Chapter 48

"She's lying." Spencer crossed his arms. "If Father were alive, he'd come to me and Grandmother."

"Spencer, I will look into this," Alexis said. "What painting is he looking for?"

"A portrait of Grandmother I believe," Charlotte said.

"Grandmother?" Spencer scrunched his face. "Of all the half-witted ideas… Why would he want a portrait of her when he can come see her?"

"Charlotte, you don't mean your Grandma Laura, do you?" Alexis asked.

Charlotte shook her head.

"Do you mean Helena?"

She nodded.

"Do you know why he wants her portrait?"

"Well, it's not the portrait," Charlotte said. "It's what's hidden in the portrait."

"And what is that?" Alexis asked.

Charlotte shrugged. "I don't know."

Alexis smiled slightly. "It's okay. Thank you for telling me."

"You don't actually believe her, do you?" Spencer cut in. "She's just trying to finagle my birth right."

Alexis sighed. "Don't worry about this, Spencer."

She turned back to her cupcake when Willow made to stand up and bumped right into Nina.

"Would you watch where you're going, Miss Tait?" Nina said through gritted teeth.

Willow sighed. "I didn't see you there."

"That's all you have to say?" Nina shook her head. "Your passive aggressiveness is aggravating."

Willow rolled her eyes.

"Nina, that is uncalled for," Michael spoke up, bouncing Wiley on his lap.

"Miss Tait!" Charlotte ran over to her and hugged her.

Willow smiled. "How are you, Charlotte?"

"Good."

Alexis turned to Julian and squeezed his bicep. "I'm going to the bathroom."

"Don't be too long," Julian said.

Leo and Rocco darted in front of her, Scout and Violet running after them. TJ was off to the side talking to Chase and Kristina, while Sam was talking to Spinelli and Maxie. She walked into the women's washroom and heard a toilet flushing. Molly walked out of a stall.

"Oh, hey Mom," Molly said.

"Hey Mol, are you enjoying the party?" Alexis asked.

She nodded slightly moving to the sink. "It's good to see Scout so happy. I may be biased, but she's the cutest little girl ever."

Alexis smiled and started to push a stall door. "She's pretty darn cute." She stepped inside the stall and closed the door. She heard the water run from the tap and the sound of the door opening.

The water stopped running and there was a big pause until she heard Sam's voice. "Hey."

Another pause.

"Molly, wait…" Sam said. "I've… I've been wanting to talk to you. I just didn't know how… This is rotten timing, but it has to happen… I really miss you."

"Sam… I…" Molly paused again.

"What I did back then…" Alexis could hear her starting to cry. "With your dad… I wasn't even thinking about you or Kristina. I was mad at Mom. Not for trying to break me and Jason up… I mean that was part of it, but it wasn't the real reason. I was just channeling my anger through that… I was mad at her for giving me away."

Tears started to stream down Alexis' cheeks and the pit of her stomach went hollow.

"And I was angry that she was there for me then but not growing up when I needed her most. She had this perfect little family that I didn't think I could ever fit in with. But yet she was trying to keep me from my family… Jason. So, I started plotting to seduce your dad." She choked up. "But I changed my mind. I wasn't going to go through with it. Because you, Kristina, and Mom were the family I always wanted. But I was still so angry. And Mom and I got into another fight. She called me pathetic and degraded. Then she left. I was a disappointment to her. So, I started drinking. Ric was there and drank too. We got wasted. And you know what happened next… As soon as I woke up, I regretted it. I hurt Jason, I hurt Mom, I hurt you and Krissy. I hurt myself. I thought Mom would never forgive me and I never wanted to relive those months again. She was so angry at me and I don't blame her. After she did forgive me, we only mentioned it again a couple of times. It was like we came to a silent agreement not to tell you and Krissy. I didn't want you to think of me that way, because you and Kristina are the best sisters I could ever ask for. But what you said at the courthouse is right… I'm not perfect. Both me and Mom are human. But what I did… I did so many things that hurt all of you and I'm sorry."

Alexis ripped off a piece of toilet paper and wiped her wet eyes.

"I forgive you, Sam," Molly said in a brittle voice. "I miss you too and I don't want this in the way anymore. It really hurt and it was wrong… but I understand why you did it. You're my sister and I love you."

"I love you too."

Alexis opened the door of the stall. Sam and Molly were hugging. Sam's eyes grew wide when she saw Alexis.

"I… I didn't know you were there…" Sam said. "I didn't want you to hear all that…"

"I'm glad I did." She wrapped her arms around both of them. "Now let's get out there and celebrate the littlest Davis Girl's birthday."

They wiped away their tears and walked back out to the party. Scout was kneeling on Julian's lap as she, Violet, and Avery placed ribbons and bows on his head, giggling.

"Ava, you've got to give me that portrait," Nina said, drawing Alexis' attention. "This is the only way to get back at Valentin and Nikolas."

Alexis exchanged glances with Sam and Molly.

"If you want my help, you're going to have to enlighten me," Ava said. "Why do Jax and Valentin and Nikolas want this portrait of Helena? And is Laura next, I mean maybe she's pretending to be my friend. Nikolas is her son after all."

"No, no." Nina shook her head. "I'm sure that Laura doesn't know that Nikolas is alive and if Laura is looking for that portrait, it's for Spencer's sake.

"Well, you have yet to tell me. Why is it that you want the portrait?" Ava asked.

"I don't care about that portrait… I'm after the codicil that Helena must have hidden inside."

"Well, finally we're getting somewhere," Ava said. "What codicil?"

"Mikkos Cassadine, Valentin's father, left a codicil to his will. And it's supposed to disinherit Valentin and leave everything to Spencer and to Nikolas and it's supposed to be hidden in Helena's portrait." Nina lowered her voice. "And if we have the portrait, we have a lot of leverage."

Alexis' mouth dropped slightly.

"Mommy!" Scout ran over to them and crashed into Sam's arms. Sam scooped her up. "Grandpa's silly."

Sam laughed. "He sure is."

Alexis smiled and rubbed Scout's back. "Are you having a fun time, Cookie?"

"Uh-huh. Everyone likes me lots."

"We sure do, Scout," Molly said. "This is your special day."

"Mommy?" Scout asked.

"Yes, sweetie?" Sam responded.

"I wanna give my special sponges to Simba and Nala."

"You mean the ones with your bath time toys?" Alexis laughed.

She nodded. "When we see them with Grandma Monica I wanna give them a gift."

Sam chuckled. "Okay. Happy birthday, baby girl." She kissed her cheek.