Chapter 14
Cameron came running down the sidewalk at top speed toward Lucky. His small backpack bounced as he ran. Lucky grabbed him up and swung him around. Cameron's eyes sparkled and he laughed out loud. "Dad, I had a great day!" he bubbled. "This school thing is going to be OK." Lucky laughed at his son's remark and headed back toward the car. "Can we go see great-grams?" Cameron asked. "Of course. I know she'll be excited to hear about your first day." Lucky told his son. "I was thinking that she'd like hearing about the finger painting, but I also wanted to remind her to tell mom that we love and miss her. I don't want mom to think we've forgotten about her." he said. Lucky nodded in understanding to his son's worries and turned the corner to go back to Audrey's house. "There isn't a moment of a day that goes by, my son, that I don't think about how much I love and miss her." Lucky thought to himself. The car came to a stop in the Hardy driveway and Cameron scrambled out of the car and ran up the path to the house. Steven opened the door and was greeted with a big hug from his nephew. He graciously extended his hand to Lucky and opened the door wide to welcome them in. Steven had been wrong about Lucky trying to "steal" all that was left of his baby sister. Over the years, he began to realize what his grandmother had known all along. Lucky being Cameron's father was what was best. "I'm glad you're here. She woke up about 15 minutes ago and has been asking for you." Steven said. "Let me go see her first, then I'll have you come up. OK?" Lucky asked. Cameron didn't want to wait, but he did as his dad asked. "OK. It will give me a chance to talk to Uncle Steven." he replied. Lucky smiled, then tousled his son's hair. He walked across the room and began up the stairs two at a time to see Audrey. When he got to her door he prayed they would have more time. "Don't let today be the day." he prayed as he opened the door. She was awake and smiled at the sight of him. "I'm glad you came back. Please close the door and come sit down. I have something of great importance I have to tell you." she said in a serious tone. Lucky thought Audrey appeared anxious about something, but sat on the side of the bed as he was asked. "There's something I should have told you when you adopted Cameron. It was such a happy day, I decided this secret should be buried with me. It was agreed a long time ago. This secret was one truth that never needed to be told, but I've decided this information will help you protect Cameron." Lucky couldn't imagine, "What was Audrey talking about?" Her tired eyes seemed to stare into Lucky looking for weaknesses. "Lucky, what has Nikolas told you about the Cassadine family history? Aside from, what you already know from your family's on going feud." she inquired. "I don't know what your asking exactly." Lucky said. Her question didn't make sense. Maybe she was worse off than he had thought and he needed to call Steven in here for some medical advice. He, also, didn't want Audrey upsetting herself over the Spencer/Cassadine war that wasn't going to come back and hurt Cameron. "Have you ever noticed Elizabeth's looks when compared to Sarah's?" she continued. Lucky became upset at this question. "Elizabeth is beautiful!" he said indignantly. Lucky couldn't believe this was coming up now after all this time. "No, you misunderstand what I'm trying to tell you. Please sit down and calm yourself. I'm not questioning your love for her." Once again, Lucky did as she asked and sat back down on the bed to try to understand. "You know that Elizabeth was always treated differently than Sarah and Steven. I must say, I'm a little surprised that you never questioned why." Audrey paused and looked intently at Lucky to gauged his response then she continued. "She was adopted at birth. My son and his wife never allowed themselves to love her, because they always feared the day would come when her true identity would be discovered and she'd be taken away." Audrey stopped for a drink of water. "Well that explains the way they treated her. But why tell me this now after she's …? My son will be six in the spring and I am his father." Lucky reminded her. "You don't understand who her biological parents are." Audrey quietly said. This was the only thing she truly feared over the years until now. God took her beloved grand-daughter away, and now, it no longer mattered. By telling Lucky, Audrey thought she could go to her grave knowing Cameron would be protected from his heredity. Just like Elizabeth, Audrey knew she could count on Lucky. "Mikkos Cassadine had a brother, Victor, who supposedly died in prison for God only knows what. Did you know that?" she took a breath and slightly shook her head in disbelief. Audrey was about to confess a very old and well guarded family secret. After twenty-five years, Audrey was about to say something she had promised Steve never to repeat. They promised to take it to their grave the night they held Elizabeth for the first time. "Well, he had a daughter, Andromeda. She was his most prized possession." Audrey paused for second time, she couldn't believe what she was about to say. "She wasn't like the rest of her family." Then she said it. "On one of your parents escapades, they met her. To the family's knowledge, she and Elizabeth died during child birth. Do you understand what I'm telling you?" she calmly asked. Audrey felt relieved to say it after all these years. Unfortunately, Lucky was as pale as a sheet and he had a hard time finding his voice. "Yes, I..I..I do." Lucky felt like he had had a bucket of ice water thrown in his face, and he was instantly chilled to the bone. His mind started to race. "If this ever came out," Lucky thought, "he would have a full scale war on his hands." Audrey looked Lucky in the eyes, "If this is ever discovered, then take Cameron and disappear. Don't let them get him. You know what they'll do to his life." Lucky breathed deeply and nodded. "No one will ever harm my son. I will be a good father. I promise." Lucky smiled at Audrey reminding her of the conversation they had five years ago which seemed like yesterday. Audrey eased herself back into the pillows. Lucky asked if she was up to visiting with Cameron. "He is so eager to tell you about his first day of school." Lucky told her. Audrey's eyes sparkled with happiness, and Lucky stepped in the hall and called for his son.
Cameron came running down the sidewalk at top speed toward Lucky. His small backpack bounced as he ran. Lucky grabbed him up and swung him around. Cameron's eyes sparkled and he laughed out loud. "Dad, I had a great day!" he bubbled. "This school thing is going to be OK." Lucky laughed at his son's remark and headed back toward the car. "Can we go see great-grams?" Cameron asked. "Of course. I know she'll be excited to hear about your first day." Lucky told his son. "I was thinking that she'd like hearing about the finger painting, but I also wanted to remind her to tell mom that we love and miss her. I don't want mom to think we've forgotten about her." he said. Lucky nodded in understanding to his son's worries and turned the corner to go back to Audrey's house. "There isn't a moment of a day that goes by, my son, that I don't think about how much I love and miss her." Lucky thought to himself. The car came to a stop in the Hardy driveway and Cameron scrambled out of the car and ran up the path to the house. Steven opened the door and was greeted with a big hug from his nephew. He graciously extended his hand to Lucky and opened the door wide to welcome them in. Steven had been wrong about Lucky trying to "steal" all that was left of his baby sister. Over the years, he began to realize what his grandmother had known all along. Lucky being Cameron's father was what was best. "I'm glad you're here. She woke up about 15 minutes ago and has been asking for you." Steven said. "Let me go see her first, then I'll have you come up. OK?" Lucky asked. Cameron didn't want to wait, but he did as his dad asked. "OK. It will give me a chance to talk to Uncle Steven." he replied. Lucky smiled, then tousled his son's hair. He walked across the room and began up the stairs two at a time to see Audrey. When he got to her door he prayed they would have more time. "Don't let today be the day." he prayed as he opened the door. She was awake and smiled at the sight of him. "I'm glad you came back. Please close the door and come sit down. I have something of great importance I have to tell you." she said in a serious tone. Lucky thought Audrey appeared anxious about something, but sat on the side of the bed as he was asked. "There's something I should have told you when you adopted Cameron. It was such a happy day, I decided this secret should be buried with me. It was agreed a long time ago. This secret was one truth that never needed to be told, but I've decided this information will help you protect Cameron." Lucky couldn't imagine, "What was Audrey talking about?" Her tired eyes seemed to stare into Lucky looking for weaknesses. "Lucky, what has Nikolas told you about the Cassadine family history? Aside from, what you already know from your family's on going feud." she inquired. "I don't know what your asking exactly." Lucky said. Her question didn't make sense. Maybe she was worse off than he had thought and he needed to call Steven in here for some medical advice. He, also, didn't want Audrey upsetting herself over the Spencer/Cassadine war that wasn't going to come back and hurt Cameron. "Have you ever noticed Elizabeth's looks when compared to Sarah's?" she continued. Lucky became upset at this question. "Elizabeth is beautiful!" he said indignantly. Lucky couldn't believe this was coming up now after all this time. "No, you misunderstand what I'm trying to tell you. Please sit down and calm yourself. I'm not questioning your love for her." Once again, Lucky did as she asked and sat back down on the bed to try to understand. "You know that Elizabeth was always treated differently than Sarah and Steven. I must say, I'm a little surprised that you never questioned why." Audrey paused and looked intently at Lucky to gauged his response then she continued. "She was adopted at birth. My son and his wife never allowed themselves to love her, because they always feared the day would come when her true identity would be discovered and she'd be taken away." Audrey stopped for a drink of water. "Well that explains the way they treated her. But why tell me this now after she's …? My son will be six in the spring and I am his father." Lucky reminded her. "You don't understand who her biological parents are." Audrey quietly said. This was the only thing she truly feared over the years until now. God took her beloved grand-daughter away, and now, it no longer mattered. By telling Lucky, Audrey thought she could go to her grave knowing Cameron would be protected from his heredity. Just like Elizabeth, Audrey knew she could count on Lucky. "Mikkos Cassadine had a brother, Victor, who supposedly died in prison for God only knows what. Did you know that?" she took a breath and slightly shook her head in disbelief. Audrey was about to confess a very old and well guarded family secret. After twenty-five years, Audrey was about to say something she had promised Steve never to repeat. They promised to take it to their grave the night they held Elizabeth for the first time. "Well, he had a daughter, Andromeda. She was his most prized possession." Audrey paused for second time, she couldn't believe what she was about to say. "She wasn't like the rest of her family." Then she said it. "On one of your parents escapades, they met her. To the family's knowledge, she and Elizabeth died during child birth. Do you understand what I'm telling you?" she calmly asked. Audrey felt relieved to say it after all these years. Unfortunately, Lucky was as pale as a sheet and he had a hard time finding his voice. "Yes, I..I..I do." Lucky felt like he had had a bucket of ice water thrown in his face, and he was instantly chilled to the bone. His mind started to race. "If this ever came out," Lucky thought, "he would have a full scale war on his hands." Audrey looked Lucky in the eyes, "If this is ever discovered, then take Cameron and disappear. Don't let them get him. You know what they'll do to his life." Lucky breathed deeply and nodded. "No one will ever harm my son. I will be a good father. I promise." Lucky smiled at Audrey reminding her of the conversation they had five years ago which seemed like yesterday. Audrey eased herself back into the pillows. Lucky asked if she was up to visiting with Cameron. "He is so eager to tell you about his first day of school." Lucky told her. Audrey's eyes sparkled with happiness, and Lucky stepped in the hall and called for his son.
