Chapter Seven

Friday, February 17, 2012

"Father. Please, come in," EJ said sarcastically with a roll of his eyes as Stefano strolled through the front door of his son's new home without waiting for an invitation inside. "What is it you want?"

"Is that any way to greet your father, hmmm," Stefano asked with his back turned to EJ as he surveyed every corner of the home's entrance hall. "What ever happened to, 'good morning, Father. Lovely to see you, Father.' He finally turned around to face his son, anticipating the look of annoyance which would surely be on his face. EJ didn't disappoint.

"Really? Well whatever happened to phoning before stopping by or, better yet, waiting for that invitation."

"You and your lovely wife have been in this house a month already. If I waited for an invitation you'd have to carry me in in an urn and place me on the mantelpiece."

"Things are a bit hectic right now, Father. Nicole and I are both working, then there's my mayoral campaign, and, in case you haven't noticed, we're getting ready to have twins. As a matter of fact we have a doctor's appointment in an hour so please, either get to the point of your visit now or it'll have to wait until later."

"Where is Nicole," Stefano asked quietly as his arms darted about the room, checking every entrance way for any sign of her.

"She's upstairs getting ready. Why?"

"Good because I need to speak to you in private."

"Business?"

"I heard you pulled a gun on your wife last night. What the hell is the matter with you?"

"Oh, Father, please! It was a silly mis-" EJ shook his head in disbelief as a realization began to set in. "And how would you know about that?"

"Because one of my security persons told me so! This all could have been prevented you know. Haven't you learned anything from me, hmmm? If you'd had your own security people watching your pregnant wife, you would have known she was at home and that she was safe. One phone call was all it would have taken. Instead, you play this silly game of calling her and texting her, calling everyone she knows to see if they know where she is."

"Father, Nicole and I are past that now, we-"

"Are you not listening to a word I'm saying, hmmmm? I swear sometimes you're every bit as flaky as your mother, Elvis. This is not about trust, it's about the safety of your wife and children. Did you not suspect last night when you couldn't find her that something had happened to her?"

"All right, father, look. Yes, after last night I realize that I need to have someone watching her at all times, for safety purposes. However," EJ crossed his arms across his chest as he peered sternly at his Father, "I am not going to use a legitimate concern for my wife's safety as an excuse to spy on her."

"Who said anything about spying, hmmm? You two have a new and improved marriage and I'm sure she told you everything about her little dinner date last night."

"Dinner date," EJ repeated nonchalantly. "Well, no she didn't but quite frankly, Father, neither one of us did much talking last night or this morning, if you know what I mean." EJ gave Stefano a knowing wink and wrapped an arm about his shoulders as he began to guide his father toward the front door.

"Well, I'm sure she'll mention it to you when the two of you get a chance to play catch-up later. Good looking young man, he was. I thought he might be one of the marketing people from Countess Wilhelmina but Katherine has never seen the man before. Ah, well, no worries," Stefano shrugged off his suspicious demeanor and gave his son a wide, superficial grin, "I'm sure she'll explain it all to you later."

"Who will explain what?"

Both father and son looked over in the direction the voice came from, startled to find Nicole standing in the doorway between the entrance hall and one of the home's two parlors with hands on her hips.

"Sweetheart! Are you ready to go," EJ said excitedly as he glided through the room to be at her side, eager to escape the uncomfortable conversation with his father.

"I've been ready for this day ever since learning about these two," Nicole said dreamily as she hugged her stomach. She turned her attention to Stefano who was curiously staring her down. "Today we should find out if you're having two grandsons, two granddaughters, or one of each!"

"Ah, how wonderful! Well. Don't let me keep you."

EJ broke away from Nicole's side just long enough to aid his father with a speedy exit, not just by merely opening the door but also, practically pulling him down the steps of the front porch. "I'll be sure to call you later and fill you in on the appointment. I know you can't wait to start making plans for MY childrens' future."

Stefano turned to face him, placing both hands upon his son's shoulders and stared deeply into his eyes with a look that demanded every bit of your undivided attention. "Before you or I begin making plans for their future, perhaps you should make sure that these babies are in fact DiMeras."