Chapter 37

Yacht Club

"Well hey there stranger! Fancy seeing you here."

"Oh dear, I was just about to sit down and eat this wonderful lunch, and now you've come and ruined it all." Palmer said sounding agitated.

"Oh stop that you. This visit is purely business, no pleasure whatsoever, believe me."

Opal said matter of factly.

"Alright, fine. What matter of business requires my expertise?"

"Actually it's going to take a joint effort, from both of us."

"What will?"

"Oh just the certain dilemma concerning a certain young couple we both know and love."

"Opal honestly, when will you give it a rest? They aren't children anymore! They are both very smart adults who should just take care of themselves."

"Oh now since when has anything, actually anyone, stopped Palmer Cortlandt from doing anything? Gosh it's almost as if Ruth was standing two feet from ya."

"Well I..." Palmer said as he looked over Opal's shoulder and saw Joe and Ruth heading towards the exit.

"Alright now we can talk."

"Why you little..."

"Now aren't you glad I'm working on this with you? You could have just spoiled everything!"

"Well I'm glad I have big strong Palmer to look out for me." Opal said with a smile.

"Oh now you stop that this minute! We aren't going to start being anything more than civil towards each other just because we're allies with a common goal. Now can we please get back to the task at hand?"

"Oh alright. Well I came up in my pretty little head a perfect idea to cage those two lovebirds while keepin out the fox."

"Translation?"

"Get Tad and Dixie together and get rid of the other woman. Keep up!"

"Does this said trap involve locking them in a shed? I remember that not exactly going the way we planned."

"No. We're gonna have a party for Tad and Krystal with the whole town and invite Dixie and my little grandbaby to give 'em all a shock of a lifetime."

"Perfect. And while we're at it let's get another fox taken care of, or at least get his tail in a twist. I propose we have this little gathering at Chandler Mansion. Last I heard Adam had flown out of town, and the location is, suitable." Palmer said with a smug grin.

"Perfect. I'll go and make some phone calls; this will be the social event of the century!" Opal said happily as she walked out of the Yacht Club, leaving Palmer sipping his coffee happily plotting his next move.

Honeymoon Suite

"Adam! Stop looking at me like that!"

"Like I'm missing my wife terribly even though she's only walked across the room? Because if that's the case I won't stop looking like this until you are back by my side."

"I'll be back in a minute! You just sit there and coo over our baby doll until I'm done with this phone call."

"Oh fine." Adam said grumpily as he peeked into Charlotte's crib. As her eyes opened up Adam realized they were an odd shade of green. Nothing like his or Krystal's eyes. "Hmm, well at least she doesn't have Martin's eyes, do you sweetie?" Adam said as he picked Jenny up out of her crib.

"Hmm. What's Opal doing calling me?" Krystal asked curiously as she dialed her voicemail.

"Hey sugar. Just thought I'd extend a little invitation to a gatherin' at the Chandler Mansion courtesy of J.R. We were hoping to make it pretty informal, just a few close friends and the family of course. Just pop by when y'all get back in our neck of the woods and we'll have a ball. My love to Tad by the way sugar. Hope your little elopement was a happy one. Okey dokey. Bye now."

"Oh dear." Krystal said feeling guilty all over again. She still felt awful for what she had put Tad through, but was completely thrown when Adam came to her room begging forgiveness. He was the love of her life and she just couldn't stay married to a man she didn't love.

"Sweetheart? What's wrong?"

Adam asked with concern seeing the expression on Krystal's face.

"Oh its, its nothing. It's just, that son of yours decided to throw a wedding shower."

"Oh really."

"It was supposed to be for me and Tad. Opal just called. The whole town is gonna be at the mansion when we get home, expecting me with someone else on my arm."

"Well listen darling. This way, the whole town will know right away about us. And what are they gonna do to stop it if they don't approve. The party will be fine, I promise you that."

"Okay. I believe you. Well I think we should start packing up everything, we gotta go home sometime."

"If you insist." Adam said sweetly as he began to pack their suitcases.

Chandler Mansion

"So, does anyone have any idea why we're all invited to this little party tonight, because we sure as hell have no idea why we're here? Do we Spikey?"

Kendall asked the 3 year old boy sitting on her lap in the midst of a dinner party taking place in the Chandler mansion living room.

"Hmm, well I have a pretty good idea it had something to do with someone's best gal-pal, eh Mom?"

Zach said smugly to Erica, who was holding her daughter's baby daughter Amelia in her arms.

"Zach, I was just asked by Opal to show up for a small gathering in honor of Tad's wedding. I had no idea it would be here, of all places."

"But Erica, you do realize that Tad is engaged to Krystal Carey right?" Ryan asked, wondering why Erica was even attending this in the first place.

"Yeah Erica, I know you and Krystal aren't exactly the best of friends." Annie said.

"Yeah Erica. Something you're not telling us?" Di chimed in with Aidan by her side.

"Well Annie I..."

"What Erica means to say, is that she is here simply to support Tad."

"Thank you Brooke."

"Actually she'll be supporting Tad while she's with his brother. When she moves on to her next man I have a feeling we won't be seeing much of her at future Martin affairs."

Brooke said smugly.

"Oh very funny Brooke. I have a feeling you'll be trying to win Tad over the entire evening. You obviously aren't satisfied enough with the men from my past. I don't see Jackson on your arm, and I have to say I'm surprised you're stooping that low to luring Krystal's men away from her. At least you were formerly stealing from a woman with a more refined taste."

"Actually Erica, Jack and I are doing just fine, and I didn't actually need to steal anyone this time, you did all the work for poor little me. Will you excuse me for a moment?" Brooke said with a smirk as she walked away.

"Gladly. Honestly where is Opal? She's the only reason I'm here anyways." Erica pouted.

"Um, well I heard, I mean the reason Marion and, and I came, was because Opal told us, to expect a big surprise, besides Tad and Krystal getting married." Stuart said.

"Well that sounds interesting. But I hope whatever they have planned happens quickly, I have to get back to the hospital."

Jeff said as he looked at his watch.

"Well hello everybody." Kate said with a shy smile.

"Why hello you, long time no see. How's life treating you kid?"

"Fine Mr. Slater, I mean Zach. Hi Mrs. Slater. How's Spike and Amelia?"

"Oh they're just fine Kate thank you." Kendall said proudly.

"Hey Kate, sorry Emma couldn't come with us tonight."

Ryan said.

"Oh it's fine."

"We'll schedule a play date for you girls soon okay." Annie said.

"Okay!"

"You know Kate, your mom would be so proud of you." Zach said sadly.

"I know."

"Oh Kate. It must be nice having your dad talk about your mom so much." Erica said.

"Actually she..." Kate said as she looked over her shoulder.

"She tells me that all the time!"

"You're absolutely right baby." Dixie said proudly as she walked into the living room much to everyone's shock.

"Oh my God." Kendall said.

"It...It can't be..."

"I thought she..." Annie stuttered

"I know, I thought so too!" Ryan cut in.

"Now isn't that something." Stuart said happily.

Soon Zach walked over and couldn't believe his eyes.

"I...I thought that you had..."

"I know. Believe me. I know."

Dixie said as she gave Zach a hug, and proceeded to explain the past four years to her friends.

"Don't worry I don't need you to hide me this time!" She said making Zach laugh.

"Well we know that it's definitely her. All over Zach." Erica said.

"What was that Erica?"

"Oh it, it was nothing. I just can't believe it, that you've managed to beat death twice; it's quite an accomplishment Dixie. Um, I hate to ask this here, but would you consider an appearance on New Beginnings? It would be the perfect story for the end of sweeps."

"Um well I..."

"Oh perfect. Don't worry. I'll take care of everything." Erica said as she went to call her agent.

"Wow, she sure hasn't settled down any." Dixie said with amazement as Jack came over and gave her a hug.

"Wow Dixie. It's, wow. It's great to see you." Jack said sounding totally shocked.

"It's great to see you too Jack."

'Hey, easy! He's mine!" Brooke said with a smile as she came back with their coats.

"See you later guys. Give our best to Tad when you see him."

"Actually we're gonna take off too. It's past their bedtimes!" Annie said as she picked up Spike.

"It's nice to see you back again Dixie, Kate needs her mommy."

"Thanks Annie."

"Yeah Dixie. Gosh, it's been too long; you know our girls are attached at the hip. Kate's a great kid."

"Well would you expect anything less?" Dixie said with a smile.

"We'll see ya soon."

"Yeah I think we've gotta hit the road too, this little one is out!"

"Oh you guys." Dixie said with a smile as she saw the sleeping little girl in Kendall's arms. "Amelia is just beautiful and I barely recognized little Spike there! He's gotten so big!"

"Yeah well, you can come around and see them whenever you like, and bring Kate on over too."

"I will. Thank you Kendall."

"Bye Dixie Cooney." Zach said as he gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Wow. Honey, I'm so glad I can say that name again."

"Bye Zach."

Dixie said as she closed the door feeling exhausted. She wasn't expecting this much of a party for her, and was curious and a little depressed that the "special guest" hadn't shown up yet.

"Kate? Sweetie c'mon, time for us to head home."

"But Mom I..."

"Shh. No buts. It's getting late. I'm gonna go say bye to Little A and then we'll go."

Dixie was just about to go upstairs when she heard someone knock at the door and saw her grandson run from the kitchen to let them in.

"Grandma! I missed you so much!" A said as he gave Krystal a hug.

"Well hey there you little peanut. I missed you too."

"Hi KWAK, um, I mean Krystal. How was your trip?"

"Just, fine Kate." Krystal said nervously.

"So is my daddy out getting the car?"

"Um well."

Krystal said as she nervously looked over her shoulder wondering what was taking Adam so long.

"I'll just go outside and see him then."

"Um actually Kate." Krystal said blocking the little girls exit. "Why don't we go on inside."

"I'll just be a second; I just wanna see my dad. Daddy? You out here?" Kate asked as she looked outside and didn't see Tad anyplace.

"Um, Krystal? Where's my dad?"

Kate asked sounding confused and impatient.

"Well I..."

"Why aren't you answering me? Why do you look so nervous? Did something happen to him? Daddy! Daddy where are you?"

Kate yelled as she walked outside.

"Kate? Baby what's wrong? I heard you yelling." Dixie said as she came down the stairs and to her shock saw Krystal standing in the foyer.

"You..."

"What…who? Oh my Lord."

Krystal choked out as she turned pale and backed towards the door.

"Surprised?"

"I...I um..."

"What's wrong Krystal? Cat got your tongue?"

"I. No, it's not. It can't be."

"What, not happy to see me? Bet you weren't expecting me as a wedding crasher, hmm?"

"Dixie I..."

"No, I'll talk for now. Okay?. Guess your little plan didn't as smoothly as you wanted, did it Ms Carey?

You're probably wishing you'd just let me die in that hospital all those years ago. Instead of going through all that trouble with the mob and breakin all those laws. What a wasted effort! Your little scheme totally came back and blew up in your face didn't it? All that time devoted to keeping me dead, so you could go and take over this whole damn town and get your selfish little kicks watching my family suffer? Is that what you wanted? 'Cause you wanna know a little secret?

Karma's a big, scary, silly bitch, and the only person who's gonna be suffering when all's said and done is you." Dixie said triumphantly knowing she'd taken Krystal's ego down a few notches.

"Now look I..."

Krystal was about to speak but was cut off when Adam entered the house with Kate not too far behind him.

"How's my lovely wife?" Adam said as he came and gave Krystal a kiss, not aware of Dixie hiding in the living room.

"Um, I."

"Excuse me?" Kate interrupted.

"Krystal, why is Kate Martin standing in our foyer?"

"She was here for that party, Adam." Krystal said with frustration as she nervously smoothed her hair.

"Krystal, why is Mr. Frosty with you? Why can't I find my dad?"

Kate said with impatience.

"Well Kate, your father isn't with Krystal, because I am. Krystal and I are married."

"What!"

Kate said with shock.

"But I? Well where's my dad then? If he's not with you then where..."

"I'm sorry Kate I haven't seen that father of yours since two days ago. Now will you excuse me ladies."

Adam said as he walked upstairs.

"Okay Miss Krystal. Forget it, you obviously don't know where my dad is, so you must not care about him at all." Kate said angrily as she ran outside, causing Dixie to come out of hiding to deal with what had upset her daughter, and proceeded to give Krystal a menacing look.

"You better not so much as look, at my daughter ever again. You Carey girls may not give up without a fight, but they haven't even come close to seeing what Cooney women are capable of. For your sake, you better pray it'll never happen."

Dixie threatened as she walked out the door.

"Actually Krystal we're all quite curious about Tad also."

Di said as she walked into the foyer, accompanied by Aidan, Jeff, Ruth, Joe, Opal, Palmer, Julia and Erica.

"Um, I..."

"Krystal, is there something you're not telling us?" Palmer asked with confusion.

"Yes sugar, what is goin on? Where is that son of mine at?"

Opal said with concern.

"I have a theory, and I don't think you all are gonna like it. Check out her ring finger" Aidan said as he figured out what had actually happened in Maryland.

"That isn't the ring Tad wanted to use. He showed me the one he wanted to give you." Ruth said.

"And Tad most definitely could not afford this." Joe said causing Krystal to conceal her wedding ring.

"Why you, you didn't go through with it did you? You crawled right on back to, to that snake Adam. You didn't marry Tad at all." Palmer accused.

"Well wait, if she didn't, then there must've been a reason?" Ruth said.

"And I think I know what that reason is." Julia said as she gestured to Charlotte's diaper bag.

"The initials on that bag are CC, not JCCM, and it looks pretty expensive if I do say so myself. Not in Tad's price range by any means."

"So are you saying, that you didn't only leave my son at the altar, but that your baby isn't even our granddaughter!"

Ruth asked hoping this was all a mistake.

"I wouldn't put it past her Ruth, not one bit." Julia said angrily and Erica nodded in agreement, with a smirk across her face knowing her biggest enemy was about to be torn to shreds.

"You let her have it everyone; she deserves every bit, of all the nerve to do this to Tad of all people."

"My brother deserved better than this." Jeff said angrily as he walked out with Erica.

Krystal looked around desperately for a friendly face, and gave Di a pleading glance hoping her friend would remember everything she had done to this family before and stick up for her.

"Don't even go there Krystal." Di said bitterly.

"I know what it's like to do terrible things to this family, to make mistakes, to be selfish. I've been there before. But I learned from those mistakes Krystal. I know that I would never pull the same crap I did once before and risk hurting everyone again. I also know that I do my damndest, to hang on to the people that I care about, that care about me, not leave them in the dust when something better comes along."

"Di, I..."

"Forget it, even if I felt sympathy towards you now, you lost me as a friend the day you planned a wedding on the day I thought I lost both my siblings. We're done Krystal." Di said matter of factly.

"Oh we're not done yet." Opal said angrily with tears in her eyes.

"How could you? You pathetic excuse for a human being! We treated you like family, we welcomed you with open arms despite everything that you and your precious Babe have done to this family and now, you have the nerve to tell me, that you left, my boy at the altar, and that that sweet little baby isn't even his! The child that I gave you permission to name after my precious daughter, my Jenny!

You are nothing but a gold digging little tramp. To think I considered you to be my daughter in law. You can go to hell."

Opal said angrily as she gave Krystal a huge slap on the cheek, and left the mansion in tears.

Then Palmer proceeded to dig through Charlotte's baby bag, and found the silver rattle with Jenny's name engraved.

"To think I actually convinced Opal to give this to you. Must've been back when I felt sorry for you, when I thought you were a friend. You made me actually feel sorry for Tad Martin." Palmer said as he walked out with the rest of the angered crowd leaving Krystal alone in the foyer with Charlotte.

"Well peanut, looks like it's just me, you, and your daddy now. Let's go on and see him alright?"

Krystal said with tears in her eyes as she walked into the living room.

"Hello? Anyone here?"

J.R asked as he and Jamie walked into the Chandler mansion.

"Well I guess that surprise party didn't go exactly as planned."

"Yeah, I think the surprise was on everyone but my dad and Krystal. Hey, do you think that they know about Mom yet?"

"I don't know. I mean we saw Kate and Dixie driving back to their place awhile ago. Maybe Adam and Krystal saw them when they got back and maybe they didn't."

"I'm guessing no, I'd figure my dad would still be giving her the third degree if they'd seen each other. Hey, you alright?"

"Not really J.R, I'm worried about my dad. I haven't been able to get in touch with him in days, and that message he left at Wildwind didn't sound really reassuring."

"Well chances are pretty good his life was smashed to bits the night he left that message courtesy of KWAK and my dad. He probably wanted to just clear his head a bit."

"Yeah I guess. So, where is everybody? I saw Adam and Krystal's car in the driveway."

"Hang on; I'll go check his study."

"Daddy!" Little A said with excitement as he ran in the foyer.

"Hey little man! So, where's your grandpa at?"

"He's in his study, and Miss Krystal went for a walk with Charlotte."

"Okay, shouldn't you be in bed?"

"Yeah I guess."

"Go on upstairs and put on your PJ's and I'll be up after I say hi to Grandpa."

"Okay, G'night Jamie!"

"G'night A. And we're off."

"Hey Dad."

"Son! I wasn't expecting you back so soon. Come have a scotch, or rather watch me enjoy one. Tonight's a night for celebration."

"It sure is. So, did you finish interrogating my mother for the night?"

"What? I think even the smell of scotch must make you tipsy!"

"Dad, I'm serious. You didn't see Mom yet?"

"Now son, as much as it pains me to say this, your mother is dead. She has been for years. Where is this coming from? Have you been drinking?"

"Adam, I can assure you, J.R is clean sober. Dixie is alive."

"But I...I don't believe it. No, you're all delusional."

"Actually there's someone else who's slightly more delusional, your wife for thinking she could have actually pulled this crap off."

"Now listen to me Martin. I know that your father was on the bad end of this deal but I won't have you making any comments about my wife under my roof! You understand?"

"Dad, listen to me. My mother is alive; she's here, in Pine Valley, staying at the Valley Inn with Kate. I swear it. If you don't believe me call over there and ask for her. Or better yet call everyone who came to the party here tonight, they've all seen her."

Suddenly J.R was interrupted by the phone ringing, and he and Jamie left to say goodnight to Little Adam.

"Hello?"

"Oh Adam, its Erica."

"What do you want?"

"Well, I was just wondering if you could tell me how I could get in touch with Dixie to arrange some details with her appearance on New Beginnings."

"Now, wait a minute. Erica, are you telling me the truth?"

"Adam why would I be lying to you about something like this. Now it's late and I'm tired. Do you have Dixie's room number at the Valley Inn or not?"

"Now you're sure this is really Dixie we're talking about? Do you swear it?"

"Honestly Adam, yes Dixie Martin in all her glory was at your party tonight, I'd figure that wife of yours would have mentioned it to you at some point, or maybe she just wanted to keep this tidbit of information to herself for her own selfish purposes."

"Um, ignoring that comment let me ask you, just out of curiosity, what is Dixie's segment on your show going to consist of?

"Oh all the dramatics concerning her untimely deaths, and her unusual resurrections, we may even try and get Krystal to appear as well, explain her role in the situation, this time around at least."

"How is my wife involved in this at all?"

At this Erica went on to explain everything that had happened at the party, from Dixie's story to Krystal's role in the events.

"Does that clear things up any for you Adam?"

"Yes. Yes it does. Thank you so much Erica."

"Good night Adam."

"So, do you still think I'm plastered Dad?" J.R asked as he walked into the study.

"Well I..."

"You know, I actually think that you were the one plastered when you and Krystal eloped. I mean the second time around." Jamie chimed in.

"Considering how her motives of keeping Dixie dead to the world were purely to get revenge on your son and to win back my father in the process."

"I..I still don't believe it."

"Um, excuse me Mr. Chandler?"

"Yes Winifred?"

"Um sir, there's a call for you, someone from a genetics laboratory?"

"What in the…Hello?"

After about five minutes, a very angry, very broken Adam Chandler hung up the phone and used a few choice expletives, having just found out Charlotte's unusual eye color was not simply a strange coincidence, due to Charlotte's father actually being a certain trucker named Randy from their Christmas party.

"What do you think that call was all about James? Did you see the look on my dad's face? Last time I saw that face was, well to avoid gory details, not exactly one of my shining moments."

"I have a pretty good feeling; a genetics lab would never call at 11:00 at night unless there was a major, screw-up."

"You don't think that, Oh my God."

J.R said completely stunned as he saw his father taking all of Krystal and her daughter's luggage and throwing it out the front door, ran back into his study for about ten minutes, then ran upstairs and locked the bedroom door behind him.

"Well, I guess we know what that call was about."

"Yeah, and I so wouldn't wanna be in Krystal's shoes right about now."

J.R said as he picked up a printout from the computer in the study.

"What's that?"

"It's a note, with a plane ticket enclosed."

"What's it say?"

"Sign these divorce papers. Take this ticket, and to save your pathetic skin fly off with Randy's spawn to be with your baby doll. Stay the hell away from this town; you've officially plagued the life of every Pine Valley citizen worth caring about, for way too long already.

-Adam Chandler."

"Wow, well. What a night!"

"Yup, c'mon, let's go do some major damage control."