Thomasina stopped by the hospital before school at Alice's request. Alice told her she couldn't give her the birth control pills. Tom was confused by this and said so. Alice told her she's pregnant.
Sally went to the cabin to tell Catlin she had expected to hear from him last night but he said he hadn't been sure she'd want to. She said she wanted to say she was sorry. He said he'd just been trying to deal with Kevin the best way he knew and she said she just didn't think. She asked if he were still mad at her. He guessed not. She said, "Well, prove it." Sound of hammer being tossed carelessly aside. SILENCE.
Donna came upon Carl in her house. He wants to examine the holdings of the Love Foundation in Peter's absence. She won't let him. He wants to use some of its stocks for collateral for a loan. He's cassé. (Sorry. I've seen Victor/Victoria too often.) He threatened to tell Marley if she didn't give him the file. Donna: I can't believe this. It's not even 8 o'clock in the morning and you're here at my door trying to blackmail me. Carl told her if he didn't get the money quickly KBAY would go into receivership. Donna refused to cooperate. She said Marley loathed him and wouldn't believe him. Carl showed her large amounts of evidence that Marley couldn't dispute. Donna said she'd tell Marley herself today. Eventually she gave in and said just for today.
Thomasina objected on the grounds that she and Carter were only together twice. Alice pointed out that all that was necessary was once. Alice said that Thomasina was a responsible person and she'd be able to handle it. And if she needed any help to give her a holler. Thomasina says she's ruined her life.
The Corys are SO SAD that Carl might lose KBAY. Nancy got upset. She thought about December 6th with Perry. Mac apologized to her. He told her to give Perry support. He advised her to tell Perry again she loves him.
Sally: This is definitely the best part of having a fight. Catlin: Well I hope we don't have to fight to make love. (For my readers' benefit: Definition from the Funk & Wagnalls Standard College Dictionary is: to kiss, embrace, etc., as lovers. Just thought you'd like to know. It's probably the etc. we should watch out for.) Sally: I should hope not. Catlin: Good, because I want to set a few rules around here. Sally: Such as? Catlin: First of all: No going to bed mad. Sally: We didn't. Catlin: We did last night. Sally: Separately. Catlin: Exactly. But when we're together, we don't go to bed until the problem is solved. Never go to bed angry. Sally: Okay. Catlin: Secondly, let's try not to fight in here. Sally: Here in the cabin? Catlin: Yeah. 'S our special place. Let's not spoil it with fighting. Sally: That is so sweet. (Pause for kissing. I wish I could bring myself to use a variation like OSCULATION but that always sounds rather obscene.) It's also one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. Catlin: Why? Why is it dumb? Sally: Because, honey, we're going to live here and it's going to be our home. Both of us are too stubborn to keep from fighting all that time. Is this the same Catlin Ewing that I know and love? Catlin: Hey. I am learning self-control. You should see me at the academy. Sally: Oh, great. Which is going to make you about ten times harder to deal with at home. Catlin: We love each other. Sally: That only makes it worse. Catlin: Why? Sally: Because we love each other, we have more invested. We could hurt each other more. But as long as we have love and understanding and respect the anger doesn't have to last. Catlin: I hate it when you're right. Sally: I don't. I love it. I really love it.
Maisie and Grant are concerned about Perry.
Donna gave Carl what he wanted. Donna: Carl, I'm warning you, this is going to change. I DON'T enjoy complying. Carl: Well, that's odd, Bella, you always used to. Donna: And I'm tired of your sick little double-entendres. Suddenly Perry burst out yelling at them for bickering. And lying. And making life miserable for t'other Loves and him. And not communicating. He left. Carl says his son has been turned against him with Donna's help.
Tom called the school and said she won't be in and could someone tell Carter she needs to talk to him. Quinn came home and asked what the trouble is. She's invited Grant and Carter over for dinner Friday.
Marley asked Donna why she hadn't told her about that hidden room downstairs. She told her she'd found it while Donna was in jail. She wants it explained now.
Sally's going to go shopping for a wedding dress. Catlin feels strange -- but good. Sally wants Catlin to pick Kevin up. He's afraid Kevin won't like it. Sally said Kevin needs time to adjust and he's probably afraid of losing her to Catlin and he's had a rough year with his parents dying and all.
Nancy arrived at Smiley's to tell Perry she loves him. She wants him to know she's with him no matter what. Perry said basically everything had changed since then and she'd better find someone else to make her happy because he can't handle this right now. She cried. He left.
Kevin likes school. Catlin tried to be utterly friendly. Too hard, as usual. He told Kevin all about what cowboys like to eat. (Beef jerky and coffee.) Kevin didn't believe him. He [Kevin] blew up and said he [Catlin] was lying and thought he [Kevin] was a baby who would believe anything. Catlin said it wasn't a lie but a joke. And he doesn't think Kevin's a baby. He asked why Kevin was mad at him. Kevin said it was because he's taken Sally away to THAT PLACE and didn't even tell him. Catlin said Sally had followed him without his knowledge and it was too dangerous for Kevin. He said they both loved Sally and he loved Kevin and they'd be happy together etc. (Different etc. from the one above, however. Most are.)
Carter came to see Thomasina. Quinn's out. Tom told him she'd seen Alice. He raved about how she had years and years of school and so did he and now they wouldn't ruin their lives. She didn't tell him. She told him that Quinn invited Grant and him over for dinner. Carter said Grant thinks she's swell.
Nancy cried on Mac's shoulder. She blamed everything on Mac and Carl. Mac raved about Carl. She says she understands but Perry doesn't.
Donna told Marley a little story beginning "there was this boy." To make a long story short they became lovers (what happened said Marley) and Daddy found out and packed the boy off and gave Donna this room for a sanctuary in which to get over her loss.
Carter left. Goodbye, baby, he said. Tom: I couldn't tell anyone. Not today. I'm just giving myself ONE MORE DAY. Today it's just me. And you [to her sweater].
Donna's boy had hair like silk and china blue eyes and laughed all the time ('tho she was serious) and loved her and was quite poor. Marley said there had to be more to the story than that. She left. Donna talked to a photograph of Marley's father. She said she tried to tell her, but couldn't. And how long will it be until she found out she's our child. (Their child. Whatever.)
Is that how Donna perceives Catlin? Hair like silk and china blue eyes and laughing and loving her and being poor? (Checklist. I can't really say about the first. His eyes are blue. He didn't laugh a hell of a lot with her. He didn't love her (if we are to believe what he tells Sally). He is unmoneyed (remind me not to become his widow.))
I can't see anyone we know being Donna's poor boy of the silken hair and china blue eyes. How dare Donna sleep with strangers? Such an immoral woman.
I'd rather say Macachee than Mac and Carl. I've been listening to Mart too long.
Where is Cass? Stewing in gaol, I suppose.
January 8 must be some holiday I've never heard of. P'raps they're still celebrating Ukrainian Christmas. If they're not my calculations will be off somewhat. I suspect them of operating on their own calendar to which we are not privy. The sneaky things.
That cabin has been improved rather a good deal. Surprisingly. I still haven't been able to figure out its geography. Or topography (def'n 3). I suspect there are hitherto unexplored regions. Like the Matthews house.
(Possibly) important point: at one point some days ago Catlin said he wouldn't shave his head. The question is, is it because his hair is like silk? Would a man who didn't have hair like silk be averse to being deprived of it? (I guess Catlin can't grow up to be Marrow.) Perhaps he's just deeply ashamed of the shape of his skull.
I have been considering the possibility of Marley's father being the same as Catlin's father (not seriously. The age doesn't seem to be quite right. Donna is what, twelve years older? NOT LIKELY.) If he were then Marley would be Catlin's SISTER. And I have a hard time dealing with Blaine in that capacity, for heaven's sake.
Does Alice doctor Sally? Because it offended me a lot that Alice knew Thomasina was pregnant before Tom did but it would offend me still more 'f 't were Sally. In fact I don't think Alice should ever be told. Ever. Serve her right. She oughtn't to attack her patients (Mark, for one) like that. LET'S KEEP ALICE IN THE DARK.
Learn typing etc. Some assembly.
I think Catlin and Sally should try to come to grips with reality. They seem to be taking turns at it and that cabin doesn't help any, progressing by leaps and bounds as it does. It's beginning to develop knickknacks.
Oh, Nell figured it out for me. The holiday in question is David Bowie's birthday. My apologies to Vida & Catlin & Sally.
When a rich man chases after dames he's a man about town a man about town.
Catlin should be hospitalized after the way he's been carrying on. Actually not because they'd probably show his chest more rather than less. It's been rather a good deal in evidence. HOW CAN THIS BE STOPPED?
Sally SHOULD talk to Donna. I want to see this.