The sun shines brightly over the coastal community of Persephone Pointe. Tourists have emerged from their rental cottages and beachfront bed and breakfasts to explore the quaint village. Jennifer Origen and Claudia Eglasca have just finished a two-mile power walk. The two women have been doing the zone diet together and added power walking to their exercise regimen about three months ago. In the twelve weeks since they’ve been doing the walks, both women have seen an increase in stamina and have found the walks to be quite enjoyable and a great way to start the day.

At the end of the walks, the two ladies will stop by Ada’s Kitchen for a cup of coffee and a slice of melon. When they walk into Ada’s, they take a booth in the back. Ada sees them and brings cups and a fresh pot of decaf. Ada Matthews runs Ada’s Kitchen and has developed a reputation as the town sage.

"You know, ladies, if I had your figures the last thing I would be doing is starving myself with a slice of cantaloupe and black coffee," says Ada.

"Now Ada, I have at least five more pounds to get rid of," says Claudia.

"Six for me. Have you seen my butt," says Jennifer.

"I would kill for a butt like that," says Ada. "I’ll be right back with the melon."

"Thanks Ada," says Claudia.

"She’s a card, isn’t she," says Jennifer. "By the way, thanks for letting Emery spend the night over at your house last night."

"I woke up and Emery was sprawled out on the floor and Saga was on the couch with the TV still on. They were both still in their party clothes," says Claudia.

"Those two are inseparable," says Jennifer.

"I’m glad they have each other."

"Do you think they’ve got a crush on each other?"

"You know, I really think it’s just friendship," says Claudia.

"Well good. They’re too young for all of that anyway," says Jennifer.

"Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could keep them in a little box, protected from all of the craziness of first love and dating and all that comes with it," says Claudia.

"I remember crying myself to sleep so many nights when I was Saga’s age."

"Oh God, tell me about it," says Claudia. "Speaking of first love-"

"Don’t go there."

"What?"

"You’re going to ask me about August."

"Well?"
"Well what?"

"No old feelings resurfaced? No long dormant desires?"

"You are a naughty, naughty girl," says Jennifer.

"Well you’ve gotta admit that August is a handsome and very attractive man."

"No matter how handsome and attractive he is, it doesn’t change the fact that I’m a happily married woman with a husband who is just as handsome and just as attractive as August."

"And you never wonder what might have been?"

"I wonder how I ended up with such a kooky best friend," says Jennifer.

"What’s this about kooky?" The ladies look up to see Jack Eglasca.

"Hey Jack," says Claudia.

"Hello, Mr. Chief of Police -- Come to arrest us?"

"Have you two been bad?" Jack asks laughing. How was the walk this morning?"

"Same as always," says Claudia. Jack sits down beside his sister in law.

"I was thinking that maybe I could take Saga and Ben school shopping this weekend," says Jack.

"You really don’t have to do that Jack," says Claudia.

"I want to do it."

"You spoil them," says Claudia.

"They’re good kids, they’re not spoiled," says Jack.

"If you keep buying them everything, they will be."

"So Jack, any word on that body they found last night at the DeLongpres?"

"I'm headed over to talk to the Medical Examiner now," says Jack.

"How in the devil can Julia work with dead bodies all day, I’d be so spooked out," says Claudia.

"Remember, it’s Julia Collins we’re talking about," says Jack chuckling.

"Be nice," says Claudia softly hitting Jack on the arm.

"So can I take them shopping this weekend?" Jack asks.

"Okay, just buy in moderation."

"Thank you. Well I gotta go, you ladies behave," he says getting up from the table.

"Bye Jack," says Claudia.

"Bye Jack," says Jennifer. Ada comes up with two plates of melon and refills their coffee. "Thank you Ada." Ada walks back to the counter, where she shares old town legends with some out-of-towners.

"You know, speaking of handsome and attractive," says Jennifer. "Jack’s not too shabby and very single."

"What are you suggesting?"

"What do you think I’m suggesting?"

"Have you completely forgotten that he’s my brother in law?"

"Have you forgotten that you’re still a young woman, who hasn’t been out on a date since your husband died?"

"I have forgotten nothing, but the last person I would ever consider dating is my children's uncle."

"And let of all of that manly goodness go to waste," says Jennifer smiling.

"I'm sure it's not going to waste."

"You're right about August, he still is a very handsome man," says Jennifer. "He seems to be fitting into his role as heir-apparent quite well. I'm glad that he's happy."

"Jen, don't you ever wonder, what if?"

"If I ever have, I will then take out the picture of my two beautiful boys and my wonderful husband and all of the what ifs disappear," says Jennifer, taking a bite of her melon slice.

_______________________________________________

Quentin Origen is in a hotel room on the outskirts of the village. He didn't come home last night. He told his wife that he had an early morning meeting at the Capitol and would spend the night there so he wouldn't have to get up so early. The truth is, he spent the evening with a woman named Joanna.

Quentin met Joanna at a business conference about a year ago and the two have gotten together about once a month ever since. Joanna runs the acquisitions division of one of DeLongpres chief rivals, and Quentin has used their 'relationship' as a means to obtain insider information and increase his bank account. Some of the information he has obtained from Joanna has allowed him to derail mergers that wouldn't be beneficial to DeLongpre interests and has even used the information to make it easier for DeLongpre Enterprises to takeover the companies.

Joanna is a means to an end, the sex really isn't that great, but the little monthly 'meetings' raises Quentin's stock at DeLongpre Enterprises. In the span of a couple of years, Quentin has made himself one of the companies most powerful players and biggest assets, and it's only just the beginning.

Quentin has big plans for his future at DeLongpre Enterprises and is taking steps and laying the groundwork for an even more powerful place at the table. Joanna left about a half-hour ago. Quentin is sitting up in bed, flipping TV channels with the remote. He stops when he comes to a Ricki Lake episode about cheating boyfriends. Quentin gets a kick out of the show and cannot believe that people would actually put their lives on display for the entire world to see. "Stupid, stupid rednecks." His cell phone rings.

"Origen," he says.

"I'm expecting you to be on time for our meeting," says a woman's voice.

"I was voted most likely to be on time, two years in row, when I was in high school," he says.

"Save the sarcasm and don't keep me waiting," says the voice.

"Don't you have any faith in me?'

"Lets just say I have trust issues," says the woman.

"I'll be there with bells on."

"Make sure you shower. Don't come to our meeting smelling like bimbo."

"Ciao Bella," says Quentin ending the phone call. "Origen are you doing the right thing? Forming an alliance with such a bitch could be big trouble. Big, big trouble."

_____________________________________________________

August DeLongpre is dressed in a navy, Joseph Abboud three-button suit with a light blue, Façonnable Windowpane shirt and matching daisy tie and Allen-Edmonds wingtips. He looks very much like the photos of his father at his age. Walking down the staircase he runs into his twin sister Pamela, who has just returned from an early run.

"Off to the office so early, brother-dearest?" Pamela asks.

"I've got a conference call with the Hong Kong office in about an hour."

"Ever the power-broker. So now that Daddy's home, what does that do to your 'Acting CEO' title?"

"We haven't really discussed it. So how does it feel to be back home after all these years?" August asks trying to change the subject.

"Trying to change the subject?" Pamela asks.

"I really don't know what Daddy has in mind, Pammy," says August.

"Maybe I can stop by your office later on. We really need to talk about our newest family member," says Pamela.

"Jory?"

"Yes. Dear sweet Jory," says Pamela. "Did you have any clue about this before yesterday?"

"None. He never mentioned a thing."

"Well that's telling, isn't it?'

"What do you mean?"

"If she were all that important to him, why didn't he mention her or their marriage?"

"I stopped trying to figure out Daddy years ago," says August.

"Well go to your meeting, I'll stop by later."

"Pammy."

"Yes?"

"Tread lightly with this Jory thing, for right now. Daddy just got back and the last thing we need to do is set him off about his new wife," says August.

"The absolute last thing I'd ever want to do is upset Daddy, but we need to know if this Jory is taking him for a ride, and not the good kind."

"See ya later," says August.

"Bye Auggie." Pamela continues up the staircase to the third floor.

_____________________________________________________

Jory Booker DeLongpre has accidentally shut the bedroom door to Thad's room. The sound of the door closing, has apparently awaken Thad. Thad stares at Jory, bathed in sunlight, still groggy from sleep.

"It is you. I knew it was you. You've come back to me," says Thad trying to focus. Jory, startled by what Thad has said, opens the door to leave.

"Go back to sleep," she whispers.

"Jory, I knew you'd come back. You are the only woman I have ever loved," he says. "Don't leave, stay here, with me," says Thad.

"Don't say things like that. I am married to your father. What you and I had ended a long time ago."

"I love you…." he says as his voice trails off. Jory watches as Thad's head falls back to the pillow and returns to his sound sleep.

"He must have been dreaming," whispers Jory. "Good. Now to get out of here." She turns the door handle quietly, opens the door, and leaves the room. She backs out of Thad's room slowly, shutting the door behind her. She can't help thinking of how sincere his words were, but wonders if it was just his dream or if that's how he really still felt about her. Either way, it didn't matter because what they had was over years ago and would never be revisited. She loved her husband and would never do anything to jeopardize her marriage.

She then realized that she would have to see Thad everyday, sit across from him at the dinner table, and live in the same house with him. She thought to herself that she could handle all of that, but she also realized that her relationship with Thad must never come out. For the sake of her marriage, Sumner could never know that at one time she and Thad were seriously involved. She decided that she would talk to Thad later in the day and make him promise that he will never reveal their past together.

"No one can ever know. No one," says Jory.

"No one can ever know what?" The statement startles Jory. Pamela was on her way to her daughter's room when she saw her new stepmother tip toeing out of her brother's room. Jory turns around to see Sumner's daughter standing behind her.

"Pamela," says Jory.

"Hello hon, no one can ever know what?" Pamela asks.

"Good morning. Fancy running into you," says Jory nervously.

"I was going to check on my daughter, when I see my father's wife coming out of my brother's bedroom, my younger and attractive brother's bedroom." Jory doesn't like where this is headed, but gets tongue-tied and can't say anything. "So Jory what were you doing in my brother's bedroom -- and since I do have some time to kill, I would prefer the unabridged version."

___________________________________________________

Sumner DeLongpre is in his study reading the newspaper story about the dead body found on the property during his welcome home party. He picks up the phone and dials the number to the Persephone Pointe Police Department.

"Good Morning Persephone Pointe Police, may I help you?" The woman's voice asks.

"Put Tom Waters on. Uh, excuse me, Jack Eglasca," says Sumner forgetting then remembering that Jack is the new Chief of Police.

"May I ask who's calling?"

"Sumner DeLongpre."

"Uh…um…Mr. DeLongpre how are you sir? The Chief is at the Medical Examiner's Office now, may I have him return the call?"

"Page him. Beep him. Just get him on the phone now," says Sumner.

"I'll see what I can do Mr. DeLongpre. May I put you hold?"

"I'm not waiting all day," says Sumner.

"No sir. I'll be right back sir," says the woman's voice. Sumner is put on hold and music from the local radio station plays in the background. After about a minute or so, the woman returns to the line. "Mr. DeLongpre I'm going to patch you through to the Chief's cellular phone. Have a nice day." There is a click and then the woman's voice returns. "Go ahead Chief."

"Thank you Amy. Mr. DeLongpre what can I do for you sir?" Jack asks.

"You and I need to talk, son. Drive up to the house," says Sumner.

"Sir, I'm in the middle of something right now, can't it wait until this afternoon?" Jack asks.

"No it can't wait. I expect you here in 20 minutes, see you then," says Sumner hanging up the phone. He picks up the paper and sees the large headline about the body. He takes the paper over to the fireplace, gets a match from his antique matchbox, strikes it, and puts the burning end on the paper. It catches fire and Sumner throws the burning newspaper into the fireplace. He walks out of the room with the paper still burning. The paper burns until it reaches the headline Body Discovered on the DeLongpre Estate and it suddenly stops burning. Everything is gone, except that headline, which is now outlined by a charred and smoking border.