CHAPTER 2

Bo and Naveen rose as a girl entered the visitor's lounge.

'Miss Alamain, this is Bo Brady.' Naveen introduced. 'I'll leave you two alone.' He walked out, closing the door behind him. Bo stared and a pair of very familiar green eyes stared back.

'A penny for your thoughts, princess.'

Carly shrugged, smiling pensively. 'I was just thinking... if we had a little girl, who would you want her to take after, me or you?'

'Of course you. I 'specially want her to have those pretty eyes of yours.'

She was a beautiful girl, her own glossy chestnut hair shoulder-length and worn in ringlets. She had Carly's face and Nefertiti cheek bones - all together her mother's spitting image except she was considerably tall for her age, at least five foot ten. Bo had expected her see her in an expensive hand tailored outfit but instead, she wore a tight black top and a pair of jeans, the left knee ripped. A silver chain sporting a St. Barbara medallion was round her neck and a tattoo of a phoenix, up her right arm.

'Hi, Olivia.' Bo moved forward awkwardly. 'I guess you know that I'm your Dad.'

'Yes, I was told.' Olivia replied in a thick English accent, her tone solemn. She continued staring at him, hard.

Then she moved forward and Bo enfolded her into his arms, blinking back tears as he felt her arms come round his waist, the thin body shaking with sobs. He held her hard against him as he thought of the years he'd been robbed of; her birth, her first step, her first word. And Carly... they would have been married for 17 years by now! From the bottom of his heart, he cursed Lawrence and Vivian Alamain, wishing for the umpteenth time he had had the chance to make the bastard die a thousand deaths before murdering him for what he'd done to the three of them.

Olivia pulled back a bit to look at him again, a tapered hand wiping his cheek. 'You're incredible,' she said, smiling through her tears. 'More than I imagined you to be.'

'And you're so beautiful, just like your mother.' Bo wiped her own tears with his thumbs and stroked her hair, affection for her already running through him. 'How is she?'

'She's still in a coma.' Olivia's face fell. 'But the doctors are sure she'll wake up anytime soon. She has a long road ahead of her.'

'Here, sit.' Bo led her to the leather couch. 'What about you, are you okay?'

She nodded. 'I'm fine. Just…drained. So many things have happened.'

Bo slipped his arm around her. 'I understand. Naveen told me what you did. And I just want you to know, it's not murder when you're defending a loved one. You did exactly what I would have done.'

'The only regret I have was not doing it a long time ago, after Mama told me everything. I was so glad to know that beast was not my father after all, because I hated him so much. When he threw her off the balcony…' she shook her head. 'All I could think of was seizing the chance of freeing us both, get out of that house at long last and be free.'

'I just wish I'd known… I would have done all I could to get you both out of there.'

'Mama was terrified he'd kill you and your family… she decided she'll find a way to get us out first.'

'That's just like her, putting others before herself.' Bo smiled faintly, remembering Carly's stubbornness.

'I can't lose her, I just can't.' Olivia's eyes filled with tears again. 'Not after all we've gone through… now that we're free of him.'

'She's going to be fine, kitten. You must believe that. Carly went through a lot in the past; she's a very strong woman. She survived being buried alive, she will survive this trauma. We must pray for her.' Bo got up, pulling her to her feet. 'Let's go see her.'

Olivia led the way to Carly's room. Carly was hooked to a machine, a breathing tube under her swollen nose, an IV attached to her right arm.

'Mama…' Olivia whispered in her ear. 'Dad's here. He flew all the way here to see you.'

Bo stroked the warm cheek, still unable to believe he was looking at Carly, whom he'd thought he'd lost forever. Her head and left wrist and hand were bandaged, her neck in a brace and her face covered with half faded bruises and welts, one eye swollen. Both legs were in cast. Remorse hit him as he remembered their last encounter; a senseless quarrel. And rage and hatred at the damage that monster had done to the lovely face.

'Hey, Princess.' He said, chokingly. 'It's Bo.' He sat next to her. 'I know you can hear me somehow. I still can't believe you've been alive all this time… and we have a daughter.' He glanced at the girl, then down back at Carly. 'And she's so beautiful, just like you.'

Olivia wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

'We need you to wake up, Carly. Wake up and get well, get your life back. I know you have an indomitable will, I want you use that to force yourself to live, like you did years ago. Live for our daughter, Carly. You hear me?' he kissed her forehead, then her unbandaged hand. 'Live Carly.'

:::::::::::::::::::::::

Roman was amazed. 'I don't believe it! That BASTARD... and that she-devil, burying Carly alive, I could kill her!'

'You'll have to wait in line. It's not enough she stole Nicky, she had to put Carly through all that hell and helped Larry steal my daughter.'

Bo was in Olivia's apartment not far from the nursing home, talking on the phone with his brother while Olivia was in the kitchen, trying to put some dinner together.

'Olivia, what's she like? You or Carly?'

'Carly, spitting image. She's like me in some ways; has that protective streak. She even has the dagger birthmark Shawn-D, Brady and I have and on the same place.'

'Left wrist?'

'Yes.'

'Poor kid, going through all that. But at least she and Carly are rid of that monster. And how's the little lady?'

'She's still in a coma. That son of a bitch threw her five storeys down after beating her up.'

'Jesus Christ!'

'Listen, I don't know how long I'll be here. Olivia can't leave Carly and I don't want to leave her alone. Hold the fort and tell the rest of the family what I just told you. Except for the Hortons and Victor.'

'Hope too?'

Bo hesitated. 'No reason why she shouldn't know too. She'll hear about it eventually.'

'Okay then, take care. Give my best to Olivia and tell her we all hope to have her and Carly back in Salem where they belong.'

'Right.' Bo hung up and turned to see Olivia laying the table for two. She looked at him shyly. 'I fried up some steaks and made a salad. Not really much of a cook I'm afraid, had to use a cook book.'

Bo smiled, deeply moved at her effort to please. He stroked her hair. 'It's okay, kitten.'

She smiled back, looking so much like Carly that the pain and anger rose again; at all he'd been cheated of.

'It's funny, Mama calls me that too. Kitten, I mean.'

'She does?' Even the years apart, he and Carly were still in tune. It amazed him.

'I guess it's because of your eyes. So green, like hers.' Carly's eyes that flashed fire whenever she was angry, or whenever her kissed her, or made love to her... half-forgotten memories were already resurfacing.

Over dinner, Bo told Olivia about his life over the years; about the family, about Hope and Ciara, Shawn-Douglas and her late brother, Zach. Olivia shook her head sadly on hearing how he'd died and of Ciara's kidnap and his current situation.

'How very sad for you. There's really no chance for reconciliation? Even for the little one's sake?'

'No. It's over and done.' Firmly he changed the subject. 'And you? What makes you?'

Olivia smiled and shrugged. 'I play the piano but I prefer the guitar. I like fishing, I write poetry, lyrics actually. And I don't know why, but I have a thing for motorcycles- I collect catalogues of them.'

Bo grinned, loving her every second. She was definitely her father's daughter.

'I speak five languages. I hate conventionality, maybe it's because of years of being told what to wear, how to walk, how to talk. Dressing like this is like is my way of proclaiming my freedom and letting out who I really am inside. I suppose... I get that from you?'

'Most definitely.'

'I've only known you for about an hour but, I already love you.' Olivia said solemnly. 'I felt this deep connection the moment I saw you. Mama told me about you enough to make me clearly see why she loved you so much.'

Bo took the tapered hand, instantly recognizing the silver ring she wore on her finger. He'd given the antique Claddagh ring to Carly for Christmas back in '92. He remembered how her eyes had filled with tears when she'd opened the box and he'd explained what it represented; the heart love, the crown loyalty and the two clasped hands friendship. The three things they'd shared.

Fighting emotion, he said, 'From now on, we'll never lose each other again, I promise. We have the rest of our lives getting to know each other. Above all, I won't allow Vivian Alamain to lay a finger on you.'

'I so want to kill her for what she did to us.' Olivia said bitterly.

'Leave her to me. After your mother leaves the hospital, what would you like to do?'

Olivia shrugged. 'The future is unpredictable. I don't know about Ma but I'd like to live in Salem. I'm not fond of Europe; after spending a childhood living in a suitcase. It would be wonderful to go to a regular school with other children. I just hope I'll be able to fit in.'

'I'm sure you will.' Bo assured her.

Olivia shrugged again. 'Of course, it all depends on Ma. When she wakes up, she could decide on anything.'

'She will want to come back to Salem, to start afresh. It was why she settled there in the first place. There she can really heal.'

'I hope so.'

::::::::::::::::::::::::

But after two weeks, Carly remained in a coma and Olivia began to despair. Bo hid his own worry, doing his best to console her.

'She needs to get away from here from a while; it's not healthy for her.' Mr Naveen intervened during a visit.

'She doesn't want to leave Carly.'

'I understand that, but she really needs to be in another environment, heal her mind and get some proper rest.' Naveen insisted. 'She'll tire herself with worry.'

Olivia refused to consider the idea of leaving her mother but Bo used his indomitable will to wear her down.

'Naveen and Dr. Simpson promised to call us the soonest there's any change in Carly's condition. You need some time out, proper rest.'

'But Daddy...'

'Olivia, you know very well your mother would be saying the same thing to you. She knows you love her; you don't have to be here 12 hrs. every day. Come back to Salem with me, at least for a week. The family wants to meet you.'

Olivia struggled for a while. Part of her wanted to be near her mother; on the other hand going away for a while was tempting.

'I...I suppose I could take some time off...'

'Terrific. We'll take the next flight out.'

'We might as well use the Alamain jet- one of the few advantages of being an heiress.' Olivia's tone was bitter and sad.

Bo touched her hair, guessing she was thinking about Nicky.

'Don't think about it anymore, kitten. Once we get to Salem, you'll feel better.' As he spoke, Bo wished he'd been there to see the look on the family's faces when Roman had broken the news to them.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::

After getting off the phone with Bo, Roman had called a family meeting at the pub. His news had stunned everyone speechless for several minutes.

Caroline burst out: 'That wicked, wicked WITCH! Framing Carly for murder, burying her alive, keeping her and her child away from Bo all these years!'

'Obviously playing God with people's lives and stealing children are her two favourite pastimes.' Roman said bitterly. 'It was Nicky the first time. Jesus Christ! How does that woman ever sleep at night? I found it all so hard to believe it when Bo gave me the whole story.'

' Poor, poor Carly!' Kayla Brady Johnson eyes filled with tears. 'Suddenly finding yourself locked in a coffin...'

'Don't, just don't!' Sami Brady shuddered at the very thought. 'The whole thing makes me sick.'

'That woman is sick and I sure hope she gets her comeuppance in time! She deserves a life time in prison and more!' Marlena Evans Black snarled. 'All that agony we suffered when we thought we lost Carly, especially Bo! He was devastated! And Lawrence; God damn him and his soul to Hell!'

'I'd like to say an 'amen' to that. At least he's dead and Carly and Olivia are free of him.'

Caroline's eyes lit up. 'Olivia? Is that her name?'

'Olivia Gwyneth, that's what Bo said. She's still rather shaken up over what happened but they are already bonding.'

John Black, a.k.a Ryan Brady shook his head, smiling. 'Bo must be so psyched, he and Carly tried so hard to get pregnant.'

'Sure sounded so over the phone.' Roman agreed.

'When is she coming to Salem? I want to meet my granddaughter; Heaven knows it's long overdue! When can we see her?' Caroline demanded, trying to visualize Bo and Carly's daughter.

'Right now, she wants to be near Carly, she's still in a coma. I guess Bo will try and persuade her to fly over and meet the family.'

'But surely Nicky can take over...'

'Nicholas is dead, Ma. Killed in action in Iraq a few years ago.'

The family was stunned back to silence.

'Poor boy and poor Carly, poor thing...' Caroline said at last. 'How could she stand all that happened?'

'Carly is a strong, stolid woman, always has been.' Marlena reminded her. 'No matter what, she hardly gave in to weakness. She'll pull through, I know she will.'

'I hope so,' Kayla said wistfully, thinking of her former colleague and close friend, whom she'd thought she'd lost forever. 'I really hope so.'

Caroline suddenly remembered something. 'Frankie!' she exclaimed. 'Roman, did you call him to tell him about this?'

'I called but the machine picked it up instead. I left a message asking him to call me back the minute he got in.'

'What about Hope?' John asked.

Roman hesitated. 'To tell you the truth... I don't know how to tell her. I mean, it's bad enough we never told her about Carly in the first place, how the hell do you think she's going to react when she finds out Bo has another daughter?'

An uncomfortable silence.

'We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.' Caroline spoke up briskly. 'In the mean time we'll wait for more news from Bo and I think you should call Shawn Dee and tell him about Carly and Olivia- Carly was like a mother to him; he deserves to know about this.'

Roman had actually forgotten all about Shawn Douglas and made a mental note to call him as soon as possible. He'd been devastated the fateful day Bo had driven to his summer camp to inform him about his foster mother, but had tried so hard to be brave for Bo. He couldn't wait to tell him.