A Place In the Sun

24 Gillian threw open the door to Myrtle's and immediately called Katalin to her side. She picked her up and practically ran up the stairs to their room. Once in there, she sat down on the bed with Kata and held her tightly to her chest. "Mommy, what's wrong?" Gillian didn't answer her. Downstairs, Kelsey knocked on the door. "Who is it?" Myrtle asked. "Kelsey Jefferson, I need to see Gillian." Myrtle opened the door. "I don't think she is taking any visitors tonight." "I just wanted to make sure she's alright, Myrtle. We were at SOS and she left so upset…" "Did something happen?" "This man, he came up to her, and-the way he talked to her sent chills up my spine. Do you know who that could be?" "Could only be one person…" "I've got to see her," Kelsey said, passing Myrtle and going up the stairs. She listened in the hall; she could hear Gillian crying and knocked on her door. "Gillian? Gillian, its Kelsey, can I come in?" There was no answer. "You really worried Ryan and I when you left like that." Inside, Katalin loosened herself from her mother's embrace and walked towards the door. "Kata, no," Gillian said. It was too late; Kata opened the door. Kelsey looked down at Katalin and then up to Gillian. "Mommy, is it okay to let her in?" Gillian nodded. Katalin jumped back up on the bed with Gillian and Kelsey pulled a chair up next to Gillian. Gillian sighed, "I guess there is no way around this now. Kata, this is my friend Kelsey; Kelsey, this is my daughter, Katalin." "Is she what that guy was harassing you about?" "That is part of it." "Is she his daughter? Is that why you and Ryan aren't together, because you had a child with another man?" "Not quite, Kelsey. Kata is not Ray's daughter, thankfully." "Oh my goodness…. she's Ryan's." Gillian didn't answer her, but Kata nodded. "Then what's the problem? You tell him, he'll probably be mad at you at first but he'll forgive you." "You don't know that, Kelsey. What if he wants nothing to do with me or her when he finds out?" "Gillian, this is Ryan we're talking about. He's one of those 'once in a lifetime' guys. And really, if Edmund and Maria could forgive me after all that I did, I think he can forgive you." Gillian shook her head. "But it is more than that…say that Ryan does forgive me for lying to him for nearly four years and we get back together. Ray isn't going to leave me alone. Not any time soon." "Is that the guy at SOS?" "Yeah. I lived with him most of the time I was away from here. It was great at first, he treated us really well. And then, I don't know, something changed," Gillian said, the pain in her heart showing in her eyes. "Did he hurt you?" Gillian nodded, "It got so I was always on the defensive, wondering when the next strike would fall. I wouldn't let him alone with Katalin. The night I left, he hurt her. He had always threatened to, but that was the first time he had actually done it. He left the house and Kata told me that she was afraid of him, and that was it; we left." "Wow, that must have taken a lot for you to go." "I had to protect her. She is so young and that was no place for her; I just wish I would have realized how badly we needed to get out of there sooner." "Gillian," Kelsey said quietly, "If there's one thing I've learned, it's that hindsight really is 20/20. Looking back at all the things I did, I wonder how I ever thought that was the right thing to do. But what's important is you got her out of there and got yourself out of there and you came here, home. You can look back and say you should've done things different all you want but it doesn't change what happened." Gillian stroked Katalin's hair, but didn't say anything. "But you can think of what's right to do now," Kelsey continued. "What is right for your daughter, and what is right for you. And you know what that is." "Kelsey just leave if you are going to just tell me that I have to tell him now." "No, Gillian, that's not what I'm saying. You know that you do have to tell him, but you will do it, on your own time." "I'm afraid he is going to find out. I mean, first Jake found out-" "Jake knows?" Gillian nodded, "I was in a car accident and he was my doctor and I wanted to know where she was so I had to tell him and of course he figured out that she is Ryan's daughter." "She looks so much like him. I didn't really notice it at first, but she does." "So, Jake knows, Dimitri and everyone at Wildwind knows about her, Myrtle of course, and now you know." "Gillian, you don't have to worry about me telling." "Thank you, Kelsey. It is just that the more people who find out, the more likely that Ryan will hear it, no matter how trustworthy everyone that knows is. Ever since I came back, I have known that I have to tell him and I had made a mental promise to myself and to Katalin that she would be able to spend her birthday with him. Well, her fourth birthday is in a few days and my time for that is running out." "Then there's only one thing for you to do." "I know, I have to tell him." Edmund sat at his desk with Tempo work spread all around him, unable to concentrate. He sighed and pushed his chair away from the desk, turning it to the bookshelves behind him. He pulled out an album. "The portraits we had done after we got Maddie back…" he said, looking at them. "Madeline?" "Yeah, I like it," Edmund said as he and Maria looked at their beautiful baby. "What about a middle name?" she asked. They both suggested a few names, all of which sounded horrible. "How about Flora?" "Madeline Flora?" "Flora was my mother's name. Madeline Flora Grey." "Madeline Flora Grey," she said looking at their infant. She smiled at Edmund, "A beautiful name for a beautiful baby." "She looks just like her beautiful mother." "She still does, Maria," he said to himself. He pulled out a picture album and turned to a photo taken in the park of the two of them with Sam and Maddie. Edmund could never look at this picture without feeling pain. "This is the last picture of you with both the children…," he said, flipping to the next one. "The last one of you and Maddie… "The last one of you and me… "The last one…" Long ago, far away
I felt your lovin' glow upon my face Gillian held Katalin close to her chest as she rocked her to sleep, her tears staining her cheeks. Was it a dream or just a promise made
What is my destiny Ryan opened a drawer and started pitching things behind him in search of something. Clothes were strewn over the room before he found a small black box. He opened it and gently removed two gold bands. He held them up together and then clenched them in his hand, holding them to his heart. Someday I'll find a way to shine
Leave all these rainy days behind
I know there's got to be
Some place warm and bright for me
I'm running out of places I can run
Looking for a place in the sun Darkness hangs overhead
Close to the point where angels fear to tread Edmund pushed papers and books out of his way in search of his wedding album. It wasn't there on the shelf where he always kept it. He froze, looking around at the chaos he had created; he wiped his eyes, pushing away the tears and frustration. I close my eyes and think of you instead
And pray you'll be here soon Maria pulled her covers up close to her chin. She lay there searching through the memories that were flooding back. She closed her eyes and concentrated hard on picturing her last memory of her husband. She was trapped, she could hear Maddie crying, she could hear his voice. He took the baby, but he couldn't save her. Someday I'll find a way to shine
Leave all these rainy days behind
I know there's got to be
Some place warm and bright for me
I'm running out of places I can run
Looking for a place in the sun Kelsey walked up to her apartment and looked around at the dark night. The stars and moon were hidden from view. She saw that Maria's was dark and she unlocked her own door, entering the empty apartment. Kelsey sat down on her couch, laying her head back on the cushion. Sometimes it feels like this whole world's against me
And every beaten path
Is just another winding road that tempts me
Far from you and all that's true
I've got to find my way again Bobby stood outside of his and Anita's apartment. He looked up at their bedroom window and saw there was a small light on. He walked back and forth trying to get himself to go on up, but he just did not want to. Finally the light went out; he waited a few more minutes before going to the stairs. Someday I'll find a way to shine
Leave all these rainy days behind
I know there's got to be
Some place warm and bright for me
I'm running out of places I can run
Looking for a place in the sun Yeah I'm running out of places I can run
Looking for a place in the sun