CHAPTER ONE
Outside the rain fell and the wind roared, but there was an eerie silence that everyone in the penthouse could feel. Erica was the first to wake. She was not sure what caused her uneasiness, but she knew that something was not right. She settled her small, but beautiful frame next to the fireplace where once her and Jackson lied. She tried to recall a time where she was safe in the arms of the man who always protected her. For a moment, her thoughts traveled back to where her and Jackson first made love in Paris. Through the fireplace you could see the reflection of Erica and the love that shone through from her heart. From thoughts of Paris to New York and than to Linden House, Erica recalled every moment of every day she spent laughing, crying and loving Jackson Montgomery. For a short moment, it was as if time was her friend and Jackson was right there with her.
She felt a hand reach out for her, but was saddened when the hand was that of her daughter. The look of disappointment did not go unnoticed by Bianca who reached her arms out to comfort her mother. Neither of them knew what caused their uneasiness; at least if they did, not a word was spoken. The silence continued for what seemed an eternity until finally Bianca spoke, " Mom she said, I had a dream about Uncle Jack tonight. I am not sure what it all means, but I feel that he is in trouble. He needs you mom." Erica was shocked by her daughter's words and softly spoke. Honey she said, " I have always love Jackson, but he has chosen another path. Tomorrow he will marry someone else. ' Erica continued, ` I always believed that Jackson was my soul and I was his, but he has made it perfectly clear that he loves another'. As Erica spoke, tears fell gently down her cheek. Bianca began to cry as well. First she cried for her mother who was so lost without the love of her life, and than she cried for herself because she felt like she was losing her father all over again.
It was not until this very moment that Bianca realized how deep her mother's love was for both her and Jackson. For years Erica was torn between the two, and no matter what path she chose, Erica lost something. Bianca felt a wave of guilt run through her body because she was responsible for keeping her mother away from the only man that she ever was able to love. She could not stop herself from crying! Erica held her daughter in her arms and gently caressed her cheek allowing her love to take away Bianca 's pain. Whatever Erica was to other people, know one could ever question her love for her daughter. For a moment, Erica forgot about her own despair!
She held her daughter until finally Bianca sat up and face her mother. Bianca put her hands up to her mother's face and held her gently as if she thought Erica would break. Lovingly, Bianca spoke, " Mom, I know that you loved my father and for me you tried to be what we both wanted you to be. You tried to ignore your heart for so long, but it always over powered you. Now, we both know where you belong, with Uncle Jack. Erica tried to speak, but Bianca silenced her by placing her fingers over her mother's mouth. Bianca Continued, ` I know that Jackson says his heart is with someone else, but you can't let him go without fighting the `Erica Kane' fight. Mom, you always taught me that No obstacle is too great when love is the guide. Erica smiled a smile that told Bianca how proud her mother was of her and she hugged her daughter so tight that Bianca could not breath normally. She did not seem to mind her mother's closeness In fact, she returned the hug with as much strength and love as her mother was showing her.
The silence began again, but this time neither felt threatened. The air seemed calmer now and where there was once sadness, a flicker of hope danced in their thoughts. The storm outside lost strength, as if signaling one battle was over and another one would begin.
Outside the rain fell and the wind roared, but there was an eerie silence that everyone in the penthouse could feel. Erica was the first to wake. She was not sure what caused her uneasiness, but she knew that something was not right. She settled her small, but beautiful frame next to the fireplace where once her and Jackson lied. She tried to recall a time where she was safe in the arms of the man who always protected her. For a moment, her thoughts traveled back to where her and Jackson first made love in Paris. Through the fireplace you could see the reflection of Erica and the love that shone through from her heart. From thoughts of Paris to New York and than to Linden House, Erica recalled every moment of every day she spent laughing, crying and loving Jackson Montgomery. For a short moment, it was as if time was her friend and Jackson was right there with her.
She felt a hand reach out for her, but was saddened when the hand was that of her daughter. The look of disappointment did not go unnoticed by Bianca who reached her arms out to comfort her mother. Neither of them knew what caused their uneasiness; at least if they did, not a word was spoken. The silence continued for what seemed an eternity until finally Bianca spoke, " Mom she said, I had a dream about Uncle Jack tonight. I am not sure what it all means, but I feel that he is in trouble. He needs you mom." Erica was shocked by her daughter's words and softly spoke. Honey she said, " I have always love Jackson, but he has chosen another path. Tomorrow he will marry someone else. ' Erica continued, ` I always believed that Jackson was my soul and I was his, but he has made it perfectly clear that he loves another'. As Erica spoke, tears fell gently down her cheek. Bianca began to cry as well. First she cried for her mother who was so lost without the love of her life, and than she cried for herself because she felt like she was losing her father all over again.
It was not until this very moment that Bianca realized how deep her mother's love was for both her and Jackson. For years Erica was torn between the two, and no matter what path she chose, Erica lost something. Bianca felt a wave of guilt run through her body because she was responsible for keeping her mother away from the only man that she ever was able to love. She could not stop herself from crying! Erica held her daughter in her arms and gently caressed her cheek allowing her love to take away Bianca 's pain. Whatever Erica was to other people, know one could ever question her love for her daughter. For a moment, Erica forgot about her own despair!
She held her daughter until finally Bianca sat up and face her mother. Bianca put her hands up to her mother's face and held her gently as if she thought Erica would break. Lovingly, Bianca spoke, " Mom, I know that you loved my father and for me you tried to be what we both wanted you to be. You tried to ignore your heart for so long, but it always over powered you. Now, we both know where you belong, with Uncle Jack. Erica tried to speak, but Bianca silenced her by placing her fingers over her mother's mouth. Bianca Continued, ` I know that Jackson says his heart is with someone else, but you can't let him go without fighting the `Erica Kane' fight. Mom, you always taught me that No obstacle is too great when love is the guide. Erica smiled a smile that told Bianca how proud her mother was of her and she hugged her daughter so tight that Bianca could not breath normally. She did not seem to mind her mother's closeness In fact, she returned the hug with as much strength and love as her mother was showing her.
The silence began again, but this time neither felt threatened. The air seemed calmer now and where there was once sadness, a flicker of hope danced in their thoughts. The storm outside lost strength, as if signaling one battle was over and another one would begin.