The couple Kelly Capwell and Richard Sedgewick
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Tested by the past few months, especially by her temporary paralysis, Kelly Capwell withdraws into herself to protect herself, to heal, to forget. Today, the pain that overwhelms her is simply unacceptable, unbearable, almost insurmountable... Her heart is shattered by the mistake she made in confusing Robert Barr with his twin brother, Quinn. Beyond her broken heart, the very depths of her soul are wounded. Lost in her grief, Kelly must face an unbearable tragedy : the loss of her baby.
It is not, however, the first time she has to endure the pain of a miscarriage ; Kelly had already lost, in 1988, the child she was expecting with Jeffrey Conrad. But this time, nature is not to blame. It was a deliberate act, a cruel, premeditated crime, committed by her rival, Flame Beaufort. By secretly poisoning her, Flame destroyed the life growing inside her, crushing all hope before it could even begin.

From a budding relationship...

Devastated by her grief, Kelly spends most of her time crying. She suffers. Her pain is immense. Even though her family remains by her side, Kelly knows that only far away from them, far from Quinn, can she find the strength to imagine another tomorrow. To hope again... to believe again... Alone, she draws upon her inner resources to rebuild herself.

Following her father's advice, the singer Richard Sedgewick, a close friend of the family, comes to visit her at the hospital. During their time together, Richard proves to be kind and attentive, slowly helping Kelly to heal her wounds. As they grow closer, Richard, though married, becomes enchanted by Kelly's fragility, and Kelly, in turn, is drawn to the calm strength of the singer.

Between the lines, Kelly rediscovers in Richard a presence that fulfills her constant need for protection. From Joe Perkins to Richard, every man in Kelly's life has shared that same mission. No man has ever won her heart without first appearing as a gallant knight, both protector and seducer. Richard shows her that side of himself.

Moved by Kelly's suffering, Richard devotes much of his time in Santa Barbara to comforting her. Naturally, a sense of closeness develops between them. Even when surprised by Quinn, who is trying to win her back, Kelly accepts this new, fragile bond. And Richard eventually confides in her about his wife Renata, his children, and a family life that, to him, no longer truly exists. He even admits that he and Renata are separated. From the hospital to the auction of the Armonti tiara, Kelly lets herself be won over by Richard, determined to turn the page. From charming confidant to seductive singer, Richard gradually breaks down every barrier protecting Kelly's heart.

Invited by the President of the United States to sing at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Richard asks Kelly to accompany him. Kelly allows herself to believe that perhaps new tomorrows await beneath the skies of Washington...

...To a love stillborn...

In Washington, new lights shine, offering Kelly the promise of new beginnings. Far from Robert, who has just left Santa Barbara for Spain, Kelly slowly surrenders to the calm and reassuring world Richard offers her. When he visits her suite, brings her breakfast, or speaks of a new life together, that life is far less passionate than what she once lived with Robert. Richard cannot offer wild passion, fierce intensity, or the all-consuming love she once knew. Because Richard is gravely ill, as Kelly eventually discovers it. He must always keep medication with him to prevent heart attacks. Kelly thus drifts into this relationship lacking of passion, romance, almost life itself.

During their time in Washington, Richard gives Kelly a taste of a different existence, far from her Californian routine, introducing her to the political elite, the entertainment world, a glittering life... a modern princess's life ! Yet just before the concert, reality crashes back into Kelly's world when Robert (disguised as Quinn) visits her. Kelly quickly sends him away after an awkward confrontation with Richard. The concert is a success, and stirred by the emotion of the music, Richard decides to open up to Kelly completely. He invites her to Nantucket to visit his son, Richie, who has broken his leg.

Although Kelly continues to think about Robert, back in Washington she and Richard grow closer. Richard's steadiness gradually replaces Robert's unpredictability. The fireworks of her past fade into soft lanterns. The televised broadcast of Richard's concert becomes another moment of intimacy. A dance, a kiss... Under the Washington sky, a new kind of love is born, so different from the one that might have flourished in Santa Barbara. The kiss is tender, lightly passionate, troubling. It is a promise of another future for Richard, and an uncertain doorway for Kelly. Yet...

Yet that night, as they lie alone in separate bedrooms, their thoughts escape and reach for each other in the darkness. Kelly thinks of Richard. Richard dreams of Kelly. He rises, leaves his bedroom, and goes to her. They meet again and seal that reality with another kiss, deeper, more passionate, more consuming. So tender, so fiery, that their hearts race together, that another music begins, carrying them into a whirlwind. Love reawakens Richard's sleeping heart. It beats so faster, so harder that, suddenly, Richard feels it beating too hard. As he searches for his pills, Kelly panics, frozen in fear. A rift seems to open in the room, pulling him away from her. She barely hears his final whisper, asking her to promise she will never reveal they were together.

And finally, to reunion...

Yet, as they lie down, each alone on their side, their thoughts drift away from their rooms, stretch out across the hotel, seeking one another, reaching out to meet, to unite. Kelly is thinking of Richard. Richard is dreaming of Kelly. And Richard rises, leaves his room, and goes to find her. They meet in the flesh and seal that reality with another kiss, more intense, deeper, more passionate. So tender, so ardent, that their hearts race, that another music awakens and sweeps them away in a whirl. The love being born stirs Richard's sleeping heart. His heart flutters, trembles, and comes alive again. It beats so violently that suddenly Richard feels it pounding harder, too hard. As he frantically searches for his pillbox, Kelly panics. Her whole being freezes. A rift seems to open in the room, pulling her away from Richard... She can barely hear him whisper, asking her to promise that she will never tell anyone they were together.

And then come the aftermath, the fateful reunion...

Alone, in her room that suddenly feels far too large, Kelly is seized by fear. She panics, not knowing what to do. Then she turns to the only person in town who can come to her aid : Robert. Robert rushes to her side, to help her. Clear-headed, he instantly perceives the scandal that could engulf Kelly. And so, like a guardian angel, he helps and protects the woman he loves. He carries Richard's body back to his own room, then returns to Kelly. Slowly, he supports her, advises her, and helps her compose herself to face the world. The world begins with the hospital staff. Then continues with Officer Raines.

A new era begins. Kelly and Robert seem to find each other again... Beneath Robert's face, Quinn continues to love Kelly. And there, in that instant, Quinn dares to dream of what might be, of a possible future opening before him.

Back in Santa Barbara, their love is reborn from the ashes. Robert and Kelly are reunited. A new alchemy forms between them: slowly, in measured doses, Quinn's true nature begins to surface over Robert's. And Kelly seems increasingly drawn to the man who returned with her from Washington. It is as if Richard's music had transformed her, as if her heart had become another, beating now to a different rhythm...

As a transitional romance, the Kelly - Richard couple, though lacking depth, ultimately allows Quinn to win back the heart of the youngest Capwell daughter. Moved by the near loss of the woman he loves, Robert / Quinn discovers a new path to Kelly's heart. What if Quinn's true soul, his real self, could finally melt Kelly's heart ? Through Richard, Quinn has learned a new melody to make Kelly's heart beat differently. In Richard's arms, Kelly remained or became once again the fragile young woman in search of safety, of protective arms. If not surprising, this storyline remains faithful to Kelly's enduring personality, a personality carefully preserved from Robin Wright to Carrington Garland, and even through Kimberly McArthur. It would take Marcy Walker's departure for Kelly, through Eileen Davidson's portrayal, to finally grow and to step into the space left by her sister Eden, and ultimately, to take Cruz's heart far beyond that.

Text written for this site by Lilian