Hailey stands in the bathroom at the hotel, she folds her arms and looks cross at her sister, Stephanie.
HAILEY: I am not fixated on Colin.
STEPH: Right, that's why your eyes are practically velcroed to him? Come on, sis. I know you too well, and I haven't seen you look that way at Brad the entire time you two have been dating. In fact, you haven't looked that way at a guy since you were with Colin befo--
HAILEY: Okay, enough! Steph, seriously. Stop it.
Hailey turns away from her sister and paces the room, grimacing. Steph looks at the ground, trying to say the right thing to her sister, and hopefully shed some light on the situation without rocking the boat any more.
STEPH: Hailey, when are you going to face the fact you're absolutely still in love with Colin. At the very least you're still attracted to him. Honey, I know things ended weirdly with him, and I still don't know what went down.
HAILEY: It was stupid. It wasn't worth talking about.
Steph sighs heavily and sits down on the chaise lounge in the room. She takes a deep breath before asking Hailey a question.
STEPH: Do you want to talk about it.
HAILEY: Steph, that was YEARS ago, I am so over it.
Steph jumps to her feet, once again excitable over Hailey's denial.
STEPH: No, you're not! And anyone with eyes can see it. Now I know this is all weird because Colin's back in town and all but...Hailey, he's still got a hold on you. I can tell. I'm sure he can. And if you're not careful, Brad could tell.
HAILEY: Oh my God, Steph. it's over between Colin and me. It's ancient history. For crying out loud! I'm with Brad. I'm happy with him.
Steph takes a minute to think again, taking her sister's hands in hers and looking into her eyes with intensity.
STEPH: Hailey, I'm gonna tell you something. Sister to sister. Okay?
HAILEY: Okay.
Hailey relaxes a bit as Steph motions her to sit down beside her on the chaise lounge. Steph takes a second to collect her thoughts.
STEPH: Okay, so you know I'm not like mom. I'm not telling you that you need to commit to Brad because you've agreed to marry him and marriage is sacred bla bla bla, right?
HAILEY: Right.
STEPH: Like, I think you know by now I'm a little bit more...let's say liberated than that. As far as I'm concerned, you need to go after the guy you're really in love with. And honey, if that's Colin, then why are you marrying Brad?
HAILEY: Steph, I'm marrying Brad because I love him. I love him NOW. Not for something in the past. Colin was a good time when I was in high school, he was rebellious, he was passionate, he was fun! I'm growing up. I want a guy that's gonna take care of me and make me feel special.
STEPH: And Brad does that for you?
HAILEY: Definitely! Steph, he's played the field for years. He's been around. He could have any girl he wants in this entire city. And some of the guys if he wanted as well.
Steph and Hailey laugh together. Hailey clasps Steph's hands in hers.
HAILEY: But he wants me. He loves me. Colin was a special time. But Brad is the right man in THIS part of my life. And the future.
STEPH: You know, for a bimbo kid sister, you can be pretty smart sometimes, you know that?
Hailey rolls her eyes and pushes Steph away playfully as Steph laughs.
HAILEY: You always did know how to ruin a tender moment, didn't you?
STEPH: I try.
Steph leaps to her feet and holds out her hand to Hailey.
STEPH: Come on, let's go celebrate your future!
Hailey grabs Steph's hand and bounces out of her seat, smiling widely.
HAILEY: Gladly.
* * *
JACKSON: Well, Carter?
Jackson steps forward onto the terrace outside the dining hall, having caught Lucas and Marian in an intense conversation.
LUCAS: Nothing to concern yourself with, Jackson, I was just trying to make sure that we're all on the same page here.
JACKSON: Did I miss something? I mean, we're here for our children's engagement party, so I assumed we already knew where we stood.
LUCAS: Knowing where we stand would be a lot easier if I knew how you really felt.
Jackson slowly approaches Lucas, sarcasm dripping off his every animated gesture.
JACKSON: What do you mean? I'm thrilled about this party. I'm jumping for joy. Couldn't find a happier guy than me about all this, Carter. You know, I tell ya, your daughter is really something in that dress tonight, I mean--
LUCAS: Can the jokes, Jackson. I know why you had Colin come tonight. You know, I know you're not above pitting your kids against each other to get you want, but really, making Colin come all the way back here from California just for this? I mean, you must have REALLY pulled out all the stops to make that happen, considering how you're still trying to clean up the mess he made in that exposé he did in the Tribune about you--
JACKSON: My son came back on his own, Carter. You might want to watch how many wild accusations you throw my way in the future. Because not only are you still my employee, but we're also going to be family soon. So I'd feel a lot better if we just, you know, tried to get along.
LUCAS: I'm sure you would. Just don't think for a second that I'm gonna be watching you every step of the way. If either of your sons does anything to hurt my daughter, you'll be hearing from me.
JACKSON: Likewise.
Lucas steps away, heading inside, as Marian, looking lost, steps to him and embraces him. Jackson holds her tightly and rocks her gently side to side as she tries to calm her nerves after her exchange with Lucas.
JACKSON: *sigh* He never learns, does he?
MARIAN: Jack, just...don't worry, I'm fine.
JACKSON: Well, no, no, I mean he can't just...come in here getting all up in arms just because Colin's back.
MARIAN: It's going to take time, Jackson. Time to build some trust between us all. I just hope Lucas is wrong and Hailey and Brad are happy even with Colin back home.
JACKSON: Well, honey. We'll see about that.
Jackson gives his wife a hug, as a somewhat sinister smile crosses his face.
* * *
Inside, Anna stands, arms folded, as Lucas approaches her, coming in from the terrace, clearly exasperated, and knowing what Anna's going to say.
LUCAS: What?
ANNA: You need to calm down--
LUCAS: Oh don't start with that, Anna. You and I both know that Jackson picked the perfect time to have that kid come home.
ANNA: And? So what if he did?
LUCAS: Don't you see? He orchestrated this whole thing. Get Colin to come back so he can drive a wedge between Brad and Hailey. It's so obvious, Anna.
ANNA: And if Brad and Hailey love each other, they're going to deal with. Together.
Anna rubs Lucas' shoulders and tries to relax his mind with her words.
ANNA: Look, we are here to celebrate our daughter's engagement. She would not get engaged if she weren't sure that Brad is the man she wants to spend her life with. And no amount of manipulation from Jackson Davis is going to change that.
Anna stops and turns Lucas around to face her.
ANNA: So just calm down...
Anna takes a wine glass off the dinner table beside her and hands it to Lucas.
ANNA: Have a drink...and RELAX.
LUCAS: But how can I--
Anna holds up her finger to Lucas' lips.
ANNA: Ah ah!
Anna leans in to kiss him gently on the lips. After they kiss, they both smile as they look lovingly at each other.
* * *
Steph sits down at the table next to Eva, who's compulsively checking her phone, and stubbornly not socializing. Steph wags her finger and jokingly scolds her aunt.
STEPH: Alright, Aunt Eva, you've been sitting her moping long enough.
Steph and Eva both have a quiet laugh before Eva sighs and looks down.
STEPH: Come on, seriously. What's going on?
EVA: Oh, Steph. I'm just waiting for Nathan. I haven't seen him in what feels like weeks.
STEPH: Well he was supposed to come around tonight, no?
EVA: Supposed to. I mean, where is he? it's nearly 11, and he said he'd be here for 10:30.
Steph leans over and gives her aunt a hug as Anna comes around to sit with her daughter and sister.
ANNA: Still not here, hm?
Eva plops her phone down on the table with a hint of aggression.
EVA: No word from him either.
ANNA: Well, what? Are you two still fighting over wanting to quit your teaching job?
EVA: Ugh. He's worried about it. He doesn't want me to stop working in case something happens to his job, but I have no idea why he's worried. I mean...ever since the IntuiBrake launch we've been doing so well. I just don't get it.
ANNA: Has he talked about any reason why he should be worried about work?
EVA: No. I mean, we've barely talked all month though so I wouldn't know.
ANNA: What do you mean?
EVA: He's always in that office. Every night. And it's work. I know it is. But it's...it's too much.
ANNA: I know, honey. I know.
Further down the table, Trey and Lucas are having a relatively pleasant chat.
TREY: You got the happy couple an engagement gift at all?
LUCAS: Well, I did what I could. Gave Hailey a bit of money we'd been saving up to buy her a new dress for the party and all. Nothing too special.
TREY: Hey, she picks well.
LUCAS: Yeah, you know...I figured, she'd know what fits better than I would so...
Jackson steps up to the head of the table and clinks his glass with a fork to get everyone's attention. As the room goes silent, champagne flutes are passed around.
JACKSON: Can I have everyone's attention, please.
The room's energy settles and all eyes are on Jackson as he begins his announcement.
JACKSON:...Thank you. As you all know, tonight is incredibly special to all of us, and especially to me, as I am the father of a soon-to-be happily married man.
A few claps heard as Jackson takes a quick pause.
JACKSON: I invite you all now to join me in a toast.
Jackson raises his champagne glass, as do the others. Now, as you all know, it wouldn't be fitting of me to end the evening without a small gesture to my future daughter in law, to invite her into the family. And what better way to welcome her to MY family, than to present her with this.
Jackson pulls a small jewelery box from his jacket pocket and presents it to Hailey. Hailey, intrigued, grows a smile on her face before slowly opening the box. Her expression is one of confusion.
HAILEY: Keys?
Jackson dons a calm smile.
JACKSON: Your new car, Hailey.
The crowd gasps and applauds, as Hailey excitedly hugs Brad and kisses him before shaking Jackson's hand with both hands, bouncing up and down as she does like a small child at Christmas. Lucas tenses his hand around his champagne glass. Anna swoops in and takes it from him before he breaks the glass.
HAILEY: Oh my God, where is it?
JACKSON: Out front. Everyone, you're welcome to come with us and check it out.
Jackson takes Hailey out to the front, where their new car is stopped out the front doorway with a giant ribbon on top. Lucas and Anna follow slowly behind. Lucas shakes his head with disapproval.
LUCAS: He had to show me up somehow, didn't he?
ANNA: Oh come on, you knew he was going to get her something...and they happen to operate an auto corporation, I mean...it's not...inconceivable.
LUCAS: Who runs Jabot? Couldn't she have married his kid instead? Then she'd get free eyeliner.
ANNA: Now Lucas, just stop it. Just let her enjoy her new car. We can sell the old one now! And it's our daughter's day. Let me enjoy it.
Lucas bites his tongue for Anna's sake, and watches as this young woman, his youngest daughter, sets foot into her new car and zooms off into the night with his fiancee at her side. Colin stands apart from the rest of the Davis family, seeing them off, but seeming lost, and deep in thought as he watches his high school love drive away with her new man, his brother.
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