A/N: Thanks for continuing to read, review, and follow! I appreciate it. I apologize for the delay, but life happened. I made it through my first week of my new (but not really since I'm doing the same thing that I did last week I just work for a different company) job. I hope all of you are safe and healthy. This chapter picks up where the last one left off. I will warn you that the "R" word is used, and I'm sure you can figure out by whom. Hope you enjoy this update!
/
"So, Jo, what do you do?" Opal asked.
"I am a psychologist."
"That's impressive. Do you have your own practice?"
"For the moment, I'm on staff at a hospital in Allentown." Jo's future plans included striking out on her own and having a separate practice away from the hospital. That was a few years down the road however, and only Marissa knew of those plans at the moment.
"I have to admit that I'm slightly biased here, but she's really good."
"Thanks, Marissa! That means a lot."
"You're welcome. Besides, your Mom sends me something every time I tell someone that." Marissa grinned.
While the others laughed, Jo glared playfully at her friend.
"Now, that is just not nice. What would your Mom say?"
"She'd laugh a little before she scolded me." Marissa turned serious. "Jo really is good. Her patients love her."
"And you know this how?"
"You remember when I visited you last year and stopped by the hospital?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I got there early and decided to grab something to drink in the cafeteria while I waited for you to finish up. While I was waiting, I heard someone mention your name. Naturally, my ears perked up. It was a family, and they went on and on about how much you were helping them. They were so grateful to you and where you had gotten them to at that point. They said you brought them back from the brink. If it hadn't been for you, they weren't sure where they would be. I swear I'm being completely honest when I tell you all that. You're helping people and making a difference, Jo. So, if you ever get to the point where you doubt yourself in the slightest, remember that."
Jo met her friend's steady gaze and nodded. Next to her Mom, Marissa was her biggest fan, and she hers. They supported each other while always being honest and straight. It was something they both appreciated and depended on. Each had their own struggles. Marissa always worried about Fiona and wanted to make sure she was safe and protected. With Jo, it was her father. He had struggled with mental health issues for many years before he surrendered to those inner demons and committed suicide. When they were in school back in Devon, there were some individuals who attempted to use those struggles against Marissa and Jo, but those people underestimated them and their strength. They also underestimated the bond that the friends shared. Marissa and Jo always had the others backs and always would.
"You never told me that. Thanks." Jo smiled and bumped shoulders with Marissa. Exactly how much what Marissa had said meant to her remained unspoken. Jo didn't need to say it because Marissa knew.
"You're welcome, and any time." Marissa meant what she said. Jo had been through a lot, especially their senior year of high school, and she had come out the other side of it stronger. Marissa had seen that first-hand. She also knew that Jo had one of the biggest hearts out there, and next to Marissa's family, Jo was one of Fiona's biggest defenders. Marissa now counted Bianca in that group.
Krystal discreetly pulled out her cellphone and took a photo of the two young women. She would be sharing that with not only Marissa and Jo but with their mothers as well who she knew would love it. The two younger women reminded her so much of Lydia and Jessica.
Marissa checked the time. Fiona should have been back by now, and she was a little concerned about her sister. "I'm going to go check on Fi and see what's keeping her."
"I'll come with you." Jo volunteered. "I have something for Krystal from Mom, and I left it in your car."
"Sounds good. We'll be right back." Marissa gave Bianca a quick peck as she excused herself.
/
Fiona walked down the sidewalk to where Kendall had parked her car. She clicked on the key fob to unlock the car door as she approached it.
"Whoa! Don't tell me that someone like you has a driver's license?" Tammy stepped in front of Fiona and blocked her path.
Fiona's eyes grew wide when she recognized the woman who had been mean to her in the ice cream parlor. "Could you move please? I need to get something out of the car."
"Yeah, I don't think so. I'm pretty sure they don't let people like you drive."
"People like me?"
Out of the corner of her eye, Tammy saw a blond-haired man walk up and lean against a nearby car. From his expression, he was clearly amused by what was going on and didn't appear like he would make an effort to stop it. She needed to be sure, however.
"Can I help you? What's your name?"
"No, I'm good. Don't let me interrupt. I'm just enjoying the show. The name is JR."
This was all the encouragement Tammy needed to egg her on, and she decided to ramp things up. She smirked. "I'm Tammy." She then turned her attention back to Fiona.
"Yeah, people like you, you know, retards. I don't think you're allowed to drive. So, if you're not allowed to drive, that tells me you stole those keys if not this car. You know, when you steal a car, that is big time trouble. The kind of trouble that sends you to jail for a long time." Tammy cackled when she saw the fear in the younger woman's eyes. It made her feel good.
When she was scared, Fiona tended to stutter. "But … but … I …I didn't … didn't …"
"I … I … didn't … didn't … You can't even talk right." Tammy laughed as she mocked the younger woman.
Tears started to stream from Fiona, and she began to curl into herself.
/
"They are going to just love you in jail. Oh, the things they are going ..."
Marissa spotted her sister and took off at a dead run with Jo right on her heels.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Marissa shouted at Tammy as she pulled Fiona into her arms. Her voice immediately softened. "Fi. Fi, I need you to look at me. Please?"
Fiona slowly did as her sister requested. Red-rimmed eyes rose to meet Marissa's. "Rissa? She … she … said …"
Tammy laughed again and started to mock the younger woman once more. "She … she …"
Hazel eyes hardened, and a soft voice turned to steel. "I'd shut the hell up if I were you. Better yet, shut the hell up before I shut you up, permanently."
The threat gave Tammy pause, but then, she opened her mouth to say something else. That is when Jo stepped in.
"If you're half as smart as you seem to think you are, I'd do what she said."
Marissa turned her attention back to her sister who had begun to hyperventilate. "Fi, I need you to breathe. Okay? Do what I do." Marissa took a deep breath and then slowly released it, and she repeated the process. After several attempts, Fiona was able to follow her sister's example.
Relief flooded through Marissa as her sister started to calm down. "Good. Good. Did you get your phone?"
Fiona shook her head. "She … she wouldn't let me. She said … she said I stole the car. She said that re … retards couldn't drive so I had to have stolen the car. I didn't though. Kendall gave me her keys."
Marissa was beyond furious when she heard what the other woman had called her sister. She couldn't let that anger take over though. Her focus needed to be on Fiona. "I know. I know you didn't do anything wrong. Give me the keys, and I'll get it for you."
Fiona handed the keys over to her sister but still clung to her.
Jo stopped her friend and held out her hand. "I'll get it. You take care of Fiona."
"Are you sure?"
"Oh yeah. Positive. I got this."
Marissa nodded and handed over the keys. She looked at Tammy with an expression that would strike fear into anyone. "You better hope that I never see you again because if I do you won't be as lucky next time." It was then that she finally acknowledged another person on the scene. "Fi, did he say or do anything to you?"
"No, he didn't. He laughed and said he didn't want to interrupt and that he was enjoying the show."
"I see."
JR finally found his voice. "That's not what I meant. She didn't understand. Hey, if I knew she was your sister, I would've stopped this."
"It shouldn't matter whether or not she's my sister. You should have stopped it. Period. God, you're pathetic and as bad as her." Marissa nodded towards Tammy.
"That's not fair! I …"
"I think you've said more than enough, JR."
JR turned when he heard a male voice that he knew all too well. His eyes grew wide when he saw two men who, at first glance, were identical in appearance. If you looked closer however, you would see the differences between them.
"JR? You let her say those things to that girl? Why?"
"Uncle Stuart …"
"Would you let her say that about me?"
"Of course not! It's a misunderstanding. She was joking."
"No, she wasn't. She said I'd go to jail, and that bad things would happen to me there." Fiona said as she started to find her voice again.
Marissa struggled to reign in her anger. She wanted nothing more than to rip the woman who had threatened her sister to shreds, and then do the same to the man who had stood by and did nothing but laugh. Jo felt the same way but had better control than her friend did at the moment.
"Go. Take care of Fiona. I got this. I still have to get something out of your car. Don't worry. I'll be right behind you."
Stuart Chandler looked at Fiona. "I'm sorry for my nephew. What he did was wrong. Are you going to be okay?"
"You're his uncle?" Fiona asked.
Stuart nodded. "I am. I'm usually proud to say that, but I'm not today. He's being mean."
"How can you say I'm being mean? I didn't say or do anything." JR protested.
"I know. You didn't do anything to stop her from being mean to …" Stuart glanced at the younger woman.
"I'm Fiona." Fiona had a shy smile on her face as she shook Stuart's offered hand.
"Hi, Fiona. I'm Stuart." He then turned back to his nephew. "You didn't stop that other woman from being mean to Fiona, and that's just as bad. I don't want to be around you right now." Stuart turned to his brother. "Adam, I don't want to be here anymore. Can we leave?"
"We can, but I want to say something to JR first. Would you mind waiting for me in Krystal's?"
Sensing Stuart's hesitation, Marissa stepped in. "You can wait with us if you want. My name is Marissa, and I'm Fiona's sister." She turned to Adam. "I know you don't know me, but Krystal is a family friend. I'm also friends with Bianca Montgomery. Bianca and her sister and cousin are inside Krystal's. I'm also a lawyer and work with Caleb Cortlandt and Jack Montgomery."
Adam smiled. "Those are excellent references. Stuart, would you be okay going inside with them while I deal with JR? You could get yourself something to drink." Adam could see his brother was upset, and he hoped by going into Krystal's that he would be able to calm down some.
Stuart nodded. He had a good feeling about Marissa from the way she was protecting her sister and not letting JR off the hook for what he did or didn't do in this case. "Okay."
Marissa smile and turned to Jo. "Are you coming?"
"You take care of Fiona. I'll be right behind you after I grab her phone and what I need from your car. I just need the keys to your car too."
The friends had a silent conversation, a common occurrence since childhood. Marissa knew without a doubt that Jo was going to do more than that, but she decided not to press that matter. Her first concern was her sister and getting her to safety. With a look, Marissa told her friend to be careful and not take any unnecessary risks. Jo had a bright future ahead of her, and the last thing Marissa wanted was for her friend to do something to jeopardize it. For her part, Jo knew what her friend was thinking and simply smiled to reassure her that she had things in hand.
Marissa handed over her set of car keys as well to Jo before she headed back to the restaurant with Fiona still holding onto her tightly. She glanced over her shoulder towards Jo. "I'll see you inside."
"I'll see you inside."
Adam nodded to Stuart. "I'll be there in a few minutes."
"Okay." Stuart returned the gesture as he completely ignored his nephew and followed Marissa and Fiona.
"Uncle Stuart!" JR called out to his uncle, but there was no answer. It was then that what he had done had started to sink in. The disappointment and hurt in his uncle's eyes would haunt him for an awfully long time.
/
Bianca could tell something was wrong the instant she saw Marissa and Fiona.
"Is everything okay? Did something happen?"
Marissa shook her head. "I'll explain everything later." She glanced at her sister. "Fi, would you feel better if we talked to Mom?"
Fiona nodded. "Yeah, but she wasn't feeling good."
"We got a text from her that she was feeling better. Remember?"
"Oh, we did. I want to talk to her, Rissa."
"Okay. Hey, Krystal, could we use your office for a few minutes?"
Krystal nodded. She knew something had happened in the short time that the sisters had left the restaurant and their subsequent return. "Of course. You know where it is. If you need anything, you just let me know."
"Thank you. We will. Oh, Stuart, I think you know everyone here."
"I do."
"Are you okay if we …"
"Call your Mom? Don't worry about me. Take care of Fiona. I'll be okay until Adam gets here."
"Stuart's right. Take care of Fiona. We'll keep Stuart company. That is if he doesn't mind spending time with us." Bianca offered.
"I'd like that a lot." Stuart smiled. Bianca, Kendall, and Greenlee were among his favorite people.
"Thank you." Marissa said gratefully. "Krystal, whatever Stuart wants is on me. My treat."
"Where's Jo?" Greenlee asked.
"I'm hoping she's right behind us. We'll be back in a few minutes."
"Take your time. We'll be here." Bianca squeezed Marissa's arm.
"Thank you." Marissa said as she led Fiona back to Krystal's office.
"What can I get you to drink, Stuart?"
"Could I have some iced tea, Krystal?"
"Of course. I'll be right back."
"Have a seat, Stuart." Kendall pulled a chair up to the group's table.
"Thanks, Kendall."
Krystal returned with the requested drink as well as refills for the others.
When everyone had settled and with the Tasker sisters in Krystal's office, Bianca turned to Stuart. "What happened out there, Stuart? Why is Fiona so upset? It has to be something pretty bad for Marissa to be as angry as she is."
"Marissa is angry? I didn't get the impression that she's angry. Upset? Yes. But angry? No." Greenlee said.
"Bianca's right. I've seen that look in Marissa's eyes before, and she is downright furious. Her focus right now though is on Fiona, and that takes precedent over everything else." Krystal observed. She wasn't surprised that Bianca had picked that up. The couple were extremely close.
"The only thing I can think of that would have her that concerned over Fiona and that angry is if something happened to Fiona. Stuart?"
The man nodded. "You're right, Bianca. Something did happen to her."
/
"Are you telling me that your uncle's a re …" A glare from Adam immediately silenced Tammy.
Jo didn't say a word as she retrieved a bag from Marissa's car before she turned her attention to Kendall's to get Fiona's cellphone. Tammy slid over to block her path to the car door.
"Could you move? I need to get something out of the car."
Tammy wasn't ready to let things go just quite yet. So, she decided to turn her attention to Jo and laughed. "What are you? Are you their little bitch? Be a good girl and get that for me."
Jo wasn't going to take the bait. "You might want to clean your ears. I offered to get it. Now, I'll ask again. Could you move?"
"Make me."
"I don't have time for your games, little girl." Jo shook her head and moved around the other woman to make her way to the other side of the car.
Jo's quip set Tammy off. "Who are you calling 'little girl'?!" When the only response she received was a simple raised eyebrow, Tammy began to lose it. "Don't you give me that look! Who the hell do you think you are?! You're nothing! You're just an errand girl for a retard! You know she shouldn't even be allowed to be walking around. She should be locked in a home somewhere. People like her shouldn't be out with normal people."
"Normal people?"
"Yeah. People like her are just a burden on society."
"Fiona is far from a burden. She has a job and contributes a great deal."
"Are you saying she does more than me?!"
"That's not what I said. I won't contradict you though."
"I'm 100 times better than that retard!" It was then that Tammy pushed Jo in the shoulder.
For her part, Jo was doing exceptionally well in keeping her temper in check as well her promise to Marissa. The shoulder shove and the constant slurs against Fiona, however, pushed her close to edge.
"Don't." Jo kept her voice even with a warning edge to it.
"What are you going to do? Are you going to stop me?"
What happened next, well, there were conflicting stories. The one thing that all those present, with the exception of Tammy, would agree on was that Tammy shoved Jo a second time and with more force behind it. Things were a little less clear after that. Jo wouldn't say anything, publicly at least. She remembered the legal advice Marissa had given her years ago while they were watching a legal drama on TV. It was simply 'don't say anything without a lawyer present'. Jo decided to heed that advice now and keep her mouth shut.
Tammy was the complete opposite and screamed bloody murder all while she claimed to be completely innocent and had insisted that Jo attacked her unprovoked.
As for Adam, he would state that Tammy had was the one who had been physical and had shoved Jo twice. After that, all he could (or would) say for sure is that Tammy somehow ended up on ground and with a bloody lip, but he couldn't (or wouldn't) say how that happened.
For his part, JR, for once, kept his mouth shut. He knew Adam was angry and was going to let him have it when they were no longer in public. He could handle it though. He had multiple times in the past. It was almost as if he loved pushing his father's buttons. So, Adam was not a huge concern to him. It was nothing compared to what truly bothered JR more than anything else. The look of disappointment, hurt, and betrayal in his Uncle's eyes. Stuart had the kindest and gentlest soul of anyone he knew, and he had been there for JR time and time again. In fact, JR couldn't think of a single time when Stuart hadn't been there for him. Today, JR knew he had let his Uncle down, and the look in Stuart's eyes would haunt him for an awfully long time.
"You just made the biggest mistake of your life! I am so going to own your ass! I have witnesses!" Tammy screamed at Jo as she struggled to get up.
"If I were you, I would stop right now. You have no witnesses." Adam stepped in and stared Tammy down.
"What are you talking about? You saw what she did! That bitch hit me!"
"I didn't see this young woman hit you. What I did see was you assaulting her." Adam indicated Jo. "So, if by chance she did hit you, it would have been done in self-defense. She would then, as you put it so eloquently, own your ass." For the most part, he was telling the truth. Tammy did start things when she shoved Jo. While Adam didn't know either woman, he did believe he was a good judge of character. Jo's good character became evident when she stepped in to defend Fiona. Tammy's character reared its ugly head when she first verbally attacked Fiona and then again when she attempted to go after Stuart verbally. To Adam, that was more than enough for him. "So, if I were you, I would quit while you're ahead or at least not in jail."
Tammy turned to JR. "You saw what she did! Back me up here."
JR glanced at his father who simply met his gaze with a raised eyebrow. He knew what his Uncle Stuart would say and want, and JR shook his head. "I saw you shove her twice. After that, I really didn't see much. You already did enough damage. If you are as smart as you think you are, drop it and walk away."
Tammy was stunned by how the man's attitude had changed. "You're a coward."
"Call me what you want, but that other man is my Uncle. I let him down with how I acted today, and I have to figure out how to make it up to him. Getting away from you and what you're spewing is a good place to start." JR turned to Adam. "I'm going to head home. I'm pretty sure Uncle Stuart doesn't want to see me right now. I'll try and come up with a way to make this up to him."
Adam was surprised and relieved to see that his son appeared to begin to take responsibility for his actions. "I believe you're right. I'll see you there, and we will talk more then." Adam then stayed where he was. He didn't trust Tammy and wasn't going to leave Jo alone.
Tammy turned her ire back to Jo and spit on the ground in front of Jo. "This isn't over!"
"Actually, I think it kind of is." Jo shrugged because there wasn't a chance in hell that she was going to take the bait, and she also knew it would get to the other woman more. Jo retrieved Fiona's cellphone before she then headed back to Krystal's. Unlike some people, she knew when to quit while she was ahead. Plus, Jo was worried about Fiona, and she really needed to see how she was doing.
Tammy started to follow Jo but was blocked by Adam.
"Leave her and the other two women alone. If you don't, there will be consequences. I'll turn this over to my lawyers, and they will make your life a living hell. That is the only warning you will get from me." Adam could tell his warning struck fear into the younger woman, and she turned on her heel and fled.
When he was sure that Tammy would not be following them, Adam made his way to Krystal's.
/
"I can't tell you how much I wish I was there." Lydia was nearly beside herself when she heard what Fiona had gone through. She would give anything to be in Pine Valley with her daughters at that moment and not in Devon on a Skype call with them. The only thing that helped was knowing that Marissa was there and would do everything possible to help her sister. "Do you want to come home? No one will say anything if you do."
"What do think, Rissa?"
"It's not up to me, Fi."
Fiona rolled her eyes at her sister's response.
Marissa was relieved to see the eye roll. It told her that her sister was starting to feel better. "Okay. If you want to go home, Mom's right. No one will say anything. Bianca will understand. She'll just want to make sure that you're okay. As for Kendall and Greenlee, I've gotten to know them pretty well, and I know they'll understand and accept your decision. They'll miss you not being in the campaign, but they'll understand."
"But what do you think?" Fiona pressed.
Marissa took a deep breath and knew she needed to be honest with her sister. She always had been, and that wouldn't change now. "I think you should stay. You're tougher and stronger than you think you are. You've fought every day of your life, and you have so much to be proud of. I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of you and how proud I am to be your sister. I know that's the same for Mom and Dad."
"It is. Dad and I are so proud of you." Lydia agreed.
"See? One other thing, you are 100 times better than that bitch."
"Marissa Lynn!" Lydia scolded her oldest daughter slightly even though she agreed with her.
"Sorry, Mom, but trust me, she is a raging bitch. Fi, like I said, you've fought every day of your life. I know it's not fair, and I would do anything for that not to be the case. It is though. I have your back and so do all of those people out there, and we'll do everything we can to help you. You know I will. You know Bianca will. She really likes you, almost as much as she likes me."
Fiona smiled at that. "Krystal?"
"Are you kidding me? Krystal's like another Mom. We'll have to hold her back from going after anyone who hurts you."
"And Kendall and Greenlee?"
"Oh my gosh, you're like another little sister to them. I haven't seen them really angry, but from what Bianca's told me, they would be a little scary to anyone who hurts their family, and they think you're family. Plus, don't even get me started about Erica."
That comment did have Fiona smile more. "I wouldn't want to get her mad."
"That's very smart, and I feel the same. So, if you leave, that … person wins and takes your dream away from you. I don't think you should let her. That's just my opinion though. What do you think? Again, I'll back you up no matter what you decide, and I won't think any less of you."
Fiona scrunched her face as she thought about what her Mom and sister had said and about what she wanted to do. After a couple of minutes, she had made up her mind. "I think you're right, Rissa. I don't want her win. She doesn't deserve to, and if I leave, she'll think she can do the same thing to somebody else. That's not right, and I can't let her do that. I want to stay. Is that okay, Mom?"
Lydia wiped took a tissue from Jessica, who had been listening to the entire conversation with Fiona's approval, and wiped away some tears. "Yes, it is. I didn't think it was possible, but I'm even prouder of you. I wish I were there to hug you right now. Would it be okay if your Dad and I come visit this weekend?"
Fiona smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I'd like that."
"I got you covered on the hug, Mom." Marissa said as she pulled her sister closer to her.
"I know you do. I'm proud of you too and am very proud that you took care of your sister first and not go after that person like I know you wanted to."
"You're right about that. Which reminds me, I need to make sure Jo didn't do what I wanted to."
"I would appreciate that very much, Marissa. Please have my daughter call me so I know for myself that she didn't." Jessica added.
Marissa smiled. "I will, Jessica. What do you say, Fi? Do you want to clean up some and get something to eat? I think I just heard your stomach growl."
"Is that what that noise was? I thought it was some sort of wild animal." Lydia teased.
Fiona giggled. "It was just me, Mom. Yeah, I'd like that, Rissa. I want to thank Stuart too."
"Please thank him for me as well."
"We will, Mom."
"Thank you. I love you both."
"Love you too, Mom." The sisters said in unison and laughed.
"We'll call you later when we're back home." Marissa promised.
/
A/N: I decided to end this chapter here so I could get this posted today. I also wanted to end it on a better note than where I could have. See you soon!