The expression on Carly's face continued to sour. He had lost his mind. That
was the only logical explanation. "Isn't good enough? You have the audacity to
ask that? What do you think, Corinthos?"
Sonny's face betrayed no emotion. "What do you want me to say? I made the
best decision I could for my daughter."
"Leaving her with the Quartermaines? They destroy their young. That was "the
best decision for your daughter"? You, of all people, should know what they do.
You saw what they did to Jason. Why would you let them do that to Emily?"
"They didn't kill her. She wasn't kidnapped." Sonny argued. He would never
regret keeping his baby girl safe. It was the last and most important promise
he ever made to Paige.
Carly couldn't believe what she was hearing. "They let her become a drug
addict." Carly hated that she exposed Michael to them. She never had a choice,
Sonny did.
"And you suggest what?" Mike asked from the corner of the room. "Maybe
Sonny's bodyguards can lead a raid and steal her. They can bring her back to
the penthouse. We'll have flowers and balloons. Hugs will ensue and everything
will start coming up roses." Suddenly Mike's sarcastic tone turned serious. He
had experience in reconnecting with older children. "It won't play like that."
Sonny smiled grimly. "He isn't often right; but this time he nailed it. If
she finds out, she is going to flip. This stays between us forever." Sonny
sounded more sure than he felt. Paige always kept the sentimental things; Emily
could find th letters.
"Keep telling yourself that." Carly sighed. "Stay in denial as long as you
want. Please, learn from my experience, Corinthos. You need to be prepared for
her reaction WHEN she finds out."
---
V studied Brooke Lynn's somber expression. "What is it, Brooke?" V couldn't
imagine what Brooke had to say.
"It's about my Daddy." Brooke answered seriously.
"What about him?" V's puzzled expression frustrated Brooke.
"You like my Daddy, right? And you like Candy Land? You are really good at
it." Brooke flashed her sweetest smile as she moved V's piece to the top of the
board. Grownups were always happy when they won.
"I think I belong down here." V moved her piece back to its original
location. "Of course I like your Daddy. He is one of my best friends. And I am having
a great time playing Candy Land with you." V wondered what Brooke was planning.
"Good!" Brooke smiled. "Will you play with me lots? Everyday?" Brooke's
voice quivered with a nervous excitement.
V tried to cover up her laugh. "I would love that."
"Really?" Brooke couldn't believe her luck. Anybody who was fun, didn't
obsess over winning, liked her daddy, and didn't live in the big house was fine
by her.
"First, we need to make sure it is okay with Ned." V wouldn't dream of
making a promise she couldn't keep. Brooke had faced too many disappointments
already.
"It will be okay. You'll see." She was halfway down the stairs before V had
the chance to stand. "Daddy, Daddy, guess what!" Brooke shouted as she jumped
into Ned's lap.
"You won the lottery?" Ned quipped. He had no idea what made Brooke so
happy.
"No, Daddy." Brooke giggled. "Even better. V is moving in with us."
---
Emily pulled herself out of Nikolas' tight embrace. "What am I feeling?" Her
entire worldview had been turned on end. "I never thought I would find him."
Her body trembled as she tried to come to terms with what she had learned.
Nikolas desperately wanted to make everything easier for her. He started to
reach out for her again, but thought better of it. He knew, better than anybody,
what she was feeling. First there was the relief of solving a mystery, then
came anger.
"I thought it would be like trying to find my Aunt, you know? Meeting him
was a great fantasy. Something I could dream about, worry about." As she spoke
tears cascaded down her face. "I imagined searching for him, nervously
wondering if I should call, praying he wanted to meet me."
"And now?" Nikolas found a tissue and handed it to Emily.
"He knows me." Emily took the tissue. Instead of using it to dry her tears
she absentmindedly tore it to shreds. With every passing moment her anger
increased as well. "HE KNOWS ME!" She screamed.
The scene seemed so familiar to Nikolas. He remembered when he thought
Stefan was his father. The first things that bothered him were the lies and the
years he spent without a father. Emily must ache over the same things.
Emily tried to calm herself, however, with every passing thought, her anger
grew. "I used to go to him for advice." Emily cried. "When things were bad, I
talked to him. When I couldn't stand the Q's, I went to him. When things got
bad at home, I told Jason, or I told Sonny! He knew! He could have saved me!"
Hoping to release some of her rage, Emily picked up the nearest vase and threw
it against the wall. Watching it shatter, Emily calmed. "I have to go!" She
whispered before sprinting downstairs.
---
