A Fresh Start
Chapter One Hundred Sixty Eight
"I'm not attacking him but these are the questions he's going to face from the press if there is a story."
"There is a story." Jeffrey says.
"What do you mean?" George asks.
"I spoke to a contact at the Journal and he confirmed that they are running an article in tomorrow's paper." Ava says.
"That changes things." George says.
"What do you mean?"
"If there is an article, then we have to come out before it runs and give our story first."
"You mean a press conference."
"No, I was thinking more about an interview on WSPR. We might be able to head off the attack if we announce this before the article comes out." George says, looking at Jeffrey.
"I don't know." Jeffrey says, looking at Sam.
"I'm behind you either way, but I think if you do, do the interview you need to warn at least Reva and Billy and to be fair Josh."
"I'm not warning him about anything. He brought this on himself." Jeffrey says. "When can you get on WSPR?"
"Let me contact my contacts at the station. We might be able to get you on air before the late news." George says, taking his phone out.
Jeffrey reaches for the phone, dialing Reva's cell number. After a couple minutes, she picks up. "Reva Lewis."
"Reva, its Jeffrey."
"Hi." She as RJ and Will come inside.
"Reva, I was wondering if you could come over to the loft. I need to sort of give you a heads up about something."
"Umm, let me see if Ms. Chitwood can stay and I'll call you back." Reva says, getting up and going into the kitchen.
"Okay." Jeffrey says. "She's going to see if Ms. Chitwood can keep the boys for her."
"I forgot about the boys." Sam says.
She returns to the phone a few moments later. "Jeffrey." She says.
"Yes." He says, bring the phone back up.
"She'll watch him. I'll be over in about ten minutes."
"Thank you and can you bring Billy too. You'll both need to hear this."
"Okay, I believe he's home right now."
"I'll see you in about twenty minutes then."
"Yes." Reva replies and Jeffrey hangs up.
"I spoke with my contacts at WSPR and he's going to arrange for a break in programming so that you can make an announcement."
"Okay, Ava maybe you need to go home." Jeffrey says, turning to her.
"No, I want to stay with you."
"You both need to rest." He says, looking at her and Sam.
"We're both fine." Sam says, reaching for his hand.
"Would you please lie down at least until Reva gets here and we arrange this press conference?" Jeffrey asks, squeezing her hand.
"Alright, I'll lie down." She says, getting up with him following her.
Turning to her, he pulls her to him and softly kisses her. "I love you." He whispers.
"I love you too." She whispers back, leaning up to kiss him again.
She goes upstairs as Jeffrey turns to Ava. "I'm not going home." She says.
"I wasn't going to suggest it, knowing that you would tell me no. Can you at least lie down on the couch until we get this setup? George and I will talk quietly over at the kitchen table."
"Alright, but don't go anywhere without…."
"I won't leave without telling what's going on."
"Okay." Ava says, getting up from the chair and going over to him.
Slipping her shoes off, she lays down while he spreads a throw over her. "Well be at the dining room table." He says, as she looks up at him and nods. "George, this way." Jeffrey says, walking around the couch with the other man following behind him. "What happens when we get to WSPR?"
"I'm actually thinking I'll have my contact come here. I think it would be better if the public sees you with your family." George says, picking up his cell phone again. "Alex." He says, after a couple moments. "It's George, how soon could you get a camera and crew to the Mayor's loft?"
"I would say a couple hours." Alex says.
"We need this to be on before the late news and definitely before tomorrow morning."
"I'll see what I can do. It might take a bit of maneuvering but I'll see what I can do. Can you tell me what this is about?"
"The mayor has a personal announcement he wants to make."
"Is he resigning?"
"No, this has nothing to do with the mayor's office, it's a personal statement."
"Alright, I'll get a crew together and we'll be on our way."
"Thank you." George says, hanging up the phone. "He's going to get a crew together and they'll be on their way."
"What are we going to say?" Jeffrey asks, as Ava sits up.
"I would say exactly what you said to me when I arrived. Tell them how you found out about…." There's a knock at the door.
"That would be Reva and Billy." Jeffrey says, walking over to the door. He opens the door and then steps back, letting Reva and Billy in.
"What's going on?" Reva asks, looking at Jeffrey as she takes her coat off. Jeffrey hangs it up and then takes Billy's as Reva puts her purse on the table by the door. And turns to see another man standing at the dining room table.
"I asked you guys over here to give you both a bit of an heads up on something that happened tonight and what will likely happen in the morning. Sam and I were having dinner with Ava this evening when Josh showed up."
"What did he do?" Reva asks, putting her hands on her hips.
"Nothing more than he's already done but this time a reporter for the Springfield Journal…."
"Oh hell!" Billy says, looking at Reva.
"He overheard Josh and I arguing and he overheard Josh accuse me of sleeping with Marah and you. This was after he heard us discussing the fact that I'm HB's son."
"He's writing an article, isn't he?" Reva asks.
"Yes, I'm afraid so." Jeffrey says. "Ava used one of her contacts at the Journal to confirm it. George here is part of the Public Relations department for the mayor's office. He's arranged for a camera and crew to be here from WSPR in about an hour." Jeffrey says, glancing at George.
"We're announcing the news before the Journal can announce it and spin it into a scandal. We'll make it clear that the mayor had no prior knowledge of his relation to your daughter, Mrs. Lewis."
"Will that stop the story?"
"Probably not, but at least it will give us an advantage." Jeffrey says, as Sam comes downstairs after hearing Reva's voice.
"I appreciate the forewarning." Reva says, looking at Jeffrey.
"Mrs. Lewis, I think it would be beneficial if you were to appear on camera with the mayor." George says.
"Reva, you don't have…."
"Sir…."
"Give us a minute, George." Jeffrey says, turning to him. He nods, turning away.
"Reva, if you're not comfortable… I don't want to cause you and Josh anymore problems."
"I appreciate your concern about me and Josh, but Josh is going to have to face the reality that you are a part of this family. We both know that he has no reason to treat you the way he's been treating you. I'm sorry that once again you're personal life is being put on display for the whole town to gossip about. You shouldn't have to defend yourself right now because you've done nothing wrong."
"Thank you." Jeffrey says, as there is a knock at the door.
"I'll get it." Sam says, turning for the door. She opens the door.
"Yes, I'm with WSPR, I'm here to see Mayor O'Neill." Alex says.
"Come in." Sam says, stepping back and letting Alex and the crew into the loft as Jeffrey and George come to the door.
"George, Mr. Mayor." Alex says, shaking each of their hands.
"Thank you for coming." Jeffrey says.
"You're welcome, Mr. Mayor. Where do you want us to setup?"
"I think it will be best if we shoot this in the living room with Jeffrey and Sam on the couch with Mrs. Lewis and Mr. Lewis beside them, along with his daughter." George says.
"Alright, you guys setup in the living room." Alex says, turning to the camera men. "Can you tell me what this announcement will be?" Alex says, looking at Jeffrey.
"I would rather wait till the camera is rolling, that way I only have to explain this one time." Jeffrey replies.
"Yes Sir." Alex replies. "Let me check with the crew and we'll let you know when we're ready."
"Thank you." Jeffrey says as Alex turns away and Jeffrey turns to Sam. "Are you okay?" He asks, taking her hand.
"I'm fine. I'm not the one that will have an entire town deciding whether they believe me or not. I should be asking you if you're okay, are you?"
"I'm fine, as long as I know that you believe what I've said, everyone else means little to me."
"Well, know that I do believe everything you've said about your relationship with Reva and with Marah. I know you didn't sleep with her knowing that you were related to her and I know that you will not be able to convince everyone of that, so we tell the truth and let the chips fall wherever they may fall, agreed?"
"Agreed, Mrs. O'Neill." Jeffrey says, leaning in to kiss her.
"Mr. Mayor." Alex says, walking up to them.
"Yes." Jeffrey says, slipping his arm around Sam's waist and drawing her to him.
"If you and Mrs. O'Neill could have a seat on the couch in the center and if your daughter, Mrs. Lewis and Mr. Lewis would center themselves around you, we'll begin." Alex says, as Jeffrey goes to the couch with Sam and Ava, Reva and Billy gathering around them. "Okay, we go live in five, four, three, two, one. Good evening everyone we are sorry to interrupt your regular programming but we are coming to you live from Mayor O'Neill's living room where is his about to make an announcement, Alex are you there?"
"We're here Stan and I have Mayor O'Neill, his wife, Mrs. O'Neill, his daughter Ava Peralta and prominent leaders within the community Mrs. Reva Lewis and her brother-in-law Mr. Billy Lewis. Mayor O'Neill would like to make a personal statement." Alex says, holding the microphone towards Jeffrey.
"Thank you, Alex. Citizens of Springfield I do apologize for this interruption but it can not be avoided." Sam takes Jeffrey's hand and he squeezes it. "Earlier this evening, some of you may have been a witness to a confrontation between myself and Mr. Joshua Lewis. A lot of things were said during the argument some of which were true and some of which were not. I will give you the truth first.
Through confirmation of a DNA test run by the lab at Cedars hospital, I am the son of H.B. Lewis and the brother of Mr. Joshua Lewis and Mr. Billy Lewis. With this confirmation, I will not deny having a brief affair with Mr. Lewis's daughter, Marah Lewis. I can not deny the affair because it was a well known fact what we were involved at the time the affair was going on. I will however deny any allegation that states the I knew before that affair that I was any way, shape or form related to Ms. Lewis. I had absolutely no prior knowledge of any relation to the Lewis family when I came to Springfield several years ago. In fact I had given up on ever knowing who my father was when my mother was murdered shortly after my eighth birthday.
As to the allegations that were made that were untrue. I am not nor have I ever been physically involved with Mr. Lewis's wife, Reva Shayne Lewis. Mrs. Lewis and I are friends and while I was DA we were colleagues on several cases that she helped not only me but the Springfield PD solve. I am completely and totally committed to my wife and our baby and it has never been any other way. I know that I have certain reputation as being a ladies man, most of that being my own doing but once my Beca came back to me, it all changed and I do not nor will I ever want any woman besides her. I say this to you and to my brother.
Some of you will wonder why we are making this announcement now. I am doing this to keep peace within my family and to honor your right to know that truth before the story is skewed by the media and gossip in this town. I ask you to please remember that I am only a man. And I ask you to remember that this affects more than me and you, so please whatever you may hear and read in the next few days, please draw your own conclusions about the truth using your own since of right and wrong, thank you and good night." Jeffrey says, handing the microphone back to Alex.
"Back to you Stan." Alex says, nodding to the camera man to stop recording. When he knows they are off the air, he turns to Jeffrey. "That was very well done, Mr. Mayor. Well done and well said."
"Thank you." Jeffrey says, turning to Reva. "Maybe you should call Marah, just to let her know…."
"I'll take care of that don't worry about it." Reva says, as she comes around the couch and they hug before she turns to Sam and hugs her. "I'll take care of Marah and Josh."
"Don't be too hard on him. I don't think he did this to start trouble for us. He didn't mean to…."
"Whether he meant to or not, his attitude caused a lot of aggravation for you and Jeffrey tonight and he needs to see that."
"Just go easy on him, I want you two to work this out and you can't do that if you're fighting him." Sam says.
"Thanks, you take care of my newest brother and let me worry about Josh and I. Billy, are you ready to go?"
"Sure, darlin." Billy says, coming over to them. "You both take care and Jeffrey I'll contact you about the plan for the loft." Billy says, as they walk towards the door following Alex and the camera crew.
"Yes and thank you." Jeffrey says, shaking Billy's outstretched hand.
"Dad, I'm going to go too." Ava says, hugging him.
"You take care and we'll see you later." He says, kissing her cheek as they hug.
"You bet and we'll see about soundproofing the study."
"Good." Jeffrey says releasing her and taking a step back as George follows her out. "Thank you George for your help."
"You're welcome Sir. I hope that it serves it purpose." George says, shaking Jeffrey's hand.
"I'll see you in the office tomorrow morning and we'll know then."
"Yes sir." George replies, before he heads downstairs and Jeffrey closes the door to the loft.
Richard comes downstairs as Cassie's coming in from the porch. "The sun is shining." She says, walking over to him.
"Good, then we can get out of this cabin."
"I thought you liked being in this cabin with me."
"I did… I do, but I'm ready to see some of the surrounding area, aren't you."
"Yes, maybe we can take a hike up the trail out back."
"And we'll take a picnic." Richard says, releasing her.
"I'm going to go get dressed." Cassie says turning for the stairs.
"I'll get the picnic together." He says, going towards the kitchen.
Fifteen minutes later, Cassie is coming downstairs in jeans, sweatshirt and hoodie with hiking boots on. The fact that she's ready in less than an hours is a testament to how much time they have been spending in the cabin. "I'll be ready in a few minutes." Richard says, headed for the stairs.
"Hurry, I want to stretch my legs." She says, going to the kitchen.
He climbs the stairs quickly. Going to their room, he finds his clothes on the bed and smiles. Slipping on the jeans and t-shirt, he picks up the flannel shirt and the shakes his head. Slipping it on before he sits down on the bed and puts the hiking boots on. He glances in the mirror and for a moment he doesn't recognize himself but he doesn't take time to think about it. Running his fingers through his hair, he hears Cassie call. "Richard."
"I'm coming." He calls back, walking out of the bedroom.
Cassie's at the bottom of the stairs, looking up. She stares as he walks down the stairs and when he reaches the last step, she looks up, still staring. "Are you ready?" He asks.
"Huh?" Cassie asks, after a moment.
"I asked you if you're ready."
"Yeah… I mean yes. Let's go." She stammers, turning away.
He reaches out to stop her. "I like that look in your eyes." He says.
"What look?"
"That look that says, I can't believe he looks that hot. And may I say, Mrs. Winslow, I can't believe you look that hot either."
She leans in to kiss him, nibbling on his lower lip until he opens his mouth and deepens the kiss. He moves closer as she takes a step back. "Come on, let's go." She says, taking his hand and leading him towards the porch.
"Are you sure you don't want stay…?" She turns to looks at him and he laughs. "We're going out." He says, picking up the picnic basket as they walk off the porch. He follows her around the house to the backyard and then across it to the trail leading behind the house.
They've been walking about an hour, when Cassie notices a small trail leading off the main one. "Let's go this way?"
"Cassie, I'm not… Alright, we'll go." He says, following her down the trail.
After about ten minutes they start to hear running water and after walking around a turn, Cassie spots a creek in front of them and she stops. Richard isn't paying attention to her until he walks into. "I'm…."
"Oh, wow." Cassie gasps, staring at the view in front of her. "I don't believe it, Richard look." She says, moving out of the way so that he can see.
In front of them is a small creek flowing towards them. The water running over a small three tiered waterfall. Upstream, trees hang over the creek, forming a natural tunnel. Slightly to their right is a large slab of rock. The leaves are just starting to turn, so there are yellow, orange and red mixed with green and pine trees. "This is perfect." Cassie says, turning to Richard.
"You want to stay here." Richard says, looking at her.
"It's beautiful and look there's a natural place for us to have a picnic, on the rock, come one." Cassie says, moving off the trail.
"Cassie, be careful."
"Come on, Richard, what could happen." She asks, as she takes a step and trips on a tree root and he reaches out to grab her.
"You could trip and fall." He says, holding her tightly.
"Alright, I'll slow down." She says, watching where she's going as they walk the short distance to the slab of rock.
Cassie leads the way down to the water's edge. Crouching down, she dips her fingers in the water. "Oh, that's cold." She says, pulling her hand away. "This creek must be fed by water from the mountains. "It's way too cold to go swimming in." She says, turning to Richard
He sits the basket down as he asks. "Were you seriously thinking about going swimming at this time of year? In a few weeks, we'll have our first hard freeze."
"I might have dipped my toes in the water, but it's too cold. I doubt this water gets warm until late July or early August, if at all."
"Well, we'll have to bring the boys back up here next summer and we can show them this spot."
"You know it might be nice to have a cabin up here. The Bauer's do, although I'm not sure they use it as much as they did."
"The Bauer's have a cabin up here?"
"Yes, but I think it's on the other side of the lake. I've been up there a few times but I'm not sure anyone comes up here that much anymore. Maybe we could start a new trend in Springfield."
"Owning a lake home when we live next to a lake."
"Owning a lake home up here would be different than being by the lake at home. We wouldn't see this except for a few weeks maybe a month in the summer. We can see the Springfield lake anytime."
"Do you really want to buy property up here?"
"I like it up here. And I like the cabin where we're staying. I think it would be fun to bring the boys up here, along with our little girl."
"How about some lunch?" Richard asks, reaching for the picnic basket
"That's fine, I'm hungry." Cassie says, pulling the picnic basket over to them.
"Are you hungry or is our little girl hungry?" Richard asks, watching her take stuff out of the basket.
"Maybe a little of both." She says, looking up at him.
He packed some lunch meat and cheese, bread, fruit and a small jug of lemonade along with a couple slices of their wedding cake. They settle down to eat, listening to the birds calling and the silence of the surrounding woods as well. The soft whoosh of the water as it glides over the layers of rock, falling over the edge and settle in to pools of water before rushing towards the next edge and repeating the same process until it reaches the final fall and it hastens down the creek towards the lake. For several moments, he watches her before he says. "Here." Handing her a sandwich, as she turns to him.
Taking the sandwich, she smiles at him before she takes a bite. Chewing slowly, while he makes himself a sandwich before settling back to watch her and the surrounding scenery. They eat while again listening to the silence surrounding them. When he's finished the sandwich, he leans back. Taking a drink of lemonade, he says. "I wonder where the creek goes."
"It probably empties into the lake somewhere." Cassie says, finishing her sandwich.
He reaches for an orange and begins to peel it. Tossing the rind over his shoulder and into the woods. He splits it in half and then hands one to Cassie. She takes it and pulls the slices apart, eating them slowly. She finishing the last slice when she bites into it, the juice sprays out, dripping down her chin. He's watching her, and smiles as she tries to catch the running juice. Leaning forward, he whispers, "I can take care of that." He leans forward, licking the juice from her chin.
She is instantly aware of what he's doing and she smiles softly. He sits back and looks down. "Maybe we should have another orange." She says, reaching for another piece.
He takes it out of her hand and moves closer to her, holding it out she leans in and takes a bite and he pops the rest into his mouth as she grabs his hand. Methodically she licks the juice running down his hand away, moving over his palm and up his fingers. Sucking on each of them as she watches him. "I think you've got a rather intriguing idea, Mrs. Winslow." He says, reaching for another piece of fruit. This time it's a strawberry. Holding it in his mouth, he leans forward. She takes a bite and then he leans in to kiss her.
Moving until she's laying on her back, he pulls away. Chewing up the strawberry while he watches her. She slowly swallows the fruit while staring into his eyes. Lying down beside her, he reaches up to slowly move his finger down her face. From her forehead, down her nose to mouth, she kisses her finger before he moves it down over her chin and down her neck. He pauses for a moment at the base of her throat, feeling her swallow. He moves on, down to the zipper of the light sweater hoodie she had put on to keep the chill away.
She reaches up laying her palm against his neck she moves her thumb over his chin, caressing the underside. She can feel the beginning stubble of his five o'clock shadow. She moves her hand down his chest as he sweeps the sweater open and lays his hand on her stomach. "You know, I like this side of you." Cassie says, looking up.
"What side of me?"
"This rugged outdoor side. It's different than what we were in San Cristobel. We're not Prince and Princess. Our honeymoon isn't on the royal yacht. We don't live in a palace and we don't have servants to wait on us. I admire how quickly you've given that part of your life up. A lot of men, like you would have fought to hang on to the life they knew, but you didn't and I admire that."
"I think the reason I was able to accept this life so easily was because you were here with me. If the truth had come out about my illegitimacy before I met you I might have fought to hang onto that life. You gave me the strength to accept that. And from all we know about my mother, she wasn't royalty or nobility, she was like you and maybe that's why I can accept this life, because it's a part of me also."
"I'm still amazed. My life… our life is going to change when we get back to Springfield."
"Your father?"
"Yes… a part of me will always be the poor girl from Chicago, that clawed and scratched my way through life, but with my father here now, that struggle won't be there."
"It's not there now. I will protect you and take care of you and our family. That's my job."
"I know it is, and I know you will and I will never try to keep you from doing that, but I'm pretty sure that James will want to give me some of what he has."
"What are you trying to say?"
"I don't really know. Maybe I don't what you to resent my father…."
"I would never resent him. He's the reason you're alive. I didn't trust him at first, but he's beginning to grow on me, especially since the wedding."
"Because he defended me to Sarah?"
"Yes and the fact that he didn't condemn you when she told him about your past, all of it."
"He said he already knew about it. He's had time to adjust to it. We were doing something else, so how did we get here and discussing my father."
"You brought him up."
"Yes, I did. But if you don't mind can we go back to what we were doing before I interrupted us."
"If that's what you want, I will be happy to oblige my dear wife." He says, leaning in, kissing her as she slips her arms around his neck.