Episode Report Card Niki: D | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Mediation
By Niki | Season 1 | Episode 13 | Aired on 01.23.2000
Cut to Lily at the mediator's office waiting for Jake, who's late. Lily takes the opportunity to ask for advice on her situation. The mediator reminds her that she's not supposed to discuss the matter when one of the partners isn't there. But then she goes on to ask how serious Lily is about keeping the house. The mediator points out that if that's Lily's true goal, anger is the biggest obstacle. Lily needs to keep sight of her priorities and let go of the other things that anger her. Jake rushes in, asking what he missed. "Girl talk" the mediator tells him, and he says "Oh, good. My favorite kind." As he heads into the bathroom to wash up, he informs Lily that he's just come from a meeting with the contractor who holds the lien on the restaurant. They've worked out a schedule of payments that will allow him to open the restaurant, and he's flying on adrenaline. He tells her she'll be able to keep the house if she helps him out.
At that moment, Lily's cell phone rings and she answers it expecting to hear one of the kids. Instead, it's Rick. Lily tries to tell him it's a bad time, but he won't let her get in a word. He tells her he hasn't slept, he's put a lot of things together, and she needs to hear them. She's trying hard to sound distant so Jake doesn't figure out who's on the phone, but Jake is too busy inhaling an apple and looking impatient (like he wasn't the one who was late in the first place) to think about who's calling. Lily agrees to see Rick and says she'll call back in an hour.
Getting back to business, the mediator asks Lily how she feels about Jake's plan. Lily wants to know if he'll be able to make all the payments along with the mortgage. Jake assures her he will, but he'll be a little late with the mortgage this month, and Lily's all over him. The mediator actually jumps in this time and reminds Lily to stop and think about what's really important. Lily takes a moment and then says she needs to know Jake is telling the truth, and that he's committed to the mediation process. He promises that he is, and punctuates it by chomping a huge piece of apple.
Later that day, Lily is seated in a cozy little restaurant waiting for Rick. When he arrives, they make a bit of awkward small talk. He tells her Eli's essay is the best one he's ever written, and Lily takes a roll in some motherly pride. She admits she's nervous seeing him, but he tells her she doesn't need to be. They go through the whole "so you don't hate me?" exercise and Lily's thinking it's a done deal. Wrap him up, I'm taking him home. But not so fast -- Rick's on a different track. He tells Lily "the love was so right, but the timing was wrong," and then quickly redeems himself in my eyes by admitting that line was the corniest thing he's ever said. Lily clues in -- he's not looking for reconciliation, but closure -- and she tries to hang tough but doesn't quite make it. A couple little tears sneak out in spite of all the platitudes she's spouting.