Six Months Later…
Bianca glanced backwards toward the cab driver to make sure that he was still following as she led the way to Kendall's condo. After unlocking the door, she directed that the luggage he had carried be left on the floor just inside the door and paid him. She then waited patiently while Kendall and her niece, Miranda, walked slowly into view.
"Hey, Binks! Look at us! We're doing this all by ourselves!" Kendall said with a smile and pointing to her niece.
"I can see that! Home sweet home! Did you ever think you would make it back here?" Bianca answered.
Kendall paused and stared for a few seconds at the condominium directly opposite her own, the smile fading from her face, "Some days I didn't… and then others I was determined not to. I wonder…"
"Kendall…" Bianca began and then paused. She pasted a bright smile on her face as she bent toward her daughter, "Miranda, sweetie, why don't you help Mommy get Auntie Kendall all settled back into her house? Okay?"
The little girl laughed brightly and tugged on her aunt's hand as she led the way into the condominium. Bianca paused and glanced toward Zach's condo briefly before pushing the door closed behind them.
"We're not giving up, Kendall… and you don't have to go through this alone. Miranda and I are staying right here in Pine Valley," Bianca said firmly.
Kendall looked at her sister with a puzzled expression, "But… you were going back to Paris… what changed your mind?"
"You don't want us to stay?" Bianca asked as she lifted her daughter to help pull off her jacket.
"No… that's not what I mean. I want you to stay. But you said…" Kendall tried to reply.
"I was saving this news for when we finally got you home. If you hadn't stalled so long in agreeing to return to Pine Valley I could have told you that Ethan and I decided to trade places at Cambias. I am staying here and he has moved to Paris permanently… we both agree that it's best," Bianca replied.
"I'm sorry. I've ruined your life, too," Kendall said sadly as she sat in a chair disconsolately.
"No, Kendall… that's not it at all. The reasons that Miranda and I had for moving to Paris don't exist anymore. We don't want to be thousands of miles away from you. We're family," Bianca answered. She knelt on the floor next to Kendall's chair and gently stroked her sister's cheek with a finger before continuing, "We'll find him. I promise."
"You can't spend your life looking for my husband, Bianca. You have already given up too much to take care of me… and you have Miranda to worry about," Kendall said sadly.
"Kendall… how many times do I have to tell you that I didn't give up anything that mattered? Besides… Miranda loved the snow… and we all loved being together. It was the right choice for us then… and this is the right choice for us now. It's what I want… for Miranda to be close to her family and know them and for them to know her as she grows up," Bianca answered. She rose and walked over to the sofa and sat down, watching her daughter play on the floor for a few minutes. "I spoke with Marian last week. She's going to find a house for us… we'll have plenty of room for you. I mean… I know it's hard to come back here…"
Kendall smiled wanly, "It's home… and right now it's the closest I can get to Zach. I think I'd rather stay here."
"That's what I thought you'd say. I understand," Bianca said with a nod. "Well… now that you're home… what do you want to do first?"
"I'm guessing that groceries are the first order of business. This place is clean, but not stocked and it hasn't been lived in for a long time. And I can help you with your house hunting… it's not like I have to go to work anymore," she replied.
"Are you regretting selling your shares of Fusion to Greenlee and Ryan?" Bianca asked.
"No. After the way they betrayed me when I was in the hospital… I've had enough of their games. I should have done it a long time ago. I'm finally free of them," Kendall answered.
"Well… except for family dinners and holidays," Bianca laughed.
"Who says I'm going to show up for those?" Kendall laughed back. "Okay… you know I will… but at least I can control how much time I have to spend with them this way."
At that moment, Miranda began to cry and Bianca turned to her daughter, "What's the matter, sweetie?"
"Pup-pup-pup-pup," Miranda chanted through her tears.
Kendall said, "Pup-pup is right… here… hmm… she had it when we got out of the taxi."
"Oh, she probably dropped it on the way in. I'll run out and find it. Miranda… you stay here with Auntie Kendall," Bianca replied before rushing out the door without pulling it fully closed.
Kendall sat on the floor with her niece and tried to distract her from missing her favorite stuffed toy. When nothing else worked, she picked her up and carried her into the bedroom to find some jewelry to play with. Kendall sat the little girl on the bed and they picked out several necklaces to wear before returning to the living room. At the sound of voices outside the door, Kendall pulled it wide. Miranda raced out to her mother and the man she was speaking with turned to Kendall and extended his hand.
"Hey! It's nice to finally meet my neighbor," he said in an Aussie accent. "Eric Michaels, Number 102."
"Number 102? But that belongs to…" Kendall began in confusion as she shook his hand.
Seeing Kendall's discomfort at the mention of Zach's condo, Bianca jumped in, "This is my daughter Miranda and my sister, Kendall Hart."
"Slater," Kendall said. "Kendall Hart Slater."
"Hmm. Any relation to Slater Hart Gaming?" he asked with a smile.
"My husband and I own it," Kendall answered sharply.
"But… I thought that… I mean… Zach Slater…" the man said with a frown.
"You know Zach?" Kendall asked quickly, barely restraining herself from pouncing. "When did you see him last? Where is he living?"
"Um… he's my boss… but I didn't think he was married," Eric answered slowly. He paused a moment and looked at the women's eager faces before continuing, "Haven't met the man myself… at least not in person."
Both Kendall and Bianca looked at him strangely before Bianca commented, "You work for Zach but you've never even met him? That doesn't sound like the Zach Slater I know at all."
"Yeah, I know. I hear that a lot," he answered with a grin. Since both women still looked confused, he continued, "I was an assistant manager in Sidney and flew up here to interview for the General Manager position at the new Atlantic City casino… but when I got to the States I was diverted to Pine Valley instead."
Kendall looked at him for a moment before seating herself on a bench outside of the condominium, "I don't understand any of this. Zach always hand picks his managers for the casinos. There's no way he'd bring in an assistant to take over The Seasons without meeting him personally."
"Oh… we have regular meetings by phone. He travels a lot. Besides…Edie's at The Seasons and she keeps me out of trouble for the most part," he offered.
"Edie? Edie's still at The Seasons?" Bianca commented, her voice rising in excitement.
"No, Bianca, don't bother. Edie doesn't say anything to anyone without the Zach Slater seal of approval," Kendall answered glumly. She looked back to Eric Michaels, "So you came to take over the Atlantic City casino and instead ended up at The Seasons without even having to interview. Interesting. Who went to Atlantic City?"
"No one. I guess Slater got an offer from a real estate developer that was too good to pass up. He sold it and I ended up here with a sweet deal… GM of The Seasons," he answered as he seated himself next to her. "But… if you're the Hart half of Slater Hart, then you know all this. Right?"
"I'm the silent partner… at least for the last several months," Kendall replied. "I've been… away… and Zach's been… managing… without me."
"Then I'm sure that Zach will be glad to hear that you're home," the young man commented.
"NO!" Kendall and Bianca both yelled out simultaneously.
Miranda looked at her mother and said with a giggle, "No, Mommy!"
Kendall placed a hand on Eric's arm and said, "I'm sorry… it's just… well… it's…"
"…Our mother," Bianca finished for her sister after lifting Miranda into her arms. "You see… she doesn't know that we've come back to town… and… we're… um… Zach and she…"
"…Don't get along… at all…" Kendall continued. "I would really appreciate it… if you would… let me contact Zach… after we've told our mother…"
"But you just said that you didn't…" Eric began.
Bianca interrupted, "We'll contact him through Edie. That is how you reach him isn't it?"
"Well… yeah… but…" Eric tried again with a frown.
This time Kendall responded, "Thank you so much, Eric. It was such a pleasure to meet you… and I'm sure that The Seasons is in excellent hands. If you'll just give us a couple of days to deal with our mother…"
"Sure! Of course. I don't want to get into the middle of a family disagreement," Eric said as he stood. "Speaking of The Seasons, I need to get going. It was very nice to meet you, too. I'll look forward to seeing you there… soon?"
"Soon," Kendall answered with a smile and a nod as she stood. "We won't keep you any longer."
Kendall and Bianca stood for a moment and watched the young man walk away and turned to each other with sighs of relief before re-entering the condo.
"That was close," Kendall said. "The last thing that we need is Zach finding out that I'm trying to find him."
"You are not looking for that man. Zach Slater is finally out of our lives and that's the way it's going to stay," said Erica Kane from the doorway of Kendall's condominium as both women turned to stare at their mother in surprise.