Closure - written by Asera
*Authors Notes: Please…Please leave me feedback.
Weeks later still in Mexico, after having undergone delicate surgery and intensive medical treatments Jacqi has returned to her home. Still quite sensitive, she is carefully guarded by the members, with help from Barbara who refused leaving her side even for a moment since she took on her donor task. She has remained with her through everything, even after having an altercation with Jacqi in the hospital. She had awakened from a bad night's sleep in a leather upholstered chair to find Jacqi sitting up in her hospital bed looking at her as if to kill her with her icy glare. When she questioned her looks, Jacqi had responded she never thought a woman like her could sleep so peacefully. A woman like her? What had she meant, could it had been possible Jacqi had seen something before falling ill that night at the Legacy? Why not, she had been so close to them when she fainted it was very possible she had seen what had happened. Again she questioned Jacqi, who responded with a quick nothing, but spoke the word Libertine under her breath…and smiled coldly at her. That was only the beginning of what was to come for Barbara, as Jacqi had felt it her right to humiliate her whenever possible…when Barbara commented on something Jacqi would look at her as if she were infantile and imbecilic. Barbara, however, kept graceful as the butt of Jacqi's ire she would smile and eloquently reply with respect. She hid her pain with sophisticated giggles, her fear with kindness, and her degradation with love.
This only made Jacqi push on with her fury passion towards her, she made it a game competing and betting herself she would make Barbara cry and feel shamed daily…hourly if possible. In Jacqi's mind Barbara had betrayed her, now she had to pay for what she had done. Jacqi knew it was wrong, that God was the one to punish sinners, but Barbara had gone over the line, to her purgatory wasn't enough for Barbara. Her father meant everything to her so naturally anyone who came near him and threatened her relationship with her was disposed of. Barbara had been warned but chose to proceed and now it was up to Jacqi to remind her of her debt.
Even worse for Barbara, Anthony beckoned her, he donned her with small gifts and surprises which she refused to accept. He'd come into her room when asleep to kiss her, pulled her into hidden localities to say he loved her, devouring her instead of his meals with glances at the dinner table. She nevertheless kept strong in affirming nothing more than a friendship could exist between them, assuring him over and over that what had happened the night Jacqi fell ill had been a mistake and nothing more. This was a lie, she knew it was something more than a mistake, she knew she felt something she hadn't felt for anyone since Winston died over 30 years ago. But she couldn't say it hadn't been, she was trying her best to gain Jacqi's respect back that meant more to her than a man no matter how many times he declared his love for her. She knew that if she accepted him, Jacqi would know, she had a way of knowing things as if she could read her mind. She was aware that Jacqi knew her father continued to pursue her, as one night while caring for her Jacqi once again spoke of Anthony's previous flings and how they had all been conquests which meant nothing after a while. Assuring Barbara that once her father returned from his postponed trip he would've forgotten about her and perhaps even return with a new one. This ate away at her, yet she did not show it to Jacqi, she confided only in the softness of a pillow and sympathetic words of Anna. Yet, ignored her pleas to leave that house and the pain it brought her, to return to the Bay City, to return near her daughter and forget about the ungrateful child who no longer needed her.
*****
Night at the Legacy, Barbara once again leaves Jacqi's side hiding her embarrassment with a coy smile as she closes the door and heads to her own bedroom. As she walks away from the corner of the corridor Betina looks to see her enter her own bedroom and close the door, only to be opened moments later by Anthony. This she smiles malignantly at, she then walks over and into Jacqi's bedroom to see her sitting in her bed ready to sleep. "How are you nena?" She asks as she sits next to her on the bed, Jacqi turns towards the TV annoyed she's entered without knocking.
"Estoy bien, what do you want?" She glares at her for a moment then turns back to watch re-runs of the "I Love Lucy Show" with Spanish voice-overs. Betina sees she isn't getting any attention so she yanks the control away from her, shuts off the TV, to which Jacqi quickly responds to. "What the hell did you do that for? I was watching that!"
"I thought you might like to know that you're father and the harlot are together, alone in her bedroom." She winces.
"She wouldn't, not after all I have done to her. She should know I mean business." She looks at Betina with anger in her eyes but with pain in her heart though it doesn't show.
Betina is content knowing she's poisoning Jacqi so, more than breaking her bond with Anthony her only greater, accomplishment would be to turn Jacqi against the righteous conscience she was raised to have. "Oh Jacqi, really." She moves closer to her, and puts her arm around her pulling her closer while running her hands over her head, speaking airily into her ear…"What you have done is nothing more than child's play. Women, like her are used to that…they expect it…you have to be smarter and more capable than she is. "
Jacqi looks up at her, "What do you suggest I do?"
"Let me help you, I'll show you how to rid yourself of Barbara Rayne." She feigns an earnest hug towards Jacqi as she nods her head in acceptance of her help. She thinks success is finally hers...after all the years of fighting Jacqi's goodness, she'll be able to reign over her with ease. "I'll show you how easy it is to get rid of someone you despise so much…" She smiles wickedly as Jacqi allows her to take her into her arms.
*****
Meanwhile in Barbara's bedroom Anthony tries once again to convince him of his love for her as she dismisses it as a foul error. He grabs her hand and holds it in his as he speaks stroking it gently. "Barbara, you must listen to me when I tell you this isn't a mistake. I've never felt this about anyone not even for Mia."
She tears her hand away from his, standing to look away. "That's because you loved Mia, and this isn't love." Turning to see him she speaks again. "You can't compare the love of the woman you married, to the likeness you have of another in an indulgence."
"Indulgence?" Asking as if he didn't know what she means.
"Yes, Anthony an indulgence, a fling, a spree, or whatever you'd like to call your conquests. I won't be an addition to your collection…," She shakes her hands moving them around as if nervous or angered, turns around to face the other way then turns back touching her forehead with her right hand as the other touches her arm as if to sustain it. "oh what a fool I am I've already been added once…but I won't be a toy for you to be entertained with."
"A toy?" Anthony nods his head as he wonders why she would say that…"What makes you think you're my toy?" Barbara looks at him gasping non believing at his question and shakes her head. "What makes you say you're a fling? You've been saying that since you arrived here with me…that you're not my fling…I never thought of you as such Barbara." He comes up behind her, turning her around to face him. "I have never treated a woman like a toy, I've never done anything with them they haven't wanted me too. And even then I always treated them with respect. Now what have I done to make you say that?"
Barbara looks at him, she shakes her head…"Nothing, you've done nothing."
"Well then why won't you accept us?" He touches her face tenderly wanting to kiss it but doesn't.
"Jacqi."
"Jacqi?" He asks thinking that's where she's gotten these bizarre ideas about his intentions. "Is she bothering you? I've noticed she's been very coarse towards you in the past few weeks…"
"No, she hasn't been doing anything to me." Barbara lies knowing very well Jacqi has been constantly pushing her down.
"Well then what about Jacqi?"
"It's not just Jacqi, its you, its this." She sees he doesn't understand. "Once Jacqi has fully recovered I won't have a reason to stay here, she won't need anything from me anymore. I'll have to return to San Francisco and forget I have a granddaughter. She accepts you as her father and since Derek's gone there is no point in me telling her you aren't."
"There is a point, you're her grandmother she doesn't have a mother there's so much she'll need from you." He touches her face but she pulls away.
She walks over to the window looking out and down to the gardens. "A grandmother she doesn't love, as for a mother Marianne has done a wonderful job so far."
"Yes, but Marianne isn't her mother, she isn't her grandmother either you are and as so you have a greater right to Jacqi."
Barbara turns around to see him. " Why couldn't you think of this when my son was alive?"
"Because I didn't want too. I know it seems rather childish but I always envied Derek. He had what I thought I wanted."
"Which was?"
"My wife's love, and a child."
"What good are those things if he couldn't enjoy them…you had both."
"Blaming me?" He looks at her could she have it in her to accuse him of stealing what didn't belong to him.
"No and yes." He frowns. "You kept Jacqi after her mother was gone when you should've told Derek, but I also know what my son was like. And I know that the Legacy was his life, his family, and his passion. He wouldn't have been able to appreciate the love Jacqi could bring to him, the way you have."
"Derek would've learned."
"Yes, but he wouldn't have like it. He was like his father Anthony, he was born to live and die for the Legacy. A child would've only set him back…as much as I would have loved to have grandchildren my children weren't destined to give me any."
"But you have one."
"Yes, but I can't keep her and I won't." She smiles at Anthony…as she continues to speak. "Once Jacqi has fully recovered and I am no longer needed here I will return to San Francisco. You won't have to worry about anyone knowing Jacqi isn't your daughter other than the house members. I'll take this secret to my grave Anthony, Jacqi will only know you as her father." She bites her lip when she finishes speaking and he tries to come up with a reply. "Now, if you excuse me Anthony I'd like to be alone, I would like to make a phone call before I retire for the night."
Anthony nods his head and excuses himself from the room as she picks up the receiver from the phone on her nightstand, but doesn't leave he gets to the door and stops. He turns around and comes back towards her who now has his back toward her. "No." She's unable to interrupt him but he doesn't let her. "No Barbara, I've lived with this secret too long and I can't bare it any longer. Its time Jacqi did know the truth, I can't ask you to sacrifice yourself."
"What? Anthony…" She continues mumbling incoherent words before he interrupts her.
"I want to tell Jacqi the truth." He speaks very bluntly. "I'm tired of lying to her and going around her back to keep the truth from her. I've decided to tell her I'm not her father, that Derek is, that I lied to her all her life, and that...that…"He pauses and breathes in deeply.
"That what?" Barbara questions curious of the last unspoken part.
"That I love her grandmother and wish to marry her." Barbara gasps surprisingly mouthing a what…"Yes, Barbara I wish to marry you."
Barbara pushes him away and shakes her head no. "You've gone mad, obviously the pressure you've been under hiding this secret has been too much for you Anthony. Do you have any idea what you're saying?"
"Yes, I do. I'm saying I love you and I wish to marry you. That I'm willing to speak truthfully to Jacqi about her father and about us." He puts his hands on her shoulders as he prepares to ask her…"Barbara, would you…."
She interrupts him…"No, Anthony don't do this. I can not marry you not for the reasons I have given you but because I don't love you. You may have not been having a fling with me, but I was with you. I realize what I did with you was a mistake and I am truly sorry. Now that you know the truth I suppose you won't want to be near me and I think that's best." He speaks out to her not believing what she has told him but she tells him again. She wants to cry but holds her tears back…and again asks him to leave her room this time he does so without hesitation.
*****
After he does so, Barbara sits on her bed and begins to weep quietly regretting the lies she told him, when Anna enters. "You heard, Anna."
"That he loves you ma'am, and he would like to marry you." Barbara nods. "Yes, ma'am I did." Anna sits near her on the bed. "I also heard you tell him those things."
"And what do you think?" Barbara begins to wipe her tears away.
Anna takes her handkerchief and wipes Barbara's tears away as she speaks. "I believe we should return home Ms. Rayne, you've accomplished what you wanted. Your granddaughter has recovered you can feel good about that, but everything else here is hurting you. Listen to me Ms. Rayne, let us return to the city near Ingrid…she is your family...she's your daughter."
"Jacqi is my grandchild." Anna bites her lip not to say something hurtful but Barbara sees her. "What is it Anna?"
"Nothing…"Barbara insists. "Yes, Ms. Rayne, Ms. Jacquelyn is your grandchild, a child who has done nothing but hurt you. You've renewed her chances of living, and she's paid you with anger, she's humiliated you every chance she's gotten. She's stepped on you, and made you feel like a fool, yet rather than confront her, you've been graceful and hidden your pain from her and her father." She looks down and then back up at Barbara. "Ms. Rayne, if you won't tell her who you really are, then I suggest for your own good we leave this place as soon as possible or else that child won't rest until she's made a bona-fide jackass out of you."
"Anna!" Shocked her companion would say something like that.
"I'm sorry Ms. Rayne, but it's true. Let us leave here tomorrow, I can have everything packed in less than an hour if you tell me too."
"No, not tomorrow…Jacqi wanted to go to church tomorrow…and I'd like to go with her. I know she probably won't want me too, but I'd like to at least try."
"Ms. Rayne." Anna speaks softly.
"Please Anna, you have to understand that after Ingrid I have no one, you are the only one that can understand how much I've wanted to have a granddaughter. Once I leave here I don't plan on pushing myself into her life so what little time I spend with her is very valuable to me. One more day and then we'll return home. I promise." Anna nods as Barbara smiles a little.
*****
The next morning Jacqi prepares to go out dressing in a light blue skirt, white silk blouse, and a matching blazer. She finishes applying a soft pink lipstick with a layer of clear gloss over it, the applies a bit of blush, and begins to fix her hair as Barbara knocks and enters her room. She lets go of her hair and turns to see Barbara looking at her with a smile. "What do you want, Ms. Rayne?" She scowls at her as nicely as possible.
Barbara swallows deeply, and speaks. "I thought I could help you get ready, I wouldn't want you to get to tired before going out otherwise you won't enjoy yourself."
"I'm going to church, not a rave…I don't need to much energy for that, I mean unless you know something I don't." She glares at Barbara.
"Of course, I just meant that well I just wanted to help you." She comes near her offering to help her brush her hair.
Jacqi puts the brush down and turns abruptly to face Barbara glaring through her as if to diminish her by doing so and speaks. "I don't need your help Ms. Rayne, in fact I don't need anything from you."
Jacqi pushes through Barbara towards the door but Barbara grabs her tired of being stepped on, angered she's let it go on. "Stop it, do you hear me Jacqi, stop It!"
Jacqi pushes Barbara away as she scowls at her. "Don't touch me, you stupid old crone! Just because you've managed to jump in the sack with my father doesn't mean you have the right to do what you've just done!"
Barbara snaps back at Jacqi by slapping her in the face, "That's enough Jacquelyn." She pulls her hand back as Jacqi puts hers over her cheek rubbing it softly. "I can't take this from you any longer, and I won't."
Jacqi sheds a tear as she rubs her cheek and speaks out, "How dare you hit me, I'm gonna speak to my father about this." She walks towards the door.
"Go on, tell him," Barbara thinks this will be the final straw, Anthony will realize everything with the exception of saving Jacqi's life has been a mistake.
*****
Jacqi runs out of her room and downstairs to the salon where Anthony sits reading the morning's newspaper. He looks up momentarily to sip some coffee from the cup resting on the table near him to see Jacqi run in. He stands and holds out his arms for her. "Jacqi, que pasa?" She puts her hands on his arms as she leans her head into him, crying and gasping for air. "Que pasa nina? Porque estas asi?"
"Es, es…" Jacqi breathes in her father's aroma as she digs her face into his chest and tightens the grip on his arms with her hands.
"Que es nina? Habla ya?" Anthony wraps his arm around her and walks over to the sofa, sitting down with her as she calms down.
Jacqi looks up from his chest to his face with tears running down her eyes, to her cheeks, down her chin, and speaks. "It's that woman, Papa, I didn't do anything to her Papa. And she just, she just…"He looks at her and then looks up at the stairs where he sees Barbara coming down from. "she hit me, she slapped me."
Barbara enters the salon with Anthony's eyes set firmly upon her, and Jacqi's glaring at her through the layers of her father's clothing as she hides her face in him again. "Anthony, I…"
"Is it true," Anthony looks at her as Jacqi sits back on the sofa, and he stands. "Did you hit her, Barbara?"
Barbara nods her head as she rubs her eyes softly with her hand, she wants to cry but doesn't allow herself as she sees Jacqi is waiting for her to do so. She sees the look in Jacqi's eyes and the smirk appearing on her face as Anthony stands to face her. "Yes, it is true. I slapped her and I would do it again."
Anthony pulls her aside by the arm as Jacqi glares at her through her once damped eyes. "What right have you?"
Barbara looks at Jacqi who winces at what she believes is Barbara's defeat…and then at Anthony who appears angry at having his child hit. "More right, than you will ever have." Anthony bolts back a step, as Barbara raises her head and speaks again, "That's right, Anthony more right than you will ever have. She's mine, my grandchild and my son's daughter…as so I have more right to her than you or anyone else here."
"Barbara," Anthony is shocked she would speak like this, she hadn't once given the slightest hint at wanting Jacqi.
"What's wrong, shocked the good grandmother would say anything?" Anthony looks back at Jacqi, and then pulls Barbara out of the salon to the hallway by the stairs.
"I thought we agreed on not saying anything."
"You agreed not to say anything." Barbara scoffs.
"It's what you wanted, isn't it?" Anthony, approaches her, Jacqi looks out from where she's seated. "Barbara,"
"Stop it, Anthony you know what I said last night."
"You don't expect me to believe that do you, its obvious you're hurt Barbara. You're just doing all this to prove me wrong."
Barbara pulls away from him as she speaks. "Prove you wrong? Hurt?"
"Yes, for the way Jacqi's been treating you lately," Barbara breathes deeply he smiles as he touches her face with his fingers gently. "This is just your way of getting back at her for hurting you and me for allowing her too."
Barbara gasps, "No, it's not a silly child's game." Barbara frowns as she thinks and breathes in making her look almost like a small child pouting.
"Barbara, don't tell me you don't feel hurt for the way Jacqi's been treating you." Barbara closes her eyes after looking over at Jacqi whose happily waving at her apparent anger. Anthony moves her from the doorway's view placing his hands on her shoulders and squeezing her softly. "I know Jacqi, and I know that she saw us before falling ill that night." Barbara looks at him slightly blushing. "I know she's doing the impossible to get you as far away from me as possible."
"And yet you pursue me?" Barbara replies softly.
*****
Jacqi getting upset that Anthony hasn't returned to the salon and that he seems to be getting further away from the room with Barbara, stands from her seat and comes closer to the door without them noticing of course. She listens to them speak of what happened and of her actions because of it. She hears them speak of the last treatment, Anthony telling Barbara she must remain for that, Barbara replying she can't bear to be there any longer. She thinks to herself how she's hurt Barbara and though she's happy because it's pushing her away from Anthony, she's sadden as she thinks she's done wrong in doing so. She hears Anthony speak of his love for her, and his willingness to speak the truth? Barbara telling him not to and her willingness to leave…Jacqi steps out from behind the doorway, and speaks directing herself to Anthony. "What truth Papa?"
"Jacqi," Anthony and Barbara speak in unison.
"What truth are you referring to Papa?" She asks again as she comes near him. She looks at Barbara but dismisses her and gazes at Anthony awaiting a reply.
He swallows but doesn't answer her question instead rebuffs with another. "Where you spying on us? Jacquelyn, what have I told you about listening in on other people's conversations?"
Jacqi comes closer to him, "I wasn't listening, but when you didn't return I thought I would see what was keeping you. What truth were you referring too Papa?"
Barbara sees Anthony's nervousness…"The truth about my affair with him, Jacquelyn." Jacqi is thrown back at that as is Anthony. "That's right Jacqi, for the first time your father didn't conquer a woman, instead he was the game and I the hunter. Your father was simply a toy for me, and that is what he was going to tell you…" Barbara pauses for a moment allowing herself to breathe as Jacqi looks confused and Anthony looks at Barbara aware of what she is doing. Her behavior is that of a woman trying to spare her loved one great pain, by condemning herself in their eyes. "Isn't that right Anthony?" She swallows slowly as she waits for an answer, and Jacqi glares unbelieving at Anthony. "Go on, Anthony tell her."
"Papa, is it true? She played with you…" Barbara nods her head yes as Anthony remains quiet and Jacqi searches for his eyes with hers, but he doesn't look at her.
"Jacqi,…." Anthony speaks but then remains quiet.
"It is true." Jacqi turns to see Barbara, "How dare you!" She speaks out towards Barbara, "You pretended to be my friend, and you played with my father's heart. You're despicable Barbara Rayne, the hate I had towards you will be nothing compared to what it will be." Jacqi turns to Anthony, putting her hand on his shoulder as he closes his eyes, damning himself for not speaking. "I told you Papa, I told you when you brought her." Back to Barbara. "You're…" She grins hatefully at her as she scoffs…"no you're not worth my words." She turns to kiss Anthony softly and then runs up the stairs pushing Barbara out of the way.
Barbara lets out a soft cry when she does, but wipes her tears away as Anthony comes near her. "Barbara you shouldn't have…"
"No I should've…maybe it's time I leave for the San Francisco." She chuckles, "At least now I won't have to worry about birthday presents and such for her, she'll hate me." He wants to put his arms on her…"It's for the best this way Anthony, Jacqi will hate me, and she'll forgive you for being with me since she'll think it all my fault." He shakes his head as she begins walking up the stairs…"Don't follow me Anthony," She looks back down at him. "I'll only remain a few more days until the final treatment for Jacqi is complete and the doctor tells me I'm no longer needed, after that you'll both be rid of me."
She turns back and continues walking up the stairs as Anthony leans back against the doorway, covering his face with his hands and quietly damns himself once again for not speaking the truth. A truth that's been burning deep inside him since he met Barbara. He speaks angered at himself. "Damn You Anthony, coward, you can hunt down demons and stop ritual sacrifices but you can't tell your own daughter the truth about her heritage. Damn You, you bastard."
Upstairs Barbara enters her bedroom and leans against the door shedding tears. Anna knocks at her door, but she refuses to open it and let her in. Instead she goes to her nightstand, and picks up the phone to make the call she'd been wanting to make for the past few weeks.
*****
The next day goes on without large events, Jacqi continues her rampage against Barbara with the help of Betina. Anthony continues to torture himself for not speaking and Barbara silently locks away her pain. Late that night, a car arrives at the Legacy house Jacqi observes from the window to see a figure donned in a nun's habit step out of the car and the chauffeur remove a small suitcase from the trunk. She sees Marianne step outside to greet the incoming visitor whom Jacqi now recognizes as her dear friend Sister Ingrid. She smiles, at the thought of being able to speak to Sister Ingrid, she runs away from the window, out her bedroom door, and down the stairs to greet Ingrid at the bottom where Marianne stands ready to escort her to her guest room. "Sister Ingrid,"
"Ms. Jacqi," Ingrid extends her arms to greet the young girl who quickly responds to her hug, and breathes in her scent.
Jacqi pulls away slightly as she asks, "What are you doing here?"
"I thought you could tell me…" Ingrid grins as she tells Jacqi, who squints her eyes at the thought.
Marianne interrupts them as she sees Jacqi isn't aware of what Ingrid speaks of. "Sister Ingrid, is here because her mother asked her to come to her, Jacqi."
She looks at Ingrid, and then at Marianne. "Her mother?" Ingrid nods. " Sister Margaret?"
"No Jacqi, her mother." Marianne corrects her.
"Your mother? But…who's…" Jacqi looks at Marianne afraid of the answer to come.
"Ms. Rayne is Sister Ingrid's mother Jacquelyn." Marianne replies to Jacqi's question before Ingrid can.
"Ms. Rayne…Barbara Rayne?" Jacqi is shocked. She thinks how can such a pious, religiously devout woman be related to one whom in her eyes is dirty, a sinner. "She's your mother, but that's not possible…she doesn't, I mean she isn't…"
Marianne knows what Jacqi is trying to say and interrupts her before she can say anything bad about Barbara. "Jacqi, why don't we just show Sister Ingrid to her bedroom. She must be tired after her trip and would probably like to rest."
Jacqi nods as Ingrid speaks. "That would be nice, but actually I'm rather anxious to speak to my mother."
"Of course," Marianne smiles turning over to Jacqi. "Jacqi, why don't you show Sister Ingrid to her room and let Ms. Rayne know her daughter has arrived." Jacqi half smiles at the idea seeing Barbara wasn't on her "to do" list but agrees. She turns to Ingrid, "Won't you follow me Sister?" she heads up the stairs after taking Ingrid's suitcase from Marianne, and walks for the guest rooms, Ingrid's is located across the hall from Anna's and to the right of Barbara's. She opens the door to Ingrid's room, "Well here it is, Sister Ingrid, I hope you find you're room pleasant." She thinks, 'cause I doubt you'll find anything else here that way.
"Oh this ought to do fine, all I really need is a place to pray and place to sleep." She smiles, Jacqi smiles too but frowns. "Jacqi, is something wrong dear?" Ingrid places her hand on Jacqi's cheek and then on her shoulder as Jacqi looks at her. "You do know, you can trust in me."
"Thank you Sister Ingrid," Jacqi knows she can trust Ingrid, but she also thought she could trust Barbara. "I'm fine," She looks at the clock on the wall as she sets Ingrid's luggage on her bed. "I should probably let your mother know you're here, she'll want to see you and you want to see her."
*****
She leaves Ingrid, who busies herself putting her things into a drawer as Jacqi goes to Barbara's room, knocks softly and proceeds to open the door slightly. "Ms. Rayne," she speaks coldly, "May I come in?"
Barbara sits in her bed, under her covers ready for bed when Jacqi comes to her. "Yes, Jacquelyn you may." She sits up and sets aside the book she was preparing to read. "Is there something I can do for you Jacquelyn?" She sees Jacqi's discomfort in being there.
"I just came to tell you, that you're daughter has arrived. Now that I've told you, good night Ms. Rayne." She prepares to leave, when Barbara asks her where she can find her. "Not in the habit of just knocking on doors to find her…oh I forgot she's not a man." Barbara looks down at her hands…"What's wrong Ms. Rayne did I hurt your feelings?…I'm sorry." Jacqi says sarcastically. "You can find her in the room next door…she unlike you will most likely be there all night."
*****
Barbara tries to say something to Jacqi, something, anything, but can't bring herself to do it, as Jacqi leaves the room. Instead, she stands up from the bed, puts her robe on over her night dress, and goes out the door to the right to Ingrid's room. She knocks softly and sticks her head in to see Ingrid sitting on her bed softly saying a small prayer. "Ingrid, dear, may I come in?"
Ingrid looks to the door to see her mother standing there. "Mother," she smiles. "yes of course. Come in."
She stands as Barbara comes in closing the door behind her she extends her arms to receive Barbara in a hug, which Barbara promptly accepts. "Oh, it's so good to see you."
"Mmm, its good to see you too Mother." She leans her head in towards Barbara's as Barbara holds her tight. After a minute both of them release each other, Ingrid looks at Barbara. "Though its good to see you mother, why have you called me and why have you asked me to meet you here precisely?"
Barbara plays coy. "What do you mean, dear?"
"Mother, you know what I mean. Why are you staying in a Legacy house if you dislike it so much?"
Barbara takes Ingrid's hand as she moves over to sit on the bed with her. "I know that I've always despised the Legacy for taking your father away from me, and now even more for taking your brother." Ingrid closes her eyes as she bows her head when she mentions Derek's fate. "But I'm not here because of the Legacy, but…"She's about to tell Ingrid about Jacqi when she remembers her promise. Should she tell her daughter of the niece she never knew about or keep the secret…No she must tell Ingrid. "Before I tell you Ingrid, you must promise me you will never tell repeat what I'm about to tell you if it hasn't before been revealed by me."
"Of course Mother. What is it?" Ingrid questions Barbara.
"Oh Ingrid," Barbara smiles at the thought of Jacqi, and of telling Ingrid about her. "the reason I'm here…its that…its…oh Ingrid."
"Mother, what is it? Is it something bad?" Ingrid sits closer to Barbara and places her hand on her back as if that would make Barbara spit out what she had to say.
"No nothing bad. It's something wonderful…something I'd never thought I could have." She smiles with tears of joy in her eyes as she tells Ingrid. "I'm a grandmother Ingrid," Ingrid is set back at that…"You're an Aunt, Ingrid, an Aunt."
"WHAT!" Ingrid exclaims as she stands looking down at Barbara.
"Yes, tsk." Barbara stands nodding her head at Ingrid. "Derek left us a gift, such a beautiful gift."
"But Derek never told me anything about a child…" Lucas comes to her mind but she couldn't be talking about Lucas. "How can you be so sure? Do you have any proof?" Ingrid at this moment would rather believe in ghosts and demons than this nonsense??…
"I saved her life, Ingrid, with my blood." Barbara places her hand on Ingrid's face as Ingrid is still having a hard time believing what she's saying. Ingrid asks who this child is. "Jacqi, Jacquelyn de la Vega, is Derek's child. My child, my grandchild, and your niece."
"Jacquelyn, my niece?? But how? When? Who told you this? Did they show you any proof? Does Mr. De la Vega know you think this?" Ingrid sits her mother down on the bed, and runs her hand through her hair as if showing compassion for a lost soul.
Barbara realizes what Ingrid is doing and stops her hand from continuing. She holds it in hers and squeezes it gently. "Derek had an affair with Mia, Jacqi's mother, afterwards he left her when she realized she was with child she married Anthony. He took Jacqi as his child and never told Derek keeping the promise he had made to her."
"Mother this is…." Ingrid shakes her head no, she knows it could be true Derek kept so many secrets and did so many things.
"Ingrid, Anthony told me this himself. He was afraid Jacqi would die without me, and he was right she would've if he hadn't told me." Barbara tries to smile at Ingrid who seems to be in a trance after having had that confession repeated.
"Anthony??" Ingrid questions…snapping her out of the coma like shock she had momentarily fallen into.
"Yes. Anthony…Mr. De la Vega." Barbara states. "He came to the city to see me before Jacqi fell ill this last time. I don't know how he could've predicted Jacqi was going to be in need of me so soon, but he told me the truth and brought me here to meet her."
Ingrid looks at her wondering if Jacqi knows…she had known Jacqi herself for a while and knew that she wouldn't come out and say she was aware of something but would rather allow those surrounding her to make it obvious so that she might observe them. "Does she know, mother?"
Barbara shakes her head no as she speaks. "No Ingrid, Jacquelyn doesn't know, and she mustn't find out. I promised Anthony she would never know the truth…"
"Why? If she's truly Derek's daughter then doesn't she deserve to know that?" Ingrid shows her concern for the truth along with her own needs to hold on to something belonging to Derek. She thinks of him so often, dreams of him as she did the night the house exploded…she had tried to contact him those last few days and he never returned her calls. So now, Jacqi, the girl she had had so close to her was her niece. She thinks 'should I fight for the truth…for Jacqi to know…is that my right…'
"I promised Ingrid." Barbara remembers her promise to Anthony…she keeps it firmly in place…she couldn't go back on her word. How she hated herself for making it, why did she make it.
"But mother, doesn't Jacqi deserve to know her true father."
"To know? How will she ever know Derek, Ingrid?" Barbara squeezes Ingrid's hand, "Derek is gone," Ingrid looks down at the cross hanging from her neck and then up at Barbara. "could you really bring yourself to tell that child the father she'd always looked up to isn't truly her father. Ingrid, could you tell her that her real father has died and that she will never know him?"
"Mother…surely.." Ingrid doesn't know how to reply to that.
"I can't do that. Ingrid I lost two very important men in my life, the first was your father more than 30 years ago, and the second Derek. I know how much it hurts to lose two people you love so much, I can imagine how this will hurt Jacqi. She'll lose everything she's ever known if I should tell her…"
Ingrid nods her head understanding what her mother is trying to tell her. "All right Mother, if you wish to keep your promise then I'll keep mine too." Barbara looks at Ingrid and smiles. "I won't say anything to Jacqi," Barbara nods and leans her head on Ingrid's shoulder…"But mother," Barbara looks up as she looks down. "then why did you call me here?"
Barbara looks at Ingrid rather confused..."Ask you here, Ingrid?"
"Yes, mother I received a call from you early this morning to come here." Ingrid looks at Barbara seeing she's confused that she doesn't know what she is talking about. "Mother, you did call me??"
"No, Ingrid I didn't call you." Barbara reassures her.
"But I received a call telling me to come to you. Sister Margaret told me herself, she said I was to come to you here."
*****
Barbara says nothing, instead she walks out towards the door Ingrid follows closely behind…"Mother what's wrong?" Barbara heads down towards the stairs steadily followed by Ingrid, as she walks Barbara notices the house seems to be all of the sudden abandoned. Marianne, Anthony, and Jacqi are no where to be found…Louis and Emmanuel had been sent away earlier on the excavation Anthony had pushed back for Jacqi, this Barbara knew but where was everyone else? Barbara calls out to Anthony as Ingrid takes the last step down the stairs. "Anthony…Anthony…" Barbara calls out again, this time Betina walks out of the salon room. "Betina, " Barbara seems surprised to see her.
"Hello, and how would the house slut be tonight?" Betina sneers.
Ingrid stands behind Barbara wondering what makes her say that. "I wouldn't know, how are you tonight Betina?" Barbara replies sharply.
"Ouch," She turns back to the doorway where Jacqi now stands. "You see Jacqi."
"Jacqi," Barbara wants to pull her towards her as she feels something bad is about to happen.
"Yes Jacqi, you see I warned her about you and she refused to believe what I said. Now she sees what you are. Don't you dear?" She extends her hand towards Jacqi who takes it as she nods.
"Jacquelyn??" Ingrid calls out to her.
"Ah sister Ingrid, so glad you could come to watch me destroy our dear sweet niece's goodness." Betina takes a dagger out between the layers of clothing donned on her.
"What are you doing?" Ingrid asks as she sees Betina place the deadly weapon in Jacqi's hands.
"Teaching her how to defeat her enemies of course." Ingrid pulls Barbara back as Betina walks forward guiding Jacqi who appears to be in a trance.
"Jacqi, Jacqi," Barbara calls out to her.
Jacqi glares at Barbara menacingly, slowly advancing towards her beginning to raise her hand when Ingrid pulls Barbara back and steps in front of her. "Jacquelyn listen to me." Jacqi turns to Ingrid in trance like state. "Think of what you're doing if you do this you'll be a sinner…you'll condemn you're soul."
"She can't hear you." Betina pushes Ingrid out of the way. "Stupid nun, you really think you can stop her."
Barbara continues to move back, she moves towards the steps going up them slowly, blinded by the lightning starting to form outside. Jacqi follows her she prepares to plunge the dagger into Barbara when both hear Anthony call out from the top of the marble stair case. "Jacqi stop!" Betina screams nooo as she knows she'll be stopped, Barbara trips on the hem of her night dress and falls back as Jacqi attacks which she smiles at…maybe she won't be stopped after all. Barbara keeps moving as Jacqi continues barely missing her. Betina eggs her on as Anthony calls out for her to stop. "Jacqi, listen to me. Nina por favor, listen to me."
Barbara crawls her way up, Anthony helps her pulling her up behind him as Jacqi takes the last plunge, pushing deep inside cutting away at flesh blood runs through clothing, a cry is heard. "Noooo, Anthony!" He collapses backwards, Barbara catches him in her arms as Betina gasps…"Oh Anthony." She begins to weep quietly as she holds him in her arms.
Ingrid is able to get up still dazed from hitting her head, running up the stairs she pushes Betina out of the way and manages to detain Jacqi. "No Jacqi," Barbara holds Anthony weeping as he continues to bleed. "Look, what you've done." She shakes her making her see what she's done.
"Jacqi," Anthony calls sitting up as he applies pressure with his left hand over his right shoulder. "Stop this. Jacqi control yourself." He breathes rapidly, Barbara tries to quiet him afraid to much stress will worsen his wound. "Look at me, look at me baby." Betina shakes her head no, but Jacqi begins to tremble as she begins to come out of the trance. "Come baby…nina listen to me…You can't let this control you. Push back you anger baby, you can't hurt Barbara…" he begins to breathe shallow. "you'd never be able to forgive yourself."
Barbara places her hand over the hand on his wound as she continues to weep. "Anthony no…"
Jacqi continues to fight what controls her Ingrid holds her. "Barbara loves you baby, as I love you, as Sister Ingrid loves you. You can't hurt her, God would never forgive you."
Jacqi shakes once more collapsing to the floor, Ingrid kneels with her, she crawls to Anthony weeping as she realizes what she's done. "Papa, Papa." She bows her head to his chest as she touches his wound over their hands with hers. "No, que he hecho Dios mio."
Anthony tries to sit up, Barbara helps him, he leans against her getting blood on her robe and gown. "Anthony, we have to get you to a doctor." He shakes his head no, telling her he's fine it's just a scratch.
Jacqi raises her hand and wipes her tears as she nods agreeing with Barbara. "No, Papa you need a doctor. You're gonna be ok."
Ingrid lets go of Jacqi and stands up, "I'll go get help.", going back downstairs to the phone by the steps. She starts dialing for help when she sees Marianna and Anna come in through the open door and Betina gone. 'Oh, Ms. Perez good." She lets go of the phone, and proceeds to tell her what has occurred. As Anna and Ingrid run up to where Anthony is she calls for help and then runs to see Anthony. She begins giving medical aid to him…as Jacqi weeps over what she's done and tries her best to comfort her father who holds on to Barbara squeezing her hand and kissing it as she runs her other hand through his hair. Ingrid pulls Jacqi away as Anna runs to get a first aid kit from its keeping place…moments later the paramedics arrive yet again to the Legacy house.
*****
A few days later at the house Anthony returns home along side Barbara whom he's not allowed out of his sight. Jacqi runs down the stairs seeing her father home brings joy to her and is her only consolation as he has avoided her since her attack. "Papa. You're home…" She extends her arms to hug him as Barbara moves out of her way, but Anthony pushes her slightly away. She doesn't proceed any further instead she moves away, she's hurt but she smiles sweetly. "I'm glad you're home, papa."
He looks at her knowing she's hurt by what he's done. "Thank you. Barbara come with me to my office for a moment."
"Papa, you're not suppose to work…Marianne said you should…"
"I'm fine Jacquelyn, besides you've never done as Marianne has said so why should I?" He states a fact that hurts Jacqi as she was only trying to keep him from hurting himself. "Come Barbara."
Jacqi moves away from him and Barbara going up the stairs to her bedroom. "Anthony, don't you think you should listen to Jacqi? She's worried about you."
"Worried? She didn't come to see me once while I was in the hospital." Anthony replies.
"She hurt you, she was afraid you didn't want to see her…she cried so much while you were gone…and now you reject her." Barbara states as they walk towards Anthony's office letting him wrap his left arm around her waist as his right hangs firmly in place within the sling.
"I know….I know Barbara." She smiles and leans her head into his shoulder. "We have to talk Barbara…" She asks what about. "About Jacqi, after what happened we have to tell her the truth."
"Anthony." She shakes her head no and tries to speak again but he places his finger over her mouth as they enter his office. Barbara sits in the chair in front of his desk as he leans back against the old wooden desk.
"We have too, I can't keep the truth from her anymore, I can't risk losing both of you the way I almost did. Betina would've used Jacqi to hurt you and in turn hurt her too."
Barbara shakes her head no. "I don't believe Betina would've done that. Yes she was angry but I think she was just…"
Anthony pulls her towards him. "Betina was just doing what she had planned to do." Barbara squints her eye brows as she frowns slightly. "She's always hated the Legacy, resented me for keeping Jacqi, and now you for being here."
"But why?" Anthony remains silent as he's unaware of why Betina has always hated the Legacy…and Jacqi. He then expresses his want to tell Jacqi, Barbara agrees…he then wraps his arm around her to hug her as she wraps his arms around him. She then releases him and pulls away but smiles.
*****
Later that night after dinner Jacqi sits in her room alone writing a few words in her journal when she hears a soft knock at the door…Marianne enters after Jacqi has hidden her journal away and allowed her too. "Jacqi, you're father would like to speak to you."
"Si Marianne, ya voy." Jacqi smiles slightly but quickly frowns…Marianne sits down next to her. "No me pasa nada Marianne, I'm fine really."
"No, tu tienes algo…que es?"
"Why doesn't papa want me around anymore? I know I did wrong, but I…I apologized and I'm really sorry. Why does he hate me so much now?" She wants to cry but she pulls it back.
"No, Jacqi. You're father doesn't hate you…you'll see he's just…he doesn't know how to protect you now. He never thought Betina could want to hurt you like that, and now he knows she can and she will if given the chance." She puts her arms around her as Jacqi rubs the tears forming in her eyes away and nods her head. "Now come, you're father is waiting."
*****
Jacqi stands up along side Marianne, both exit her room together but Marianne sends her alone to see Anthony as she retires to her own room. Jacqi walks along the hall way, down the stairs and into the parlor where she sees Anthony sitting in a love seat next to Barbara, and Ingrid across from them in a chair as Anthony explains once more that "its" the best thing to do. Jacqi directs herself towards Anthony and ignores both Ingrid and Barbara. "Papa, you wished to speak to me."
Anthony turns to see her, he stands and nods…"Yes, Jacqi." He extends his hand to her which she takes. "Here sit here." He moves from where he was sitting and she sits next to Barbara. "Jacqi, I…" He looks at her prepared to tell her. "and Barbara have something to tell you. Its something we should've told you from the beginning but I couldn't bring myself to do it."
Jacqi looks at Barbara she thinks its about them…he's trying to tell me he wants to be with her…I hate him…I hate her…I should've killed her…I hate her…I wish she'd go away! "What is it Papa? Just go ahead and tell me you know I hate it when you do this."
"Jacqi, Barbara isn't who you think she is."
Jacqi looks at her confused and then at him, he extends his hand out to Barbara who takes it…she stands next to him. "What do you mean she's not who I think she is? I know who she is…she's a liar. That's all she's done from the moment I met her…she's lied to me…that's what she is a liar."
"Jacqi stop." Jacqi wants to say something else as she stands upset…Ingrid stands to moving over to Jacqi placing her hands on her shoulders and sitting her back down. "Jacqi, Barbara's your grandmother."
Jacqi shakes her head confused…how did they go from being friends…to her being my grandmother?…"What do you mean, she can't be my grandmother? Who are you?"
Barbara sits in front of her on the coffee table next to the seat she's taken…Anthony kneels next to her as Ingrid holds her…"I'm you're grandmother baby."
"No you can't be…my nana died…you can't be my nana. And don't call me baby."
"No Jacqi she wasn't you're mother's…"
"Well then whose…she can't be you're mother…I mean…that would be…that would incest…" She thinks…Ew…what is this Jerry Springer? Lord help me.
"All right I won't call you baby." She shakes her head no as tears form in both their eyes and she moves a strand of hair from her face. "I'm Derek Rayne's mother."
Jacqi shrugs." What does that have to do with me?" pushing back the tears coming to realize what they are saying.
"Jacqi," She turns to see Ingrid. "What my mother and your father are trying to say is that, honey, he isn't your father." Jacqi gasps. "My brother Derek was."
Jacqi stands up…taking in everything they've told her and shaking off all her anger, fear, and resentment. "That's impossible…Derek Rayne couldn't be my father." Anthony, and Barbara stands as she pushes her way through them and then turns back towards them. "You're lying." She points at all three of them. "This is some cruel joke you're playing on me Papa, well haha. Very nice getting Sister Ingrid to go along with it…but I don't believe you so joke on you. Now why don't you just tell me that you and Ms. Rayne are going to be together…and let me go back to what I was doing." She stands there waiting for Anthony to admit what she's claimed, but she knows he won't.
"No Jacqi," Jacqi stands still. "Derek Rayne and you're mother are…were your real parents." Jacqi continues to say no softly as she shakes her head and wants to back away but Barbara stands up next to her…she pushes her away…" Mia never wanted them to know…but I couldn't keep you from them…you got sick and I needed Barbara…"
"Fine, Derek Rayne is my father and Mia is my mother." She states. "So what now?"
Ingrid is shocked that Jacqi doesn't burst into tears…but at the same time she sees Derek…while she's always cried at the pain at the moment it occurred, Derek had always hidden it and suffered in private. Anthony speaks. "I would like you to return to San Francisco for a while with Barbara, I don't know how much danger there is in both of you staying here with Betina still out there. So I would rather have you both as far away from here as possible."
"When?"
"Tomorrow morning…you're father has prepared our flight for 9:00." Barbara replies.
"Fine." Jacqi says as little as possible so to keep the resentment from sounding in her voice. Barbara wants to hug her but doesn't instead she hugs Ingrid who comes around to her. Anthony smiles at Barbara and winces at Jacqi knowing she's hurting but refuses to show her pain in public.
*****
The next morning Jacqi says good bye to her father as she hugs him, kisses him and then climbs in the suburban. Anna and Ingrid already sitting in the last seat together, both smile as Jacqi turns to see them and then looks forward. Barbara stands at the front door saying good bye to Marianne and promising to take good care of her girl. " Well Barbara, it's time to go." Anthony says as Marianne shakes her hand one last time and slightly hides behind the door, Barbara nods to Anthony he takes her hands and then wraps his arms around her. "I'll call tonight to speak to Jacqi…if you have any trouble make sure to let me know."
"We'll be fine, but we'll wait for your call." She removes her hands from between his and hugs him, he squeezes her back and she kisses him slightly on the cheek just a spot away from his lips. He hides his face in her neck and kisses her there, then both release. "Good Bye Anthony." He smiles as she boards the car and rides away in it.
"Good Bye Barbara….for now." Marianne calls from behind him.
He turns…"For now?" he questions as he comes up next to her.
"Si, You want her…" She smiles giggling. "And you never give up on the woman you want…" She states knowing Anthony has never done before…why would he now.
"Perhaps." He wraps his arm around her as the enter the house and close the door. "but I think for now…Barbara and Jacqi should begin anew and close this chapter." She scrunches her brow smiling devilishly…"For now that is." Both laugh.
The End