A Fresh Start
Chapter One Hundred
After helping Cassie and Richard clean up a little bit, Billy takes Reva home. Josh is already asleep when she gets there. Getting ready for bed, she lays down beside him. Moving over to her side, she watches him sleep. Watching Jeffrey and Sam today, reminded her of Josh when they first got married. Sighing softly, she closes her eyes and falls asleep.
The next morning, Josh gets up early. He didn't know when Reva had gotten home the night before from the wedding, but he was glad that she hadn't woken him up to tell him about it. Getting up, he dresses quietly and then leaves. Walking into Company a few minutes later, he sits down at the bar as Buzz walks over to him. "Josh." He says, reaching around for the coffee pot and a cup. "You missed the wedding yesterday." He says, pouring Josh a cup of coffee and sits it before him.
"Thanks, and yes I did. I had something I needed to do."
"Reva said you were working. You missed a beautiful wedding. Would never have thought Jeffrey would get married, let alone become a father again."
"What do you mean a father again?"
"Sam's pregnant. Her brother told everyone when he confronted her about it. He really was rude about it…." Buzz trails off as Josh stands up. "Something wrong?" Buzz asks.
"No, I need to look into something, if you'll excuse me." Josh says, handing Buzz some money for the coffee before he walks out of Company.
"Okay." Buzz replies, as he leaves.
Josh walks in the door as Reva is coming downstairs. "Hi." She says, stopping to look up.
"She's pregnant." Josh asks.
"Who's pregnant?" Reva asks, walking into the kitchen.
"Sam, she's pregnant with Jeffrey's child."
"Yes, her brother told everyone when he confronted her at the wedding. He really was an ass yesterday. I can understand why she never says anything about him." Reva says, reaching for the coffee pot. "You know he tried to take her away from the wedding when he found out…."
"Reva, be quiet and let me think." Josh demands.
"Let you think, what would you possibly need to think about that concerns Sam being pregnant?"
"She's pregnant with Jeffrey's baby."
"Yes, so."
"You don't understand."
"What is there to understand? They're married and I happen to think Jeffrey will be a wonderful father."
"Jeffrey as a father." Josh snorts.
"Why are you worried about this? It doesn't concern either one of us."
"You don't understand."
"Why don't you explain it? Then I might understand why you're so freaked out about another woman being pregnant with Jeffrey's child, unless you're jealous."
"Jealous, of what?"
"Sam's a beautiful woman. Maybe that's why you've been so against Jeffrey."
"Sam is not the reason I don't like Jeffrey. I can't understand what she sees in him, but I'm not jealous of their relationship."
"They what are you jealous of? Maybe the fact that Jeffrey's a little less ethical than you are. He'll do whatever he has to do to protect the people he loves."
"I'll do the same thing. I'm not jealous of Jeffrey for any reason. I simply don't like the man."
"That still doesn't explain why you're freaking out because Sam's pregnant."
"I'm not freaking out. I was surprise. I've got to go check on a site." Josh says, walking towards the door.
"Billy, Cassie, Richard and the boys are going to be over here for the barbeque."
"I'll be here for the barbeque." Josh says, walking out of the house with Reva watching him.
When she hears his truck start, she picks up the phone and dials Billy's number. After a couple rings, he picks up. "Billy, its Reva. Have you heard anything about the file the Josh had destroyed?"
"Good morning to you too, Reva." He says, reaching for his cup of coffee.
"Sorry, good morning. Have you found out anything about the file that Josh had destroyed?"
"Umm, no, the person I talked to in Tulsa didn't have access to H.B's files and the person that does have access is out of the country."
"Can you contact them?"
"I will after the holiday."
"Okay."
"What's going on and I'm assuming this has to do with Josh?"
"He was just here and clearly upset about the fact that Sam is pregnant Jeffrey's child."
"Why?"
"I don't know. Just like I don't know why he's so upset about Jeffrey or why he had one of Lewis attorneys destroy a file."
"Is he jealous or something?"
"He says he's not, but he's really freaked out about Sam's pregnancy. When are you coming over?"
"Umm, I should be there within the hour. I've got a couple of errands to run."
"Okay, Richard, Cassie and the boys will be here by then and Josh should be coming back."
"Where did he go?"
"He said he ad to check on a work site."
"I'll be there within the hour."
"Okay." Reva replies and they hang up.
Olivia walks into Company, sitting down at one of the booth's she opens the paper as Lynn walks up to her table. "Ms. Spencer, welcome back."
"Thank you Lynn."
"Do you want your usual?"
"Yes, thank you."
"We'll have it right out." Lynn says, before walking away.
Picking up the paper, Olivia begins to look it over. A few minutes later, Lynn brings her breakfast as William and Ava walk in. She begins to eat as she flips through the paper. She's flipping through the society page as Jeffrey and Sam's picture catches her eye. The headline reads. "Mayor O'Neill gets a new wife and baby." She stares at the headline, reading it over and over and not wanting to believe it.
After Lynn takes their order, Ava looks over at her mother and then turns to William. "Could you excuse me for a moment?"
"Sure." William says, looking over at Olivia."
Ava gets up and walks slowly over to Olivia's table. As she walks up she says. "Mom." Olivia looks up. "I wanted to thank you for not doing…."
"Is this true?" Olivia demands, as she shows Ava the paper.
Ava reads the headline and then looks up and sighs as she nods her head. "Yes, it's true." Ava says, sitting down across from her mother.
"Why didn't he tell me?"
"He wanted to protect Sam."
"Protect her, from whom, me."
"Well yes, he was protecting her from you and your reaction when you found out. And you have to understand that. You've been very hostile towards both of them for months now. And he didn't want you attacking her."
"Why would I attack her? She stole him away from me."
"No, she didn't and this is exactly why he didn't tell you about the baby."
"She did this on purpose to…."
"She didn't do this on purpose. She didn't trap him. They didn't plan on this but he is very happy…." Olivia looks away. "I know you don't want to hear that, but he loves her and you know that."
"When did you know about this?" Olivia asks, changing the subject. Ava's silent for a few moments before Olivia looks up. "You knew all along."
"They told me shortly after they found out." Ava replies.
"And when was that?"
"About a week before Sam moved here."
"So it was around the time that I saw you and her leaving Cedars?"
"I didn't know until after you left that day."
"So, you've known and you didn't feel that you should tell me this."
"Dad asked me not to, and to be honest I agreed with not telling you."
"Fine." Olivia says, grabbing her purse and walking out without paying her bill.
Ava motions for Lynn to come over. "Could you add this to my room?" Ava asks, nodding towards Olivia's breakfast.
"Yes ma'am." Lynn replies, picking up Olivia's plate as Ava gets up.
She walks over to William and sits down as he looks up. "What happened?" He asks, noticing the look on her face.
"She knows about the baby." Ava says, sitting down.
"What do you mean, she knows about the baby?'
"It's in the society page and she read about it."
"Did she threaten…?"
"No, but she's upset."
"You can't worry…."
"She's my mother. I'm going to worry about her. She's still hanging on to the illusion that dad is not in love with Sam. And she still believes he will come back to her. I thought that since she didn't try to stop the wedding yesterday that she was accepting the fact that Dad's moved on and she would eventually move on too."
"Come on, let's go." William says, motioning for Lynn.
"Where are we going?" Ava asks, as Lynn walks over.
"Can we have the check and our order to go?" William asks.
"Of course." Lynn says, turning away.
"What are you planning?" Ava asks.
"We're going for a picnic." William replies.
"A picnic, where?"
"At the lake."
"The lake, why?"
"You need a distraction or you're going to be worrying about Olivia all day and this is not good for you or the baby and while your father isn't exactly sure he wants me with you, he would want me to take care of you, so that is what I'm going to do." William says, as Lynn walks up to the table with the check. "Thank you." William says, reaching for his wallet.
He hands Lynn a credit card and she leaves, returning a few minutes later with the receipt and their order. Taking the bag, William stands up followed by Ava and they leave.
After he left Reva, Josh goes to Lewis. Walking into his office, he sits down at his desk, laying his head back. "Okay, what do I do now?" He asks out loud.
"You know what you need to do." H.B says, as Josh sits up and looks around.
"H.B." Josh says tentatively.
"Yes, and you know what you should do."
"I can't tell them. He's not your son."
"You know that he is. I loved you mother but I wasn't always faithful to her. I slept with Jeffrey's mother on several business trips to Chicago. She loved me but I was married. About a month after my final trip she wrote me a letter explaining the she was pregnant. I tried to help her but she wouldn't take the help after she had the baby. He's my son and you know it."
"That man is…."
"Is your brother."
"He can't be"
"What are you afraid of?"
"I'm not afraid."
"Yes, you are. I can hear it in your thoughts."
"Okay, what about Reva?"
"Reva, what does she have to do with this?"
"She's my wife."
"I know that, so what's the problem?"
"You know her history. She's been with every man in this family, including you."
"You mean to tell me that you're not telling her about Jeffrey because you're afraid Reva will leave you for him. Boy, if I was alive I would give you a good ole fashion Oklahoma ass whoopin. You go tell that girl the truth and then you tell your brothers the truth."
"No, I can't." Josh says out loud as he reaches for the phone. He dials a number and then sits back, waiting for the person to answer.
"Hello." A man answers.
"I need to see you." Josh says, ignoring the feeling that H.B was watching him.
"Where."
"Meet me on the south side of the park.'
"Okay, when?"
"An hour."
"Okay."
"Josh hangs up and then gets up and leaves the office.
Reva is coming downstairs was Richard, Cassie and the boys walk in. "Aunt Reva." They boys yell, running for her.
"Hello, boys." She says catching them and hugging them as Richard and Cassie walk into the living room.
"Where's Uncle Josh?" RJ asks, releasing Reva.
"He should be here later. He said he had to check on job site." Reva says, as Billy walks in.
"He's still gone." Billy asks.
"Still gone?" Cassie asks, following Reva into the kitchen, carrying a peach pie.
"Yes, he was here earlier and we were discussing Jeffrey, Sam and the baby and then he left." Reva says, taking stuff out of the refrigerator. "Richard why don't you and Billy start the grill." Reva says, as they walk into the kitchen.
"Where's the charcoal?" Billy asks.
"In the cabinet by the back door."
"Okay, Richard, are you ready for your first experience in American barbeque?" Billy asks, turning to him.
"Let's go." Richard says, smiling at Cassie as they walk out of the kitchen.
"Okay, so you've gotten rid of them, what happened with Josh?" Cassie asks, as RJ and Will run though the kitchen." Boys, outside, you know you're not to run in the house." Cassie says, watching the boys leave the house.
When the door closes behind RJ and Will, Cassie turns to Reva. "So, what happened with Josh?" Cassie asks, reaching for a tomato. Reva looks up and then sighs. "What happened?"
"Nothing really, it was his reaction."
"What do you mean?" Cassie asks, as she starts slicing the tomato.
"He didn't do anything. It's the fact that he was really upset about Sam being pregnant with Jeffrey's child. I tried to talk to him about it and he told me to be quiet so he could think."
"So he could think. What could he possibly need to think about?"
"I don't know. I asked him that but he didn't answer. And then I asked him if he was jealous of Jeffrey and Sam.
"Jealous of Jeffrey and Sam, what did he say and why would he be?"
"He says he's not, but Jeffrey and Josh are so different and sometimes I think Josh hates being the 'good' one."
"Josh isn't perfect, as much as I wanted to convince myself he was when we were together." Cassie says, reaching for another tomato.
Reva watches her for a few moments before she reaches for an onion as Billy walks in. "Do you have the meat ready?" He asks, leaning against one of the cabinets.
"Yes, it's in the refrigerator. Is the grill ready already?"
"Almost." Billy says, walking over to her refrigerator.
"Where's Richard." Cassie asks.
"He's outside. He learns fast." Billy says, taking the meat out of the refrigerator. Closing the door, he smiles at Cassie before he leaves.
"He ran a country. I'm sure he can grill a burger or hot dog." Cassie says, as Billy walks out of the kitchen chuckling.
When the door closes behind Billy, Cassie turns back to Reva. "So, you think he's jealous of Jeffrey and Sam.
"I don't know. He was upset this morning when he found out that Sam was pregnant."
"Do you think he might…?" Reva looks up. "You know… he may have some feelings for Sam."
"Cassie!"
"What? Sam's a beautiful woman and I'm not saying she's done anything towards Josh. She's completely in love with Jeffrey, but that doesn't mean that Josh isn't infatuated by her."
"Josh would never… he loves me.
"Yes he does, but he's still a man Reva."
"I don't think Josh has any feeling towards Sam. His problem is with Jeffrey."
"And he won't give a valid explanation as to why he's so hard on Jeffrey. Why do you think that is?"
"You're putting ideas in my head. Ideas I don't…."
"Reva, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for you to doubt Josh. He loves you, we all know that, but he's a man too. He hasn't done anything if he does have feeling for Sam, so don't worry about it. I'm going to go check on the boys. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, go check on the boys."
"Okay." Cassie says, walking out of the kitchen.
Josh pulls up to the park, getting out of his truck, he walks towards the gazebo. As he walks up, one of the Lewis attorneys walks up as well. "Mr. Lewis." He says.
"Thank you for coming. We have some new developments."
"Yes Sir."
"I know you destroyed the file but my…. He's expecting a child and I must make sure that his child has no claim to Lewis assets." Josh says, feeling his stomach clinch as he thinks he feels H.B's anger.
"I'm sorry, Sir. But I don't believe there is anyway we can prevent that. If the child is your brother's legal heir and they are able to prove that, then he is entitled to his share of the Lewis wealth."
"No, there has to be a way to stop his claim." Josh says, looking at the man with a completely manic look on his face.
"Sir, may I point out that your brother doesn't know about this. If he is never told then you have nothing to worry about. Everything that was in that file, including the file folder itself was destroyed."
"You're right if we destroyed the file then there is no way for Jeffrey or his child to make any claim against Lewis and the family. Thank you, I feel better now." Josh says, turning around as Reva is walking up. "What are you doing here?"
"I was driving by the park and I saw you out here talking." Reva says, glancing at the man beside Josh and recognizing him as the man that Josh was speaking to about the file. "I thought you were checking on a job site."
"How much did you hear just now?" Josh demands
"I didn't hear anything. Josh what is going on?"
Josh turns to the man and says. "That will be all."
"Yes. Mr. Lewis." The man says, nodding to Reva before he turns to leave.
Josh starts to walk away from Reva but she reaches out and stops him. "What are you doing?"
"I was taking care of some legal matters for Lewis."
"In the park, what's really going on?"
"I'm not hiding anything Reva."
"If you're not hiding anything then explain to me why you're having meetings with Lewis attorneys in the middle of the park on a holiday. And explain to me why you were so freaked out about Sam being pregnant."
"I explained why I was speaking with the attorneys from Lewis."
"And Sam?"
"I wasn't…."
"You were and it makes me wonder if there's more to this than you just being down on Jeffrey."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that maybe you have feelings for her."
"Where in the world would you get that idea? I do not have feeling for Sam." Josh says, but he doesn't look Reva in the eye.
"Your body language says something else." Reva says, turning away.
"Reva, I love you. You know that."
"You love me but you won't tell me what's going on. You're having secret meetings with Lewis attorneys and you upset because another woman is having another man child. A man that you claim to detest but you won't tell me why. I'm tired of this Josh. I'm tired of you lying to me and pushing me away." Reva says, walking away from him.
"Reva." Josh calls but she keeps walking. "Damn it." Josh mutters. "You should have told her the truth." He hears H.B's voice in his head.
After leaving Reva in the kitchen, Cassie checks on the boys and then she goes around to where Billy and Richard are getting the meat ready to grill. "Hi, darling." Richard says, as she walks up to them.
"Hi." Cassie says, sitting down next to Richard. "Is everything about ready?" She asks Billy.
"Yeah, we're almost ready to start grilling." Billy says, stoking the coals.
"Good."
"Where's Reva?" Richard asks.
"She's inside." Cassie says, looking down.
Richard sees the move and puts his arms around her and whispers. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing…."
"Come on." Richard says, standing up and taking her hand. "Billy we'll be right back.
"Okay." Billy says, as Richard and Cassie walks away.
"So what happened?" Richard asks once they're out of Billy's hearing range.
"I may have said something that upset Reva." Cassie says, looking out over the front lawn.
"What did you say?"
"I ah… suggested that Josh might have some feeling for Sam and that might…."
"Cassie!"
"I know, maybe I shouldn't have said it, but you have to admit it's a possibility, given the way he's been acting towards Jeffrey and the way he reacted to finding out that Sam was pregnant. Why else would he be so upset?"
"That maybe true, but you shouldn't've said it to his wife."
"And you don't think that she hasn't thought that herself. She asked him if he was jealous. He denied it."
"Cassie, Reva and Josh's relationship isn't simple. They've dealt with a lot some of it caused by other people, so of it caused by each of them."
"I know what Josh and Reva have been through. Some of it I caused, but he's not himself and if he won't tell her him self then maybe we need to force him to admit whatever it is that's bothering him."
"I get you were trying to help." Richard says, putting his arms around her. "I'm not trying to get on to you." Richard says, as Reva pulls up.
"Reva." Cassie says, as Richard steps back and turns. Reva gets out of the car and goes over to them. "Where did you go?"
"I went to…. I went to find Josh." Reva says walking past them and into the house, as Cassie looks at Richard.
"I know, I know." Cassie says, following Reva into the house.
Reva was in the living room when Cassie walks in. "Reva, what happened?" Cassie asks, sitting down on the chair beside her.
"I found him at the park with one of the attorneys from Lewis."
"At the park, why was he at the park?"
"I don't know, he said he had a meeting with him. I asked him what was going on. He claims he was taking care of some legal matters for Lewis. I asked him what he was hiding. He says he's not hiding anything. I asked him about Jeffrey and Sam and he claims that he doesn't have feeling for her."
"But." Cassie asks.
"His body language said something different. Do you know what it's like to know that the man you love wants another woman?" Reva asks, getting up.
"Reva, I'm sorry I said anything. I shouldn't have placed those ideas in your head."
"No, it's okay. I need to figure out what I'm going to do."
"Whoa, wait. I didn't say what I said to make you leave Josh. I was only making a suggestion."
"A suggestion, that makes a lot of sense. He wants…."
"I don't want her." Josh says, from the doorway. "Cassie, could you give us a moment?" He asks, turning to her.
"Sure." Cassie says, getting up and leaving the room.
"Reva, we have to talk."
"Are you going to tell me the truth?"
"I am telling you the truth. I don't want her."
"But you did at some point."
"Reva, she's a beautiful lady. A lot of men in this…."
"I'm not worried about the other men in this town, I'm worried about you. And the fact that you can't seem to tell me the truth anymore, or the fact that you think you have the single handedly right to decide what is going to happen in this family."
"What I do and decide is for my family. I will not apologize for protect them."
"You're not protecting them. You're protecting yourself." H.B's says.
"Shut up." Josh thinks, and then turns his attention to Reva.
"Why do you have to protect us from Jeffrey? What has he done that was so terrible?"
"Jeffrey…."
"Is my son, and you won't admit it because…."
"I know what I'm doing." Josh mutters.
"You know what you're doing. Who are you talking to?"
"Nothing, Jeffrey is reckless. He's self centered and careless and… I can't think of any other words to describe him."
"Except that he's like a Lewis." Reva says.
"He is nothing like a Lewis."
"Oh, he's a lot like us. Is that why you hate him so much?"
"I don't hate him. But I don't want him around you… I mean us."
"And will you tell my why you don't want him around me or us?"
"Reva, why can't you trust me about this?"
"Why can't you trust me with whatever you're hiding? We're married, we love each other and we've been through so much more than Jeffrey O'Neill could ever do to us, not that I believe he would ever do anything to us anyway." Reva says, walking over to the window. "But you have to trust me and tell me why you don't want him around. Why you believe he will hurt us." Reva says, turning back to him. "But you're not going to do that are you?"
"Reva."
"I didn't think so. I've got to finish getting the stuff ready for the barbeque." Reva says, walking out of the living room and into the kitchen.
Josh stands there for a few minutes, pretending that he doesn't hear H.B's voice in his head and then he leaves as well, going to the backyard with Richard, Cassie, Billy and the boys.