Chapter 4

Two days later Cori paced nervously in the drawing room of their expansive house, checking the windows every so often for signs of Tim. She jumped and ran towards the door as she heard it open. "Ohh, it's only you." She sighed impatiently as James walked into the foyer. "And a good afternoon to you as well, my love!" He said sarcastically, taking off his hat and sweeping her a low bow. "Oh, I'm sorry sweetie," She said distractedly looking out a side window. "I'm just wondering where Tim and Doug are. They should have been here an hour ago." "I'm sure they're both fine, they probably stopped in Nassau to get something to eat." He took her by the hand and led her back into the drawing room. Taking a seat he pulled her down onto his lap. "Just relax." He said soothingly as he began methodically stroking her hair. He knew that playing with her hair was a way to instantly calm her and it was working now. Her eyes closed and body became languid as the tension slowly seeped out of it. But the mood was suddenly broken by the sound of footsteps pounding down the stairs. "He's here!" Daveigh shouted running for the door, followed closely by her brother and sisters. Cori bounded off of his lap and made for the door quickly. "So much for relaxation." He sighed, as he strode out of the house. The children were already huddled around Tim, all of them talking excitedly at once, Cori with them, trying to get them away so that she could hug him. Behind them stood Cori's half-brother Douglas, looking thoroughly amused at the scene. "Alright, alright!" James shouted pulling the children away from Tim, "let your mother get to him…before she has a coronary" the last bit muttered to himself.

The children parted and Cori threw herself into her son's arms. "Oh my baby, you're finally home!" she cried, the tears beginning to flow. "Mom, he said "MOM! You're choking me!" "I don't care!" she said tearfully. Tim laughed and picked her up off the ground, squeezing her hard before setting her down and away from himself. "Ok." She said shakily, dabbing at her tears with a handkerchief and trying to compose herself. James strode forward and extended his hand toward Tim. "Welcome back son." He said warmly. "Thank you sir!" Tim said shaking James' hand and beaming at him. And then the chatter started up again, everyone shouting questions at him at once, as they all tried to grab a limb to lead him up to the house, where a delicious supper had been prepared. "Nice to see you all too!" Douglas cried after them sarcastically. James laughed heartily at the expression of feigned hurt on his brother-in-law's face and asked. "Are you coming up to the house for dinner?" "Nope!" he declared in a voice thick with Scottish brogue. The wife will be waiting for me with me own supper I'm sure, but thanks for the invite. It's nice to know that somebody missed me." James let out a bark of laughter at that and Douglas winked at him. "Alright, see you later then." James said clapping the huge man on the back. "Later then." Doug replied, striding away from him up the hill to his own house.

Supper was a quite festive affair that evening. The children had decorated the dining room with streamers and balloons, and big sign that said "Welcome Home Tim!" hung across the wall. Cori had prepared her son's favorite dishes and everyone was in a fine mood. Tim had brought home presents for all including a lovely tea set for his mother, made of fine china, which he said was to replace the one he knew his mother might have had from her own family if she was still in touch with them which, with the exception of Douglas and his brood, she wasn't. This succeeded in bringing Cori to tears again as she hugged her son tightly and told him repeatedly how precious he was to her and what a fine gift it was. Finally night fell and the younger children were sent to bed with presents and sweets tucked in their little hands. Cori, James and Tim retired to James' study to have a chat, and Rachel following behind, hoping to be included in what she anticipated to be a very grown-up conversation. But her father stopped her at the door to his study and shook his head at her. "Time for you to be in bed too, sweetheart." He said. "But Papa," She began. "No buts Rachel." Her mother said coming forward placing a goodnight kiss on her cheek. "Your father and I would like to speak to your brother alone. Run along to bed now." "Yes mother." Rachel said turning to kiss her father good night as well. After bidding her goodnight he quietly closed the door and took a seat behind his desk, facing his son and wife who were already seated across from him.

"So," James began "From everything I have seen and heard and from what your uncle has told us over the phone, I take it you have made a decision regarding your future." "Yes sir." He said glancing over uneasily at his mother, who had suddenly become tense, a fearful expression shadowing her face. "I've decided that I would like to attend Oxford in the fall, if that's alright with you." "Well…" Cori began, but James held up a hand to silence her. "You do realize the dangers you may face once you leave this island. Neither your mother nor I will be close enough to help you if you get into a jam in England, son. And you would have to be very cautious about revealing yourself to too many people. "I understand that, father." Tim said. "But I hardly think that anyone would connect me with the DiMeras." James cut him off. "Tim, there is no guarantee of that not happening. Once people learn my name, they may very well make a connection. And if that becomes the case, you could find yourself in danger…we all could." "But what makes you think that the DiMera's or anyone for that matter would even care who or where you are anymore!" Tim said. "I mean it's been years, and no one has ever found you or us. Maybe they all just stopped looking, like you wanted them to." "Sweetheart," his mother said turning to him, "when your father decided to change his name, he still wanted to keep a little something of himself, which is why he chose to keep his middle name of James and take your great-grandmother's last name of Favreau. And while that name may not be uncommon, it still might not stop someone from stumbling across the fact that James Favreau is really Antony DiMera. Whether by accident or on purpose, that is not a chance that any of us can afford to take. Don't you see?" she said "Your father has worked long and hard to put that past and his life as a DiMera behind him, but there are those out there, bad people, who would like nothing more than to find him and pull him back in." "That," his father interrupted, "or destroy me once and for all." Tim shook his head sadly, "Bad people like grandfather." "Yes." James said. "My father is a very determined person." "Mine too." Muttered Cori "Yes well," James continued," I can't imagine that if either of them discovered who your parents really were, that they would simply let it rest at that. They would no doubt use you to find us, by whatever means necessary." "I understand." Tim said. "And I promise you that I will be careful!"

James looked over at Cori. He saw that was struggling with indecision. The pain etched across her face tore at his heart and he longed to take her in his arms and order Tim to stay put here at home, if only to make her happy. But then he saw the change come over her as she steeled herself, her expression changing from one of sadness to grim determination and with a deep breath she nodded at him. "Very well." James said looking at Tim. "We'll let you go." "Really?" Tim asked excitedly. "I can really go?" "Yes you can go." "YES!" Tim shouted as he jumped up out of his seat and ran around the desk to hug his father, joyfully thanking him over and over, but he stopped suddenly as he caught sight of his mother's grim face. He walked over to her quietly and took her hands in his, drawing her up out of her seat. "Mom," he asked quietly, his eyes searching her face. She nodded at him, smiling. her eyes bright with unshed tears "Be happy sweetheart." She said hugging him to her tightly, all the love she felt pouring out of her as she looked over at her husband, whose smile told her how proud of her he was. The pair broke apart and Tim exclaimed " I can't wait to tell Kevin and everybody! Man this is the best news ever! Thanks you guys! Thanks a lot!" "Ok." James said. "You may be going to England, but not until the fall. For now you are home and you still have chores tomorrow so off to bed with you!" "Yes sir!" And he bounded out of the study stopping to give his mother a quick hug and a kiss. "Goodnight mom! Goodnight Dad and thanks again!" "Goodnight!" they both called after him. James walked over and shut the door before turning to Cori. The tears were streaming down her face now and all her bravado crumbled as he took her sobbing into his arms.