Thanks everyone who reviewed. To you lurkers out there, please, if you have the time to read my story I would love it if you could review the story. I live for the feedbacks. This chapter is just to let you guys know a little bit of the past. Thanks to my beta

Chapter Ten

Emily was staring at Elizabeth after she'd told her the real bare bones of her marriage as if she'd never seen her before.

"When you eloped with Jason, it seemed like the most romantic thing ever. I can't believe you never told me the truth. That you bore all that worry alone. I was off at college, but still — "

Elizabeth pressed her fingertips against her aching temples.

"I couldn't tell you. It was so humiliating, Emily. Once A.J. got what he wanted from me — " her lips pressed together for a moment " — he headed on down the road just like my mother warned me he would. But I wouldn't listen. I had visions of becoming A.J. Quatermaine's bride. His wants were rather less romantic."

"And A.J. left town before you learned you were pregnant with Cameron. Then, in steps big brother and you became Jason Morgan's bride instead."

It was a simplistic explanation but Elizabeth didn't have the energy to correct her friend. The truth of the matter was much more complicated.

"Essentially."

"Jason was protecting you. He cared about you, even then, Elizabeth. For goodness' sake, he was at the height of his rodeo career. He was one of the top competitors in the PRCA."

Elizabeth swallowed. Nodded. He'd not only given up his career, but his inheritance from his father that Monica had controlled, all to ensure that her child remained a Quatermaine.

Monica had detested Elizabeth badly enough that after their quiet elopement, she'd packed up her house in Pine Valley and moved to the more populated Port Charles. She'd always considered Elizabeth beneath her, mostly because Monica and Elizabeth's mother had never gotten on. Even in a town as small as Pine Valley, there had been definite attitudes. And Monica had it in spades.

Jason hadn't let any of his stepmother's disapproval deter him, however. Heavens, he'd been a grown man and not given to taking orders from anyone, much less his stepmother. Which had further cemented Monica's dislike of Elizabeth. Since then, Jason had built up his reputation as one of the best cutting horse trainers in the country and even now his schedule was booked at least two years out. He still visited Monica regularly, and Elizabeth generally went along. But the woman's attitude hadn't changed much over the years.

"Then surely that tells you how much Jason cared. He wouldn't have had to marry you, Elizabeth. He might have found other ways to help. He was — "

"Was protecting my child," Elizabeth interrupted. "Because he knew, I was going to have to give the baby up for adoption."

She pressed her palm to her abdomen at the terrible memory. Her mother had been nearly incapacitated with her penchant for alcohol. Elizabeth supported them as best she could since she'd been 15. That summer, after Elizabeth graduated from high school, A.J. had left town and his mother, Monica, had assured Elizabeth that he wasn't likely to return. She'd been only 18 years old, but she'd known she couldn't hope to provide a suitable life for her child no matter how badly she'd wanted to keep the baby.

Jason had been back in town during that time recovering from several cracked ribs and he'd learned of Elizabeth's predicament when he'd come across her crying right here in this very post office.

Elizabeth had never felt so alone as she had then. She'd had no means to support a child, no matter how much she wanted the baby. Abortion for her was simply out of the question. She'd known she'd have to give up her child for adoption. But Jason had offered an alternative. And though she'd first refused, he'd hung around for weeks, gently, casually, inexorably changing her mind in that quiet way he had.

"Jason latched onto A.J.'s return like a drowning man, Emily."

Elizabeth still could hardly believe what had occurred.

"He wanted out, obviously. And now he's got an excuse that his conscience can apparently live with. He even told me to hire Alexis Davis to represent me in our divorce."

Emily frowned. "But he's never given you, any indication that he wanted out of your marriage before, has he?"

To be continued . . .

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