Chapter 16

'Mum's here already? Why the hell didn't you call me?'

On getting to the hospital to begin her shift and again look in on her brother, Melanie immediately noticed strange looks on the faces on some of the medical staff and a few orderlies as she walked by. Which immediately told her something was up because it was the same look she endured for a long time after Carly's resignation. Hence, her search for Daniel to find out what the hell was going on.

'It wasn't something I could tell you over the phone,' Daniel placated.

'So, where is she now? Did she come alone or with Uncle Frankie?'

'No, Marcus Hunter flew in with her, they stepped out for a while. Apparently, they were in Chicago, at that medical conference I wasn't able to go to.'

Melanie winced, remembering how much Marcus disliked her. But what was more important was her mother's return. 'So why couldn't you tell me over the phone?'

Daniel placed his hands on her shoulders, carefully choosing the best way to explain to her. 'Listen to me, honey. I think it would be best if you gave her some space right now. Because...' he paused and went on, 'Carly hasn't forgotten what happened. '

'You mean...?'

'I'm afraid so.' He said quietly. 'I know it's hard to hear but it's really the best thing we can do, at least for now.'

Melanie turned away to hide the trembling of her lips, hopeful visions of a joyful reconciliation suddenly dashed. Somehow she didn't think her mother would still be unbending, not after all this time. 'She must really hate me then.'

'Come on, Carly doesn't hate you.'

'Yes she does.' Melanie turned back to face Daniel. 'And why not? Right from the beginning she was the one who was always patient and forgiving, no matter what I did or said to her. And now I've lost her for good, because I finally took things too far. I drove her to her breaking point, just when she was just trying to deal with losing Bo.'

'You really need to stop talking like that. Carly loves you. She stayed with that bastard in the first place just to keep you safe all those lost years. She did it to save your life. She's still angry and hurt, and upset about Nicky; so the best thing we can do right now is give her some space for now, like I said and don't rush her. Okay?'

Melanie gulped. 'All this time…waiting to hold my mother… to tell her I love her and how sorry I am, and I have to still keep my distance? How do you expect me to do that?'

'I didn't say it's going to be easy, Mel.' Daniel said gently. 'But it's the best option. Otherwise, things will likely end up with Carly leaving town with nothing resolved between you two and we definitely don't want that. Just trust me on this.' Holding her close, he kissed her on the forehead.

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'Don't marry Bo. If you do, you'll regret it. He's not right for you Katarina; you know he's not.'

'It's *Carly*, and I know you don't choose to accept that but that's the way it is. Why don't you just get it through your head Lawrence... I don't care about the past, I don't care about you anymore, you mean nothing to me.'

'But you were happy with me...'

'With the illusion *you* created!'

'No, with me! With the real me. You knew me like no one else, before or since.'

'Why are you doing this to me now, why after all these years?'

'Because I love you! Because I still do.'

From the backseat of the cab taking her back to the hospital, Carly stonily stared out the window. She never told Bo about that conversation, confidently knowing who her heart belonged to. Lawrence's criticism about Bo that night were the words of a bitter and jealous ex at the time, but now Carly couldn't help but feel it had been more of an ominous foreshadowing.

That's the attraction to Brady, he doesn't have scars, not like me. But he's not like you either, Katarina and he never will be. He'll never be able to make you happy. Oh, he'll try... that much I'll admit to, but he'll never be able to pull it off because he doesn't really know you. Not like I do.

Had their first split been simply because of the drug-induced amnesia- her mind going back to 1983, when she was in love with 'James'- or because their deep connection simply got broken, along with their love?

What other reason did their breakup have such an unnatural ending- her willingness to stay with Lawrence even after she got her memory back and Bo letting her go without a fight. Neither of them ever saw such a thing happening to them, not after all they went through just to be together, after Bo finally got over his fear. But still, he would have probably left her to be with Hope if they'd still been together when she came back. Remembering his deep grief for her, Carly was convinced that would have happened. Besides, their second split had made it loud and clear that what they had was definitely not the same as what he had with Hope. And seeing him again, hearing him call her by that old pet name had sent her into such a rage and mixed emotions that she had been unable to control herself. Her hand was still shaking from its sharp contact with his cheek.

Lawrence had broken her body.

Bo had broken her heart, and more.

'S.U. hospital, ma'am.' The cab driver said, bringing her back to the present.

Carly paid him and got out, forcing herself to be composed as she walked back up the steps. Shaken by her encounter with Bo, she'd wanted to be alone for a while, hence refusing to let Adrienne drop her off as earlier planned. Nicky and his recovery was her main priority; which reminded her she must call Rafe first chance she got, to find out how far the investigation was going. And… she reminded herself yet again, to keep as far away from Bo and his family- both his families- as far as possible. Even though there were many things she would have liked to say to a few of them. Especially Hope Williams Brady, the real architect of her suffering. Oh… what she greatly longed to say to her, every single thing she thought of her, along with what she bitterly blamed her for.

Carly immediately felt disgusted with herself. Just when she'd vowed to make her son's recovery her priority, she was allowing the thought of that woman get to her already. Her therapist had taught her how to deal with such thoughts and easily cast them away. It was all because she was back in this cursed town.

She turned a corner and almost ran into someone. 'I'm so sorry,' she stopped short at who it was.

Kayla Johnson felt herself flush at the look of utter contempt on Carly's face, the icy glint in those green eyes. 'Carly…' she managed to say. 'Oh my God… hi.'

Stony Silence.

'So, how… how have you been?'

'I still have my license and a job, unfortunately for you.'

Kayla lowered her eyes. 'I guess I asked for that.'

Carly really felt like hitting the bitch as well, but held her rage down as she sidestepped her and walked towards the elevators.

Kayla spoke fast, following her. 'Carly, wait… give me a chance to talk to you.'

Carly walked on.

'Listen, I don't expect you to forgive me anytime soon. For what it's worth… I'm sorry.'

Carly stopped and turned around, her eyes even harder. 'You honestly think you can just erase everything you did to me- said to me- with those words. Really, Kayla?'

Kayla lowered her eyes again, uncomfortable and abashed in the presence of the woman she wronged, but she had to make a sincere effort. 'I mean every word of them. Looking back, I've realised it was a terrible error in judgement on my part.'

'You went out of your way to get me fired and my license seized after you and Caroline turned Daniel and Melanie against me. And now you're sorry?' Carly asked, her voice low but icy-cold. 'How amazing that all it took to get your so-called apology was a beating.'

'No, no Carly, it's not like that.' Kayla protested. 'Please listen to me for a minute-'

'I'm not remotely interested in anything you have to say.' Carly swiftly interrupted. 'And don't you dare excuse what you did because we both know you were out to get me from the moment you found out your brother and I were a couple, even if it meant destroying my career and reputation. And you achieved far more than you planned and for that, to hell with your apology. You just stay out of my way, the rest of your family included.'

Needing to get away from the woman who was once her friend, she turned away only to meet the eyes of her daughter, who was standing several yards away, staring at her.

'Mum…' Melanie whispered, slowly moving towards her mother in spite of Daniel's warning, arms outstretched.

For a moment, two pairs of green eyes locked; Melanie's beseeching, Carly's emotionless. Then abruptly, Carly walked past her, gripping her purse and staring straight ahead. Kayla watched, shocked and distressed beyond measure as tears filled Melanie's eyes, a hand pressed against her mouth as she stared after Carly. But not knowing how to console the young woman- who would only lash out at her anyway- Kayla crept away.

In the elevator taking her up to ICU, Carly brushed off the tear running down her cheek. Seeing her beautiful little girl after so long had sent her maternal heart racing, longing to hold her in her arms. Yet… that terrible scene at Maggie's house kept replaying in her mind.

Maggie's all the mother I need, not you.

Melanie calling her a liar.

Melanie accusing her of shielding Chloe and Phillip.

Melanie not standing by her when she really needed her.

It had torn her heart out, more than it was torn already.

For so long she allowed Melanie and Daniel blame and criticise her for giving her up and not telling Daniel he had a daughter. And she'd accepted blame because atoning for the lost years was more important to her. She had done all she could to show Melanie she loved her and wanted to forge a deep relationship. One foot wrong on her part and Melanie turned cold, but forgiving her afterwards. The scene at Parker's christening was the last straw, with her and Daniel wanting nothing to do with her. Neither of them were ready to listen, thinking only the worst of her.

I did nothing wrong, Carly reminded herself for the umpteenth time. She was always the one going out of her way to make amends, even though the best thing she could have done was let Melanie sulk it off and realise how childish and unreasonable she was being. How she hated having to walk on eggshells around her but having being deprived of her daughter for so many years, she had to do what was necessary. And Melanie was her comfort after her heartbreak…until that terrible scene at Parker's christening. Melanie later coming to see her after the attack-after the rejection and condemnation- had seemed like such a shallow and insincere gesture to her, hence why she'd asked her to leave, unable to bear her touch and presence. The worst kind of hurt came from the people one loved the most. And she wasn't ready to risk her heart.

The elevator doors slid open and she stepped out, wiping her eyes again with a hanky.

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Bo could still feel Carly's stinging slap on his cheek, the second time she'd ever hit him. As she turned away from him, Marcus placed his arms around her and led her away. She didn't look back. 'Leave her alone.' Adrienne had coldly advised him before following them.

Not that he actually expected their reunion to be a warm one but what really shook him was the expression in those beautiful eyes- the look of deep loathing.

Yes, he gave her more than enough reasons to, but it hurt terribly all the same. Carly never harboured such feelings towards him in the rough period of his life when he constantly rejected her, including the unforgivable thing he did to her at the cabin; confessing his love then harshly taking it back out of fear. Sad, heartbroken and resigned over his actions but Carly didn't hate him then. She never felt anything but love for him, both times they were together. Could she ever love him again after what happened between them?

She was bound to stay until Nicky recovered, and he had until then to thrash things out with her and warn her about the still unknown assailant. At all costs, he was going to protect her.

As he drove home, his cell phone rang. It was Melanie and she sounded very tearful. Bo barely managed to understand her as she narrated what happened between her and Carly. 'It was awful, Bo. She wouldn't even talk to me.' Melanie sniffled. 'It's like a total stranger has taken Mum's place. She was so cold.'

'I'm so sorry.'

'Dad already warned me but I thought if she saw me…' Melanie sniffled again, 'I thought when she saw me, everything would be okay with us.'

'Honey, calm down. Daniel's right, you've got to give her some space- at least for a little while. She's already upset about Nicky on top of everything else, it's best you don't crowd her.'

'You've already seen her?'

Bo grimaced. 'Yeah, and it didn't go well either. It's obviously not going to be easy for either of us. But I know this, eventually, she'll reach out to you because she's your mother and she loves you, no matter what happened. She came back here for Nicky, didn't she? Just give her time, okay?'

'Okay.' Melanie replied, with effort. 'It's just-'

'What?'

'All those times I was such a brat to her, she never treated me the way I deserved. It was a shock seeing her finally do that, even though I gave her reason to, you know what I mean?'

'I do. We all make mistakes Mel, but mistakes eventually get forgiven. And she will forgive you and move on.'

'You think she'll be able to do the same with you?'

Bo hesitated. Forgiving an estranged child was not the same as forgiving a lover who betrayed her. 'I don't know. But I hope she'll be able to.'

'Fingers crossed then.'

'Same here.'

'Talk to you later.'

Bo hung up, unable to believe Carly's anger stretched that far, turning away from her own daughter. That was not the Carly Manning he knew, yet once again he reminded himself how she was pushed to her breaking point. And knowing he and Melanie were especially responsible for the cold, hardened woman Carly was now, added more to his misery and guilt.

Four memorable reunions vividly came to mind.

When Carly found him at Isabella's loft, in response to the note he'd sent. Ill as he was, he'd clung to her, asking for her forgiveness for all the lies and rejection. Carly had been more concerned about him saving his strength than rehashing what happened between them.

When he surprised her at Vivian's charity ball, after months of captivity; she'd flung her arms around him weeping, and he'd basked in the wonderful moment of being back with the woman he loved.

When he managed to stop her from leaving with Lawrence, Vivian and Nicky, as soon as he realised she wasn't protecting Lawrence but Nicky in the Lisanne Gardener case. Carly had hugged him tight, crying how she was so happy to be back in his arms again.

And years later, when he returned from California and found her waiting for him at home- the perfect homecoming. The time away from her had made him realise all the more how much he loved her.

And then everything got ruined.

And what was even worse, according to Celeste, Carly had seen him with Hope at the docks, saw and heard everything.

How could he ever get her to forgive him?

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After Melanie changed to her scrubs, Nicky's phone- which she kept in her locker with the other things Rafe returned to her- began to ring. Startled, she pulled it out and checked the caller ID.

E. Villiers.

Melanie pressed the 'answer' button. 'Hello.'

Pause and then a female voice replied, 'Pardon but who is this?'

Melanie's eyes widened at the French accent and it suddenly clicked.

E. Villiers. Nicky's fiancée. Oh no.

'Emma?'

'Yes. And you are?'

'My name's Melanie Layton. I'm Nicky's sister.'

'Oh!' the voice was now friendly. 'My pleasure. You appear to already know me.'

'Nick already told me all about you.'

' But you sound strange, Melanie. Is something wrong? Where's Nicholas?'

Melanie took a deep breath. 'Emma…. You've got to be brave. I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this.' Gently, she told her what happened.

A gasp from Emma's end, before she asked, her voice now low as though trying to hold back tears. 'How is my beloved right now?'

'He's in a coma-'

'Mon dieu.' Emma whispered. 'The police… have they caught who did this?'

'They are still investigating.'

The sound of a sob then Emma's voice returned, now determined. 'I'm flying over there immediately, on the first available flight.'

'Sure, of course. I'll send my number to you right now, you call me the moment you land.'

'Yes. Thank you for telling me this. Adieu.'

'Bye.' Melanie hung up, feeling sorry for her. She would have called Emma herself after the shooting but in the middle of her upset over Nicky's condition, it slipped her mind and when she finally remembered, she saw that Nicky's phone was password protected. She had to applaud Emma for holding up well instead of breaking into hysterics, indicating she was a strong person. As Nicholas' future wife, maybe she could be a means of a reconciliation with Carly.