Note: Thanks for the reviews. Long chapter with a short note - a fair trade right?
Chapter Ten
A Fowl Called Cramer
Bianca watched with amusement as Lydia wrapped Dr Hubbard round her little finger. The two year old had woken in better form than she had been since the operation; her eyes twinkled with that familiar happiness that her family adored so much.
"Hi there kiddo, whoa you're not only up and about but you're eating."
Kendall smiled at her youngest niece watching the spoonful of goo Lydia had been in the process of bringing to her lips stop mid path as the little girl grinned up at her aunt.
"Aunt K I got no wiyas in me now."
To show how wire free she was Lydia shook her arm sending the goo flying across the table. Kendall started to laugh as Lydia's lips formed the most adorable O. Frankie Hubbard wiped up the mess hiding his amusement from the little girl. Bianca turned from the humorous scene to glance up at her sister.
"This is a surprise I thought Greenlee wanted all hands on deck for the latest phase of PCMakeup."
Kendall kissed her sister's cheek in greeting.
"Green's can wait but this can't."
Bianca watched as her sister glanced towards the bed and then back at her before nodding in the direction of the door. The younger brunette frowned in concern before turning to the doctor.
"Frankie you wouldn't mind staying a while I need to step outside for a moment?"
The doctor shook his head.
"Sure I want to see how little miss here gets on with her first meal."
"Is not a meal it's yoghuwt."
Lydia plopped another spoonful of goo into her mouth making Frankie sigh dramatically.
"Fine I want to stay and see how little miss gets on with her yoghurt."
Bianca got up leaving her daughter to continue to tease the doctor.
/
Susan Michaels looked like the all American girl, tall and slender with straight blonde hair and light blue eyes that seemed so much duller than they should. An educated woman with a business degree from Stanford, Susan had given up a lucrative career in the financial sector when she had met and fallen in love with the man she was now desperately trying to divorce. By all accounts Bernard Michaels was the very definition of a gold digger and he had hit the jack pot with Susan whose family put Erica Kane's wealth to shame.
"Marissa everything I say to you is strictly confidential right?"
Marissa lifted her eyes from her legal pad a little worried at both the question and the look on her client's face. They were due in court tomorrow afternoon new information this late in the game was not what Marissa needed.
"Of course as long as what you're telling me is not something I'm compelled by law to disclose."
Susan Michaels face furrowed in thought for several moments.
"I don't think it does, it involves another case an international case. It's the reason why my witness could not be named."
Marissa put her pen down and sat back in the chair. Witness D was the name they had given to the woman who could and would prove beyond any doubt at all that Bernard Michaels was a cheating swine who did not deserve a cent of his wife's money. Thanks to Reggie Marissa now knew that witness was Maggie Dubois.
"Is this international case still active?"
Susan sighed.
"Technically no, the case has been heard but the verdict has yet to be returned, they expect it at any moment."
"They?"
"Witness D."
"Are you in touch with Witness D?"
Susan shook her head leaving Marissa to wonder at the pained look on the woman's face.
"What does the case involve?"
"Murder."
/
Bianca stared at her sister in confusion.
"What are you telling me Kendall? That you think the boy who fouled Miranda might be related to the same man who kidnapped AJ all those years ago?"
Kendall nodded but Bianca only shrugged.
"Well I guess stranger things have happened."
The older sister closed her eyes realising Bianca wasn't getting the point that she had hoped not to come right out and say. When blue eyes opened again clueless brown were looking at her with that same confusion.
"Binks you said Mimo hasn't been herself since that game, that both you and Marissa are worried about her. Gabby's worried about her too. What if….."
Bianca was unsure why Kendall was yet again hesitating.
"Will you just say it?"
Kendall bit her lip, her eyes beginning to glisten with the thought of what this news would do to her little sister.
"What if he told her?"
"Told her what Kendall, what if he told her what?"
"How she came to be."
Bianca's face paled, her eyes filling with a pain Kendall hadn't seen in so long.
/
Erica blew through the District Attorney's office like the hurricane that had been given her namesake. Jack's PA looked up from her desk with wide worried eyes.
"Ms Kane Mr Montgomery is in a meeting."
Erica stopped.
"Then I suggest you get him out of that meeting because this won't wait."
The PA lifted her phone speaking in rushed sentences to her boss and listening with a concerned look to the words that were spoken back. She put the phone down and took a deep breath.
"The meeting is expected to finish up in a half hour Mr Montgomery said he'd meet you at home."
Erica's face was like thunder.
"You get back on your phone and you tell my husband that in a half hour I will be over at the Valley Inn with our international friend."
The PA lifted the phone again not sure who to be more afraid of, her boss or the woman standing staring daggers at the inner office door.
/
Marissa felt sick, the quick breakfast she had eaten with the kids was threatening to come back up. Susan Michaels had left after divulging details of Witness D and the circumstances that had led to the two women meeting. Tears began to whelm in the lawyer's eyes as she thought of Maggie Stone Dubois. Marissa lowered her head wondering how much one person could endure before they had finally reached their limit. It was with blurred vision that the lawyer read the text message that made her iPhone buzz to life. It was from Kendall and it brought the redhead to her feet in a rush.
Binks needs you. NOW.
/
Miranda Montgomery did something she had never done before, something not even AJ in all his tiredness had ever done; she fell asleep in class. Maya Mercado roused the sleeping teenager with a gentle touch and a concerned smile. Miranda looked around her in confusion seeing nothing but empty desks.
"Oh no."
Maya took a seat beside Miranda.
"Oh yes. I know history is not the most exciting subject but I try not to put my students to sleep."
Miranda began to blush as she gathered up her books.
"I'm really sorry Ms Mercado it won't happen again I promise."
"Miranda slow down a second and just sit there a moment. I've sent a note with Nadia to your next class so there's no need to rush."
The teenager let out a sigh of relief that made her teacher smile.
"Maths was never my favourite either. I hear your little sister hasn't been well, she's in hospital right?"
Miranda nodded.
"So things are probably a little disrupted at home, maybe staying late at the hospital is taking its toll on you."
"We don't stay late Miss, my parents always make sure to have us home by 7.30 for homework."
Maya frowned.
"Are you worried about Lydia? Is that why you haven't been sleeping?"
"Lydia's getting better, she's getting real food today and if it doesn't make her sick then she'll get to come home."
The teacher stared at the youngster in silence for several minutes.
"Is there something you might want to talk about Miranda, something that's making it hard to sleep?"
Miranda shook her head.
"No but thank you Miss."
Maya smiled; both AJ and Miranda were two of the politest students she'd encountered in her teaching career to date.
"You're welcome Miranda, you have a free pass for the next class so maybe you'd like to go to the library and read up on this."
The teacher handed Miranda the notes for the class she had slept through.
"Thank you Miss."
/
Bianca felt the room begin to sway, the walls closing in around her like they had back then when her life was a nightmare she could not escape.
"Binks honey look at me."
And there was one of the voices that had been her anchor, her sister, her hero; the woman who had made her realise that history could be changed, that not all creations of evil would become evil. Brown eyes began to focus seeing the glistening shades of blue so full of that mixture of love and pain that had been there from the moment Kendall had learnt of the rape.
"I should have been the one to tell her. She must be hurting so much. What if it breaks her? What if I lose my little girl, my miracle girl?"
Kendall pulled the frazzled woman into her arms.
"You're not going to lose her and she won't break just like you didn't because she's all you Binks."
Bianca shook her head.
"When she asked I should have told her. God how must it have sounded coming from some stranger?"
"Ok look we don't know for sure that he did say something."
Kendall wished her words might ease the pain but Bianca's face when she pulled away to stare at her sister proved they hadn't.
"He did, it all makes sense now. Her watching me in silence, the tears, the nightmares. All this time she's been in hell Kendall and I was right there watching not knowing."
Kendall frowned.
"This is not your fault."
Bianca didn't respond.
/
Jackson Montgomery shook his head in agitation.
"Erica just stop, just stop right there."
The petite woman turned a deadly glare his way and made to launch into another tirade but he held his hand up silencing her.
"You don't get to barge in here and scream the odds at me over this Erica. Maggie's personal life is none of your business, it wasn't last week when she came back into town and it sure as hell isn't now. We have no say in this. None."
Erica paced back and forth not happy with her husband's words but realising that they were true.
"And what about Bianca?"
Jackson sighed.
"What about her? This isn't Bianca's business either not unless Maggie wants it to be. Honey it's not our place to interfere no matter how much we want to."
"Grief twists a person Jack, what if…."
Jackson shook his head.
"No not Maggie, she was Bianca's rock Erica, she was the one person always there when none of us could reach the pain inside Bianca. Maggie reached it, Maggie helped to ease it. I know you can't forget her cheating but honey that's between them not us. Now please just let this alone Erica, if Maggie had wanted Bianca to know then she would have told her."
Erica sighed.
/
Marissa's heart was pounding in her chest as she ran the corridors of PVH at a speed not advisable in 3inch heels. But footwear and falling were the last things on the lawyer's mind; the text message had filled it with too many scenarios that were so much worse.
"Bianca?"
The redhead came to a staggering stop outside Lydia's room her eyes moving from the empty bed to the two crying women sitting next to it. Marissa's face paled, her heart threatening to stop.
"Baby?"
Bianca pulled away from Kendall to see the grief stricken look on her lover's face.
"She's…ok…she's…in the…playroom."
Marissa's face lost only a smidgen of its grief as she crossed the room to gather her crying partner into her arms. Hazel eyes glanced to Kendall as Bianca began to sob in earnest, the older Kane mouthed two words that came together like the opening of a locked door. Marissa closed her eyes willing herself to be strong for both her partner and her daughter.
"We'll talk to her, baby we'll make this right I promise we'll make this right."
/
Maggie Stone Dubois tossed and turned in her sleep a thin sheen of sweat bathing her pale face. Lips opened and a tortured scream rang around the silent room as the doctor shot up in the bed shaking like a leaf.
"Merde!"
Trembling hands dragged bed tossed hair away from her damp face as Maggie drew in deep breath after deep breath until the pain and tightness in her chest began to finally ease only to return when her cell phone buzzed to life.
"Merde!"
Maggie grabbed the device from the bedside locker and brought it to her ear without reading the caller ID.
"What?"
Reggie Montgomery's voice came down the line bringing news Marissa had hoped to be spared until after tomorrow.
"Merde!"
/
Kendall Hart Slater collected her sons from school along with their three cousins. Miranda got into the seat next to Spike in a semi daze that just confirmed her aunt's worst fears. Gabrielle kissed her aunt's cheek before sitting back and belting herself in beside her cousin Ian.
"Is Lydia okay?"
Miranda's eyes searched her aunt's face for long moments waiting to see the lie in case she couldn't hear it. Kendall smiled.
"Lydia's fine, so far she's kept down breakfast and lunch and if she manages to keep dinner down too then she'll get home for good."
The news brought smiles to all five faces. AJ turned to his best friend with a hand held up but Miranda was slow to return the customary hi five.
"Is something wrong aunt K?"
Kendall had hoped that question would be forgotten.
"No nothing is wrong I thought I'd give your parents the evening off and let them spend some quality time together."
It wasn't a lie, not that Miranda could tell anyway, but she suspected it wasn't the full truth either.
/
Lydia was taking a nap, her little face smiling in sleep.
"She's getting her colour back."
Bianca nodded watching as Marissa soothed back their daughter's hair with a gentle stroke before turning her attention back to her.
"I don't want to leave this another night Bianca. Miranda was shaking last night, I thought she was cold coming down to our room but it wasn't the temperature of the house it was fear."
Bianca's eyes glistened.
"I know and we won't. But I need you with me. Sweetie please."
Marissa rushed to her partner's side wrapping herself around the shaking brunette.
"I'll be with you. We'll find a way. "
"Why did I leave it? I should have told her when she asked about her father, I should have told her everything then."
The redhead kissed along her partner's temple and forehead trying to soothe but knowing nothing would because Bianca carried everyone's pain like an invisible load. And this load had always been there, not as heavy and never visible to anyone but those who loved her most.
"She was nine baby, we made the right choice she was too young and it was too much for her to ever understand."
Bianca pulled away looking into eyes that had never lied or hid or tried to deceive her.
"Will she understand now?"
Marissa did not shy away from the fear in that gaze.
"I don't know, I think she will, I hope she will because she has your strength and your character. All I know is that we're going to get her through this, we're going to get you both through this."
"I'm okay."
Bianca tried to gather herself pulling an imaginary armour over herself so that she didn't look so vulnerable. Marissa leaned in, her eyes millimetres away from those she loved so much.
"You're better than okay baby, you're my whole world and I won't let you suffer. I won't let my family suffer any more than it already has."
A tear slid down Bianca's cheek coming to fall upon her lover's lips as Marissa kissed her softly.
/
Maggie wasn't working the Tuesday night shift due to the court case the following day so she'd gotten round to calling the Haywards for that promised dinner. Maybe time outside of her hotel room and the hospital might stop her from thinking about the past and what she'd planned. Leaving Paris had been doubled edged for the doctor, the escape from pain and heartache a relief but returning to Pine Valley seemed to have its own pain and heartache too. There was the Montgomery girls and the love Maggie had never stopped feeling and then there was the obvious struggles each were facing. Maggie hated seeing people in pain whether it was physical or emotional; it was why she had chosen medicine all those years ago so that she could heal people, make them feel better. Could she do anything more for the Montgomerys than what she had already done for Lydia? Would Miranda open up to her? Was Bianca serious about them still being friends? Would Marissa want to get to know her long lost cousin?
So many questions circled the tired doctor's mind as she made her way to the Hayward's front door. The heavy oak opened before she reached it and the sight that greeted her took all thoughts from her mind.
"Hello I'm your cousin Leon."
Bianca had been right the little boy had Leo Dupres' smile.
"Hello Cousin Leon, I'm Cousin Maggie."
Leon's carefree laughter shone a light right into the darkness that had settled within the doctor's heart.
"It's just Leon."
"Ok hello Just Leon I'm Just Maggie."
Leon's resounding laughter brought David out to the door. The man looked different somehow, Maggie tried to figure why; it wasn't his clothes, David still wore his dress trousers and shirt, it wasn't his hair, he still kept that cut neat. Maggie stared up wondering just what it was about David that seemed new. The heart surgeon gazed down at his son, his voice low and teasing when he spoke.
"Hi you were meant to be bringing our guest inside not laughing out here on the porch with her."
The little boy just laughed some more and David's entire being seemed to shine at the sound; he turned inquiring eyes to his cousin who recognised then what was so different about David Hayward. The man was happy, blissfully happy. Maggie was a little amazed at the transformation it made. The petite doctor shrugged at the obvious question in her cousin's eyes.
"Don't ask me I was just saying hello."
David grinned.
"Well hello would you like to come in?"
"Sure by the sounds of Just Leon I think it might be fun."
Neither adult was surprised when the little boy laughed again.
/
Zach watched his wife watch their niece.
"Kendall you don't know that it's about the past."
Kendall's eyes were glistening as they turned to him.
"It is, Binks says it all makes sense now."
Zach reached for words unsure if he would ever be the right person to offer the Kane women comfort from all the suffering his brother had caused.
"She's a pretty terrific young woman. She'll get through this."
Kendall turned back to listen to Miranda patiently help Gabrielle and Ian with their homework. The teenager was everything Kendall had been all those years ago before the truth of her parentage had come out and everything had changed. She hoped and prayed Miranda wouldn't react as she had done, destroying all the happiness that had once been her life.
"I hope so Zach, I really do."
Zach squeezed his wife's arm unable to offer her anymore than his presence.
/
Dinner had been fun, Leon charming Maggie just enough for her to momentarily let down her guard and when she did David swooped in.
"So what really takes you back here Maggie?"
"A court case."
Shock showed on David's face.
"What? Are you in trouble? Do you need help?"
Brown eyes glared.
"Oh so I'm the new aunt Vanessa. Our family just can't help flirt with crime is that it?"
David looked bewildered at the terse words.
"What? I meant trouble as in a malpractice suit. Jesus Maggie where is all this hostility coming from?"
"I'd say it has a lot to do with your non too subtle hints that I shouldn't stick around."
"I never said that…."
"Really so you didn't think telling me not to go near Bianca and her family was a hint?"
David shook his head.
"I never said that either, I'm worried about you but I'm also worried about my daughter. I don't want to see her getting hurt."
Maggie got to her feet thankful the conversation had waited until young Leon was being put to bed.
"And you think I'd hurt her. Well that says a lot about how much you think of me doesn't it?"
David followed the angry doctor from the room trying to reason with her but Maggie wouldn't listen.
"What happened?"
Cara came down the stairs to find Maggie reaching for her coat and David standing glowering at her.
"I'm leaving, thank you for dinner, it was lovely. Good night."
The petite brunette stormed from the house leaving Cara to stare at her husband in consternation. David threw up his hands in agitation.
"I've no idea what just happened, one minute we're chatting the next she's ranting at me about my mother and crime and staying away from Bianca."
Cara grabbed her jacket.
"Stay there."
David blew out a breath.
"Women."
/
Bianca straightened herself up and got to her feet.
"Baby?"
"I need to freshen up."
Marissa didn't question the words instead she sat and quietly watched the tentative steps Bianca took towards the door. The brunette stopped and shook her head before turning back around her face awash with tears.
"No I don't….I need….."
Marissa rushed across to the stuttering brunette.
"What baby? What do you need?"
Tears spilled faster as Bianca pulled her lover to her. All her life Bianca Montgomery had forced herself to project a strong resilient image to the world; to show she wasn't the pampered daughter of the famous Erica Kane, to affirm that her sexuality made her no different that everyone else, to prove she was a survivor. It seemed Bianca was constantly needing to prove that she wasn't a victim, not of circumstance and not of crime. But there was never that need with Marissa, Bianca had always been able to be exactly herself with the lawyer. There was never any need for pretence because Marissa loved all of Bianca.
"I need … you."
Marissa began to cry too as the brunette shuddered in her arms.
"You have me Bianca, you have me for always. Together together remember?"
Bianca's sob sounded heartbreaking.
"Together …. Together."
/
Maggie was at her car before Cara caught up with her.
"Wow girl slow down and give me a minute please."
The younger woman turned with barely concealed rage.
"A minute for what? To finish your husband's work and find out why I'm really here…"
"I don't care why you're here."
The honest response stopped Maggie short. Cara shrugged.
"I really don't. It's not important not to me, not to my son."
"But David…."
"David is afraid of losing people Maggie, losing Marissa and her kids, losing me and Leon, losing you. We're all his family and that's all that matters to him. Family."
When Maggie began to cry Cara didn't hesitate to pull her into a hug.
"I can't….."
"You can."
Maggie shook her head swallowing down her pain as she pulled away from the other woman.
"No … no I can't."
Cara's eyes softened.
"Yes you can because if you don't your grief will eat you from the inside out."
Maggie balked.
"I need to go."
"Then go but know that you still have family Maggie and there isn't one of them who wouldn't gladly help you carry your burden."
The smaller woman couldn't believe that Cara knew; how could she know?
"How? I mean you can't know, no one knows."
Cara didn't respond because in truth she didn't really know at all, all she could say for certain was that grief seemed to be written across Maggie's face, embedded in the dark circles she tried so hard to hide with make-up, it was in the deadness of her eyes and in the pained expression that settled upon her lips when she wasn't aware of being watched. And Cara had watched.
"If you ever need to talk I'm here, a stranger who wants to help."
Maggie shook her head again.
"I've got to go."
Cara watched her get into the car, watched the pain settle again upon her face; Cara was still watching when the car disappeared down the road.
/
Reggie Montgomery's shoulders were slumped, his head bowed as he distractingly moved the beer bottle from one hand to the other. Marie had tried waiting for him to tell her what it was that was troubling him so much but so far it hadn't happened.
"Do you want to talk about it hon?"
Reggie lifted his head and met his wife's gaze.
"Do I want? Yeah. But can I? No."
Marie suspected that might be his answer.
"Ok then how about telling me what I can do to make you feel better. You can talk about that can't you?"
Reggie smiled as Marie moved closer wrapping her arms around him. Warm loving eyes held his.
"I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost you."
Marie was shocked by the words.
"You won't….."
Reggie's kiss stopped the retort.
/
Maggie drove around in circles before stopping at the only place in Pine Valley where she felt at home; the hospital. Petite legs brought the doctor to Lydia Montgomery's room without conscious thought; she stopped in the doorway surprised to find herself there and surprised more by what she seen. Bianca was crying, those broken soul-shattering sobs that Maggie knew she would never forget. Marissa was there holding the brunette, trying to comfort, trying to do all the things that Maggie had done so long ago. The doctor's eyes went to the bed but she knew it wasn't Lydia that had created the despair in those sobs; Maggie had left strict instructions that she be notified of any change to Lydia's status.
"Is…is there anything I can do?"
The doctor's words were hesitant to begin with, her voice like a whisper. Bianca turned towards her, their eyes locking for an intense moment and Maggie felt it all rush back. That look, the pain, the fear and loathing all gathered in eyes that were made to be kind, made to love and cherish.
"Mimo."
Maggie didn't know how she knew, didn't know if she really knew anything at all anymore about this family that she had wanted so much to be a part of only to screw it all up in the worse possible way. Bianca took a ragged breath and pulled away from Marissa but did not let her go, a telling move to Maggie who at one time could read all of Bianca's gestures. This was fear, this was Bianca not believing she could be strong enough to take any more.
"Is she okay?"
Marissa turned around then to make eye contact with Maggie and the doctor read more than just pain in that gaze. Maggie wanted to run, she wanted to run so far and so hard and so fast that it scared her. In Marissa's eyes, behind the pain of whatever it was that had happened with Miranda, Maggie could read sympathy and kindness.
"Yes she's ok. We think she might have found out about how she was conceived."
Maggie sucked in a breath, this was Bianca's worst fear realised.
"How?"
"The soccer game, her opponent was a Cramer."
The doctor blanched.
"That bastard's dead."
And it all came flooding back just like the waters that had devastated Pine Valley that night over 14 years ago, Maggie's anger and grief, her sense of loss and pain, her anguish for the woman she had loved so much more than a friend.
"Maggie?"
The broken voice brought the doctor back from the abyss, she looked down into brown eyes that swam with tears.
"Mimo isn't going to need your anger; she'll need your strength. All our strength."