A Fresh Start
Chapter Forty Three
Simmons is waiting when Ralph walked into the inn. "Where have you been and what's this about knowing how to get to him?"
"I was watching my ex's apartment, and yeah, he likes to run?" Ralph says, walking into the kitchen and grabbing a beer from the refrigerator.
"What do you mean, run?" Simmons asks, taking the beer from him.
"Hey."
"You have to go back to Springfield and we don't need you being arrested for DUI. "
"Fine." Ralph says, sitting down on the broken down couch. "He likes to run, you know jog, to relieve stress."
"And how do you know this?"
"I've been following him, like you said. And usually when he goes home, he's there for the night, and usually there are people around, but tonight he was alone and from the looks of it more than a little pissed off. Anyway, tonight he left the loft where he's staying with the woman from DC, and he went for a run in the park, alone."
"If we can catch him on one of these runs, with no people around then we could grab him and no one would know. But that still doesn't explain how we get him, because he's not going to just follow us because we ask him to. He'll have to be persuaded." Simmons says, getting up and starting to pace.
"So, we persuade him. A good hard hit…."
"She doesn't want him killed, or injured. No, I got some connections in New York. I'll see if I can find something to persuade him quietly to go along. Good work, now get back and watch him, and leave the ex alone. We don't need unnecessary attention brought to us."
"Alright, I'll leave Stacey alone, until we have him. After that, she's mine." Ralph says.
"No, she's not, because, even when we have him, we still don't need the added attention." Simmons says, taking a step towards him
"Alright boss, I'll leave her alone." Ralph says, taking a step back.
Ralph leaves, as Simmons pulls out his cell phone. Walking out onto the porch, he dials a number after a couple rings a man picks up.
"Yeah." The man says, in a thick New York accent.
"Hey D'boy, its Simmons."
"Hey man, what's happenin?"
"Man, I need to get a hold of some chloroform, or something that can knock someone out, you know anyone that can handle that?"
"I can put the word out, see what I can find?"
"Good, do that, but keep it low key and only to those that are loyal, understand."
"Sure."
"Alright, hit me back at this number when you get some information."
"Alright."
Simmons hangs up and goes back into the inn.
Shortly after Richard and Cassie returned to the villa from the hospital, they are on the patio, relaxing and listening to the waves from the ocean below when the phone starts to ring.
"I'll get it." Richard says, getting up from the lounge chair they were sharing. Walking into the villa, he catches the call on the third ring "Hello."
"Richard, its Reva."
"Oh hi." He says as Cassie walks in from patio he mouths "It's Reva." Cassie nods, sitting down on the couch while Richard stands at the patio. "What's going on?" He asks.
"I am calling about Jon and Sarah."
"Did something…?"
"No! Nothing happened to them. They are still at the embassy and Alan has no idea that they are alive, but we haven't heard from you since you left."
"Yes, I know, I'm sorry. Things have been a little hectic the last few days with Will and I haven't had the chance to talk to William."
"How is Will?"
"He's getting better, but it was serious for a few days there." Richard says, looking at Cassie.
"Good, I'm glad. Listen; do you know when you'll be able to talk to William?"
"Actually, William is out of the country right now. He's in Springfield."
"Springfield! Why would he be in Spring…? Oh, the Spaulding plant?"
"Well, I'm sure he'll talk to Alan while he's there, but no he's in Springfield on personal business."
"Personal business, okay. I can't imagine why…. I guess it doesn't really matter, but do you think he would see me?"
"I don't know Reva, some thing's are happening down here and he has a lot on his mind right now."
"Thing's, what things?"
"I can't get into right now, but it might be a good idea to let him handle his business up there before we press him about Jon and Sarah. I'll say something to him when he gets back."
"When will he back from Springfield?"
"Next week."
"Okay, how are things with you and Cassie?"
"Wonderful." Richard says with a smile.
"And RJ?"
"That's a little bit harder to work out?"
"Why?"
"He's resisting the idea that I'm his father."
"What do you mean he's resisting the idea that you're his father?"
"He's afraid that I'll leave again and he's mad that I left in the first place. He's confused."
"How is Cassie handling…?"
"Cassie is fine. We're dealing with RJ, but it's going to take time for him to settle into the idea that I'm here now."
"If you need help Josh or I could…."
"Thank you, but I think it's just going to take time. Beside given everything that's happened, I think it's best if we don't confuse him more by involving Josh. I realize he's RJ's uncle, but…."
"No, I understand completely Richard. Do you and Cassie know when you'll be back in Springfield?"
"If everything continues to improve with Will, within the next few weeks I would say, maybe before, depending on how things go down here."
"Richard, what's going on? I get the feeling that things could get hot down there again."
"Reva, it's really too complicated to get into over the phone. Let's just say, that depending on how things go down here, we maybe in Springfield within a couple weeks."
"Is this going to affect Jon and Sarah?"
"No, really I don't know. I'll have to speak with William when he gets back, but it maybe a few days before I can, because he will be busy when he gets back."
"Alright, I'll let you handle it."
"I'll call you as soon as I have had a chance to speak with William."
"Okay." They hang up a few minutes later
Cassie asks. "Why didn't you tell her about Will?"
"First, because I felt like the people of San Cristobel should know the situation before anyone else, and second, what could I really tell her except that he is our son? There will be plenty of time to explain everything to them when we get to Springfield and when we have answers. Also, I didn't tell him because of security."
"Security?"
"Yes, this is a very serious situation Cassie. So serious in fact that we can't just talk about it over the phone. If it should happen to be overheard and leaked to the press, if William's enemies should hear about this, then it could create trouble for him. We have to be careful of who we talk to and what we say to them?"
"In case someone in the press should overhear the conversation and report it before William has a chance to decide what to do, I understand. What else did she want?"
"She was calling about Jon and Sarah."
"Did something…?"
"No, nothing happened. She just wanted to know if I had spoken to William. Which I haven't and you heard what I told her."
"What was she saying about RJ?"
"She offered to have Josh and her to talk to him about everything that been going on about me."
"I don't think that's a good idea. In fact, it would probably create more of a problem."
"I know, that's why I told her no. I think we need to head up to bed."
"Why?"
"Because I can tell that you're tired, it's been a long day for both of us, and I'm tired."
"Too tired to…." Cassie walks over to him, putting her arms around him.
"I'm never too tired for that, but…."
"But!"
"But we need to go upstairs."
"Upstairs, what's wrong…?"
"As interesting as being with you down here is, I want to be comfortable. And I want to hold you." Richard says, leaning over and kissing her.
"Alright." Cassie whispers when he steps back. Taking her hand, he leads her upstairs.
When Ava left William's suite, she drove around Springfield for about twenty minutes before she headed for Jeffrey's. Pulling up beside his truck, she gets out and walks upstairs to the loft. Jeffrey is just coming down from getting dressed after his shower when Ava knocks. "Yeah, just a minute." He calls, walking across the loft to the door. Pulling it open, he is surprised to see Ava there. "What's wrong? I thought you were staying at Company."
"I am. I have another problem." Ava says, as Jeffrey steps back to let her in.
Walking in, he closes the door behind her before he asks. "What other problem? Is it Olivia? Did she…?"
"It's not Olivia, I haven't seen her." Ava says, walking into the living room and sitting down on the couch.
Jeffrey sits down at the other end of the couch and then turns towards her. "Okay, so what's going on?"
"William is in town?"
"You said something about him coming up here?"
"Yeah, he would have come if I told him I needed him, but he's here for specific reason." Ava says, getting up and walking over to his guitars. "I've always wanted to learn how to play…."
"Ava, what's going on?"
"He's here because of Will." She replies, still fiddling with the guitars.
"Will, I don't understand. How does that involve you?"
"Apparently Will's gotten worse, and the doctor asked for everyone to be tested to see if anyone beside William was a match to him. That's were I come in, Will is not William's son, he's Richard's and Cassie's."
"That's impossible, Richard and Cassie's son died at birth. He was stillborn, after Cassie's accident."
"Apparently not, I don't know all the details, I don't think William knows all the details, but they had DNA tests run on Will, comparing his DNA to William's, Richard's and Cassie's and he matches Richard and Cassie's."
"They're sure."
"Yes, so that means that my child is…."
"…the next heir to San Cristobel."
"That is if we get married."
"Did William ask you?"
"In around about way, he said that maybe we should be getting married because of the baby. He suggested that we have a marriage of convenience, like…."
"Like hell."
"I didn't agree to it, in fact I told him no. I don't want to marry him simply because of the baby. It's not fair to any of us, especially our child. I mean what if we wake up one morning and realize that we don't love each other or what if we meet someone later, down the road that we do love. If we get married there's no turning back, we're locked into it. But besides all that, I don't want to be a princess."
"Isn't that a little strange for a girl to say, don't most of you want to be the princess?"
"Yeah, maybe when I was seven, but I don't want that responsibility. This was never supposed to happen. It was one night. We had fun and I like William, but I don't want to marry him. I'm not ready to be married."
"It's going to be okay." Jeffrey says, getting up and walking over to her and putting his arms around her. "If you don't want to marry William, or you don't think its right, then don't. No one is going to make you do something you don't want to do."
"But this is going to create a whole new set of problems for William. Will can't be the heir because he's not William's son, our child can't be the heir because we're not married."
"William is still young. If you think this is not the right thing to do then don't marry him? He'll have time to find the right woman for him and they'll have children, and if that doesn't happened, maybe the law can be amended in San Cristobel or something." Jeffrey says. "Right now, you have to do what is right for you, and your child."
"You don't think I'm being selfish do you."
"Why would you think or ask that?"
"Because I don't want to give up my life, move to San Cristobel to be with William and have our child be his heir."
"Ava, its not selfish doing what you know is right?" Jeffrey says, stepping back and looking down at her.
"Okay." She says, sighing softly. "Have you talked to Sam?"
"Yes, after I got back from my run, she called."
"You went for a run?"
"Yes, I needed to work off some frustration. I usually play but it didn't seem to work tonight, so I went for a run."
"It had nothing to do with Olivia, did it?"
"Yes, but I'm fine now and you're not at the Beacon."
"This is only for a few days." Ava says
"You can't go back to the Beacon Ava. I know she's your mother, but I think it's better if you stay away from her for a while. Something isn't right."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know. It's something Sam said to me. But she's right, Olivia's not herself and she hasn't been for a long time, and maybe that's my fault."
"If something is wrong with Mom, it's not your fault. You tried to make it work and it didn't. You can't help if she can't accept that."
"I know."
"And you have the right to be happy, so don't feel guilty about moving on with your life with Sam. She's good for you."
"I'm so happy with her. I never thought that I would get her back, she was…."
"She's here now, and you're together, that is all that matters."
"And you'll find the man you're meant to be with." Jeffrey says, hugging her.
"Thank you, for calming me down."
"What are fathers for, but to chase the boogie man away? Or in this case, to reassure you that you're doing the right thing."
"You'll make a good dad. You've already been a good one to me." Ava says, leaning up and kissing his cheek.
"I'm learning as I go." Jeffrey says, as Ava walks towards the door.
"Thanks again for calming me down." She says, turning in the doorway.
"You're welcome, and you'll be okay to get back to Company?"
"I'll be fine. I love you."
"I love you too. You'll call me when you talk to William again."
"I'll call you. I'm going to think about it some more before I make up my mind."
"Do what your heart tells you, as Reva says?"
"I will." Ava replies smiling. Turning she walks down the stairs.
Jeffrey waits till he hears the door closes at the bottom of the stairs before he closes the door and walks back into the living room. Sitting down on the couch, he lays his head back and closes his eyes.
Sam spent the rest of the weekend, on the couch, taking it easy. As much as she knew she had a lot of stuff to do, she knew that Jeffrey would want her to relax some before she went back to the hospital. She hadn't talked to Dr. Frost since she had gotten back from Springfield but the hospital had a week to find her replacement. She was leaving either way, but it would be helpful if she knew they had someone to take over her cases, she might be able to brief them before she left. She was just stepping off the elevator Monday morning, when Dr. Frost calls "Sam."
Stopping when she hears her name, she waits for him and another man to catch up to her. "Dr. Frost." She says, as they walk towards their offices.
"Sam, do you have a minute?" He asks, falling into step with her.
"Of course." She says, heading towards her office.
"I wanted to introduce to you one of the applicants for your position. This is Dr. Jacob Westbrook."
"Dr. Westbrook." Sam says, holding out her hand. "Don't I know you?" She says, looking at the man.
"I don't believe so." Dr. Westbrook replies.
"Maybe you have one of those faces. Have you been here before?"
"Not to the agency of course, but I was down here a few weeks ago. I had a hard time finding Memorial Hospital. I had to stop and get directions from this lady in a beautiful 66 mustang. I think I frighten her to death when I walked up to her…."
"Wait; was that just before the fourth, at the corner market on Renton Way and Belmont?" Sam says, stopping just outside her office door.
"Yes, I believe it was. You're the lady, I asked direction from. I'm so sorry I scared you that night."
"No, it's okay. I was a little jumpy that week. So, how did you hear about the position?"
"Actually, Dr. Smithers's recommended him." Dr. Frost says.
"Really, Morton!" Sam says, shaking her head.
"I know you don't care for him, but Dr. Westbrook comes highly recommended from the hospital where he works in New York as well."
"I'm sorry, I hope your not offended by my surprise. It's just that Dr. Smithers's and I have a long running animosity towards one another." Sam says to Dr. Westbrook.
"No, of course not. I know how Morty can be sometimes." Jacob replies.
"It was a pleasure meeting you." Sam says, holding out her hand.
"The pleasure was mine." Jacob says, shaking Sam's hand.
"I hope you enjoy your stay in Washington."
"Thank you, I will."
Sam walks into her office, as she closes the door, she hears Dr. Westbrook ask. "Why is she leaving?"
"She's moving to Springfield." Dr. Frost replies, as they walk into his office.
Sitting down at her desk, she reaches into her purse and pulls out the ring. Over the last couple days she's started carrying the ring with her. Pulling it out, she opens it slowly. Staring down at it, she smiles slightly, thinking about what Dr. Frost said to Dr. Westbrook. Closing the box and putting the ring back in her purse before she locks it up in her desk. Picking up the messages that LaKeisha left on her desk, she flips through them. Spotting a message from Noah, she reaches for the phone and dials his number, after a couple rings he picks up. "Noah Chase."
"Noah, its Sam."
"Sam, hi. I hear you're moving to Springfield."
"Yes, this is my last week."
"Have they gotten anyone to replace you?"
"I think they're still looking at candidates, but I met one just a few minutes ago, a Dr. Jacob Westbrook, he's from New York and a friend of Dr. Smithers's."
"Morton! I didn't think he had any friends."
"Apparently he has one, I got your message."
"Yes, Jeffrey called me and asked if I could arrange to have the agency come in and pack up the apartment for you."
"I know, he told me?"
"I was calling to see when would be a good time to send them over."
"We're not leaving till the end of the weekend. I'll have my clothes packed and we'll be staying at the Best Western in Renton, so I guess, Friday would be a good time to have them come in." Sam says.
"I'll tell them. What are you going to do when you get to Springfield?"
"I'm not really sure yet. I thought about opening up my own practice."
"You'll have time for figure it out."
"I know. I might take a few weeks off and relax. I haven't really been away from a hospital or patients since I graduated Med School."
"I'm sure Jeffrey won't mind you taking some time off and spending it with him."
"No, I don't think he would mind, and neither would I." Sam says thinking about the ring.
"I have patients I have to look in on. I'll tell the agents to come by sometime Friday to get started."
"That'll be fine." Sam says.
"Alright, tell Jeffrey hello."
"I will."
They hang up, and Sam grabs her lab coat and stethoscope before she walks out of her office, headed for her first patient's room. Through out the day, Sam had little time to slow down or take a break. She tried as much as possible, but by the time six o'clock rolled around, she was more than ready to leave the hospital, checking on her last patient, she walks up to the nurse's desk.
"You look tired." LaKeisha says.
"I am." Sam says, making some final notes in the patients chart before she hands the chart to her.
"Did you get any breaks today?"
"I got a couple short ones." Sam says.
"And did you…?"
"I ate during those breaks." Sam says. "But right now, all want to do is go home, take a hot bath and relax. I'll see you in the morning."
"Okay." Sam starts to walk away, but LaKeisha calls. "Hey, did you see the new doctor today?"
"Dr. Westbrook?" Sam asks.
"Yeah, looks like he's going to be the one to take your place."
"That's good."
"He's kind of cute?"
"I guess, I didn't really notice." Sam says, shrugging her shoulders.
"Alright, now I know you're truly taken."
"What's that supposes to mean?" Sam asks, walking back over to the nurse's station.
"Because if you can stand there and say you didn't notice him. Then you're either blind, or you're in love."
"I thought that was established, considering the circumstances."
"You can be in your condition and still not be in love, girlfriend." She says with a smile.
"Maybe so, but I like being in love. Now, I'm going home, before I get in trouble with him for being here too long." Sam says, walking towards the elevators.
Sam was just walking into her apartment when her phone starts to ring. Dropping her purse on the couch, she pulls the phone from the pocket of her lab coat. Glancing at the screen, she smiles when she sees Jeffrey's number flashing on it, pushing talk as she sits down on the couch "Hi, J." She says
"Hi Beca, You sound tired."
"I am. It was a busy day."
"Sam, you can't wear yourself down. Did you take any breaks today?"
"Yes, I took a couple."
"And what time did you get to the hospital this morning?"
"I guess it was about five am."
"Sam!"
"It's my last week. I'm finishing up with patients. I still have to pack up my office. And I met with one of the doctor's that's interviewing to take my place."
"I want you to try and slow down a little bit more. Did you at least eat?"
"Yes, I ate and I'll get something to eat when I get off the phone with you. I talked to Noah this morning."
"What did he want?"
"He wanted to know when to send the agents in to pack up the apartment. I told him sometime Friday. When are you coming in?"
"Probably Thursday night, we should hear something about the Doris investigation by then."
"I'm going to pack up my clothes and the stuff I'll need to take with me when we drive back and I told Noah that we'll be staying at the Best Western again."
"That's fine."
"How are things with Ava?"
"They're going okay, I guess."
"Did something else happen with Olivia?"
"No, we haven't seen her. No, William is up from San Cristobel."
"Oh, is he pressuring her?"
"No, but some things have come up, that changes the situation between them."
"He's not denying…."
"No, I wouldn't let him get away with that. No, this has to do with something else."
"You can't tell me."
"I think it's best if we don't talk about it over the phone and I don't have a whole lot to tell you. I haven't spoke to her. She was supposes to call me after she talked to William, but I haven't heard anything from her."
"Maybe you should call her."
"I will if I haven't heard anything from her before I leave Thursday."
"Okay." Sam says, yawning and not even trying to hide it.
"I'll call you tomorrow, get something to eat and then get some sleep."
"I will." She says, not even trying to argue with him. "I love you."
"I love both of you; everything is alright with the baby?"
"Everything is fine. When are you coming Thursday?"
"Probably early Thursday morning."
"Okay."
"Why?"
"Because, I need to schedule my appointment for my first check up and I thought you might want to go with me."
"Of course I want to go with you. Alright, let me know when your appointment is and I'll get there before it. Now get some rest, and tomorrow I want you to take it easy, please."
"I'll do my best." Sam says, "We love you."
"I love both of you. I'll see you Thursday and I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Okay, night J."
"Good night, Beca." They hang up.
Ava waits a couple days before she calls William at Towers. He's returning from a meeting at Spaulding. He had hoped to see her while he was there, but Alan had sent her out on some errands. Pulling his tie off as he walks into his suite, he reaches for the ringing phone. "Hello."
"William, its Ava."
"Hi, I just got back from meetings with Alan about the Spaulding plant.
"I know, I volunteered to run some errands for Alan while you were there. I know you want to talk about Will."
"Yes, we need to talk about that and the baby. Do you feel like having dinner with me?"
"I guess I can do that."
"Say, here at Towers, in about an hour."
"That will be fine."
"Good, I'll meet you there."
"Okay."
Ava hangs up, and an hour later she walks into Towers. She spots William sitting at one of the tables as the host walks up to her and asks. "May I help you?"
"I'm meeting someone, but I see my party." Ava says, nodding towards William.
"Of course ma'am. Right this way." He says, starting to escort her to William's table.
"I'm fine." Ava says, walking around him and heading towards his table alone.
As she approaches the table William stands up. "Thank you for coming?" He says, as he walks around the table to hold her chair for her.
"I told you I would." Ava says, sitting down.
"I know."
There's and awkward silence for a few seconds before they start to speak at the same time. "Go ahead." William says.
"I want you to know that I realize how serious this situation with Will is. That's why I've taken the last few days to really think about this."
"Thank you."
"And I have made a decision…."
"Can we please discuss this after we've eaten?" William asks, as the waiter walks up to the table with their dinners. "I took the liberty of ordering for us." He says, as the waiter puts the plates of food before them.
"Thank you." Ava says to the waiter.
"I hope you don't mind." William says.
"No, it's alright. And I guess we can eat before we discuss the other matter."
After they finish eating, the waiter comes back for the plates. Taking them away, after they both turn down desert, opting only for a cup of coffee.
"Okay, about Will." William says, after the waiter walks away.
"Yes, Will. As I was saying, I know this is a very serious situation, that's why I took the last few days to really think about what I want, and what I believe will be the best for our child and I've decided that I can't go back to San Cristobel and I can't marry you. I know that wasn't the answer you were hoping for, but I think it's for the best."
"Why? I can give you a life unlike anything you've ever known Ava, Sitting the situation with Will aside, our child needs to know both of its parents."
"I realize that, and I will never keep this child from you. But can you say that you love me, wholeheartly, unconditionally, like you should love the woman you're going to marry."
"I care about what happens to you and about what happens to my child."
"But do you love me?"
"Ava, love is something I can't think about right now, especially with the situation with Will."
"This is when you need love the most, to give you strength. And, I'm sorry, but I don't love you. I care about you and I like you William, but there's too much other stuff to consider here. If we got married, it wouldn't be just you and me. We would have a country to run; I'm not up to that. I wouldn't even know how to begin to be a princess."
"We'll have someone there to help you. Natalie is and excellent teacher, a bit overbearing at times, but she's good."
"I'm sorry William, but I can't simply marry you to provide your country with an heir. It's not fair to any of us, especially not our child."
"Alright, I'll accept your decision. I wish it was different. I wish you would give it a try, but I understand." William says, conceding.
"Thank you." Ava says, feeling relieved for the first time in several days. "So, what are you going to do?"
"I have to go back to San Cristobel, and first I have to explain this to my… to Will, with of course Cassie and Richard and then I have to announce to the country that I no longer have an heir."
"What are they going to do?"
"I don't think they'll demand that I immediately find a wife and have an heir. I think they're going to want answers, as to what happened as will Richard and Cassie."
"Do you have anything to give them?"
"We've started an investigation into the circumstance surrounding Cassie's emergency labor after the accident and once we get answers we'll tell the people."
"What are they going to do?"
"You mean, Richard and Cassie?"
"Yes."
"As soon as Will is released from the hospital, they are planning on coming back to Springfield."
"I'm sorry."
"Thank you, but I understand why they want to be away from San Cristobel after the announcement is made. The media attention will be oppressive. And this is stressful enough for everyone involved without adding the media in to it."
"But he's still your son…."
"That's the point he's not my son. He's Richard and Cassie's." William says as she reaches for his hand, taking it and holding it. "Thank you for listening."
"You're welcome. I'll listen any time you need to talk."
"Thank you."
"Will you be okay, because I need to go? Alan has an early conference call scheduled in the morning."
"Yes, and thank you for spending the evening with me." William says, standing up and walking around the table. Holding her chair for her as she stands.
"When are you going back to San Cristobel?"
"Early tomorrow morning, I've got a lot to deal with when I get back."
"Good luck."
"Thank you." They hug, before Ava walks across the restaurant to the elevators.
Across the room, Olivia is sitting watching them as they said good-bye. She wasn't able to get Ava's attention because she was in the middle of a meeting with a potential client, turning her attention back to them, she kept and eye on William until he gets up and follows Ava out of the restaurant after paying the bill.
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