Banks Dynasty – Frog Scenario Side Story (Part 5)

Part 5: The Scarlet Frog

Maia:  But you said, ‘we’. Do you live with your parents?

Pierce: I misspoke. Can we drop it?

It seems odd to Maia for someone to accidentally say ‘we.’ And Pierce looks visibly uncomfortable as he finishes off his expresso. The vibe at the table has completely changed.

Maia:  Is everything okay? I’m sorry for prying.

Pierce: No. I’m sorry for snapping. I never should have asked you out because – I’m married.

Maia’s entire face sinks.

Maia: What? Married?

Pierce: *continues* I never meant to deceive you, Maia. Honestly, I was going to tell you.

Maia’s at a loss for words. Pierce continues –

Pierce: You see, my wife and I are separated. I caught her cheating on me, but in the beginning, I still wanted to reconcile. We tried therapy and even lived in the same house afterward. But the trust was gone, and I think she was still seeing the guy, so I moved out. We’ve been living apart for a while now. I was going to tell you. I was waiting for the right time. I’m sorry –  I’m trying to move on with my life, and I thought you might be the person to help me do that, but I can understand if you never want to see me again.

Maia thinks about everything he has said.

Maia: I’m sorry that you’re going through this. But I really wish you would have told me from the beginning. Mentally – I’m just not prepared to deal with this. Maybe if you were divorced, but –

Pierce: Okay. I can respect that. Again, I’m sorry, Maia.

Pierce gets from the table and leaves. Maia should be more upset, but oddly enough, she feels relieved. Just like she said – she’s not mentally prepared for a relationship, especially with someone carrying so much emotional baggage. Maia still has things that she wants to accomplish on her own before she considers herself ready.

Now that her date with Pierce has been cut short, she has a little time to explore the museum. She quickly checks out the art in the first room, but it’s the aquarium that she’s most anxious to see.

The room has a few tanks displaying fish that’s available here in the bay. She takes some time watching them, wondering if fish have social lives. Do they have to worry about leaving home and living an adult life, or do they swim around carefree? If so, Maia would love to be a fish.

She peels her eyes from the fish tanks and walks to the back of the room. She audibly gasps when she sees what’s displayed there.

It’s an exhibit for frogs. But there isn’t much here. Is this new? This might be the perfect place to display some of the rare and unique species of frogs that she’s been capturing. Maia makes a mental note to contact the director or whoever is in charge of the museum. But before she does that, she must ensure she has enough to offer them.

Maia is back in Willow Creek. There isn’t much daylight left, but she uses the time she has to try and find as many frogs as possible. She manages to find one more rare frog to add to her collection. This one would be perfect for the aquarium display.

It’s late by the time Maia makes it back home. She checks her phone and sees the text message that her father left earlier. It says that he misses her and just wants to hear her voice. Rather than just sending a reply, Maia hits the phone icon at the top of the message and puts the cell to her ear. It rings two times before she hears her father’s soothing baritone voice.

Clyde: *on the phone* Maya girl! Is that you?

Maia: It’s me, father. But if you start trying to talk me into coming back home – I’m hanging up.

Clyde: No, baby. No need; I’m just glad to know you’re okay. You’re okay, aren’t you?

She wants to tell him the truth, but it won’t help. She’s incredibly lonely, and she misses him so much. But she can’t tell him that. It’ll only add fuel to his ‘come back home’ fire.

Maia: I’m okay.

Clyde: You’d tell me if you weren’t, right?

Maia: Yes, father. I’d tell you.

It’s hard for her to swallow the lie.

Maia fills her father in on how things have been going without going into too much detail but leaves out her botched coffee date with Pierce. They end the call with the typical, I-love-you’s.

She’s standing there, actually feeling glad that she finally called. It was nice to hear her father’s voice. It brings back memories of him reading bedtime stories to her at night, which never failed to put her to sleep. She could use a bedtime story now, but her thoughts are interrupted by a familiar meowing.

Maia turns and looks down.

Maia: Smelly cat! You’re back!

Maia wants to bathe the poor cat or give the cat a safe place to clean herself.

Maia: I’m going inside. Are you coming?

Maia walks up her stairs, hoping that the cat will join her.

When Maia first moved in and started seeing all the stray cats that seemed attracted to the area, she decided to purchase some cat food, just in case. Now she’s glad she did.

Maia: *to the cat* My father always taught me that you never let anyone go hungry. That includes you. *fills the bowl* Bon Appetite!

The cat finishes the food while Maia sits at her computer, trying to contact the person in charge of the museum. When the cat has finished eating, she jumps up on Maia’s counter.

Maia: If you’re going to make yourself at home, we need to give you a name.

Maia looks at the cat’s white fur, reminding her of the moon.

Maia: Let’s call you Luna.

Maia takes a shower, returns to the living room, and sits to enjoy some soul music. Luna walks over and jumps up on the couch, looking much cleaner.

Maia: You’re still here! And you finally decided to shower, too.

Maia rubs the cat under her chin, and Luna purrs softly.

Maia: I guess this means you’re staying. We’ll find you a collar in the morning.

Luna seems to agree. She jumps down from the couch and finds a cozy living room corner to relax. Maia suddenly feels a lot less lonely.

(Frog Scenario Chapter Summaries)

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