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Continued...

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Scene: Chez Rendezvous.

A feeling of apprehension floods Joe Sawyer's mind as he sits across the table from his mother. Awaiting Ashley's arrival, the two continue bantering about what has occupied their time as the week's gone by. He continues making small talk to appease her, secretly hoping that this rendezvous won't be like former ones where his mother has unleashed her full force upon the women Joe has dated.

"So, she's your financial advisor, huh? Interesting." Callie Sawyer smirks as she takes a sip of her water.

Joe returns a half-smile upon hearing the dreaded usage of the word interesting. "Yes, that is how we met. She's a quite intelligent woman and is very business savvy."

"I see...and she also happens to know your net worth as well. Although I'm sure that has nothing to do with her interest in you..."

"No Mother, it has nothing to do with anything." Joe replies sternly and is soon relieved to see Ashley nearing the table.

"Joe." Ashley greets him with a kiss and quickly shoots a smile at Callie.

"Mother, this is Ashley Davison." Joe introduces the two as Callie reaches out her hand and gives Ashley a once-over.

"It's such a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Sawyer."

"Likewise. I've heard some interesting things about you."

The statement throws Ashley off and she stares at Joe blankly.

"I think she means fascinating." Joe shoots his mother a quick glare as if to warn her that she needs to play nice.

"Of course that's what I meant." Callie smirks as they all drop to their seats in unison.

"So I hear you're from South Beach, Florida. This is quite a change for you out here in the Bay. I guess you really needed to get away...what exactly brought you here?"

"Well, I learned I had some family that resided here and I came out here with my Grandmother some time ago to meet them. I soon realized that it was time for a change and that it was going to work out best for me to acquaint myself with the family I have here."

"Ah, so how did their homes fair in the recent quake?" Callie inquires.

"Well, the Estate I lived in when I first moved here had quite a bit of damage. Luckily though for myself, I just purchased a home with some family that fared quite well. Other than a few broken pictures that fell from the wall, the house is in pretty nice shape."

Callie nods and continues with her grilling, "And where is this new home?"

"Just north of Beach Street." Ashley smiles.

Callie shoots back a look of surprise that reveals her obvious dislike for the neighborhood. It's certainly not behind the gates of Northern Heights where the elite reside.

"It's actually a great neighborhood, Mother. There's a lot of young families there. It's very safe." Joe steps in.

"Ah, lots of families....and what do you think about raising a family in the future, Ashley? You're obviously not out of high school anymore." Callie laughs.

Ashley is once again taken back by Callie's sarcastic nature and paused for a moment before thinking of an adequate response.

"Of course, although I'm barely thirty. I think I have some time before I have to think about those kinds of things."

"Yes, of course." Joe smiles back at Ashley.

"Well, Joe will tell you how much I keep nagging him for my first grandchild. I am in my sixties now and it would certainly be nice..."

"Mother." Joe blurts out as he gives his mother another look of disbelief.

"It's okay, I can understand your eagerness to have a new baby in the family. Perhaps it will happen sooner than you think."

Joe raises a brow as Ashley smiles back and begins to peruse the menu that lies before her.

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Scene: Kayla Preston's Car, outside Landon Manor.

The image of Keith Michaels she retrieves in her cell phone brings back many memories the two had shared together. Just weeks after his death, she shakes her head in disbelief that her friends life could be cut so dramatically short. Realizing that Keith had been her only ally in her case against Liz Bryant, she suddenly feels alone and helpless and realizes Rick will never see things through her eyes.

Suddenly a cry is heard from behind as Haylie begins to fuss in her car seat. While the car has only been parked for a few moments, she realizes Haylie is craving the constant attention that most newborns yearn for. She quickly shoves her cell into her pocket and cradles her newborn in her arms before exiting the car and walking towards the front door.

With the knowledge that her Aunt is presently confined to a wheelchair while she recovers, Kayla doesn't think twice to ring the doorbell or knock before entering the home. She looks around the quiet home and realizes Emily can probably be found in the area she most favors in the estate- the bar.

"Well, well...isn't this precious! Haylie's first memory of her dear Aunt will be her sucking on a bottle. See, you two already have so much in common!"

"Very funny, Kay." Emily sets her drink down and motions for Kayla to place Haylie into her arms.

"How's your coordination right now?" Kayla raises a brow and smiles sarcastically.

"As good as ever! I love this thing- I don't have to worry about tripping or stumbling back to my room at night." Emily jokes back as she takes Haylie into her arms.

"Isn't she beautiful? She's our miracle baby."

"That she definitely is." Emily looks back up to Kayla and notices that her happiness is overshadowed by an obvious worry or frustration. "So what's really going on? Trouble in paradise?"

"Excuse me?"

"Oh, come on Kay. I can read you like an open book...something is obviously on your mind."

"Of course there's a lot on my mind...I mean, after everything I went through, how can I be expected to focus so easily?"

"Very understandable. So what exactly is on your mind?" Emily frees a hand and sneaks a quick sip from her drink. "Or shall I say, whom?"

"One guess...And I'm not her favorite fan."

"Ah, that attorney that moved to town last year. Lizzy Beyers or something."

"Liz Bryant is her name actually." Kayla smirks and corrects her.

"Whatever. Names have never been important to me- not even when I scream them in bed. So, what's she done now?"

Nothing of obvious harm, quite the opposite actually. She helped deliver Haylie when I was unconscious and helped bring me to the hospital after she was born."

Emily thinks it over for a moment and looks at Kayla with confusion, "What in the hell is the problem then? Looks like she really came through for you."

"That's just the problem, Aunt Em. Now she looks like some damn saint in the eyes of Rick. The whole damn thing brought them closer..."

"So, what are you going to do now?" Emily inquires.

"Well, I already warned Rick about her, but I feel like I every time I say something it just makes me look insane."

"I could definitely see that. You need to really change your course of action with this woman, you got it?" Emily takes another sip of her Martini and then continues, "You need to show Rick that you're not insecure and that you support their friendship. If you keep going off like a crazed jealous woman it's only going to push him into her arms."

"So I should support their friendship and act like I don't give a damn that they're getting closer?"

"Jesus Kayla, you're a beautiful young woman and you just gave birth to his child. He's not going anywhere. Trust me hon, I've been around the block just a few times...I know how these things work."