Chapter 4
Sam ran behind the counter and grabbed an apron. Her parents wouldn't even consider letting her get a job until she was 16, but she wanted Grampa Mike to consider her a serious potential employee. So every time she was in Kelly's she put herself to work. She mostly bussed tables and washed dishes, but sometimes if they were short staffed she would get to wait tables and keep the tips.
"Hey kiddo, what's the rush, sit down, have some cocoa, tell me who the hell you were talking to out there, and why you're so scared." Sam stopped short and looked at her grandfather.
"What…what are you talking about?" She hedged, badly.
"The woman and her henchman who cornered you out there. You remember, it was about …" Mike looked at his watch. "95 seconds ago."
"She was lost, she wanted directions."
"Terrifying." Mike nodded. "Try again, sweetpea or I call your Dad."
"Dammit Kristina, that's not the point." Alexis raged. "The point is they are MY kids and I don't want them to know about our past…not that part anyway. I'll tell them when I'm ready."
"God Alexis, you'll never be ready. They need to know about Helena…knowledge is power."
Alexis laughed. "You had no right Kristina…does Michael know too?"
"No, I wasn't even planning to tell Sam it just sort of came up. We were talking about Mama and Sam asked how she died. I was so shocked I just sort of blurted it out."
"You know Krissy and Morgan still believe in Santa Claus, you want to come over and enlighten them?" Alexis sniped.
"Well, I don't see the point of them believing in a magical toy maker who only gives gifts to children who share his belief system, but somehow I don't really think you want my help on that one."
Alexis let loose a strangled scream.
"This is silly you know. You aren't mad at me."
"Are you sure about that, cause I'm pretty sure I am."
"You are mad at yourself."
"How do you figure that one?"
"Because Helena got to your kids."
Silence. Loud, loud silence.
"It's not your fault Alexis, but it was bound to happen. That's why I told Sam, that's why Michael needs to know. Helena's not the boogey man, she's real, she's dangerous, and she's here."
"Yeah…this is perfect. Where do I sign."
"Sign? Mr. Corinthos don't you think you should show your wife before you buy a house?"
"Nah." Sonny shook his head and sniffed. "She'll love it."
The realtor's eyes bulged. It was a great house, it was a big house, it was a 2.5 million dollar house, but if her husband bought it for her sight unseen she'd divorce him on principle. "Mr. Cornithos…I…I think you should at least call your wife."
"Ya think? Huh…yeah, maybe." Sonny picked up the phone and dialed. "Hey, babe I found the perfect house…what? Yeah state of the art. 6. 4. Yeah, it's fenced. Eh a little over 2 mill. Great." Sonny disconnected and smiled. "Where do I sign?"
"Right here…"
Alexis slammed her phone shut. She was so angry at Kristina she could barely see straight. She had all but bodily thrown her sister out of her office. This wasn't the way she intended the conversation to go, she was going to gently point out that Kristina had over stepped then move on to what Helena could want. Instead they had an ugly fight and said a lot of things they would both regret.
As she packed up her briefcase and swung her purse over her should she tried to remember the phone calls she had just had. Michael asking what was for dinner. Baldwin setting up pre-trial conference, and Sonny…dear god had she just told Sonny to buy a multi million dollar house?
"I guess I should tell my mom…but…"
"Would you rather I do it?"
"Yeah, but …" Sam's eyes filled with tears. "Why does she want to hurt my Mom? I don't get it? And what does she want with Nikolas? He totally hates her."
"I can't begin to imagine kiddo, but you need to tell your mom and your dad and probably your Uncle too."
"Uncle? I can't. Helena wants Mom to get him to turn over Nikolas…I mean I think she's supposed to trick him…"
"Do you think she would?"
"I…I don't want her too, but…" Sam bit her lower lip. "What if Helena means it, what if she really can tear our family apart?"
"Okay…tell your parents tonight. Alexis can decide if she tells Stefan or not." Mike held Sam's hands. "But tell them tonight, or I will. This is too big a burden for you to carry alone."
