Chapter 27- Todd's Biggest Mistake
The next morning, John came over to Rae's to have breakfast with her. "How's Skye getting along?"
Rae sighed as she sipped her coffee. "Is that a trick question?"
"There's a lot of layers to that girl."
Rae nodded. "That's for sure. In some ways I think she's doing better. She's accepting Myrtle and I more. But she's just so abrasive. She seems to be a little more respectful to Mama, I think because Mama scolds her for it."
"But you won't?"
She shook her head. "There's so many times I feel like I'm going to snap, but I just can't. I can't do it."
"You had no trouble doing it before."
She looked up at him. "The things I said to her before a mother should never say to her child. I told her that she doesn't deserve love and that she's nothing more than a sad little girl who no one had any time for. And devastatingly, I think the last part is true, other than Stuart. But I never should have said that to her."
"You didn't know she was your daughter back then and you already apologized to her for it. I'm not saying to speak to her in that way, just put your foot down and demand some respect from her."
"No. I think my job right now is to show her that I'm not going anywhere and that I want to be present in her life no matter what she dishes at me. I just have to take it. She's hurting, she's angry, she's confused. And believe it or not I've made a lot of ground with her. I can't ruin it by snapping at her. As much as I wanted her to come back home with me, I'm so glad that she's not living in the same house as Adam Chandler or Edward Quartermaine. I know Stuart or Alan would be good to her, but finding out what Adam and Edward did and the things that they still pull… I don't want either of them hurting Skye again. Did you know that Adam cut Skye off financially? Mama thinks this is a good thing and a part of me agrees. He's made her too dependent on him. She needs to learn to stand on her own two feet. But the other part of me says that this isn't the time for her to learn independence. Her emotional well-being is what's at stake here. What she needs is to feel loved."
"Or perhaps it's both," John said. "You can still help her out but teach her some independence at the same time. She was raised to be a spoiled rich girl who holds her only self-worth accredited to the Chandler name. She has to learn that there's more to life and that hard work brings fulfillment in life."
"Yeah, Mama sees it that way too. She's not going to make Skye pay for food or rent, but she's going to have her save money and teach her to budget. And she hasn't told Skye this part, but she's going to make her do some chores around the house."
"Good," John said.
"She won't even make her own bed," Rae commented. "Mama and I took turns making it the first week, but Mama said starting tomorrow it's all on Skye. And if she doesn't do it, then she'll have to come home to an un-made bed at night. And I really doubt that Skye will react well to a messy environment. She's so used to having servants."
"RAEEEEE!" Todd Manning burst through the front doors and rushed into her living room. "There you are, I went all the way to Pine Valley looking for you!"
Rae groaned. "Todd, you are not allowed on my property anymore. The judge appointed you another therapist."
Todd laughed. "I tried this mediocre shrink last night, but he's just not the same as you. Now, please get Johnny Law out of here because I have a shrink-type emergency!"
"You're the one who's leaving, Manning," John said. "If not, we will get a restraining order."
"Todd, the judge agreed with me that this is a conflict of interest," Rae said.
"And all of that is pretty little Skye's fault," Todd groaned. "You know, the biggest mistake I have ever made is revealing that you begat Skye. I should've held onto that secret just a little longer."
Rae laughed. "Are you serious? You have raped women, killed numerous people, and framed my daughter for attempted murder, yet your biggest mistake in life was telling Skye that I'm her mother?"
"Exactly," Todd said. "Because otherwise she wouldn't be coming between us."
Rae threw her hands up and yanked on her hair.
"Manning, let's go," John said. "Or I'm arresting you."
"But I did something that I need to confess to someone!" Todd wailed. "I need to talk to Rae!"
Rae crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "Then just say it. But John's not leaving."
"Oh, I'm not saying it in front of him. In fact, looking at his face makes me want to follow through with it!"
"What did you do, Manning?" John asked. "Break Blair out of jail?"
Todd grinned. "For me to know, and you to find out." He turned to Rae. "You know what, I feel a lot better." He shook his index finger at her. "You are good. This is much funner than confessing. Now I know something Detective Dodo doesn't know." He turned around and hurried out the door.
FargateFargateFargate
Skye didn't sleep a wink that night and she suspected Myrtle didn't either. Myrtle never looked less rested the next morning. Skye tried to explain… but her explanation ended up being that she needed fresh air and wanted a little adventure, so that's why she went that route rather than just going down the hallway to Myrtle's den. Myrtle didn't ask a lot of questions and was focused on getting ready for church then brunch with Stuart, but Skye figured her new Grandma thought she lost her marbles.
"I must get going or I will be late," Myrtle said. "I'm picking up Opal this morning. Please have the dishes washed and dried by the time I get back."
Skye's eyes bulged. "The dishes?"
"Yes. You have about four hours to get that done. I think you can handle that and making your bed."
Skye gawked at her.
Myrtle shot her a look and Skye scooted over to the kitchen. Skye stared at the sink for what felt like forever after Myrtle left. "All right, you can do this. You've seen Winifred do it before." She turned on the tap when there was a loud banging at the front door. For once, she was glad to be interrupted. She turned off the water and headed over to answer the door.
Standing on the front porch was Todd and Blair.
Skye gaped at them. "What the hell are you two doing here? You're supposed to be in jail, Blair!"
Blair smirked at her. "Not anymore. You marched right on over to my hotel room when you got out on bail to gloat, so now I'm gloating to you!"
"You're out on bail too?"
"Nuh-uh. No one knows where we are. That's right, Skye. Todd broke me out yesterday. And now you're going to pay for what you did to me."
"I slept with your husband who didn't love you. I didn't make you sit in jail for a crime you didn't commit!"
"And you set me up to sleep with Max to break me and Todd up!"
"How can you forgive Todd so easily after he announced at your wedding that you were the one who shot Max?" Skye asked.
"He got me out and that's what matters," Blair seethed. "See, I have a man who actually loves me. You have no one."
"I have a family, something you know nothing about."
"A family that feels sorry for you only?" Blair laughed. "That is the extent of they feel for you. They will never love you."
Skye clenched her jaw. "At least I didn't try to kill my ex-husband. I'm going to call John right now and you're going to rot in prison for the rest of your sorry little life—"
"You leave my mommy alone!" Starr showed up out of nowhere and shot her with a water gun.
"Ugh! Ugh!" Skye threw her hands up. "You little brat! You know your family has a real problem of turning to guns for answers."
Todd high-fived her. "That's my girl."
"I thought I told you to wait in the car," Blair said.
"But she won't stop crying," Starr said. "I knew we should've gotten a boy instead."
Skye scrunched her face. "Who won't stop crying?"
"Just go back to the car and give her one of your donuts or give her a quick spray," Todd said. "That'll get her to shut up."
"But you said we can go to Disneyworld," Starr said.
"And we will," Blair said. "But Mommy needs to tie up loose ends with the mean lady first. So, head back to the car and give her one of your donuts."
Starr gave Skye a dirty look before heading back to the car. But Skye couldn't see who the "she" was in their car. "So, Blair, besides gloating and threatening me is there anything else I can help you with before I call the cops?"
"I need my pocketknife," Todd said.
Skye raised her eyebrow. "Pocketknife?"
"Yes, I think I left it in your grandmother's den."
"When were you in my grandma's den? That day you came over, you barely got up the stairs."
"Oh, I know. I came back later when no one was home."
"Why?"
"Isn't it obvious? I was looking for Rae!"
"I'm not giving you a pocketknife. I'm not stupid. You'd probably stab me right here and now! Now get out and never come back!" She slammed the door in their face and locked it behind her.
