Chapter One

It started out as a normal day for the three of them. There was a picnic... a fundraiser for the South Beach Orphanage. Everyone that was anyone in town showed up. To help the children? Well, sure, I suppose. But more to see and be seen. It's really quite an amusing thing, if you sit back and watch. Oh, look now - there's Caitlin Deschanel and her darling husband Cole. Such dimples... enough to make an unassuming girl swoon. Don't they look like such a perfect couple? Makes a person wonder... are things really so well between them? All of that fuss over little Trey, things like that don't just disappear between two people.

What a surprise, standing over there by that tree... I never thought I'd see Annie Douglas lovesick. Can't say I blame her, with a man like that. What a wonderful peice of eye candy he is. The thing that surprises me even more is how Caitlin and Annie have... shall we say, bonded? over this fundraiser. I heard from a little birdie that it was all Annie's idea. She's feeling a bit more generous with that rock on her finger. Things like that give you a feeling of security in the world. If I were her, I wouldn't lose my guard that soon.

There's our little star now. Meg Evans - shockingly without her prince charming. What a pity about his brother... people like that should be executed. Then again, I guess Derek did get what was coming to him - as did Meg and Ben. Such a fairy tale... such drama! Sunset Beach was in an uproar for weeks. Everyone should have such a happily ever after.

Poor little girls... poor, poor girls.

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"Cole? Where are you going? I thought you were going to stay for a while?"

"Oh, honey - I thought I told you? Leo called me yesterday, he wants me to come see him. Some problem with his tuition."

"Why can't AJ handle it?"

"He's in Germany for the week smoothing out some details with the new company. Business stuff, you wouldn't understand."

"Do you have to go?"

"I do. I'll be back tonight, probably."

"Probably?"

"I'll try."

"You'll try?"

"Is there an echo in here?" He laughed. "I'll be back tonight, PROBABLY, and yes, I'll TRY."

"Okay."

"Don't be mad."

"I'm not."

"Promise?"

A nod and a kiss.

"Okay. I've got to run, Good luck, I know you'll help those kids a lot."

She watched him go and then found Annie, looking forlorn.

"Where's Jude?"

"He had to leave."

"Oh. So did Cole, he was going to see Leo."

"Jude didn't say where he had to go... just like an FBI agent, always mysterious."

"Yeah. Where are Meg and Ben? Our big spenders should have been here by now."

"They are, I saw them drive up a few minutes ago... Meg!"

"Hi Caitlin, Annie." A little less warmth, but still passably civil. "Sorry I'm late, I took Ben to the airport."

"Oh? Well, where's our fourth wheel?" Annie's usual tact sparkling through.

"I guess she's not here yet." Caitlin said. "I was supposed to pick her up, but she called at the last minute and said she didn't need a ride."

"Lucky you."

"Why exactly did we need Lana Ryan, anyway? I don't know about you two, but the girl rubs me the wrong way."

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I suppose I should be flattered. I know exactly how I wound my way into their circle. I had three very good reasons.

Cole Deschanel.

Jude Kavanaugh.

Ben Evans.
 

They hate me because their husbands don't. I won't bother with modesty - I'm smart, successful, sexy, and sophisticated. It doesn't bother me though. I got exactly what I wanted from those ladies. One of them, at least. The others... they can consider themselves lucky.

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Half an hour into it, things were going very well. The three hostess' were enjoying what looked like a triumph.

"Hey, Cait!" Sean shouted from a few feet away. "Someone just delivered this, I think its a donation or something. It's addressed to you and Annie and Meg."

"I'll take it, thanks." She took the UPS package and called her cohorts. "It's a letter..."

They were silence as they ready it.

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Dear girls-

I can't thank you enough for opening your hearts and your town to me. I'm only sorry that my stay in Sunset Beach was so short. My memories of the past month will always stay with me. I should apoligize, however, for my behaviour. Forgetting Sunset Beach will be much harder since I have quite unbecomingly helped myself to a little souvineer. As a memento of my time, I have taken one of your husbands. Tata, girls! - Lana

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 CHAPTER TWO

"B!tch."

"Annie..."

"She is."

"She's probably just playing a bad joke."

"Oh, please, Meg. Do you really think so?"

Caitlin glanced at her watch. "I've got to go get the volleyball game ready... if you hear from... well, anyone... let me know."

She wasn't all that disappointed to have to leave Meg and Annie. Meg, she had nothing against, but Annie still had a way of getting on her nerves.

She was worried. Cole and Lana had hit it off... she couldn't help remembering how just last week they had been up until 2 in the morning exchanging stories about their equally wild pasts. Somehow she knew how to relate to Cole in a way that Caitlin hadn't quite mastered yet. Lana had an eerie way of reminding her of Francesca Vargas. There was just something there that she couldn't compete with.

Things had been so peaceful between them... then she came along, and suddenly all they could do was fight.

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~~page wavers around the edges~~
 
 

"Cole."

He was sitting at the kitchen table, reading the newspaper.

"Cole."

She couldn't get his attention. He never noticed her anymore. Except in bed. There he noticed plenty.

"Cole."

"Wha- oh, hey." That slow, easy smile. He could turn it on and off like a faucet. "Mornin', sweetie."

"Morning."

This apartment made her uneasy. She was used to space, room to breathe. He called this 'affordable' because he didn't want her family's money. She didn't see the point in having it and not spending it. Being a child of luxury, she wasn't adapting well to a budget.

She sat down across from him. "Cole?"

"What do you need, honey?"

"Nothing. I just... I was going to tell you something."

"Yeah?"

"Mom asked if I could watch Trey tonight. Overnight. She's going to a party."

His eyes only left the newspaper for a few seconds. "Sure."

"It's okay with you?"

"Why wouldn't it be? I'd love to see Trey. I miss the little guy."

"I just thought it might be a little bit upsetting."

"It you're okay with it, I am."

"Okay. I'll call Mom later and tell her."

"Did you wash that shirt I asked you to?"

"Um... I forgot, why don't I send it out-"

"Caitlin, we can't afford that. You know how to use the washing machine."

"Okay. Sorry."

They never used to have these problems. They were almost turning into a normal married couple.

"Did you have fun last night?" She asked him.

"Yeah, actually, I did. Lana told me the funniest story-"

"I thought you went out with Jude?"

"I did, Lana was there too, though. That isn't a problem, is it?"

"Actually, Cole, I wanted to talk to you about her."

"Yeah?"

"You've been spending a lot of time with her lately."

"And?"

"I just..."

"Do you want me to not see her again?"

"Of course not."

"'Cause I'd do that. I love you, Caitlin."

It was exactly what she wanted to hear, but it didn't make her feel any better. Maybe the way he said it. You know... angrily.

"I don't want you to stop seeing her."

"Good. I'm glad. I was thinking of inviting her for dinner tomorrow night."
 

"Here?"

"Yeah. That wouldn't be a problem, would it?"

The walls... the walls were closing in...

"Of course not."

And so they finished their morning ritual and headed out to start their respective days, each harboring their own peculier suspicions and bitterness.

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tbc