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Kirsten Storms as Julie Lowell (FTR)
Topic Started: Jul 10 2008, 08:50 AM (10 Views)
Rick
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Kirsten Storms as Julie Lowell Episode 16



Ben looks up from the page. He sits there thinking how so much has kept them apart over the years. He says to himself: “William I would have given it all up for you. I still would. All you have to do is give me the word.”

He is shocked out of his daydream when he hears a knock on the door. It is Janice telling him that Julie is downstairs. He yells to her thanks and that he will be down soon. As he stands it is obvious that what he read got him very excited. He looks down and notices – not only that but his shorts are wet too. He goes to the drawer and pulls out a fresh pair. He throws them on the bed as he heads to the closet to get out a clean suit.

Ben dresses quickly and almost walks out of the room leaving his journal sitting on the desk. Luckily he happens to look that way. He walks over and puts it back in his secret hiding place in the closet.

He walks down the steps. Janice is dusting the foyer as he comes down.

“Where is the surprise?”

“It’s in your study and Miss Julie is in the parlor. Would you like me to get it?”

“Thanks Janice, that would be great.”

Julie has her back to Ben when he comes into the parlor. He walks in and says, “How is my girl today?”

Julie turns around and looks at him. “What did you need Dad? I happen to have had things to do today? If you want to yell at me some more, I do have…….”

About that time Janice enters carrying a beautiful gown in her hands. Julie sees it and is shocked. She looks at her Dad and then back at the gown.

She finally goes to it. “Dad is this for me? It’s the one I picked out at the mall a few weeks ago. How did you know?”

“I knew the stores you frequent the most and just went in and asked. They know you very well down at the mall. I had to guess at the size. If it doesn’t fit they said you could bring it back.”

Julie keeps looking at it. She just can’t get over that it is hers. Then all of a sudden her mind turns to its suspicious side. She looks at her Dad confused. “Dad, I thought Mom said I was cut off. What is this for? What do you need me to do?”

Ben looks at Janice. “Janice can you leave my daughter and I alone for a few minutes.”

“Yes. What do you want me to do with the dress sir?”

“Just leave it here.”

Janice leaves. Ben goes over and sits on the sofa. “Julie will you come over and sit down for a minute. I want to talk to you.”

Julie looks at him. She still is unsure if the dress is worth it or not, but she wants to hear what he wants anyway. She sits the dress down on the back of a chair and walks over to sit down. “So what do I need to do to get the dress Dad?”

“Nothing, Julie. Just look at it as a gift….a peace offering…..a way for me to say I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what Dad. Last night or everything?”

“Boy you’re not going to make this easy are you?”

“Why should I Dad? Things haven’t always been easy for me, so why should they be for you?”

Ben lets that comment get to him even though he was determined it wasn’t. “Julie despite what you think, things haven’t always been easy for me or your Mom. Try to put yourself in our place sometimes.”

Julie gets up and starts to walk out. “I knew it was going to be more of the same. Just keep your dress Dad. I don’t want it.”

Ben goes after her. He puts his hand on her shoulder and turns her around. “Stop Julie. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get angry. You and I are so much alike that we know what to say to get one another. Come on let’s try this again.”

Julie sits down. Ben walks over and pours himself a drink from a bottle he keeps hidden from Addie in the parlor. He turns around and looks at Julie.

“Julie I am going to tell you some stuff today that I think you need to hear but it is not going to be easy. Your mother doesn’t even know I am telling you all this. I don’t want her to know now. This is our little secret until she is ready for you to know.”

Julie just looks at him as he continues.

“Julie your Mom and I were very young when we got married. A great bit of stuff happened that I won’t go into right now, but we made a lot of mistakes – a lot of them. We hadn’t even been together really that long when we got married – really it was too soon. But we both have tried to make the best of the situation.”

Ben pours himself another drink and continues.

“When you came along so early into our marriage, your Mom really tried. She really did. I wasn’t much help. I was a new lawyer and was very busy. It left your Mom at home a great deal – just you and her. It was hard on her. She had a really bad case of postpartum depression. Of course back then it wasn’t as widely heard of as it is today. If it wasn’t for Janice and your grandmother, Kate, I don’t think she would have pulled through it.”

Julie starts to say something but Ben stops her. “Let me finish this first. I need to get it all out. Just as your Mom was getting better, she found out she was pregnant again with your brother Brock. I don’t know what happened, but for some reason your Mom turned to drinking. I think the pregnancy was too much for her so soon after getting over the depression. Again I was a terrible husband. I stayed busy and ignored what was going on for a long time.”

Ben walks over, starts to pour his glass full again, but thinks twice and puts it down.

“Finally, Frank told me that if I didn’t do something Addie was going to lose the baby. He suggested I take your Mother away for awhile on a cruise – just the two of us. So I booked it and we went. That is when you started staying with your grandparents. Everything went well for the first few weeks. Your mom seemed to get better and then she started having early labor pains. When we got to London, your Mom collapsed and we had to stay there for the rest of the pregnancy. There was no way I could take care of you and your Mom so I let you stay here with your grandparents.”

“Three months later, your Mom gave birth to Brock. He was so little and really struggled. He stayed in the hospital there for six months. They didn’t even know if he would live or die. Your Mom got the depression again and this time it was much worse. They put her in the mental part of the hospital where she stayed for a year. Brock got better. Julie I didn’t know what to do. There was no way I could take care of both of you. It wasn’t that I didn’t love you. You were settled. Brock was so little – so tiny. He needed lots of care.”

Ben turns to look at Julie with his eyes very watery. “To make a long story short, we were away from you and Rose Hill for almost 2 years. You were settled. Your Mom came out of the depression and has done very well. She went ahead and had a hysterectomy as they advised her to never have any more children. We made the wrong decision I guess by letting you stay with Frank and Kate and for choosing to never tell you. Your Mom is still embarrassed by those months and how she almost killed Brock. She has never forgiven herself for drinking. I guess that is why she seems to dote on Brock at times. Julie I am not telling you all this as some sort of excuse, I just want you to understand. I want us to have a new beginning as of today. I’m sorry about all of it – for all the mistakes I have made – for last night letting it appear the election was more important than you. All of it.”

He sits down beside Julie. “So what do you say – let bygones be bygones?”

Julie looks at him. “Wow Dad. Why haven’t you ever said anything? How could you let me live all my life thinking that you didn’t care anything about me?”

Ben looks at her – a tears runs down his eyes, “Baby all I can say is I’m sorry. We felt it was best no one knew. No scratch that Julie. I want to be honest with you. It’s a new beginning. Julie your Mom didn’t want anyone to know. I haven’t been the best husband in the world to your Mom. I haven’t given her everything she needs or has needed. This was something I could give her. It’s another of my weaknesses Julie. We all felt if we forgot about it – it was for the best.”

“But it wasn’t. Was it Dad? Oh yeah I guess it was for all of you, but it wasn’t for me. I lived all my life feeling….not just feeling but knowing that you guys didn’t love me – that you loved Brock more than me. How do you guys think that made me feel?”

Ben walks to her and tries to hug her, but Julie pushes him away. Ben doesn’t give up; he pulls her in anyway and squeezes her tight. “Julie I can’t even imagine. There is no way we ….I can ever make it up to you. All I want to do is start fresh from today. Julie I want you to have whatever it is from here on out that will make you happy. I can’t make up for my mistakes, but maybe together we can work from here on out to be a family. I had Janice to make up your room. I would love it if you would come here and live for awhile. I know that you are older now and will be moving out before too long – but I would love if you would come here and let us try to be a family for awhile – to get to know one another better.” He steps back and looks at her eyes. “What do you say?”

Julie has tears in her eyes. “I don’t know Dad. Can I think about it for a few days and let you know?”

“Sure take all the time you need. The room is ready whenever you are. And if you don’t like the way Janice has fixed it just let us know. We will redo it to suit you.”

Julie walks over and is looking at the dress again.

Ben walks up behind her. “So is it going to fit?”

“Yes I think so. It is my size anyway. I’ll try it on later to see.”

“So who is the lucky guy that is going to be taking you out wearing this beautiful dress?”

Julie looks sadder when he asks. “Oh no guy Dad. I am going with some of my friends. They don’t have dates either.”

“I guess he will be there though?”

“Who are you talking about Dad?”

“Don’t act coy with me girl. You know who it is…..Joey Hughes. He is who it has always been.”

Julie just looks at him. “See you think I never cared, but I notice more about you than you thought I did. I know how much you still want Joey.”

“Yeah but it will never happen. He is too crazy about Allison Matthews these days.”

“Don’t ever give up Julie. If it is meant to be, it will happen.”

Janice knocks on the door and comes in. “Ben, I am sorry to interrupt but Addie called wondering where you are. They are all at campaign headquarters waiting for you.”

Ben looks at his watch. “Damn I forgot all about the time. Call her back Janice and tell her I am on my way.”

Ben hugs Julie. “Are we okay baby girl?”

“Yes, Dad. I’ll let you know soon what I have decided.”

He says okay and leaves. Julie stands there looking at her dress. She puts it in front of her and models it in front of the mirror in the parlor.

She is startled when she hears, “You know kiddo your Dad is really trying. I hope you don’t make him regret it.”

Julie turns to see Janice standing there. Julie looks at her glaring as if she wants to shoot daggers through her. Janice just stares back.
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