Chapter Four

When Elizabeth got home from the hospital, Emily was making dinner in the kitchen. Jackson was home and helping her by setting the dining room table. "Add another plate," she told her son, standing on tiptoe to kiss his cheek fondly. Jackson was several inches taller than her.

"Why?" Jackson asked, getting out the extra place like his mother asked.

"I'll tell you in a second." Elizabeth turned to Emily. "I'm supposed to be making dinner." She made a gesture to take over, but Emily used her hips to keep her away.

"I'll earn my keep here, thank you very much," Emily replied. She smiled at Elizabeth. "You can make the salad."

Elizabeth went to the fridge and got out the salad fixings. She washed them in the sink and then carried everything to the kitchen table. She got out a cutting board and a knife and sat down to begin chopping the vegetables. "There's no other way to say this than to be blunt," Elizabeth began.

Jackson finished setting the table and came to sit down at the kitchen table with his mother. He took the lettuce and began tearing it up, listening intently to Elizabeth.

"You have a half sister," Elizabeth said.

"What?" Jackson dropped the lettuce, his eyes wide. "How?"

Elizabeth held up a hand. "I'll explain." She glanced over at Emily, who was watching her as she stirred. Then she glanced back at Jackson, who went back to tearing up the lettuce. "Do you remember Livvie?" Elizabeth asked Emily.

Emily squinted thoughtfully. "Yes," she said after a minute. "Livvie is the one who dated Jack, and then Chris. And then left town."

Elizabeth nodded. "Livvie had a daughter 21 years ago. Her name is Heaven. She told Heaven that her father had died and raised Heaven alone. Livvie died four years ago, and left a letter for Heaven to receive on her 21st birthday, telling Heaven the truth: that Chris is her father and he's

alive and well. Heaven began searching for Chris, and found him today. She's coming for dinner tonight."

"No way," Jackson said in a low voice. He stopped tearing the lettuce and glowered at his mother. "Not a chance."

"Excuse me?" Elizabeth asked.

"I'm an only child," Jackson said. "I always have been and I always will be. I don't intend on that changing now. Not for some stupid girl that claims to be Dad's daughter."

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at Jackson. "You will be polite and welcome her into this home, Jackson. You were brought up better than that."

"I'll welcome her here as some guest," Jackson shot back. "But never as my sister."

"Why not?" Elizabeth asked. "You might like having an older sister. Someone to talk to, to look up to."

"Never! I'm an only child, Mom!" Tears pricked Jackson's eyes, but he was determined not to let her see them. He stood up. "I'm going to my room. I have a date tonight and I want to get ready for it."

"No." Elizabeth spoke the word calmly. "Your date can be moved to tomorrow night. Tonight you will remain here, with your family. Getting to know Heaven."

"Mom!" Jackson cried. "I already made the plans!"

"So change them," Elizabeth said firmly. "Tomorrow night you can go. Not tonight."

Jackson pouted and stormed out of the room. He went to his room and slammed the door.

Elizabeth sighed as she put the vegetables she'd chopped into the bowl and began to work on the lettuce Jackson hadn't finished.

Emily set the spoon down on the stove and came to sit beside Elizabeth. "This must be rough."

"What is?" Elizabeth asked, playing dumb.

"Trying to play supportive mother when inside you hate the girl as much as your son does," Emily answered. She gave Elizabeth a hug. "Talk to me."

Elizabeth dropped her facade and looked at Emily. "I can't help but remembering how much Chris loved Livvie."

"But he's married to you now, Elizabeth," Emily reminded her. "And he has been for seventeen years. That's a long time to stay married if he didn't love you. If he was still in love with Livvie, he would've left you a long time ago."

Elizabeth nodded. "My head knows that. But my heart can't help but cringe every time her name is mentioned. And," she lowered her head, "I resent that she could give Chris the second child that I couldn't give him."

Emily hugged Elizabeth again. "You have him his son. And he's always been deliriously happy with Jackson. But now he has a daughter too. An unexpected daughter, but one that is his child nonetheless. That doesn't have to be a bad thing, you know."

"How do you figure?"

"Because Heaven now has no mother in the world. You are the only mother that child could have, Elizabeth." Emily smiled gently at her. "Take it from someone who has no children. That's a blessing."

Elizabeth expelled a breath. "I told Chris I wanted him to hire a PI to verify her story."

"Wow." Emily could see her words were sinking in. "Be careful, Liz."

"What do you mean?" Elizabeth asked.

"Don't make Chris choose between you and his child," Emily advised. "The bond between a parent and child is strong. You know that."

"I'll feel a lot better if I meet her and she looks nothing like Livvie," Elizabeth admitted. "I just hope I like her."

"You'll probably love her. After you get to know her," Emily said. "Just don't expect too much of yourself or her right away. Let her settle in, and as she does, you will too."

"How did you get to be so wise?" Elizabeth asked ruefully.

Emily hugged her again and stood up, going back to the stove. "I'm not, I'm just incredibly good at faking it."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Yeah, whatever." She finished the salad and cleaned up her mess. When she was done, she leaned against the counter. She was about to speak again when they heard the front door open and close. She looked at Emily. "Here we go." Her heart began to pound.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Thanks for helping me to carry in all these papers," Chris said to Heaven as they set everything down on the table in the front hallway.

"You're welcome." Heaven grinned at Chris. "You have about three days of work here, it looks like."

"Don't remind me," Chris groaned. He winked at his daughter. "Ready to meet your stepmother, brother and aunt?"

"I think so." Heaven wiped her sweaty palms on her skirt and took a deep breath.

"They'll love you," Chris assured her. He put his hand on her shoulders and propelled her towards the kitchen, where he knew he'd find his wife and Emily. "Hi ladies! Heaven, this is your stepmother Elizabeth and your aunt Emily. Ladies, meet my daughter Heaven." There was pride in his voice.

Emily stepped forward quickly. She knew Elizabeth was very unsettled by the sight of the girl. She looked a lot like Livvie. "Hello, Heaven. It's nice to meet you." She offered Heaven her hand.

Heaven took it and shook it quickly. "Thank you. It's nice to meet you too." She sniffed the air. "Something smells fabulous."

"Pasta and chicken with a salad and bread," Emily smiled. "Something quick and easy."

"It smells great," Heaven affirmed. She looked at Elizabeth, her eyes widening slightly. Emily felt immediately sorry for her; she looked so scared. She sensed Heaven's sincerity, and only hoped Elizabeth would give her a chance.

"I'm Elizabeth." Elizabeth hesitated and then offered her hand as well.

Heaven shook it. "It's a pleasure to meet you," she said quietly. "Chris has told me so much about you. You're all he talked about on the way home."

It was the right thing to say. Elizabeth relaxed her posture and smiled. "He told me a bit about you too. I love your name. Do you mind me asking about it?"

"Not at all. My mother always told me that she loved my father so much that to have his child was like having a piece of Heaven. It's actually pretty corny when you think about it," Heaven said without thinking. Then she realized how tactless that had been to say.

An awkward silence followed. "Where's Jackson?" Chris broke in. He seemed at a loss for words, though Heaven's words had touched him.

"In his room," Elizabeth answered. She walked over to the stairs and yelled up. "JACKSON! Come down here and meet our guest please!" She walked back into the kitchen and they waited.

"This is a beautiful house," Heaven commented, having glanced around.

"Thanks," Elizabeth replied.

"Elizabeth decorated it herself," Chris added.

"It's lovely," Heaven said quietly. She looked down at her feet, looking up only when she heard a new pair of feet enter the room. In front of her wall a tall guy with brown curly hair and big blue eyes. He was handsome, and well built.

"Jackson, this is your half sister, Heaven," Elizabeth introduced them. "Heaven, this is our son, Jackson."

"Nice to meet you," Heaven smiled and offered him her hand.

"Sure," Jackson mumbled. He flashed her a look and ignored her hand.

Chris and Elizabeth both glared at him. Heaven withdrew her hand, taking a deep breath. Another uncomfortable silence followed until Emily began bustling around the kitchen.

"Can I help with anything?" Heaven asked her.

"No, thanks," Emily smiled at her. "You have a seat. I'm earning my keep around here. Jackson can help me. Why don't the three of you go and sit in the living room."

"Great idea," Chris said gratefully to Emily. He took Heaven's elbow and steered her towards the living room. After a brief hesitation, Elizabeth followed.

"I'm sorry about Jackson," Chris told Heaven when they'd all sat down. "I'm afraid he's been quite spoiled over the years by both of us. This is all such a shock for him."

Elizabeth sat wordlessly.

Heaven shook her head. "I shouldn't of come. It's not your fault," she directed the words at Elizabeth, "or his that my mother lied all these years. You shouldn't have to deal with this disruption in your lives." Heaven stood up. "I'll just leave now, and you can go back to living the

way you were."

"Oh for heaven's sake, child, sit down," Elizabeth said sharply. surprised, Heaven did as she said. "It's not your fault that your mother lied either. You have just as much right to be a part of your father's life as Jackson does. Don't let him get to you. Or me, for that matter. We're both just surprised and need some time to adjust. As I'm sure you do as well."

Chris smiled at Elizabeth. "That's exactly right, Heaven," he chimed in, looking back at his daughter anxiously. "Your mother deprived us of 21 years. Don't let her deprive us of any more time."

Heaven looked uncertain. "I don't want to upset anyone."

"Just give it time," Elizabeth advised. "That's all everyone needs."

Heaven nodded, leaning back against the couch. "Thank you."

Elizabeth nodded. "So where are you staying?"

"The Port Charles Hotel."

"For how long?"

"Two weeks for now," Heaven answered. "We'll see after that."

"Oh! That reminds me!" Chris looked at Elizabeth. "Alison & Jamal invited you, me, Jackson and Heaven to a BBQ at their place on Sunday. Can we make it?"

"I'm free," Elizabeth said. "You'll have to ask Jackson yourself." She looked at Heaven. "Would you like to come?"

"If it's not an imposition," Heaven replied.

"It won't be," Elizabeth said. "We need to get to know each other. I -- I'd like to get to know you, Heaven. You're my husband's daughter, my stepdaughter. I'd like us to work at being friends, if that's okay."

"It's perfect," Heaven said, offering her a small smile, which Elizabeth returned.

Chris smiled victoriously.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"You know you're acting like an ass, don't you?" Emily asked Jackson as they finished preparing the meal. "What has she ever done to you?"

"It's not what she's done, Aunt Em," Jackson sighed. "It's what she can do. I like being the only child."

"Getting all the attention, everything lavished on you?" Emily added.

"Well, yeah, I guess," Jackson looked at her sheepishly. "And I don't want to share that. I don't think I should have to." He looked at her defiantly.

"Them's the breaks, kid," Emily said without sympathy. At Jackson's surprised look, she softened her tone. "You don't always get to pick everything that happens in life. In fact, you rarely do. What you do get to pick is how you react to things. All your life you've been an only child. Maybe having an older sister isn't what you wanted, but it's what you've got. And it could be a good thing! She is old enough to live on her own, so you wouldn't see her all the time. And it could be worse - they

could've had a baby."

"Diapers, crying... yech," Jackson made a face. But he was listening to Emily.

"Just think on it, kid. Think about how bad it might not be," Emily

advised.

Jackson nodded and they finished getting dinner ready.