Chapter 21

Springfield Police Station

Monday, September 7, 1992

On Monday morning, Blake decided to visit Alan-Michael before he was sent to Statesville Prison. She still hadn't spoken to Ross about Alan-Michael's stock, since Ross wasn't due to come home until today.

She sweet talked Detective Levy into letting her see Alan-Michael. As she approached his cell, she cracked, "You know, every single one of my exes are serving jail time or is out on parole. I hope this isn't a pattern? I'd like to keep the one I currently have."

"Blake," Alan-Michael warned.

"What? Not in the mood for prison humor? You probably shouldn't have confessed to a crime they didn't had any evidence of!" She berated him.

"I had to Blake. I had no choice."

"What? I didn't see anyone put a gun to your head. You didn't confess because they were arresting me for obstruction, did you?" Blake was suddenly worried that she'd been the cause of him confessing.

"No, I was going to confess before I knew they were going to arrest you."

Relieved, Blake asked, "So, why did you do it? I don't understand."

"Elanie," Alan-Michael began to explain. "I went looking for her, after I talked to you on Sunday. And I found her...with Frank."

"Okay," Blake still didn't understand. "So, I don't see how that made you want to confess."

"She was with Frank! On the floor of his living room!" Alan-Michael yelled.

"Elanie cheated on you!" Blake was shocked. She'd never taken Elanie for a cheater. "Why?"

"She read the letter. I guess Frank showed her, I don't know," Alan-Michael shrugged his shoulders. "She put two and two together and figured out that I had something to do with the bombing."

"I didn't think she was that smart," Blake murmured.

Ignoring her, he continued, "She and Frank threatened to go to the police if I didn't. I knew if they saw the letter, Harley at least would start to figure it out. I thought, if I went in and made a deal, I would get a lighter sentence. I didn't mean for the bombing to happen and I gave up the guy I hired."

"Wow," Blake was actually shocked at how little fight he'd put up with from Elanie. She must have really hurt him. "Do you know what the sentence will be? How long are you going to be in prison?"

"Three years. Maybe half that with good behavior."

"So you're going to the same prison as Alan?" Blake wondered, "Trying to get in some father-son bonding?"

"I asked to be sent to the same prison as Alan because the bomber has friends. At least I'll have some protection at Statesville."

"So, why give me your proxy and power of attorney?"

"You're the only one I have left, Blake. Elanie is going to divorce me, Aunt Alex left town, Alan is, well…"

"What about your grandfather? Or your mom?" Blake interrupted.

"They have their own lives, they're not in Springfield. Blake, I'm asking you to do this because I trust you," he begged. "You're the only who's stood by me all these years. I'm not afraid of you screwing me over, now that you have control over my assets.

"I don't have control yet, I haven't signed the papers," Blake let him know.

"Why not?" Alan-Michael was shocked that Blake hadn't signed them the minute she saw them.

"I want Ross to look over them first."

"Ross?" he asked, confused. "I didn't think he was doing private law. And besides, I thought you hated that guy. He was trying to put you in jail over the Packard deal."

"That was a long time ago."

"Still."

"Alan-Michael, before you sign over all your worldly belongings to me, there's some things you need to know."

"Blake, I'm pretty sure I know almost everything about you."

"Well, there's been some developments, lately."

"Such as?" Alan-Michael wondered about the pregnancy. It was dark in the cell, but he was sure he could make out a light bump.

"Well, three things really. The first one, um, I guess it's a pretty big one. It turns out that Roger Thorpe isn't my dad after all," Blake laughed.

"What? Then who is? Wait, Ed?"

"Got it in one!"

"So that makes us…," he trailed off.

"Cousins," Blake replied. "First cousins once removed, I think."

"Oh, great," Alan-Michael banged his head again the bars of his cell.

"Oh, think of it this way, at least Alan was one of the few men mom didn't sleep with! We could be siblings!"

"Very funny, Blake."

"I try. And just so you still don't think that I have any intention of getting back together with you when you get out of the slammer, I'm in love with someone else and I'm almost three months pregnant," Blake said proudly.

"Well, I figured out that you were pregnant after you barfed that time I was at your house. So you're in love? I didn't think I had any more brothers." He thought for a minute. "Wait, it's not Nick is it? You're not the reason Mindy ran away from the wedding?"

"Ugh, no, not Nick. Besides, I was busy making this little girl or guy on Nick and Mindy's non-wedding night!"

"So, don't keep me in suspense. Who's the guy?"

"Guess," Blake commanded, smiling like a fool.

"What? I'm not guessing. What is this, a third grade slumber party? Do you want me to name all the guys in Springfield that you might have slept with?" Alan-Michael asked suggestively.

"Just think. Who would be the most unlikely person in Springfield for me to fall desperately in love with?"

Okay, I'll play your games. The entertainment around here is really lacking. Well, Spauldings are out. Not many left that you havn't slept with and Nick is a no. Bauers are out...I hope? Billy Lewis? No way in hell would he ever...ha...I got it! The least likely person for you fall in love with is...Ross Marler!" He joked, hoping to get a laugh out of Blake.

Blake just smiled at him. A sickeningly sweet smile.

"Ross! You're in love with Ross Marler and your having his baby!" Alan-Michael shouted.

"Shhh, not so loud!" Blake hushed him.

"Oh, this is priceless. How?"

"It's just...happened. I don't really know how to explain it. But he's good for me. And he loves me. He knows exactly who I am and he loves me anyway."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Towers

Monday, September 7, 1992

Blake waited at the bar at the Towers, sipping a ginger ale. She was supposed to meet Maureen and Michelle for lunch. Michelle was out of school, since it was labor day. She said a silent toast to Alan-Michael, who would be transferred to Statesville Prison at any moment. Blake actually felt relieved being able to tell him about Roger, Ed, Ross, and the baby. She knew Alan-Michael wouldn't tell anyone. They still shared a lot of secrets that neither one of them wanted revealed.

She felt a little queasy, so Blake decided to visit the ladies room before Maureen and Michelle showed up. "Max," she addressed the bartender. "I'm waiting for Maureen Bauer and her daughter. Would you let them know I'm here? I'm just going to stop in the ladies room."

"Sure thing, Ms. Thorpe."

Blake was relieved that the ladies room appeared to be empty and she'd gotten there just in time. The morning sickness tended to rear its ugly head just before mealtimes. Maybe it was the smell of food? At least she usually felt better afterwards and was able to eat.

A short while later she sat down on the settee in the powder room, putting a cool cloth on her neck, giving her a minute to collect herself.

"Oh, Blake, that just sounded awful," came the shrillingly annoying voice of Nadine. "I hope it's not catching!"

"Nope, not catching Nadine," Blake replied, not realizing that her baby bump was clearly visible from the way she was sitting on the couch.

"Oh, this is so exciting! I didn't know you were pregnant!" Nadine squealed.

Blake rolled her eyes and sighed, 'Crap, of all the people in Springfield to notice, it has to be the most clueless gossip in town!'

"Oh, this will be so much fun!" Nadine was practically giddy, jumping up and down.

"Fun?" Blake questioned, not really understanding Nadine excitement.

"Oh! Blake, I'm pregnant, too! We'll get to be pregnant together! And then our babies will be best friends!"

"Your pregnant?" Blake doubted, "Aren't you a little too old for that?"

"Oh, Blake, you're so funny sometimes. Who's the father? Oh, I hope it isn't Alan-Michael. It would be so sad to see your baby's father in prison. And, well, I don't think Elanie would be to happy."

"It's not Alan-Michael's," Blake responded, not wanting that rumor to get started. She sighed and put her head against the wall, closing her eyes.

"I didn't know you were seeing anyone. Though, I suppose single motherhood is a valid choice, these days. God knows it was tough in my day. Harley and Frank's father died in Vietnam, you know? Thank goodness I have Billy. He'll make such a wonderful father, don't you think? Well, I mean he is a wonderful father already to Mindy and little Bill. I guess you can't really blame him for Dylan, though, since he didn't know."

Blake was about to strangle Nadine if she didn't shut up, but didn't have the strength to move at the moment.

"Mommy, I don't think Blake wants to hear your life story," Harley appeared from the stall area.

'Great! How much did Harley hear?' Blake wondered. Harley led her mother out of the ladies room, Nadine still chattering.

"You look like you could use this," came the last voice that Blake wanted to hear. Blake opened her eyes and took the ginger ale that Vanessa was holding out. Vanessa explained herself further. "The bartender was worried about you, so he asked me to bring this in."

"The bartender always knows," Blake joked.

"The question is, did the bartender do it?" Vanessa joked back with a raised eyebrow,

"Haha. I plead the 5th. I didn't know you were so funny!"

"I still have a few secrets left," Vanessa confessed, sitting down beside Blake. "Are you okay?"

"I will be in a minute. It usually passes quickly."

"I'm sure hearing Nadine prattle on, didn't help," Vanessa spoke of Billy's new wife with derision.

Blake wondered if Vanessa heard Nadine announce her own pregnancy. She didn't want to be the one to tell her if she hadn't heard. Hearing that the person you are in love with is having a baby with another woman was rough.

"We're you meeting someone for lunch? I could let them know you're in here?" Vanessa offered.

"Maureen and Michelle. I think I'm okay, now." Blake stood up. "Thank you, for the ginger ale, and the laugh.

"Anytime."

"Would you do me a favor and not say anything about my being pregnant? I know Nadine has probably blabbed it halfway across Springfield by now, but the less people that know, the better."

"Sure," Vanessa replied, sincerely.

To be continued...