Chapter 29

The early afternoon sun beamed through Bianca's office window at the New York branch of Cambias Industries. Bianca couldn't help tapping her feet, wondering how much longer James would drone on and on before she could finally go home. After all, it was summer and being that it was Friday, was simply another plus.

Her eyes darted back and forth between the clock on her desk and James sitting across from her. She twirled her pen numerous times as she tried to listen attentively to his monotonous voice but the more he spoke, the more it became challenging. Cambias business matters weren't priority on her mind at the moment. The only thing she had on her mind was Maggie.

"Ms. Montgomery? What did you think about my proposal?" James asked Bianca, pointing to the file folder that sat on her desk.

Bianca shook her head slightly, coming back from whatever daydream she was in. "I'm sorry James, what did you say again?"

"The Paris proposal, I was wondering if you had a chance to take a look at it?" he repeated.

"Oh," she looked down at the folder. She realized that he had given her the proposal earlier in the week but neglected to take the time to look it over. "I haven't had the chance."

"No worries, take your time," James stood up from his chair and turned to leave. Reaching the doorway, he turned around, "Ms. Montgomery? I was wondering if…"

"Yes James?"

"My son, he has this Little League game this afternoon. I was wondering if I could take off early," he eagerly asked. "But if you need me here, it's fine."

Bianca smiled. "Tell you what, take the rest of the afternoon off. You've done enough for the day. Have yourself a good weekend."

"Thank you."

"Enjoy your son's game."

Bianca thought about looking over the Paris file James left for her but decided against it. With Maggie being on her mind the whole week, she figured that even attempting to spend the rest of the sunny Friday afternoon doing work wouldn't do her any good, especially when the only thing on her mind was the girl she loved, sitting at home.

A few days had passed since her talk with Kendall. Bianca meant to have a talk with Maggie sooner, but Cambias affairs kept her occupied. Now that it was Friday, she looked forward to finally having a heart to heart with the girl she loved. Grabbing the Paris file from her desk, she stuffed it into her bag. She took one last look at her desk and then made headway for the door.

Bianca was only five steps away from her quick exit when the door suddenly opened. "James, I thought I told you to… oh Greenlee," she stood surprised. "This is really unexpected."

"I was in the neighborhood," Greenlee saw Bianca standing with her bag slung over her shoulder. She immediately surmised that Bianca was on her way out. "Maybe I should have called first."

"What are you talking about? There's no need to call, it's always good to see you," Bianca walked toward the door. "Let's go grab a cup of coffee or something and then you can tell me why you're really here." She motioned for Greenlee to turn around, as they both walked out into the hallway, the office door closing behind them.


Miranda toddled over to Maggie who was sitting on the couch and pushed the book onto her lap. Pointing to the cover, she babbled, "Bah bah."

"Well, what do we have here?" Maggie placed the magazine she was reading onto the table behind her and then looked down at her lap. "You want me to read to you?" She saw Miranda nod her head. "Okay, why don't you climb up here," helping Miranda get up on the couch. "Curious George Goes to the Zoo," she read the title out loud and then flashed a look at the child. "Isn't this a bit advanced for you?" Seeing as how Miranda gave her no real reaction except for some thumb-sucking and pointing to the book, Maggie began to read.

Ten minutes later, Miranda was asleep on the couch next to Maggie. "That was quick," she said softly, her hand gently stroking the top of the baby girl's head. She was about to reach for her magazine when Jamie and Erin came down the stairs laughing. Maggie quickly motioned for the two of them to be quiet, pressing her finger to her lips, "Shh… little girl is asleep."

Erin peeked over the couch, "Out like a light. It is the early afternoon anyway, the universal naptime for all babies."

"She looks so adorable when she's asleep." Jamie looked at the sleeping child. "Look at her sucking her thumb and all. Hey Mags, you want me to put her in the playpen so you can stretch your legs out on the couch?"

"Sure, that'd be great."

Jamie reached down and picked up Miranda. Slowly, he walked over to the playpen and set her down gently. Miranda didn't stir once, which was a good sign that she was off somewhere in dreamland. He covered her with the blanket and stood back up. "We're gonna go see a movie," he said raking his fingers through his hair. "You'll be fine, right?"

"Yeah," Maggie nodded. She grabbed the magazine from the table. "I'll be okay. You both go and enjoy yourselves."

"You've got my cell if you need it," he reached for his hat and sunglasses.

"I'll be fine."

"Okay," he walked with Erin to the door and opened it only to find someone standing at their doorstep. "David."

"Hi," David replied. "I was hoping that I could see Maggie."

Jamie blocked him from entering. "The last time you were here, Maggie ended up in the hospital. If you think I'm going to let you near her again…"

"Look, I'm not here to cause trouble," David raised his hands in defeat. "I want to make peace. And I wanted to drop by and give Maggie something."

"Sweetie, I think he's being honest," Erin whispered to Jamie. She urged him to step aside so that David could enter. "Don't mind him, he just gets a little too," she nudged Jamie "protective sometimes."

"It's okay, I get it. He was like that with Babe too, but I know he's doing it for all the right reasons," David smiled at Erin.

Maggie sat on the couch looking on at the little exchange at the doorway. She cleared her throat to remind everyone that she was still in the room. "Umm... hi," waving her hand. "Do I get a say in any of this? I mean, after all, it is me that David wants to see."

Jamie turned his head to look at Maggie. He gave her a skeptical look wondering whether or not to let David into the house. "Your choice Maggie. I can kick him right to the curb if you want me to." He said that hoping he would have the chance to turn David away. But his hopes were squashed when he saw Maggie nod her head.

"Let him in," she nodded. "I think it's time he and I make peace."

"Are you sure about this?" Jamie said with slight worry

"Yes, I'm sure. Now the both of you go before you're late for the movie," Maggie shooed the two of them off. She watched David step inside, carrying a large box in front of him. This made Maggie raise an eyebrow as she wondered what her cousin had brought for her. "Don't talk too loud. Miranda's asleep," she pointed over to the playpen.

David softly placed the box on the floor and then looked over at Miranda. "Wow, she's getting big isn't she?" he smiled. "She looks more and more like Bianca everyday."

"Yeah she does," Maggie replied. Moving her feet off the couch, she made room for David to sit down. "What's in the box?"

"We can talk about what's in the box later. Right now, I want to talk about you and me. I think it's time we put the past behind us. That's if you're willing to do that," David sat, hoping that Maggie had it in her heart to start over again as cousins. After everything that transpired in the past year and how he virtually had no family left around him, Maggie was the one last link he had. "If you don't want to, I completely understand. I mean, with everything I did to Bianca and to you –"

Maggie reached over and took her cousin's hand and squeezed it tight. "David… I, a lot has happened in the past year and there are still moments when I find it hard to comprehend what you did but the fact that you're here and willing to accept the mistakes that you made, it means something." She swallowed the lump that formed in her throat before speaking again. "Yes, I'm willing to put the past behind us. But before anything else, can I just say something?"


Greenlee walked alongside Bianca, wondering where exactly they were headed. Her eyes took in the busy New York City streets as the cars whizzed by around them. This caused Greenlee to go into a daze for a few seconds, evident that she wasn't used to the get-up and go-ness of New York. Trying to keep pace with Bianca, she was still left curious as to the destination that was in mind.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see," Bianca replied. "I found this place a few weeks ago. It's amazing. Their coffee is to die for."

Greenlee looked ahead to see if she could spot any places that would fit Bianca's taste. Suddenly, it was a block away. She knew that logo anywhere and it was one that stuck out like a sore thumb. Daring whether or not to ask if that was where Bianca was intending to go, she contemplated the possibility but decided to bite the bullet.

"Oh dear God, I hope you fought the temptation of getting hooked on Starbucks," she muttered out loud. "You'd think it was a form of drug here, how they've got one on practically every other city block."

Bianca laughed, "Relax… Starbucks isn't my thing. We're going to the place next to it." She pointed to her left. "Café Europa. Their tiramisu is awesome. That and their coffee." Closing her eyes, she inhaled the scent of coffee beans, "Mmmm, you smell that? French Vanilla."

"Working at Cambias has driven you to a coffee addiction I've noticed." Greenlee followed Bianca into the café and took a seat at one of the tables. Her gaze traveled over to the pastries behind the glass casing. "Oh wow, are those chocolate covered strawberries?"

Bianca rolled her eyes and laughed at Greenlee's amazement. "Yes, I believe they are."


"The way we left things last time," Maggie began. "I was upset. There was a lot of pent up anger that I had inside." She stopped, deciding rephrase things. "Maybe pent up anger isn't the right term for it. I guess you could say that I held a good amount of resentment toward you." Looking away, she said, "You weren't there for me when I needed you the most. When I needed someone to protect me."

David moved closer to Maggie and put his arm around her. "I'm so sorry I did that to you kiddo," he spoke softly. "If I had the chance to go back to last year, I would have made sure I was there when you needed me to be. But I know that that isn't possible anymore and I regret every mistake I made by not being there."

"It's okay David, Babe is your daughter, and I get that."

"No, it's not okay. Not when I promised you a long time ago that I would be the only family that you needed. I broke my word to you."

Maggie sat quiet for a moment with David next to her. Neither of them exchanged a word to one another as they sat in silence, the only sounds in the room were the ticking of the clock and Miranda's breathing. It wasn't that they didn't want to say much during those moments of silence but it was that they just didn't know what to say to each other. And now that they were both in the same room, ready to put the past behind them, the words they both wanted to express seemed hard to come by.

Both David and Maggie had their own set of questions with hopes of finding out the answers. One thing that was surely in common was that their questions involved the past year and the fact that somehow, somewhere along the way, their familial tie became disconnected.

But now was the time to get it back. It was time to reconnect and rebuild.

"I guess sometimes promises are made to be broken," Maggie's gaze turned toward Miranda. "Someone makes a promise that they'll protect you, be there for you, be all the family you need and next thing you know, that someone turns their back on you." A tear escaped from her eye but she was quick to wipe it away. "But I understand now."

"You understand what Maggie?" David reached over and turned her head so that they were looking eye to eye. "You will always be family to me. No matter the blood relation."

"That's just it David. Blood relation – You and I, we're cousins. But Babe, she's your daughter, the two of you share a special connection. You know, the whole father-daughter thing."

"Yeah," he nodded.

"David, that special connection you and Babe have. It's the kind of connection I always wished I had with you."


"Wow, you weren't kidding," Greenlee cut up another piece of tiramisu with her fork and ate it. "How did you find this place?"

"There are a couple of places like these around here. Only, they're not as prominent as Starbucks is," Bianca replied, taking another sip of her coffee. "So, tell me. Why the impromptu trip to New York?"

"I told you, I was in the neighborhood."

"Sure you were. And Pine Valley just happens to be right next door." Bianca raised an eyebrow. "Are you and Ryan on the outs?"

Greenlee began swirling the leftover dessert with her fork. "You could say that, but I'm also here because David is with Maggie right now. I think he's there with the intention to put the past behind them and start over," she answered, trying to avoid the question at the same time. Her eyes remained focused on her fork, hoping that Bianca didn't notice the lack of eye contact.

Bianca reached for the fork and took it out of Greenlee's hand, causing her to look up. "I'm glad David is mending fences with Maggie. She needs him as much as he needs her. But you," looking intently at Greenlee's eyes, "I know you're not telling me something. You didn't answer my question before. What's going on with Ryan?"

"I told him that I suspected Jonathan of being the one embezzling the Fusion money."

"And I guess he didn't take it too well."

"He didn't believe me. He refused to. It wasn't until I handed him the folder with all of Jonathan's background information that it finally sunk in," she explained. "I asked Aidan to run a full background check on him. And it turns out that Jonathan has a prior arrest record. And get this, for hitting another woman."

Bianca's jaw dropped. "So Maggie isn't the first one."

"No, she's not."

"How did he get off so easily?"

"According to what I read, because it was his first offense, he got away with doing community service and being forced to go to anger management classes."

"Seems that those classes didn't do him any good," Bianca mumbled under her breath. "So now that Ryan knows the truth about his brother, there shouldn't be any problem now. Right?" she saw the lack of response from the blonde. "Greenlee?"

"Ryan still doesn't know that Jonathan is the one who shot him," she answered. "He also doesn't know what really happened with Maggie."


David didn't know what to say or how to react to what Maggie said to him just now. The downcast gaze she had broke his heart as he realized the depth of disappointment he caused her. "You will always have a special connection with me," he comforted her the only way he knew how, putting his arm around her. "I'm sorry if it felt like I abandoned you."

"It's not so much as feeling abandoned, it was more like being shoved aside," she swallowed. "For Babe. First it was you and then it was Jamie." Taking a deep breath she continued. "But I didn't let it bother me, or at least I tried not to. Jonathan managed to keep my mind occupied," shuddering at her next thought. "Little did I know the kind of hell I was in already. But Bianca saved me," she cracked a smile. "She never stopped caring about me, even when I told her to butt out of my life."

"That's because she loves you."

"Yeah, I know."

David and Maggie spent the next hour hashing out all the questions they had for each other regarding the past several months. Maggie explained her revelation about her feelings for Bianca and the hurt she felt finding Bianca in bed with Babe. She went in depth about her relationship with Jonathan and how he made her feel loved only to learn how it was a manipulative and dangerous kind of love she had fallen into. The one thing she didn't go in too much in depth with was the abuse that she endured. And as much as David wanted to know about the pain, he understood why Maggie had to hold back. There was no need to dwell on the past anymore. It was time to look toward the future.

They managed to reconnect and begin rebuilding their familial relationship in the time they spent talking. David apologized over and over for not being there for Maggie, promising her now that he'd be at her beck and call if she needed her. It warmed her heart to know how he wanted to be a part of her life again, for good.

Maggie's fingers began picking the lint off the couch cushions. She tilted her head at David and smiled, causing him to give her a look.

"What? Why the smile?" he asked.

"Nothing," she replied. "It's just that – I'm glad we talked. It helped to put things in perspective, well at least for you. I'm… things are getting better day by day."

"That's great," he replied. "So, have you picked a name for your boy yet?"

David's question caused Maggie to grin. "Yeah we have, but I'm not telling."

"We?"

"Bianca and I kinda picked it together. But you never know, it could change between now and when he's born."

"Well, whatever it is, I'm sure it's something good," he noticed how Maggie's eyes wandered over to the box he brought with him. "You're probably wondering what's inside the box."

"You could say that," she waited for an answer. "So, are you going to tell me?"

David walked over to box and slowly lifted something that was covered with a white sheet. He gently placed it on the floor. "It isn't much and I really didn't know what else to give you," he ran his fingers through his hair. "I made one of these for Anna when she was pregnant and I figured I'd build one for your son too." David pulled off the white sheet to reveal a hand-built wooden cradle. "I finished it a couple of days ago and couldn't wait to bring it to you. I hope you like it."

"David, I…" she didn't know what to say. All Maggie could do was sit with a look of awe on her face. "Thank you." She stood up and walked over to the cradle. Running her finger across the finished wood, her eyes wandered to the carved 'S' on the front. She looked up at David and smiled, biting back a few tears.

"I carved the S on the front, for Stone, since I have no idea what his name is going to be."

"David, it's beautiful. Thank you," she wrapped her arms tightly around him.

"You're welcome," he smiled. "I want to tell you something else," he pulled away and cupped Maggie's face with his hands. "No matter what we are to each other, cousins, whatever… We will always be family. I promise to never leave you ever again. I love you, kiddo." He kissed her on the forehead. "And that is the truth."

"Bah!" Miranda babbled from her playpen. She stood along the perimeter, arms stretched, waiting to be picked up.

David and Maggie turned their heads toward the cheerful child. "Looks like someone is up from her nap," he laughed.


"… And now it seems that Ryan wants to make up for lost time," Greenlee sipped her coffee. She continued to recap what was going on back in Pine Valley regarding Ryan and Jonathan. "They went on some Lavery brothers fishing trip for the weekend."

"He's going to find out soon enough about what Jonathan did," Bianca reminded.

"I know and it's going to break his heart."

"The truth does hurt sometimes but think about what not telling the truth might do to your relationship."

Greenlee sighed, "That's the thing. It's a catch 22 for me, well for Ryan too. No matter what I say, our relationship is going to be strained, as if it wasn't on its way there already. I mean, lately… it just feels like I'm competing with Jonathan for my husband's affection."

"But it's two kinds of affection we're talking about. Ryan is your husband," she held up one hand. "Jonathan is his younger brother," on the other hand. "It's love versus adoration. And really, why compete when you know he loves you dearly."

Greenlee crossed her arms tightly and nodded, "Yeah, you're making complete sense Binks. If love was all about that."

"Love is what you make of it," Bianca grinned.

"I want to get the whole prize. I want my husband," Greenlee leaned forward. "The more I get of Ryan, the more I know when he pulls away. And I don't mean to sound like a brat," she laughed realizing her own words. "Wait, I mean to sound like a brat but Ryan is mine. I can't, no I won't settle for anything less."

Bianca sat back trying not to laugh. She also hoped that no one else was noticing how animated Greenlee was becoming with the use of her hands. "Well, at least you know what you want. You keep your eyes on that prize."

"So what are you trying to say, damn everyone and just tell Ryan the truth about his brother?"

"You do what you feel is right. A wise woman once told me to follow my heart."

"And what wise woman was that? Erica Kane?"

"Actually, it was Kendall."

Greenlee choked on her coffee, causing a little of it to spew from her mouth. She leaned forward, coughing and frantically searching for napkins to wipe up the mess she made. "Crap, I think some of that decaf came out my nose. Ewww," She wiped her face. "Kendall? Wise? Giving you advice? Oh dear God, what is this world coming to?"

Bianca wiped up the rest of the coffee that spilled on the table. "I'll tell Kendall you think that highly of her," she went to toss the napkins in the trash and sat back down again.

"I didn't mean to say it like that," Greenlee said apologetically.

"It's okay. I know you didn't."

"So Kendall gave you advice?"

"On matters of the heart?"

"Yeah, she did." Bianca thought back to her conversation on the front steps. "I know it's hard to believe, but my sister wised up in the whole relationship and romance department. Finding someone who understands will do that to a person."

"She changed because of Ethan," Greenlee nodded. "I still shudder at the thought of the two of us fighting in that pool the day I married Ryan."

"You know, she never did tell me what led to that," Bianca smiled mischievously.

"Sorry, I'm not saying either but getting back to Kendall and love advice…"

"Hard to picture it huh?"

"No, I'm just wondering what it was that caused her to be the one giving advice to you."

Now it was Bianca's turn to swirl around the leftover tiramisu with her fork. Immediately, Greenlee reached over and pulled the utensil away, setting it down. "I know what it was about now. The two of you talked about Maggie," she saw the smile grow wider on Bianca's face. "Wait, what am I saying? Of course the two of you talked about Maggie."

"Is it that obvious?"

"Judging from how your face lit up when I said her name, yes." Greenlee read Bianca like a book at this point. She thought back to the last face to face conversation she had with her, wondering if anything came of that. "I take it that neither you nor Maggie has touched upon the subject of a relationship since our last talk?"

Bianca filled Greenlee in on her heart to heart with Kendall. Greenlee laughed from time to time as she listened to Bianca's frustration regarding the "stalled" mode that she felt with Maggie. Yet, as the conversation wore on, she came to understand the connection that the girls shared. She saw that the love Bianca had for Maggie ran deep, perhaps more than words could say. And the more they talked about the special connection, the more it caused Bianca to smile.

"Hearing you talk about Maggie like that, it makes me envy you," Greenlee thought about her own love life for a second.

"Envy? Me?"

"Yeah, you heard me right. I envy you," Greenlee tried not to smirk but didn't succeed.

"Why?"

"Because what you have, or what you're about to have with Maggie, it's what Ryan and I used to be. The bliss, the doting, the endless 'I love you's'."

"Whoa, slow down… Maggie and I aren't even there yet. Let alone, I haven't talked to her about my feelings."

"But you will and when you do, it'll be like a whole new world for the both of you."

"A whole new world, I like that," Bianca smiled. She reached for Greenlee's hand, "You and Ryan will get that back too."

Taking comfort in the gesture, she smiled back. "I know. One of us deserves happiness right now and who better than you and Maggie."

"Why don't we give these people their café back and head over to the house? I'm sure Kendall would love to see you," Bianca stood up. "Both of you can gossip and talk about whatever it is that the both of you talk about."

"We so do not gossip. Talk, but not gossip," Greenlee defended. "But I shall take you up on the offer anyway. Let's go."

They arrived at the house a short while later. Walking in, they were greeted to Miranda's sweet smile as she played with David on the floor. With his help, the little girl stood up and toddled toward her mom.

"Hi there sweetheart," Bianca picked her daughter up. "I hope you were a good girl for Maggie."

"Perfect angel," Maggie replied as she entered the living room. "She made me read her Curious George again though."

"Isn't that a little advance for her?" Greenlee raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah that's what I said," Maggie agreed. "But she insisted and you can't say no to this little princess," she said pinching Miranda's cheeks.

Bianca turned to Greenlee, "How would you like to spend some time with Miranda?"

"Umm… Bianca, I'm not that…" she began her unsure reply but soon caught on to what Bianca was trying to do. "Sure why not? Kendall and Ethan are in the kitchen aren't they?"

"Actually, they're out back setting up the grill," Maggie pointed. "Jamie and Erin are out there too."

"Great!" Greenlee took Miranda from Bianca. "Hey there Little Miss. Let's go out back and pull on your Auntie Kendall's hair. She loves it when we do that. David, join me." Her words came off as more of a command rather than a suggestion. Of course it didn't help that she tugged him along.

"I guess we'll all be out back," he said with a confused look.

"We'll join you all in a bit," Bianca called out to them. She turned her attention to Maggie. "Come on, let's go for a walk in Central Park. It's such a nice evening outside."

"Bianca, what was that all about? It sounded like you pushed them out into the backyard for a reason," Maggie asked. She stood in front of Bianca still looking confused.

"Forget about them for a little bit. It's just you and me," she led Maggie out the door and down the steps. "And it'll be you and I forever after you hear what I have to say," she mumbled softly to herself, smiling as she walked side by side with Maggie on their way to Central Park.