A Fresh Start
Chapter Sixty Five
A couple days after the incident in the pizza parlor, Richard is in the barn getting something for Cassie when RJ walks in. Walking over to him, RJ asks. "What are you doing?"
"I'm trying to find something for your mother." Richard says, looking through a plastic bin.
"Oh." RJ replies, turning away.
Looking up, Richard says. "RJ, wait a minute." RJ stops and turns around. Richard sits down on a bail of hay and RJ sits down beside him. "I want you to know something?"
"Okay."
"When I had the accident, if I had known that you and your mother thought I was dead, I would have done whatever I could to let you know that I wasn't. I would have been here, if I could have been. I would have been here when Tammy was killed. I wouldn't have left you alone, you or your mother."
"I know. I'm sorry I was so hard on you. But I couldn't let myself believe that you were my father, because you promised never to leave me and Tammy and then you did. And then uncle Edmund was there for a while but he left too. And then Jeffrey was there, but I don't know what happened there and then Uncle Josh left. I couldn't let you in and then you leave me again."
"I'm not going to leave you or your mother again. I'll do anything in my power to stop that."
"I know."
"Can I ask you something?"
"Okay."
"When did you know that I was, your father?"
"When I saw you and Mom in the living room holding Tammy's picture and crying after we got back from San Cristobel."
"I'm sorry I wasn't here." Richard says thinking about him and Cassie after Tammy died.
"You couldn't have stopped it."
"Maybe I couldn't have stopped her dying but I should have been here for you and your mother."
"Its okay, Dad." RJ says, leaning over and hugging him.
When RJ sits back, Richard asks. "Did you need something?"
"No, I was just wondering around."
"Alright, well I've got to find the punch bowl that we got in San Cristobel for your mother."
"Ah, I think it's up in the purple bin in the hay loft." RJ says
"Really?"
"Yeah, she put it up there after Tammy married Jon."
"Okay, I'll look. What are you going to do?"
"I don't know, I guess walk around the farm."
"Where is Will?"
"Mom is making him take a nap. I am so happy that I don't have to do that anymore." RJ says as Richard smiles, ruffling his hair.
"Tell your mom I'll be in there as soon as I find the punch bowl."
"Okay." RJ leaves the barn as Richard starts to climb into the hay loft.
Sam is finishing addressing envelops for the invitations when her cell phone starts to ring. Picking it up, she glances at the screen. Realizing that it was the shop in Oakdale, she flips the phone open and press talk as she continues to address the envelope she was working on.
"Ms. Whitley." A young girl says.
"Yes." Sam replies, laying the envelope on the pile in front of her.
"Mr. Westbrook asked me to call and tell you that your guitar is ready for pick up."
"Okay, thank you. I should be by to get it sometime this afternoon."
"Yes ma'am. I'll inform Mr. Westbrook."
"Okay and thank you for letting me know it is ready."
"You're welcome, ma'am."
Sam hangs up and continues addressing the envelopes.
Jeffrey is sitting in his office when his phone buzzes. "Yes." He says, holding the button down.
"Sir, there is an Agent Miller on the phone for you."
"Yes, thank you Stacey." Jeffrey replies, pushing the button for line one. "What did you find?" He asks.
"Your tip was correct Colonel." Agent Miller says
"So, he has more than just the local DA in his pocket."
"Everyone from a small town police officer in a town in Georgia to a Federal Judge. He even has notes on the attempted murder of a Jonathan Randall."
"Okay, bring everything back and we'll sort it out here."
"Yes Sir."
Jeffrey hangs up and then he calls the Attorney General's office. After a couple rings, Mr. Maxwell's assistant answers. "Mr. Maxwell's office.
"Yes, Ms. Smith. This is Jeffrey O'Neill and I need to speak to Mr. Maxwell."
"He's in a meeting right now? Can I take a message?"
"Yes, could you please have him call me as soon as possible? I have some information for him."
"I'll give him the message as soon as possible."
"Thank you."
Jeffrey hangs up, picking up the papers that he was looking over when Stacey buzzes him again. "Sir, the tax commissioner is here to see you."
"Thank you Stacey. Please send him in." Jeffrey says, holding the button down.
A few seconds later, someone knocks softly before they open the door. "Mr. Commissioner." Jeffrey says standing as the man walks into his office.
"Sir, I've brought over the ownership papers for the house on Cedar St." He says, handing Jeffrey a folder.
"Okay, thank you." Jeffrey says, taking the file and opening it up. "Everything is in order."
"Yes Sir, you now own that house. Although I can't see why you would want it. It's falling apart."
"It's a gift." Jeffrey says, closing the file.
"A gift, Sir."
"Yes, a gift for a very special lady." Jeffrey says, glancing at Sam's picture on his desk.
"Whatever you wish Sir. The house is yours." The commissioner says, shaking his head.
"Thank you." Jeffrey says nodding as the man turns to leave.
Sam finishes addressing the envelopes before she leaves the loft for Oakdale. Putting the ones that need to be mailed in the mail, she heads towards Oakdale. Pulling into a parking place just down from Jacob's shop, she walks up the street to it. Pushing the door open, she walks in as a young girl says. "Hello, I'll be with you in a moment."
"Thank you." Sam replies, looking around the shop as Jacob walks in from the back room and spots her.
Walking over to her, he says. "Hello, Sam."
Turning, Sam says. "Hi."
"I assume you're here to pick up the guitar."
"Yes, they called this morning and said that it was ready."
"It is." Jacob replies. "I'll go get it."
"Thank you."
Jacob turns to leave as Sam waits. He returns a few moments later. "Here it is." He says, walking over to the counter.
Sam follows him. Laying the case on the counter, he opens it and takes the guitar out, handing it to her and showing her where they did the engraving. Looking down at the neck of the guitar, she slowly runs her fingers over the engraving. She stares at it for a few minutes, before she says. "It's amazing. It looks like my own handwriting."
"It is." Jacob says, as Sam looks up. "We scanned the piece of paper that you wrote down what you wanted to be engraved into a computer and the computer transferred it to the wood burning machine and then it burned the wood according to what you wrote. It makes it more personal that way."
"It's beautiful, thank you." Sam says, putting the guitar back in the case. "How much do I owe you?"
"$3.40." Jacob says, as Sam pulls out her wallet from her purse.
Taking the money out, she hands it to him as she takes the guitar off the counter. "Let me get your change." He says, turning towards the register. He returns a few seconds later with her change. Taking the change, Sam puts it in her wallet before putting it back into her purse before she picks up the guitar.
"It was good to see you again." Jacob says.
"Thank you again." Sam says, smiling as she turns away from the counter and he watches her leave. She's almost to her car, when she hears someone call her name, turning she's surprised to see Jacob coming towards her. "Yes." She says when he gets close enough to hear her.
"I was… I was wondering if you're alright." He asks, looking at her right cheek.
"I'm fine." Sam replies, turning for her car as he reaches out to her.
"If he's…."
"I told you Jeffrey didn't hit me." Sam says, putting the guitar in the back of the car.
"Then who did hit you?"
"His ex." Sam says, turning to him.
"His ex hit you." Jacob says as though he doesn't believe her.
"Yes, we had a fight in front of one of the stores in Springfield. She said some thing's and I hit her, she hit me back."
"What did she say?"
"Some thing's she had no business saying. I took care of it and that is how I got the bruise."
"Where was Jeffrey?"
"He wasn't with me. He was at the loft with his band."
"So, he left you…."
"He didn't leave me. I was taking a day for myself, to get this and some other stuff. What is this?"
"I…" He pauses, watching her."
"You what?"
"I like you. I think you know that and if he's…."
"He's not doing anything to me. I told you that. I've known Jeffrey for years and he has never done anything to me…." She continues on when he starts to say something. "… and he never will."
"All I'm saying…."
"I know what you're saying. I'm telling you that it's not going to happen. I am with him, completely and totally."
"Alright, I'm sorry." Jacob says, taking a step back.
"Thank you." Sam says, getting into her car and heads back towards Springfield.
On the way into Springfield, she stops at the farm. Cassie is coming in from checking on RJ and Will when she pulls up into the driveway. "Hi." Cassie says, walking over to the car.
"Hi." Sam says, opening the car door and getting out.
"How are you?" Cassie asks, hugging her.
"I'm good, you?" Sam replies, hugging her back.
"I'm really good." Cassie says, smiling as they turn towards the house. "So what brings you out to the farm?" Cassie asks, as they walk up to the porch.
"Actually, I'm on my way back from Oakdale and I thought I would stop and drop off your invitation." Sam says, handing her the envelope.
"You got them." Cassie says, opening the invitation.
"Yes, they were ready yesterday and I've been addressing envelopes all morning." Sam says, as Cassie opens the door and they walk in the house.
"They are beautiful." Cassie says, reading the invitation.
"Thank you." Sam says, as they walk into the living room.
"Well, I'll be the first to r.s.v.p. We will be there. Are you getting nervous?"
"Not at all." Sam says, sitting down on the couch.
"What about Jeffrey?"
"I don't know. I don't think so. I do have a favor to ask. It's the other reason I stopped by the farm."
"Okay."
"I got Jeffrey a wedding present, but I don't want him to see it before the wedding, so I thought I would ask if I could maybe keep it here until then."
"Of course you can. I'll put it in mine and Richard's room so the boys don't mess with it. What did you get him?"
"A guitar."
"A guitar."
"Yes, I stopped at the music shop before I went to Marsha's last Saturday and found a beautiful guitar so I bought it and then I had it engraved. That's why I went to Oakdale, the shop is there. I'll go get it." Sam says, standing up.
"Yes, go. I want to see this."
Sam walks out to the car while Cassie waits in the house. She's sitting in one of the chairs when Sam comes back. "Here, put it on the coffee table." Cassie says, getting up when Sam walks in. Sam lays the case on the table as Cassie asks. "Can I see?"
"Sure." Sam says, opening the case
"Oh, Sam. It's beautiful. He's going to love it. What kind is it?"
"It's a Fender Acoustic."
"If you don't mind, can I see the engraving?" Cassie asks, looking at her.
"Sure." Sam says, taking the guitar out of the case showing her the neck of the guitar.
"To, J. Love you Always, Sam. September 3 2007." Cassie says softly. "It's beautiful." She says, putting the guitar back in the case.
Sam watches her for a few minutes before she asks. "Does it bother you?"
"What?" Cassie asks, looking up at her.
"Me and Jeffrey."
"No, no. I'm happy for him and for you. I was thinking about something that happened a couple years ago. I caught Jeffrey playing a lullaby to Hope and I remember how intrigued he look, watching her as he played. I think he'll be as intrigued with your child as he was with her." Cassie says, looking back at the guitar.
"I think we'll both be intrigued." Sam says, closing the case. "Can I ask, who Hope is?"
"It's a complicated story, but she turned out to be Danny and Michelle's baby girl. Edmund induced Michelle's labor and kidnapped her. He brought the baby to me and told Michelle that her baby died in a car crash that she had while she was in labor."
"Why would he do that?"
"He was trying to hang on to me. We were trying to have a child together when everything fell apart and he had my egg's planted into Dinah through IVF. At the time we didn't know that she had lost the baby. She told Edmund at the last, and he decided to induce Michelle for Hope after kidnapping Dinah and keeping her locked away in a warehouse that was made to look like the farmhouse. It's really a long story."
"Was he crazy?"
"He was something. I've never been able to understand what was going on with Edmund. And I can't understand really how I went to him for Richard."
"We do things we never would do under normal circumstances when something traumatic happens."
"I certainly didn't expect to loose Richard, not so soon after we fought so long and hard to be together."
"I don't want to think about what I would do if something happened to Jeffrey. I don't want to loose anymore time with him. We've lost some much of it already, some because of my own choices and some because of things beyond our control, but I still can't loose him."
"I know what you mean. Richard has only been back a few months and I can't imagine him not being here. I want him here for the rest of my life." Cassie says, as Richard walks in.
"Well, I plan to be here for that long or longer." He says.
"Hi, handsome." Cassie gets up and goes over to him, hugging and giving him a quick kiss.
"Hi, what are you ladies doing?" He asks, noticing the guitar case on the table.
"I was in Oakdale to pick that up and I stopped by to drop off your invitation to the wedding as well as see if you would mind keeping that here till the wedding."
"It's a gift for Jeffrey?"
"Yes, his wedding present." Sam replies.
"Can I see it?" Richard asks.
"No, we don't want you telling him." Cassie says
"I'm not going…."
"No." Cassie says
"Alright, well I need to go. I've got other invitations to deliver." Sam says, picking up her purse."
"It was good to see you and I'll make sure that none of my boys see or mess with this." Cassie says reaching out to slap Richard's hands away as Sam starts to laugh.
"I'll get it before the wedding." Sam says smiling as Cassie walks her to the door.
When she comes back, she looks at Richard and then at the guitar. "I didn't touch it, but if you didn't want me to tell Jeffrey what it was, you shouldn't've let me see it all. It's obvious that it's a guitar."
"And you're not going to say a single word, not a word to him." Cassie says, picking up the case.
"Or what will you do?" Richard asks, following her upstairs.
"You remember last night." She says, walking down the hall to their room.
"Yes." Richard says, watching her put the case in their closet.
"Well, if you want that to happen again you will stay away from that case and you will not tell Jeffrey one word about it." Cassie says, wrapping her arms around him.
"And if I look and tell him."
"Last night, no more." Cassie says, looking up at him.
"Not even…."
"Nope, none."
"That's not…."
"That's what happens when you're nosy. That is a surprise for Jeffrey from Sam."
"Alright, I won't look and I won't tell, even if you are resorting to emotional blackmail."
"Good, man." She says, leaning up and kissing him.
After leaving the farm, Sam stops at Reva's leaving an invitation in their mailbox because she wasn't home and then she stopped at the station and gave Harley's hers. She thought about dropping in on Jeffrey but she realized that she had a couple of other invitations to deliver so she leaves. She stops at the DA's office and drops off and invitation for Chris after she leaves the police station. The last invitation she delivers is for Ava. Walking into Company, she looks around but doesn't see Ava. She's about to leave the invitation with Lynn when Ava walks into the restaurant. "Ava." Sam says, walking over to her.
"Sam hi, how are you doing?" Ava asks, giving her a quick hug.
"I'm good, and you. How are things at Spaulding?"
"I'm fine. I haven't actually been at Spaulding that much this week. Since Alan's involved with the case, there's not that much to do. And Alex has her own set of assistants, she doesn't actually use me."
"Your father will be relieved to hear that they're not involving you in the case."
"My father worries too much." Ava says, as Lynn walks up to her.
"It's his job." Sam says.
"Is there something I can get you?" Lynn asks Ava.
"The usual." Ava says, smiling as Lynn nods and turns away. "So, what are you doing at Company?"
"Ah, dropping off invitations." Sam says reaching in her purse as Olivia walks in the door. She stops for a few seconds watching Ava and Sam.
"…here." Sam says, handing Ava an envelope.
"Thank you." Ava says, looking down at it. "Can I open it here?"
"Ava." Olivia says, walking up to their table.
"Mom." Ava says, looking up.
"How are you? Emma was asking about you the other day."
"I'm fine, but I was in the middle of something." Ava says, glancing at Sam. "Tell Emma, I'll come by to see her this weekend and that I've been busy." Ava says.
"I'll be sure to tell her." Olivia says, staring at the envelope lying next to Ava's purse.
Laying her hand on top of it, "Maybe we can spend the weekend together." Ava suggests.
"She would like that."
"I'll call you later." Ava says.
"Alright." Olivia says, turning away as Ava sits back and looks at Sam.
"You know she's going to try and find out what was in that."
"I know." Ava says, picking up the envelope and opening up the invitation. "It's beautiful." She says, as she reads the invitation.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, and you know that I'll be there."
"Thank you. Listen I've got to go." Sam says, standing up.
"We'll see you."
"Yes and take care."
"You too." Sam says, putting her hand on Ava's shoulder and giving it a slight squeeze.
Sam leaves as Lynn brings Ava her food. Olivia watches from a table across the restaurant.
After the tax commissioner left, Jeffrey got sidetracked with other problems and it's not until around three before he gets the message that the Attorney General called him back. Picking up the note that Stacey had left on his desk, he reaches for the phone and dials the number for him and again his assistant answers the phone. "Attorney General's office."
"Yes, this is Jeffrey O'Neill. Is Mr.…?"
"I'll put you through Mr. O'Neill if you'll hold please."
"Of course." He hears a couple of clicks and then Mr. Maxwell comes on the line.
"Jeffrey." He says.
"Mr. Maxwell."
"My assistant said that you needed to speak to me."
"Yes Sir, It's about the Doris Wolfe, Alan Spaulding case. We may have a bigger problem than just Alan bribing Doris."
"What do you mean?"
"I spoke with Ms. Wolfe a few days after she was arrested and she tipped me off that Alan kept records on a computer. A computer that he kept at his house in San Cristobel, I contacted the Prince and asked permission to come to the island to check out Ms. Wolfe's information."
"And have you heard anything?"
"Yes sir and we may have a much bigger case than we thought against Mr. Spaulding. Doris is asking for a deal in exchange for this information."
"Have we verified the information?"
"My agents only called me this morning, so I haven't seen all the information, but they say that there are extensive records, everything from a small town cop in Georgia to a Federal Judge, along with notes about the Jonathan Randall attempted murder."
"When will you be able to verify the information?"
"It will take us a couple of days to sort through the files and information and then we'll have to verify any information we receive from them."
"So, how long?"
"A week, probably two."
"Okay. Have them start immediately after they arrive?"
"Yes Sir, what about Doris's deal?"
"It depends on want his files deliver. If they bring us other indictments this office will consider a deal."
"Yes Sir. I'll be in touch once we have everything sorted out."
"Okay."
They hang up. Looking at the clock, Jeffrey realizes that it's close to five. Closing his computer down, he reaches for his jacket and keys as he leaves the office. "Stacey, I'm headed home." He says, closing his office door.
"Yes Sir." She says, beginning to close her computer down.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yes Sir."
Jeffrey leaves. Sam is pulling into her parking place as Jeffrey pulls up behind her. When she gets out of the car, she notices him and she stops to wait for him. When he gets out of the truck she says "Hi."
"Hi, Beca." He says, walking up to her and putting his arms across her shoulder as she gives him a quick kiss. "What have you been doing today?"
"Running errands, I finished the invitations and I mailed the ones that needed to be mailed and delivered the rest."
"Is that all you did?"
"I went to Oakdale for a bit."
"You did, did you see him?"
"Yes."
"Sam…."
"Nothing important happened, I took care of my business and then I came back to Springfield and I stopped at the farm to give Cassie their invitation on my way back."
Jeffrey looks down at her. "Alright, I'll drop it." He says, reaching in his pocket for the keys. Opening the door, he holds the door open for her before he follows her in.
When Sam left Company, Olivia gets up and walks over to Ava. Sitting down across from her she says. "You and Sam seem to be getting along."
Ava looks up and says. "We are."
"You seem to be getting along, really well."
"We are, and I wish you would realize that she's a good person and let Dad be happy."
"I'm trying Ava."
"You're trying by slapping her, when she's…."
"When she's what?"
"When she's never did anything to you."
"She slapped me first."
"And what did you do to provoke her."
"I didn't do…."
"Mom, she wouldn't have hit you unless you did something to force her to."
"Why do you always defend her?"
"Because she doesn't deserve what you're doing to her. You know perfectly well that you and Dad were broken up before she ever came on the scene."
"But we could have gotten back together if she…."
"Dad wasn't interested and you know it. You accepted this."
"I thought if I gave him some time he would come back. I didn't want him to go." Ava looks at her for a couple seconds before she gets up. "Where are you going?"
"I've got to go to the bathroom." Ava says, walking away from the table.
When Ava left she leaves her purse lying on the table and after a few moments, Olivia reaches over and picks up the purse. Opening it, she looks inside and notices the envelope that Sam had left. Looking over her shoulder, she turns and pulls the envelope out of the purse. She looks to see if it was open, looking over her shoulder she opens the envelope and pulls out the invitation.
You are cordially invited to the wedding of
Mr. Jeffrey O'Neill
Ms. Samantha Ann Whitley
On September 3 at 6pm Ceremony will be held
At the Springfield Lighthouse
For a couple moments, Olivia stares at the invitation. "He's marrying her. He… He… He can't." She whispers, staring at the invitation for several seconds.
After a few seconds the sounds of the restaurant penetrates the shock rushing through her. Putting the invitation back in the envelope she puts the envelope back into Ava's purse before she lays the purse back where Ava had it. Getting up, she walks out Ava is surprised when Olivia is gone when she comes back. Looking around the restaurant she doesn't see her as Lynn comes up to her. "Ms. Ava." She says.
"Yes." Ava says a little distracted.
"Your mother left."
"I know."
"Before she left she was look at something in your purse."
That gets Ava's attention as she turns to Lynn and asks. "You're sure, my purse."
"Yes, I saw her pick your purse up after you walked away and she opened it. She took something out but I couldn't see what it was. She sat there for a few moments and then she put it back and she left."
"Thank you, Lynn. Could you add my dinner to my tab?" Ava says reaching for her purse.
"Of course, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I've got something I need to take care of." Ave says, walking out of the restaurant .
"Yes ma'am." Lynn says, watching her leave.
Ava looks around the parking lot as she walks to her car, hoping that she would find Olivia, but she isn't there. Unlocking her car, she gets in and heads immediately to Jeffrey and Sam. Pulling in besides Sam's car, Ava gets out and locks her car as she's walking towards the building.
Sam and Jeffrey had just finished dinner when Ava knocks on their door. "I'll get it." Jeffrey calls, getting up and walking to the door. Opening it, he's surprised to see Ava standing there. "Ava, hi." He says, stepping back.
"Hi, we may have a problem." She says, walking into the loft.
"A problem." Jeffrey asks, closing the door.
"I think Olivia knows about the wedding."
"What, how?" Jeffrey asks, as Sam comes out of the kitchen.
"I think she went into my purse at Company when I went to the bathroom."
"What's going on?" Sam asks, walking up to them.
"Ava thinks that Olivia knows about the wedding."
"How?" Sam asks, looking at her.
"I think she got in my purse and saw the invitation."
"But you don't know for sure."
"Lynn told me when I came back that she was looking in my purse after I left and she then she left after a few moments. It's the only reason she would want to look in my purse. I know you told me she was going to want to find out what was in the envelope. I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking about the invitation because we were talking about why she won't accept that Dad's with you when I went to the bathroom."
"Why would you leave your purse sitting there?" Jeffrey asks.
"I wouldn't have if I was alone, but she's my mother. I didn't think about her going through my purse."
"Do you…?" Jeffrey says, starting to raise his voice
"Jeffrey, it's alright." Sam says, laying a hand on his arm.
"I'm sorry." Jeffrey says, sighing as he reaches to hug Ava. "I know you didn't forget on purpose."
"I'm sorry. I didn't think she would go through my purse." Ava says, hugging him.
"I know. I'm sorry I started to yell. You're sure she saw the invitation."
"Yes, that's the only reason that she would want to look in my purse. She saw the envelope lying by me when she was talking to us and I guess she saw me put it in my purse after you left."
"Alright, we'll just have to get security." Jeffrey says.
"Security, at the wedding." Sam says.
"Yes."
"Jeffrey, I don't want our guest to feel like they are prisoners or at and inquisition."
"I'm not going to let her hurt you or the baby. We'll have security." Jeffrey says, turning to Sam.
She recognized that tone and realizes that she can't fight him. "Alright."
"I'm sorry. I know you didn't want her to know till after you were already married." Ava says.
"It's alright, I'll talk to Frank about getting some of SPD to provide security and if we have to I'll call in a favor and get agents to be security. She's not going to hurt you or ruin our wedding day." Jeffrey says, looking at Sam.
"We'll work it out." Sam says, walking over and hugging him.
"I'm going to go. Again I'm sorry." Ava says, walking to the door.
"It's alright." Jeffrey says, releasing Sam and walking Ava to the door "I'm sorry I started to yell."
"It's okay, you didn't want her to know and I messed that up."
"It will be okay, don't worry about it."
"Okay."
65.13