A Fresh Start
Chapter Fifty Four
Buzz walks into the kitchen, while Jeffrey turns to Sam. "You got him to cater our wedding?"
"What was the other option?"
"The Beacon and…." Sam smiles as Buzz brings them their dinners and walks away. "You knew that?" Jeffrey says, putting his napkin in his lap.
"Well, who else would you fear more than Buzz, and I agree I don't think Olivia is the right person to be catering our wedding. We both would have something to fear." Sam replies, cutting a piece of chicken.
"So we have the catering taken care of, what's next?"
"I need to get invitations printed and sent out. I'll do that tomorrow and then I have to go shopping for a dress and you need to have your tux cleaned, so I'll take it to the cleaners when I go see about the invitations." Sam says, looking at him.
"I can have it cleaned."
"Will you remember?"
"I… okay, so you need to do it. Who are you going to ask to be your maid of honor?" Jeffrey asks, taking a bite of his steak.
"Ah, probably Megan. What about you?"
"I'll probably ask Richard." Jeffrey says, as Olivia walks up.
"Ask Richard what?" She asks.
"Ah, we were discussing…." Jeffrey says.
"A new position that's coming open in city government." Sam says, coming up with an excuse quickly.
"Right, and since he was Prince and President of San Cristobel, I think he's qualified to fill the position."
"What's the position?"
"Ah…." Jeffrey looks at Sam "We…."
"He'll be a liaison between city hall and new business that come to town. Sort of like what he was doing for William when he left San Cristobel." Sam replies, taking a drink
"A liaison, well he's certainly qualified for the position as you said, so Sam, who's Megan?" Olivia asks, looking at her.
"She's my cousin. Why?"
"I was curious. We know so little about you. It's like you just appeared out of thin air."
"Olivia!" Jeffrey says warningly.
"It's okay." Sam says, laying her hand on top of his before she looks up. "What do you want to know?"
"Where did you practice when you lived in DC? Where did you go to school?"
"I went to school at Vanderbilt in Nashville TN, and I worked at a private hospital in DC."
"So, how did you get to be Richard's doctor?"
"He was a…."
"Olivia, is there something that you wanted?" Jeffrey asks, resenting her interrogation.
"I'm just trying to get to know the woman that will be spending time with our daughter."
"Our daughter is an adult, not a five year old. Now, we were having a private conversation, if you don't mind?" Jeffrey says
"No, I don't…." Buzz walks up to them and draws Olivia away "What are you doing?"
"I'm saving you from making an ass of yourself." Buzz says.
"I only…."
"You want to start trouble. He's happy, they're happy and you tried with him, it didn't work out, let it go." Buzz says.
"Let it go, so I can come back to you."
"Would that be so bad?"
"No, it wouldn't. But he dropped me without even giving it a try, and then he moves on like we have nothing to finish." Olivia says, glancing at Jeffrey and Sam.
"Maybe it is finished. You just can't accept how it played out." Buzz says, before turning to walk away.
Olivia looks back at Jeffrey and Sam and catches him leaning over to kiss her, shuddering, she turns and leaves, realizing that she's lost her appetite.
William stands at the cliffs for a while, watching the moon and the ocean. Thinking about how simpler his life was when he was at sea. He was lost in thought when one of the maids walks up to him. "Sir, you have a phone call." She says quietly.
"Thank you." William says, turning to take the phone from her. She walks away as William answers the call. "Hello."
"Sir, this is Colonel Mitchell. You wanted to speak…."
"Yes, the situation with Will. Have we gotten anywhere?"
"No Sir, we're still tracking down the staff that was at the hospital the day Cassie went into labor."
"Colonel, the people… I need answers as does Cassie and Richard. Have we found out anything out?"
"We know that there was a lot going on that day and that the hospital was short staffed. One nurse seems to remember a couple of guys hanging around the Princess's room, watching them."
"Have we found out who these guys are?"
"That's what we're trying to find out. The nurse remembers them being there, but she doesn't know their names. She didn't speak to them. She assumed that they were there for the Prince and Princess. She thought they were bodyguards sent by Prince Edmund to protect them."
"If they were Edmund's guards, they were not there to protect Richard and Cassie. See if you can find anyone at the hospital that talked to these two gentlemen. And see if you can find Cassie's doctor, maybe he can shed some light on this."
"We're looking into that too Sir, but from what we've found out. After Cassie was released, he resigned his position and left the country."
"Then find out where he went."
"Yes Sir."
"And get back to me as soon as you find anything out?"
"I will Sir, immediately."
"Thank you."
William hangs up and then looks back out at the ocean. Sighing, he turns back towards the palace.
Over the next couple days, Sam is busy, talking with the printers for the invitations, the florist. She dropped Jeffrey's tux off at the cleaners, just as she said she would. Buzz called a couple days after they talked and she went by, looked at and approved the menu, so that was taken care of. She walks into the Beacon after a morning of running errands. She has been avoiding going to look for a dress, mostly because she didn't know where to start and she didn't want to do it alone. Walking up to the front desk, she waits as the clerk finishes with a customer. "May I help…?" The clerk says turning to her as Olivia walks up.
"I've got this Natalie. Take care of these other customers." Olivia says, nodding towards the other guests waiting behind Sam. "What do you want?" She asks, turning to Sam.
"I need to speak to Cassie." Sam says politely.
"She's not here."
"That's funny, I just spoke with Richard and he said that she…."
"Sam." Cassie says, as she walks in from her office.
Turning, she looks at Cassie and then looks at Olivia again. "She's not here." Sam says softly before she turns and walks away from the counter. "Hi, how are you?" Sam says, walking up to Cassie.
"Hi, I'm fine. Is there a problem?" Cassie asks, looking back at Olivia.
"Nothing, I can't handle. How are Richard and the boys?"
"They are fine. We're settling into a routine. I want to thank you for getting Jeffrey to ask Richard about the new position at City Hall, so thank you."
"Don't thank me; I only came up with the idea. Jeffrey sold the position to the City Council."
"Yes, well whatever or however it happened, we're extremely grateful. So, I'm sure you didn't come all the way out here to discuss our men, so what's up?"
"Can we talk someplace private?" Sam says, looking around the lobby for Olivia.
"Sure, is my office okay?"
"That's fine." Sam says, following Cassie as she goes to her office.
Opening the door, Cassie lets her in and then closes the door behind them before she walks over to her desk. Sitting down behind it, she asks. "So, what's the secret?"
"Jeffrey and I are engaged." Sam says smiling.
"You are, oh, that's wonderful. Have you told anyone?"
"No, that's why I wanted to talk to you privately. I'm not ready for Olivia to know yet and I need to get a dress but I don't want to go by myself and I don't have…."
"I'd love to go. I'll leave early today and I'll call Richard and have him pick up the boys and we'll go look this afternoon."
"Okay." Sam says, smiling as they stand up. "Thank you." She says as Cassie walks around the desk.
"You're welcome, but a girl can't go look for her wedding dress without her girlfriends with her." Cassie says, hugging her. "I'm so happy for both of you."
"You are?"
"Yes, I know I wasn't too sure about you and him when we were in DC. But I know he loves you and he deserves this, especially after the last two years."
"Thank you." Sam says, returning her hug. When they step back, Sam says. "Please don't say anything to Olivia, not yet anyway."
"I won't." Cassie says, as they walk to the door.
Sam leaves as Cassie reaches for the phone to call Richard at City Hall. After a couple rings, he picks up. "Hello."
"Hi, handsome."
"Hi darling, what's going on?"
"Guess what I just found out?"
"What?"
"Jeffrey and Sam are engaged?"
"They are, wow! That was quick."
"Yes, but they are happy and I know they love each other. Anyway, Sam was just here and she asked me to go with her to look for a dress and I told her that we could do it this afternoon, so could you pick up Will and RJ and I'll see you at home when we get through?"
"Sure, we'll have a boy's night."
"Not too much pizza and sugar." Cassie says, looking at a picture of Richard and the boys on her desk.
"I'll watch them."
"That's…."
"We'll be fine." Richard says, chuckling. Remembering the night he chased RJ around Reva's house after he volunteered to watch him, Tammy and Will when they first moved from San Cristobel.
"What are you thinking about?"
"I was thinking about the night that I watched Will and RJ while you, Reva, Blake and Harley had a girl's night out right after…."
"And I found you passed out on the couch, worn out from chasing RJ. Tammy wasn't that much of a help to you."
"No, she was on the phone for hours, talking to her friends in San Cristobel. Alright, I'll pick the boys up and we'll have a boy's night while you and Sam have your girl's night. And I'll make sure there is very little sugar involved."
"Alright, I'll be home later."
"Okay, I love you."
"I love you too."
"I've got to go. I've got a meeting with Jeffrey."
"Okay."
They hang up and Richard walks out of his office and down the hall to Jeffrey's office. Knocking once, he opens the door when he hears him call. "Come in." "Richard, hi." Jeffrey says, as he walks in the room.
"Hi, I've got the numbers and info on that company from DC that wants to relocate here." Richard says, putting the folder on Jeffrey's desk.
"So, what's your impression?"
"I think they'll be good for Springfield and Spaulding needs the competition."
"You think they'll rival Spaulding. I was thinking Lewis."
"Don't get me wrong, Lewis is good and Josh is good at what he does, but I don't think they'll be in this league. I don't think Josh wants to be that big. I think he got burned when Spaulding took over Lewis Oil and he wants to avoid that experience again."
"Spaulding took over Lewis Oil?"
"Yes, back when I was still Prince. I approached Spaulding about building the Spaulding plant. Josh refused because I was behind the job. He gave up his father's company to Phillip to keep from working for me."
"A pretty risky thing to do?"
"That's a Lewis for you. I've seen some of those qualities in you."
"I don't know that I'm like that."
"Oh, come on. What about that guy that came to San Cristobel trying to build that plant? You refused to work with him because you didn't like him. Never mind, that it would have helped the country and provide jobs."
"He was crooked. I think that was proven when he was later arrested and convicted of tax evasion and fraud. I was just following my gut."
"The same thing Josh did. He knew he could never work with me because of my connection to Reva, so he walked away from Lewis Oil. And speaking of Cassie, she called me just before I came in here. I hear congratulations are in order."
"They are?"
"You and Sam, the wedding."
"Wow, how did she find out. We haven't told anyone, well her cousin knows but we haven't told anyone here, not even Ava."
"She and Cassie are going out to look for dresses this afternoon and Cassie called to see if I would pick up the boys…" Richard pauses smiling.
"What?"
"It just feels funny to say that, picking up the boys, like a father. I missed all that with Jon. And even if he had been with me, there wouldn't have been many times that I actually picked him up from anything, but still I missed doing the father stuff." Richard says, still smiling.
"I missed it too. Ava was already grown when I found her. But back to the wedding, since you know. I wanted to ask you something."
"Okay."
"I know we've had some problems, but I was wondering if you would be my best man. I don't really have…."
"I would be honored."
"You would."
"Yes."
"Thank You, you're the closest thing I've got to a brother. I appreciate it, especially after Cassie."
"You and Cassie were a long time ago and what happened wasn't totally you're fault. If I had been on time for the exchange and told Cassie what was going on, it wouldn't've happened."
"I still appreciate it." Jeffrey says, standing up and holding out his hand.
"You're welcome." Richard says, shaking it.
"And if you think this company's good, give them the go ahead for the project." Jeffrey says, as Richard reaches for the folder that's on Jeffrey's desk.
"I'll contact them immediately." Richard says, taking the folder and leaves the office.
Around two, Cassie closes her computer down and then grabbing her purse, she leaves her office. "Callie, I'm leaving for the day." Cassie says to her assistant.
"Yes ma'am."
"You can go ahead and head home, I'll see you in the morning."
"Yes ma'am."
Cassie is walking across the lobby when Olivia walks out of her office. A few minutes later, she stops Callie as she leaves. "Where did Cassie go?"
"She didn't say, ma'am. Only that she was taking the rest of the afternoon off and that I could leave."
"Okay, thank you." Olivia says, taking a step back. Turning towards the door, she wonders what's going on.
Cassie leaves the Beacon, stopping at the farm to change before she goes to the loft to pick up Sam. Knocking once, she waits as Sam comes to the door. "Hi." She says, smiling as she steps back.
"Hi." Cassie says, walking in.
"You want something to drink or something." Sam asks, walking into the living room.
Cassie follows her and then she stops, staring at the changes Jeffrey's made "Wow, he's changed this…."
"You've been, of course you have. I convinced him to change things a little bit." She says, sitting down on the couch.
"I'd say a lot, this was all open space and what happened to the furniture?"
"We donated it to one of the shelters."
"I like it." Cassie says, looking around. "Are you ready to go?"
"Sure, where are we going?" Sam asks, following Cassie out of the loft.
"First I thought we would stop at my friend Harley's house and see if she wants to go with us and then I thought we'd hit the mall and look at the stores there and then there's the shop down on 5th street."
"Okay." Sam says, locking the door behind them and following Cassie down the stairs.
A few minutes later, they pull up in front of Harley's house. "I'll be right back." Cassie says, opening the door.
"Okay." Sam says, settling back
"On second thought, why don't you come up with me?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, come on." Cassie says, getting out of the car as Sam opens the door and gets out.
Sam follows her up the walkway to Harley's front door. Ringing the door bell, they hear Harley call as she opens the door. "Zack, I'm not telling you again." "Hi" she says when she sees Cassie standing there. Stepping back, she lets them in.
"What's going on?" Cassie asks, walking in with Sam following behind her.
"Ah, the usual sibling stuff. Hi." Harley says, turning to Sam.
"Hi." Sam replies.
"This is Sam, Sam, this is Harley." Cassie says, making a quick introduction.
"Hi." Harley says.
"We've come to see if you want to go to the mall with us and do some shopping, well Sam's shopping. We're offering our opinion." Cassie says, leaning against the kitchen counter.
"Opinion on what?"
Cassie looks at Sam. "Wedding dresses." Sam says.
"Wedding dresses, who's getting married?"
"I am, to Jeffrey."
"Jeffrey's getting married, you're kidding. But you guys just started dating, and you're getting married already, I mean do you have to."
"Harley!" Cassie says.
"I'm sorry, but Jeffrey always said he would never tie the knot. You had to practically beg him to play at my wedding last summer."
"That was a musical principle and I think Jeffrey would have eventually gotten married…."
"To whom, Olivia?"
"No, I think that was doomed before it even started." Cassie says, looking at Sam. "So, do you want to go or not?"
"Sure, of course. Daisy should be home..." Harley says, as Daisy walks in the door. "There she is. I need you to watch your little brothers tonight." She says.
"I've got nothing better to do?" Daisy says dramatically.
"I'll be home in time to tuck them in." Harley says, smiling.
"Okay."
"Dinner's…. here's twenty dollars, have pizza delivered?" Harley says, pulling her wallet out of her purse and handing her some money.
"Okay."
Sam, Cassie and Harley leave. "Okay, so what's wrong with her?" Cassie asks, walking to the car.
"She and Rafe broke up again. She's been depressed all week. Don't you wish all we had to worry about was our love lives?"
"No, at her age, I had a baby to think about and a husband that didn't want to do anything but get high and chase women. My love life was the last thing I wanted to think about when I was her age." Cassie says, opening the car door along with Sam and Harley
"You know, come to think of it. I didn't have that great of a love life at her age either." Harley says. "So Sam, how did you meet Jeffrey?" She asks, turning to her as Cassie starts the car and pulls away from the house.
"We worked at the agency together."
"And?"
"We sort of lost touch after I left the agency."
"The paper said he thought you were dead." Harley says.
"Okay, the truth is I faked my death to protect him from an assignment we were working on."
"If you were both working…."
"My cover was blown, I had to protect him so I faked my death and left."
"And he thought you were dead all this time?"
"Yes."
"So, how did he find out you weren't dead?"
"Richard." Cassie says, turning into the mall.
"Richard, how is he connected to this?"
"I was Richard's doctor, at the agency. Jeffrey brought Cassie to him and he met me. It took him a little bit but he figured out who I was." Sam says
"And you picked up where you left off."
"Yes."
"And what does Olivia have to say about this?"
"I'm not going to be naïve enough to say nothing but she's not too happy with the fact that we're together." Sam says.
"I heard she attacked you in Company about a week ago?" Harley says
"She didn't attack me. She tried, but Jeffrey walked in before she could."
"Why did she try to attack you?" Cassie asks, while she looks for a parking place, finally deciding to try the parking deck.
"Because Ava asked me to go to the doctor with her, Olivia saw us leaving Dr. Sedgwick's office and she followed us to Company and confronted Ava. She tried to force Ava to leave with her, I stepped in and she tried to attack me. Jeffrey walked in at that point. He picked her up and carried her out of Company."
"He carried her out of Company, actually picked her up and carried her out." Harley asks, as Cassie pulls into the parking deck and parks.
"Yes."
"Amazing, so you were in DC, taking care of Richard and Jeffrey had no idea you were alive until Richard woke up."
"That's correct."
"How long has it been since you saw him?" Harley asks, as they walk into the mall.
"It's been over twelve years since we saw each other."
"And you picked up where you left off, he wasn't angry that you didn't let him know you were still alive."
"It was the nature of the work we were doing and we promised each other that if something happened to either of us we would protect the other one."
"So, he realized that you had no choice."
"Yes."
"That's amazing. How does Ava feel about the wedding?"
"We haven't told her, or anyone." Sam says.
"Why not?"
"I can think of one reason, Olivia." Cassie says.
"That's part of it, but we just got back from DC and I've been busy unpacking and getting settled. He's busy at the office."
"I think you need to tell her as soon as possible." Harley says, as they walk into one of the bridal stores.
"We will." Sam says, as a sales lady walks up to them.
"Hello, ladies."
"Hi." They all say
"So, how can I help you today?"
"She needs a wedding dress." Harley says, nodding to Sam.
"Well, congratulations. When is the big day?"
"Labor Day." Sam says
"Wow, that's not much time."
"I know. Do you have anything I can look at?"
"Do you have something particular in mind?"
"Something simple, not too fancy." Sam says
"Simple and not too fancy okay, let's see what we've got."
They start looking through the gowns and about ten minutes later Sam has about five gowns to try on. "Why don't you go try those on and we'll keep looking?" Cassie says.
"Okay." Sam says, walking into the dressing room.
She returns a few minutes later, wearing the first dress. Cassie takes one look at her and shakes her head no. Sam goes back to the changing room, as the sales lady continues to look through the gowns. Sam returns a few minutes later and this time Harley shakes her head no and again Sam returns to the dressing room, for the next dress.
They go through all five dresses, and even some that the sales lady doesn't pick out before they leave the store and continue on through the mall. By the time, they look through all the stores in the mall. Sam is exhausted and discouraged as they walk in to Company.
"What's wrong with simple?" Sam asks, sitting down at a booth
"Nothing, we just haven't found the right one, but we will." Cassie says, as Richard and the boys walk in.
Spotting them, Richard sends the boys over to a table while he goes over to them. "Hi." He says.
"Hi." Cassie says
"What are you doing here?" Richard asks
"We needed a break." Sam says discouragingly.
"You're not finding anything?" Richard asks
"No, and we looked at all the stores in the mall." Cassie says
"You're just getting started. It took you months to settle on a design for your gown." Richard says, as Harley walks up from the bathroom.
"Richard." Harley says, staring at him.
"Yes, it's me. How are you Harley?" He asks, hugging her.
"I'm good. It's good to see you."
"I'm sure it is." Richard says, smiling as the boys start to yell. "I'll go take care of them. I'll see you at the farm." He says, leaning over to give Cassie a kiss.
"Remember….."
"They'll be sufficiently calm when you get home." Richard says, smiling as he walks away.
"So we didn't find anything at the mall, but we still have the shop on Fifth Street." Cassie says, turning back to Sam and Harley.
"That's right, and if we have to we'll go over to Laurel Falls or Oakdale and look there." Harley says, looking at Sam.
"Let's hope we find something before we have to do that." Sam says, as Ashley walks up to them.
"Hi." She says
"Hi." They all reply.
"What can I get you to drink?"
"I'll have a Coke." Cassie says.
"And I'll have some coffee." Harley says.
"I'll have some water and lemon." Sam says.
"That's a coke, coffee and water, coming right up."
Ashley leaves and returns a few minutes later. After placing their drinks on the table, she takes their order and the leaves. While they are waiting on their food, they discuss the wedding. "So, have you picked out the music yet?" Harley asks.
"No, I haven't really thought about it. We don't really have a song."
"I've got one for you?" Cassie says.
"Really!"
"Yes, it's from a movie, but I think it fits you and Jeffrey perfectly. I've got in the car. I'll play it when we leave here.
"Okay." Sam replies.
"What about the flowers?" Harley asks
"I've talked to the florist over on Main Street and she's taking care of everything." Sam says.
"The catering?" Cassie asks. "I'd offer the Beacon, but…."
"We thought of that, and it's already taken care of. Buzz is catering."
"He is; that's great." Harley says, as Sam looks at her. "Buzz is my dad." Harley says, as Sam nods.
"So, that takes care of the flowers and the food, what about the reception. Where are you having it?"
"I haven't talked to Jeffrey about it."
"Where do you want to have it?'
"It would be nice if we could have it at the Light house, but they are already squeezing us in between some Spaulding thing…."
"The Spaulding Regatta and Art Festival." Harley says.
"Yes, We called and asked them to let us have the light house for a couple hours on Labor Day and at first they told me no, but then Jeffrey called them and they agreed."
"Why don't you have it at the Beacon?" Cassie says.
"The Beacon, what about Olivia?"
"I own half of that hotel. I've got a say as to what happens there. Besides, you'll be married by then, what can she do?"
"Look what she did at Reva and Josh's last wedding?" Harley says.
"We never proved that."
"Alright, you didn't, but do you honestly think it would be a good idea to have their reception at the Beacon?"
"She's going to have to accept them at some point."
"I'll talk to Jeffrey about it." Sam says, as Ashley brings their food.
After they've finished eating, they each pay their bill and then Cassie goes to tell Richard and the boy's bye before they leave for the shop on Fifth Street. They spend another couple hours at the shop and they still come up empty handed.
"Alright, I think it's time we call it a night." Sam says, as they walk out of the shop.
"I think you're right, and I told Daisy I would be home to tuck the boys in." Harley says.
"I'm sure the boy's have absolutely worn Richard out. So, we'll try again this weekend. We'll go over to Laurel Falls and Oakdale."
"I can't this weekend, I'm on duty, but you guys go and if you get anything I want to see it?" Harley says
"Alright, we'll bring right over to the precinct." Cassie says
"No, you know what I meant." Harley says
"Yes, you'll be the first to see it." Sam says.
A few minutes later, they drop Harley off at her house and then Cassie takes Sam home. Jeffrey's waiting when she walks in the door.
"No luck." He says, giving her a light kiss.
"No, we looked at all the stores in the mall and the store on Fifth Street and nothing, so Cassie and I are going to Laurel Falls and Oakdale to look there this weekend." Sam says, sitting down on the couch.
"So, have you done anything else today?"
"Yes, I found our song."
"Our song?"
"Yes, Cassie's going to make a copy for me and bring it over. But it fits us perfectly. And we talked about the reception."
"What about it?" Jeffrey asks, picking up one of her feet and slipping her sandals off, he starts to rub her feet.
"Cassie suggested we have it at the Beacon."
"The Beacon!"
"Yes, honestly right now I'm too tired to think about it."
"Did you eat?"
"Yes, we ate at Company and I ate more than a salad, before you ask."
"Then I think we need to go to bed." Jeffrey says, standing up and holding his hand out to her.
Helping her up, he bends down and sweeps her up in his arms. "J, what are you doing? I can…."
"Shhh." Jeffrey says, lightly kissing her as he carries her through the loft and upstairs.
54.13