A Fresh Start
Chapter Eighty Eight
As they walk out of the courtroom, Sam and Jeffrey are surrounded by reporters. "Mayor O'Neill, do you feel as though your reputation has been vindicated by testifying today." A reporter asks.
"No comment." Jeffrey replies, guiding Sam through the crowd around them
"Ms. Whitley, how do you feel learning that your fiancé was once accused of rape?"
"No comment." Sam replies, looking up at Jeffrey.
Jeffrey takes her hand and leads her through the rest of the crowd and down the steps of the courthouse while the reporters follow them until the defense attorney for Ditkins walks out of the courthouse and they turn their attention towards them.
"I'm sorry about that?" Jeffrey says, leading her over to the truck.
"It's a part of your life now." Sam says, looking over her shoulder to watch the reporters.
"I know. But this was hard for you."
"I knew what had happened Jeffrey. You told me a long time ago. I didn't need to see the tape to know you didn't rape her."
"Are you hungry?" Jeffrey asks, opening the door to the truck.
"Yes, starving." Sam says, climbing in a scooting over as he closes the door and walks around to the other side.
Getting in, he starts the truck and pulls away from the courthouse. "What do you want to eat?"
"Surprise me?" Sam says, reaching for his arm and lifting it to put it across her shoulders.
"Alright, I sort of feel like celebrating, since this is the end of all that mess with my past. The town finally knows exactly what happened that night, as does Olivia and Ava, or they will once they watch the news this evening, so how about Towers."
"Tower's is good."
A few minutes later, they pull up to Towers and getting out, Jeffrey hands the keys to valet while he puts his arm around Sam and they walk into the hotel. Taking the elevator up, they wait for the hostess to seat them and while they're looking over the menu Sam remembers that she wanted to ask Jeffrey about his middle names. "You never told me that you had a middle name." Sam says, as Jeffrey looks up.
"No, I guess I didn't. It's not something that I think about that often. Mom always told everyone that my name was Jeffrey. I never knew I had a middle name until after she died and I found my birth certificate."
"And your birth certificate didn't name who your father was?"
"No, it was marked unknown. I remember feeling excited when I found in her papers, thinking I would finally know who my father was, but it wasn't on there." Jeffrey says, picking up his menu.
After a few moments Sam says. "You know it's an unusual name for your mom to pick for you."
"Why?" Jeffrey asks, looking up.
"Harland Billy, it's not a common name up here. Now in Georgia, I could see how she came up with that, but in Chicago, it doesn't really fit."
Jeffrey shrugs his shoulders as the waiter walks up to their table and asks "Are you ready to order?"
"I'll have the steak, medium rare, bake potato, and salad and a glass of Boudreaux." Jeffrey says.
"And you ma'am."
"I'll have the same but I want my steak well done and I'll have a glass of tea instead of the wine." Sam replies, handing the waiter her menu.
"Yes ma'am." He replies, taking the menu and then Jeffrey's before he turns to walk away.
"So, what do you have to do today?" Jeffrey asks.
"Nothing, I've got everything ready for the wedding. But I do need to check on the reservations for Megan and LaKeisha before we leave here. Do you have to go to City Hall?"
"Yes, I've got a few meetings with council members and one with Richard." Jeffrey replies.
"I need to go by and see if Reva and Cassie have found a dress for the wedding."
"Speaking of the wedding, everything is in order for the honeymoon." Jeffrey says, but Sam doesn't seem to have heard him, because if she had she would have pressed him to tell her where they were going. "Sam." He asks.
"I'm sorry what did you say?" Sam asks.
"I said everything is in order for the honeymoon." Jeffrey replies, watching her. "Alright, what are you thinking about?" He asks, when she doesn't ask for details that time either.
"I was just thinking about you mom."
"What about her?"
"Why did she pick that particular name for your middle name and why did she use two names."
"I don't know. Maybe she liked it. It doesn't matter. Why did your parents name you Ann for your middle name?" Jeffrey asks.
"Because it was both of my parent's grandmother's name, did she have anyone named that in her family?"
"No, not that I know of."
"Was anyone from your family in the South?"
"No, we were all from Chicago. Sam, it's just a name."
"But it's a distinctly southern name. At least it sounds Southern. And if your mom was never in the South, you have no family that was in the South or been in the south, how did she pick that name if it wasn't a family name."
"It wasn't. And I don't know how she picked the name. Maybe she heard it somewhere and liked. I had a boy in my class named Billy. It was short for William, but still it's a common enough name. She could have heard it anywhere."
"I'm not talking about the Billy. It's the Harland that baffles me." Sam says, as their waiter brings their food.
When he leaves, Jeffrey says. "Besides it being a southern name as you say, why does it matter that she named me that. It's my name, so what?"
"You don't find it at all strange that your mother named you that?" Sam asks, taking a bite of her salad.
"No, I don't use it. I didn't know about it until after I was eighteen years old and by that time I was simply Jeffrey O'Neill and I have always been that. It's my name. I don't see what the big deal is."
"Alright, I'll let it go. I just think it's strange." Sam replies, taking a drink of her tea."
They continue eating and after they're finished, Sam passes on dessert and Jeffrey pays the bill and they leave. He drops her off at the loft before he goes to City Hall.
Reva has just arrived home and walks into the den. Sitting down on the couch, she flips the TV on as she flips through the mail. The evening news is playing on WSPR and she's halfway listening to it until she catches Jeffrey's name and looks up. "In other news around town "Mayor O'Neill was the first witness called today in the trial of former intelligence agent Michael Ditkins trial."
The screen flashes a picture of Jeffrey taking the stand. "After an lengthy examination deputy prosecutor and former colleague of Mayor O'Neill's produced a videotape that basically clears the mayor of any involvement in the rape of Ms Olivia Spencer while at a party in San Cristobel twenty five years ago. The allegations that Mr. O'Neill was the one responsible for the attack on Ms. Spencer that night lead to the governor taking the office away from Mr. O'Neill after Mrs. Marler was mistakenly attacked and poisoned early last year. After lengthy questioning by both side involved in the case Mayor O'Neill was dismissed from the stand.
On a side note, WSPR has now learned the mayor's full name when asked to give his full name for the court Mayor O'Neill replied "Jeffrey Harland Billy O'Neill." We'll return with the weather for your Labor Day weekend in just a moment.
Reva stares at the TV and then reaching for the phone she dials the office for Lewis. After a couple rings, Wanda picks up. "Lewis Construction."
"Wanda, its Reva. Is Billy there?"
"No, he's not. He's in out of town right now." Wanda replies, as Josh leaves his office.
"I'll call him on his cell phone." Reva says, hanging up the phone.
"Yes ma'am." Wanda replies, hanging up the phone.
"Who was on the phone?"
"Reva, she was looking for Billy."
"It's probably to do with the barbeque they are planning for Labor Day. You are coming." Josh asks.
"Of course, I'm coming." Wanda says.
"Good, I'll see you tomorrow then."
"Yes Sir."
Josh leaves. After getting off the phone with Wanda, Reva calls Billy's cell phone and he answers on the third ring. "Hello, Billy Lewis."
"Billy, its Reva."
"Hey darlin, what's going on?"
"I just heard some interesting information." Reva says, getting up and walking out of the den and into the living room. She wanted to be able to hear Josh if he pulls up.
"Oh, what's that?"
"Jeffrey just announced his full name this morning when he was called to testify in the trial of the agent that accidently poisoned Blake."
"Okay, so."
"Billy, his name is Jeffrey Harland Billy O'Neill."
"Jeffrey Harland Billy!"
"You heard me, he clearly said, Harland Billy when he was asked to give his full name to the court."
"That's strange."
"I know."
"Do you think he realizes what that means?"
"No, and we don't know for sure that's what it means. Where are you at?"
"I'm in Tulsa. I was trying to find anyone else who might have a copy of HB's private papers."
"Did you find anyone?"
"No, only one person has contacted me and he has no access to his father's files."
"What about the person that does have access?"
"They are out of the country until next month."
"Should I go ask Jeffrey about this?"
"No, it maybe just a coincidence that he has HB's name. I mean his mother could've had someone in her family named that or knew someone that was named that."
"She might have known HB." Reva says as Josh pulls up outside. "Billy I've got to go, Josh is home."
"Alright, I think I'll head home tonight."
"I'll talk to you later." Reva says, as Josh walks in the door.
"Who were you talking too?" Josh asks when he sees her putting the phone down.
"Billy."
"When is he coming back?"
"Probably tonight."
"Is he through socializing?" Josh asks, walking into the kitchen.
"Socializing, he told me he was in…." Reva stops, realizing that Billy probably told Josh he was out socializing as a cover story for his trip to Tulsa.
"He told you he was where?"
"He didn't say."
"Did he tell you what he was doing?"
"No, he didn't. But he will be back by tonight, he did tell me that. I heard some interesting news this evening." Reva says, changing the subject.
"What?" Josh asks, taking a drink of the beer he had gotten out of the refrigerator.
"It's that Jeffrey's full name is Jeffrey Harland Billy O'Neill." Reva says, watching Josh's reaction.
"Really." Josh says, trying to act nonchalant but failing miserably.
"Yes, the new announcer on WSPR reported that he was required to give his full name when he was called as a witness in the trial for the guy accused of poisoning Blake."
"So, WSPR reported this." Josh says, sitting down.
"Don't Josh, some of the stuff WSPR does is flaky, but the news team takes their job seriously and they only report the facts. I know the head anchor, he's impeccable when it comes to what he reports."
"So, you believe that Jeffrey's full name is Jeffrey Harland Billy O'Neill." Josh asks.
"Yes, I do. Although I think it's a little strange that it is." Reva says.
"It doesn't mean anything Reva." Josh says, walking towards the door.
"Where are you going? You just got home." She asks when he opens the door.
"I forgot something at the office." Josh says, walking out the door and leaving her standing in the middle of the living room.
Once again, Cassie and the boys arrive home just minutes before Richard and Cassie is coming downstairs from changing when he walks in the house. "Hi." She says, going over to him for a quick kiss.
"Hi." He replies, putting his briefcase on the counter when she walks away. "How was your day?"
"Busy." Cassie says, opening the refrigerator door. "What do you want for dinner?" She asks, looking back over her shoulder and he notices how tired she looks.
"Why don't we go out? We've got to take the boys shopping for school clothes, and you're tired." He says, walking over to her.
"It won't take long for me to fix something."
"I know, but this will be easier. Just let me change and we'll go." Richard says, walking out of the kitchen as Cassie closes the refrigerator.
After Richard changes, they leave for Company and then the mall after they finish eating. A couple hours later, they have everything for both boys and they head back to the farm.
"RJ, Will, you both need to get ready for bed." Cassie says, as they walk into the house. Since school started the following week Cassie has reinstated the boys bedtime, both had to be in bed by eight and no later than eight thirty.
"Yes ma'am." They reply walking upstairs while Cassie and Richard unload the car.
When they have everything out of the car, Richard turns to Cassie and says. "Why don't you go take a hot bath? You look tired."
"I'm not tired." Cassie says, putting her last bag on the table and reaching to take stuff out of it. Richard reaches over to stop her.
"Cassie, you're tired. I can see it." He says putting the jeans she has in her hand on the table and reaching for her.
"I've got to put this stuff away or they be messing with it in the morning and I have some stuff from the Beacon I need to look over."
"I'll put this stuff away and the stuff from the Beacon can wait till tomorrow." Richard says, taking her hand and leading her out of the kitchen. "Go relax, and I'll take care of the boys." He says, leading her to the stairs.
"Okay." Cassie says, walking upstairs.
An hour later, Richard walks upstairs after putting everything away and after checking on RJ and then telling Will a story he walks into their bedroom as Cassie's walking out of the bathroom. "Feel better." He asks, closing the door behind him.
"Yes." Cassie says, sitting down on the bed. Beside her is the folder with the information on James proposal that Olivia gave her.
"I'm going to go take a quick shower and then I'll be back." He says, as she nods and picks up the remote to the TV.
Propping pillows up behind her she turns the TV to WSPR and then reaches for the folder. She's absently listening to the program as she flips through the pages of the proposal. As she's looking over the projected numbers for the expansion, a sound bite for the late news comes on. She didn't really pay attention until she hears Jeffrey's name and she looks up. Reaching for the remote, she turns up the volume to listen to the sound bite from the five o'clock news. When the announcer announces Jeffrey's full name she says, as Richard comes out of the bathroom. "Oh my god."
"What?" He asks, looking at her.
"The guy from WSPR just announced Jeffrey's full name."
"Okay, so." Richard says, shrugging his shoulder not understanding her reaction.
"He just said that Jeffrey's full name is Jeffrey Harland Billy O'Neill."
"So."
"That's Josh and Billy's dad's name." Cassie says, looking at him and realizing that he doesn't understand the point. "Don't you think it's a little strange that Jeffrey's middle names are the same as HB's?"
"No, there could be any number of explanations as to why his name is that." Richard says.
"I don't think so, Jeffrey's from Chicago. It's not a common name for around there or here."
"Maybe it's a family name from his mother's side, or something."
"His mom was from Chicago. She never left there. Her whole family was from that area or the surrounding area." Cassie says.
"And how do you know that?" Richard asks, walking over to the closet
"We talked about it once when we were dating. And he told me that his mother was from Chicago and she never left there. All of her family was from that area." Cassie says, as she reaches for the phone.
"Who are you calling?" Richard asks when he comes back to the doorway.
"Reva."
"Why Reva?"
"Because I want to know if she knows about this?"
"Cassie, this isn't that important." Richard says, walking over to the bed.
"Yes it is Richard."
"Why?"
"Because she's had some issues with Josh and his attitude towards Jeffrey, this might be part of the reason Josh behaves the way he does around Jeffrey."
"How does this explain why Josh is hard on Jeffrey?"
"I don't know, but it's sort of strange that Jeffrey has the same name as HB. And Reva says, Josh practically demands that she stay away from Jeffrey, every time Jeffrey's name comes up, Josh gets confrontational about him." Cassie says, as the phones ringing and Richard shakes her hand.
"Hello." Reva says, after a couple rings.
"Reva, its Cassie."
"Hey sis, what's going on?" Reva asks.
"Have you watched the news?" Cassie asks.
"Ah yeah, earlier this evening." Reva replies, knowing that Cassie had heard about Jeffrey and his name.
"So, you know about Jeffrey and his name?"
"Yes."
"Does Josh know?"
"Yes."
"What did he say?"
"Not a whole lot, which isn't like Josh, especially since it's Jeffrey and when I tried to talk to him about it he tried to pretend that it didn't matter or it wasn't important."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Is Josh there now?"
"No, he left before the news ended this evening. Said he had left something at the office, but he hasn't come back home since."
"Do you think this has something to do with the reason that Josh is so adamant you stay away from Jeffrey?"
"I don't know why it would be. It is strange that Jeffrey's name is the same as HB's but that doesn't mean anything significant to me or involve me."
"Does Billy know?"
"Yes, I called and told him about it?"
"What did he say?"
"He was as surprised as the rest of us."
"Does he believe that this has something to do with whatever Josh is hiding?"
"I don't know. I didn't get a chance to talk to him about it because Josh came home before I could."
"Has Josh told you anything else about why he doesn't want you associating with Jeffrey?"
"No, we haven't discussed it in a while, not since Billy and he had the argument at Lewis that I told you about. Billy's still looking into that."
"Are you sure you want to do this, Reva?"
"Yes, I need to know what he's hiding."
"Okay, I only called to see if you knew about this."
"Alright, I'll let you know more when I talk to Billy after he gets back from Tulsa."
"He's in Tulsa?"
"Yes, he went to see if he could find out anything from HB's personal attorney about what Josh is hiding." Reva says, looking around to see if Josh was there.
"Did he find anything?"
"No, the man he spoke with said he didn't know anything and that the person that would know something is out of the country until next month, so he's coming home tonight."
"Well let me know what happens." Cassie says.
"I will."
They hang up a few seconds later, and Richard says. "What did she say? Did she know about this?"
"Yes, and she said that Josh was acting very suspiciously when she told him about it, but that he tried to act like it wasn't important."
"So, what's in the folder?" Richard asks, nodding to the folder lying between them.
"Oh, it's the stuff I was looking over for the Beacon." Cassie says, picking the folder up and closing it.
"What is it about?"
"Umm, it's the details for the expansion proposal that James offered the other day."
"Oh, I forgot you were meeting with him today, what happened?"
"Nothing, I got caught up with the ladies league from Laurel Falls and I had to pass the meeting off to Olivia."
"What did she say?"
"She has the same questions I have but she thinks that it might be a good deal for us. So I told her I would look the information over and then we'll discuss it some more."
"Did she think that he might be hiding something else?"
"I don't know if hiding is the right word, but he's definitely not telling us something." Cassie says, yawning.
"Alright, we can talk about this in the morning." He says, lying down beside her. A few minutes later, he looks down and she's fallen asleep, flipping the light off he closes his eyes and goes to sleep.
After spending most of the day with Missy, Julie takes a break for an appointment with the attorney that handled Mattie's will. Walking into the office, the secretary at the desk asks. "May I help you?"
"Yes, I have an appointment with Mr. Hughes." Julie says.
"And you're name?" The woman asks, looking down at calendar beside her.
"Julie Pet…. Julie Bertilla." She says, forgetting for a moment that she was still married to Marciano.
"Yes, you have an appointment for three." The woman says, looking at the calendar. "I'll let Mr. Hughes know that you're here."
"Thank you." Julie says, walking over to one of the chairs and sitting down.
About ten minutes later, Tom walks out of his office. "Julie, it's so good to see you again?"
"Hi, it's good to see you too." Julie says, standing up as he walks over to him.
"I heard you moved to Chicago."
"Yes." Julie replies, following him into his office. "But I'm moving back to Oakdale."
He closes the door behind them as she walks over to the chairs in front of his desk. Walking around the desk, he sits down and says. "I thought you remarried?"
"I did, but it's not working out. That's why I came to see you."
"Okay."
"I need to see about filing for legal separation."
"Alright, can I ask why?"
"To sum it up into one reason, irreconcilable differences." Julie replies.
"Can you tell me more than that?"
"As you know, I was devastated after Matthew was killed." Julie says, as Tom nods his head.
"We were all devastated when the accident happened."
"Thank you, but I wasn't only devastated, I was scared. I never thought I would be in that situation, and things were so bad for us then, anyway after he died and Maggie died, I truly panicked. I had three kids to support and no way to support them. So I went out and I found someone to take care of and support us. But I've been miserable. And if Marciano were honest so has he. We never should have married. I liked him, but I didn't love him. I was still in love with my husband."
"Have you explained that to him?"
"I can't explain that to him. That's part of the problem I can't explain anything to him, because I'm afraid of his reaction. What he would do?"
"Has he been abusive towards you or the children?"
"No, he's never physically abused any of us. But if being miserable is a form of abuse than it's true for not only me but for my kids too. I married way too soon for all of us. I just want out. I'm tired of fighting him and I'm tired of living how I've been living."
"Have you said anything to him about this?"
"No, I've been busy with Missy."
"I heard about the baby, is he going to be okay?"
"Right now, we're cautiously optimistic."
"Good."
"Anyway, I haven't said anything to Marciano. I've been at the hospital everyday for the last three days. The kids and I haven't even been home. He tried to force me to leave the hospital right after the baby was born, but Mitch made him leave and I haven't been in contact with him since then. I was a little surprised that he didn't come back and try to force me to come home again."
"So, he's trying to cut you off from your family?"
"Yes, listen I don't want this to turn into a drawn out thing. I just want to go my own way and him to go his."
"Julie, divorce is rarely that simple, especially in this type of situation. Most divorces in this situation are long and drawn out battles especially if the other party wants to fight the divorce."
"Are you saying that we can't get a divorce?"
"No, I'm simply saying that this will not be a swift process."
"What is that process?"
"Well, first I will file the papers and then they will be delivered to your husband, unless you want to tell him yourself?"
"No, it's probably better if he's told officially by someone other than me."
"Do you think he'll do something to you?" Tom asks, getting the feeling that Julie didn't quite feel safe around her husband.
"I want to say no, but I can't be sure. He's never raised his hand towards me or the kids, but I know he looks at me as he property and I believe that he will try to hang on to that, even if it's best that we don't stay together."
"Maybe we need to file a restraining order against him when we file the divorce papers."
"No, I don't want to do that just yet. I think it's best if we give him the benefit of the doubt. He may not do anything. And if I can keep this as simple and uncomplicated as I can then it will be better and smoother process for me and my kids."
"Alright, I'll respect your wishes. Where are you staying?"
"With my mom?"
He nods. "I'll file the necessary papers for you and we should have a date for the hearing within a few days after the case has been assigned to a judge."
"What do I do about our stuff? I have what I brought with me when I left, but the kids will be starting school in a week and I suppose I can buy them new clothes and things."
"So, you're not going back to Chicago?"
"No, I think it will be better if I stay here. He has too many friends in Chicago and I would feel safer here with my mom, Missy and Mitchell."
"Alright, well I suggest that you get a place to stay, so that we can show that you have a permanent home and a job."
"I do have a job in Chicago, and they do have a small office here in Oakdale. I'll speak to my boss to see about a transfer."
"I would do that as soon as possible."
"Okay."
"Do you know of any places that are for rent or sale?"
"Here, call this number. She works out of Springfield but she's very good and she'll be able to help you find something." Tom says, writing down Blake's number and handing her the piece of paper."
"Alright, thank you." Julie says, taking the paper
"What about your assets?"
"We bought the house in Chicago with the money that we got for Matt's life insurance and Maggie's small inheritance that she had, but other than that we don't have anything else together."
"What do you want to do with that house?"
"Sell it, I suppose. I'm not going back to Chicago. And if Marciano wants to buy it he can, otherwise put it on the market."
"Alright, I will put that in the papers. Of course you will get custody of the kids, do you want any type of alimony from him."
"No, nothing." Julie says, shaking her head no.
"Alright, well I think that covers about everything."
"Okay."
"It's almost five now, so I will file the papers first thing in the morning."
"Okay."
"If you should change your mind…."
"I won't. I've thought about this and it's what I have to do." Julie says, standing up.
"Alright, I'll file the papers first thing in the morning. It will take a few days to be assigned and then by early next week he should be served with the papers and we'll go from there." Tom says, standing up and walking around the desk.
"Alright, thank you." Julie says, following him to the door.
"It really is good to see you again and I'll let Margo know you're here."
"Thanks, Tom. I appreciate this."
"You're welcome. Matt was a good friend and I know he would want you to be happy, however that maybe."
"I know." Julie says, leaving his office.
"I'll be in touch." Tom says, following her out.
"Thank you again." Julie says turning to shake Tom's hand before she leaves.