A Fresh Start
Chapter One Hundred Four
Cassie and Reva are finishing up with the invitations when Richard walks in from the barn. "Are you through?" Cassie asks as he walks over to the sink.
Getting a glass from the cabinet he gets a drink of water before he replies. "Yes, just cleaning up to do." He puts the glass on the counter before he goes over to the table. "But right now, I've got to get a shower so I can go get RJ and Will."
"Is it that late?" Reva asks.
"Yes, it is and I need to put this stuff away and start dinner." Cassie says, getting up from the table.
"And I need to go home." Reva says, getting up from the table too.
"Are you going to be okay?" Richard asks.
"I'll be fine." Reva says, reaching for her purse.
"We'll be here if you need us." Cassie says, walking over to hug her.
"Thank you." Reva says when Cassie steps back.
"I'll walk you out." Richard says, following her out onto the porch with Cassie following them.
"Reva, thanks for the help."
"You're welcome, if you need me to do anything else, let me know."
"I will." Cassie says, as they walk off the porch.
They walk off the porch as Cassie goes back into the house. When they reach Reva's car she turns to Richard. "Thanks for listening."
"You're welcome." He replies, as Reva opens the door to the car. "Oh, by the way, I talked to Jon yesterday."
"How's he doing?"
"Good, they are settling in and I think he's letting himself think about Tammy and what happened." She says, getting in the car.
"Is that a good for him?"
"It is right now as long as he doesn't let it get control of his life."
"I'll call him, maybe I can help."
"I think he would like that." Reva says, as she starts her car.
"And if you need us, call."
"I will and thanks again."
"You're welcome." Richard says, as she puts the car in gear and backs up. He waves as she pulls away.
Cassie's at the stove when he walks back in the house. "Is she okay?"
"She's fine."
"I guess that will teach me to keep some of my thoughts to myself."
"I don't think you're completely to blame for this." Richard says, leaning against the counter. "What are you cooking?"
"Chili."
"Umm, well it smells good." He says, as he leans over and kisses her neck.
"Yuck, you're all sweaty." Cassie says, pulling away. He laughs as he leans in closer. "Richard!"
"Alright, I'll go get a shower." He says, leaving the kitchen.
Thirty minutes later, he comes back downstairs. Cassie is in the living room. "You better hurry." She says, looking up from straightening up.
"We'll be back in few minutes." He says, walking over to her and giving her a quick kiss as he says. "I love you."
"I love you too, be careful."
"I will, we'll be back and after dinner why don't we take the boys to see the new movie at the theatre."
"It's a school night."
"We'll go to the early showing. We'll be out in time for them to make their bed time."
"You just want to see the movie." He looks at her and smiles. "You're just a kid yourself, we'll see if they don't have homework."
"Good, we'll be back in a few minutes."
About an hour later, Sam rolls to her other side as she wakes up. Jeffrey is laying beside her and for a few minutes she watches him sleep until he wakes up. Turning his head, he smiles as she says. "Good morning."
"Hi, did you sleep okay?"
"I slept fine." She says, stretching.
"Do you feel okay?"
Yes."
"Do you feel like getting something to eat?"
"Sure, then we can go to the falls."
"Yes, we'll go to the falls." Jeffrey says, as she sits up.
"I'll be right back." She says, getting out of bed. A few minutes later, he hears the water start to run in the shower.
"Getting up, he gets dressed before he walks over to the bathroom door. Opening it, he leans in. "Sam, I'm going downstairs for a moment."
"Okay."
"Do you want anything?"
"No, I'll be fine."
"I'll be back in a few minutes."
"Okay, enjoy your coffee."
He stops and then smiles as he closes the door behind him. When he returns, Sam is in the bathroom putting her makeup on. "Are you going to take a shower?"
"Are you saying I need to?" He asks teasing her as he leans against the doorway.
"No, I'm almost finished in here, so if you want a shower you can have it in a few minutes."
"Okay." He says, walking into the bedroom.
He gets his clothes and then walks into the bathroom. He lays his clothes on the counter as she twists her hair up. "Ca you leave it down?" He asks, watching her.
She looks at him in the mirror for a few seconds. "Alright, but I'm taking something to pull it back with, if I need to later."
"Okay."
She walks out of the bathroom as he walks over to the shower. About fifteen minutes later, he walks out of the bathroom. Sitting down on the bed he reaches for his socks and boots. When he has them on, he turns to her and they leave.
After room service arrived, William and Ava watch a movie and after the movie is over, he asks. "Do you want to watch another one?"
"No, why don't we go for a walk?"
"Okay." William says, getting up and then he helps her up.
During the movie, both of them have been aware of each other. They leave the suite. William pushes the button for the elevator. Stepping back, he puts his arm around her, pulling her to him. When the elevator comes, they walk on and William pushes the button for the ground floor. When they walk out of the hotel, he asks. "Where do you want to go?"
"Let's go down to Main Street."
They walk towards Main Street. When they get there, they stop at CO2 and then walk over to the shops surrounding CO2. They stop outside a couple of windows. They are standing outside the movie theater when Richard, Cassie and the boys walk out. Will spots William and runs over to him. "Uncle William." He cries.
William turns in time to catch him as he runs up to him. "Hi buddy, how are you doing?" William asks as the others walk up to him.
"I'm doing well."
"And you're doing well in school?"
"Yes sir, but it just started. Can you come to school tomorrow?"
"Will, your Uncle is…."
"I'm actually staying another day. Why do you want me to come to school with you?"
"Its show and tell tomorrow and I want to take you."
"When is it?"
"It's at two, after lunch and nap time." Cassie says, as William looks at her.
"Don't you want to take your Daddy?"
"I'll take him later. I want you to come, please!"
"Will, your Uncle William may need to get back to San Cristobel."
"No Cassie, I'll make it." William says, bending down to hug Will.
"Thanks, Uncle William." Will says, hugging him.
William releases him and then stands back up. "Thank you." Richard says, holding out his hand to him.
"You're welcome." William says, shaking his hand.
"It's time we get home. You both need to have a bath and then to bed." Cassie says, as the boys groan and she smiles. "Thank you." She says, hugging him.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Will." William says, as Richard gathers up the boys and they walk away.
William turns to Ava, but realizes that she's not beside him. Looking around, he spots her standing in front of the jewelry store. Walking over to her, he slips his arm around her and says. "You could have stayed with me, Richard and Cassie wouldn't've minded."
"It's okay, you were busy."
"Do you see anything you like?" He asks, turning towards the window.
"Umm, not really." Ava says, turning away from the window as he reaches out to stop her.
"Wait, which one?" He asks, turning her back towards the window. "Show me." He says, looking into the window.
"I like the ring in the center." Ava says, pointing to the ring.
It was a one and half carat diamond engagement ring, set in yellow gold. It wasn't a fancy setting, just the stone with a diamond in the center. He looks at the ring and then at her. He's watching her admire the ring and something inside him wants to put that ring on her finger. After a few second, she looks away and says, as she takes his hand. "Come on, let's go."
They walk away from the store. As they walk along the street, they stop at several stores until they reach "The Baby Boutique. He opens the door and says. "Come on, let's look around."
"Okay." She replies, following him into the store.
They walks around the store for a while, looking at cribs and rockers, changing tables and blankets, strollers, car seats, baby bottles, baby bottle warmers, diaper pails, and themes for nurseries, and all the gadgets that comes with having a baby.
They are standing in the middle of an aisle, close to the doors when Ava stops and looks around as she says. "Wow."
"This is a lot." William says, looking around.
"I know."
Something in her voice gets his attention. He turns to her. "Hey." He says, turning her face to look at him. "We'll handle all of this. We have time."
"I don't have room for all this stuff, not to mention the money for it."
"You don't have to worry about that?" She looks at him. "This is my child. I will help you take care of it and you."
"William."
"Shhh, this is what we are supposed to do. Come on, are you ready to go?"
"Yes." She says, looking around the store before they walk out.
When they get outside, William asks. "Are you ready to go home?"
"Yes." Ava says, taking his hand.
They start back towards Towers but before they leave Main Street, they stop at CO2 for a drink when Olivia and Emma come up. "Ava." Emma says, running up to her and hugging her.
"Hi." Ava says, hugging her back.
"How was Jeffrey's wedding?" Emma asks.
"It was good." Ava says, looking up at Olivia. "How is school?" Ava asks, looking back at Emma.
"It's good, but it's just started. And I really like my teacher."
"That's good, have you made any friends?"
"A couple, but I play with Will mostly and he protects me from the big girls."
"He does." Ava says, as Emma shakes her head. "He sounds like a really good friend."
Emma starts to answer, but Olivia interrupts her. "I went by Company and Buzz said that you haven't been there for the last few days." Olivia says, glancing at William.
"No, I haven't. I've been staying with William. Did you want something?"
"No, I wanted to check on you. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Ava says. "I've been spending time with William now that Dad is on his honeymoon with Sam."
"And his new baby."
"Yes, with Sam and the baby."
"Am I going to have another brother or sister?" Emma asks, looking up at Olivia and Ava.
"No, your sister is going to have another brother or sister." Olivia says, looking at Ava. "And your father makes sure to tell you everything, doesn't he?" Olivia says, bitterly.
Ava's jaw clinches and William feels her tense up. "I think it's time we go." William says, taking Ava's hand.
"So now you want…."
"Mom." Ava says, releasing Williams hand and stepping between him and Olivia.
"What? He wouldn't have anything to do with you for months. And now that it's convenient for him he wants to play daddy and be involved in..."
"Back off, he has asked about this baby and it was me that pushed him away and just because you're jealous of Dad and Sam and unhappy about your life, it gives you no right to attack him. As to knowing about Sam being pregnant and Dad not telling you about it, maybe if he felt that you wouldn't attack him or her, he might have told you sooner."
"I only want what's best for your father."
"You want what's best for you. And you don't care if he's happy or not."
"I can make him happy."
"Okay, that's enough. This isn't good for Ava or our child." William says, stepping around Ava. "I think we need to go." He says, turning to her.
"Let me say good-bye to Emma." Ava says, bending down to her. "I'm sorry." She says, reaching for her.
"Okay, will you come to school tomorrow? Its show and tell and we have to bring someone that's important to us, please!"
"Emma, I think Ava's busy tomorrow." Olivia says, as Ava looks up at her before she turns to Emma.
"I'll be there, what time?"
"After lunch and nap time, around two." William says.
"Yes sir." Emma says, looking up at him.
"I'll be there." Ava says, releasing her.
"Okay, thank you." Emma says, as Ava stands up.
"Mom." Ava says, looking at her.
"Ava." Olivia replies, staring at her.
"Alright, Emma I'll be at school tomorrow."
"Okay."
Ava and William walk away. He puts his arm around her and pulls her to him. "It's okay." He says, as she lays her head on his shoulder.
Jeffrey and Sam are at the railing looking out at the falls. He's standing behind her with his arms around her. Her head in laying back against his chest. He leans over and asks. "Are you ready to go?"
"Okay." Sam replies, as he releases her.
Taking her hand, he leads the way through the crowd. When they reach the car, he opens the door for her and then closes it before walking around the car. When he opens his door, she senses that something has changed. "What's wrong?"
"What? Nothing." He says, reaching for the keys to start the car, but she stops him.
"Jeffrey." She says, as he looks over at her.
"When I was walking around the car, Ava crossed my mind for some reason."
"Do you think there's a problem?"
"No, she just crossed my mind."
"If you want to call her, you can."
"She's probably fine." Jeffrey says, reaching to start the car again.
"But you're worried, so call her." He looks over at her. "Go on and call her, I don't mind."
"Okay." He says, pulling his phone from his pocket and calls her.
After a couple rings, Ava answers. "Hello."
"Ava." Jeffrey says.
"Hey, why are you calling me on your honeymoon. Are you okay? Did something happen to Sam or the baby?"
"No, no, we're all fine. I was thinking about you."
"You were thinking about me on your honeymoon. Dad, I'm not what you're supposes to be thinking about." She says, teasing him.
"I know what I'm supposes to be thinking about." Jeffrey says, glancing at Sam and remembering earlier that morning. "And we're taking care of that. Is everything okay with you?"
"I'm fine."
"You sound like you're upset. Did William…?"
"No, he's fine. He's here with me."
"He's still there. I thought he was going back today?"
"He's staying to go with me tomorrow for my appointment with Dr. Sedgwick."
"But the election, doesn't he have…?"
"He said they can start without him. He can't be involved anyway and he wants to be with me for this appointment."
"You're sure you're alright."
"I'm fine, go spend time with Sam. I'm fine, I promise."
"Alright."
"Bye, Dad."
"Bye." Jeffrey replies, hanging up.
"She's okay."
"She says she is."
"You don't believe her."
"I don't think she's telling me everything." Jeffrey says, starting the car and backing out of his parking place.
"William's still there."
"Yes, he stayed to go with her to her appointment for Dr. Sedgwick."
"He did." Sam says, with a smile.
He glances at her. "What are you smiling about?"
"Well, if he's staying to go to the doctor appointments with her, maybe that means they are getting closer."
"Don't."
"Don't you want her to be happy?"
"Of course I do, I'm just not sure William is the man that will make her happy."
"You were just as reckless and care free when we go together and you didn't want to be saddled with watching my backside."
"It was different with us. We were federal agents, undercover most of the time and always in danger. William is a different kind of reckless and care free. And I didn't mind watching your backside, especially in those designer jeans you used to wear."
"William is a good man. And I think if you sit back and let them figure this out, you'll be surprised see that they are good together."
"Where do you want to go now?" Jeffrey asks, changing the subject.
"I'm hungry let's go get something to eat."
"Alright, we'll go get something to eat." Jeffrey says, heading towards downtown.
When they reach downtown, they stop at a little café closed to a park. Jeffrey gets out and walks around the car. Opening Sam's door, he helps her out and the closes the door before taking her arm. The walk inside and are greeting by a young woman standing a counter. "Welcome to DeMarcos." She says, as they walk in
"Thank you." Jeffrey replies.
"Will there be only two in your party, or are you expecting more?"
"No, it's only me and my wife." Jeffrey says, as she takes two menus.
"If you'll follow me, I'll take you to your table."
"Thank you." Jeffrey says, following the young woman while Sam follows him.
As they are walking through the restaurant, they pass a room with a single table inside. And when Jeffrey sees it he asks the young woman. "Can we sit in there?"
The woman stops and then looks inside the room and then nods. They follow her into the room and as she's putting their menus on the table, Jeffrey is holding Sam's chair for her before he walks around to the other side of the table to sit down. As he's sitting down, the young woman says. "Your server will be with you shortly."
"Thank you." Jeffrey says, before she walks away.
"Why did you want to sit in here?" Sam asks, picking up her menu.
"It's more private than out there." Jeffrey replies, picking up his menu as well. "And I want to be alone with you?"
"If you wanted to be alone with me, we should have gone back to our room." Sam says, teasing him.
"If we had gone back to our room, would we have eaten?" Jeffrey asks, looking up. "And beside don't you want to see more of this than our room and the falls.
"I don't know, would we? And I think our room is nice and the falls are awesome."
"They are, but there great shopping just a few streets over and there's cruises up the river. We can go through a series of locks, right up to the falls."
"We've been through the Panama Canal, and I don't want to be that close to those falls."
"Why?"
"Because they sort of scare me, and I heard some of the other tourist talking about a tunnel that goes behind them, I'm not doing that either."
"Sounds interesting."
"How interesting would it be if the glass breaks and that tunnel floods, there's only one way out. I'm not going."
"What if I want to go?" Jeffrey asks, as their server walks up.
"Welcome to DeMarcos, my name is Pedro. Could I interest you with one of our house wines? They are imported from the vineyards around the falls in Canada."
"No, but thank you." Jeffrey says.
"If you want a glass a wine, you can." Sam says, as Jeffrey shakes his head no. "I'll have water with lemon."
"And I'll have some tea." Jeffrey says.
"And would you like to order now?"
"Are you ready?"
"Um, not quite?" Sam says, looking down at her menu.
"I'll come back with your drinks." The young man says, walking away.
"You're not going down there either." Sam says, looking over her menu and settling on one of her favorites, lasagna.
"Down where?" Jeffrey asks, looking over his menu.
"The tunnel." Sam says a touch of fear in her voice.
He looks up and then says. "Okay."
Their server brings their drinks and asks. "Are you ready to order?"
"We are now." Jeffrey says, looking at Sam.
"Yes sir." He says, taking out his pad.
"I'll have the Chicken Alfredo and my wife will have the lasagna." Jeffrey says, handing him the menu.
"And will you have a salad with that?" The young man asks.
"I will." Sam replies, handing him her menu.
"And you sir." He asks, turning to Jeffrey.
"I'll have one too." Jeffrey says, looking at Sam.
"I'll have those salads out right away." They young man says, taking the menu's before he walks away.
"How did you know I wanted the lasagna?"
"You always order the lasagna." Jeffrey says, fixing his tea.
"Not always, I like other things." Sam says, as he looks at her. "Well, I do. What did Ava say?"
"Nothing really, she's with William and he's staying until tomorrow night because of her doctor's appointment." Jeffrey says as Pedro brings their salads.
"Your entrées will be out shortly and enjoy the salads."
"Thank you." They both reply, as Sam takes her napkin and put's it in her lap before she starts to eat. Jeffrey follows her.
"So do you want to go shopping?" Jeffrey asks, taking a drink.
"We can, let's go see if we can find something for the baby."
"What do you want to get?" Jeffrey asks, as Pedro brings their entrees and they begin to eat.
"I don't know, but it would be nice to have something that we can show him from our honeymoon."
"Do you think he'll understand that?"
"Not at first, but when he's older, he will."
"And you know maybe we can find something for Ava and our grandchild."
"Did you have to remind me of that?"
"I happen to think you're a very sexy grandmother."
"But I'm too young to be a grandmother." Sam says, as their server comes to check on them.
"Is there anything you need?" He asks.
"I would like some more water and I'm going to need to go box." Sam says, as Jeffrey looks at her.
"Yes ma'am." Pedro says, leaving to get the box and water."
When he walks away, Jeffrey asks. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I'm just full."
"But you haven't eaten anything?"
"I have too. I ate the salad and the breadsticks and I drank that glass of water and half of this lasagna."
"I thought pregnancy was supposes to increase your appetite."
"It does, eventually, but I'm only six weeks pregnant. Give it time and I'll be eating you out of the kitchen." Sam says, as Pedro brings the box and refills her glass. "Thank you." Sam says, looking up and smiling.
"You're welcome, ma'am." Pedro says, completely forgetting to ask Jeffrey if he needed anything. Smiling at Sam, he walks away.
When he walks away, Sam looks over at Jeffrey and he is smiling. "What?"
"He likes you."
"He does not."
"Yes, he does. He completely forgot about me and he has that, how do you put it? "Ah shucks, ma'am" grin on his face, and he's watching us right now." Jeffrey says, looking up and catching Pedro looking that way.
"You're imagining things. I'm old enough to be his mother."
"Even so, he likes you."
"Are you jealous?" Sam asks, picking up her plate and putting her lasagna in the to go box.
"Of him, no, as you said, you're old enough to be his mother."
"Some women like them that young." Sam says, closing the box after putting the plate down.
"Do you?"
"No!" Sam exclaims, throwing her napkin at him as he laughs.
About ten minutes later, Pedro comes back. "Will you need anything else?" He asks, watching Sam
"Do you want anything else?" Jeffrey asks, looking at her.
"No, I'm full."
"That will be all." Jeffrey says, pulling Pedro's attention away from Sam.
"Yes sir, I'll be right back with the check."
"Thank you." Jeffrey replies.
He turns away as he does he glances at Sam, which Jeffrey notices. When he returns a few minutes later, he says. "Whenever you're ready, I'll handle the check."
"Thank you, we're ready now." Jeffrey says, pulling out his wallet and getting out his credit card. He hands it to Pedro.
"I'll be right back." Pedro says, taking the card and leaving.
He returns a few minutes later with the receipt for Jeffrey and one for him to sign. Jeffrey signs it and then hands it back to him. "Excuse me, before you go my wife would like to use the bathroom." Jeffrey says, as Pedro turns to walk away.
"Yes sir, the bathrooms are through there." He replies, pointing the way.
"Thank you." Jeffrey says, as he walks away and Jeffrey turns to Sam.
"What was that about? I don't need to use the bathroom."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Sorry, I thought you might need to go before we go."
She looks at him and then she leans forward and says. "Jeffrey?"
"What?" He asks, standing up.
"That isn't the reason you asked him that." Sam says, following him. He walks through the restaurant and outside before Sam says. "Jeffrey."
"Alright, I wanted to him to know that you were taken." Jeffrey says, as they walk towards the car.
Sam looks at him for a few seconds before she says. "You are jealous."
Jeffrey looks at her and then looks away as they reach the car and he opens the door for her. Closing it, he walks around the car. Getting in, he reaches to start the car when she reaches for him. She leans over and kisses him.
After a few moments, she leans back and he asks. "What was that for?"
"Because you are jealous, and to tell you that you've got nothing to worry about." She says, leaning in to kiss him again.
When she leans back, he smiles and says. "If you keep doing that, we'll be going back to our room."
"Well we can do that."
"You're going to pass up shopping?"
"For that, yes I would, but let's go shopping. I want to find something for our little boy or girl and Ava's little boy or girl."
"Okay." Jeffrey says, reaching to start the car.
When he pulls out, she reaches for his free hand and lacing their fingers together, she settles back as he drives a couple of streets over. When they find a place to park, Jeffrey gets out and walks around the car as Sam opens her door and gets out. Locking the car, he puts his arm across her shoulders as she slips her hand around his waist, putting her hand in his back pocket over his wallet and they start walking.
When Ava and William get back to Towers, William holds the door open for her. He closes the door as she walks into the sitting room. When he walks into the room, she is sitting on the couch with her head back and her eyes are closed. He sits down beside her and asks. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"You didn't tell Jeffrey about Olivia."
"No, I didn't. He was already asking if something was wrong and it would have only upset him and ruined their honeymoon if I had told him."
"I'm sorry." William says, hearing the pain in her voice.
"I don't understand what is going on with her or why she refuses to accept that he's moved on? She's clinging to him and she refuses to see the truth."
William moves over to her, putting his arm across her shoulder he pulls her to him. "You have to give her time."
"How much time, am I supposed to give her. Dad and Sam have been together for a couple months now?"
"That's not that long, Ava. And Jeffrey and Olivia have a lot of history. For years, she thought your father was one that raped her."
"But he didn't rape her, your brother did."
"I know that, but she thought it was your father and she thought that for several years. She's never had to face Edmund since the truth came out."
She's quiet for awhile, considering what William has just said. "I know that what she thought about my father was terrible. It maybe part of the reason she had me kidnapped, but you weren't here when Dad was made mayor. She spoke with the press that day. And we saw her afterwards and she seemed at peace about what happened between her and Dad. I don't believe that this thing with Dad and Sam has anything to do with what happened in San Cristobel. It has everything to do with the fact that my Dad walked away from her and she not used to loosing."
"You may never understand why she's doing what she's done or will do. But you've got to giver her time."
"I'm going to take a nap."
"Okay." He says, releasing her. She stands up and walks out of the room.