"Did Duke say when the freeze would be lifted?" Trailing behind his father through the door to Kelly's Michael stomped the snow off his dress shoes, frowning at the white spots left behind from the salt on the sidewalk.
"He didn't have an exact date." Tugging off his thick leather gloves, A.J. ran a hand through his hair to rid himself of the fat snowflakes that currently falling from the sky and accumulating on the town. "But from what he was able to explain it sounds like we'll soon have access and be back in business."
"And Tracy?" Examining his father closely, Michael watched as several different emotions flickered across his face. Knowing A.J.'s difficulty separating himself from the need to put the screws to his shrew of an aunt, and doing what was right for the future of ELQ was the one thing that could sink their plans before they had a chance to do something with the company.
"I've thought about what you suggested, offering Tracy a position, and think you may be right." Though his expression clearly stated he wished otherwise, A.J. grimaced before leading them to the first available table. "But I still don't trust her."
"I don't either." Michael admitted, giving his father a smug smile. "But if there's one thing I've learned from my Dad – er, Sonny . . ." Faltering, Michael sighed.
"Michael, it's okay." A.J. grimaced slightly. "As much as I hate it, the man raised you. I'm not saying I'm good with it, but that's my issue."
"Right." Clearly not wanting to talk about the rift between his two families, Michael made a mental note to be more careful in the future. "It's better to keep your enemies close. By having her in a limited role at ELQ we can keep a close eye on her. Restrict her access to important files and accounts. She gets to save face and the stockholders aren't stuck in a family war."
"I agree. So can we put her in the mailroom." Trying to lighten the mood, A.J. smirked at his own comment, imagining his overly posh aunt stuck down in the dungeon.
"I'm surprised you didn't mention putting her with the cleaning staff." Letting out a small laugh, Michael snorted at the gleam in A.J.'s eyes. "Actually something a little more fitting her station may be in our best interests. I was thinking of something along the lines of P.R.."
"Public relations?" The frown was back on A.J.'s face. "You can't be serious."
Michael was quick to reply. "As a heart attack."
Sitting back as the waitress approached, A.J. considered Michael's suggestion. He hated the thought of Tracy having any significant role with ELQ. Not only because of her nasty treatment to him over the years, but because she was someone he couldn't trust to take the olive branch and not stab him in a vital organ with it. How could he possibly give her the opportunity to make an even bigger mockery of the company than she already had?
Letting his eyes wander to the other tables, he was startled to see Elizabeth Webber sitting across the room, talking quietly with another woman. It'd been weeks since their last encounter, when he had to explain to her of the unfortunate circumstances as to why ELQ had to back out of helping with the Nurse's Ball. She'd been overly understanding, even sympathetic, making him feel even worse over not being able to help.
"Sir?" The waitresses polite, but tired interruption brought him back from his thoughts, finding that Michael was giving him a strange look. "What can I get you?"
"What?" Blinking, A.J. straightened up in his chair. Quickly picking up the menu he let his eyes scan down the options he already knew by heart. Giving his order to the waitress he leaned back in his chair.
A knowing smile creeped onto Michael's face. "So?" Feeling lost as to what Michael was asking, A.J. fidgeted. His son's smile grew seemed to mock him. "What do you think about putting Aunt Tracy into a P.R. position?"
Remembering their conversation, A.J. sighed. "I don't like it."
"We can't put her in the mail room." Knowing A.J. had only been joking, Michael tried to keep the conversation light. Pushing A.J. would only have him dig his heels in, and with the shaky ground ELQ was currently teetering on, one wrong move could be their undoing.
"I know that." With a slight smirk, A.J. shrugged. "I just feel by giving her a chance to ridicule the company to the public would be too tempting for her."
"I don't see it that way." Leaning in, Michael paused when his father's eyes seemed to slip past him several times to the tables on the other side of the room. Unable to stop himself, Michael looked over his shoulder, a little shocked when he spotted Elizabeth Webber talking to Laura Spencer.
Turning back around, Michael gave his father a sly grin. "You want to go say hello?"
A.J. swung his gaze back. "To who?"
"I dunno." Michael's eyes widened, but were laughing at him. "Whoever caught your attention?"
"It's not like that." Giving his son a hard glare, A.J. forced his attention away from the slender nurse. "I still feel bad about having to back out of the Nurse's Ball."
"Well, once we get the accounts unfroze we can help again." A.J.'s eyes skip over across the room briefly again. "So, that's the only reason you're staring at Elizabeth Webber? There's nothing else?"
Narrowing his eyes at Michael's inquiring tone, A.J. felt there was something else beneath his son's questioning. "I wasn't staring."
"Huh." Smiling at the waitress who placed their food on the table, Michael picked up a fork.
"Huh, what?" Not paying any attention to the food in front of him, A.J. leaned forward.
"That's what uncle Jason used to say all the time." The humor slightly faded from Michael's eyes. "After he was caught staring at her."
Michael's words didn't sit well with him, and A.J. pushed away the feeling not wanting to examine it further. "So what was the deal with them? I was under the impression they were just good friends."
Choking on the forkful of apple pie he'd just taken, Michael reached for the glass of water in front of him. As soon as he had his breathing under control, Michael eyed the man staring at him and wondered how to proceed. "You really don't know, do you?"
"Know what?"
"About Jake." His words were laced with sadness.
"Who's he?" Clearly at a loss, A.J. let his eyes wander back to the tiny nurse and wondered what exactly was going on.
Looking down at the food in front of him, Michael shifted uncomfortably. "He was your nephew, he died a few years ago."
Stunned beyond words, A.J. felt as though his blood run cold. "Are you trying to tell me that Jason and Elizabeth had a child together?"
"Yeah." Picking up his fork to push around the suddenly unappetizing food around on the plate, Michael swallowed past the lump in his throat. "There was an accident, and he didn't make it."
"Jesus." Running his hand over his mouth, trying to make sense of what he was being told A.J. couldn't help but think there was much more to the story. The expression on Michael's face told him not to push. His son was having a hard enough time of keeping his emotions under check.
It made sense now, the lost, haunted look in Elizabeth's eyes. He could tell she stilled had that stubborn streak in her that she had years ago when she was a teen and hanging out with Emily, but there was also something almost broken about her. He could relate to that feeling, it was probably why he gave her the only picture he had of him and his brother. Now he knew the image probably meant so much more to her.
Wanting to wipe the hurt look from his son's face, A.J. decided it was time to change the subject. "You know they say the camera puts an extra ten pounds on a person. I think Tracy would be a great spokesperson for ELQ."
Elizabeth Webber had no idea what to think as Laura Spencer enthusiastically told her another story of the adventure her life had become over the last few years. Honestly, when her ex-mother-in-law had called her earlier that morning asking if they could meet for lunch, Elizabeth was almost convinced she was going to be flogged in public. Not that she would blame Laura any. Not after the hell she'd put her boys through.
Instead, Laura had greeted her with open arms. Making Elizabeth feel worse and wishing Laura would just let her have it.
"You really need to go to Greece someday." Laura sighed before taking a sip of her tea.
"I'll keep that in mind." Trying to smile back, Elizabeth had a feeling it came out more like a grimace.
"Is there something wrong?" Tilting her head to the side, Laura frowned at Elizabeth. "You seem off."
Blinking, Elizabeth didn't know how to explain that all she really wanted was to have her ex-mother-in-law to express how disappointed she was in her. To yell or scream, demanding some kind of explanation for her selfish, self-destructive behavior which pretty much destroyed the Spencer family. To blame her for sleeping with Nikolas and then how she pushed Lucky to the point where he felt the need to skip the country for some much needed space. Even point out how her lousy taste in men had brought a psychopath into her grandchildren's lives.
"I . . ." Licking at her top lip, trying to find the right words, Elizabeth shrugged. "I just didn't expect you to be so nice."
Looking slightly taken aback, Laura's expression softened as she reached across the table to put a hand over Elizabeth's. "You think I blame you for everything, don't you?"
"Don't you?"
With a laugh, Laura Spencer shook her head. "Elizabeth, I am in no position to point fingers. Besides, if I know you like I think I do, you probably have been punishing yourself more than I ever could."
"But I did some really awful things." It was painful to look the other woman in the eye, but Elizabeth forced herself to keep her head up and keep her gaze locked on Laura's gentle features.
"So have I. So have Lucky and Nikolas and Luke." A look passed between them. "There isn't a person in this town whose past is clean. You're a good person, but that doesn't mean you're perfect. Could you imagine how boring you'd be if you were?"
"I guess." Elizabeth still didn't buy that Laura didn't harbor any ill feelings toward her.
"Can I be honest?" With a sigh, Laura picked up her tea and took a sip as Elizabeth nodded. "I'm surprised you and Lucky stayed together as long as you did."
"What?" Startled, Elizabeth felt her mouth go dry. "Why?"
"Don't get me wrong, you two were adorable when you were were teenagers taking on the world. But as you grew up, going in different directions I knew the likelihood of you two staying together was bleak. But you both are more stubborn than I gave you credit for." With a shake of her head, Laura reached over to pat Elizabeth's hand again.
"I love my son, but he was different when he came back to us after the fire. Then with his anger issues, the drugs, and cheating . . . Elizabeth there's only so much a person can shoulder before they crack. You stuck by him; you gave everything and didn't get much in return. You're a wonderful, caring person Elizabeth, and I pray you someday find someone who's willing to give you as much as you give."
"I'm not sure if you haven't noticed, but Port Charles really isn't full of eligible Prince Charmings." Feeling her eyes fill with moister, Elizabeth sniffed and tried to stop herself from crying. Taking the napkin Laura silently offered she took a moment to compose herself.
"Between you and me, I'd find myself a frog." Laura responded dryly. "The Prince Charmings of this world are fake bunch of losers. They're a soft group of pretty boys who are predictable and become real boring. They are seriously a horrible match for strong, adventurous women like us. From my experience, it's the frogs that you should be looking for."
"Frogs?" Unable to stop herself, Elizabeth felt a smile tug at the corner of her lips.
"Absolutely." Nodding, Laura's eyes nearly sparkled. "The mud covered ones are the ones you really want."
"Sounds lovely."
"Doesn't it though?" Nodding at Elizabeth's sarcastic reply, she went on. "The frogs in general are a hearty bunch. They know what it takes to make it in the world. But when a generous woman is able to look past their dirty appearance and accept them the way they are, they will do everything in their power to keep her."
Leaning forward, Elizabeth grinned. "Are you trying to tell me that Lucky wasn't my frog?"
With a sad smile, Laura shook her head. "Lucky is more fit to be one of those Prince Charmings. He wants to be the one to rescue the princess. He falls apart when the tables are turned and finds himself in need of saving. When you met you needed him. It was when you stopped needing him and you both were equals when things started to fall apart. When he really slipped and you had to be the one saving him was when I knew your relationship would never be the same. Does this make any sense? Or am I sounding as insane as I think I am?"
"No." Elizabeth said slowly, her mind going over her past with Lucky. "Everything was good when Lucky felt I needed protecting. When I was able to stand on my own two feet was when things started to get weird." With a frown, an image of Jason flashed before her eyes. "What if I found my frog and I can't get him back?"
"I won't lie." Settling back in her seat Laura knew who Elizabeth was thinking of. "Jason Morgan was definitely a frog. I always liked him. And I know he really cared for you. But he I don't know if he was your frog, or he wouldn't have let you go, no matter what."
It wasn't exactly what she wanted to hear. Not yet anyways. Her heart still hurt, feeling as though she never really had a chance to let go of her fears and the expectations of others to see what could be. "I guess so."
"Just don't give up." Not wanting to press much further, at least for the time being, Laura let Elizabeth think about her words. She hoped one day the tiny brunette would believe she held no ill will toward her. She sympathized with Elizabeth, knowing her life hadn't been an easy one, and that the years with Lucky hadn't made it any easier. A tiny part of her had hoped Elizabeth would've let Nikolas take care of her and the boys, even though she knew once Elizabeth got back on her feet her oldest son wasn't the right match for her.
No. Elizabeth Webber needed to find herself her very own frog. And Laura vowed to stick around Port Charles until she did.