Chapter Twenty-one

(see my Profile for more info ... Cast of Characters ... Timeline ... etc ...)

The Douglas Apartment … Sunday morning … 10:30 am

"Are you sure this is how you want to handle it?" Matt asked quietly as he and Stephanie walked into the kitchen.

"I'm sure. I already explained things to Pam yesterday so she knows what to expect."

"Well – there you two are … I was beginning to think you were never going to leave the bedroom."

Pam greeted them from her seat at the counter.

"We got home late so we decided to sleep late." Stephanie shrugged as she went over to pour them some coffee.

"I'm not used to staying out so late." Matt shrugged as he opened the refrigerator and took out the orange juice.

"I heard you come in around 11:00 … that's hardly considered a late night. Even by my standards." Pam pointed out. "Did you have a good time at the fundraiser?"

"We had a very nice time … better than I thought we'd have." Stephanie told her as she put some bread in the toaster.

"If you're hungry, I could make you something." Pam offered.

"No – just toast is fine … do you want jam or honey on yours - honey?" Matt asked as he took out the butter and jar of strawberry jam for himself.

"Jam is fine - sweetie." Stephanie told him as she waited for the toast. "Did you get more packing done last night?"

"I'm pretty much all packed and ready to leave. Just left the things that I'll need until then."

"Good."

"I went and said goodbye to Tiny. He seems to really like it there. Mr. Morris says he's adjusted to his new surroundings … I don't miss him as much as I thought I would." Pam shrugged, making a face.

"Once you're settled into your own new place, you can get another dog. Preferably one that's more people-friendly." Stephanie pointed out as she carried the toast over to the counter and sat down next to her sister.

"Tiny was scared of you." Pam had to laugh at the thought.

"He just knew that my bite was worse than his bark." Stephanie laughed quietly as she took a sip of coffee.

Matt just looked at her than at the empty stool next to him then back at her with a dejected expression.

"Oh dear … looks like someone is going into withdrawal already." Pam teased them.

"The bride-to-be and her matron-of-honor have some plans to make." Stephanie pointed out unsympathetically.

"Oh … well … in that case … I guess I can manage over here all by myself."

"That's nice to hear."

"Did Stephanie did tell you that the groom-to-be is deciding on the when and the where of this wedding?" Matt grinned broadly.

"Now when would I have told Pam that, Dr. Smug? That wasn't decided upon until late last night." Stephanie pointed out flatly.

"How come you're letting him decide those things?" Pam asked surprised.

"Let's just say that I'm the omniscient one in this relationship." Matt's grin widened even more as he winked at the two of them.

"Oh – don't listen to him. He just THINKS he knows it all." Stephanie gave him an exasperated look then reached over for her laptop and positioned it in front of her.

"I can see the two of you have a lot in common." Pam tried not to look too smug herself then picked up the paper. "Speaking of not having time, you obviously haven't seen the write-up in this morning's Society Section of the Chicago Tribune. The future Dr. and Mrs. Smug made front page news."

"You can't be serious." Stephanie told her incredulously.

"Seeing is believing." Pam handed her the newspaper section. "The article is titled "A Match Made in Heaven? There's a really nice photo of the two of you."

"Ha! Heaven – huh? Well – I'll be damned." Matt laughed as he stretched to see it upside down. "Guess I'm not the only omniscient person around."

Giving him another exasperated look, Stephanie turned the paper sideways so they both could see it.

"Would you look at that … our very first photograph together." Matt grinned, giving Stephanie's hand a meaningful squeeze.

"It's really not that bad – as photos go." Stephanie smiled easily, leaning to give him a quick kiss. "Why don't I email them and request a copy." She decided, letting him take the paper while she went back to her laptop.

"A color copy. It can be our engagement photo."

Matt quickly read through the text in a mumble.

"Brief and to the point - and accurate. A match made in heaven and the lovely lady was the hit of the evening … so much for your low profile, Mrs. Forrester." He smirked. "This guy has got the scoop of the century and he doesn't even know it."

"Well – that's a bit of an exaggeration – don't you think?" Stephanie laughed. "Decade maybe."

"Well – well … what do we have here?" Ann spoke up from the doorway, startling the three of them back to reality. "Or should I say – WHO do we have here?" She rephrased her question as she eyed Matt suspiciously.

"Mother – " Pam gasped anxiously, instinctively shrinking back into the chair.

"Hello, Pam." Ann greeted her tonelessly as she eyed the threesome carefully.

Stephanie instinctively leaned closer to her younger sister, locking eyes with her mother silently for a long moment.

"Welcome home, Mother." She finally greeted her in a pleasant tone, raising an eyebrow.

"Thank you, Stevie. It's good to be home." Ann walked closer to them. "I was able to catch an earlier flight. And to my surprise, the car you arranged for was already waiting for me."

"Imagine that. Well – I guess the driver just didn't want to be late."

"I guess not." Ann eyed her oldest daughter carefully. "I must say - you're looking very well, Stephanie."

"I'm feeling very well. This trip to Chicago is proving to be the exactly what the doctor ordered. Would you like some coffee?" Stephanie offered as she stood and went over to get it.

"Yes – I would. Thank you." Ann focused her attention on Matt – who finally stood and pulled the chair out next to him. "It seems I've interrupted quite a cozy little conversation between the three of you."

"Yes – you did." Stephanie smiled mysteriously as she set the cup down in front of her mother.

"I just can't imagine how you managed to get yourself invited into my home, Mr. Brannigan." Ann told him in an unmistakably snippy and unwelcoming tone as she sat down next to him.

Stephanie laughed good-naturedly as she returned to her seat.

"Well – actually – that was probably the easiest thing Matthew has ever done."

Matt just eyed Stephanie carefully for a moment, finally able to pick up on what she was really up to and decided to go along with it.

"Yes – it was. I invited myself over for some of Pam's famous hot cocoa and cookies last Tuesday night – and I've pretty much been here ever since." Matt shrugged. "We haven't been properly introduced, Mrs. Douglas. I'm Dr. Matthew Brannigan." He didn't bother to hold out his hand as they watched the unsettled expression on Ann's face.

"So, let me see if I've got this right, Dr. Brannigan … you invited yourself into my home and have been taking advantage of my two daughters' hospitality – "

"Well – hospitality isn't exactly the word I would use to describe it." Stephanie interrupted her, trying not to smirk too broadly.

"What word would you use …" Ann's voice trailed off as she finally started to realize what was going on. "Oh – I see … the doctor here has been entrapped by my oldest daughter's legendary charm – is that it?" She raised a disapproving eyebrow.

"Well – what can I say – I'm just another fly caught in your daughter's web of seduction." Matt sighed resolutely. "Helpless to resist … helpless to escape … the wedding is next week, by the way." He shrugged.

"Ahhh – you poor, poor man." Stephanie consoled him with a pat on the hand.

Ann quickly looked over and saw that Stephanie's rings had been replaced with a new one.

"Well – well … so I finally meet the man who is able to replace Eric Forrester … and in less than a week … I underestimated you, Dr. Brannigan." Ann admitted uneasily.

"In more ways than one, Mrs. Douglas." Matt assured her as he raised an eyebrow.

"As far as I know, bigamy is still against the law – even in California." Ann pointed out.

"My divorce from Eric will be final any day now. And I've asked the judge to waive the waiting period." Stephanie explained matter-of-factly then raised an eyebrow. "More coffee, Mother?"

Ann was just about to answer when something on the counter top caught her eye.

"Oh my –" She murmured as she saw the bottle of pills right there in plain view. She quickly picked it up. "Now – Pammie – what have I told you about being tidy –" She stood and went over to put the bottle away in a nearby drawer.

"I'm sorry, Mother. Sometimes, I just forget." Pam finally spoke up on cue.

Ann picked up her coffee cup and went into the kitchen to get her own refill. The three of them watched her as Ann saw another bottle of pills on the counter near the kitchen sink. She quickly picked it up and pushed it into another drawer then took a deep breath as she reached for the coffee pot.

"Is everything alright, Mother?" Stephanie spoke up in a concerned tone. "You're looking a little peaked."

"I'm fine, dear … just fine." Ann managed one of her smiles as she returned to take her seat then practically dropped her coffee cup on the counter when she saw another bottle of pills on the counter between Stephanie and Matt. She quickly reached to grab it. "I just don't know where these are coming from." She shoved it into another drawer then managed to sit down.

"Here's one you missed, Mother." Pam pointed out as she placed another bottle on the counter top between them.

Ann looked at the bottle then at Pam then at Stephanie. They watched the color drain from her face and the energy leave her body as she realized what was going on.

"I … I …" Ann started to stammer then just sunk back into the chair with a heavy sigh.

"I suggest that you take a moment and choose your words very carefully from now on." Matt told her in a quiet, matter-of-fact tone as he leaned towards her.

"Just WHO do you think you are?" Ann recovered enough to demand in a huff.

"Who I am will always be your choice to make from this moment on." Matt raised an eyebrow. " I can be your polite though distant son-in-law … OR … I can be your worst nightmare … either way, make no mistake about it – I will NEVER let you hurt Stephanie EVER again - in any way, shape or form … and that includes not hurting her sister, Pam, as well. Do you understand?" He paused. "Like I said – take a moment – give it some thought if you have to … but don't think that the fact that you're a little old lady will in any way influence my treatment of you. I'll chew you up and spit you out like a rotten piece of meat if I have to." A slow smile formed as Matt straightened then emptied his coffee cup. "Would anyone else like a refill?" He offered then stood.

"Yes … thank you." Stephanie handed him her cup then leaned to meet his lips in a deep kiss.