Francis caught Vinnie's reaction and elaborated.
"I was referring to both Mr. Morgan's and Mr. Ward's little sisters."
Vinnie smiled, caught but Francis understood and returned it. He moved to the door to announce them.
"Mr. and Mrs. Ashton."
Justice told them to come on in and it was a loud family reunion between Lois greeting Justice and Faith while Brook squealed to get in on the action. Once they all settled around in the living room, Faith became nervous. She knew Justice nor Jason would say anything more to them than they said to Emily but nobody in the room was stupid.
Lois and Ned payed close attention as Jason explained that he needed some adjustments to their security protocols when it came to Faith coming over. They aren't sure what's going on considering that scene in the garage. Ned also noticed that the elevator was locked out. It wasn't like that when he brought Emily to move in and he'd never seen it like that before. In fact, someone had to ride down to the parking level in order to take them up to the penthouse floor. When Jason didn't mention needing the same requirement for Emily they both assumed Tracy sent Soleto after her. It made sense considering. But the last thing Jason threw out made Lois drop her jaw all the way to the floor then turn to Faith. Ned is Ned but even this was too much for him.
"There are some special security arraignments for Faith. Anytime she comes over, I need for you to leave word in the lobby to allow Faith Quartermaine's guards to accompany her upstairs."
That's the way he dropped the bomb. It was a bit more subtle than the way she did it so it took an extra second to hit the mark. That second was more disbelief and shock than anything having to do with the speed of sound. The room was quiet while the four who knew waited for the two who didn't. Lois shook her head in sympathy and anger because she didn't know what happened but she knew Edward did something. Ned closed his eyes and sat back in his chair feeling the weight of the truth he didn't know and the pain of knowing exactly who caused it.
"He got to you."
Faith didn't open her mouth and Emily decided to take on the self appointed role of sentry but there was nothing silent about it. She actually cut Justice off as he started to address that.
"That's not an issue or a consideration for what we have to do. Nor is it a subject open for discussion or speculation. Either you allow your cousin's guards to come upstairs with her or you don't. If not, you have to work here because she's not going there."
Four heads turned to look at Emily in surprise. Jason didn't. He's gotten use to her occasionally laying down the law. Though he hadn't heard it since she read them all the riot act about getting the entry code to her office. They didn't know she had it in her. Emily wasn't backing down and they all got it. Ned more than got it. Something was bad enough to warrant special security for Faith and Edward was in the middle of it. That meant the Tracy angle just got worse. But the worst thought to pop in Ned's head and take up residence was that all these strange security procedures at the Harborview Towers regarding Quartermaines is only about Edward. The guard checking ELQ plates made sense. What didn't make sense is why Justice and Jason thought she had to be protected or shielded from him similar to the way he has to shield Lois and Brook.
Lois cut Ned off. She looked right at Faith and was sincere in her response without consulting Ned. He'd get over it.
"Sweetie, your business is your business. It was a surprise only. That's it. But, we've all had our own personal surprises lately. Anything you need is fine. The guards can come and anything else they need to do is alright. Anytime."
Then she turned to Jason.
"Vinnie and Francis seemed to have some kind of bond or something. If I'm not stepping out of bounds maybe he can explain all the things to Vinnie that need to be done."
Jason could always count on Lois to see it and work with it as it came. He smiled at her without giving anything away but Lois saw. There was a serious problem and whatever it was, was hurting all of them. That was enough for her. She'd be there for Faith as well. And, she'd make sure Ned didn't decide to nose around in it for any reason.
"Sure. I don't have a problem with that. I'll bring Francis up to speed then he can meet with Vinnie."
Faith knew she was going to have to say something. Lois was working with her and she knew Ned all too well. Since she was going to be helping them out and at their place a lot, she figured they had a right to some understanding regarding the changes.
"Thank you for saying that Lois. I know you mean it. Both of you. There are some things I'm not going to comment on but you should have something to go on. I know you're curious."
Then she exhaled and shook her head once slightly. This was going to be a little more than Emily got.
"Edward has known I was his granddaughter and been actively involving himself in my life behind the scenes since I was 6 months old."
She didn't get another word out because the gasps in the room pretty much drowned out everything. Ned was beyond shocked and just stared open mouthed. Lois looked like she was going through the roof.
"How is that possible?"
"The million dollar question. Think about it for a minute, Ned."
It didn't take that long.
"He's had people on you your entire life!"
"Yes."
Lois is looking at Justice questioningly but doesn't want to or can't ask. He nods.
"Yes but I didn't know it until Faith said something yesterday. He couldn't get next to me, though. I was a lot older than Faith when dad died."
Ned is unsure which emotion is strongest in him right now so he just goes with confusion.
"What else can you say?"
"I knew the truth before the rest of you. We met before everything became public during the trial."
Lois is up there with Ned's confusion.
"Where? Or how if its any of my business?"
"Let's just say that Edward made sure he was in a position to have me—summoned anytime he wanted to chat."
"So that's what the thing in the garage is about. Ned and I wondered. I thought maybe Tracy. Eddie just has people pick you up and take you for a sit down when he gets ready?"
Faith didn't want to admit to this part because she conveniently left it out when talking to Justice and Jason yesterday. She looks at them side ways for an apology and to ease into it.
"Basically. He hasn't been as successful lately as he usually is."
That made Jason's head snap around.
"Usually?"
"The time I told you about was the first, just not the only time. The other times were different, not related. And you know he wasn't able to get close to me for awhile so it hasn't been recent."
Jason left the building. He didn't give anyone a message of where he was going on his way out as he took in what she said and shifted his mind to something else. He had nothing to say for awhile.
Lois is amazed by this and can't help with the questions. All this time and she never knew.
"What does he want from you?"
"The same thing he wants from the rest of you. He has his own reasons for me."
Ned sat silently taking in everything. Then he watched Jason and Justice carefully knowing there's a lot more to the story that he'll probably never get but something else strikes a cord in him. He gets up and walks the room. This captures everyone's attention. Jason knows how fast Ned's mind works at times and doesn't want this to be one of them. No one said anything because they could tell Ned was going somewhere and they were determined to follow. Finally, he turned around and looked at Faith.
"Mary Mae."
Emily is totally confused. Lois is lost but knows Ned's expressions so she is certain she isn't going to like what he just came up with. The others have no clue what he's talking about. Finally, Emily has to ask.
"What about Mary Mae?"
Ned doesn't say a word. He's unintentionally raised the temperature in the room several degrees but he isn't dealing with anyone but Faith at this point. Jason is growing more and more concerned. There are some things he didn't want discussed and it was only a suspicion with him. Something he hoped wasn't a part of the equation but dealt with anyway because he leaves nothing to chance. His business made him wise to a lot of things but he didn't say anything about it. Justice has no clue what's playing out though he's just as anxious as the others. He wants answers so he can deal.
"What are you saying?"
Ned looked at Justice hoping this wasn't going to be a shocker. He sees that it is. Not surprising he wouldn't have noticed. That's his little sister and his grandmother. A quick glance at Jason confirms he saw it. But when he answers both Emily and Justice he doesn't look at anyone else in the room. His voice is tight and his focus is locked on Faith.
"I'm not saying anything."
Faith nodded to him slightly. It crossed her mind on more than one occasion but she wasn't ever going to mention it if she didn't have to. Especially with her brother in the room. Too late. She really hoped no one started throwing things. She answered casually to keep things light and not give anyone the wrong impression or cause to worry.
"Edward said I remind him of grams. The first time he had me picked up, he said I looked just like her when they met. Younger but there was no doubt I was Mary Mae's granddaughter. Genes don't lie, he said. Over the years, he said I'm just like her. Maybe that's why he cares. I don't know."
The silence was deafening. Justice choked back a slight sob of disbelief. Emily is 18 but she's only 18. This wasn't possible so she must not be understanding what's going on. Lois is in wide open shock but not so much disbelief once she turns to Jason. He looks like he's barely keeping it together. That's when she sees that he suspected but had no proof before so she knows she understood.
Lois looked around the room carefully. There was a lot more truth hidden than what she heard so far but it was more than enough. First things first, she had to defuse things before they got out of hand. Lois was determined to follow Faith's lead on this.
"Ok, so now we know how to deal. Bottom line, Faith has security and we will take care of all the business we have to address. And we do it as a family 'cause that's what we are."
Then she put an end to this entire part of the conversation in true Bensonhurst fashion. She turned to Justice,
"Honey, where are the snacks? This is supposed to be a work session, I know, but you still have to lay out a spread. Corporate types like Nedly don't get that either. You suits are all alike. If this was Brooklyn the Coffee Cake would be half gone by now. Come on, I'll help you get the grub so we can get to work on those two cockroaches on Long Island."
Lois didn't leave any time for anything. She jumped up and grabbed Justice's hand leading him off to the kitchen. They stayed in there for over an hour and everybody knew they weren't baking a coffee cake. Emily's eyes went cold and hard immediately after she realized she knew the truth but she saw how Faith wanted to play it and followed Lois' lead.
Ned and Jason came to the understanding Faith demanded that they find on how to deal with Tracy and Soleto. There was really no need to couch words or go into a separate room. Ned wasn't keeping secrets from Lois anymore. Lois was wise to Jason's world. It was more her world than Ned's was anyway. She knew what Jason needed to happen and she saw how he handle business. Plus, she owed Tracy for the car bomb on top of everything else. Everyone else knew the deal with Morgan Inc., as Ned liked to call it.
But even that wasn't an issue for Ned anymore. Understanding Edward's motives when it came to Faith hit him hard and he'd have to deal with that later at home. Ned wasn't as slow to catch certain things as Lois might like. The revelation that Edward got to Faith in such a way as to force her into the name change he wanted all of them to carry hit everyone the same way. Something very serious was going on beyond that. That was his concern and fear. Ned didn't know how he felt about everything specifically yet, but he knew that with the exception of Lila and Michael, all the family he had or wanted was in that penthouse. And those were the only people who mattered.