The Prologue
May 2002
She couldn't believe she was doing this. Why was she doing
this? Dixie had just made contact with Tad for the first time
since she left Pine Valley. He knew that they were going to have
a daughter. So why was she doing this? He thought that she was in
Zurich, but in fact, there she stood, in Lanie's loft in
Paris.
Dixie paced back and forth. "I don't think I can do
this," she said, running her fingers back through her curls.
"Calm down, Dixie," Lanie said to her. "You need
to relax. You just had a baby."
Dixie walked over to the bassinet and glanced in at the tiny baby
girl. "Your daddy would be so proud of you," she said,
gently running her fingers back on the baby's head. "I
can't do this, Lanie. I have to go back to Pine
Valley..."
"You said you wanted to try to start over, Dixie... Live
your own life." Lanie paused. "Everything is already in
place." She picked up the phone. "Nobody will know
about this but us." She dialed the number and waited, as
Dixie picked up the newborn and gently rested her against her
chest, kissing the top of her head. After a few moments, Lanie
hung up the phone and dialed another number.
"This is Lanie Rampal for Opal Cortlandt."
Dixie shot a glance at her sister. "Tad already left for
Zurich..." Dixie said. "He's already on his
way..."
Lanie held her finger up to quiet Dixie. "Opal? It's
Lanie... I couldn't get through to Tad..." she tried to
sound upset. "I just got a call from the Swiss police...
Dixie... they said her car went over an embankment... she's...
gone." Dixie teared up just listening. "Dixie's
gone, Opal... Somebody needs to get the news to Tad... I had to
let you know...Thank you, so am I... I will, I will." Lanie
hung up the phone. "Opal will get the news to Tad."
"So that's it?" Dixie said, lightly bouncing the
sleeping child. "That's it, I'm dead?"
"As a doornail." she paused. "you're going to
be fine, Dixie. You and Katie are both going to be fine. You'll
get a new start... a new life."
Dixie sat. "Why did I do it?"
"It's done, Dixie." Lanie pulled out a hair iron.
"Your bags are packed, your new passport is ready... you
should go right away. The news is going to hit, and if anyone
recognizes you..."
Dixie took the iron and plugged it in before walking over and
looking at the passport information. "Jessica Carver?"
Dixie put the baby back down. "And nobody will think to look
for me in California?"
"Nobody will think to look for you at all... You'll be
fine, Dixie. I swear. Now, come on. I'll do you hair so you
don't miss your plane."