Part 1: A Walk & A Talk
Scene: EJ DiMera is taking a leisurely walk in the park trying to come to a decision on the choices he has made and the realization that he wants what he cannot have, so he must move on. Samantha Brady-Hernandez is taking a stroll in the park trying to process her life and come to terms with certain feelings and doubts in her life pertaining to what she has now and how she feels about having what she thought she always wanted….
My life is a disaster. I may have all the money, toys and access to life that any man or woman could ask for and want but the one thing I have always wanted has always been out of my reach. I have the house, I have the children, I have a wife, but I do not have a true love… A true family.
Now I have put myself into a situation that could not only cost me somewhat of my treasured sanity, but also to some a small fortune and to Nicole it would be and I need her to believe that. As long as she thinks I am a millionaire and not a multi billionaire I think I can come away from this with only having to shelve off a few shillings her way. This will be my third failed marriage in…. three years! I should have only been married once! But no… the love of my life decided that the love of her family and their detest of my name is more important so that is over and done with. Well after many tries I think it is time to move on.
EJ goes to sit on the bench in a secluded area of the park and talks to the wind.
"Time to move on ole' chap. Time to stop pining over what could have been and what should have been. I have to hold onto what I have right now. Taylor is a nice girl and can make me happy…enough. She also can look at me and I can look at her and not feel all the hurt that she or I have caused each other. That has to count for something! The situation with Nikki is coming to an end and I must look forward to what I can make of my future life."
Sami is walking in the park after deciding it was what she needed to get some issues she has been dealing with worked out. Her life is what she should want it to be… shouldn't it be? She has a great family, two sons and two daughters. I have a great husband, though he is not the father of my children, he is a good father figure to them, and that my family approves of finally! My family loves me and actually is proud of me for once and that has been THE goal for so long now. So why is it that I don't feel satisfied? I have it all, I am a wife, a mother and…. What else am I? I never been the one to not want to have my own in life and to just be a stay at home mom… don't get me wrong I love taking care of my children, it's just…I want more out of life. I have been thinking about getting a job, maybe getting back into marketing, it is something I am actually good at. I spoke to Rafe about this and he shot it down and said we are fine and that our life is how it should be. I could only think of one thing after he said that… EJ would have supported me. I had to catch myself before I said it aloud and the old Sami reared her head. I am not her anymore I am good now and I am happy… aren't I?
Sami comes along the same path as EJ and hears him before she sees him sitting on the bench. Her first thought is of how good he looks in that dark grey suit and then after she admonishes herself for such thoughts she hones in on what he is saying.
"Time to move on ole' chap. Time to stop pining over what could have been and what should have been. I have to hold onto what I have right now. Taylor is a nice girl and can make me happy…enough. She also can look at me and I can look at her and not feel all the hurt that she or I have caused each other. That has to count for something! The situation with Nikki is coming to an end and I must look forward to what I can make of my future life."
While listening Sami thinks, "I guess both of us have some issues these days… did he say he is moving on with Taylor? I guess good ole' Nicole isn't working out for him like he thought, haha! Maybe I should ask…" she thinks and then proceeds to walk to him.
"Hey EJ, trouble in paradise?" Sami asks him with a smirk on her face.
"How long have you been there?" he asks suspicious knowing her better than anyone else. Thinking she looks gorgeous in her light peach flowing skirt and white blouse. Her hair down, and her scent is in the wind and I can smell pears and coconuts.
"What, worried I heard something?" he scowls at her and she relents, "Yeah I heard you, don't worry I won't tell on you, but I do wish I could be there to when you give good old Nik the bad news. I mean damn Elvis her sister… really?" Sami asks with laughter.
"Why darling I do believe your horns are showing. I thought you were the good little Brady girl now? But I guess you have to get your rocks off some way if the old husband isn't giving it to you the way you need him to." EJ says with a deadly grin.
"Don't talk about Rafe like that! He is a good man and husband, much better than I can say for you. At least I know he would never cheat on me." She retorts.
"Are you so sure of that, Samantha?" He asks hinting at something he knows.
"Of course…what are you taking about? Do you know something?" she asks him as he looks at her he can see the doubt and pain of such a possibility and he still cannot hurt her even though what he knows would undoubtedly.
"Nothing Sami, nothing. Just wanted to rustle your feathers a bit. How are the kids doing today?" he asks to switch the subject.
"No, you just called me Sami and you never do that EJ, so I know something is up, but I also know he would never cheat on me so I will not ask again. As to how the kids are they are great and wondering when they can come and stay with their daddy." She tells him.
"Anytime, you know that." EJ tells her earnestly.
"Ok… so what is up with you and Taylor… are you really dippin' out on Nicole?" she asks with fake concern, but really wanting to know.
"Did you just say 'dippen' Samantha?" he says with an incredulous laugh.
"Yes I did, I heard Will say it while he was on the phone with someone and I have been dying to say it someone, haha. But don't change the subject EJ. Are you screwing Nicole's sister? That's harsh EJ." Sami says almost sympathetically towards Nicole.
"Do you really want to know about my love life Samantha? And do you really think I want to tell you about it?" he asks her with a neutral mask.
"Duh! I know you don't but you know you are going to anyway EJ." She says with an arched eyebrow.
"Fine! Yes I am 'dipping out' on Nikki as you so vulgarly put it. This marriage should have never happened and I knew that the moment I met her sister. I, as you well know, value family above all things and Nicole I thought could at least give me a semblance of that. It simply is not working out and I am going to end it and move on with Taylor. With her I think I can have a shot at having a partner that I can look at and see a future and not just the past." He finishes off looking at Sami.
"So you don't love Nicole, but…you love her sister Taylor?" She barely gets out and they realize that this conversation has shifted from being about him to being about them.
"You know I don't love Nicole, Samantha. Not after what she did with Sydney, just like you can't after what I did with Sydney. Taylor…love will come and we have what can build into that. I just want a partner in life that I can build a family with. Taylor can give me a family and more children, if we choose. So no, I do not love her but I like her enough and have no history with her and can have her look at me without contempt. Contentment is what I want and I will have it…to some degree with her. Family, you know, is all I have always wanted… wanted with you. I tried with Nikki, but those bridges are burnt. Ours, yours and mine… were never existent." He finishes with a sigh.
"Stop right there! Yes it was, but you had to do what you did… and I had did what I did… and now our bridge is burnt as well…" she chokes out and turns her head. They sit in silence for a few minutes but it feels like and age.
"I truly did love you, you know? You are the love of my life, but I cannot wallow in this valley waiting for something I know you are unwilling to give me. I have to move on, I have to finally let you go and move on." He says with earnestness. He looks at her for any sign and she looks away.
"Taylor though not ideal, can give me a new start. I see you with your perfect little life and want that… okay no I don't, but I want what it looks like. I want to be able to come home to a love that I actually want to be in the presence of. Samantha…look at me?" he asks her and she turns to him with tears in her eyes.
"No EJ, you don't love me anymore. You…you couldn't after what I did to you. I shot you, almost killed you and almost took you away from your children who love you, who always talk about you and admire you so much. You can't feel that for me." She says with disbelief as she looks at EJ.
"Samantha never, if you doubt me in anyway, never doubt my love for you…NEVER!" he tells her vehemently.
"No! You can't EJ, you can't…" she cries as he takes her in his arms while she cries on his shoulder. He consoles her, the woman he loves, has always loved and will always love. She is comforted and lets loose the feelings of their failed love on her taboo lover, the father of her children, t-the…love of her life…
"I am so sorry EJ, so sorry… I didn't mean it, I didn't mean it, didn't mean It." she tries to tell and get it through to him.
"I know sweetheart, I know. You were only acting on what I did to you-us. I am so sorry I caused you so much pain that you would do something like that. Please know I have never hated you for that, I understand, I do." He tells her while stroking her soft long blonde hair.
She looks up at him and says, "How can you understand, when I can't EJ? I can't understand why I would go that far." She tells him.
"You were just acting on emotion, my love. If anyone knows how much passion you can wield it is me." He says with a lopsided grin.
"How do you do that?"
"Do what?"
Make me love you more.
"Make me feel better when I shouldn't."
"You should always feel good Samantha… always." He tells her with passion in a husky tone.
They unconsciously move closer to one another and take the plunge and kiss…
Their love is on full display and they act on it. Their lips are acting on their own and all they can do is try and get as close to one another as much as possible in this moment. They slow down and realize what they are doing. They part after one last small sweet kiss.
Sami gets up and turns to leave and EJ being so used to it does nothing to stop her. She surprises him and turns to give him one last hard kiss.
"I'm sorry…"
"So am I, love, so am I." he gets up and leaves before her.
Sami looks after him then makes herself leave to find her reassurance of what she says she has always wanted…