I cried myself to sleep, and when I woke up, I knew what I had to do. I know that I want Ben to be the first to know our news, but I can't go to the jail without sending up any red flags. I have to be careful with how I put this part of my plan into motion now that I moved back into the loft to help with completing the ruse of Ben and I breaking up. I sit at the desk in my bedroom to write a note to Ben telling him our happy but heartbreaking news and a plan for me to see him. Once I have my note written I wait.
It's almost 9:30 now. Tripp and Claire both said they have early shifts at the café and will be heading to bed fairly early tonight. I figure once they go to bed, I will give them an hour or so to fall asleep and then I will make my escape and visit the DiMera mansion. Stefan is the only person that I can think to reach out to and get my message to Ben without wanting to butt his nose into my business. Ben has stated over and over how he trusts Stefan, and I am going to trust that he is right.
I head downstairs with the note I have written concealed in the pocket of the hoodie I am sporting. I feel like a schlub as I enter the living room and find Tripp and Claire. Claire, the vain little viper, is sipping on her nightly cup of licorice root tea, which is supposed to help with her singing voice. If I'm honest, she could drink a whole vat of that shit and it wouldn't change a damn thing. She would still sound like grinding flatware in a garbage disposal.
Tripp is pretty uneasy about me moving back in here since I broke it to him that Claire is really the one who is guilty. He has hesitantly agreed to help me catch her in her lies, but we just haven't figured out how yet. He quickly announces that he is heading to bed since he has an early shift tomorrow and I tell him goodnight.
I sit down on the couch and turn on the tv to see what is on. I end up mindlessly flipping through the channels to kill time.
"Ciara, are you okay?"
I filter the words that run through my head and give her an answer that will fit the story I need her to believe. "I recently found out that the man I was in love with and was wanting to build a life with just set a fire that nearly killed Tripp and Haley, and not only that he set the fire that almost killed me. How do you think I'm feeling?"
"Well when you put it that way, I would be feeling pretty lousy if I were you."
"I am. I just can't believe I was so blind and stupid to fall for Ben's lies," I cry. God I should be nominated for a Daytime Emmy for the performance I am giving her.
"Do you want to talk about it or vent?"
"No. I just need time to heal is all, and anyway I know you have an early shift tomorrow." The selfish little witch has the audacity to look relieved that I don't want to pour my heart out to her and cry on her shoulder.
"Well, okay then, I'm going to head to bed. I need my beauty sleep," she grins. "Can you turn the tv down so that I won't be able to hear it, otherwise it is so distracting, and I won't be able to fall asleep."
"Yeah, sure. Whatever, Claire."
"Goodnight Ciara."
"Goodnight."
It is a relief when she finally leaves the room. It took every ounce of willpower I possess not to want to lunge across the room and pommel her ass for what she is doing to Ben, to me and our baby. The only things stopping me are the need to prove that Ben is innocent and put her scrawny ass behind bars and the protective instincts I find increasing in me by the minute to protect my unborn child. I know that getting into a brawl with her is not worth risking losing the baby over.
I continue to flip through the channels until I stop on a cooking channel. Ben loves to cook for me, and I can't help but begin to softly cry wishing that he were here with me right now.
It's 11 now and I am now ready to make my escape to the DiMera mansion. I decide to walk there because I think the fresh air will be good for me and it will give me more time to think about how I'm going to get the man I love out from behind bars and Claire behind said bars, where she belongs. I decided to visit the mansion late because one, I didn't want others to see where I was going and two, I know that Stefan is a night owl. Ben told me so.
As I walk up to the front door, I take a deep breath and ring the doorbell with the intent to do something I never thought I would have to do, speak with Stefan on my own. I keep in mind that Ben trusts Stefan and that this may be the only way that I can communicate with Ben for the time being.
I ring the doorbell and within 15 seconds Stefan opens the door.
"Miss Brady. What are you doing here?"
"Can I please come in?"
"Of course," Stefan responds as he steps aside and waves his arm inviting me in.
I follow him into the living room and just stand there.
"Please, have a seat Ciara. What brings you here at this hour of the night?"
"I need your help."
Stefan chuckles, "With what?"
"I need you to help me with Ben. When was the last time you spoke with him?"
"He and I talked about security measures the night before he was arrested."
"So, you haven't seen him since he was arrested?"
"No, I haven't. He's guilty, isn't he? So why would I get involved?"
"Mr. DiMera…"
"Please call me Stefan."
"Fine, Stefan, Ben is not guilty of this. I can't tell you the whole story about what is going on, but Ben is being framed.".
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive. Ben didn't try to kill me, and he didn't try to kill Tripp and Haley."
"Okay, well what do you need from me?"
"Ben and I know who really did set the fires, but with Eve Devereaux in charge she is not going to listen because she wants to punish Ben for what he did to her daughter. Ben and I fake broke up in an attempt to make the real fire starter think that I no longer believe in his innocence in the hopes that they will confess. Since the culprit and everyone at Salem PD think that we are broken up I can't go to see Ben without it looking suspicious. I need you to visit Ben and give him this letter." I pull the letter out of my hoodie pocket.
"It's very private," I state, "Can you please take this too him? Ask him if he needs for me to call him a lawyer or if he needs anything, and then tell me what he says. I want to help him, but I can't go to see him if this plan is going to work. Will you help me? Will you help Ben? Please."
"So, Ben is innocent?"
"He is."
"Alright, then I will help the two of you out. I have always liked Ben and if you say he's innocent, then I believe you. Give me the letter and I will make sure that Ben is the only one who will see it."
I breathe a huge sigh of relief at hearing his words and hand him the folded letter, "Thank you, Stefan."
"Of course. Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"Not that I can think of right now. Thank you again for doing this."
"I will make sure to head over to the jail tomorrow and discreetly hand this over to Ben." Stefan stood and asked, "Can I have one of my men drive you home?"
"No, thank you. I don't want anyone to know that I was here," I state as I also stand up from my seat.
"Well then let me walk you to the door."
We walk to the door and I can't help the feeling of relief that washes over me. This is going to work. This has to work. I need Ben to know what is going on while he's stuck in that damn jail cell, and I need him to know that I am coming to see him.
Stefan opens the door and bids me goodnight.
"Goodnight, Stefan, and thank you again."
"It will be my pleasure. I hope whatever you have planned works out."
"Me too, Stefan. Me too."
