A Fresh Start
Chapter One Hundred Eighteen
Ava walks in to Company as Marina is helping one of the customers at one of the tables. She sits down at the bar and when Marina finished with the other customers she comes over to the bar. "Ava, hi, I haven't seen you in awhile. How are you?" She asks, putting dishes under the counter.
"I'm doing good but I'm still looking for work."
"You haven't found anything at all?"
"I've gone on a couple interviews but no one has called me back."
"Have you tried Lewis?"
"William suggested that, but I'm not sure I should go there."
"Why, Billy likes you so I'm sure if he has an opening he would help you out."
"I don't want to be helped out, but it's not Billy I'm concerned about."
"Then who are you concerned about?"
"Josh. He and my Dad are not the best of friends."
"And you're afraid that Josh would hold Jeffrey against you."
"Well, yes. I've already had one job for one company that my Dad hated. I feel like I would be being disloyal to my Dad."
"Why would you feel like you are being disloyal to your father?" Olivia asks, as she walks up to them. Neither Marina nor Ava noticed her walk in. "Is he accusing…?"
"No, I haven't spoken to him since the other day. We were talking about the feud between my Dad and Josh."
"Josh has always been a good judge of character."
"Are you saying that Josh is right to attack my Dad for no reason?"
"No, let me finish. He's a good judge of character when it comes to business. If he sees the right qualities in someone and how they will benefit the company he won't let his personal feelings influence his decision."
"So, you're saying I should see if Lewis has any openings."
"If you want to work there, then yes, and I wouldn't worry about your Dad."
"I'll think about it. Was there something else you wanted?" Ava asks after several seconds.
"I came by to see you."
"I know." Ava says, as Marina goes to take care of a new customer.
There are a few moments of tense silence before Olivia says. "I wanted to talk to you about Emma."
"What about her?"
"I wanted to explain why I grounded…."
"There's nothing to explain, we both know why you grounded her. And saying that it was for any other reason other than the true reason serves no purpose." Ava says, turning to her. "Are you going to deny that you grounded her because she talked to Jeffrey the morning after the wedding?"
"Ava…."
"If you can't admit that, then we have nothing to discuss." Ava says, moving to get up.
"Ava." Olivia says, reaching to stop her from leaving.
"No, I'm tired of this. I'm tired of being pulled between you two, by you. He's my father and if you won't accept that or the fact that he loves Sam and he will for the rest of his life, then there is nothing more for us to say, but this, do not take out your frustration about Dad and Sam out on Emma. She is completely innocent in this feud you have." Ava says, before walking over to a table, leaving Olivia standing at the bar, watching her.
After she finishes with the other customers, including Olivia, Marina walks over to Ava. "Is everything okay?" She asks, bringing an orange smoothie with her.
"Thanks and its fine. We needed to clear the air about some things." Ava replies, before taking a sip.
"Is she still upset about your dad?"
"Yes, and she's upset about the baby."
"She's upset about your baby, I would think…."
"No, well she not happy about it either or the relationship I've started with William, but right now she's focused on my Dad and Sam, her being pregnant and the fact that I knew about it, but didn't tell her. I didn't tell her because I agreed with Dad, telling her about it would only add fuel to the fire that's already burning hot. I'm tired of fighting with her and I'm tired of feeling I'm being pulled between them."
"Jeffrey's not making you…"
"No, of course not, He's been completely protective, along with William, but she's my mother, he's my father and she refused to accept that he's moved on."
"And you simply want them to get along, I understand totally."
"I've got enough stress worrying about this baby, paying for it, although William is taking care of that now, and I'm worried about him. He wants to be here with the baby and me, but he can't because of the situation in San Cristobel."
"You need to relax and let him take care of you and the baby."
"I'm used to taking care of myself. I can't just step back and let him take over. I've been taking care of myself for too long."
"It's going to be alright. I think you need to go talk to Billy." Marina says, changing the subject as Reva walks up.
"Talk to Billy about what?" She asks.
"We were talking about my job situation. How are you doing?"
"I'm good, and I heard Alex let you go."
"Yes, well Alan's in some serious trouble right now and she couldn't justify keeping me when he's probably going to prison."
"It's Alan Spaulding, do you honestly think he'll ever pay for all the things he's done?" Marina asks.
"Eventually, he will."
"How's Josh?" Ava asks.
"He's coming along. He's spending some time at the office while I take care of some doctor's appointments."
"I heard about the attack. Have they found the boys responsible?" Marina asks.
"No, we haven't heard from Mallet." Reva says, turning to Marina. "What did you want to ask Billy?" She asks, turning back to Ava.
"I was thinking about seeing if he needs an assistant over at Lewis."
"Go over on there I know he would love to talk to you."
"I'm not sure I should with the tension between my Dad and Josh." Ava says, as Reva sits down.
"Don't worry about Josh. Billy and I will handle him. If you need this, then go see Billy, in fact I'll call and tell…."
"No, don't call him. If I go see him I want him to hire me because he feels I am qualified for the position."
"I understand, but I know you are very qualified for any position you look into."
"I think about it." Ava says, as Reva stands up.
"Good, I've got to go. I have to get to a doctor's appointment."
"Okay, be careful."
"I will and go talk to Billy."
"Okay." Ava says, as Reva turns to leave. Getting up, Ava walks over to the bar.
"What did she say?" Marina asks, wiping down the counter.
"That I need to go talk to Billy."
"So are you going to?"
"I think so, but I think I'll talk to my Dad first. Can you make my usual and I'll eat it after I come back down."
"Okay." Marina replies, taking her glass and putting it below the counter before she goes back to the kitchen to place Cassie's and Ava's orders.
Ava walks back upstairs. Walking into her room, she sits down on her couch. Reaching for her cell phone, she dials Jeffrey's number. After a couple rings, Sam says. "Hello."
"Dad." Ava says,
"No, it's Sam."
"Oh sorry, I thought I called my Dad."
"Its okay and you did. But he's inside the store right now. Is something wrong?"
"No, I wanted to talk to him about something."
"He should be back in a little bit. Do you want to wait?"
"I can, how are you doing?"
"I'm good."
"Good."
"How are things there? Have you talked to William?"
"Yes, a couple days ago. He's busy with the election process and everything is fine here."
"Have you had any problems with Olivia?"
"It's nothing that I can't handle."
"You can't let her stress you. It's not good for you or the baby." Sam says, as Jeffrey opens the door.
"I'm taking care of her and of myself and the baby." Ava says, as Jeffrey gets in and closes the door.
"Good, listen you're dad's here, do you want to talk to him?"
"Yes, thanks." Ava says, as Sam hands the phone to him.
"Ava, sweetheart, is something wrong?" Jeffrey asks, taking the phone.
"No, I'm fine?"
"Is something wrong with the baby?"
"The baby is fine. I need to talk to you about something."
"Is your mom…?"
"This isn't about Mom. It's about you and Josh?"
"Me and Josh, what about it?" Jeffrey asks, looking at Sam.
"I'm thinking about going to Lewis to see if they have any openings and I wanted to make sure it would be okay with you."
"I don't have a problem with you going to Lewis. The problems between Josh and I shouldn't matter, if they have a position open that you want to apply for.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, if Josh is anything he is very good at what he does and he'll do what he thinks is right for Lewis, no matter his personal feelings towards me."
"Okay."
Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"Okay, have you talked to William?"
"Yes, a couple days ago and he's busy with the election."
"Have you either of you made any plans?" Jeffrey asks, trying to sound casual.
"Not too many right now, he's working on the elections." Ava says, ignoring the tension in Jeffrey's voice. "I'll let you go. I've got to get started." Ava says, trying to avoid an argument.
"Okay, I love you."
"I love you too Dad. I'll see you next week."
"Okay." Jeffrey says, hanging up a few seconds later and handing the phone to Sam.
"Is everything okay?" Sam asks, taking the phone.
'Yes, she's going over to Lewis to see if they have any openings and she wanted to make sure that it was okay with me."
"Okay. You asked her about William."
"Yes, she's trying to hide it but she sounded down."
"And you wanted to know if the reason she sounded down was because she is having problems with William, hoping that she is and that they're not involved."
"Sam."
"No, I understand that you want to protect her and you're not sure about William, but I think you're wrong about him. People do change, look at how you were before we got together, you chased anything in a skirt and now you're married to me."
"I didn't chance anything in a skirt. Most of the women I was with came to me. I didn't chase them."
"But you could have told them no, you didn't. But the point is, when you met me and we got together, that all changed. And I think that William is the same way. Finding out that he's part of family…."
"He had a family before, and he still ran off and left his wife, a woman he married after a week for a whole year. He never contacted her, nothing."
"And I don't what to start a fight here, but haven't you done the same thing in a way. You left all of those women. You never contacted them again."
"It's not the same thing. I never married one of them. But we're getting off topic here. Yes, I want Ava to be happy. Yes, I have reservations about her being involved with William."
"Alright, you have reservations. But the problem with Ava isn't William. She's worried about him, obviously. No, the problem she's having is with her Mother."
"Did she tell you anything?"
"No, only that she can handle it." Sam says, as he pulls out onto the road. She turns to look at him, seeing the wheels turning in his head she asks. "What are you thinking?"
"I don't… like her being there alone. She doesn't need to be stressed. It's not good for her or the baby and I'm tired of Olivia and worrying about her."
"I've already told her not to let Olivia stress her out, but there something else on your mind." She says, looking at him.
He looks at her and then smiles. "Sitting aside what I just said…." He looks back at the road. "… I wish William was with her. I'm not sure about them being a couple but I know he would protect her if he were there."
"I think Ava's capable of handling Olivia and she will take care of her self and the baby. And I think you are changing your mind about William."
"Sam." He says, his tone saying don't get your hopes up.
"You like him."
"Yes, I like him, but…."
"She's your daughter and even if you didn't raise her, you want to protect her and I think that's sweet. You're going to be a great Daddy." She says, teasing him.
"I've got serious reservations about her being involved with William."
"I know, but you're softening." She says, picking up his hand and kissing the back of it.
"And you are a hopeless romantic." He says, glancing at her, smiling as silence falls again.
Cassie walks into the Beacon. Walking into her office she stops at Jessica's desk. "Can you see if Olivia's in her office for me?"
"Yes ma'am." Jessica says, reaching for the phone.
"If she's not there, tell her assistant that I need to talk to her sometime today."
"Yes ma'am." Jessica replies, as Cassie nods and then walks into her office.
About an hour later, she's looking over the contract for a convention that's coming in early December when someone knocks on her office door. "Come in." Cassie calls.
Opening the door, Olivia walks in. "My assistant said that you wanted to talk to me."
"Yes." Cassie says, putting the contract down. "I need to cut my hours back effective immediately. Now whatever work I don't get done in the time I'm here during the day, I'll leave for my assistant to handle."
"May I ask why? And how much do you need to cut back?"
"Three hours a day, four at the most."
"We've got a lot of things coming up in the next few months. The last conventions of the season, the deal with Mr. Marshall, this is isn't a good time for us to cut back."
"It can't be helped Olivia."
"May I ask why again?"
"I had some blood tests done…."
"Is everything okay?"
"Yes, but I'm pregnant." Cassie says. It still felt weird saying it as well as scared her to admit it out loud to someone other than Richard, as if telling Olivia would somehow jinx it.
"Oh my… you're pregnant, you're sure? How? I though you couldn't. You tried with Edmund and the invitro and Dinah." Olivia asks all these questions in one breath as Cassie smiles.
"We're not sure what happened. Maybe harvesting my eggs for the invitro opened something up enough to allow me to get pregnant, but whatever the reason, or however it happened I'm six weeks pregnant, and I would appreciate if you don't remind Richard of the Edmund, Dinah and invitro thing."
"Sure. I'm betting that Richard is beside himself."
"He is, He wanted me to quit all together, but I told him that I can't stay at home and do nothing, so we compromised and I cut back to a few hours a day."
"I completely understand. It's not a problem. I'll take over and you take it easy. What did Dr. Sedgwick say?"
"She wants me to avoid stress of course. All the usual stuff, she wants to see me every two weeks and if anything happens I'm to call her anytime, day or night."
"Then follow everything she says." Olivia says, getting up and coming around Cassie's desk. "I'm so happy for both of you."
"Thank you." Cassie says, stepping back.
"Don't worry about the Beacon, we'll cover everything."
Before Olivia leaves, Cassie stops her. "Olivia, I have to ask you not to say anything to anyone, at least for right now."
"Of course, I won't say a word."
"Thank you." Cassie says, as Olivia walks towards the door.
She leaves and Cassie goes back to looking over the contract. When she finishes that, she pushes the intercom. "Jessica, could you come in here please?"
"Yes ma'am." She replies, getting up. She walks over to Cassie's door. Opening it, she says. "You wanted to seem me?"
"Yes, have a seat." Cassie says, nodding towards the chair that Olivia just vacated.
"Yes ma'am." Jessica replies, sitting down.
"I wanted to let you know about some changes that is going to take place. Effective immediately, some of your responsibilities are going to increase. For medical reasons, I have to cut my hours back here at the Beacon. So I am going to need you to take care of things that I'm not able to finish in the time that I'm here."
"Yes ma'am. May I ask why and will you be okay?"
"Yes, I'll be fine. But my doctor asks that I avoid stress and my husband wanted me to quit but we compromised and I'm cutting my hours back to a few hours a day."
"Yes ma'am. I will be happy to help anyway I can."
"Thank you, I appreciate it." Cassie says, as she gets up.
"Ma'am, can I ask what's wrong?"
"I'm pregnant."
"Oh, congratulations."
"Thank you, but please do not say anything to anyone."
"Yes ma'am."
"Thank you." Jessica nods before she leaves.
A couple hours later, Cassie is walks out to her car when her cell phone rings. Pulling it out of her purse, she answers the call as she unlocks the car. "Hello." She says, getting in and closing the door behind her.
"Cassie, its Rick."
"Hi." She says, starting the car.
"Hi, I thought you would want to know immediately when I got the test results from the DNA test."
"Yes, thank you."
"Can you come by the hospital or do you want me to bring them out to the Beacon?"
"I'm leaving the Beacon now, so I'll come by Cedars and pick them up. Have you looked at them?"
"Yes."
"Thank you, Rick?"
"You're welcome."
Cassie hangs up as she's backing out. She's about to leave parking lot when her phone rings again. Picking it up, she answers it as she pulls out. "Hello."
"Darling." Richard says.
"Hi." She says, heading towards town.
"Have you left?"
"Yes, I've left." She says, smiling.
"And you left everything that…."
"I didn't bring any work home. I left instructions with Jessica and she's going to take care of what I didn't get finished."
"Good, so are you going to the farm?"
"No, Rick just called and he has the results of the DNA test."
"I didn't think they would have so soon. Do you want me to go with you?"
"No, I'm only going to pick it up." Cassie says.
"Okay, but come by the office and we'll open it together."
"Okay, I will."
"I've got to go to a meeting."
"I'll talk to you soon."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
They hang up as Cassie gets into Springfield. It takes about five minutes for her to reach Cedars. She's walking into Cedars as Reva is coming out. "Cassie." She says.
Looking up, Cassie goes over to her. "Hi, how are you doing?"
"I'm good. What are you doing here?"
"Umm, picking up some test results."
"Is something wrong? Richard's…."
"He's fine, we all are. It's the results for a DNA test."
"A DNA test, why would you need a DNA test?"
"It's for me and the man I asked you about, the one that claims to be my father."
"Oh yes, I remember. He agreed to a DNA test?"
"He was the on that suggested it. Rick called to tell me that they have the results as I was leaving the Beacon, so I came to get them."
"You'll let me know what it says."
"Yes."
"Alright, I've got to go. I've got to get Josh."
"How is he doing?"
"He's coming along. He's at Lewis right now so I have to go pick him up."
"What are you doing here?"
"I had a check up this morning."
"And how did that go?"
"Good, I'm still clear."
"Good, Rick's waiting so I've got to go."
"Okay." Reva starts to turn away and then she turns back to her. "Did you do something different today?"
"Different, what do you mean?"
"I don't know but you look different."
"I didn't change anything."
"Well you look really good."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, know go see Rick.
"Thanks and take care."
"I will and hug the boys."
"I will." Reva walks away as Cassie walks into the hospital. A few minutes later, she walks into Rick's office.
"May I help you?" A woman asks, when Cassie walks in.
"Yes, I'm here to see Dr. Bauer about the results of a blood test."
"And you're name?"
"Cassie Winslow.
"Yes, Mrs. Winslow. Dr Bauer was called away for and emergency but he left this for you." The woman says, reaching for an envelope and handing it to Cassie.
"Thank you." Cassie says, taking the envelope.
"He said that if you have any questions about the results then he will be there to answer them and he said to apologize for not being here to explain the results to you."
"Tell him thank you and not to worry about not being here."
"Alright." The woman says nodding as Cassie turns to leave.
She leaves Cedars a few moments later and she heads directly to City Hall. Richard is coming out of a meeting when she walks in. "Hello, darling." He says, kissing her cheek.
"Hi. I can come back if you're busy.
"No, we're about to wrap this up so go on into my office and I'll be there as soon as possible."
"Okay." Cassie says walking into his office as Richard turns to the man beside him.
"So." Richard says.
"I'll take these suggestions to my stockholders and we'll be in touch." The man says.
"Good. We'll be awaiting your call."
"Thank you." The man says, holding out his hand.
"You're welcome." Richard replies, as they shake hands and the man turns to leave. Turning to Amelia, he says. "Please hold my calls."
"Yes sir." She replies, as he walks towards his office.
Cassie is standing by his desk as he walks in and he walk over to her. "I got the results." Cassie says, holding up the envelope.
"Did you open it?"
"No." Cassie says.
"Do you want to, or would you rather that I open it?"
"I'm not sure I can open it." She says, looking down at the envelope.
"Then I'll open it." He says, reaching for it and she hands it to him.
He opens the envelope and then pulls the results out, opening them. He reads the results and then he hands the paper to her. Taking it, she take a deep breath before she looks down and reads the results and then she looks back up. "He's my father." She says, softly.
"According to the test results, what do you want to do?"
"I don't know.' Cassie says, walking over to the couch and sitting down. Richard follows her, sitting down beside her. "I suppose I have to tell him."
"Okay."
"After that, I don't know what needs to happen."
"I think you have to take it one day at a time."
"What would you do if you knew your real mother?"
"I don't know. There were so many factors into my situation. I had to think about San Cristobel and Edmund. I honestly didn't think about finding her."
"So you were not at all curious about her?"
"We didn't have time to think about that, and now it's too late. And at the time a part of me still thought of Charlotte as my mother. And another part of me would have liked to know her. Charlotte was good to me but to know that part of me would have been good too. I might have learned more about my father. She might have been able to explain why he did what he did to William, why he treated Edmund the way that he did. Why he left her. I know that his duty to San Cristobel was a part of it, but I could never leave you. I can't imagine doing that, duty or not."
"I know. I've thought about knowing my parent since I was a kid, growing up in Chicago, going from foster home to foster home. And then I found Reva and I found out about Sarah and that she was gone. Then I came to Springfield and I found Tammy and met Hart and then I met you and I put that need to find my parents aside. Now my father has found me and I'm scared."
"Why are you scared?"
"You and Reva both know about my past. You know what I did. You know what happened with Tammy and you've both accepted it. Now I have to explain all of that again. I have to explain about my childhood and I don't know if I'm up to that again."
"What you did in your past, you did for your family. You have to remember that. And when you tell him about it, first you won't be alone, and second he will love you or he should love you no matter what you did."
It should be that way, but not everyone is as forgiving as you or Reva. Yes, I had reasons for what I did, but I was a stripper Richard and not everyone can accept that, especially a father."
"You have to take this one day at a time. Don't put pressure on the situation. Your past may not come up."
"He's going to ask questions, you know that. He will want to know about my life and my past."
"And you can answer his questions and if he asks you can tell him, but you don't have to come right out and tell him everything."
"That would be lying. Didn't we just get onto Will about not tell us everything."
"If you asks you then tell him, but if he doesn't… he doesn't have to know everything about you right of the bat. You won't know everything about him, that's all I'm saying. And if he does ask you about it. I will be there to help you, explain what happened and why it happened."
"Okay." Cassie says, sighing. "You're right and we don't have to tell each other everything right away."
"Good. I've got another meeting. Are you going to be okay?"
"Yes, I'm going…."
"Don't go see him until I can go with you."
"I won't. I'm going to go to the farm. I'm going to straighten up a little bit…."
"I want you to rest."
"I will. When will you be home?"
"I should be home by four. We've got the boys games tonight, so we can get something to eat at Company before we go to the park."
"Okay." Cassie says, getting up.
He follows her. Reaching for her, he pulls her to him. "I love you." He says, holding her.
"I love you too." Cassie says, laying her head on his chest.
"I promise at some point everything will settle down a little bit for us."
"I don't think our lives will ever be simple." She says, looking up.
"We would be bored if our life was simple." He replies, as Amelia buzzes him. Releasing her, he walks over to his desk. "Yes." He says, holding down the intercom button.
"Sir, your next meeting has arrived."
"Thank you Amelia, I'll be right there."
"Yes sir."
He walks over to Cassie, putting his arm around her walks with her to the door. "I'll see you when I get home."
"Okay." She says, as he reaches for the door, but she reaches for him. Leaning in, she kisses him.
When she leans back, he asks. "What was that for?"
"Because you always know what I need."