about my purchases, when I
flung them on the counter to go outside to comfort my friend.  And yes,
I told Hattie to shove them up her ass.  Now what would you have done if
someone treated your friend in that manner, right in front of you?  Or
did Hattie fail to mention what she did?

 

Burton's temperament softened.  "Who is Mona?"

 

"So Hattie didn't tell you what she did to her?  Mona is a friend of
mine; business woman just like Hattie.  She is a photographer who has
her own studio.  She needs a little exposure to help get her business
started.  She wanted to talk to Hattie about taking baby and childrens’s
portraits at the Baby Boutique.  It would have been a good business deal
for Hattie as well.  All Mona wanted to do was talk to Hattie and show
her samples of her work.  Hattie talked to her like a dog, threw her out
of her store and threw Mona’s business cards and brochures.  And all of
those witches in her store cheered Hattie’s actions. Mona left in
tears.  No one deserved to be treated like that.  That old witch needs
to be sued for harassment.  I’ll even help her boycott her store, if it
comes to that.”

 

“I'm sorry son, I didn't know.  Well I was going to visit the shop
sometime next week. But, I won't be spending a nickel of my money in
there after what you told me."

 

"Uh, not so fast Dad, Mona is willing to forget what happened if Hattie
will change her mind and let her work there a few weekends."

 

"Why?"

 

"Because she is a very smart business woman who needs the exposure for
her own studio."

 

"You say this Mona, she's a friend of yours?"

 

“Yes.”  He did not tell his father that he had only just met Mona that
morning.

 

"Then, how can I help?"

 

"Talk to Hattie and tell her that when she offends one of our friends,
she offends us.  Tell her that Mona deserves the same equal time that
she would give the daughter of any one of her friends, and she is
willing to forget what happened and start fresh, if she will agrees to
view her work and discuss an agreement.  All she has to do is allow her
that much and draw her own conclusions with a fair and honest
assessment.  Oh, and tell her that I am very sorry for the way I
behaved, it is just that my friend was humiliated and I reacted to her
feelings. Let her know that I will apologize personally when I come in
to purchase the items for Anne that I left behind.”

 

"And if she still don't listen?”

 

“Well, surely she must understand that I am a new father and you are a
new grandfather and our baby is going to need a lot of new clothes for a
long time."

 

"Well, she’ll listen to that. Hattie loves to make money.  Burton
chuckled.”

 

“So, you will talk to Hattie?”

 

“I think I can do that for my son and his friend.  I think I might even
enjoy it."

 

"Thanks Dad."

 

"Any time Son.  What would you like for dinner tomorrow?"

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED……..