Chapter 45- Skye's Song

Skye hardly slept that night. Derek interviewed Hayley before Alan and Skye left the hospital and she showed him what she wrote down to Skye. Skye never guessed in a million years that she would be concerned about the sister she hated. But… did she really hate Hayley? Between all the threats and her family drama on all sides, she also couldn't stop thinking about her new to-do list orchestrated by Myrtle, because she knew her grandmother wouldn't forget a single detail on that list, and neither would Skye. She already apologized to both her mother and John, though being respectful to them or anyone was easier said than done. She wasn't looking forward to doing more chores, it was hard enough making a bed, but what she didn't even want to think about was going to a therapist. She already faked her way through counseling at Oak Haven, but under Myrtle's watch, she wasn't sure she could get away with that or anything. But maybe, just maybe, if Skye could work really hard at finding a job, which seemed to be the most tangible item on the list, and work at the other things, then Myrtle won't even think therapy is necessary.

When she went down for breakfast, all the Quartermaines were gathered around the table including little Michael, except for Lila and Jason of course. Skye took a seat between AJ and Emily and across from Alan, Monica, and Tracy. Monica and Tracy seemed less than pleased with Skye's presence, though Tracy seemed the type of person who wouldn't be pleased with anyone's presence.

"How did you sleep, Skye?" Alan asked with a smile.

"Oh, skip the small talk," Tracy interrupted. "Mother is missing, and this little tramp is looking to see how much money she can get out of us!"

Skye gawked at her. "I am not!"

"Tracy…" Alan glared at her. "Do not call my daughter a tramp."

"I'm just calling a spade a spade," Tracy said. "She's finishing the work her jezebel mother started thirty years ago!"

"How dare you!" Skye lifted her clothed napkin from her lap and slammed it down in front of her. "Nobody speaks about my mother like that and gets away with it. You just feel threatened that there's other females in the family. Well, you listen to me, lady—"

"Skye, that's enough," Alan said. "Tracy, this is a family breakfast and if you can't be respectful to my daughter, then I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

"Leave my own house?" Tracy demanded.

"It's my house!" Monica spoke up. "And quite frankly, I'm on Tracy's side."

Alan looked at her. "Monica!"

"The only things I know about my new stepdaughter," Monica said through gritted teeth. "Is that my dearly devoted husband lied to me about having another child for decades, that she's trying to break up our marriage, and she's caused havoc in both Pine Valley and Llanview! Not to mention, the beloved Quartermaine patriarch went missing just around the same time that Skye magically appeared in our lives—"

"Monica!" Alan snapped. "Skye is not responsible for Mother's disappearance!"

"I beg to differ! I want her out of my house before another family member goes missing!"

"Mom," AJ said as he helped Michael cut his sausage. "I've spent time with Skye, I honestly believe she just genuinely wants family connections."

"I am not kicking my daughter out," Alan said. "She will be going home to her mother today, however. But she is always welcome back anytime."

"Morning paper," Reginald announced as he walked into the dining room and held a newspaper out to Monica.

Monica pierced her lips, yanked the paper from him, and slammed it onto the table. She glared at Skye. "Ever since you wrote that oh so enchanting article about Alan and Rae and had it sent to me, they won't stop coming! Even after my attempts to cancel my new and apparently free subscription, they are still being delivered every single frigging day!"

"And there have been no new articles about me and Rae," Alan added.

"Don't worry, Stepmommy," Skye said. "You don't have to worry about those articles anymore. I no longer work for the Banner." She frowned. "I no longer work, period."

"Exactly why you should come back to ELQ," Edward said.

Tracy rolled her eyes. "You have to be kidding me."

"In fact," Edward continued. "I'd like to make an announcement. As of today, I am awarding my new granddaughter with 2% ELQ stock as a way of welcoming her into the family."

Ned gawked at him. "And just who's shares are you handing over?"

AJ turned to Skye. "Don't fall for it… he's up to something."

"All right now, everybody please," Alan said. "Skye's part of this family. Now, if Father wants to make a gift to her of some stock, why shouldn't he?"

"I don't know how to thank you, Granddad. A gift of ELQ stock to little old me?" Skye placed her hands on her chest, then sat up straighter and gritted her teeth. "I don't want it! I will never accept a gift from the man who helped kidnap me! AJ is right, you're up to something all right. You're afraid that Mother, Father, and I are going to press charges against you and Daddy so you're trying to suck up to me, so I won't do that!"

Edward shifted awkwardly in his seat. "I don't know what you're talking about…"

Emily scrunched her face. "Grandfather helped kidnap you?"

"And I'm not going to go work for you either," Skye said and reached for the newspaper. "You see, my grandmother, not Lila but Myrtle, has a little to-do list for me. One of those things is to find a job on my own, and most certainly with no help from you!"

Tracy laughed. "Anyone would have to be crazy to hire you."

Skye looked from Emily to AJ. "Will one of you please show me to a computer?"

"Sure," Emily offered.

FargateFargateFargate

Alan took Skye back to Llanview a little early to drop off resumes. Rae had called before they left to let them know that John had the police search her house the day before and remove any microphones and hidden cameras. Alan and Skye arrived by 3 o'clock to find Myrtle, Rae, and John playing cards in the living room. But as they welcomed Skye home, Skye was focused on the new pictures framed around the room.

Alan smiled and shook John's hand. "You must be John. Rae has said so much about you."

"You as well," John said. "It's nice to meet you."

"Thank you, Alan," Rae said. "For taking such good care of Skye."

"We ended up having a lovely time," Alan said. "I do wish it was under better circumstances, but I think it's safe to say we're somewhat closer than we were before, right Skye?"

Skye turned to Rae. "Where did you get these pictures?"

"Your Uncle Stuart gave them to Myrtle, and she gave them to me," Rae said and wrapped an arm around Skye. "They mean a lot to me."

Alan's eyes lit up and he reached for a picture of Skye at age six in a choir gown smiling big with her two front teeth missing. "You mean these are of Skye when she was young?"

Skye yanked the picture from him and hugged it to her chest. "Uncle Stuart had no right to give these to you! And now you just go ahead and hang them all around for everyone to see without my permission!"

Rae sighed. "Skye…"

Skye opened her mouth to say more, but locked eyes with Myrtle and exhaled deeply. "Okay, I'm sorry for being rude… Uncle Stuart meant well, and it was very thoughtful for you to frame these embarrassing pictures… I just like to forget those years, especially moments like in this picture… So, if you want to keep the others out, that's fine, just not this one." She looked back at Myrtle. "That's a good compromise, and I'm being respectful, I am! Now be respectful to me in return. I'm going to go burn this…"

She headed to the staircase, but Alan stopped her and reached for the picture. "Why do you want to burn this? You were a beautiful little girl. I didn't know you were in the choir."

She shrugged. "There's a lot of things you don't know about me."

"Skye, please don't burn it," Rae said. "Can I at least keep it in my room?"

Skye paused for a moment, but finally nodded. "I guess so. But I probably won't go into your room much then."

"I'll tuck it in my drawer," Rae suggested.

Alan looked at the picture one last time and handed it to Rae.

John cleared his throat. "Can I treat everyone for dinner at the Palace? You're welcome to join us, Alan."

"I can't," Skye said. "And no, Grandma, I'm not being rude to John. I happen to have an interview this evening."

"An interview?" Rae said. "Oh, Skye, that's wonderful."

"Where is your interview?" Myrtle asked.

"At Melador Cosmetics," Skye said. "It's for editor of their magazine."

Rae smiled. "That's here in Llanview."

"Skye's been very busy today," Alan said. "Her brother and sister helped her write up some resumes this morning, then she and I dropped them off before coming here. This Dorian Lord seems quite eager to hire someone."

"Where else did you apply?" Rae asked.

Skye pulled the newspaper out of her pocket where it was already opened to the job postings and handed it to Rae. "I applied to all of them."

Rae skimmed them. "Uh, Skye… are you sure you have dog grooming experience?"

Skye rolled her eyes. "I need to keep my options open." She turned to Myrtle. "I have a to-do list I need to complete."

"You do?"

Myrtle grinned and pulled a piece of paper from her sleeve. "And I just finished writing it all down this morning, so Skye doesn't forget anything. But your daughter is well on her way to completing it." She winked at Skye and handed her the paper.

Skye reached into her pocket and handed Rae the hundred-dollar bill. "This isn't on the list, but I ate at the Quartermaine's, so I'm returning your money."

Myrtle raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, don't get mad at Mom, it was just money for food," Skye said. "Because I was being stupid."

"Well, thank you Skye," Rae said. "I'm glad Alan was there for you."

"Why don't you three go to dinner and I'll help Skye get ready for her interview?" Myrtle suggested

"All right." Rae turned to Alan. "Why don't you invite Monica to join us? We'll make it a double date."

"I have a strange suspicion that Monica won't take too kindly to that," Alan said. "I'll try though, once we get to the restaurant."

Skye went upstairs to change into her second outfit, and when she returned downstairs, Alan, John, and Rae had left. She sat next to Myrtle on the couch.

"Skye darling, why did you want to burn that picture?" Myrtle asked.

"Because I just looked like a stupid little kid."

Myrtle raised an eyebrow. "You said you wanted to forget those moments, why?"

Skye groaned. "You're not going to drop this, are you?"

Myrtle shook her head. "Did Adam and Althea not go to your choir performances?"

Skye lowered her gaze. "It doesn't matter."

"Of course, it matters if it still upsets you this much."

Skye crossed her arms, stood up, and looked away from Myrtle. "Uncle Stuart used to take me to church on Sundays. Daddy and Mother didn't care, of course… they never cared. I was always with whatever nanny we had at the time anyway, and Daddy always found a reason to fire them just as I would grow attached to them… and when I wasn't with the nanny, I was with Uncle Stuart. So, I joined the children's choir and I loved it. I loved singing more than anything. Uncle Stuart and my nanny at the time came to all of my practices. I was so excited about our first Sunday service and I invited Daddy and Mother. I kept reminding them. Uncle Stuart kept reminding them. My nanny kept reminding them. So, Uncle Stuart took me there early because we were going to practice one more time. Uncle Stuart took that picture of me because I was so excited for Daddy and Mother to come watch. But as time ticked on, as all of us sat in the front pew, I kept looking back at Uncle Stuart, smiling and waving, but neither of them was coming, not even my nanny."

"I'm sorry, Skye." Myrtle was at her side now, squeezing her arm gently.

"It was our time to go up and sing. I looked back at Uncle Stuart one last time but then I ran to the back of the church and out the doors. I was going to find Daddy and Mother myself. And I did find one of them." Tears started to stream down Skye's cheeks. "As I heard the other kids start to sing… Mother chugged back a bottle of booze as she swerved down the street in one of Daddy's cars… and—and she crashed right into my nanny just as she was crossing the street. That was the first time Mother was institutionalized."

Myrtle rubbed her back. "I had no idea."

"She was locked up for a year and I barely saw Daddy once a week. He hired a new nanny, of course. And Uncle Stuart tried comforting me… but it wasn't until I started bullying other girls at school that Daddy was forced to come and talk to the principal. He scolded me of course. But scolding was better than nothing at all… so I became the nastiest little girl I could so he would come and scold me every day. I would even throw things at the new nanny until she quit, and Daddy hired yet another one. I became smarter and found other ways to get Daddy's attention. If he had a meeting at the mansion, I'd plant frogs on all the chairs so the meeting would get cancelled and I would get punished. But then a year later, Mother was out, and Daddy took Uncle Stuart and left us. Uncle Stuart tried talking Daddy out of it, I heard him. But he didn't have a choice. Daddy sent the money along all right. Mother kept drinking, so that left little Skye alone with her inheritance and another new nanny. But I never bonded with a nanny again."

"So, that's why you don't sing anymore?"

Skye shrugged. "Partly. But I did join any kind of choir or singing club the school had, even though I never expected Mother to come listen. She eventually moved me around from state to state and I never knew why. We didn't even buy a new house with my inheritance, we just stayed in hotels with the nanny. She would end up back in institutions, so it was just me and the nanny. Daddy never called, just sent the money along. Even though everyday I'd sit by the phone or look out the window hoping he'd come rescue me, but he never came, even when I was bad. Then when I got older, I moved to Pine Valley and Daddy did take me in. I wanted to be a singer. I sang in bars, but Daddy never had time to come listen to me, but he always had time for anything Junior was doing. And whenever Daddy passed by my room when I was singing, he said I was clogging his brain and I needed to put an end to that nails down a chalkboard dream. So, I did. I replaced the love of singing with the love of alcohol." She laughed through her tears. "Mother would've been proud of me."

"Sweetheart, you must sing again," Myrtle said. "If you love singing and it brought you so much joy, you shouldn't have given it up."

Skye finally turned to her. "Except now, my song is pain, not joy."

"It doesn't have to be. Your song can be healing, Skye. You didn't have anyone back then, but it's different now. You can let go of the pain."

"I have to go fix my make-up. This is messing up my mascara."

"Skye," Myrtle said. "You got a lot out, I'm proud of you."

"This will never be spoken of again! I'm working on your list, isn't that enough?" Before Myrtle could respond, Skye ran upstairs.