Chapter 9

"So," Holly sighed into the phone, "Another sex tape humiliation?"

Blake groaned. "Please promise me again that Clarissa isn't right there next to you?"

"No, your scandal is safe from her ears," Holly told her.

"I'm so glad she's visiting you this month," Blake confessed.

"And Ed and I are happy to have her. But, getting back to your drama… a sex tape, huh? Again?"

"It's not the same thing as Alan-Michael," Blake insisted.

"No, this time it's with a woman," Holly replied dryly.

"Mother!" Blake sighed when Holly giggled slightly.

"I'm sorry," her mother said halfheartedly.

"No, you're not."

"Okay, I'm not sorry for the joke, but I am sorry you're upset. I just don't know what I can do."

"I'm looking for real advice here. I didn't plan to…"

"Fall for a woman?"

"Fall for anyone," Blake insisted. She sat on her sofa, playing with the mane of the horse Doris had won for her at the carnival the night before. "I was just trying to help Jason out of this legal mess, but now I'm stuck. I don't know what to do. I lo…I like Doris – a lot. It sounds insane, even to my ears, but I think I'm in love with Doris. I like who I am when I'm around her and she reads me – probably better than anyone I've ever known."

"That says a lot actually," her mother complimented.

"But Jason is going to be in so much trouble if I don't come through and give Barry Wolfe dirt on her. He told me I've got less than a day to produce 'something' to get Doris to drop out of the next election so the clock is ticking here."

Holly took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. "I don't know Doris Wolfe, but I do know her new bestie, Olivia Spencer."

"Jeez Mom, could you say that with a little more resentment?" Blake mentioned with a snort.

"You might not remember, but, once upon a time, Olivia and I were really close."

Blake snorted again and teased, "How close exactly?"

Holly chuckled. "Not as close as her and Natalia, let's put it that way."

For a moment, Holly and Blake both laughed.

"Look," Holly continued, "truth be completely told, maybe I'm a tad jealous that Olivia shares more with Doris than me now. My point is this: if Doris is anything like Olivia then she's going to be mad and she might even hold a grudge for a while. But here's the thing: once logic wins out, and she sees you genuinely care for her, she'll probably forgive you. That's what Olivia did with Natalia that one summer, remember?"

"I do," Blake replied. "But Doris…"

"Isn't Olivia?" Holly offered.

"Right. I don't think she's as forgiving. There's a chance Doris will never trust me again if I tell her the truth. She's similar to Olivia, but they have their differences. Doris is much more… shielded… than Olivia. If she finds out I was willing to set her up, she'll hate me."

"Sweetie," Holly told her. "Maybe she will, but maybe she'll love you more for the honesty now, rather than an apology after she finds out."

"Thanks, Mom," Blake said. "I mean that sincerely. Natalia told me something similar, but it's nice to hear it from you too."

"I didn't do anything, and the truth is, I don't envy you at all right now. You're in a tough situation. I love Jason too, of course, and I don't know what I'd do if I were in the same position. Still, I say honesty is the best policy."

"Okay, she's at work now, but I'll meet her tonight and tell her everything."

"I'm proud of you," Holly told her.

"Proud? Really?"

"Yeah, it's not easy to take the high road sometimes. And God knows I'm not a saint."

"None of us are, Mom," Blake reminded her.

At the same time that Blake was talking to her mother, Doris was at work, looking at a budget proposal.

She really wasn't focusing on the page very much though. Her mind kept going back to Blake. Yes, just like their first night together, the physical connection was amazing. However, rather than be overjoyed, she kept remembering Blake feeling upset about Jason being in trouble. Although Blake was reluctant to share, and Doris promised she'd give her space and not push her for answers, she didn't say she couldn't do her own digging. She hit the intercom button on her phone.

"Marci?"

"Yes, Mayor Wolfe," the woman said on the other end.

"Find out what you can about a Jason Marler – son of Ross and Blake Marler; brother of Kevin, a twin, and a younger sister Clarissa. Actually, now that I think about it, Blake might be listed as Chrissy, Chris or Christina. I need his recent whereabouts, any criminal record, and so on. Age would be late teens/ early twenties. Please report what you find out today."

"Certainly, Ma'am."

"Thank you," Doris replied. With that out of the way, she figured maybe she could now focus on the numbers in front of her. She was even having a bit of success after a few minutes. That is until she heard a small commotion outside her office. She rose as the door opened. Her cousin, Barry, walked inside holding a manila folder, as her assistant Marci followed him, hot on his heels.

"She always has time for family," he continued to argue with the assistant. "Isn't that right, my dear cousin?" he asked Doris.

"I'm sorry Ms. Wolfe," Marci said, "I told him-."

"It's okay," Doris told her. "I'll deal with Mr. Wolfe."

"Chief Wolfe… again."

"Whatever," Doris sighed. She turned to Marci. "Just look into that report I asked for."

With a nod, Marci closed the door behind her, leaving them alone.

"And to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today, Barry?"

"Well, I wanted to give you a heads up."

"Ready to have Frank Cooper take over yet again? I swear you two are like revolving door police chiefs."

"Yes, well, losing Natalia Rivera and then-."

"Natalia Rivera-Spencer," Doris corrected him.

"Natalia Rivera-Spencer and then Blake, well, I can see why the man needed a break – a chance to regain his focus and whatnot. I was happy to fill his shoes as chief."

"Lovely," Doris sighed. "I'm sure you didn't come here to talk about Detective Cooper's love life, so is there a point to this visit?" she asked.

"I'm not sure how to sugar coat it, so I'll cut to the chase… I'm running for mayor in the upcoming election."

Doris chuckled, "Is that so?"

"Yep," he told her. "I know your secret, Dori, and I'm not afraid to show all of Springfield."

"Show them what exactly?" Doris laughed.

"You know? Your sapphoic tendencies."

"Okay, first, I think you meant to say Sapphic. And second, there's nothing to see – we both know you're full of hot air." She motioned toward the door as he opened the folder.

"Funny, but that isn't what Blake Marler thinks…"

"Bla-…" Her lover's name died on her lips when Barry threw down several photographs of her and the redhead outside her hotel room at the Beacon, looking anything but platonic.

"Now," Barry began smugly as he looked at Doris's shocked expression. "I'm the only one who has these photos. And as long as you decide you're not running in the next election, they'll never see the light of day. You're family after all. I'm giving you a chance to bow out gracefully. But if you want to challenge me, well, let's just say 'someone' is going to send these to every television and radio station within 100 miles. And I'll make sure that Blake Marler confirms that the photos are legit…"

"What the hell?" Doris sighed.

"Oh yeah," Barry continued, "Blake did try to get a video of you two that night, but no luck – too dark or something. At least that's what she said… Anyway, I still got enough here. So just remember, I'm giving you a chance to avoid a scandal."

Barry began to leave, but then he turned back toward a still shocked Doris.

"You can keep those for yourself," he said as she motioned to the photos still on her desk. "I've got lots of copies…. Later, Cuz."

Doris, still slack jawed, looked at the images on her desk. She swore her heart stopped.

TBC