A Fresh Start
Chapter Seventy Four
Reva had thought a lot about the way Josh was acting, and about what she had overheard him saying to Mark. And the more she thought about it, the more she couldn't figure out why Josh would want a file destroyed. She was pretty sure that it had nothing to do with the business. Josh was unfailingly ethical when it came to Lewis Construction, and she couldn't imagine that he would have an affair, only to keep a file on it. She is walking into Company after a check up when Reverend Rutledge calls to her. "Reva."
Turning, she stops and waits for him to reach her. "Reverend." She says, as he walks up to her.
"I wonder if I could speak to you about Josh."
"Josh, ah sure." Reva replies, a little surprised.
"Can I buy you a cup of coffee?" He asks, nodding towards Company.
"Sure." Reva replies, following him into the restaurant.
When they sit down, Lynn comes over to their table. "Two coffees." Reverend Rutledge says.
"Two coffees coming right up." Lynn replies, putting her pad away.
"I'll be ordering lunch after I get through with the Reverend." Reva says, looking up at Lynn.
"Okay, I'll be back with the coffee."
"Thank you." Reverend Rutledge says as Lynn turns away.
"You wanted to talk to me about Josh?" Reva asks, turning back to him.
"Yes, have you noticed a change in him?"
"No, no more than usual. He's working a lot of long hours with Lewis, why?"
"Does he seem angry to you." Reverend Rutledge asks, as Lynn brings them their coffee. He takes a sip as Reva reaches for the sugar.
"Angry, no more than normal I suppose." Reva replies, shrugging her shoulders as she stirs her coffee.
"I should say does he seem to be angry at any one particular person more than another." He asks, taking a drink of his coffee.
"What are you getting at?" Reva asks.
"We had a meeting at City Hall this morning, and he was very quiet, barely answering any of the questions that were asked by Mayor O'Neill."
"Jeffrey was there." Reva says, looking up.
"Yes, this program we are trying to get started was Josh's idea, but when we were discussing it, he would barely answer questions, and then when we left I asked him about it, and he practically took my head off, complaining about Jeffrey's involvement."
"He has been upset when Jeffrey has come up in conversation. He even tried to keep me from going to Washington about a month ago now, because Jeffrey was inadvertently involved in the situation I was taking care of."
"I know Josh has very high standards, some might say they are too high, but he seems particularly hard on Jeffrey."
"I'm not even sure I know why he's the way he is with Jeffrey."
"It's because he's reckless, self centered and dangerous." Josh says, standing behind them. Turning around, Reva looks up at Josh. "So, you're running to Reverend Rutledge now." He says, looking down at her.
"Ah, no… I was coming into…."
"I asked Reva if I could speak to her." Reverend Rutledge says, standing up.
"Why?"
"I was concerned…."
"Concerned about Jeffrey and why I'm so hard on him. He deserves everything I've given him."
"Josh, he's not…."
"No, I don't want him around my family. I don't want him involved in our project either, and if he has to be then I think I'll pull my name from this project and open my own center." Josh says, turning around and walking away as Reva looks up at Reverend Rutledge.
"Should I…." He asks, looking down at her.
"No, I'll go. I'm going to find out exactly what's going on with him." Reva says, standing up and grabbing her purse. Josh is halfway across the parking lot, when Reva walks out of Company. "Josh." She calls. He ignores her. Getting into his truck, he pulls out of the parking lot and leaves. "Oh no, Joshua Lewis, you're not getting away that easily." Reva says, walking to her car. Getting in she follows him to Lewis.
He has just walked into his office when Reva walks in as Wanda reaches for the buzzer to announce her and she shakes her head no. Walking past her desk, Reva walks into his office. "What the hell is the matter with you?" She demands, as Josh spins around.
"I don't have time for this right now Reva."
"You're going to tell me what the hell is going on."
"Nothing is going on."
"You practically bit Reverend Rutledge's head off back there. You're threatening people. And why is it suddenly you have such a strong dislike for Jeffrey O'Neill?"
"I didn't bite his head off. I was quite civil, considering I found my wife discussing something with him that is none of his business."
"He's your partner, this was your project. You approached Jeffrey about it in the first place, and why all of sudden are you practically beating Jeffrey into the ground about everything he does."
"Maybe, I don't like my wife making excuses for him."
"I'm not making excuses. But I don't understand why you're suddenly so against the man."
"You don't have to understand why, you only have to honor my opinion and support my decisions about what is best for this family. And Jeffrey O'Neill is not what's best for this family."
"First of all, I have the right to question anything you do, when it comes from left field. You do not own me Joshua Lewis. And secondly, Jeffrey has done nothing to this family, and don't blame what he did to Cassie. Richard and Cassie have forgiven him, why can't you?"
"He…." Josh looks away.
"He what!"
"He can't be trusted."
"Maybe you're the one that can't be trusted."
"What does that mean?" Josh demands
"Why are you destroying Lewis files and why can't you tell me and Billy about it?"
"You were listening into a private business conversation." He exclaims.
"I'm a Lewis, thus a part of this business. If there is a matter that you feel needs to be taken care of by destroying files then I believe Billy and I have the right to know what is going on." Reva says, as Billy walks in.
"What's going on? I can hear you two yelling across the hall."
"It's nothing, just a difference of opinion, isn't that right."
"If you call destroying files for Lewis Construction and not to informing us, nothing." Reva says, looking at Josh.
"What is she talking about Josh, destroying Lewis files?" Billy asks, turning to his brother.
"It's nothing. Files are destroyed all the time. It's part of business."
"You insisted that the file be totally destroyed, and you insisted that neither Billy nor I know about it. If it was the natural part of business why can't you tell us what it was, and why you had it destroyed. I say that is something, something you would not do unless you had a very good reason." Reva says.
"I do have a good reason." Josh says.
"What? Billy asks, looking at his brother.
"It…."
"It what?" Reva asks.
"It's for the good of Lewis and this family. You'll just have to trust me on that."
"This is a family company Joshua. You owe it to us to tell us what is wrong and why you're having files destroyed." Billy says.
"It was one file and last time I checked I was the one in control of Lewis because you…."
"Josh…." Reva says
"It's a family business and you know it. " Billy replies, interrupting Reva.
Sighing, Josh looks at both of them. "You have to trust me. I am protecting Lewis Construction and this family. Now, if you'll excuse me I have to be at the site in Laurel Falls." Josh says, grabbing some plans and leaving the office.
"Do you believe him?" Reva asks, looking over at Billy
"If there's one thing I know about my brother, it's when he's hiding something, and he's hiding something." Billy says, turning and walking out of Josh's office. Stopping at Wanda's desk, he says. "I want you to go through every file in the legal department. I want to know about everything that is in them, who they are about, what project they are associated with and where they have been kept."
"Yes sir." Wanda says, looking up at Billy and Reva. Billy turns to leave as Wanda asks. "How far do you want me to go back?"
"All the way, and if you have any problems you tell the attorney's to contact me." Billy says, turning to look at her.
"Yes sir, you want me to go all the way, like back to…."
"Like all the way to Lewis Oil, I want a report on every file that's come through either company's legal department. And you're not to say a word to Josh."
"Yes sir." Wanda says, swallowing as Billy and Reva walk out of the office.
"Do you realize how much…?"
"She can do it." Billy says, walking towards his office with Reva beside him.
"What do you think he's hiding?"
"I don't know, Reva. He may be the head of this company but it is a family business and he doesn't have final say about every decision."
"Billy, I'm sure he…."
"He meant what he said Reva. He expects us to follow him without question, because…."
"He doesn't…."
"Yes, he does. He still sees me as the man that fell off the wagon. He sees me as a drunk."
"He knows that…."
"He may know that it's a disease, but he still thinks that I should be able to control it."
"Billy…." Reva says, reaching for his arm.
"Darlin, this is not your fault. I did this. I do this every time I…"
"You fight a disease everyday, and you win most days. Every one slips, and Josh does understand that."
"He may understand it, but does he accept it." Billy asks, sitting down behind his desk as Reva walks around it.
"He… I don't know what he understands or accepts." Reva says, sighing. "I've never seen him this way. He's always been a little… well you know how Josh is."
"Yes, I know how Josh is. He can be judgmental, and self righteous." Billy says, but Reva doesn't reply for a few moments.
"I'm not trying to justify him, he infuriates me sometimes, especially when he believes that he has the right to dictate to me, but we all have faults." Reva says, taking his hand.
"It's okay." Billy says, pushing his chair back and standing up.
"Where are you going?" Reva asks, standing up.
"I… I don't know where I'm going." Billy says, walking towards his door.
"Billy."
"It's alright, darlin. I'm okay." Billy says, walking back to her and hugging her.
"I'll be fine, I promise Darlin." Billy says walking out of his office with Reva standing at the door way.
When Josh left his office, he walks down the hall to Mark's office. "Mr. Lewis." He says looking up from a contract he was going over.
"I have to make sure about something?"
"Yes Sir."
"There is absolutely no way that my brother or my wife can figure out that my father changed his will."
"Yes sir, I gave you everything we had Sir including the actual file folder."
"Good." Josh says, leaving the office.
Richard finishes up with the representatives from Chicago in about an hour and when they leave he picks up the phone and dials a number and after a couple of rings Noah picks up. "Noah Chase." Noah says, putting down the chart that he had been reviewing.
"Noah, its Richard."
"Hey, how are you? How is Springfield? I heard about Will. How are Cassie and the boys?"
"Every thing is good, Springfield is good and Cassie and the boys are fine."
"So, how does it feel to be back?"
"It's good, I mean its a little strange being here without Tammy being here. But I'm really enjoying my work and Cassie and I are planning to renew our vows and that's why I'm calling."
"Why are you renewing your vows?"
"Well for two reasons, we had planned to do that when I returned from Chicago five years ago and second because I was declared dead. That's why I'm calling we're trying to get that reversed."
"Okay."
"I've spoke with Rick and he says that we need to establish a connection between now and the time before the accident to help reverse the death certificate through a DNA test."
"What do you need me to do?"
"I need to know if the agency still has the vial of my blood on the file from when Jeffrey was in San Cristobel."
"I'm not sure, I can check."
"If they do, I need it sent to Cedars."
"I can check with the lab here at the hospital and see if they have the sample. They probably kept it since you were admitted here. If they still it I'll have it sent to Cedars."
"Good, but Rick suggested that a agent that is not connected to me be the one to submit the sample, just to make sure that there isn't a chance of foul play or contamination of the sample."
"Alright, I'll have the lab submit it to Cedars and I'll keep my name out of it and off the report."
"I just thought of something. Could you let me know if the sample is still there and I'll have Rick contact the lab directly?"
"He's a civilian Richard, I'm not sure that the agency would work with him about it. It will be better that I ask and have the lab contact the Cedars lab directly."
"Alright."
"When is the wedding?"
"September 20th, you will come."
"I'll be there. I was at the last…."
"She will be there. Will you…?"
"I can't avoid her forever, Richard. She made her choice and I had to walk away."
"She loved you Noah."
"I know she did, but she loved Josh more and I couldn't compete with that. I would never have her to myself because he would always be there."
"I understand, and I'm sure that Reva does too."
"I'll be at the wedding."
"Good, I'll tell Cassie. And thanks Noah."
"You're welcome, and I'll see you in a few weeks." They hang up and Richard dials another number and after a couple rings Rick picks up. "Dr. Rick Bauer."
"Rick, its Richard."
"Yes, have you spoken with Noah?"
"I just got off the phone, he's going to contact the lab there in DC and have them contact the lab at Cedars."
"Good, then I'll call the lab and inform them to expect the call."
"I was going to head over there and give the new sample."
"Alright, I'll call and tell them to expect you."
"I'll be there within the next half hour."
"I'll tell them."
"Thank you, Rick."
"You're welcome." Rick replies and they hang up.
Getting up, Richard leaves his office where he stops at Amelia's desk. "I'm leaving for the day."
"Yes Sir." She says, looking up from the letter she is typing.
"When you finish that, you can leave as well. And thanks for covering for me this afternoon."
"You're welcome Sir."
Turning for the hallway, he says. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Yes Sir."
Richard leaves. Walking out of city hall, he walks to his car and getting in he goes to Cedars. Parking he walks in and heads towards the lab. Walking in, he is met by a nurse. "Can I help you?" the woman asks.
"Yes, I'm here to have blood drawn for a DNA test. Dr Bauer was…."
"Yes, he contacted us a few moments ago. Are you ready?"
"Yes." Richard replies, as the nurse turns
"If you'll follow me?" The nurse replies, with Richard following her.
Sitting down in the chair, he takes off his jacket and then starts to roll up his sleeve as the nurse begins to gather the stuff she'll need to take his blood. Holding his arm out, he watches as the nurse sticks him and then fills the vial. He watches her label the vial as he's holding the cotton ball against the puncture where she had drawn the blood.
"I'll put this in storage and when we receive the other sample we'll run the DNA test."
"The lab in Washington should be contacting you within a few days."
"I'll make a note on your record."
"Thank you." Richard says, as the nurse puts a pressure bandage around the cotton ball. Reaching for his jacket, he leaves the lab a few moments later.
Sam is sitting on the balcony when Jeffrey walks in. Putting his briefcase on the table by the door, he calls. "Sam."
"I'm out here." She calls, as he walks across the living room to the doorway.
"What's up?" He asks, leaning against the doorframe.
"Nothing." Sam replies, as he walks over to her. Leaning over, he gives her a soft kiss before he sits down beside her. "Did you get to see Ava?"
"Yes, and I told her about William."
"How did she take it?"
"She was surprised, just like we were. I believe that she called him after I left Company, and I haven't spoken with her so I don't know how that went." Jeffrey says, knowing that, that would be her next question.
"Alright, so you spoke with Ava, did you do anything else today?"
"Usual business, I did have a meeting this morning with Josh and Reverend Rutledge this morning."
"You did, how did it go?"
"Fine, I suppose."
"How did Josh act?"
"He was his usual self towards me."
"Ah, did you ask…?"
"No, I didn't."
"Why not, you know he…."
"I know how he is. If he wants to be stubborn about a project he brought to me that's fine, I'm still going to support the project because I happen to think that it will benefit Springfield, even if Josh has issues with me being involved."
"Jeffrey, he…."
"Sam, he is what he is. I know where he stands and I would rather know…."
"You say that, but I can hear the frustration in your voice. It bothers you more than you admit that he seems to treat you differently than everyone else."
"I don't want to talk about Josh. What did you do today?"
"I drove around town for a little bit to see if I could find someplace else that I wanted to open my practice, since the house by Cedars was sold."
"Did you find anything?"
"No, but something will come open. It won't be the same as that house. I hope whoever bought considers all of their options."
"I'm sure they will. So what do you want to do tonight?"
"I feel like staying home tonight."
"Do you want me to grill some steaks for us?'
"That sounds good, you want my pasta salad." Sam asks, getting up.
"I would love some of your pasta salad." Jeffrey replies getting up and following her into the kitchen.
Over the next hour, Jeffrey is on the balcony, grilling the steaks while Sam is in the kitchen making the pasta salad and the rest of their dinner. She is coming out of the kitchen as he comes in carrying the steaks.
"These are finished." He says, walking over to the table.
"The salad's finished, we're waiting on the vegetables to cook and then we'll be ready to eat. Do you want some wine?"
"If you don't mind."
"I don't care." Sam says, sitting the table as he walks towards the kitchen to open a bottle.
A few minutes later, they sit down to eat. About an hour later, Sam pushes her plate back. "I'm full." She says, taking a sip of her water.
"Are you sure?" Jeffrey asks, looking at her plate.
"Yes, I've been snacking all day and if I keep eating I'm going to gain…."
"Sam, you're pregnant, you suppose to gain weight."
"I know, I'm not saying this because I don't want to loose my girlish figure. I'm only saying that I have to keep in mind that every pound I gain, I have to loose after the babies born, and Dr. Sedgwick said that some weight gain is normal, but not to over do it."
"Alright, well can I have…?" Before he finishes, she's pushing her plate over to him.
When he finishes, he helps her clean up table before she shoo's him out of the kitchen. After she finishes loading the dish washer and starting it, she pours him another glass of wine before she leaves the kitchen. Flipping the light off as she goes, she walks out to the balcony. The sun has finally set behind the building across the street and even though the night is still warm, it is cooler than it had been about an hour before.
Standing at the door, she watches him for a few moments before she walks over to him. He smiles, when he feels her arm around his waist. "I brought you another glass of wine." She says, handing him the glass.
"Are you trying to get me drunk so you can have your way with me?"
"Do I have to get you drunk?" Sam asks, looking up at him.
"Umm, no you don't." Jeffrey says, slowly running his finger down her cheek and along her jaw, looking down into her eyes for a few seconds before he leans towards her and softly kisses her.
After a few moments, he leans back and smiles softly. "I love you."
"I love you too."
Turning in his arms, she leans against him as he takes a sip of the wine she had brought him. Pulling her back against him, he holds her tightly. After a few seconds, he suggests. "Why don't we sit down?"
"Okay." She replies, as he releases her.
Taking her hand, he leads her over to the chair she had been sitting in. Sitting the glass of wine down beside it, he sits down and then pulls her down onto his lap.
"You know, in a few months we won't be able to do this, because I'll be too heavy for you to hold."
"I'll always hold you, both of you." Jeffrey replies, as she lays her head on his shoulder.
There are a few moments of silence, before Jeffrey says. "You know we have another monumental occasion coming up."
"Are you nervous?" Sam asks, lacing her fingers with his.
"No, you." He asks.
"No, I'm ready for this."
"So am I." Jeffrey replies, lightly kissing the side of her head. "So, are we doing the bachelor and bachelorette party thing?"
"Who would I invite?" Sam asks leaning back to look up at him. "I mean there's Harley, Cassie, Ava and Reva, but LaKeisha and Megan are in DC, they'll be here before the wedding, but I doubt they'll come in for a bachelorette party, so who else would I invite. Do you want to have one?"
"No, I have even less friends to invite if I did have one, but that brings us to another question."
"It does."
"Yes, the night before the wedding."
"What about it?"
"Well, tradition states that…."
"I don't care."
"What do you mean, you don't care?"
"I mean just that."
"You mean you're not interested in tradition, or that particular one?"
"That particular one, I've never understood it anyway."
"It so… come to think about it I can't explain it either but it is a tradition. Are you sure you don't want…?"
'"No, beside I believe we should start our own tradition."
"Start our own tradition, how?"
"We stay together on the night before the wedding."
"You really want to do that?"
"Yes, I couldn't sleep without you being there with me anyway."
"Alright, if you want us to be together I'm fine with it." Jeffrey says, as she settles back with him.
"Okay.
"We still need to discuss the honeymoon."
"Umm, okay."
"Is there anywhere you want to go?"
"Ah no, but I want it to be just you and me, alone."
"So, you don't want to go to like the islands or Paris, some place like that."
"We've been to all those places together."
"I know, but we were working when were in Europe, and I was working when I was in the islands."
"I'd rather go somewhere quiet, where it's just you and me."
"Alright." Jeffrey says, lightly kissing the side of her head.
"Besides, it's probably better that we don't fly somewhere."
"Why?"
"I'm pregnant, I know I'm not that far along, but it may be better if we don't fly."
"Alright, I didn't think about that. Could you do a road trip?"
"Sure, but could you. The last road trip…."
"That wasn't my fault, that car was an old clunker."
"You picked the car out, and you wanted to save some money."
"The director was…."
"He wasn't on you that much. You…." Jeffrey turns her face to him and leaning in he kisses her.
After a few seconds, he leans back and says. "We're not going to have this discussion again."
"Alright, even if I'm right."
Jeffrey chuckles as he leans in to kiss her. They sit there for a few moments, listening to the sounds of a late summer evening, and the sounds of night falling on Springfield. As the last of the sunlight fades from the sky, Sam asks. "What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing." Jeffrey replies, running his fingers through her hair. There are a couple moments of silence before he asks. "Did you ever go?"
"Go where?"
"Niagara Falls."
"No, I didn't. I couldn't go with out you. Did you go?"
"No, I started to, but I could never bring myself to go. It was a trip we were going to take together after we got back from Russia, but when I got back, you weren't here and I couldn't go alone. I needed you there with me. I wanted you there with me."
"I'm sorry, but I felt the same way. If you weren't going to be with me, I wasn't going to see them."
"You could have gone for your mom."
"She wasn't there either. I didn't want to go by myself." Sam says, yawning.
"Come on." Jeffrey says, sitting up.
"Where… you're not thinking of going now?"
"No, you're tired."
"Jeffrey's its early still."
"But you're tired." He says, helping her up off his lap.
"I don't want to go to bed now."
"Fine, will you lay down on the couch." He asks, leading her into the loft. "And I'll play something for you." He says, walking over to couch, still leading her behind him.
"Alright." She says, sitting down as he walks over to his guitar.
Sitting back, she leans her head to the side as he picks up his guitar and starts to play a soft melody. After a few moments, she feels herself start to relax and he continues to play, moving from one song to another.
Looking up, he smiles when he sees her stretched out on the couch, watching him while he continues to play. Moving on to the next song, he continues to play for a while before he looks up and he sees her sleeping softly. Putting the guitar down, he gets up and walking over to the couch. Lifting the throw from the back of couch, he spreads it over her. Leaning over, he kisses her softly. "It works every time." He whispers, standing back up. Walking back over to his guitar, he continues to play softly.
Cassie and the boys are just arriving at the farm when Reva pulls up. "Hey Sis." Cassie says, putting her purse down on the counter.
"Hi.' Reva says, walking into the house behind Cassie and sounding down.
"What's wrong?" Cassie asks, leaning against the counter.
"Josh."
"Josh?"
"I've been thinking about what I overheard him say to the lawyer at Lewis."
"He's cheating?"
"No. I'm convinced this has something to do with Lewis."
"Lewis, I thought he was upset with Jeffrey?"
"He is, but it's tied to Lewis."
"I'm not following you. How is Jeffrey tied to Lewis?"
"I don't know, that's what Billy and I are… were trying to find out from Josh, but he won't tell us anything, except that we have to trust him."
"And this goes back to the file."
"Yes."
"How is that tied to Jeffrey?"
"That's what I asked him, but he won't tell me anything, just that we have to trust him."
"Okay, how is Billy involved into this?"
"It started when I was going into Company this afternoon, Reverend Rutledge stopped me. He wanted to talk to me about Josh, so we went inside and we were talking when Josh came up behind us."
"Why did Reverend Rutledge want to talk to you about Josh?"
"He and Josh had a meeting this morning with Jeffrey at City Hall and apparently Josh wasn't too cooperative in the meeting. Reverend Rutledge wanted know why, especially since Josh brought the whole idea about the center to Jeffrey in the first place. Josh overheard us discussing how he's been towards Jeffrey lately and he sort of went off on both of us and then he stormed out of Company. I followed him to Lewis and I confronted him about Jeffrey and about the file that he had destroyed, Billy overheard us arguing and he came to see what the problem was. He and Josh had an argument and Josh left his office. After he left, Billy ordered Wanda to compile a report on all the legal files pertaining to Lewis and going back as far as Lewis Oil."
"So, Billy thinks that the file has something to do with business, but I don't understand what that has to do with Jeffrey. Has Lewis had any dealings with Jeffrey?"
"No, none that I know of."
"Is he still upset about Jeffrey and what happened with me?"
"No, I don't think this has anything to do with you anymore. It's something more."
"What's something more?" Richard asks, walking into house."
"We're talking about Josh." Cassie says, walking over to him and giving him a kiss.
"What about him?" Richard asks when Cassie steps back.
"Why he's so hard on Jeffrey and we're trying to figure out what that has to do with Lewis."
"Why don't you ask him?" Richard asks, walking over to the refrigerator and getting a soda.
"I have, I did, today in fact and all he would tell me was to trust him."
"Well, maybe that's exactly what you should do?"
"But how is Jeffrey tied to Lewis? Why is he so hard on him… and why would he destroy a file and order the attorney and that Billy and I not be told. I know Josh, and he's hiding something, something important." Reva says, standing up and reaching for her purse.
"Where are you going?"
"Home."
"Don't antagonize him Reva." Richard says, as she walks towards the door.
"I'm not going to. Billy will find out what's going on. And I doubt that he'll be home tonight anyway. He's in Laurel Falls, working." She says, walking out the door.