A Fresh Start
Chapter Eighty Three
Later that afternoon, Julie and her mother walk into Missy's hospital room. She's asleep when they walk in. Taking the chairs beside the bed, they pull them over to her and sit down. After the surgeon had come to talk to them, Julie had gone to call Mitch and then she and her mother had gone down to the nursery to see the baby, but they weren't allowed in.
"She looks so small." Justine says, looking at her daughter.
"She's going to be fine." Julie says softly, staring at her sister.
"What did Mitch say?" Justine asks.
"He's leaving in about an hour and his flight should land in Chicago around six and then he's coming straight here."
"Did you tell him about the baby?"
"Yes, he knows everything."
"I can't believe this is happening."
"He's got a fighting chance, Mom. He's Missy's son and I'm sure he's as stubborn as she is."
"I'm not stubborn." Missy says softly.
"What would you call it?"
"Persistent about having my way."
"That's stubborn."
"I don't have the energy to argue right now."
"Then rest." Justine says.
"What happened?"
Julie looks at her mom and Justine says. "You were doing fine till around four am and then you started to cramp again. I went to get the nurse and by the time I got back you were hemorrhaging. They called your doctor and by the time she got here you were in labor and they rushed you into emergency surgery about five thirty, it might have been six. I don't remember."
"And by the time I got here at around ten, you had delivered the baby and were in recovery."
"Did you call...?"
"Mitch knows and he's on his way here. He should be arriving around six." Julie says.
"I just started cramping again and then went into labor. I don't understand what happened."
"From what Dr. Wesley explained, the placenta started to detach from your uterine wall and that forced you into labor and the baby was delivered through c-section this morning." Julie says, as Justine looks at her.
"What is it?"
"It's a little boy, from what the nurse told us."
"We have a son." Missy whispers, closing her eyes for a moment.
"They say he's doing quite well for being born this early."
"Where are your kids?" Missy asks, looking at Julie.
"They stayed with mom last night and Ms. Rita is looking after them." Julie says.
"And Marciano?"
"Don't worry about him. I'll handle him." Julie says.
"He's…."
"Don't worry about it Missy, I'll be here as long as you need me to."
"Alright." She says, sleepily."
"Close your eyes and rest." Julie says, as Justine nods.
Mitch's plane lands as Marciano walks into the house calling. "Julie." He gets no answer, so he calls again. "Julie." And still no reply. Pulling his tie off as he walks upstairs, he checks the kid's room and their room. He notices the plate from this morning's breakfast still sitting on the dresser where he left. Picking up the plate, he looks around the room and then he stomps back downstairs and into the kitchen. "Julie." He yells, but he gets nothing but silence.
Tossing the plate in the sink which breaks it he stomps from the kitchen and grabs the phone, dialing her cell phone. When he gets her voicemail again, he barks. "Where the hell are you? I told you to be home when I got home this evening, with those kids." He hangs up.
He stalks around the house for the next two hours, staring first at the phone and staring at the clock and then at the door. He calls Julie a few more times, leaving messages every time each one angrier than the last until he's finally yelling into the phone. After his last call, he finally gives up and calls Lana. But he gets her answering machine. When he gets their machine, he decides to go find her, himself. Grabbing his car keys, he stalks out of the house to his car.
The first place he stops is her work. He didn't believe she would be there, but there have been times that she had to stay after hours. Most time when that happened, she called him. And even though, she insisted that it was for business reasons, he always suspected that something else might be going on between her and her boss. Pulling into the driveway he thought. "This might be my chance to catch her with him."
But as soon as he reaches her building he quickly realizes that no one is there. Pulling out again, he stops at different places that he knew she often went to before he decides to go to Oakdale. Two hours later, he pulls into the driveway of his mother-in-law's house and quickly realizes, first that Julie isn't there and second that no one else is there either.
He sits there for a few moments before he glances at the neighbor's house and wonders if they could all be over there. He starts the car and pulls out, headed that way. Pulling into their driveway, he quickly realizes that they're not home either. He turns around in their yard and heads towards town.
Mitch spent about an hour an a half with Missy's doctor before he came to see her. And while they were talking, Justine and Julie went to get something to eat. When they sit down, Justine asks. "What did Marciano say last night when you go home?"
"Nothing." Julie replies, which wasn't a lie. He hadn't said anything last night.
"And this morning?"
"I explained what happened and that I would be spending time here until Missy recovers."
"How did he react to that?"
"Don't worry about Mom, I'll handle Marciano."
Justine looks at her for a few moments before she finishes eating and then she gets up to go to the bathroom. while she's gone to the bathroom, Julie had calls her voicemail and finds about ten messages, each one sounding angrier than the last.
When the last message played, she calls Ms. Rita and asks her to leave with the kids. After she explains that she would be tied up with Missy most of the weekend, they are more than willing to take them with them over weekend for their annual end of summer camping trip. "I appreciate this Ms. Rita." Julie says.
"You're welcome, you're kids are the sweetest kids and we don't get to see them that often now that you've moved."
"I left clothes at Mom's for them, so if you want to stop and pick them up, they can use those for the weekend.
"Will do." Rita replies, looking out the window, watching the kids play.
"Thank you again."
Julie has just hung up the phone when Justine sat down. "Who was that?"
"I called to check on the kids."
"Everything alright?"
"Yes, they are going to take them camping with this weekend." Julie says, finishing her salad and sandwich.
"I told you everything will be fine. Are you finished?"
"Yes, we need to get back to the hospital."
Julie pays the bill and they walk out of the diner. It's takes about ten minutes for them to walk back to the hospital. They are walking in, when Julie hears someone call her name, turning she sees Marciano striding towards them. "Momma, go on inside. I'll handle this." Justine looks at her daughter and then her son-in-law before Julie says. "Please."
"Alright dear."
"I'll be up in a few moments."
"Okay." Justine says, glancing again at Marciano before she turns and walks into the hospital.
When Marciano reaches her, she asks "What are you doing here?"
"I came to take you home, where you belong." He says, reaching for her arm.
Julie steps back as she replies. "I am where I belong. I'll be home when things are settled with Missy and…."
"Your mother and her husband can take care of her. You belong with me. I am your husband."
"I told you this morning I would be home when things are settled here and I meant it." Julie says.
"You are my wife. You will do as I say. I want you to come home." He says, reaching for her arm as she steps back again.
"I don't really care what you want Marciano. My sister needs me right now. I'm going to be there for her. She's just…."
"I don't care, you're coming home." Marciano says reaching for her as Mitch walks out of the hospital.
"Julie." He asks, walking up to them.
"This doesn't concern you." Marciano says, looking at his brother-in-law.
"Your mom sent me…."
"She needs to mind her own…."
"Marciano." Julie warns, as Mitch turns to him.
"We have enough going on right now. Missy wants Julie here and right now she needs her."
"She's my wife. Her first responsibility is to me."
"And you're well taken care of." Julie says. "I meant what I said this morning Marciano. Things will change, beginning today. I will be home when Missy is settled." Julie says, turning and walking away.
Marciano starts to follow her, but Mitch steps in front of him. "This is a hospital."
"She's my wife." Marciano replies, walking around Mitch and heading towards the door. He's met by one of the security guards.
"Sir, you need to leave."
"I came..."
"I've seen why you're here. This is a hospital. It's not a place or time for this matter to be resolved."
"You don't even know what's going on." Marciano says, trying to step around the guard, but he's blocked.
"You can leave freely Sir, or I will have you removed." The guard says, reaching out to stop him. Marciano looks down at the hand on his arm and then back up. He debates on where to try to push past the guard, and something in his eyes warns the guard. "I wouldn't."
He turns around and looks at Mitch. "You tell her I want her home tomorrow morning."
"She'll be home when she feels she needs to come home." Mitch says, watching his brother-in-law walk past.
When he's out of earshot, Mitch turns to the guard and says. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." The guard replies, as they walk back into the hospital.
Slowly Richard feels his body begin to relax, as Cassie moves into his arms. Laying her head on his chest, she snuggles in closer to him as he begins to play with her hair. They lay there for several minutes before he asks. "How did your morning go at the Beacon?" Cassie doesn't answer as she lays there beside him thinking about James and the invitation and lunch meeting that she later agreed to. "Cassie." He asks, growing concerned when she doesn't answer him.
"It was okay." She says, trying to move closer to him
"If it was okay, why are you tense?" He asks, caressing her hair. "Did Olivia do something?"
"No, this doesn't have to do with Olivia. It's got to do with one of the guests." Cassie says, moving away from him.
"I don't understand." He says, turning to his side, watching her.
"We have a guy staying at the Beacon. His name is James Marshall."
"The hotel magnet of Europe, he's staying at the Beacon." Richard says, in surprise.
"See, even you know who he is. And what I can't figure out is why is he staying at the Beacon instead of Towers?"
"Maybe…. I don't know. But what does this have to do with you?"
"I met him this morning on the third floor. He was coming out of his room and I was talking to one of the maids. Anyway, he introduced himself and then he asked me to lunch."
"He asked you to lunch. Like he was interested in you?" Richard asks slightly surprised.
"Well, I'm not use…."
"No, that's not what I meant. He had to know you were married. He had to have recognized you."
"Why would he recognize me? We've never…."
"We stayed at his hotel in Paris when we were on the state visit to the French President, right after the wedding. We had the dinner party at the embassy for the President and…."
"Yes, I remember. But I don't remember meeting him." Cassie says, looking at Richard.
"Thank you." Richard says, leaning over to kiss her.
"We had just gotten married. I wasn't looking at other men, least of all him." Cassie says when Richard leans back.
"so he asked you to lunch."
"At first I thought he was asking me out for that reason because he was interested in me because he sort of just blurted it out to me."
"So, what happened?"
"I was in the middle of explaining to him why I couldn't have lunch with him when Olivia walked up. She wanted to discuss the contract with our liquor supplier. Anyway, she recognized him and he explain why he wanted to have lunch with me."
"And why did he?"
"He said something about wanting to expand his operation in Europe. Sit up hotels around Europe following the same principal as the Beacon and he wanted to discuss that with me."
"Okay, so are you having lunch?"
"I believe Olivia would have volunteered to have the meeting with him but he insisted that he speak to me."
"He insisted that you speak with him. Maybe he remembers you from the trip to France and he doesn't know Olivia so he feels comfortable talking with you."
"I don't think so."
"Why?"
"Because I think he said the first thing that popped into his head after I turned him down for the lunch invitation. Why would he want to pattern his new expansion along the lines of the Beacon? Why would he be staying at the Beacon in the first place? I don't get a good feeling from him."
"What do you mean?"
"I think he's up to something."
"Do you think he's going to try and take the Beacon over?"
"I doubt it. Why would he, but he has a hidden agenda?"
"Are you going to have the meeting?"
"I told him to call my assistant and schedule something but if I can avoid the lunch I might do it."
"Cassie, what would be the harm in seeing what he has to say?"
"I don't trust him."
"You don't have to accept his offer, but you can at least listen to the man."
She looks over at him and then moves closer to him. "I don't know." She says.
"Alright." He says, moving to his back. "You do what you think is best."
"You think I should see him?"
"I'm not going to tell you what you should do."
"But?"
"I don't see the harm in you listen to his proposal. If you're not interested in it, then you can tell him that and he'll go back to Europe."
"What if he doesn't?"
"Why would he stay? If it's like you say it is and he made up this expansion to cover asking you to lunch, I don't see why he would press you after he made his proposal."
Cassie doesn't reply, laying her head back down on his chest. He begins to play with her hair again. A few minutes later, he looks down and sees that she's fallen asleep.
When Mitch walks into Missy's room, Julie looks up. His expression tells her that Marciano has left and she nods while Missy watches them. "What's going on?" She asks.
Julie turns to look at her. "It's nothing." She says
"Come on, I know something's going on."
"It's been handled Missy." Mitch says.
"It's Marciano." Julie looks at Justine and Mitch. "Okay, stop protecting me. I just…."
"You just had a baby and you had it prematurely. I'll handle my husband. You focus on getting…."
"I can't do anything right now for my son. What's going on?"
"Alright fine, he's demanding that I come home and bring the kids with me. We had a fight this morning and he ordered me to be home tonight. When I wasn't he came here and tried to force me to leave."
"That's where you went after Mom came back from eating." Missy says, looking at Mitch.
"I told him what was going on and he went to make sure nothing happened." Justine says.
"What's he afraid of?"
"I don't know. He's been slowly getting worse and worse and I haven't said anything because I didn't want your pity. I'll handle him."
"Julie…."
"You were happy with Mitch and the baby. I'll handle… I've handled the situation."
"What are you planning?"
"I'm not going back. I'm tired of walking on eggshells. I'm tired of looking over my shoulder. And I know that my kids are terrified of him. And…, Mattie wouldn't want me to live this way."
"He's not going to let you go, not easily."
"He will have to let me go."
"Where are the children?" Missy asks.
"They are with Ms. Rita. She took them with them on the camping trip. They won't be back until Monday."
"Alright, but what are you going to do after they get back?" Justine asks.
"It looks like I'm moving back home."
"You know that I wanted you to come back home after Matt died. And I know why you didn't. But what are you going to do if he tries to force you…?"
"I'll hire a lawyer and I'll get restraining orders against him. I'm not going back. I've finally realized that I can take care of things and I don't need him to do it. I was terrified when Matt died and I thought I needed Marciano to take care of me. But I'm tired of it all and this morning was the last straw."
"What did he do?" Mitch asked.
"He didn't hit me or anything, but he ordered me to be home tonight and I'm through taking his orders. He has two choices. He can accept me as I am now, or he can leave. It's up to him."
"You know it's not going to be that easy."
"Maybe not, but I've made up my mind. I'm not taking his orders anymore. So, what did the doctor say about the baby?"
"He's doing quite well." Mitch says. "I saw him through the window." He says, glancing at Missy. "He's small, but he's fighting." He says, seeing the tears in her eyes
Justine stands up. "I think it's time we went home." She says, looking at Julie.
"Yes, I'm tired and you need to be together and Missy you need to rest." Julie says, standing up. "We'll be back tomorrow."
"Okay." Missy says, reaching up to wipe away the tears as they walk over to the bed, each of them hugging her good-bye.
When they turn to leave, Mitch turns to Missy. "I'm going to walk them out and then I'll be back."
"Okay." She says, nodding.
They leave as Missy turns towards the window.
When the TV goes back to regularly scheduled programming, William turns it off and then looks down at the papers he was working on before. He soon realizes that he can't concentrate anymore after he spends three minutes reading over the same line of text and he has no idea what it says. Laying his pen down, he gets up and flips his light off.
He sent Jodi home a couple of hours earlier after his last meeting, so he turns the light off in the outer office and walks through the palace to his suite. Tonight was a slow night, no official duties to look after, no state dinners to attend, which he was sort of glad about. He didn't want to face everyone right now and answer their questions about the monarchy and his decision to abdicate.
Walking into his suite, he flips the light on and then walks through to his bedroom. Turning those lights on as well and reaching for the remote, he turns the stereo on. Tonight he didn't want silence, tonight he didn't want to think about the country or Will or not having an heir, or what Edmund had done to Richard and Cassie. Tonight he wanted to pretend that he was free. On the sea again, with only his shipmates and the open sea to keep him company.
Walking into his closet, he pulls off his tie and suit jacket unbuttoning the first two buttons of his shirt, he opens a drawer and pulls out a pair of torn up blue jeans and an old t-shirt. Flipping the light off in his closet, he walks into the bathroom. About fifteen minutes later, he comes out. Drying his hair and wearing the jeans and t-shirt, lying down across the bed, he closes his eyes.
He has no idea how long he laid there or when he feel asleep, but he wakes up to the buzzing of his phone. Reaching for it, he answers on the third ring. "Hello."
"Sir, you have a call from a Ms. Peralta."
"Ava, put her through." William says, sitting up. A couple clicks later, the calls are connected and he says. "Ava."
"Hi."
"Are you okay, the baby…?"
"The baby's fine. I wanted to see if you're okay?"
"I'm fine. How are you?"
"I'm… okay." Ava says after a few moments.
"Something happened?"
"It's nothing you need to worry about."
"Is it Olivia?"
"No, but I saw her earlier and she didn't do anything. She came by to see if I was okay and I told her that I didn't need or want her help"
"Why would she spontaneously stop by to see if you're okay?"
"I lost my job this afternoon."
"You what!"
"I lost my job this afternoon. Alan is in jail and Alex didn't see the point in keeping me on board when he's not there right now, so she let me go. With a very generous bonus and a reference I can use to get another job."
"They just let you go?"
"Yes, I only had the job because Alan-Michael wanted me. Alan kept me on because… I don't know why he kept me on, but he did. And now I don't have a job. Jeffrey said I could move in with him and Sam, if I have too."
"You won't have to do that. I'll take care of you and the baby."
"Will…."
"I'm not going to argue with you. I'll take care of both of you. I need to be doing it anyway. The only reason…."
"The only reason you're not is because I wouldn't let you."
"I know you're independent and I respect that. But I can take care of both of you and it's my responsibility to."
"I don't now why I told you. I wasn't going to."
"I'm glad you did and anytime you need me, you call and I'll take care of it and I'll be up there next weekend for the wedding."
"Okay. What will you do if the councils makes their decision while you're in Springfield?"
"I'm going to continue to run the country until they have the vote and depending on what happens then will determine what I do next."
"What if they keep the monarchy?"
"Then the next in line to the throne will take over."
"Who is it?"
"Lord and Lady Ainsford, if the people vote to keep the monarchy then Lord and Lady Ainsford take over and become the Prince and Princess of San Cristobel."
"Do you like them?"
"They're alright. I would rather it be them than Lord and Lady Wentley."
"Why?"
"They're too much like my brother Edmund. Lord and Lady Ainsford have always been loyal to my family, while Lord and Lady Wentley like to play both sides."
"What will happen if the people vote for democracy again?"
"Then we will have another election and whoever wins that election will be the next ruler of San Cristobel."
"What are you for?"
"I want what is best for my country and its people."
"I know that party line, what do you want?"
"I think…. I can't be talking about this."
"Why?"
"Because while the palace lines are secure, if someone were to repeat what I tell you it would not be appropriate."
"Alright." Ava says, yawning."
"I'm going to let you go. Get some sleep and I'll see you in few days."
"Okay." She says, yawning again.
"Good-bye Ava."
"Bye." They both hang up.
Reva is in the den when Josh comes home. He walks in and sees her sitting there looking through catalogs. "What are you doing?" He asks.
She looks up, surprised to see him home early. "I'm looking for a dress for Sam's wedding."
"You're still planning on going to that?"
"She asked me to be in the wedding and I told her I would, so yes I'm still planning to going and being in it."
"Even though you know how I feel about Jeffrey."
"Yes."
"Reva, I'm…."
"Don't Joshua, I'm going. You can stay home, but I'm going to the wedding I'm going to stand up there with Sam as they get married. And if they need anything from me I will be there to help them."
"What is it with this family? Why are you so stuck on him? Even Billy is helping him."
"What do you mean Billy is helping him?"
"Jeffrey hired Lewis to remodel that house over by Cedars for Sam."
"They one that was up for demolition?"
"Yes, some how Jeffrey owns it and he asked Billy to remodel it and he accepted the job for Lewis. When I found out today, I went over there and tried to stop…."
"You tried to stop the job!"
"Yes, why can't you all stay away from him? Why does he keep popping up in this family?"
"He's not popping up. He asked Billy to do a job and he asked for my help. He's friends with Richard and Cassie. It looks like you're the only one who has a problem with him, so maybe the problem isn't him, it's you." Reva says, getting up from the couch.
Josh stands there as she walks out of the room. "Why can't they simply take him at his word and do as he asks?"
"Maybe because you're wrong." HB says.
"No, I'm not. He doesn't belong in this family. He's not my brother. My father…."
"I wasn't a saint Josh and you know it. Jeffrey could very well be your brother and you know that too. And fighting against it and him will not change that fact."
"I will not accept him. He is not my brother. He's reckless and wild and…."
"He's a Lewis and a lot like me."
"No, he's not. You never put anyone in danger for his own purpose. Jeffrey…."
"Jeffrey hasn't done that either and you know it."
"He slept with Marah, what if he knows that he's your son. Then he knowingly slept with his niece."
"You know that he doesn't suspect anything."
"I almost said something today."
"Maybe you should, it would take a weight off your shoulders. Maybe you should tell them all the truth."
"I'm not telling them that. Jeffrey is not a member of this family now, nor will he ever be. I won't do that."
"It's you're choice but if you don't relax about him. They are going to continue pressing you and investigating."
"They're not investigating anything."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Okay, now I'm getting paranoid." Josh says to an empty room before he turns and walks out of the den.
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