Chapter Four
*** Any mistakes or misrepresentations geographically while talkingabout the Virginia Beach area are completely unintentional, but this story is awork of fiction and I am no expert on the area. "Paradise Beach Resort" ispurely fictional as well and does not exist in Virginia Beach or any otherarea. I am making this clear now as this area will be talked about extensivelythough out a good portion of the story, starting now. Sorry, if I've offended anyone.***
Gillian got out of her car and walked up to SOS. She had already checked Hayley & Mateo's condo only to be told that Hayley was heredoing inventory. As she drove here, the rest of the shops and restaurantswere dead to the world. Why Hayley choose to get up so very early on aSaturday morning was a mystery to her, but since Gillian was in need of a goodtalk, she didn't question it.
She walked through the doors and Hayley stopped stacking dishes and looked up.
"Hey, Gillian," she said surprised. "What are you doing up at this hour? It's barely 6:00 am."
Gillian smiled. It seemed everyone in Pine Valley knew she had a propensity for sleeping in. Still smiling she said, "I'm leaving town".
Hayley stared at her and put down the glass she was holding. "For good?"
"No, no. Nothing like that. I'm going on vacation."
Hayley relaxed and began commenced stacking the glasses. "All by yourself?" she asked.
"No," Gillian began timidly, dreading what she was about to say and the response she knew she'd get. "Jake is coming with me."
Hayley froze. When she finally replied, though she tried her hardest, the disgust was still apparent in her voice.
"You're going on vacation with Jake?"
"Yes," Gillian replied, not missing the message Hayley's tone of voice was sending. Her feeling on the matter where obvious, but evenstill, she knew Hayley would be a good source of advice. "We're coming backMonday afternoon. Just a weekend thing. We're going to this beautiful resortabout 20 minutes outside of Virginia Beach. Here," she said, reaching intoher bag, " I have a pamphlet."
She handed the paper to Hayley who opened it and spread it out on the bar. The buildings themselves looked quite stately and old fashion.
"Looks like something out of "Gone With The Wind"," she said sarcastically.
"What?" Gillian asked, confused. "Never mind."
Hayley's eyes scanned the rest of the brochure. Four swimming pools, Three hot tubs, Three saunas, it said. Complete with a privaterestaurant, bar, and our own stretch of private beach 5 miles long.
"Jake must have paid an arm and a leg for all of this," Hayley said. Wonder why? she added silently.
She looked back down and saw the picture of a sample room. The decor was clearly Victorian, and very romantic. Each room has a privatebalcony, most overlooking the beach, she read. She looked back at the picture,taking note of the King Size bed. "Will you and Jake be sharing a room?" she asked.
Gillian looked down. "Yes," she said quietly.
"Oh.", Hayley looked over at her, wondering if she should continue. "This is really none of my business, but we're good friends - Iconsider you one of my best friends. So, I think we should be able to tell eachother things."
"Of course," Gillian said, looking back up at Hayley.
"Okay........Is this the first time the two of you.....have shared a room?"
"Yeah," she replied, looking back down. "I always......I never wanted....But, but, this is supposed to be a really romantic thing forus, you know." Her hand swept over the brochure. "What better place tofinally consummate a relationship? To, to bask in the love you feel for oneanother and prove it to each other in the most beautiful and pleasurable way."
Hayley gazed at her questioningly and immediately saw through the disguise.
"So, you're in love with Jake?" Gillian didn't answer.
Sighing, Hayley said, "Is this what you really want? If it is, then why have you waited so long? Why aren't you with Jake right now,getting ready for the time of your life? Instead, you're here, trying so hardto convince me that this is the right thing to do. Are you sure you'renot just trying to convince yourself?"
Hayley paused to let this sink in. Gillian looked up and the sadness was evident in her eyes. Hayley's heart ached for her. It was so hardto see a friend suffer like Gillian was - and Ryan for that matter. Shedecided to change the direction of the conversation, hoping to gain more leeway.
"What about Ryan?" she asked, quietly.
"We're divorced now. We have been for months. Nothing's changed," she said, her eyes moving to the place where they'd shared the first danceon opening night. "Nothing is going to change, Hayley."
"Gillian....." she began, not knowing what to say.
Very sadly and defeatedly Gillian continued, "He doesn't love me any more. There's nothing I can do about it." With a lame attempt at humorshe added, "Believe me, I know."
"Gillian, I know what it's like to be where Ryan's at right now. You're not sure of anything, least of all yourself. You remember whatyour family life has been like - that you know - and you're bound to end upjust like them. It's a genetic thing, you see, there's nothing you can doabout it. And since you can't stop it, the decent thing to do, the only thingto do, is remove yourself from the picture, detach yourself from allpeople - it's for their own good; they'll thank you in the end. Well, now I knowand you know that's not true. One day Ryan will know, too, but it takestime. He goes to ACOA meetings with me every Thursday. I can tell that he'sbeginning to see things the way they really are. He does love you, Gillian, and hopefully someday soon he'll trust that enough to do something aboutit."
The tears that had filled Gillian's eyes were now falling down her cheeks.
"You can't guarantee that, any of it. And, I can't keep living like these. I can't spend the rest of my life holding on to false hopes. Ijust can't.......Jake loves me, and he's ready to do something about it."
"What you're doing is a dangerous thing, Gillian, " Hayley said, carefully. "You can't make yourself love Jake if you don't. And, nomatter how hard you try, he will never replace Ryan. Not in you life, or inyour heart. That place can only be filled by him. You may not believe thatnow, but you will. This is only going to lead to more hurt - for all ofyou."
"Well, I've got to do something," Gillian said and looked down at her watch. Wiping the tears from her eyes she declared, "I have to go.Jake's waiting for me."
"All right," Hayley said, softly.
Gillian picked up her bag and started to go.
"Gillian."
She stopped and turned around.
"You know I'm behind you 100%, no matter what happens, okay?"
"Thank you, Hayley, " she said, tears welling up again in her eyes. She turned to leave and the door softly shut behind her.
Hayley looked down at the pamphlet Gillian had left behind and shook her head. She really hoped Gillian was doing the right thing, foreveryone concerned but she had an ominous feeling about all this.
Suddenly, the back door slammed opened. Startled, Hayley turned around to find a very agitated Ryan standing in front of her.
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