Chapter 5
Dinner with Sonny and Carly relaxed some of the tension Jason had been feeling. Carly and Michelle seemed to get along well. In fact, much to Jason's surprise, Carly appeared to really take to Michelle.
After dinner, Carly pulled Jason aside and said quietly, "See Jase. I told you that you would find someone who deserves you. Michelle is terrific!"
Jason sighed. "Don't start, Carly. I'm not up to this tonight."
Carly looked at Jason closely and noticed the shadows in his eyes. Something was bothering him and she could tell that he was hurting. "I'm sorry, Jason. I'll back off, but if you need to talk to someone, I'm here. OK?"
Jason looked at her in surprise. "What's going on, Carly? This doesn't sound like you."
"People change, Jason." Carly chuckled. "Even me. I know that I really ragged on you about Elizabeth last time you were home, and I'm sorry for that. You can't help how you feel, or who you fall for. Besides, while you were gone, I realized that little Lizzie is not as bad as I thought she was."
Jason couldn't believe what he was hearing. In fact, he was too shocked to even say anything.
"Elizabeth has guts and I admire that. Bobbie told me about Lucky's brainwashing, and how Liz helped him through it. I have to give her credit for that. She could have easily dumped it all on Luke and Laura, but she didn't. I do like Michelle, but I care more about your happiness, so do what's best for you. OK?"
Jason was touched by Carly's obvious concern for him. "Thanks, Carly. That means a lot to me." He reached out and tucked some of her hair behind her ear. "You really have changed, haven't you? It becomes you - so does pregnancy, by the way."
She flashed him a brilliant smile. "I am so happy, Jase. I have everything I've ever wanted, and I don't even have to come up with any 'plans' anymore." They both laughed at the memory of Carly's many schemes.
"Carly," Sonny called to her. "Sorry to interrupt, but I really need to speak to Jason." He flashed his dimples at her and continued, "Do you think you could take Michelle across the hall and get her settled in?"
Just then, the door opened and Michael burst in. "Jason! You're back!" he shouted, as he hurled himself into Jason's arms.
Jason closed his eyes and savored the feeling of holding Michael again. "Hey, buddy. I missed you." He pulled back and took a good look at him. "You've really grown, haven't you? So, what have you been up to?"
"I was playing at Robbie's house. We made a mud house in the back yard." Jason chuckled as he noticed the mud that had been transferred to his own clothing from Michael's.
"Now it's time for a bath, young man," Letitia said.
"All right," Michael sighed. "Are you staying, Jason?"
"Yeah. I'll be right across the hall," he replied fondly. "I'll see you later, Michael."
Michelle was looking at Jason strangely. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"I have never seen you like that with anyone," she answered quietly. "I can see how much you care for him." She continued looking at him, until Carly broke in.
"Jason's always been great with Michael. Now come on, Michelle. I'll show you the penthouse across the hall, and we can compare Jason stories," Carly teased.
"Carly...." Jason said, with a warning note in his voice.
She laughed and pulled Michelle out the door with her. "Bye, guys!" She waved and shut the door.
"Don't worry, Jason. She's just trying to get a reaction out of you. She won't spill all your secrets," Sonny reassured him. "Now, why don't you tell me what's really bugging you."
Jason wasn't sure if he wanted to get into his personal stuff with Sonny. "Are you sure it's OK for us to stay across the hall?"
"I'm sure," answered Sonny. "It's been empty since Alexis moved out, and don't change the subject. Look, I know that last time you were home, I wasn't a very good friend to you." Jason tried to protest, but Sonny continued, "No. Let me say this. I was obsessed with seeing Sorel go down, and I let it affect how I treated the people closest to me. You've been a good friend to me, Jason, and I want to be one now for you. I know you had some personal problems before you left, and I didn't give you a chance to tell me about them. I'm sorry for that."
Jason could see that Sonny was upset with himself. He was glad that his friend cared enough to make things right. "It's OK, Sonny. Sorel was a threat to you and your family. You had a right to be worried."
"Thanks, Jason, for understanding. I've learned a lesson from all that happened. Sorel went down, he's sitting on death row, and someone else has stepped into his place. That's part of this business, but I'm not going to let it come before family and friends anymore." Sonny's voice held a new conviction. "Anyway, I want you to be able to talk to me, Jason - about anything."
"Thanks. I'm not sure where to start." Jason paused.
Sonny thought he had a fairly good idea what was bothering Jason, so he prompted, "I like Michelle."
Jason replied without thinking, "So do I."
"But you're not in love with her." Sonny wasn't asking a question. He was stating a fact.
"What makes you say that?" hedged Jason, unsure where his friend was going with this.
"I know you, Jason. I can see that you care for her, but you don't love her." Sonny waited for Jason to respond.
"You're right," Jason confirmed. "I'm not in love with her."
Frustrated, Jason stood and walked to the window. "What's wrong with me, Sonny? I should love her. She's beautiful, smart, funny, and most importantly, she grew up around this business. She understands my way of life better than any other woman I know. I think that's one of the reasons Robin introduced us." Jason paused, thinking about his time in Paris with Robin.
"How is Robin?" asked Sonny.
"She's fine. She loves it there. She met someone - a med student, and she's happy. We talked and got past the bad way we left things." He turned to look at Sonny. "I'm glad I went to see her. I'll always care about what happens to her."
"Me too," said Sonny. "So Robin introduced you to Michelle."
"Yeah. I'd been in Paris a couple of months and Robin dragged me to this art show." Jason paused, as he remembered how much he hadn't wanted to go near an art show. But Robin had pleaded with him, saying she needed to go to support a friend, and he had given in. He shook himself, and continued, "Robin wanted me to meet her friend, who was a sculptor, so I went. The artist she introduced me to was Michelle. We started spending time with Robin and Paul, her boyfriend, and one thing sort of led to another." Jason shrugged and turned back to the window.
"So what's the problem?" Sonny thought he knew the answer, but he wanted Jason to voice it and own it for himself. "Did something happen, Jason?"
Jason sighed loudly and rubbed his hand over his face. "I saw Elizabeth tonight," he stated quietly, the pain in his voice making it obvious what was troubling him.
"That's the real problem, isn't it? You've never really dealt with your feelings for Elizabeth," Sonny challenged. "I know that's why you asked me to send you away last year, but it didn't work, did it? You can't run from your feelings, Jason. You're going to have to confront them before you can move on."
"You're right, Sonny. While I was away, I thought I had gotten past what I felt for Elizabeth. As soon as I saw her, though, I knew I had been fooling myself." There was self-disgust in Jason's voice. "I feel like I'm being really unfair to Michelle."
"Life is messy, Jason, and we can't always control how we feel about people. Do you think I would have chosen to fall in love with Carly? But I'm sure glad I did." Sonny grinned, trying to lighten Jason's mood.
Jason laughed. "Better you than me. Seriously, though, you're good for Carly. She's changed, Sonny. She's happy and secure and it shows."
"Yeah, well, she makes me happy, too. Let's hold off on business till tomorrow, Jason. Why don't you take some time to figure things out," Sonny suggested.
"Thanks. I'll call you tomorrow." Jason started for the door, then stopped and turned. "Thanks for listening, Sonny. It means a lot."
Sonny nodded. "No problem. Any time you need me, I'm here."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*
Dinner with Sonny and Carly relaxed some of the tension Jason had been feeling. Carly and Michelle seemed to get along well. In fact, much to Jason's surprise, Carly appeared to really take to Michelle.
After dinner, Carly pulled Jason aside and said quietly, "See Jase. I told you that you would find someone who deserves you. Michelle is terrific!"
Jason sighed. "Don't start, Carly. I'm not up to this tonight."
Carly looked at Jason closely and noticed the shadows in his eyes. Something was bothering him and she could tell that he was hurting. "I'm sorry, Jason. I'll back off, but if you need to talk to someone, I'm here. OK?"
Jason looked at her in surprise. "What's going on, Carly? This doesn't sound like you."
"People change, Jason." Carly chuckled. "Even me. I know that I really ragged on you about Elizabeth last time you were home, and I'm sorry for that. You can't help how you feel, or who you fall for. Besides, while you were gone, I realized that little Lizzie is not as bad as I thought she was."
Jason couldn't believe what he was hearing. In fact, he was too shocked to even say anything.
"Elizabeth has guts and I admire that. Bobbie told me about Lucky's brainwashing, and how Liz helped him through it. I have to give her credit for that. She could have easily dumped it all on Luke and Laura, but she didn't. I do like Michelle, but I care more about your happiness, so do what's best for you. OK?"
Jason was touched by Carly's obvious concern for him. "Thanks, Carly. That means a lot to me." He reached out and tucked some of her hair behind her ear. "You really have changed, haven't you? It becomes you - so does pregnancy, by the way."
She flashed him a brilliant smile. "I am so happy, Jase. I have everything I've ever wanted, and I don't even have to come up with any 'plans' anymore." They both laughed at the memory of Carly's many schemes.
"Carly," Sonny called to her. "Sorry to interrupt, but I really need to speak to Jason." He flashed his dimples at her and continued, "Do you think you could take Michelle across the hall and get her settled in?"
Just then, the door opened and Michael burst in. "Jason! You're back!" he shouted, as he hurled himself into Jason's arms.
Jason closed his eyes and savored the feeling of holding Michael again. "Hey, buddy. I missed you." He pulled back and took a good look at him. "You've really grown, haven't you? So, what have you been up to?"
"I was playing at Robbie's house. We made a mud house in the back yard." Jason chuckled as he noticed the mud that had been transferred to his own clothing from Michael's.
"Now it's time for a bath, young man," Letitia said.
"All right," Michael sighed. "Are you staying, Jason?"
"Yeah. I'll be right across the hall," he replied fondly. "I'll see you later, Michael."
Michelle was looking at Jason strangely. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"I have never seen you like that with anyone," she answered quietly. "I can see how much you care for him." She continued looking at him, until Carly broke in.
"Jason's always been great with Michael. Now come on, Michelle. I'll show you the penthouse across the hall, and we can compare Jason stories," Carly teased.
"Carly...." Jason said, with a warning note in his voice.
She laughed and pulled Michelle out the door with her. "Bye, guys!" She waved and shut the door.
"Don't worry, Jason. She's just trying to get a reaction out of you. She won't spill all your secrets," Sonny reassured him. "Now, why don't you tell me what's really bugging you."
Jason wasn't sure if he wanted to get into his personal stuff with Sonny. "Are you sure it's OK for us to stay across the hall?"
"I'm sure," answered Sonny. "It's been empty since Alexis moved out, and don't change the subject. Look, I know that last time you were home, I wasn't a very good friend to you." Jason tried to protest, but Sonny continued, "No. Let me say this. I was obsessed with seeing Sorel go down, and I let it affect how I treated the people closest to me. You've been a good friend to me, Jason, and I want to be one now for you. I know you had some personal problems before you left, and I didn't give you a chance to tell me about them. I'm sorry for that."
Jason could see that Sonny was upset with himself. He was glad that his friend cared enough to make things right. "It's OK, Sonny. Sorel was a threat to you and your family. You had a right to be worried."
"Thanks, Jason, for understanding. I've learned a lesson from all that happened. Sorel went down, he's sitting on death row, and someone else has stepped into his place. That's part of this business, but I'm not going to let it come before family and friends anymore." Sonny's voice held a new conviction. "Anyway, I want you to be able to talk to me, Jason - about anything."
"Thanks. I'm not sure where to start." Jason paused.
Sonny thought he had a fairly good idea what was bothering Jason, so he prompted, "I like Michelle."
Jason replied without thinking, "So do I."
"But you're not in love with her." Sonny wasn't asking a question. He was stating a fact.
"What makes you say that?" hedged Jason, unsure where his friend was going with this.
"I know you, Jason. I can see that you care for her, but you don't love her." Sonny waited for Jason to respond.
"You're right," Jason confirmed. "I'm not in love with her."
Frustrated, Jason stood and walked to the window. "What's wrong with me, Sonny? I should love her. She's beautiful, smart, funny, and most importantly, she grew up around this business. She understands my way of life better than any other woman I know. I think that's one of the reasons Robin introduced us." Jason paused, thinking about his time in Paris with Robin.
"How is Robin?" asked Sonny.
"She's fine. She loves it there. She met someone - a med student, and she's happy. We talked and got past the bad way we left things." He turned to look at Sonny. "I'm glad I went to see her. I'll always care about what happens to her."
"Me too," said Sonny. "So Robin introduced you to Michelle."
"Yeah. I'd been in Paris a couple of months and Robin dragged me to this art show." Jason paused, as he remembered how much he hadn't wanted to go near an art show. But Robin had pleaded with him, saying she needed to go to support a friend, and he had given in. He shook himself, and continued, "Robin wanted me to meet her friend, who was a sculptor, so I went. The artist she introduced me to was Michelle. We started spending time with Robin and Paul, her boyfriend, and one thing sort of led to another." Jason shrugged and turned back to the window.
"So what's the problem?" Sonny thought he knew the answer, but he wanted Jason to voice it and own it for himself. "Did something happen, Jason?"
Jason sighed loudly and rubbed his hand over his face. "I saw Elizabeth tonight," he stated quietly, the pain in his voice making it obvious what was troubling him.
"That's the real problem, isn't it? You've never really dealt with your feelings for Elizabeth," Sonny challenged. "I know that's why you asked me to send you away last year, but it didn't work, did it? You can't run from your feelings, Jason. You're going to have to confront them before you can move on."
"You're right, Sonny. While I was away, I thought I had gotten past what I felt for Elizabeth. As soon as I saw her, though, I knew I had been fooling myself." There was self-disgust in Jason's voice. "I feel like I'm being really unfair to Michelle."
"Life is messy, Jason, and we can't always control how we feel about people. Do you think I would have chosen to fall in love with Carly? But I'm sure glad I did." Sonny grinned, trying to lighten Jason's mood.
Jason laughed. "Better you than me. Seriously, though, you're good for Carly. She's changed, Sonny. She's happy and secure and it shows."
"Yeah, well, she makes me happy, too. Let's hold off on business till tomorrow, Jason. Why don't you take some time to figure things out," Sonny suggested.
"Thanks. I'll call you tomorrow." Jason started for the door, then stopped and turned. "Thanks for listening, Sonny. It means a lot."
Sonny nodded. "No problem. Any time you need me, I'm here."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*