Second Chances

Chapter 3

Memories flooded Emily as she was dreaming. She remembers standing in the clinic reading a note from Michael. The note changed her life forever.

" Emily,
I wanted to thank you again for helping with my hand. You have such a soft touch. I miss seeing your beautiful face. Please come and have dinner with me at my restaurant so I can thank you. I would be very touched. There is a table waiting for you at 9pm. If you show up then I'll be very happy. If not I understand but I want to say thank you."

Emily smiled reading the letter. It was so beautiful. She wasn't sure if she should go.

Emily looked over and saw Lily Ruiz, her partner at the clinic looking at her. She pulled up the letter and looked at it.

"Una qué letra hermosa Emily. Usted debe ir"( What a beautiful letter Emily. You should go.) Lily said touching her friends shoulder.

"No soy seguro"(I'm not sure) Emily replied.

"Es cena justa. ¿Qué podía suceder?"( It's just dinner. What could possibly happen.)

Emily thought about those dimples and that smile. If she let herself. A lot could happen. She hadn't let herself go out on a romantic date since Nikolas died. It never felt right. The looks between her and Michael felt right. She could feel the electricity between them. What was the problem? It was just dinner nothing more.

"Iré. ¿Pero qué sobre la clínica?"( I will go. But what about the clinic?)

"Será fino va tener cierta diversión" ( It will be fine go and have some fun.)

Emily put down her white jacket and stethoscope and headed out to the locker room. She grabbed her jacket and purse and headed out the door.

Emily arrived outside of the restaurant. It was almost 9pm. She had taken longer than expected getting ready. She wanted everything to be perfect. She took one look at herself. She hoped the dress wasn't too revealing. It was a simple red jersey dress with spaghetti straps. It fell lightly down her legs ending just above her knee. She had an a delicate lace shawl that she had bought at a little shop on the coast in Valencia when she had first come to Spain. She had loved being close to the water. The water reminded her of home in Port Charles and the flat in Greece where she first met Nikolas. She'd decided to wear her long brown hair down instead of tied up in a bun. She felt free and nervous but alive for the first time in ages. She walked inside and heard the intoxicating sound of a Spanish guitar coming from the corner. She looked over and saw an older gentleman strumming the guitar. He was singing a Spanish love song about unrequited love that was so beautiful. A lady walked towards her wearing a cream suit. She had dark blonde hair that was trimmed in a short sophisticated style.

"¿Recepción a los placeres de Sinful? ¿usted tienen gusto de una tabla para una o alguien le está ensamblando?"( Welcome to Sinful Delights? Would you like a table for one or is someone joining you?)

Emily was just about to answer when she saw Michael. He was talking with someone. He was wearing white linen pants and a green button up shirt. He saw her and smiled.

"Sofia está muy bien. Ella está con mí."( Sofia it's fine. She's with me.)"

"Seguro."(Fine)she said with a smile as she walked to the back of the restaurant.

"I wasn't sure if you were coming." Michael said.

"I wasn't either. Your hand looks like it's doing much better." Emily went to touch his hand. She could see that he had taken the bandage off. The cut was healing nicely. It looked like there wouldn't be any scar left from the cut.

"It is because I had such a dedicated doctor for someone so young." Michael remarked taken in by her beauty.

"I'm 24 that's not very young. "Emily said feeling a lot older then her 24 years. She seemed a little irritated by the comment.

"I'm sorry. I meant no insult."

Sonny listened to her voice. He could hear the toll that the past had taken on her. Something that he knew all to well himself. It was why he couldn't live that life anymore He needed to escape. He needed a life outside of the organization if that was possible. He wondered what had scarred her past?

"Michael are you o.k.? Michael...?" Emily went to touch his shoulder. She could see that he was lost in thought.

"I'm fine. Dinner should be ready in a bit. Lets get to our table."

Sonny pulled out a chair and let Emily sit. It was the first time he noticed that she had let her hair down. She had beautiful long brown curly hair. He could swear it felt like silk when he lightly touched her back. He wondered what it would be like to run his fingers through her hair.

"This is a beautiful restaurant. Has it been open long?"

"Just a couple of years. So where in the United States are you from ? "

" Upper state New York. And you I can tell that you aren't originally from Spain either."

" You are very good. My family is originally from Puerto Rico. My mother was from Seville. She came to Puerto Rico as a child. How did you end up in Madrid?"

"I worked with Doctors without Borders for a bit as a volunteer. Then I heard that a clinic here in Madrid needed a doctor. I couldn't take the hustle and bustle and I wanted to settle down. I'd been to Valencia before and loved the area so it seemed right to come and work here."

"And your husband? He's a doctor."

"No...he was a business man. We met in Greece when I was training there."

"I'm sorry. He passed away."

"Yes."

Emily started pulling at the napkin in her hand. Michael saw the worry in her face and touched her hand. That touch said so much.

Emily turned over in the bed. She remembered the feel of the touch on his hand.

They'd had a wonderful dinner of grilled sea bass and fresh mozzarella and tomatoes. Emily had joked remarking that it was good that he didn't slice his hand on the knife again. A soft sensuous love song began on the guitar. Michael looked at Emily and asked if she wanted to dance. Emily wasn't sure but agreed.

The soft hypnotic notes of a Spanish love song floated through the room. Emily felt like she was floating in his arms. It was wonderful. She was intoxicated by the smell of his cologne. She could just get lost in his touch.

Just then laughing broke up the wonderful secure feeling of Emily's dream. It was so wonderful being in Michael's arms again. She loved the feeling. It made the ache in her heart almost unbearable. She looked around the room. It took a while to figure out where she was. She was back home in Port Charles. She had come back to help with Liz's wedding. She had been in the room playing with Carlos when she felt the jet lag from the trip take over her. Emily smiled thinking about her son. Carlos looked so much like his father. He had that wonderful carefree spirit, crazy dark curls and those dimples when he smiled as well. She wish that Michael had known he had a son. He had died before she got to tell him.

Emily stood up and walked towards the door. The laughing got louder and louder. Emily looked out into the living room.

"Shh you are going to wake up Emily. She's trying to sleep."

"I can't help it mommy, Max is tickling me." Cameron said as he broke out laughing again.

"I'm sorry tia." Carlos said just as Cameron came at him and started tickling him again.

"Now boys. Max you are really no help? " Liz said from the kitchen. She was pouring herself a glass of juice.

"Sorry honey. O.k. guys we should be quiet." Max said

"No, it's fine. I'm awake. I'm sorry that I fell asleep." Emily said rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. She stretched out her arms.

"Do you want a glass of juice or something? I could make a cup of coffee?"

"A glass of juice would be fine." Emily said as she walked into the kitchen," Wow is that the ring? " Emily looked down at Liz's left hand. There stood a beautiful diamond ring in a platinum setting. It was so elegant.

"Yeah."

"It's beautiful. Great taste Max."

Max just blushed not saying anything.

"Mama." Carlos said and rushed over into the kitchen. He hugged his mothers legs.

"Are you being good?" Emily said with a smile on her face.

"Yes. I am. " Carlos said.

Emily laughed because he had the same dimples as his father. When Michael was doing something he wasn't supposed to. He would look at her with those dimples and smile.

It was a couple of weeks later after that first dinner at the restaurant. Michael would show up a work surprising her with flowers and long walks around town. He then surprised her one night and took her to his apartment. He said he had to get something. She laughed.

"I need you to wait here for just a moment." Michael went inside leaving her on the doorstep.

" And what are you up to ?" Emily questioned.

" Just a surprise?"

" Michael...what are you doing?"

" I need you to close your eyes for me." Michael said with dimples showing.

" Alright."

Michael took her hand and led her into the living room.

"O.k. you can open them."

Emily was stunned there were candles everywhere. Spanish music was playing.

"It's beautiful."

"Nothing compared to you mi amor. Me agarraste mi corazon y me dejaste sin palabas ( my love you took a hold of my heart and left me speechless.)I've fallen in love with you Emily."

Michael kissed Emily lightly on the lips. They got lost in each other that night letting the passion take over them that they had fought for so long.

"Emily are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

Just then the phone rang.

"Honey I know but I have to take this." Max said as he walked past Liz. He took the phone out on the balcony to answer it.

"Business. Boys do you want to go play in your room? "

"Yeah. Come on Carlos let's go play. I want to show you the new toys that my dad got me."

Carlos looked at his mother.

"It's o.k."

Emily and Elizabeth went over to the couch.

"I wish that AJ wouldn't do that. Cameron doesn't understand why he doesn't come and visit more often. How are you feeling?"

"Still a bit tired but I'll be fine."

Max then came into the room.

"Honey I hate to do this..."

"Oh you don't have to go to work. Sonny said that you could have the night off. He promised. He's been working your ragged."

"I know but Milo slipped and sprained his ankle. Mr. Corinthos is having a huge dinner at the Port Charles Grill. He's meeting some contacts."

"Mr. Corinthos? I thought that you worked for Jason." Emily said. The name Corinthos must be common. She'd heard the name before.

"Jason works for Sonny Corinthos. He works as an importer. Jason is his second in command. I work for both of them. I can't say anything more. Believe me it's better this way."

"Oh, o.k." Emily seemed surprised.

"Look I'm sorry about dinner Liz. Actually I know the host over at the restaurant. I could see if there is a table available tonight. I know it's kind of late unless you just want to eat here Emily."

"No dinner out sounds wonderful. But Carlos? "

"The boys had some grilled cheese sandwiches. They will be fine. Maria can look over them for us for a couple of hours. If you are o.k. with that. If you want to stay here and relax. I understand."

"No going out and having dinner sounds wonderful."

Max pulled out the phone and dialled.

"Peter, hey this is Max Bradford. I was wondering do you have an extra table available tonight. My fiancée wants to have dinner with a friend...you do... Good... o.k. put the table under my name."

"There is a table waiting for both of you at 9pm. I hope that sounds o.k."

"Wonderful."

"O.k. I should get going." Max said as he grabbed his suit jacket. He had an extra gun down in the car. He walked over and gave Liz a kiss on the cheek.

"O.k. Well I want to have a shower and get ready before dinner. I presume you want to freshen up and say goodbye to Carlos."

"I do."

"There's extra towels and shampoo in your bathroom. If you need anything just tell me. Em, I'm so glad that you came."

"Thanks."

" I'll need help picking out a dress tomorrow. I have a couple of ideas. I'm not sure what looks the best. I can't believe I'm getting married. Tonight should be wonderful. Just a relaxful dinner. "