A Fresh Start
Chapter Ninety
"What's up? Did we have a meeting scheduled?" Jeffrey asks, as he and Richard walks into his office.
"No, Cassie called me. She wants me to take you out tonight, sort of a bachelor party thing."
"A bachelor party… Sam and I agreed we weren't having one." Jeffrey says, walking over to his desk
"Well, she is having one. Cassie and Reva are planning a surprise one for her, tonight, and Cassie wants me to take you out too."
"So where are they going?"
"I'm not sure, she didn't tell me. But I'm sure we can find something to do in this town."
"Alright, who else is coming?"
"I should've invited Billy while he was here. And me and… well you got anyone else you want to invite."
"What about Gus, Frank and Mallet and there's Chris from the DA's office? I guess I could ask them."
"Alright, when do you want to meet?"
"Umm, when is Cassie taking Sam out?"
"I think about eight."
"How about eight thirty."
"Alright, I'll call Frank, Mallet and Chris." Jeffrey says.
"No, I'll call them."
"We'll go out, shoot a little pool and hang out with the guys. Have you ever done that?"
"Well, I did attend Josh's and Reva's rehearsal dinner."
"I'm… never mind." Jeffrey says, getting up.
"What?" Richard asks.
"It's nothing, except that Josh is not my favorite person right now.
"Yeah, I was warned not to invite him. Any ideas as to why he's so harsh with you?"
"No, but its Josh, that's the way he is. "
"Have you asked him?"
"Yes, and he wouldn't give a straight answer."
"Do you think he's still jealous about Cassie?"
"I hope not! Cassie and I have been over for a very, very, very long time. And you here, there's absolutely now possible way we could ever get back together."
"Is he upset about Reva coming to Washington? I mean she was there to help you."
"I explain that to him but that doesn't seem to matter to him. Listen, I don't really care why Josh treats me the way he does. I know where he stands, but I'm not going to change to try to satisfy him." Jeffrey says, getting up and walking around his desk.
"No, you can't." Richard says, getting up and following him to the door. "So, I'll take care of everything, and I'll pick you up at eight thirty." Richard says, walking out of Jeffrey's office.
"Okay." Jeffrey replies. Richard leaves and Jeffrey goes back into his office.
Sam and the girls spent the day running around Springfield. After they left Company, they had to come back after going to Towers and Megan refusing to let Sam pay for her to stay there and they certainly couldn't stay at the Beacon, even if Cassie would have allowed them. So they returned to Company and Buzz was able to give them rooms. Harley is coming in from the kitchen when LaKeisha and Megan walk in. "Hey you guys." Harley says, walking up to them.
"Hello." They reply.
"I'm glad you guys are here."
"We still have the…?" LaKeisha asks.
"No, the rooms are fine and they're yours for the weekend."
"The boys, did they do something?" Megan asks.
"No, they've been fine. Zack and Jude have loved having them at the house. No, this is about Sam."
"Sam, she's fine. She just dropped us off." LaKeisha says.
"Yes, I know. I saw her and I waited until she left before I came inside to talk to you." Harley says, walking over to the bar.
"Why would you wait till she left to talk to us?" Megan asks.
"Because I didn't want her overhearing this, have you met Cassie Winslow and Reva Lewis yet?" Harley asks.
"No, Sam said she was going to contact them and see about lunch for tomorrow." LaKeisha says.
"Okay, that's good, but she's not going to have to do that, because you guys are going to meet them tonight."
"Tonight, how?" Megan asks.
"Cassie called me right after you guys left the last time. She's throwing Sam and surprise bachelorette party, and she's inviting, well she and Reva are inviting all of us to go to a bachelorette party for Sam."
"When is it?"
"Tonight at eight, at Jon's bar, it's a local bar here in town on 5th street. Reva's son used to own it before he was killed."
"Alright, but how are you going to get Sam there. She's expecting to spend a quiet evening at home with Jeffrey?"
"Cassie's going to take care of that, probably through her husband Richard. He works with Jeffrey."
"Alright, so what do we do?" Megan asks.
"Nothing, we're supposed to meet Cassie and Reva about eight at the bar."
"Okay."
"Would you guys like anything for dinner?"
"Yeah sure." They reply.
"Then take a table and I'll bring you some menus." Harley says, reaching for them from across the bar as LaKeisha and Megan walk over to one of the tables.
Sam is sitting on the couch watching the evening news, when Jeffrey walks in from City hall. "Sam." He calls, putting his keys on the table along with his briefcase.
"I'm in the living room." Sam calls back, listening to one of the reports.
He walks into the living room. Walking over to her, he leans down and gives her a kiss before he asks. "What are you doing?"
"Watching the news." Sam replies, as he sits down beside her and pulls his tie free.
"Anything interesting."
"No, they're talking about Ditkins trial. We've had a few calls from reporters today?"
"Reporters, why?" Jeffrey asks, looking at her.
"They're wanted to ask you more questions about your name."
"My name, it's not that big of a deal. It's like I told Billy…."
"Billy came to see you, why?"
"He wanted to talk to me about my middle name, it's not that important and that's what I told him."
"What did he want to know?"
"Basically the same questions you asked me yesterday and apparently my middle name," He pauses for a second knowing what her reaction is going to be.
"What?" She asks, looking at him.
"Apparently my middle name is the same as his father's name."
"You're kidding me!"
"No, I'm not. That's what he told me."
"Really."
"Sam, it's not that important."
"Jeffrey."
"It's not!"
"Okay." Sam replies, turning back to the TV.
"So, what are we doing tonight?"
"Umm, I don't know. You want to go to the movies or something."
"What about LaKeisha and Megan?"
"They want to rest, or more likely want me to rest." Sam says, looking at him.
"I don't really feel like movie. So, if you want to go out with them, you can."
"So we'll stay in. Are you hungry?"
"I'm always that." Jeffrey replies.
"I'll go cook…."
"Why don't we order from Company and have it delivered? It will be easier."
"Alright." Sam replies, as he gets up and walks over to the phone and dials the number.
"Do you want your usual?" He asks, as she stands up.
"No, I want a steak, salad, bake potato and some broccoli."
"Alright." He replies as she leaves the room and Lynn picks up the phone.
"Company, how may I help you?"
"Yes, this is Jeffrey O'Neill. I need to place an order."
"Yes sir, Mr. Mayor. What do you need?"
"Umm, I need two steaks, bake potatoes, small dinner salads and a side order of broccoli."
"How do you want those steaks cooked?"
"Medium rare and medium well."
"Yes Sir, would you like anything to drink with that?"
"No, that's all."
"Okay that will be..."
"Just charge it to my credit card, Buzz has it on file."
"Yes Sir."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome and we'll have that out to you within 30 minutes."
"Thank you." Jeffrey says, as Sam comes back into the room.
Thirty minutes later, Marina arrives with their order. Jeffrey signs for it and includes a tip for Marina and then closes the door as Sam walks out of the bathroom in a pair of old shorts and one of his t-shirts. They sit down to eat a few moments later.
When they are finished, Jeffrey clears the table and takes the trash out while Sam goes back to watching TV. He's walking back to the loft when Cassie pulls up. He stops to wait for her and then hold the door open for her as she asks. "Does she know?"
"No, I didn't tell her."
"Good." Cassie says, following him upstairs.
Jeffrey opens the door, holding it open for Cassie. And then closes it before he walks into the living room. "Guess who came over."
"Who." Sam says, turning to see Cassie behind him. "Cassie, what's up?"
"I came to get you."
"Get me, why?" Sam says, looking at Cassie and Jeffrey.
"Yes, so go on upstairs and get dressed."
"What's going on?"
"It's a surprise, so go get changed." Cassie says.
"Go on." Jeffrey says, pointing her towards the stairs.
She looks back at them before she goes upstairs. She returns about twenty minutes later, changed into blue jeans and tank top with her boots on her hair hanging down and brushed smooth and make-up on. Jeffrey stares as she walks over to them. "Are you ready?" Cassie asks
"Yes, where are we going?" Sam asks, as Cassie starts to leave.
"It's a surprise." Cassie replies walking to the door as Sam turns to Jeffrey.
"Are you okay with…?"
"Go, I'll be fine." Jeffrey says, leaning over and kissing her. Before he steps back he whispers. "You look beautiful and I'll see you when you get home and we'll do something special."
Her breath catches when she hears the promise in his voice. Leaning up, she kisses him again and then leaves, following Cassie downstairs. While Sam was upstairs, Cassie had told him that Richard would be by to pick him up in about thirty minutes so he heads for the bathroom as soon as they leave. Thirty minutes later, there's a knock at the door as he's coming downstairs.
When Cassie pulls up to Jon's Bar, Sam asks again. "What are you doing?"
"It's a surprise." Cassie says, for the third or fourth time as they get out of the car
"Cassie." Sam replies, as she takes her hand
"Come on." Cassie says, walking her towards the bar.
As they walk in, Lizzie's at the bar. "Cassie, Sam, they're in the back." Lizzie says, as Cassie nods and continues to lead Sam through the bar. The place is pretty busy Sam realizes as they walk through.
Reva's looking towards the front of the bar and she spots Cassie and Sam coming towards them. "Ladies, they are here." She says, getting everyone's attention. LaKeisha, Megan, Ava, and Harley all look around and spot them. Before they reach the table, Cassie stops, turns to Sam and says. "Close your eyes."
"What?"
"Just close your eyes." Cassie says, reaching up to put her hand over her eyes.
Closing her eyes, Cassie reaches in her purse and pulls out a sash. She drapes it over Sam's shoulder and Sam asks. "What are you doing?"
"Would you trust me? Now don't open them." Cassie says, taking Sam's hand again and they start walking. When they reach the table, Cassie moves around behind Sam, putting Sam in the center before she moves away and looks to make sure everyone's ready before she says. "Okay, open them."
As Sam opens her eyes they all cry. "Surprise."
Jumping, Sam looks around and then down at the sash that Cassie had draped across her. "What's going on?"
"We're giving you a surprise bachelorette party." Cassie says, walking over to her.
Sam looks around and then starts to tear up. "I'm sorry, thank you." She says reaching up to wipe the tears from her eyes as Lizzie walks up.
"Okay, are you guys ready?"
"Yes." Everyone says.
Everyone starts to order drinks as Sam walks over to the table and sits down watching them, smiling. "Okay, I've got four margaritas and a sprite for you Ava. Sam want are you having, and since this party is for you, the drinks are free." Lizzie says.
"As much as I would love to take you up on that, I'm gonna have a sprite too, with lime."
"Okay."
"And a lime to mine as well." Ava says.
"Alright, I'll have these out, and you guys enjoy yourself." Lizzie says, turning for the bar.
"So, what do we do now?" Sam asks, as they all turn to her.
"Have some fun, ladies." Reva says, looking at all of them.
"Now Reva, we can't have you dancing on tables in your underwear."
"I wasn't in my underwear Cassie, it was a red nightgown and I wasn't dancing I was singing karaoke."
"Oh, that's right, but the guy you were with just happened to be dead and you were singing "Big Spender."
"What?" The rest of them say, looking at Reva.
"It's a long story."
"Tell." They all reply.
"Well, this happened while I was dating Noah before Cassie and Richard got married and I was working for WSPR."
"So, you were undercover and you didn't know your date was dead." Harley says.
"Not quite, I was investigating but it wasn't for WSPR. You remember Catalina." Reva asks, while Harley nods. "And you remember her husband was killed in the construction accident that Josh was hurt in." Again Harley nods. "Anyway, Noah and I started to follow the trail of how Diego came into the country and we found out that he was smuggled in illegally and then we found the group that was smuggling them into the country. And to make a long story short, we followed them and they found out about us. Once they found out about us, Noah's agency sent…."
"You mean, mine and Jeffrey's agency." Sam says, remembering the story circulating around the hospital.
"Yes, your agency sent Noah's handler." Reva says, looking at Sam.
"That's right." Sam says, as Lizzie brings their drinks.
"They sent Noah's former handler to see if I was going to run to the press. One thing led to another and while Cassie was here for me while Josh was in the hospital she stumbled upon me and Noah trying to get Woody, back to his hotel room without anyone knowing he was dead."
"So how did he die and why didn't you call SPD?" Harley asks.
"He died of a heart attack and if we would have called SPD, it would have brought on more trouble with your agency." Reva says, looking at Sam.
"So, you took a dead man to a bar and you sat at a table and you sang karaoke standing on a table in a red nightgown, why?" Harley asks.
"Because, Noah wanted to establish that he hadn't been with me at the time that he died. He wanted to make people believe that we were at the bar together and that he was alive at the time."
"So, you went to a karaoke bar with Noah and a dead man and you sang karaoke." Harley asks.
"Harley, stop being a cop." Cassie says.
"But."
"She didn't kill him. He had a heart attack."
"But why not just call SPD if she wasn't hiding something." Harley asks.
"Because it's like she said if she had called SPD our agency would have come here after her." Sam says, taking sip of her sprite.
"So, let's change the subject." Cassie says. "Sam, where is Jeffrey taking you on the honeymoon?"
"He won't tell me." Sam says.
"Richard did the same thing. Wouldn't even give me a clue and he order the staff not to tell me either, so I had no idea where we were going."
"Well, at least you don't have to pack for yourself. Every time I ask him what to bring, he tells me not to bring anything. I don't even now if we're going anywhere. We may have our honeymoon at the loft."
"No, that's not my Dad's style. He'll take you somewhere extravagant; somewhere you've never been before."
"Well, we've been around the world a thousand times or more." Sam says.
"So maybe it's somewhere in the US."
"I don't really care where it is, as long as it's him and I, alone."
"I felt the same way." Cassie says, as a group of young men walk up to them.
"Ladies, would you like to dance?" They ask.
They all look at each other and then reply. "Sure."
After picking up Mallet, Frank and Gus, they all head out for a night on the town. Billy and Chris both had to work, so they go without them. They decided not to go to the country club, because Jeffrey, Richard and Gus would be the only ones allowed in. Farley's was too far to go and they obviously can't go to Olivia's jazz club on 5th street. She had decided not to move Olivia's out of the Beacon but she did open up a club on 5th street, and Towers was booked for a Spaulding party.
"What about Jon's Bar?" Richard asks?
"I didn't think about that one. I'm sure Lizzie would let us celebrate there." Mallet says.
"Yeah, I know she would. She told me I can come back anytime I wanted, of course that was to play." Jeffrey says, as they head for Jon's bar.
When they pull into the parking lot, Richard parks. He doesn't notice Cassie's car parked a few cars down from his as they walk towards the bar. Opening the door, they walk in. The bartender looks up and nods to them before she continues serving drinks.
"So, where do you want to sit?" Richard asks.
"Over by the pool tables." Jeffrey says, leading the way.
"Alright."
They head that way as Frank says. "I'll get the beer?"
"Thanks." They all reply, continuing to the pool tables.
Sitting in the corner is Dr. Westbrook and when Jeffrey walks over to a table he gets up and leaves the area. A couple minutes later, Frank appears with the beer as Jeffrey and Richard start playing pool. "So, who's winning?" Frank asks, handing out beers.
"Don't know they just started to play." Mallet replies taking his beer.
"Anyone call winner." Franks asks.
"No." Gus and Mallet reply.
"Alright, then I call winner." Frank says, leaning against a bar stool after handing Jeffrey his beer.
"Thanks." Jeffrey says taking a sip as Richard tries to make a shot and scratches.
"Too bad." Jeffrey says, walking around to the other end of the table, as Richard takes his beer and smiles.
The game continues until Jeffrey finally sinks the eight ball and he and Frank start another game. Things continue on, until Gus looks out onto the dance floor and spots Sam, Cassie, Reva and the rest of the girls dancing. He nudges Mallet and then nods towards the dance floor. Mallet looks and then he turns to Richard and nudges him and says. "Look out on the dance floor."
Richard turns and looks and then looks back at Mallet. "They're here." He says, as Jeffrey overhears them.
"Who's here?" Jeffrey asks, turning to Richard and then looking to see what he was looking at. This is when he sees Dr. Westbrook dancing with Sam and he's holding her way too close for Jeffrey to tolerate.
Richard is watching Jeffrey and he reaches out to stop him as Jeffrey puts his cue stick down. "Jeffrey, he's only dancing with her." Richard says.
"He's only dancing with her, then why is he trying to cop a feel." Jeffrey asks, watching Jacob's hand slide down from Sam's waist. He pushes past Richard.
"Oh hell." Mallet says, following him along with the rest of them.
Jeffrey walks out onto the dance floor. Weaving his way through the dancers until he's behind Sam. He taps Jacob on the shoulder before Sam can stop him and when he turns around Jeffrey pulls Sam out of his arms. "I would appreciate it if you would stop trying feel up my fiancé."
"I was dancing with her."
"I don't care, so you need to leave and leave now." Jeffrey says, as the other dancers stop dancing to watch.
"Jeffrey." Sam says, putting her hand on his chest.
"And if I don't, what are you going to do, hit me like you hit her."
"I never laid a hand on her." Jeffrey says. "That doesn't mean I won't lay a hand on you."
Jacob starts to laugh. "So she got the bruise that I saw her with from you ex." He says.
"Yes, she did." Jeffrey says, putting Sam behind him.
Two men walk up at the point. "Gentlemen, is there a problem."
"Nothing, I can't settle." Jacob says swinging as Jeffrey looks away.
Jeffrey stumbles back as Richard pulls Sam out of the way and Frank and Mallet step between Jacob and Jeffrey. "You are under arrest for assault." Frank says. "Please turn around and put your hands behind your back."
"I'm under arrest and he's able to continue to abuse her." Jacob says.
"I'm not being…."
"Sam, don't." Frank says, turning to Jacob. "My sister witnessed the incident you are referring to Sir, and it was Mayor O'Neill's ex that slapped his fiancé." Frank says, as Mallet calls the station.
"Isn't that convenient?"
"It's not convenient, Dr. Westbrook. It's the truth." Sam says. "Jeffrey has never, nor would he ever lay a hand on me. I told you that."
"A cruiser is on their way." Mallet says, hanging up the phone.
"We'll take him outside." Frank says, as Sam turns to Jeffrey.
"Please do before I forget I'm mayor and really hurt him." Jeffrey says, touching his eye again and wincing.
"Does that hurt O'Neill?" Jacob says. Jeffrey takes a step towards him, but Sam's hand stops him.
"Could I get some ice?" Sam asks Lizzie.
"Yeah sure." She replies, walking over to the bar.
"Are you okay?" Sam asks, pulling Jeffrey's hand away from his eye.
"Yeah, I'm fine. What was he doing here?"
"I don't know. I didn't know he was until he came up and asked me to dance."
"And you said yes."
"Now don't get your feathers in a ruffle. I said yes. It doesn't mean anything."
"You know how he feels about you." Jeffrey says, as Lizzie comes up with a towel wrapped around some ice.
"Jeffrey, are you alright?" She asks.
"I'm fine." Jeffrey says, watching Sam.
"Come on you guys, let's dance." Cassie says, taking Richard's hand.
Harley and Gus go dance while everyone else finds another partner.
"Sam." Jeffrey says, as they all walk away.
"It was one dance. I didn't know you were here. What are you doing here anyway?"
"Richard brought me out. It was part of the plan for tonight. We didn't want…, wait don't change the subject."
"I'm not changing the subject. He asked me and I couldn't tell him no. It was one dance, that's all. Are you going to let him ruin this evening?" Sam asks, looking at Jeffrey.
"You know how I feel about that man….." Jeffrey continues. "And you know how he feels about you."
"Alright, fine. I shouldn't've danced with him."
Jeffrey looks at her, and then pulls her to him. "I'm sorry. I don't want fight with you, not tonight."
"I'm sorry I danced with him." Sam says, wrapping her arms around him.
A few seconds later, he pulls back and asks. "Do you want to dance?"
"Yeah, I'd love to dance with you." Sam says, smiling up at him as Frank and Mallet walk back in.
They dance a few dances before the ladies join the guys at the pool table and they each play a few rounds of pool. While Jeffrey and Richard are playing again, Cassie walks over to Reva. "Hey, I'm going out to my car. I'll be right back.
"Okay."
Cassie leaves as Richard takes his shot and sinks the eight ball, beating Jeffrey for the third time. "Alright, I give up." Jeffrey says, handing the cue to Mallet.
"Oh, come on." Sam says. "You want to run your rep now?"
"My rep?"
"As being the most tenacious agent in the US federal government, he…."
"Sam, I don't think they need to know about all my exploits."
"Why not?"
"Because it's classified information and I would have to kill everyone here if you told anything about our exploits across Europe and South America."
"I already know some of your exploits." Richard says, as Frank makes a particularly difficult shot.
"Yes, and some of them involved your former government." Jeffrey says, as Cassie comes back inside.
"Where did you go?" Richard asks, as she walks up to him.
"Out to the car." Cassie says. "I see you beat him again."
"Yes, and he says he's giving up." Richard replies.
"The great Jeffrey O'Neill, give up." Cassie says.
"Don't bait me, Cassie." Jeffrey says.
"You can't beat him."
"Of course I can beat him." Jeffrey says.
"Okay, ladies and gentlemen. We have a special group in the house tonight. As you know the mayor and his fiancé is here and they are here celebrating a special occasion coming up, their pending nuptials, so if we all put our hands together, maybe we can get them out on the dance floor for a special dance." The DJ says, as he begins a song and the rest of the crowd start to clap.
"I don't care if you can beat him." Sam says, taking Jeffrey's hand. "Come on, this is our song." She says pulling him out to the dance floor as the song "Feels Like Home to Me" from How To Loose A Guy soundtrack begins to play.
"We have a song. I didn't know we had a song." Jeffrey says, following Sam.
"We do, and we're dancing to it and this will be played at the wedding." Sam says, as they walk out onto the dance floor and everyone gathers around.
Slowly they begin to dance, with Sam laying her head on his chest and Jeffrey holding her close to him. When the dance is over, he looks down and then leans in and gives her a kiss. It was supposed to be a simple kiss, but Sam has other ideas when he starts to pull away and she pulls him to her, deepening the kiss as the crowd gathered around begins to clap. They hear a few cat calls before Sam steps back, and looks up and smiles. "I love you." She whispers.
"I love you too." Jeffrey replies, before he releases her and they turn to the crowd.
They stay for another couple hours, until the bar closes. Richard takes Frank, Mallet, Gus home, while Cassie takes Sam, Jeffrey and Reva home. Harley takes Ava, LaKeisha and Megan back to Company.
Cassie drops Reva off first and then takes Sam and Jeffrey home. When they pull up to the loft, Sam leans over and hugs her. "Thanks for the party."
"You're welcome." Cassie says.
"Thanks, Cassie." Jeffrey says, hugging her too.
"You're welcome, I'll see you both later." She says, as they get out of the car.
"Yes, thanks again." Jeffrey says, closing the door and she pulls away.
Putting his arm, across Sam's shoulders they start towards the building. "You knew she was coming." Sam says, as they walk up to the building.
"Why would you say that?"
"Because you told me that if I wanted I could go out with my friends tonight it was alright." Sam says, as he opens the door for her.
"Yeah, I knew. Richard told me." Jeffrey replies, following her inside.
90.12