Sorry for the long break, but I had to go on a 12-step program for soap addiction! I am happy to report that I have fallen off the wagon and am working to get the story back on track! I would like to say a special thank you to AnniGH4ever for giving me the swift kick in the butt that I was desperately needing so that I would get back to work!
I have been out of it for so long that I am going to move some things around in here... like Kelly saying that Ace is Todd's...and other things... I'm BACK!!!!!
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Bianca turned and looked at Babe, shifting Miranda in her arms she reached for her friend's hand and gave it a firm squeeze.
"We can do this... all we have to do is go in there and ask her a few questions about Paul. Maybe she can even tell us where to find him... we will find out the truth... I promise you that... and if he had anything to do with Blake's death... than he will pay..."
Babe gave Bianca a brave smile. She didn't know why but she felt that somehow it was her destiny to be at this place at this time... Sometimes she wished that she could just disappear and her sadness would just fade away. But, here today she would stand tall and together she and Bianca would start to find out how things had gone so wrong.
She nodded and raised her hand and rang the door bell. Hearing voices the girls both took a deep breath and waited for it to open.
"Can I help you?" An aging woman opened the door and she looked at the women on the doorstep from head to toe with an appraising look.
"Yes, we are here to see Mrs. Kelly Buchanan." Bianca replied with her sweetest smile.
"There are two Mrs. Buchanan's... if you referring to Miss Renee, she is out... and if you are referring to the other, she no longer resides at this address..."
"Oh... well could you please tell us where we might find her, we have been trying to catch up with her... I was hoping to discuss some charity ideas with her..." Bianca grasped for the first idea that came into her head.
"The other lives over across town... at that Frenchie place that belongs to that Ms. Lord, her aunt. Its right off Sycamore Street... can't miss it..."
And with that the lady practically slammed the door in their faces.
"WELL.... I guess we are headed to "That Frenchie" place...." Bianca turned a bewildered face at Babe and they laughed trying to ease the nervousness that had started to build ever since they had entered Llanview city limits.
Kendall tried to think about what exactly she and David had agreed to and every thought in her head ended with her being completely crazy.
Getting into her rental car she had picked up this morning while her car was being fixed she tapped a manicured finger in an anxious rhythm.
She didn't know where to go... but she knew that she had to talk to someone... With a nod to herself she started the car and headed for the only place she knew she could find some kind of perspective.
"Mom! I am so glad you are home... do you have a minute? I just can't think... I mean I think I have everything under control... I am pregnant! I'm not married... and I am starting a new business that may be a bomb... David says..." Kendall rushed past Erica before she had even gotten the first sentence out... and seeing that Kendall had finally paused for a breath she jumped right in hoping to calm her eldest daughter down a bit.
"Alright... now Kendall I want you to take a deep breath and sit down... come on... this frantic state you are in is definitely not good for you or my grandchild..." Erica paused for a minute as she realized how natural that had sounded... her grandchild. It was funny how she had once believed that she would never ever think of herself as a grandmother.
"Oh mom! What am I going to do? I am pregnant..." Kendall burst out in tears.
"Yes... honey... I know that... now come on... you are getting mascara all over your face... your wearing that Fusion junk aren't you... Now Enchantment offers the best in long lasting, water-proof products... waterproof my rear-end...," Erica handed her daughter a Kleenex as she and Kendall started giggling and then she realized what she had just said...
Erica shrugged good naturedly, "Once a Queen of Cosmetics.... Anyway, what I was trying to say was that... Sweetheart, I know you are pregnant... now what is going on..."
Kendall sniffled and blew her nose indelicately, "I am going to be a mom and... I am a horrible person.... What if I screw this baby up so completely?"
"Stop... Now... I should know better than anyone that you can be a bit difficult sometimes... but you are not a horrible person... how you could even think that?"
Kendall stood up and began pacing the room.
"I hurt everyone I touch... I mean... there is not one thing in my past that I can be proud of... I hurt everybody... you, Bianca... and forget about accomplishments... What kind of mother could someone who lies and manipulates... I mean... I am about up there with what's her face... Mary Smythe..."
"Believe me when I say that you are NOT like Mary Smythe... that woman is dreadful... But, you... Kendall, come here..." Erica lifted and hand and pulled her eldest daughter to the spot on the couch beside her.
"You are amazing... Yes, it is true that we have a lot of emotional scars to overcome... We both hurt each other... but, look at us. Here we are... you, Bianca and me... a family... stronger than we have ever been. Once you lived from one scheme to the next... I know because you are just like me... so much like me... But look at you... you have changed... and I am not talking about something minor here... Oh, I don't know what it is I am trying to say... I have never been good at helping others... about now is where I normally start talking about me and my life... my problems... The thing is Kendall... you are going to be a wonderful mother... maybe not perfect... But, then look at me... and look out how amazing... how beautiful inside and out... both my girls have become..."
Erica hugged Kendall next to her and Kendall let her mother comfort her... and it felt good... It made her feel like she had wanted to feel her whole life... completely and unconditionally loved.
Erica pulled away, "Oh!... Don't move... I have something for you..."
"Wow! Look at this place... can you believe it? And here I thought my mom and Adam had the most expensive taste..."
Bianca stood in the hallway holding Miranda in her arms gently bouncing her close to her body.
"I know... I was here once... only for a minute when I was trying to get rid of Paul... it's unbelievable..." Babe glanced nervously around her... she just wanted to get this over with.
"Hello? Can I help you?" A petite blonde answered as she opened the doors to what looked like a sitting room.
"Ms. Buchanan?" Bianca asked as she stepped through the doors.
"Yes? How may I help you ... my cousin said you needed to talk to me?"
"Hi, my name is Bianca Montgomery... and this is Babe... Babe Chandler... we were hoping we might be able to ask you a few questions..." Bianca settle Miranda in her lap and set the diaper bag at her feet.
"I... I don't see what I would be able to help you with... But... Sure... go ahead..." The blonde walked over to the bar and poured herself a strong drink.
Montgomery... Chandler...These names set off an alarm in the back of Kelly's troubled mind as she took a big swig of the bourbon in her glass.
Babe shot a questioning glance at Bianca... this lady was definitely weird...
"Actually... we were hoping you might be able to tell us where we could find your brother... Paul Kramer? It is really important..."
The blonde spun around and broke out in a rush...
"Paul? Why would I know where he is? He is always in trouble... I haven't seen him in awhile... I don't know where he is... sorry..."
Babe stood up and walked toward the agitated lady, "Please... he is the only one who can tell me what happened to my little boy... I am sure you heard about the helicopter accident he was involved in... and my little angel..."
"Yes! I heard and I am really sorry, but I can't help you... you would be better off trying to out the incident behind you... Now... If you two will excuse me..."
And with what sounded like a sob she practically ran from the room.
"Oh my gosh! I can not believe she just said that... I am so sorry Babe... she must be drunk... that has to be why she isn't living with her husband anymore..."
"She was definitely on something..." Babe turned and reached for Miranda as Bianca stood up and started to collect her purse and the diaper bag.
"Oh! I didn't know there was company... can I help you?"
Both girls turned and stared at the beautiful lady standing in front of them.
"We were just here to see Ms. Buchanan... we were just leaving..." Babe informed the lady who had walked over to tickle Miranda's chin.
"How unfortunate for you... I am her cousin... Blair Manning... What a cute little angel!" Blair smiled and cooed at the baby in Babe's arms.
Babe shot Bianca a look and Bianca nodded her head in agreement.
"This is Miranda.... She is actually Bianca's baby gitl... I am Babe... Babe Chandler... and this is Bianca Montgomery... If it wouldn't be too much trouble maybe you could help us...please..."
B lair caught the look between the two girls and knew something was up... What was Kelly up to now...
"Sure... Why don't you two have a seat?" Blair smiled and offered the girls a seat.
"Mom... you didn't have to buy me anything..." Kendall couldn't hide the surprise on her face. She couldn't not remember the last thing Erica had actually given to her.
Erica felt a twinge of guilt as she recognized Kendall's reaction for what it was and why it was there... she hadn't been to giving when it came to Kendall in the past.
Handing her daughter the brightly wrapped bag she smiled in embarrassment.
"It isn't much... I just... Well, the lady said that it was THE thing to have during your pregnancy..."
Kendall smiled in pleasure as she pulled "What's to Expect When Expecting..." from its package. Opening the front she saw that Erica had written a note in side of the cover...
Much love and happiness... To a beautiful and brilliant daughter... soon-to be mother! All my love Erica Kane Montgomery...
Kendall chuckled... how like her mother to sign her full name...
"Oh mom... thanks... I love it... really..." Kendall wiped a misty tear from her eye and hugged the book to her chest...
"Knock, knock... well how is my lovely wife and step-daughter today?"
Jackson Montgomery swept into the room and smiled at the woman he loved and the girl who was more and more like a daughter to him everyday...
"Why... My husband... we were just sharing a mother-daughter moment... what are you doing home so early? I thought Bianca had you doing some hush-hush Cambias business today..."
Jackson walked over and took his wife's hand and pulled her into his arms," I was slaving away at the office today... when I had a brilliant idea... an epiphany really..."
Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a box and handed it to Erica who was looking happier than Kendall had ever seen her.
"What is this?" Erica opened the box and shot Jack a questioning look ,"I already have keys to your place silly..."
Jackson smiled and kissed his wife on her lips, "Well... that may be true... but these are the keys to 0UR place... and taking a chance on having your temper explode... I bought us a house... undecorated of course... but OURS... big enough for you, me, Reggie, and Lily when she moves home... plus two guest rooms... and a BIG playroom for all of our grandchildren..."
Erica was amazed at how much she loved the man standing in front of her this moment. In the past the independent Erica might chafe at having someone pick out a house for her... but this... this was the most amazing gift he could have ever given her...
"Oh... Jackson Montgomery... have I told you how much I love you today?" Erica wrapped her arms around her husband and kissed him with all the love she felt in her heart,
Hearing noisy sobs coming from behind them they broke apart and stared at Kendall perplexed...
"You two... you two are so happy... I am SO happy for you..." Kendall rushed over and wrapped her arms around two of the people she loved most in the world.
"She's pregnant..." Erica shrugged to Jack as they hugged the emotional woman to them.