Chapter Twelve

Gabrielle could hardly believe her ears. "Al?" she said. "But how? My God... how?"

"It's kind of a complicated story" Al explained.

She held his cheeks in her hands. "You're real," Gabrielle said. "It's really you... Al."

"Michael... Mom. Michael McBain. I know it's kinda strange but... nobody else can know that I'm me." Gabrielle was simply overwhelmed. "Mom" Al said. "Nobody else can know."

"Not that they'd believe me anyway," Gabrielle said. She smiled, her eyes glistened with tears. "I can't even believe it... Al."

"In the flesh... sorta." Al laughed. The tears were now streaming down Gabrielle's cheeks.

"That's how you knew about Bo... about the wedding...."

"There is still going to be a wedding, right Mom?" Al said. Gabrielle pursed her lips. "Mom... you were so happy when you told me you were going to marry Bo. You can't use me as an excuse anymore." Al smiled at her. "I'm not going to let you. Not a chance."

She looked at him. "Of course there's still going to be a wedding."

"Does Bo know that?" Al raised his eyebrows. "I'm not trying to give you a hard time, Mom, really."

"Since when?" Gabrielle laughed.

"Oh come on," Al smiled. "I'm serious. He's crazy about you and you're crazy about him. So there's nothing to stop you now."

"I don't know..."

"You just told me that there was going to be a wedding. And now you don't know? You're making me dizzy."

"It's complicated, Al," Gabrielle said.

"Complicated is that algebra class I had to take twice. Or physics. Physics was complicated. This is... this is love, Mom. Love is just... it is so not complicated. It's the greatest thing in the world."

"You've been talking to your father, haven't you?" Gabrielle said.

"Mom..." Al paused. "If I had this chance with Marcie... God..."

Gabrielle looked at him. "That's why you came back, isn't it? For Marcie."

"I told her I'd go to Heaven and back for her. So that's exactly what I did." He sighed. "I gotta get her to see me... like you saw me. Only problem is, she won't even give me the time of day. Seems the real Michael McBain was something of a jerk."

"Well that doesn't help."

"Gee thanks, Mom" Al said. "I can't say anything to Marcie, plus now, Michael... I... have major issues to handle with John."

"Brother?" Gabrielle asked.

"Yeah... and I've got cops breathing down my back about these murders."

"The Music Box Killings?" Gabrielle was in shock. "Are they accusing you?.."

"Not officially" Al sighed. "Not yet at least. I've got John on my side. He doesn't think I did it, but..." he paused. "How did things get so crazy?"

"Al... I know you. And I believe you" Gabrielle said.

"Wanna try convincing Llanview's finest?" Al paused. "Sorry. I just... it's getting frustrating. All I wanted to do was be here,,, with Marcie. To have my life back... and I get this mess."

"If Marcie sees you, what happens?"

"What do you mean?"

"If Marcie sees you like I did...what happens? Are you Michael for good or... I mean... there is a real Michael McBain. What happens to him?"

"I don't... I don't know" Al said, wondering. "But I gotta try to get her to see, Mom. Marcie has to see me. She has to know it's me in here."

"OK" Gabrielle said.

"OK?"

"Yeah. OK." she smiled. "McBain or no McBain, you're still my Al and I'd do anything for you. Let me see what I can do."

"With Marcie?" Al said. "You can't tell her, Mom..."

"I won't."

Al sighed. "I don't know how you're going to be able to do anything...."

"It's worth a try, isn't it?" Gabrielle said. "The least I can do is give you a start. Trust me."