The next morning, Fox sat at the head of the dining-room table, where Julian would usually sit. He was reading the morning paper.
The only thing of any interest, was an article that said that Grace Bennett, had been accused of being David Hastings accomplice, in the kidnapping of his father, mother and Kay Bennett.
Fox still didn't know what to make of that. He conjured up a visual image of Grace Bennett. In it, she was wearing an apron and carrying a tomato soup cake. He grimaced, before turning the page.
Whitney came gliding in. She kissed him good morning, before sitting down in a chair beside him.
'So, what's new in Harmony?' she asked. One of the maid's set a plate down before her.
'It looks like the police don't believe Grace had anything to do with my parents kidnapping. Then again, I wonder if Sam Bennett can be objective.'
Whitney picked up some eggs with her fork.
'Fox, I still think Grace is getting a bum rap. I mean, Kay was kidnapped for God's sakes!'
'Yeah, honey, but we all know how she feels about her mother.'
Whitney put the eggs into her mouth, chewed and swallowed.
'Yes, but Kay always was spoiled. She doesn't really mean any of that stuff.'
'Just like Simone doesn't mean the stuff she says about Eve?'
Whitney shook her head.
'I honestly think that Simone just needs time to heal.'
'From what, Whitney? I mean she should be happier than hell that she isn't doing time in a state prison somewhere.'
Whitney nodded sadly. Fox looked at her face and was instantly regretful. He reached out and touched her hand.
'I'm sorry. Let's not talk about this kind of stuff this early in the morning.'
Whitney smiled and squeezed his hand.
'Agreed. So, isn't it nice having the twins all to ourselves?'
Fox shrugged. He had returned to perusing the paper.
'Fox?'
Fox looked at Whitney.
'What?'
'I said, isn't it nice having the twins all to ourselves? They're kind of like practice, don't you think?'
Fox set down the paper.
'Whitney, I know we've talked about this before, but...'
'Fox, I stopped taking my birth control pills.'
Fox's mouth dropped open!
'Since when?' he asked in a tight voice.
'A month ago.'
'A month ago! Whitney, how could you do something like that without discussing it with me?'
'Because you've done everything in your power to avoid discussing it, Fox! Besides, I know you have doubts and why. I mean, back when you were growing up, Julian wasn't the best father. And Ivy is still a lousy mother. But you're not them. Things will be different, I promise.'
Fox was about to respond to that, when Amanda walked into the dining room. Fox picked up his paper again. Looking at her, reminded him that his own sister tried to tongue kiss him last night!
Whitney looked up and smiled.
'Hey, Amanda! Where are you off to this morning?'
'Oh, I'm going to go with Ethan to put some flowers on Gwen's grave. I wish I could've known her.'
Whitney smiled softly.
'She was a good person.' Whitney responded. She looked over at Fox, who seemed immersed in his paper. He didn't even say good morning to his sister.
Amanda looked at Fox, then back at Whitney.
'I think I'll just get something on the way with Ethan. I'll see you two later, okay?'
Whitney nodded, then looked at Fox again. He made no eye contact with his sister. Amanda turned and left the dining room. Whitney grabbed the edge of the paper and pulled it down away from Fox.
'What has gotten into you this morning? You didn't say two words to Amanda this morning.'
Fox set the paper down again.
'I think she should find her own place.' he said.
'What? What are you talking about? We agreed to let her stay with us.'
'Yes, but not forever.'
'Fox, she hasn't been in town that long.'
'Whitney, she was here to make sure that Mother was okay. She is, Amanda has met her, and now it's time for her to be on her way.'
'Well, I guess you have a point, sort of, but I thought you wanted to get to know her?'
'I do. But honey, in the end, this is not our house. We can't just open up our parents home to people they don't know.'
Whitney stared at him. Fox, thinking that was the end of the conversation, began picking up his paper again. But Whitney grabbed it!
'Whitney!'
'Fox, what's going on here? There's something you're not telling me.'
'Can I have my paper back?'
But Whitney flung it aside!
'No! I want you to tell me what's really going on here? Why, all of a sudden, are you so anxious for Amanda to find her own place to live?'
Fox didn't know how he was supposed to answer that! What was he supposed to say to Whitney? That he wanted Amanda out of here, because he feared his own sister would put the moves on him in the middle of the night?
But Fox came up with an alternative answer.
'I just don't want to give Cowell a reason to come dropping in, that's all.'
Whitney's face softened.
'Honey, I know that you feel that way because of me. But don't worry, please. I can handle myself around Amanda's father.'
'Whitney, another 'American Idol' will be starting up soon. That's going to mean more tabloid stories. I just don't want to be involved with it, okay? And Amanda is a reason for reporters to come sniffing around here.'
'I understand that, Fox. But it's not her fault. I mean, my God, this whole thing cost her her own fianc▌! I just don't think we can tell her to leave right now.'
'You don't have to tell her anything. I will. I just wanted to give you a heads up, that's all.'
'You really feel that strongly about this, don't you?' she asked.
'Yes, Whitney, I do. Just like I feel strongly about your lying about your birth control pills.'
Whitney stood up.
'I had to take action, Fox. If it had been left up to you alone, we would never start a family.' she said, throwing down her napkin. She turned and left the dining room.
Fox sighed deeply and shook his head. What was done was done. He would go after Whitney and agree to have a baby...anything to keep her from being mad at him! Just as he stood up, the front door opened. From his vantage point, Fox saw Julian hustling towards the stairs.
'Father?'
Julian stopped short. He looked a bit disheveled. Fox walked over to him.
'Where is Eve?' he asked.
Julian looked around and saw no one. He put a hand on his son's shoulder.
'For reasons that I can't get in to, Eve is in Salem...with Tony DiMera.'
'God, why?'
'Fox, I can't tell you why. I will just say that for now, Tony has us at his mercy.'
'Father, what the hell is going on now?!'
'I'll tell you...someday.' was all Julian could say right now. He could not tell his son that he had killed Antonio Lopez-Fitzgerald, even if it was by accident. Fox was close with Teresa, and to ask him to keep that kind of secret from his friend, much less his wife...Julian could not, and would not, put Fox in that position.
'Father!'
'Look, all I can say is that DiMera has us in a position, in which Eve felt she had no choice but to agree to his demand that she live with him in Salem.'
'What???'
'Yes! And I plan to be there as well!'
'I don't understand, Father...I'm sure Tony DiMera did not extend you the same invitation.'
'No...he didn't. But I'm sure he wouldn't refuse to let Eve bring her personal maid along.'
Fox raised a brow.
'Personal maid? Eve doesn't have one.'
Julian grinned!
'I'm going to take a page out of the Alistair Crane/Stefano DiMera playbook.'
Fox began to smile!
'You're going to be Eve's maid! Oh my God!'
'I have several disguises up in the attic, from my romping days with Rebecca! I'm going up there now to find something, 'womanly'.'
'I'll get Whitney. She can help so that you are able to fool the good Count DiMera.'
Julian and Fox were about to head up the stairs, when the doorbell rang. Julian, who was closer to it, walked over to the door, then swung it open. It was Marlena Black.
'Marlena? How good it is to see you. What brings you by?'
Marlena gave him a funny look.
'May I come in?' she asked. Julian nodded, then looked back at Fox, his expression questioning. What could Marlena possibly want?
'Uh,' Fox began, 'I think I'm going to clue Whitney in, then we'll scoot up to you know where, okay?'
Julian nodded, then closed the door, as Marlena stepped inside.
'Uh, Marlena, as lovely as it would be to chat with you, I really am in a hurry now so...'
'Julian, now that you are back, I was curious about the sessions.'
'Sessions?'
'Yes. The ones you wanted me to have with Eve...you know, over what has been going on with Preston, and the miscarriage.'
'The miscarriage...Preston...' Julian's voice trailed off. All of that seemed like a lifetime ago. That fateful day that Eve lost their child, a boy or girl that would've been their fourth together. And Preston...Julian didn't know what to do about him. He just figured he would give the young man time to come around.
'Marlena, another emergency has come up...one concerning the DiMera's.'
Marlena's face tensed up.
'What kind of emergency, Julian?'
'Nothing I can go in to. But I will say it makes Eve and my earlier problems seem like nothing.'
'The DiMera's have that effect on people. Can I help?'
'No! I mean, Marlena, you of all people have been through the ringer with that family. I don't want to involve anyone who could get hurt. I'll be fine.'
'And Eve?'
'I'm doing something that will ensure she will be alright as well.' Julian said firmly.
SALEM
Eve sighed, as she walked into the DiMera mansion in Salem. She had not been back here in years.
She looked around the sitting room. The last time she was here, Julian, herself, Rebecca, Teresa and Austin Reed, were being dragged out of this room, and onto an airplane. Eve walked around the room a bit. There was a part of her that had loved this house, for whatever reason. Eve guessed that was because she had thought she had loved Tony.
Tony came in, and watched Eve looking around the room. He sensed she was feeling nostalgic. That was a good sign. That meant that all of her feelings for him had not died. He walked up behind her and slipped his arms around her.
Eve abruptly pulled away! She then turned around to face him. Julian had been right. It would not be easy fending off Tony's advances. Then again, as long as it wasn't outright sex, maybe she shouldn't try.
'Eve, I know this is going to be awkward, but I do hope you will give our living arrangements a chance.'
Eve took a deep breath.
'Yes, of course...that was the agreement.' she answered softly. Tony's black eyes glittered.
Tony reached out and touched her hand.
'I have something I want to show you.' he said, pulling her along. Eve dragged a bit, not feeling in control of the situation. Where on earth were they going?
She vaguely remembered that Tony had a library down this hallway. And that was where he took her. Tony pulled her into the room, then moved so that he was behind her. He covered her eyes with his hands.
'Tony, really, all you have to do is show me.' Eve said, feeling vastly uncomfortable. She really wasn't interested in any surprises from Tony!
'But Eve darling, this one will help you.'
'Help me what, Tony?'
'To relax...when we do finally make love.' he whispered, as he removed his hands from over her eyes, and turned Eve slightly to the left. Eve gasped!
There, on the wall, above the fireplace, was some sort of ungodly, filthy portrait, of Tony, and herself, naked, in a cupid sort of way! Eve began to back back, but ended up backing into Tony! She jumped and turned around.
'Tony, uh...I...'
'Eve, I am going to have that hung in your bedroom. That is what our being together could be like...beautiful and sensual...'
'Uh, yes. I see that. Look, I really don't need to have that in my bedroom...I mean, if it happens, it happens...'
But Tony slowly reached out and gently pulled Eve to him.
'Not 'if' Eve, 'when'. And you have nothing to fear from me. I would never force my attentions upon you. You will come to me. I promise.'
Tony then kissed her quickly, before Eve could scream or push him away! When he finally let go of her, Eve pasted on a fake smile, then watched as he turned and left the room. Eve wiped her lips and looked over at the portrait. She made a face at it! If Tony was so sure she would come to him, then Eve knew she was safe for awhile. Because that would not be happening as far she was concerned!
Ivy opened her hotel room door to Alistair. He stepped in quickly, before she told him to come in. She folded her arms.
'Well?' she asked.
Alistair smiled at her.
'It's done, Ivy dear. Soon, Grace will be in jail, along with David, and you will have Sam.'
Ivy grinned! She would've hugged Alistair, if she did not loathe him so much!
'Tell me, Alistair, how do you propose you will 'get' Grace, if she does end up in prison with her buddy David?'
'Oh, Grace won't go to prison. I'll get her the help she needs. Hell, I'm not going to prison.'
'You deserve to.'
'Ivy, please, let's put aside the nastiness for one moment, shall we? You're going to get what you want and I...by the way, I don't quite see how what I'm doing will guarantee you Sam?'
Ivy looked at her ex-father-in-law like he had lost his mind!
'What the hell are you talking about? Once this is done, Sam will come racing into my arms.'
'Or some other woman's. I mean, yes, our Chief of Police will be a free man. But one never knows. I mean surely there are other women in this town that would love to be with such a nice looking man...'
'And I'll kill them if they even look his way twice!' Ivy hissed. God! What the hell kind of crappy thing was that to say?! The very idea of losing Sam to someone besides that simpleton Grace, after all of her scheming and plotting?! The very idea was vile and vulgar!
Alistair put a hand up and smiled.
'I didn't mean to upset you, Ivy. I just thought that I would prepare you for the reality of the situation. It is possible that Sam might turn to someone else for comfort.'
'Just like it's possible that Grace will as well. I'm sure when Sam hears that tape you planted, his wife won't sound like she's having a good time with you.'
'On the contrary, Ivy dear, that is exactly what it's going to sound like.'
Ivy grinned again.
'You doctored the tape, didn't you?'
Alistair only shrugged.
Sam stopped by his wife's Bed and Breakfast nook, to check up on things. When he brought Grace home from the hospital today, he didn't want her to be bogged down in work. It was all of that work that put her in such poor shape.
Jessica was coming by to help out as well. Sam couldn't get Kay on the phone. He really wanted things to be the way the used to be between Kay and Grace. There had to be a way to close this chasm that had developed between his wife and daughter.
If only he could prove Grace innocent of this whole thing! Sam knew his wife was innocent, of course! But he needed for Kay to believe it as well. And short of David or Alistair admitting that they lied, Sam didn't see how he was going to go about changing Kay's mind.
Sam walked into Grace's office and sat down. He then slowly stood up. There was something in her black leather chair.
Actually, it was two things: something that looked like a remote control. The other, was a small tape. Sam reached down and picked up both items.
What the hell was Grace doing with an electrical device such as this? And what was on this tape?
Sam stared at the remote. What did this thing open or operate? He looked around Grace's office. He saw nothing that this would be used for. Maybe it controlled something else in the building.
He then set the remote down and looked at the tape. It was very small. Sam knew he had a mini-recorder in the glove compartment of his car. He would listen to it, on his way to the hospital to pick up Grace.