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Chapter 3
AJ met his brother on the docks. "Are you sure she's dating him?" He got right to the point. After Jason's call AJ dug up everything he could on Howard Dawson. AJ figured Jason would have already run the man seven way till Sunday, but it made him feel better. Howard "Howie" Dawson was the owner of a successful private airline. He had more than three dozen planes and his fleet flew all over the globe. Some of the most successful people in the world were his clients. The crash that stranded him and Jason for six months had not hurt business in the least, especially after it was proven the plane was sabotaged. Howie had a good amount of money in the bank so AJ wasn't worried that his mother was being taken advantage of. Still he would be keeping watch.
"They are going away for Christmas." Jason told his brother.
"Where?" AJ wasn't sure he liked that.
"Puerto Rico, my resort." Jason filled in.
"At least they'll be watched. How did you not know this? He's your friend." AJ asked his younger brother.
"I have no idea how I missed it. Emily knows, she found out this morning." Jason rubbed the back of his neck.
"She called you?" AJ wondered why Em didn't call him as well.
"No, Howie came to see me. He said that he and mom don't want to sneak around." Jason crossed his arms across his chest and frowned.
"Really?" AJ had to respect that. It couldn't have been easy to sit in the office of a mob boss and say I'm dating your mother. "Wait he's taking her away?" The two brothers exchanged a knowing look. "She can't do that, she's our mother. How are you going to stop this?"
"Me? Elizabeth will kill me." Jason looked at AJ like he had lost his mind. "I got an earful over lunch about leaving them alone. You need to stop this."
"Like your wife hasn't already called mine. We married smart women Jason, trust me they have already circled the wagons around mom." AJ let out a deep breath. "We may just have to wait for this to run its course." Neither brother liked that idea. "Maybe it's just a phase she's going through."
"Elizabeth said mom is lonely, because we all moved out." Jason told his brother feeling a bit guilty.
"Do you think Emily will move back home, they don't own a house yet." AJ suggested.
"Emily is in favor of the relationship. She joined us for lunch." Jason didn't see anything that they could do. "Do you think grandfather knows?"
"I'm sure he does. Nothing gets by him. Do you think we can pay Tracy to sleep with him?" AJ threw out there.
"Tracy won't do that to mom. She's nice now." Jason just shook his head. "We are having a Christmas day brunch would you like to come?" Since he was here he may as well pass the message along.
"We are going to be in Philadelphia. Its Keesha's families turn since we spent last Christmas here. But Keesha's cousins are here now, they'll be alone." AJ wasn't sure but Maya might be working. "Elizabeth probably meet Maya since she started at the hospital today. Zoe is nice as well."
"Zoe?" Jason hadn't asked Stan his girlfriend's last name, but Zoe wasn't exactly a common name these days. That had to be her. "I think she is already coming with one of my guys."
"The electronic boyfriend?" AJ grinned. "Keesha and Maya both swear he is made up." Rarely did he get information before his wife. "What's his name?"
"Stan." Jason grinned too.
"Epiphany's son? Small world." AJ couldn't wait to tell Keesha that. "By the way we are taking Michael with us."
"Just Michael?" Jason asked his brother. AJ often included Morgan in any outings they went on. The brothers now had two different last names Michael was officially a Quartermaine, while Morgan was a Jacks, but everyone treated them both like family.
"Morgan opted to go Melbourne with his parents. I did offer." AJ passed along.
"They are leaving too." Jason would need to tell Elizabeth.
"At least the party won't be crowded." AJ said looking on the bright side. He checked his watch. "I have a meeting. Let me know if you get any more information on this Howie thing."
"Will do." Jason stood there for a moment longer and looked out at the water before heading back to his office.
"Hey Em, come meet Maya." Elizabeth said as she spotted her sister.
"Hi, welcome. Elizabeth mentioned you were here over lunch." Emily liked Keesha very much, and was hoping Maya was nice as well.
"It's nice to meet you. Keesha says nice things about you." Maya said smiling.
"Stick to her version and ignore both of my brothers." Emily laughed. "Where are you staying?"
"Right now Zoe and I are staying with Keesha and AJ, but I'm looking for my own place and so is my sister." Maya looked at the two women who were family. "Any suggestions?"
"Actually yes. Have you considered staying with your great-grandfather?" Elizabeth thought that Edward would love to have someone to dote on.
"I'm sure the last thing Monica wants is two freeloaders." Maya laughed. "Zoe and I can afford places of our own."
"Think about it. There is enough space at the mansion that you'll still have your privacy." Emily thought that was a great idea.
"In the meantime I'm hosting a Christmas day brunch and you and Zoe are both invited." Elizabeth offered.
"I'm working, but I can come by after assuming I'm not asleep on my feet. I'll check with Zoe." Maya thought that it was sweet of Liz to offer.
"What does Zoe do?" Emily was looking forward to meeting her other cousin.
"Web designer. It will be nice to not be alone on Christmas." Maya said telling them about her sister.
"Are AJ and Keesha going somewhere?" Elizabeth hadn't heard about that.
"Philly. Since I'm working I can't go, and Zoe doesn't get along with that part of the family." Maya told them. Being part of the Quartermaine clan she knew they understood family drama. "I need to go, I have rounds I'll see you both later."
"Bye." Both women said. "That whole family is nice." Emily hadn't met a mean Ward yet. "So can I have the boys?" She wanted to spend some time with her nephews.
"Practicing?" Elizabeth teased. The whole family was on baby bump watch.
"I don't need practice. I'm that good." Emily said laughing. "We are not talking babies yet. We've only been married for six months." Emily and Matt were waiting for the results of next year's cancer screening. If it came back good then they were going to go for it. Being a resident and pregnant would not be easy, but Emily would make it work. Since it would be her last year then it should be manageable. "So?"
"You know you can. I'll pick them up before dinner." Elizabeth thought that would be perfect she could stop off and see Carly. Hopefully they weren't traveling too.
Elizabeth clocked out on time which was a rarity. She took that to be proof that catching up with Carly would go well. "Milo?"
"Yes Mrs. M." The guard said stopping his humming.
Elizabeth had been trying to get Milo to use her first name for months now. He said he wouldn't do it during work hours. It was unprofessional. "We are having a Christmas day brunch. You are welcome to come, if you are going to be here." He might be going home to Palermo.
"I'll be here, that'd be nice thanks. I figured I'd be spending the holiday alone." Milo liked Mrs. M. She was nice to all the guys.
"How come you aren't going home? If you don't mind me asking?" Elizabeth knew Milo spoke to his family regularly so she figured if anyone was leaving it would be him.
"I don't want to play referee between my dad and brother." Maximus was training Max to run the territory and the two men had vastly different ideas of what that meant. "It's more peaceful to be here." He grinned as he held the door open for his charge. "Where to?" He asked getting behind the wheel.
"The Metro Court." Elizabeth told him.
"Mrs. J." Milo liked this version of Carly. She was a lot less of a pain in the ass.
"Call security trouble has arrived." Carly said laughing as Elizabeth walked up to the front desk.
"Please, I'm too badass for your guards to handle." Elizabeth joked. "I came to invite you to my house for Christmas day brunch."
"Monica isn't hosting this year?" Carly asked surprised. She handed off the VIP list to Marty and walked with her friend to the back office. "And we won't be home."
"Shoot." Elizabeth said pouting. "Everyone is leaving."
"You know if you just stayed at home with your kids and worked on your art then you wouldn't have to work holidays and you'd be able to travel too." Carly said flopping back on her couch. She had no idea why Liz did anything but paint. Her friend was too talented to need to work.
"So says the woman who runs a hotel while being married to Jasper Jacks, and I love my job." Elizabeth said as she sat next to her friend. "Monica is going away, with Howie."
"Shut the front door, are you serious?" Carly sat up as her eyes widened in shock. "Did Jason's head explode, or does he not know?"
"Oh he knows. He marched into Monica's office and pretty much told her she wasn't allowed to have someone make her feel special." Elizabeth relayed.
Carly fell back laughing. "What piece of medical equipment did you use to extract his foot from his mouth? I will need to find time to needle him." She and Jason were still good friends, but no longer best friends. That was Elizabeth now.
"Please do, he deserves all the grief we can give him for that one." Elizabeth got comfortable. "Where are you going?"
"Melbourne with Morgan and Josslyn." Carly filled Liz in. "Michael is going to Philly with AJ, Keesha, and Meg."
"So I can cross them off my list too." Elizabeth frowned. "How is Michael?" Morgan was just over at the house. Despite the almost four year age gap he was close with Cameron. He had taken on the big brother role to his cousin.
"Like a new kid. He really has done better now that Sonny is gone. You should see him with the girls." Meg and Josslyn often had playdates. "Really good, and very protective. He's doing better with Morgan too." Carly hated to say it, but she suspected that not being around Jason much was helping her eldest kid. Michael didn't do well with reminders of Sonny's former life. "He's talking about going away for high school."
"How are you with that?" Elizabeth couldn't imagine Cameron or Jake leaving the house before they went off to college.
"I wanted to throw a fit, but if this is what he wants I'm willing to support him. As long as it's good for him." Carly amended. "So muffin aside from a party what else are you doing for the holiday?"
"Working." Elizabeth said shrugging her shoulders. "Aside from the party it will be a pretty low key holiday. We still have to get our tree, and all the other stuff, but you know how much I love that."
"So back to Monica, where is she going?" Carly wanted to know.
"Puerto Rico." Elizabeth grinned. "Jason insisted."
That set Carly off again. "I hope he isn't expecting reports because he might learn some things about Monica he didn't want to know. I'm guessing he forgot the resort has a nude beach?" That set Elizabeth off.
"I don't see how, as he went on a twenty minute rant where he refused to let me use it." They had gone to the resort without the boys. "But maybe I'll remind him. Howie originally planned to go to Aruba."
"It's really nice there. You should tell Jason you want to go. I'm sure he'll manage to book a trip around the Nurses Ball." Carly grinned. "Okay get out I have work to do. I'll bring the gifts by later in the week."
"How long will you be gone for?" Elizabeth asked getting up from the couch.
"Three weeks." Carly loved private school, they got extra-long holiday breaks. "I will tell Lady Jane and John you said hi."
"Thanks, I really enjoyed their visit last year." Elizabeth said heading for the door.
"Liz, wait." Carly came around the desk. "I almost forgot. Can I buy your Port Charles series?"
"The whole series, that's eight paintings." Elizabeth reminded her friend.
"I know. We are redoing the eight deluxe suites and Jax wants to showcase local art. I brought up the series and he thought it was a great idea." Carly wanted to promote her friend. "The series is done right?"
"Yes, but you don't have to use it because we are friends." Elizabeth didn't want Carly to feel pressured.
"I'm not, I'm doing it because it's good art. I've had a dozen offers for the still life in the tea lounge." Elizabeth had done a large canvas of Lila's roses. "I even had a guest try to steal it. So get them appraised and send me the invoice. I'll send someone over to pack them up. After we get back."
"Okay." Elizabeth was proud that more of her work would be hanging in the Metro Court. "Since I've just sold eight pieces of art maybe I'll stop by the boutique."
"I think Diane is over there." Carly had seen the red head go in earlier.
"That wouldn't surprise me." Elizabeth said grinning. "She's going away too. So that means shopping. I'll see you later."
"You certainly will." Carly waved as her friend left.
Elizabeth did indeed hit up the boutique running into Diane. The lawyer had several bags and was heading home to pack. Not finding anything she liked Elizabeth headed to the lounge where Milo was waiting.
She turned the corner to enter the lobby and ran into a broad chest. "Sorry."
"It's fine." Johnny O'Brien said to his friend.
"What are you doing in Port Charles?" Elizabeth grinned.
"Meeting a friend." Johnny hedged a bit.
"A female friend?" Elizabeth wanted to know. She hoped so, she wanted him happy.
Before Johnny could answer they heard a voice call him. "Johnny there you are. You left your tie upstairs."
Johnny wasn't really sure what to say as he looked at the wide eyes of one of his closest friends. He hadn't mentioned he was seeing Gia because the former model and Emily hated each other. "Thanks."
"Gia, I wasn't aware you were in Port Charles." Elizabeth said pasting on a fake smile.
"Liz, hi." Gia wasn't sure what to say. She and Liz were not friends. Not even close and that was Gia's fault entirely. And if Johnny found out why they weren't friends she could lose him. While she had been upfront about her history with Emily, she had left out a big part of her history with Liz. "I'm running Crimson now."
"Congratulations. On the magazine and your new relationship." She could tell by the look on Johnny's face that he and Gia were more than friends. "I have to go. I'll see you both later." Elizabeth headed over to find Milo. She would think about Johnny and Gia later.
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