Unexpected Happenings, Chapter 1
 
 

Ivy is sitting in front of her vanity, humming to herself when Pilar walks in.

'' Why are you so happy, Mrs. Crane.''

'' It’s because Sam realized just how much he loved me.''

'' You mean….''

'' Yes, Pilar. Sam and I made love. And, it was WONDERFUL. We’re back together.''

'' No. I don’t believe it. Sam loves Grace.''

'' Sam loves me, and I have the time burned in my memory to prove it. ''

'' Sam is a devoted family man.''

'' Sam was only devoted to me, last night.''

'' Mios dio! And, what do you think last night proves, Mrs. Crane?''

'' I think it proves that Sam loves me.''

'' What about Mr. Crane and your marriage?''

'' Didn’t I tell you? Thanks to Rebecca, Julian’s offered me a very generous financial settlement, and I intend to accept. Is it as much as I COULD get? No. But, it’s more than enough for me and Sam and Ethan to be a family off of.''

'' A Family? Sam has a family…three children with Grace…remember?''

'' Well, now, he’ll be with the family that he always should have had. Don’t rain on my parade, Pilar. I’m thisclose to getting what I want.''

Ivy continues to get dressed, and Pilar makes the sign of the Cross, hoping that sanity will come sometime.
 

Sam walks into the backroom at the Police Station and sits on the bed. His head is in his hands. He can’t believe what he’s done. He slept with Ivy. His mind was about to explode. He was so confused.

No, Ivy didn’t force him to sleep with her. He had gone along willingly. He had been swept up in the moment. But, sleeping with Ivy didn’t solve anything. His feelings for Grace were still there. All the way. His heart ached as he looked over to her picture, and realized what he had done to their marriage. He hadn’t hated himself more than he did at this moment.

Grace…how could he do this to her? To their family? The wonderful family that he cherished. It was scary how things became more and more clear as he looked over at the pictures of Grace and his family. He had royally made a mess of his life. He was devastated by the pain he had caused, and didn't know what he was going to do.

He didn't get a chance to think about it much longer, because one of his officers came in:

'' Chief Bennett. You're needed on the phone. It's the State Police Commissioner.''

Sam had never looked more forward to getting work to take his mind off of his problems.

TC was the first one to wake up. As his eyes focused around the room, for a moment, he had believed that he was in his bedroom at home.

But, then it hit him. He was NOT in his bedroom. He was in another bedroom. One at the B&B. He had no clothes on. And, the woman in bed next to himWAS NOT his wife.

He sat up with a start.

'' Oh My God! ''

Grace, who had been slumbering also, awoke.

'' What?! Huh?''

TC held his head in his hands.

'' What did we do?''

Grace looked down at herself, and realized that she was nude.

'' Oh no.'', she groaned.

TC jumped out of bed and found his pants and put them on in record time. '' I don't understand. What happened? I mean, I know what happened, but, how did it happen? How could WE do THIS?''

Grace began to cry. '' I don't know. I don't know how this happened. Last thing I remember is crying in your arms over Sam…oh no, SAM!''

TC moved over to the edge of the bed and sat down. '' Grace, we have to keep this between us. Sam and Eve can never know.''

'' TC…''

'' Grace, Eve would never understand this. She's perfect, and would never forgive me for betraying her like this. And, Sam? He's already confused, otherwise, why would you have sent him to Ivy. You say he's already slept with Ivy. Do you think she WON'T use 'THIS' to further her own agenda? No, it's best kept between us.''

'' TC, lies only destroy a marriage.''

'' The truth would surely end my marriage.''

'' You don't know that. Eve would probably understand.''

'' Grace, I can't risk that she would. I can't risk that my perfect wife would understand this.''

'' Eve's not so perfect!'', Grace lashed out.

'' Grace, why would you say something like that? Of course, Eve is perfect. I know that both of us feel bad about what we've done. And, we'll have to settle this between God and ourselves. A confession would do no one any good. I know you didn't mean to lash out at Eve..''

Grace shook her head. '' No. You're right. I was being irrational. Of course, Eve is exactly as you see her. But, TC…''

'' Grace. NO ONE has to know about what happened here. It's just between us. I don't exactly understand how we could have let this happen. After all, we're two of the most solid people around.''

'' Everyone makes mistakes, TC.''

'' Yes. One mistake. And, our families should not have to pay for it. Both our families would be ruined…is that what you want?''

'' No, but..''

'' Grace, what happened here never leaves this room. If anyone else were to find out…''

'' You don't need to paint a picture. I understand.''

'' Good. I'll leave now.''

'' TC…'', Grace called out, just as he was going to leave.

'' Yes, Grace.''

'' I know it's inappropriate, but, thank you. You saved my life.''

TC nodded and left.

Grace got out of the bed, sheet wrapped around her, and went to sit over in the windowseat. She wondered how her life had gotten to this point. How could she have done this? She knew her life had changed, and didn't know what to do. Grace gathered herself and went into the bathroom to take a shower.

'' Ah, Timmy, all went well.'', Tabitha said, sipping her Martimmy.

'' Tabby still thinks that Grace slept with someone that wasn't Sam?''

'' I KNOW she did. Which means, mischief is going to ensue. Oh, Timmy, a chain of events has begun that will only bring heartache and pain wherever it goes.''

'' Timmy doesn't like this. Grace is a nice woman. The nicest woman Timmy knows.''

'' Grace ' Goody-goody-gumdrop' Bennett is now an ADULTRESS, Timmy. How's that for being 'nice'? Oh, this is going to be fun!'', Tabby says, as she dances around the room.

Timmy just shakes his head, hoping that his Princess is wrong.

'' Gwen, come here, Dear!'', Rebecca yelled as Gwen walked past her bedroom.

'' Mother, what is it?''

'' I wanted you to help me choose my wedding gown.''

Gwen looked at the sexy gowns before her. '' Mother, shouldn't you have something a bit more 'modest'?''

'' Absolutely not! I want Julian to KNOW what he's getting when he marries me. The only women who hide what they've got is those that don't have any to begin with. No, Julian wants sexy in a wife, and he'll have it.''

'' Julian has to get a divorce, Mother…..remember?''

'' Yes, Darling, I do. And, he called me this morning…he and Ivy signed the divorce papers.''

'' They did? I can't imagine Ivy ever letting go of the title of Mrs. Julian Crane.''

'' Well….I used my considerable powers of persuasion'', Rebecca says, running her hands over her body so that Gwen gets a visualization that she doesn't want,. '' to convince Julian that it would be in his best interests to give Ivy a nice settlement. ''

'' But, you were the one who had convinced Julian not to give her anything.''

'' Negotiating tactic, Darling. And, one that worked. Ivy got less than she would have gotten originally, and now she thinks that she actually got something. Of course, she did get millions, just not all the millions a divorce judge probably could have given her. ''

'' Then, why would Ivy agree to it then?''

'' She's suffering from the same malaise as Julian: a sex haze, Darling.''

'' You mean…''

'' Yes, my spies at that B&B about forty-five minutes outside of Harmony, reported to me that she and Sam Bennett checked in yesterday afternoon, and didn't leave for SEVERAL HOURS. Seems as if Ivy finally bagged the Hunk-Of-Police, which means terrific things. Now that she thinks she's got Sam Bennett, she's willing to take the money and run. ''

'' Poor Grace.''

'' Poor Grace my foot. If she had kept her man satisfied, he wouldn't have looked in Ivy's direction. I doubt Ivy will make the same mistake.''

'' Well, Mother, it seems like you're going to get everything you want. Your plan worked: the revelation of Ethan's paternity destroyed Julian and Ivy's marriage; they are divorced, and you're engaged to Julian. When's the wedding?''

'' There's some insane rule that a divorce has to be final for a month to be legal. But, one month from today, in a small, but, legal ceremony, I will become Mrs. Julian Crane. And, then, we'll begin to working on your reunion with Ethan, Darling.''

'' Thank you, Mother. I hope nothing goes wrong.''

'' Goes wrong? I don't think so, Gwen. Ivy and a divorce were the only things standing between Julian and I getting married. Julian realizes how different his life will be having a wife who caters to HIS needs, and puts him first. Didn't you hear Julian at Theresa and Ethan's engagement party? He knows that he could have been happier with someone else….and, of course, he meant me. We're on the brink of getting everything, Gwenny. EVERYTHING!'', Rebecca says, twirling herself around, with one of her potential gowns.
 

Simone was the first one to move. Her head was pounding. She looked over at her watch.
Then, she noticed that she had no clothes on.

'' Oh, ****! I can't believe I did this!'', she said, hurrying to put on her clothes.

Reese began to come out of his groggy state.

'' What happened?''

'' WE happened. WE DID! I can't believe this. ''

Reese looked under the blanket and went '' WHOAH! Oh my. Simone, did we?…..''

'' Yes, we did. ''

'' So, it wasn't a dream? Oh, boy.''

'' Reese, I….we…..oh, hell, what do you say when you get drunk with a guy and have sex with him?''

'' Don't ask me? I've never done anything like that either.''

'' You haven't? So…it was your first time too? This isn't how I imagined my first time.'' Simone bursts into tears. '' I'm a slut! I can't believe it.''

Reese stumbles and puts on his underwear. '' Simone, if this was your first time, how does that make you a slut?''

'' You're only supposed to have sex with guys you love? Anything else is what 'loose girls' do. Oh no, I'm a LOOSE GIRL!'', Simone says, crying again. '' Whitney would never do something like this.''

'' So what. You're not Whitney.''

'' Reese, we can't let anyone know. I'll get a reputation, and it'll get back to my parents. I've brought shame on them.'', Simone begins to cry again.

'' Simone, I'm not going to say anything, not because of your 'reputation', but, because it's nobody's business. Now that I know it wasn't a dream, I think I should thank you. I've had naughty dreams before, but, if we did what I think we did, it was better than I thought it could be.''

'' Yeah? ''

'' You don't remember?''

'' I think I do…Oh, I don't want to. Reese, this was a mistake. I'm sorry. Thanks for keeping my secret.'', Simone says, rushing out of the basement, and out the house. Reese bums around the house some more, cleaning up, and realizes that Simone has left her planner at his house. Like it or not, he's going to have to see her again.