A Fresh Start
Chapter Seventy Nine
Julie drove the rest of the way home with thoughts of her and Matthew. As much as she pretended to care about Marciano, she had married him, largely because she was alone with three kids to raise and no means of support. She liked Marciano. He was a nice enough guy but she didn't feel for him what she had felt for her Mattie.
As she drove through the streets of Chicago, she thought about how quickly her life had changed. How she had gone from being completely in love with her husband, raising their children, to a widow, no money and alone, things might have been okay, if Mattie's mother had lived. They could have survived together but she had died within month of Mattie, leaving them all alone.
As she got closer and closer their home, the more she felt closed in. So when she reached her street, instead of turning onto it, she kept on driving. Not really knowing where she was going until she stopped outside of Lana's house. Putting the car in park, she gets out and walks up to the house, ringing the doorbell she waits. After a few moments, Lana's husband opens the door. "Hey, Julie. Come on in. Lana's taking care of Kristen." He says, stepping back.
"How's she doing?"
"Good, should be up for another game in a few weeks."
"Good." Julie says, following him into the living room.
"I'll go tell her you're here."
"Thanks, Joe." Julie says with a smile.
While he's in the other room, Julie looks around the walls of the room. It's filled with pictures of different outings and vacations, along with formal portraits of Lana, Joe and the kids. Pictures like those that used to hang in her living room and home in Oakdale. She's looking at the latest picture when Lana walks into the room. "Hey, Jules." She says, walking into the room.
"Hi." Julie replies, turning from the picture. "Joe says she's going to be okay."
"Yeah, only a severe sprain, she'll be out there playing again in a few weeks. You want something to eat of drink."
"Water would be good." Julie says, following Lana into the kitchen.
"So, what's going on?" Lana asks, handing her a glass of water.
"Nothing…. Alright, I couldn't go home." Julie says, after swallowing a sip of water.
"Why are you afraid…?"
"No, I don't think he'd actually hurt me. But I feel everything closing in on me. I don't know if I can do this for the rest of my life."
"Do what?" Lana asks, walking out of the kitchen.
"Settle." Julie replies, following her. "I saw Missy today. And I watched her and how happy she was. She was scared too, but she was happy. Happy like I used to be. Happy like I was with Mattie. And I look around at these pictures of you and your family. I used to have pictures like this on my walls." Julie says, putting her glass down and getting up.
She walks over to the bookshelf and picks up a picture of Lana, Joe and the kids on the beach in Florida the summer before. She especially looks at Lana and Joe and she can see the love they have for each other.
"You don't feel that way about Marciano." Lana says, following her.
"No, I don't." Julie says, sadly.
"Have you said…?"
"I can't talk to him, not the way I could talk to Mattie. I could say anything to Mattie and would not be afraid of his reaction, but with Marciano I can say one thing the wrong way and off he'll go. Have you ever been afraid of expressing yourself? No, of course not, because Joe treats you like Mattie treated me."
"If you feel this way, you have to say something to him. It's only going to build up and build up."
"I have more than myself to consider here." Julie says, sitting the picture back down and returning to the couch.
"You're kids."
"Yes, they deserve a father, a family."
"Do you think they don't feel this tension that's inside you? The tension between you and Marciano, they feel that too. They know you're not happy and it hurts them, it hurts them more because they are powerless to do anything about it."
"They're my kids, it's my responsibility to care for them, provide for them."
"And how can you do that when you're not even sure you're able to care for yourself." Lana says, getting up and walking over to her. "You love your kids. You want them to be happy, but they can't be happy until you're happy, and you're not going to be happy until you make up your mind about Marciano and your life with him."
"I have to go." Julie says, getting up.
"You can stay…."
"No, I have to go. I'm already in for another round when I get home. I basically hung up on him on my way back to Oakdale and now, it's after seven, I left the kids at the Mom's. He's not happy about that and I have his beer."
"Tell him to get his own beer."
"Yeah, I can surely do that. Listen, thanks for letting me vent. Julie says, as they hug.
"You can vent anytime, but the situation isn't going to resolve itself. You're going to have to make a decision one way or the other and soon." Lana says, stepping back.
"I know." Julie says, walking to the door with Lana following behind her.
"Call me, if things get to hot over there tonight." Lana says, opening the door.
"I will and thanks again." Julie says, walking out of the house.
Lana stands in the doorway, watching her walk to her car. She waves when Julie waves as she pulls away from the house.
The man in the Mercedes watches as Cassie and Richard get into their car and leave Mel's office. He follows them, keeping a safe distance away. As they pull up to the park, he parks a few cars behind them and watches as they get out and walk into the park.
Harley, Zach, Jude, RJ and Will are there and the boys are playing as Richard and Cassie walk up. "Hi." Cassie says, as she and Harley hug.
"Hi, how did it go?" Harley asks, as they sit down beside her.
"Good, Mel's going to file the petition for us as soon as the DNA test comes back and we should have the death certification overturned within a few weeks." Richard says.
"Good. So we have another wedding to plan. I don't suppose we'll have to wake you up to walk down the aisle." Harley says, with a smile.
"No, I don't suppose we will." Cassie replies, remembering the herbal pills that Blake had given her on their first wedding day. "This wedding is going to be a lot less complicated."
"No servants and protocol police there." Harley says.
"No, it's going to be just me, Richard, the boys, Reva and Josh, you and Gus, Jeffrey and Sam and William."
"Well at least you don't have to worry about Edmund coming after you this time."
"And no country watching our every move." Richard says.
"That's true." Harley says, watching Zach and Jude start to wrestle. "Zach, Jude, stop fighting." She calls.
"There's someone else that won't be there beside Blake." Richard says.
"Tammy." Harley says.
"Yes."
"We don't have to have a flower girl."
"It's traditional."
"Yes, but I think it would be okay if we don't, out of respect for Tammy." Cassie says.
"Okay, we'll I need to be going. Gus is taking me out tonight." Harley says, getting up.
"Thanks for watching them." Cassie says, as they stand up.
"You're welcome. I'll be seeing you."
"Yes." Cassie says, as they hug.
"Zach, Jude, come on." Harley calls.
"Aw, mom, we want to stay." They say, as they stop playing.
"I know you do, but I got a date with Gus, so let's go." Harley says, motioning them to her.
They walk over. All four of them are flushed and sweating from playing. "You'll let me know the details." Harley says, putting her hands on Zach and Jude's shoulders.
"Yes." Cassie says, with a smile. "Bye, boys."
"Bye, Ms. Cassie." They say as they follow Harley out of the park.
"Come on, you guys." Richard says, pointing RJ and Will towards the car. As they walk up, the man in the Mercedes is still sitting there.
"I think it's time we head home and get something to eat." Cassie says, as RJ and Will get in the car, buckling their seatbelts while Richard starts the car.
"Why don't we go to Company?" Richard says, starting the car.
"I can cook…."
"I know you can, but it's getting late and it'll be easier when we get home."
"Alright."
Richard pulls away from the curb, heading towards Company. And the man in the Mercedes follows them. Cassie, Richard and the boys are walking into Company when Cassie's cell phone rings. She pulls it from her purse as Richard pulls out her chair for her. "Hello."
"Cassie, its Reva."
"Hi, what's up?"
"Ah, I wanted to invite you to a Labor day BBQ here at the house."
"Ah, sure. I suppose that will be okay. When is it?"
"Well, it's actually on Saturday. I know we're going to busy Labor Day with Jeffrey and Sam's wedding, so Saturday is the best day I think."
"Saturday, is good for us." Cassie says, as Lynn comes up to the table.
"Good, we'll see you there."
"Okay." Cassie hangs up
"Welcome to Company." Lynn says.
"Thanks, Lynn."
"Can I have an ice tea?" Richard asks.
"Okay." Lynn says, turning to Cassie.
"I'll have the same thing and Sprite for the boys." She says, looking up."
"Coming right up." Lynn says, turning away
"Who was on the phone?"
"Reva, she's invited us to a Labor Day BBQ at Cross Creek."
"Really."
"Yes, its Saturday because of Jeffrey and Sam's wedding." Cassie says, looking over the menu.
"Jeffrey and Sam's wedding?" Josh says, standing in the doorway to the den at Cross Creek.
Reva turns around and stares a few moments before she replies. "Yes, I got the invitation about a week ago."
"And were you going to tell me about this invitation beforehand or the day of the wedding."
"I was…. I was waiting for the right time and place to tell you."
"I'm not going."
"Josh, come on. Whatever this thing is you have against Jeffrey, surely you can set it aside for his wedding. This is a big deal for him."
"I don't care what this is for him. I'm not going to his wedding. I don't want anything to do with that man."
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
"There's nothing wrong with me, I'm just not going."
"I can understand this attitude if it was Marah he was marrying."
"He…. I don't even want to think about that." Josh says, shuddering slightly.
"Marah's in Europe, and they broke up a long time ago. And I believe at great sacrifice to him."
"Sacrifice or not, I'm not going to his wedding. Who were you on the phone with?" Josh asks, changing the subject.
"Cassie." Reva says. "I was inviting her to Labor Day BBQ."
"What is up with that? Billy just decides out of the blue to have BBQ for Labor Day."
"I think it's a good idea." Reva says, dropping the subject of Jeffrey for later.
"Maybe it is, but just out of the blue."
"We haven't done one in a long time. It'll do us some good to be together on a holiday and besides you still have to show Richard your grilling technique." Reva says, walking into the kitchen.
"Fine, have you talked to Marah or Shayne?"
"Ah no, I was busy all afternoon getting stuff for the BBQ."
"Well then, I'm going to go call them. Maybe I can convince them to come home for at least one holiday this summer." Josh says, walking out of the den.
The man in the Mercedes follows Cassie and Richard to Company and he watches them while they have dinner and when they leave he follows them to the farm before he goes to the Beacon. Walking into his suite, he takes his jacket off as he pulls his cell phone out of his pocket and dials a number. After a couple rings a woman picks up. "Hello."
"Sarah." He says
"Daddy, hi."
"Hi, how are you?"
"I'm fine. Where are you?"
"I'm in Springfield."
"When will you be home? Margie's complaining again about you not being here."
"I'll be home as soon as I can."
"Why do you have to do this now? Why do you…."
"Sarah, this is something I have to do. I have to know her."
"But she doesn't even know…."
"We don't know what she knows. Listen, she doesn't change anything. You're still my daughter and I love you."
"Alright, I'll hold Margie off, but you need to get back here before Friday. The board is meeting and they will want you there."
"Alright, alright, I'll be home before Friday, but I have to see this through. Just because I'm…."
"You're coming home. you're still going to tell her who you are."
"Yes, I am."
"And what if she rejects you? Doesn't want anything to do with you, what will you do then?"
"I will understand. Sarah made the only choice she could have made at the time. I left her."
"If she loved you so much she could have kept your child and raised her."
"And how would she explain that to her husband? He wasn't around a lot of at the time then."
"And what does that say about her. He husband is away working and she…."
"Listen, Sarah did what she thought was best given the circumstances at the time. I do not blame her for that. We all make mistakes."
"Fine, but please be prepared. She may reject you."
"I don't think she will do that."
"She"
"I'll prepare myself, I promise."
"When are you going to tell her?"
"I don't know. I haven't made contact with her yet. Although…." He pauses for a few moments looking around the room.
"Dad."
"I'm staying at the Beacon Hotel, if you need me."
"What are you planning?"
"Nothing, I'm here to watch her and see about her. I don't even know if I'll have a chance to talk to her while I'm here, especially since I'm being summoned back home like a child late for dinner or something."
"She's worried about you."
"Tell her I'm fine and I'll be home by Friday, I promise."
"Alright, I'll tell her."
"I love you Sarah."
"I love you too, Daddy. I'll see you soon."
"Bye."
"Bye."
The man hangs up and then he walks into the bathroom for a shower. He didn't realize Springfield would be so hot, when he had left England.
Jeffrey and Sam slept late the next morning and after getting up and each taking a shower. Jeffrey is in the living room when Sam comes back downstairs after her shower. "J" she says, walking into the living room.
"Yeah, I'm over here." He says, standing up from behind some of his musical equipment.
"I'm going to go check on some last minute preparations for the wedding. Make sure everything is in order at the light house and stuff."
"Okay, I'll see you when you get back."
"Okay." She says, leaning over an amplifier to give him a quick kiss. "I'll be back later." She says, grabbing her purse off the table by the door.
"Okay."
Jeffrey goes back to fiddling with the amp as Sam closes the door behind her. Walking downstairs, she gets in her car and leaves a few seconds later. She stops at the Lighthouse committee to speak with them about the wedding.
"Yes, may I help you?" A woman asks as Sam walks in.
"Yes, I'm Sam Whitley."
"Yes ma'am."
"I wanted to confirm that you have down the O'Neill wedding for labor day weekend."
"Let me look." The woman says, pulling up a file on the computer. "Yes, we have you down for six pm that evening. We have a very short…."
"Yes, I know. And I appreciate you allowing us the time to use the location."
"You are welcome ma'am, anything for Mr. O'Neill."
"Thank you." Sam says, leaving a few moments later.
She had finally picked up the flowers a few days before. It had taken the florist several weeks to track down a vendor with lilac colored roses. When the florist had called with the message that the flowers were ready, she had instructed her to keep them until the wedding. She has received several replies from the invitations that she had sent out, most of the guest Jeffrey had invited were coming.
Pulling into the parking lot of Company, she parks and gets out. She's walking towards Company when she looks up and sees Olivia coming across the parking lot. She sighs, as they walk towards each other. "Olivia." Sam says,
"Sam." Olivia replies, acknowledging her as she walks past.
Sam stops and watches her as she walks on to her car. She gets in and leaves. Shaking her head, she turns back towards Company. Buzz is at the counter when she walks in. "Hey, Buzz." She says, walking up to the counter and putting her purse down.
"You okay."
"Yeah, I'm fine. I just had the strangest encounter with Olivia."
"What happened?"
"It was normal."
"Normal, like…."
"Like she didn't attack, she didn't say anything to me, except my name and then she walked on to her car."
"Maybe she's given up…."
"It's Olivia. I don't know her that well, but I have a feeling the she's not type to give up."
"No, you're right, she's not and I know her quite well. I was engaged to her."
"You were…. Of course, you were the one that she was engaged to when she and Jeffrey…. I forgot. Anyway, I came to see if everything is ready?"
"For the wedding, yes, we've got it covered. I'll be going out to the farm to see where Cassie wants this setup and I actually have enough staff to cover the wedding and Company too, which is a first. Seems like everything is lining up. Are you nervous?"
"No, I'm excited."
"What's Jeffrey…?"
"He's relaxed." Sam says, with a smile.
"We have everything in order here." Buzz says, nodding.
"Good, can I have…?"
"An orange smoothie, coming right up." Buzz says, turning around to make it for her. When it's finished, he hands it to her and says. "It's on the house."
"Thanks Buzz." She says, taking a sip. "These are the best." She says, reaching for her purse.
"I'll see you soon." Buzz says, as she walks towards the door.
"Yes and thanks." Sam says, turning and smiling as she lifts her cup and he nods.
She's getting in her car, as Jeffrey cell phone begins to ring. Getting up, he pushes the amp out of the way as he picks the phone up. "Hello, Jeffrey O'Neill."
"Sir, this Lieutenant Banks."
"Yes."
"Sir, Colonel Chase asked me to contact you about security arrangement for your wedding."
"Yes."
"Sir, we are in Springfield now."
"Could you meet me at Towers? We can discuss this there."
"Of course."
"I'll be there in an hour."
"Yes Sir."
After leaving Company, Sam starts for home but remembers that she has one more stop to make. Turning around, she heads towards Reva's. When she has spoke to Megan the last time, she had agreed to be her matron of honor, but she still needs her bridesmaids. Pulling up in front of Cross Creek, Sam gets out and walks up to the house. Jeffrey had asked Richard to be his best man and a couple of guys that he knew from the agency to be his groomsmen, but she hadn't made up her mind yet about the bridesmaids.
Knocking, she steps back and waits for Reva to answer the door. She's about to knock again when the door opens and Josh is standing there. "Hi, Josh. Is Reva home?"
"Yes, come in." He says, stepping back from the door.
"Thank you." Sam says, walking past him.
"Reva." Josh calls, walking towards the back of the house. Sam didn't know whether to follow him so she stays were she's at. She hears Josh say. "Sam is here to see you?"
A few minutes later, Reva walks to the front of the house. "Sam, it's so good to see you, come on in." She says, ushering her into the living room.
"I'm sorry to just drop by."
"No, it's okay. It's good to see you. We haven't talked in a while. How are you?"
"I'm good. But I needed to ask you something, that's why I came by."
"Alright."
"As you know, Jeffrey and I are getting married in about a week now."
"Yes, I got the invitation. I've been meaning to r.s.v.p, but I guess I can do that now. We'll be there."
"Good, that's what I wanted to talk to you about."
"You don't…."
"No, no, I want you and Josh at the wedding. I just want you to have a bigger part in it."
"A bigger part, I don't understand?"
"I know we don't know each other very well, we only met a few months ago, but I… I would like you to be one of my bridesmaids." Sam says rather quickly.
"Oh." Reva says a little shocked. "Wow."
"If you don't want to…."
"No, no, I would love to be. I just figured that you would have your friends be your bridesmaids."
"I don't really have that many friends. My cousin Megan will be my matron of honor, and LaKeisha will be there, but you and Cassie are the first two people, beside Jeffrey that I met from Springfield. I would ask Ava, but I don't want create any more tension between her and Olivia. And I haven't asked Cassie yet."
"I would be honored to be one of your bridesmaids, as long as we're not required to wear black taffeta or something."
"No, the color is lilac and I'll let you pick out the dress for yourself." Sam says, smiling.
"Then I would be honored to be a bridesmaid for you."
"Thank you." Sam says, as Josh walks into the room. "I need to be going. Now that I've talked to you I need to go talk to Cassie as well."
"Alright, I'll go looking first thing tomorrow."
"Alright." Sam says, standing up.
"Leaving so soon, Sam." Josh asks
"Ah, yes, I have some more errands to run." She says. "It was good to see you." She says, turning to Reva
"You too, and thank you."
"You're welcome, Josh." She says, nodding to him
Sam leaves as Reva turns to Josh. "Did you have be so snide?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Leaving so soon." Reva says, walking into the other room.
"I wasn't being…."
"Whatever your problem with Jeffrey is, she doesn't deserve your attitude."
"My attitude, and you know my problem with Jeffrey."
"Yes, he can't be trusted, but yet you won't tell me why he can't be trusted. And don't tell it has something to do with Cassie, because I know that's not the reason. You are hiding something."
"Now, you're listening to Billy. I'm not…."
"I don't want to talk about it. I've got to go shopping for a dress."
"A dress, Reva I thought we could spend the evening together. I've been so busy lately…."
"I know, but I've got a dress to buy and I've only got a few days to find one appropriate for the occasion."
"What occasion?"
"Jeffrey and Sam's wedding." Reva says, seeing Josh stiffen.
"I'm not…."
"I know you're not going, but I am, in fact I will be apart of the wedding party. Sam just asked to be one of her bridesmaids, along with Cassie and one of her friends and I accepted." Reva says, reaching for her purse and walking out of the house with Josh standing in the doorway, watching her pull away.
Jeffrey pulls up to Towers, handing his keys to the valet, he walks into the building and takes the elevator up to Towers. Lieutenant Banks is already there when Jeffrey arrives. "I see my party." Jeffrey says when the host walks up to him.
Making his way through the restaurant, he pulls out a chair as Lt. Banks looks up. "Colonel."
"Lieutenant." Jeffrey replies, as the waiter walks up to him. "I'll have a bourbon straight." Jeffrey says.
"Yes sir." The waiter says, turning away.
"So what did Noah tell you?" Jeffrey asks.
"Only that you needed a security detail for your wedding."
"Here's the problem. I've having some issues with one of my ex's."
"Your daughter's mother."
"Yes. She's hanging on, if you know what I mean."
"Yes sir."
"This day is extremely important to both me and my fiancé and I don't want Olivia making trouble for us."
"I understand Sir. What do you want my team to do?"
"How many men do you have?"
"Ten, sir."
"Alright, I want two men station at the entrance to the park. The rest I want spread through out the grounds."
"What about the lake, Sir? Shouldn't we have that covered too?"
"Yes, I'll speak to the chief of police about that situation." Jeffrey says.
"Yes Sir."
"I don't want our guest to feel like they are being watched, so I want you crew to be in civilian clothes. And I don't want them wearing any external communications devices. Keep the surveillance low key, as low key as you can without compromising security."
"Yes Sir."
"Where are you staying?"
"The Springfield Inn." Jeffrey sits there for a few moments. "What are you thinking Sir?"
"Maybe it would be a good idea to have one of your men shadow Olivia. He could be our eyes and hears at Beacon, if she decides to do anything he could let us know ahead of time."
"That might be a good idea. If we keep her insight at all times it would be easier than covering the whole lighthouse Sir."
"Okay, take one of the men off the front gate and put them on Olivia."
"Yes Sir."
"Good." Jeffrey says, downing his drink "I've got to go."
"Yes sir." Lieutenant Banks says, standing up.
Jeffrey leaves. Walking up to the elevator, he pushes the button for elevator and then steps back. A few minutes later, he looks up as the doors open and Olivia stands before him. "Jeffrey." She says.
"Olivia." He says as he tenses, expecting her to say something more.
She walks past him and into the restaurant as Jeffrey turns to watch. When the elevator doors start to close Jeffrey remembers that he was leaving. Reaching out, he stops the door from closing and then steps on, pushing the button for the first floor.
After leaving Reva, Sam heads for the farm. Cassie has just finished cleaning up the kitchen when she knocks on the door. Walking over to it, she opens it and smiles when she sees Sam on the other side. "Hi." She says, stepping back.
"Hi." Sam says, walking into the kitchen as Cassie closes the door.
"So, what's up? Are you here for…?"
"No, not yet. I need to ask you something." Sam says, as Richard walks in.
"Sam." He says, walking over to the refrigerator.
"Richard, hi. How are you feeling?"
"Great." He says, smiling. "I've got some work to do." He says, sensing that they wanted to talk privately and Cassie smiles as he looks at her.
"Do you want something to eat or drink?"
"No, I'm fine. I can't stay long, but I needed to ask you something."
"Alright."
"You're the closest friend I've got here in Springfield, well besides Reva. And I've asked her if she would be one."
"One, what?"
"One of my bridesmaids, my cousin will be my matron of honor, but you and Reva were the first two people I met from Springfield, you're my friend and I would ask Ava, but I don't want to cause any more problems between her and Olivia."
"You're not the cause, but I understand what you mean and I would love to be of one of your bridesmaids."
"Thank you."
"Are you nervous?"
"No, this is where I belong."
"I was a nervous wreck when Richard and I first got married, but then I was marrying a prince and the wedding was going to broadcast around the world. We had hundreds of dignitaries from all over the world."
"You had reason to be nervous." Sam says.
"Yes I did, but I knew deep down that I was marrying the man and not the crown."
"Like I'm marrying the man, not the reputation he's built."
"Yes, you know him better than anyone in this town and he loves you."
"I know, listen I've got to go. I've been gone most of the day." Sam says, walking to the door with Cassie following her.
"Alright."
"By the way, the color is lilac. I'll let you pick out the style of dress."
"Good, I was hoping it wouldn't be black taffeta."
"Reva said the same thing to me, why would anyone use black as a color for their wedding."
"I don't know." Cassie says, with a chuckle.
"I'll see you then."
"Of course." Cassie says, holding the screen door open as Sam walks off the porch and to her car. She leaves a few moments later and Cassie closes the door.
Julia pulls into the driveway. Turning the car off, she sits there for a few moments, watching the house and the lights in the living room. Opening the car door, she reaches for her purse and Marciano's beer. Getting out she closes the car door and starts towards the house. She walks in a few moments later.
Marciano looks up from the TV as she walks in. Closing the door, she walks through the living room and into the kitchen. On the counter she finds an open pizza box and she shakes her head before she puts the beer in the refrigerator and then walks out of the kitchen. He expects her to come back into the living room, but she doesn't, instead she walks upstairs and into the bedroom. A few moments later, he hears the water start to run upstairs. He waits till the end of the program he is watching and then he turns the TV off and walks upstairs. He's standing in the middle of their bedroom when she comes out of the bathroom.
"Not tonight Marciano." She says, walking around him
Walking over to the dresser, she picks up her brush and begins to brush her hair, while he watches her. When she lays the brush down and turns for the bed, he says. "You have nothing more to say, than not tonight."
"I don't have it in me to fight with you tonight, so please go downstairs, drink you beer, eat your pizza and do whatever." Julia says, pulling back the sheets.
"We…."
"We'll discuss it in the morning. You'll make sure that we do." Julia says, getting into bed, she rolls to her side facing away from him. Reaching for the light, she turns it off and then waits. She's surprised and relieved when he turns and walks out of the room.
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