Chapter Ten
Saturday, February 18, 2012 Salem Convention Center
"Excuse me, miss? Does this Baby Count product line have anything for the expectant dad?"
Nicole smiled without even looking up from her clipboard to see who it was. She knew that voice all too well. "Why do you ask, are you expecting?" She finally looked up, curious to see if there was any hint as to the validity of his question or if it was merely her friend Brady Black's way of breaking the ice since their last meeting wasn't exactly what you'd call pleasant. Not at first anyway but at least they'd managed to walk away on good terms.
"Oh god, no. Not. At. All," Brady insisted, shaking his head exaggeratedly, as if the tone in his voice didn't get his point across clear enough.
"I have to say I'm a bit surprised to see you standing here. Wouldn't this be considered, 'consorting with the enemy?"
"Nah, as long as Mad World continues to pummel Countess W into the ground with sales, we're all good."
Nicole smiled. She was glad Brady appeared to eager to make amens as opposed to picking another fight about EJ, especially considering the fact that all day long her husband had been acting like a weirdo. Even Chloe's texts assuring her he was just going through his monthly male version of PMS couldn't help her shake the strange vibe she got from him. If Brady even dared to ask about their relationship she feared she would unload so she quickly elected to dominate the discussion. "Sooo, how are things with you and Madison?"
"Good, real good," he replied, nodding enthusiastically. A hint of color began to flush his cheeks as he spoke highly of his new girlfriend. "Madison is a gift. Since meeting her, I have a whole new perspective on life. It's crazy how one person can just come into your life and change it so profoundly."
"I know exaclty how you feel," Nicole said with a pitiful attempt at a smile. She knew right then she was in for it.
"Hey, what's wrong," Brady inquired, immediately picking up on the melancholy tone in her voice. "Trouble in paradise?"
Nicole rolled her eyes and did her best to make light of the situation. "Eh, as Chloe put it, EJ's on the rag right now."
"Ah, a little lover's spat?"
"Oh, I don't know," Nicole sighed as she shook her head. Her eyes darted around the convention center as she tried to locate her husband before proceeding to unwind on Brady, which she swore to herself only moments ago she was not going to do. She finally located him talking to a group of a few people she recognized as being members of the board of education from a previous meeting they'd held with both mayoral candidates. It was safe to talk. "Things have been wonderful. I mean really, truly wonderful! Until yesterday..." Nicole's voice trailed off as she replayed the previous days events over and again in her head.
"What happened yesterday?"
Nicole glanced over in EJ's direction once more. It just so happened he glanced over at the same time and the two made eye contact for the first time since he'd left her behind to go out and shmooze with the public while she prepared for Countess W's stage presentation, a little more than an hour ago. She watched him in the crowd from the stage as she gave her sales pitch but his face had remained as emotionless as it had been since she woke up this morning, even as he at least offered a round of applause. She smiled and waved, eager for some kind of positive reaction but all she got in return was a poorly executed half smile and the turn of his head in the opposite direction. She was sure Brady would pick up on her swallowing back the lump in her throat brought on by the callous gesture. "Nothing really. It's not like we had a fight or anything. For the most part, it was a great day. We saw the baby doctor and she assured us everything looks good and the babies and I are well."
"I'm so glad to hear it," Brady said, grabbing a hold of her hand which, she didn't even realize until that moment, was shaking.
[i]Come on, Nicole. Get a hold of yourself. You did this once before already. You can handle EJ. Dragging Brady into this will do nothing but cause problems.[/i] Turns out the little self-pep-talk was all she needed. She immediately snapped out of her little woe-is-me routine and began to regroup. "Look, it's nothing I can't handle. All couples go through this kind of thing, right? I mean, we've got so many things on our plate right now that stress is surely a factor. He's working and running a campaign, I'm working, we've got appointments to meet with a decorator for the nursery and the nanny agency on Monday, sandwiched in between. That's enough to make anyone a little cranky, right?"
"Well, you know if tomorrow comes and that hubby of yours is still being an ass, you have my number," Brady said, leaning in to give her an innocent peck on the forehead just as Madison was joining him at his side. Nicole was thankful on this occasion for her timely arrival. She was happy that Brady seemed quite content with his new lady love but her first impression of Madison wasn't completely favorable. In her opinion, there was something a little off about her. It was something in her eyes; an impish sort of twinkle there whenever she addressed her which gave her the creeps.
"Hello, Nicole," Madison said with that infamous aforementioned look. "You look radiant, my dear and it's making me a bit nervous. You just might be Countess W's greatest asset yet."
"I don't know," Brady interjected. I think Mad World's "Surfer Girl" line might give them a run for their money."
Madison shrugged. "I have to admit, I am in love with my model. She just has that perfect beach babe look, don't ya think?"
"I'm sorry to say I didn't get a chance to swing by your booth just yet ," Nicole apologized politely though she had no real intentions of doing so. "But I'm very much looking forward to your stage presentation." Sometimes it was a chore to lie. What she really wanted to say was that she really didn't give a fuck and couldn't wait to go find EJ and get the hell out of there so she could get to the bottom of what or, more likely, who, was bothering him.
Madison glanced down at her watch. "Speaking of, we have to run. It's almost showtime and I need to make sure my model is looking perfect!"
"OK, well, good luck with that," Nicole said, dismissing Madison and Brady with a forced smile and farewell wave. She had no idea at the time how appropriate her chosen words had been.
"So, how is my favorite cousin Brady doing, hmmm?"
Nicole jumped nearly ten feet off the ground from the unexpected voice of her husband booming from behind her.
"Hey," she responded with a nervous smile. Under ordinary circumstances she wouldn't have been the least bit hesitant to go in for a long overdue hug but something about his demeanor stopped her cold. She found herself using Brady's humor angle in attempt to slice through the tension. "Oh you know, Brady said he was sorry he missed you and sends his love."
"You will tell him the feeling is mutual next time you see him, won't you?"
He was doing that thing she couldn't stand, purposely avoiding any and all eye contact. She was sure it was because he knew she could read him like a book if he'd allow her to do so. "I will tell him," she replied monotonously, purposely avoiding the use of any inflection in her voice which could be taken the wrong way depending on his mood.
"Your presentation went very well. You spoke knowledgably and enthusiastically about the products and you looked absolutely stunning."
"Thank you," she replied, hating that she sounded so grateful to receive the compliment. A long silence followed as she debated whether or not to address his peculiar behavior toward her now or later. Finally, she had just decided she'd had enough and was about to ask him, "what the fuck is your problem" in those exact words when suddenly her first word was drowned out by the PA system blaring "Little Surfer Girl" by the Beach Boys. What happened next was so mind-blowing that EJ actually turned and looked her in the eyes, offering her the first glimpse of the husband that she knew and loved today. Nicole wasn't sure what made her start to laugh the hardest; the release of the tension that had been escalating between her and EJ all day or seeing Sami Brady, Hernandez...whatever her last name happened to be this minute, up on stage dressed in nothing but a yellow polka dot bikini with heavily overdone makeup in tacky shades of teal and yellow.
EJ stepped behind Nicole and wrapped his arms around her, laying his hands across her stomach just like she'd grown so accustomed to over the past few months. He leaned in close so that his mouth was right upon her ear, having to shout what would have normally been a whisper because of the music still blaring in the background. "I think Countess W is going to have a very good year as the competition's stock has just plummeted." Nicole smiled and reached her hand up to cup his chin affectionately and he returned her gesture by capturing her hand and kissing the palm of it lovingly. Once again all was right with the world.
"Well, I don't know about you but I've seen just about enough," EJ said with a chuckle as Mad World's painfully awkward presentation finally came to an end. "Am I allowed to steal you away now or is Kate planning on keeping you captive for the rest of the day?"
"Well, you know after that I'm not feeling so well. What kind of boss would she be if she forced a sick pregnant lady to stay at work? I'm outta here."
"Well, while you break the news I'll have Dave pull the car around. You have anything you need me to take to the car, darling?"
"No," she replied distractedly, too baffled by his sudden change in personality to take advantage of his offer by having him carry out the two fairly heavy duffel bags full of product that she needed to bring home with her. She stared after him, shaking her head in disbelief. Could it all really have been nothing but some real, yet to be identified hormonal imbalance which affected all men once a month? "Men," she whispered sarcastically to herself, shaking her head as she picked up her two bags and turned on her heels in the direction of the exit. Just when she thought her day was finally about to get better it suddenly took an unexpected turn for the worse. She collided with the Surfer Girl herself.
"Why don't you watch where you're going, slut."
Nicole's eyes narrowed. As much as she ordinarily would enjoy delivering a nice, verbal smackdown to her life-long enemy, she wasn't in the mood. She just wanted her bed, her husband, and their nightly baby-bonding session right before bedtime. She didn't entertain her with a response and proceeded to push right past her.
"Man, that thing hit me so hard I was sure it was made of rubber or somethin'," Sami cackled, poking her finger crudely into Nicole's stomach as she passed her by."
"Don't touch me," Nicole said, stopping dead in her tracks to administer her a stern warning. "Just who the hell do you think you are? Just because your family rules this town doesn't mean you get to invade my personal space."
"I'm sorry," Sami said with insincerity so thick Nicole was sure the few random coughs she heard in the room was a direct result of her bullshit permeating the air. "It's just that everybody knows it's only a matter of time before those babies kick the bucket, if they haven't all ready. Well, that'll be everybody BUT EJ."
It took Nicole every ounce of her self control to keep from lunging at her, even with babies on board, but she managed to keep her cool, knowing in just a few short days, Sami would get what was coming to her. In fact, she realized that if she played her cards right, she could work out her present dilemma to further play in her favor.
"You know, you're crazy," Nicole screamed back at her, hugging her stomach defensively. "How dare you suggest that I'm faking this pregnancy. I AM PREGNANT. I have nothing to hide." She struggled to keep the smile that wanted to play upon her lips in check as she observed several convention-goers pause in their conversations to observe the escalating confrontation between them.
"Fine, you have nothing to hide so why don't you show us all that baby belly? You've never been one too shy to show some skin. C'mon momma, let's have a look."
"What's going on here," EJ demanded, suddenly storming into the picture.
"Nothing, honey, let's go," Nicole said, doing an emmy-worthy performance involving some hyperventilating as she grabbed his hand in search of an exit.
"Actually, I was just asking Nicole if she would show us all her baby bump. Some inquiring minds are questioning it's authenticity."
"Follow my lead, honey," Nicole whispered, praying he would hear her with her back turned to both him and Sami."We don't have to listen to this," Nicole said as she turned to EJ, her eyes pleading with him to follow as she physically tugged him toward the exit. "Just take me home, please. I'm suddenly feeling sick to my stomach."
"Oh, come on Nicole. No one is buying your little act. Isn't that how you hid your fake pregnancy the last time? By pretending to be so delicate and fragile that your husband couldn't even touch you for four months?"
"Samantha! That's enough," EJ screamed, the veins in his neck bulging with the legitimate anger building up inside.
"I can't believe this," Sami said shaking her head. "You're actually stupid enough that you've fallen for her act all over again, haven't you?"
"Come on darling," EJ said wrapping his arms protectively around Nicole as he glared hatefully at Sami. "You better pray that your behavior today doesn't cause my wife any complications."
Neither EJ or Nicole was shocked by what happened next but they kept their satisfaction a carefully guarded secret as Sami reached out for Nicole's shirt, tugging at it so violently that it completely ripped the garment away from her body, exposing not only a very genuine baby belly but also the fact that she had good taste in her lingerie choices.
EJ acted quickly by removing his jacket and wrapping it around her protectively. Nicole stood there pretending to just be in shock. She didn't want to do the weepy thing. It was important that she portrayed herself as a woman who stood up to bullying rather than becoming a victim of it. Of course she believed she genuinely was that type of person but who she really was didn't matter. What mattered was what kind of woman the public wanted her to be.
"Will somebody please do me a favor and have that vile woman arrested," EJ admonished the crowd as he began to lead Nicole toward the exit. "I'm taking my wife home."
They managed to keep straight faces until they reached the car, saving their fits of laughter for once they were safe inside.
"Sweetheart, you know it's incredibly cruel of you the way you toy with that poor woman. You know she honestly believed she had the upper hand all along."
"Yeah, well isn't that your father's first lesson? Always let your opponent believe they have the upper hand?"
This time Nicole was too busy curling up to her husband's side to notice the tense look he'd been wearing earlier in the day slowly creeping back across his face. All from the mere mention of Stefano DiMera.