Episode 21: Pick Up the Pieces

Previously:

Louisa chastises Patrick over his eulogy.

Noelle and Ryan find a flyer for talent show auditions.

Jeff Perkins gets the co-anchor job with Breakfast in Canada.

Episode 21
Pick Up the Pieces

    The doorbell rang at Noelle and Ryan’s place, but the only person it disturbed was Noelle.  She went to answer it, and cracked the door open just a tiny bit.

    “Patrick.”  Noelle had a look of surprise on her face.  “Come in.”  She took his scarf and coat and placed them on the coat rack in the corner. She placed her index finger to her lips.  “Shhh.  Jolie’s asleep, so we have to be quiet.  What brings you here?”

    “I just wanted to thank you for the testimony you gave at my parole hearing,” he said.  “I didn’t think you would come through for me.”

    “I can forgive you,”  Noelle responded, “but I can’t forget about what you did all those years ago.”

    “Please,”  Patrick put his arms around her waist.  “Let me make it up to you.”

    “I’m sorry, Patrick.  I’m a married woman now, with two children.”

    He leaned to kiss her, and just then, Ryan walked in.

    “Hello, Patrick,”  Ryan said. “Just what do you think you’re doing with my wife?”

*****

    Natalie Davies went to arrange a vase of flowers on a long table. Since the funeral reception at the Vineyards would have nearly all of Claypool, Louisa asked for extra help.  Natalie was glad to oblige.

    “Not there,”  Louisa told her.  “How about there?”  Louisa motioned to the center of the table.  “It would look more symmetrical in the center.”

    “You’re much better at flower arranging than I am,”  Natalie told her. “I just look at them and think they’re pretty.”

    “Come on. I can show you a few things,”  Louisa responded, putting the vase down.  “First, we’ll have to arrange the tablecloths.”

    They each took a corner of a long, striped tablecloth and placed it perpendicular to the white cloth already dressing the table.  “There!”  Louisa exclaimed.  “Doesn’t that look better?”

    Natalie nodded.  “Actually, I think it does.”

    “Why don’t I finish the table while you check on Suzanne and Blaine in the kitchen?  They may need some extra help there.”

    Natalie told her, “OK.”

*****
    Jeff sat in the production office of Breakfast in Canada, looking over material for Monday’s show.  Most of it was fluff pieces: the beauty queen who was embroiled in scandal, the latest reality show updates and a segment on better parenting.

    One segment caught his eye, however.

    “Paige?”  he asked.  “Do we definitely have the interview with Patrick MacPherson?”

    “I have to confirm it,”  Paige responded.  “I think we can get him to come on the show.  Can you do the interview?”

    “Sure.  Are you doing the piece on better parenting?”

    “Well, since I’m a parent--” Paige responded--”who better to do it?”

    “All right, all right.  I suppose I can do the MacPherson interview.”

*****

    Ryan confronted Patrick. “I asked again.  What do you think you’re doing with my wife?”

    “I--”