Edwards Manor, Hinsdale Illinois... Part 1

Alex looks at the phone.

Alex: Well.... she took that well.....

Alexis looks half nervous, half amused.

Alexis: I think most of the hospital heard that yell.

Alex: Heh..... that was just I knee jerk reaction to the word triplets.... can't say I blame her..... I think I nearly passed out when mum told me......

Alexis chuckles.

Alexis: True... if anyone didn't have a strong reaction to that, I'd wonder why.

After leaving the room, Colin returns having just finished a phone call with his and Alexis' dad

Colin:"...Was I the last to know dad was getting married?"

Alexis: I don't think so. I got the idea he just proposed. Other than me, I don't know who else he told.

Alexis winces.

Alexis: Ow. How many times am I going to have to do this?

Nurse: Only four more times. The medicine takes about twenty minutes to course...so...I'll be back.

Colin looks down at his feet for a moment

Colin:"Well I...I'm happy he's happy with someone."

Alexis: But you're not happy it's not mom....

Colin:"I can't help my feelings Alexis. Just have to accept it, one way or another..."

Alexis: I wasn't knocking you for your feelings. I would love to have mom and dad get back together too, but it's not going to happen.

Colin:"I know...I guess I've known for a long time..."

Alexis: For what it's worth I think Ben and Naomi will be ok step-parents.

Colin:"In my case Naomi for sure. As for Ben...well I pretty much botched that relationship up for good..."

Alexis: What do you mean?

Colin:"When I blew up at that sushi dinner...I told him off. "

Alexis stares at Colin.

Alexis: What did you say to him?

Colin:"He told me that we 'needed to talk'...Dad was right there and yet Ben was trying to act like the wise father figure...I know he meant well but..."

Alexis: And what was dad doing?

Colin closes his eyes, looking regretful
Colin:"I had just told him that maybe I should have never defended him, because me, Naomi, and you were the only people who would ever give a damn enough to realize he was a good man. That defending him just seemed to cost me..."

Alexis sighs.

Alexis: Yeah, sounds like that backfired just a little.

Colin:"I guess dads been through enough that he was understanding...I mean he was the only person in that room to come out to the parking lot and talk to me..."

Alexis looks confused.

Alexis: I thought Amanda did too... you mentioned going back inside after.... talking to her.