Chapter 28
Sonny was just finishing up the breakfast dishes. Michael, Cadence, Morgan, Stone, and Kristina were now playing in back yard that had recently been fenced in. Baby Megan was sleeping in her play pen. Carly was relaxing on the couch and she was waiting to tell Sonny that she wanted to write a book.
Sonny walked into the living room a few minutes later to find Carly seated at the computer.
"Hey honey," he whispered. "What are you doing?"
"I'm going to write a book."
"Oh?" Sonny asked curiously. He sat down across from the desk.
"Yeah. I'm going to write a book about my life."
"That's wonderful."
"You're not mad?"
"Why would I be mad?"
"Because it's going to have . . . a lot of personal stuff in it. I'm not leaving anything out."
"You can't talk about the business, Carly. That's . . ."
"I know. That is one thing I'm not even going to touch. You're a coffee importer and exporter who had just had a few run-ins with the law."
"Well, baby, do what you want to do. I'll support you."
"Thank you, Sonny. I'm so glad you feel that way."
"What inspired you to write a book?"
"I found a bunch of old journals in the attic last night and I read one of them. There's still so much more in those books that I want to read. The life of this woman sounded like a fascinating one."
"Well, at least it'll keep you occupied for the next three months. It'll be a good way for you to stay off of your feet."
"There are also other ways to keep me off of my feet," Carly said with a suggestive wink. Sonny leaned across the desk to kiss his wife.
"I'll let you get started, and I'll go check on the kids." Sonny went outside and Carly settled in to start her book.
She was interrupted by a sharp pain running through her body. She groaned loudly and gripped her stomach with both hands.
"Sonny!" she called.
Sonny ran back into the house when he heard his wife's desperate cries.
"What is it?" he asked her quickly.
"Something's wrong," she cried. "I have to . . . I have to go to the hospital!"
"Tony! Get in here!"
Tony ran into the house from his place on the porch.
"Yeah boss?"
"I need you to get the car pulled out front. Tell Max and Adam to stay here with the kids. I have to get Carly to the hospital."
"Yes boss," Tony replied. Sonny helped Carly stand up. It was too soon. Carly was only six-months pregnant.
Michael and Cadence ran inside.
"What's going on?" Cadence asked.
"Nothing. I'm fine, guys. Really," Carly said breathlessly.
"What's wrong? You look like you're hurting," Michael pointed out.
"She's okay. We just have to . . ."
"Can we go?"
"No, you have to stay here with your brothers and sisters."
"But . . ." Cadence started.
"No buts! Don't argue with me," Sonny replied. Cadence and Michael nodded and went back outside. Sonny helped Carly outside and into the car. Tony stepped on the gas as went inside to get Megan and Max went into the back yard to watch the other kids.
**
Faith had been in the shower for fifteen minutes. Jason was watching the children downstairs. They were still in their car seats because he hadn't had time to go buy them anything at the store yet.
Emily was sleeping but Jason Jr. was awake. Jason picked him up and walked over to the window.
"Look out there, buddy," Jason whispered. "That's Port Charles. You'll get to know it a lot better one day. But for now, you'll know it from what you see out of this window."
Jason heard the water turn off upstairs. He walked his son back over to the couch. He sat down and stared at the boy in his arms. He couldn't believe how much he had missed. He hated what had happened to Faith. He had to know what happened while she was away. He didn't know if it was too soon to ask, but he needed to know. He had asked her earlier if Leon had hurt her, but she had said no. He wasn't sure if she was being honest with him. He had to be sure.
Faith walked down the stairs wearing one of Jason's shirts. He saw her put a smile on her face but he knew she had been frowning before. He saw a few bruises on her thigh and she quickly pulled the shirt down to cover them.
"Faith?" Jason asked.
"Yeah?" she asked, sitting down on the couch beside him.
"I need to know something . . ."
"Alright," she replied slowly.
"Did that bastard touch you?" Jason asked. Faith closed her eyes. She felt horrible, but she didn't want him to know what Leon had done to her.
"No," she whispered.
"Faith, don't lie to me."
"I'm not lying to you," Faith replied. Jason put Junior down in his car seat and he took Faith's hands in his.
"You can trust me. I'm your husband."
"I can't . . . I can't tell you what happened because nothing happened."
"Look me in the eyes and tell me that," Jason replied. Faith looked up. Tears were in her eyes. She shook her head and stood up. She hurried up the stairs as fast as she could, considering the fact that she had just given birth a day before.
Jason got up to follow her, but she he heard the door to the guest room shut and lock before he got to the first step of the stairs. He went over and picked up the car seats. He carried the twins upstairs and went to his bedroom. He put the twins down on his bed and he walked down the hall. He tapped lightly on the guest room door.
"Faith?"
"Go away," she cried.
"Faith, I want to help you."
"I'm fine!"
"You're not fine! There's something wrong . . ."
"I don't want to talk about it. Just go away."
"I don't want to leave you alone," Jason replied. Faith didn't answer him. He shook his head and he leaned against the door. "I love you so much. I want you to tell me what happened when you feel like it. I . . . I won't pressure you anymore."
Jason walked down the hall and secluded himself in his room with the twins who were both sleeping now. He laid down on the bed and took them out of their car seats. He let them lay on the bed, cuddled closely together.
"Your mother is going to be okay, guys. She just needs time."
In the guest bedroom, Faith was sitting on the floor, leaning against the bed. She could almost feel Leon raping her. He could feel him grabbing her thighs so tight that they bled. She could feel him pinning her down and groping her breasts so hard that they ached for days. The bruises had been there for months, because when they started to heal, he would come over again and put new bruises over the old ones.
Faith closed her eyes when she remembered the first time he hurt her. She was in her sixth month and already very large in the belly. She couldn't fight him because he was too strong. She remembered him pushing her down on the bed and ripping off her pants. She remembered how cold his hands had been and how black his eyes were. She remembered closing her eyes and him beating her across the face, demanding that she watch him "make love" to her. It had never been consensual. He had raped and beaten her over and over again until she had been too weak to stand on some days.
Fresh tears stung invisible scars on Faith's cheek. She sobbed into her hands. How was she supposed to tell Jason about this and expect him to look at her the same? She felt dirty and worthless. She didn't feel like she was a strong enough person to be a wife and a mother.
"I can't do this," she whispered, visions of Leon's black eyes branded in her memory. She stood shakily and walked over to the night stand. She looked through it, looking for anything that she could use to end her life. That was when she found what she was looking for. She pulled a pair of shiny silver scissors from the drawer and opened the blades. She watched the light bounce off of it and she slowly brought it to her wrist.
**
Jason's cell phone rang and he answered it.
"Yeah?" he asked.
"Jason, it's Sonny. Carly is having some labor pains. We're at the hospital and the doctors are trying to get the labor stopped.
"Faith's upset, Sonny. I don't think I can make it right now. Give Carly my love."
"I will," Sonny replied. Sonny hung up and Jason went down the hall. He knocked on the door to the guest room again.
"Faith?" There was no answer. "Faith, Carly's been in taken to the hospital." There was still no answer. "Do you want to go see her?"
"You go on," came Faith's voice after a few minutes.
"I don't want to leave you."
"Go on. You and the kids should get out of the house for awhile. You need to spend some time with them. Tell . . . tell Carly that I love her, okay?"
"You sure?" Jason asked.
"Yeah. I just need to be alone," she answered.
"I love you," Jason whispered.
"I love you too," Faith replied, choking back a sob. Jason went down the hall and loaded up the twins. When they were ready, Jason said goodbye to Faith again, but she didn't answer. He knew she needed some time to herself. He figured that with a little alone time, she might be ready to talk a little when he got home. So, he left with the twins to go meet Sonny and Carly at the hospital.
**
Bianca and Natalie walked into the emergency room with year-old Miranda. They had just gotten the call from Sonny about Carly. Bianca saw Sonny standing outside of a room and she hurried over to him.
"Sonny? How is she?"
"They're trying to stop the labor. She's three months early . . ."
"They haven't stopped it yet?" Natalie asked. Sonny shook his head and rubbed his eyes with his knuckles.
"It's touch and go at the moment," he replied. "The doctor's afraid that her water will break."
"At least it hasn't yet," Natalie replied. "God, I hope she's okay."
"She'll be alright," Bianca replied. Miranda started to get fussy.
"Here, I'll take Mimo down to the cafeteria for some ice cream," Natalie offered.
"Thanks baby," Bianca replied, giving Natalie a kiss. Natalie took Miranda and Bianca stood with Sonny, waiting for any news on Carly.
**
Bobbie was sitting at Carly's side. The doctor had requested that Sonny wait outside until the tests were finished.
"Mama, I'm scared," Carly whispered.
"I know," Bobbie soothed. "But just think, you've got two precious twins inside of you, and they need to stay in there. You just let your body take care of it."
"My body has failed me more times that I can count," Carly cried.
"It's gonna be okay, sweet heart." Dr. Meadows came into the room and Sonny followed behind.
"What's going on, doc?" Sonny asked.
"Well, I was hoping this was just a case of Braxton Hicks contractions," the doctor started, "but I'm afraid it's more serious than that."
"Can you stop it?" Carly asked.
"There's no way of knowing. The medicine we're giving you through that IV should stop the labor, but if your water breaks, there's no stopping it."
"Oh God," Carly cried. Sonny rushed to her side and grabbed her hand.
"It's okay, Carly. You can fight this. I believe in you," he whispered. He kissed her forehead and Bobbie left with Dr. Meadows.
"I'm so scared," she sobbed.
"Don't be afraid," Sonny whispered. "Everything is gonna be alright."
Sonny was just finishing up the breakfast dishes. Michael, Cadence, Morgan, Stone, and Kristina were now playing in back yard that had recently been fenced in. Baby Megan was sleeping in her play pen. Carly was relaxing on the couch and she was waiting to tell Sonny that she wanted to write a book.
Sonny walked into the living room a few minutes later to find Carly seated at the computer.
"Hey honey," he whispered. "What are you doing?"
"I'm going to write a book."
"Oh?" Sonny asked curiously. He sat down across from the desk.
"Yeah. I'm going to write a book about my life."
"That's wonderful."
"You're not mad?"
"Why would I be mad?"
"Because it's going to have . . . a lot of personal stuff in it. I'm not leaving anything out."
"You can't talk about the business, Carly. That's . . ."
"I know. That is one thing I'm not even going to touch. You're a coffee importer and exporter who had just had a few run-ins with the law."
"Well, baby, do what you want to do. I'll support you."
"Thank you, Sonny. I'm so glad you feel that way."
"What inspired you to write a book?"
"I found a bunch of old journals in the attic last night and I read one of them. There's still so much more in those books that I want to read. The life of this woman sounded like a fascinating one."
"Well, at least it'll keep you occupied for the next three months. It'll be a good way for you to stay off of your feet."
"There are also other ways to keep me off of my feet," Carly said with a suggestive wink. Sonny leaned across the desk to kiss his wife.
"I'll let you get started, and I'll go check on the kids." Sonny went outside and Carly settled in to start her book.
She was interrupted by a sharp pain running through her body. She groaned loudly and gripped her stomach with both hands.
"Sonny!" she called.
Sonny ran back into the house when he heard his wife's desperate cries.
"What is it?" he asked her quickly.
"Something's wrong," she cried. "I have to . . . I have to go to the hospital!"
"Tony! Get in here!"
Tony ran into the house from his place on the porch.
"Yeah boss?"
"I need you to get the car pulled out front. Tell Max and Adam to stay here with the kids. I have to get Carly to the hospital."
"Yes boss," Tony replied. Sonny helped Carly stand up. It was too soon. Carly was only six-months pregnant.
Michael and Cadence ran inside.
"What's going on?" Cadence asked.
"Nothing. I'm fine, guys. Really," Carly said breathlessly.
"What's wrong? You look like you're hurting," Michael pointed out.
"She's okay. We just have to . . ."
"Can we go?"
"No, you have to stay here with your brothers and sisters."
"But . . ." Cadence started.
"No buts! Don't argue with me," Sonny replied. Cadence and Michael nodded and went back outside. Sonny helped Carly outside and into the car. Tony stepped on the gas as went inside to get Megan and Max went into the back yard to watch the other kids.
**
Faith had been in the shower for fifteen minutes. Jason was watching the children downstairs. They were still in their car seats because he hadn't had time to go buy them anything at the store yet.
Emily was sleeping but Jason Jr. was awake. Jason picked him up and walked over to the window.
"Look out there, buddy," Jason whispered. "That's Port Charles. You'll get to know it a lot better one day. But for now, you'll know it from what you see out of this window."
Jason heard the water turn off upstairs. He walked his son back over to the couch. He sat down and stared at the boy in his arms. He couldn't believe how much he had missed. He hated what had happened to Faith. He had to know what happened while she was away. He didn't know if it was too soon to ask, but he needed to know. He had asked her earlier if Leon had hurt her, but she had said no. He wasn't sure if she was being honest with him. He had to be sure.
Faith walked down the stairs wearing one of Jason's shirts. He saw her put a smile on her face but he knew she had been frowning before. He saw a few bruises on her thigh and she quickly pulled the shirt down to cover them.
"Faith?" Jason asked.
"Yeah?" she asked, sitting down on the couch beside him.
"I need to know something . . ."
"Alright," she replied slowly.
"Did that bastard touch you?" Jason asked. Faith closed her eyes. She felt horrible, but she didn't want him to know what Leon had done to her.
"No," she whispered.
"Faith, don't lie to me."
"I'm not lying to you," Faith replied. Jason put Junior down in his car seat and he took Faith's hands in his.
"You can trust me. I'm your husband."
"I can't . . . I can't tell you what happened because nothing happened."
"Look me in the eyes and tell me that," Jason replied. Faith looked up. Tears were in her eyes. She shook her head and stood up. She hurried up the stairs as fast as she could, considering the fact that she had just given birth a day before.
Jason got up to follow her, but she he heard the door to the guest room shut and lock before he got to the first step of the stairs. He went over and picked up the car seats. He carried the twins upstairs and went to his bedroom. He put the twins down on his bed and he walked down the hall. He tapped lightly on the guest room door.
"Faith?"
"Go away," she cried.
"Faith, I want to help you."
"I'm fine!"
"You're not fine! There's something wrong . . ."
"I don't want to talk about it. Just go away."
"I don't want to leave you alone," Jason replied. Faith didn't answer him. He shook his head and he leaned against the door. "I love you so much. I want you to tell me what happened when you feel like it. I . . . I won't pressure you anymore."
Jason walked down the hall and secluded himself in his room with the twins who were both sleeping now. He laid down on the bed and took them out of their car seats. He let them lay on the bed, cuddled closely together.
"Your mother is going to be okay, guys. She just needs time."
In the guest bedroom, Faith was sitting on the floor, leaning against the bed. She could almost feel Leon raping her. He could feel him grabbing her thighs so tight that they bled. She could feel him pinning her down and groping her breasts so hard that they ached for days. The bruises had been there for months, because when they started to heal, he would come over again and put new bruises over the old ones.
Faith closed her eyes when she remembered the first time he hurt her. She was in her sixth month and already very large in the belly. She couldn't fight him because he was too strong. She remembered him pushing her down on the bed and ripping off her pants. She remembered how cold his hands had been and how black his eyes were. She remembered closing her eyes and him beating her across the face, demanding that she watch him "make love" to her. It had never been consensual. He had raped and beaten her over and over again until she had been too weak to stand on some days.
Fresh tears stung invisible scars on Faith's cheek. She sobbed into her hands. How was she supposed to tell Jason about this and expect him to look at her the same? She felt dirty and worthless. She didn't feel like she was a strong enough person to be a wife and a mother.
"I can't do this," she whispered, visions of Leon's black eyes branded in her memory. She stood shakily and walked over to the night stand. She looked through it, looking for anything that she could use to end her life. That was when she found what she was looking for. She pulled a pair of shiny silver scissors from the drawer and opened the blades. She watched the light bounce off of it and she slowly brought it to her wrist.
**
Jason's cell phone rang and he answered it.
"Yeah?" he asked.
"Jason, it's Sonny. Carly is having some labor pains. We're at the hospital and the doctors are trying to get the labor stopped.
"Faith's upset, Sonny. I don't think I can make it right now. Give Carly my love."
"I will," Sonny replied. Sonny hung up and Jason went down the hall. He knocked on the door to the guest room again.
"Faith?" There was no answer. "Faith, Carly's been in taken to the hospital." There was still no answer. "Do you want to go see her?"
"You go on," came Faith's voice after a few minutes.
"I don't want to leave you."
"Go on. You and the kids should get out of the house for awhile. You need to spend some time with them. Tell . . . tell Carly that I love her, okay?"
"You sure?" Jason asked.
"Yeah. I just need to be alone," she answered.
"I love you," Jason whispered.
"I love you too," Faith replied, choking back a sob. Jason went down the hall and loaded up the twins. When they were ready, Jason said goodbye to Faith again, but she didn't answer. He knew she needed some time to herself. He figured that with a little alone time, she might be ready to talk a little when he got home. So, he left with the twins to go meet Sonny and Carly at the hospital.
**
Bianca and Natalie walked into the emergency room with year-old Miranda. They had just gotten the call from Sonny about Carly. Bianca saw Sonny standing outside of a room and she hurried over to him.
"Sonny? How is she?"
"They're trying to stop the labor. She's three months early . . ."
"They haven't stopped it yet?" Natalie asked. Sonny shook his head and rubbed his eyes with his knuckles.
"It's touch and go at the moment," he replied. "The doctor's afraid that her water will break."
"At least it hasn't yet," Natalie replied. "God, I hope she's okay."
"She'll be alright," Bianca replied. Miranda started to get fussy.
"Here, I'll take Mimo down to the cafeteria for some ice cream," Natalie offered.
"Thanks baby," Bianca replied, giving Natalie a kiss. Natalie took Miranda and Bianca stood with Sonny, waiting for any news on Carly.
**
Bobbie was sitting at Carly's side. The doctor had requested that Sonny wait outside until the tests were finished.
"Mama, I'm scared," Carly whispered.
"I know," Bobbie soothed. "But just think, you've got two precious twins inside of you, and they need to stay in there. You just let your body take care of it."
"My body has failed me more times that I can count," Carly cried.
"It's gonna be okay, sweet heart." Dr. Meadows came into the room and Sonny followed behind.
"What's going on, doc?" Sonny asked.
"Well, I was hoping this was just a case of Braxton Hicks contractions," the doctor started, "but I'm afraid it's more serious than that."
"Can you stop it?" Carly asked.
"There's no way of knowing. The medicine we're giving you through that IV should stop the labor, but if your water breaks, there's no stopping it."
"Oh God," Carly cried. Sonny rushed to her side and grabbed her hand.
"It's okay, Carly. You can fight this. I believe in you," he whispered. He kissed her forehead and Bobbie left with Dr. Meadows.
"I'm so scared," she sobbed.
"Don't be afraid," Sonny whispered. "Everything is gonna be alright."