Part 13

No one in Salem that year forgot the early thaw that began as February slid into March. To many, it seemed a sign of promise, lightening hearts and melting sorrows. To a small, determined group of Salemites, though, it signaled the time to put their own promises to each other into action.

And despite the protests of every man involved, it was the women who demanded the right to share their risks, and initiate their plan. This was simply too important, and too intricate to leave anything to chance, And in fact, it was these same talented, stubborn women whose eye for detail for found the perfect way to set their scheme in motion.

"The appeal is being held in the same Federal court in Chicago where the trial took place." Maggie told them,

"That means, unless they really are ... incompetent, both Alamain and Lenouri know that building inside and out." Liz added,

"And they know their appeal is more than likely to fail, right?" Sami asked.

"That's why they're very probably going to make a break as soon as they arrive." Carrie added in a flat, angry tone.

"Thinking they'll catch everyone off guard." Chloe agreed.

"So, this is what we do." Kate said, gesturing them to come close. "We take BBI Design to the Chicago Trade Mart and give our competitors and our enemies a run for their money. It's the perfect cover and just happens to be across the street from the Federal building. Agreed?"

"Agreed." they chorused, and then laughed as their men, convening their own meeting across the room turned to stare.

Lucas was the first one to walk over and he wasn't shy about confronting his mother, wife, and relatives in the least. "What exactly do you ladies find amusing about this? I'd really like to know."

"And so would I." Brady, said, following him, as did Mickey, Tony, and Scott, John and Victor.

"Don't feel bad, fellows." Anna laughed, joining them. "You can't help it if you're always going to be one step behind the women in your lives. Victor, darling, if you don't loosen that tie, I'm going to do it myself, you're turning red from the neck up and that's not a good sign."

"Stop fussing, woman." Victor complained, even as he worked at the annoying item. But there was a twinkle in his deep-set eyes that hadn't been there in years.

It clearly amused the corporate leader of Salem to be flattered and escorted by Tony's gorgeous ex. And even Isabella, who had never seen her father chasing a woman, and Tony, who in his own way still adored Anna and Liz, were seen to smile at this recent development.

"That leaves Lucas' question unanswered." John noted, "What's going on, Kate? You were one of the most adamant that we work together on this."

"I was and I am. And the fact is, as fine as your part of the plan is, John, it was sadly lacking a vital element."

"What?" the male contingent demanded.

"A diversion." Carrie told them. "Scott, you used to play with magic kits when we were kids. It's really pretty simple, its called misdirection."

"Exactly." Maggie agreed. "You set the trap, guys and we misdirect our quarry right into it."

"Easy as pie." Sami added.

"No, no way." Lucas groaned. "I tried making you a cherry pie the other day and no matter how much Rivvy told me, it still came out more like cherry flambé. Whoever coined the phrase 'easy as pie' clearly didn't know what they were talking about."

"And that's without even mentioning the pecan sauce we ended up with when he wanted to make pecan pie." Sami giggled, and then tried to kiss her husband to make up for tattling.

" Hey! It was great on ice cream, especially great on butter pecan!" Lucas declared.

"It was scrumptious, baby, just like you." Sami laughed, and pulled him into her arms. Not very surprisingly, her husband ceased all resistance at that point kissing Sami until Billie and Mike walked up, yelling.

"Would you two just get a room, please?"

"Very well, now that we have what I believe is called a quorum." Tony began, when the general laughter faded. "Let's continue. Elizabeth, I believe you had the floor, next."

"Thank you, Antony." Liz grinned at him, thinking her friend and ex husband had changed in many ways, but would never lose his charm. "This is really Kate's plan, with some additions and subtractions from the rest of us. We're taking BBI Design's new season lines to the Chicago Trade Mart, spring and early summer styles mostly, just in time for Easter and spring break. We've already made the preliminary arrangements, and the first releases have gone out to the fashion media. BellCass and our newer lines will be showcased, proceeds to the Horton Foundation, as always. It's basically going to be part of a huge fashion show that goes on there twice, three times a year for days on end. There's security, of course, but not really very much. Not usually. After all, once the clothes are on the runways, what is there to secure?"

"But this year," Kate said in a brook-no-arguments tone, "That will be different. Its a very simple matter, guys. You hold the door while we strut our stuff. And if this many of us so conveniently in one place doesn't bait the trap, I don't know what will."

"I hate to say this." John spoke up, shaking his head. "But I think I like this idea. But who's modeling?"

"We are." the women answered, laughing.

"And I am." Carly Manning added, walking up to greet her friends.

"And so am I." Nicholas added. "And so are Phillip, Andrew, Mike, and Shawn.

That's all, so far. What about the rest of you fellows?"

"Well, some of us will be holding the door, " Mickey answered. " But I'll be happy to contribute my time. I was considered quite the playboy back in the day."

"Yes, you were." Maggie laughed, as Laura joined her agreeing completely.

"I will be content to provide any added security system." Victor commented dryly. "And of course, a generous donation."

"I'll defer the public face of the operation to my brother." Tony laughed. "I was invited to try my luck at modeling in my younger days, It was great fun and even better, it greatly embarassed and annoyed my late father."

"Well, I don't mind having you all to myself, gorgeous." Kate taunted him. "But this gig, as Liz pointed out, is for charity,"

"So," Lucas said, turning to his bride of five months. "How come you haven't asked me to take on this gig?"

"Egotist." Sami laughed. "Because I do want you all to myself."

"Oh, good answer. How's the soccer match going in there?" he smirked, patting her rounding stomach.

"They seem to be pretty evenly matched so far. Another month and a half and they'll be kicking you out of bed. Or I will. Lucas, do you realize that if I am going to model now, it would be in maternity clothes. Thanks to you?"

"No, the way I recall it that was definitely a joint effort. And you're already outshining every other woman here."

"Another good answer." Sami smiled and rewarded him with a warm kiss.

They were meeting in the den of John and Isabella's newly completed home, and adjourned for the six course meal she called a simple luncheon. This consisted of bruschetta, linguini, marinara and pesto, penne, and rigatoni, with a colorful Greek salad and Italian sodas or cappachino for dessert. It had become a habit of these survivors to get together for any serious or frivolous occasion. And just now they were focused on their need to put the past year's fears behind them once and for all.

"I think there's one item we have yet to address." Todd Curtis said when he came in late. "While most of us are in Chicago, and G-d willing, putting an end to this, who's got the childcare duty?"

"We do." Carrie, Scott and Tommy Horton replied and the elderly doctor continued. "We realized that between the three of us we've already babysat for more than half the people in this room! And it turns out, Scott's dad, David is the one who bought the Brady house a couple months ago. It's been thoroughly checked and its clean as a whistle, now.

So we're expanding the facilities of Horton House across the way. We've already received several immensely generous donations, and the paperwork for the grants we'll need is on Mickey's desk. The fence between the back yards came down yesterday. in fact. It only seems right. Our two families have been linked by love and hope for years. This is just another outward sign of that bond's growth and strength. Just like this sign, growing right here." Tommy said and laid his hand gently over Sami's diminishing lap.

Sami looked up and around the room as what the older Dr Horton sank in. She wasn't at all surprised to see John, Victor, Liz, Tony, Anna and Kate painting carefully innocent expressions on their faces. Then she turned to Carrie, saying: "Mom would just love this, wouldn't she?"

Carrie's worried look vanished and she nodded. "Dad would too. That's what I thought when I decided to help run the new place. Tommy will of course make sure everyone's healthy, And Scott will act as David's ... well, I don't know, Scotty, What are you going to be doing with us?"

"Keeping you out of trouble, Ms Brady. Someone has to keep you from giving away the store."

Scott laughed, and gently kissed Carrie, making her blush and giggle.

This brought Lucas back to sit next to Sami and whisper. "Another Horton/Brady match?"

"Yupp. All wrapped up, neat and tidy." She grinned. "Haven't you been paying attention? Scott was a goner on our wedding day."

"We almost all were." he reminded her. "Sami, wait, who elected you ... what does Rivka call it, the local yenta?"

"Your grandmother and mine. Someone has to keep up the tradition, after all." Sami told him nonchalantly.

"And so, what other targets, oops I meant, lucky couples do you have in your sights?"

"Well, some are a lot easier than others because before I got on the job, they were already leaning that way. And others obviously had the hand of G-d already in their favor so there was really nothing I had to do. But there are some really hard types around this town and I'm having to almost break a sweat on those cases."

"Well, at least we're safely off the list." Lucas sighed. "So, who's on it?"

"Group A is definitely Mike and Billie, Chloe and Brady, Meems and Rex, Laura and Tommy, Cassie and your baby brother.  And maybe a few others. Group B right now is only Isabella and John, Mickey and Maggie, Jamie and her Sean, Wendy and Jonah. Group C are the more complicated and even obstinate ones, I was sure I could drop Victor and Anna, Belle and Andrew, Stephany and Benjy into Group A, but they're being difficult lately. So they're C's, along with Kate and Tony, and until today, I thought, Scott and Carrie. But then there's a small, sub-group, that has Liz, Hope and Shawn, and the only thing I can figure is that they just aren't ready to take the leap."  

"So, your plan is to give them a good push?"

"Nope. Never works. You should know that by now, Lucas."

"I dunno, It worked out all right with us."

"You're wrong. We're the exception that proves the rule. We were absolutely in Group B before anyone could do anything about it. But we were pretending to be in Group C for so long that it almost wrecked everything. Now we're fine." Sami explained carefully, with a definite twinkle in her eyes.

"I'm glad to hear that. Of course I guess if I was gonna get mushy, I'd say that makes us soul mates, right?"

"I like the quote Rivka gave me a lot better.  'I have found who my soul loves.'  It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"Just beautiful." Lucas agreed, and gently pulled Sami into his arms again.