A Fresh Start
Chapter One Hundred Seventy Six
William is outside his room, on the balcony. The night is clear and the ocean is calm. A cool breeze caresses his face as he stands there, watching the light from the light house two miles up from the palace, sweep across the ocean, disappearing on land. He remembers the many times, he saw that same light house from the deck of a ship, remembers the idea of coming home, but not feeling like he was ever really home until he had found Richard, Cassie and Will.
He had found himself through Cassie insistence that he stay involved with Will. He learned that he could handle responsibility. Beginning tomorrow, the last five years would begin to come to an end. The palace had announced the election and encouraged the citizens of San Cristobel to voice their opinion. William is leaning against the banister with his back to her when Ava walks out. She stands there watching him for several seconds before he senses someone behind him and turns around. At first he stares at her, not knowing what to say or do and then he finally finds he voice and asks. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you."
"I thought you couldn't get off, that Billy wouldn't let you go."
"I spoke to Billy and he let me go, probably because I'm his niece, now."
"What about your mom? She's in jail and you have Emma."
"She was released. She made deal with the prosecutor and they gave her a suspended sentence but she has to leave Springfield."
"So, Emma is back with your Mom."
"No, she's not. I brought her with me. I left her with the nanny."
"She's here, now. But what about your Mom, does she know that…?"
"Olivia signed over custody to me and I'm not giving her back." Ava says, walking over to the bench beside him.
"Ava, that's her daughter."
"And look at everything she's done, not only to me but my father. We both know the way she's treated Emma in the last few months, using her to take her anger out on, because of Dad and Sam. What will she do next?"
"That's her mother."
"And she's unstable. She's not fit to raise her. I thought you would at least support…."
"I do support you, but you're keeping a child from her mother."
"A mother that is unstable. She planned to kidnap someone and hold him hostage for… we don't know how long. She tried to kill me. She's unstable and she not fit to raise Emma."
"I want to know why you're doing this."
"I just told you the reasons."
"No, you told me the reasons that are on the surface. What's going on underneath? There's more than just Olivia's arrest that's made you decide this." Ava looks at him for several moments. "Come on, sweetheart. You know that you can talk to me, what's behind this?"
"She planned to kidnap my father because she was jealous of his relationship with Sam. She wanted him to suffer because he was happy. And then when she confessed and she was standing there before the judge they gave her a suspended sentence and all she has to do is leave Springfield, leave the state, that's it, that's her punishment. She can't be in the same state as my dad. She should get more than that."
"So, you're going to take Emma away from her."
"Yes, I am. She gave me custody and I'm not giving it back to her."
"I understand that you're angry with her. She planned to kidnap your Dad and the repercussions from that could have been very severe, but what about Emma, what will this do to her?"
"She'll be fine."
"Have you even spoken to her about it?"
"I spoke with her briefly last night."
"And what did she say?"
"We didn't really discuss it. Olivia showed up and demanded that I give her back. We were supposed to meet today to discuss it but I left town with Emma. I couldn't discuss this with Emma on a plane."
"So you left town and you have no idea what Emma wants. What if she wants to go with Olivia? You're making her choose between you and her mother."
"Not if I stay down here for the next month, Olivia has to leave Springfield by the end of the month, if she doesn't she'll be arrested and sent to prison."
"Is that what you want to happen?"
"Of course not, I'm protecting Emma."
"It sounds more like your trying to get back at your mother."
"If Olivia chooses to stay in Springfield after the months up, then I'm not responsible for her being sent to prison."
"She's not going to leave her child."
"She used me. She used Emma. She's probably going to end up using James. I'm protecting my sister, why can't you see that?"
He can tell that she's getting upset. "Alright, you need to calm down. You're upset and that's not good for you or the baby."
"I thought you would be supportive. You've been around her. You know what she's done."
"I am supportive and I do know what Olivia's done." William says, wrapping his arms around her. "This doesn't have to be settled tonight. You have to be exhausted and I'm sure you haven't eaten so why don't I call down to the kitchen and I'll have them fix you something to eat. You can take a hot bath and then get some rest."
"Okay." Ava says, as he goes into the sitting room. She hears him speaking to one of the chefs on the phone as she turns to look out at the ocean. "They're fixing something and sending it up." He says, walking back outside and slipping his arms around her.
"Thanks." She mumbles, pulling his arms tighter around her.
Twenty minutes later, there is a knock on the door and he goes to answer it with Ava following behind him. While she's eating, he goes into the bedroom to draw her, a hot bath and after she's finished, she goes into the bathroom. When he's sure she's comfortable, he goes into the sitting room and dials Jeffrey's number.
Sam and Jeffrey are finishing dinner when the phone rings. "I'll get it." Jeffrey says reaching for the phone as Sam looks at him.
"You only want to get it so you don't have to clear the table." She says, as he leans over to kiss her, picking up the phone.
"Hello." He says, answering on the third ring.
"Jeffrey, its William."
"Hi, umm, Ava's not here."
"No, I know that. She's here with me."
"She's with you, in San Cristobel."
"Yes, she flew down this evening."
"I'm surprised she came down there. I guess she gave Emma…."
"She brought Emma with her."
"She has Emma, with her in San Cristobel." Jeffrey says, as Sam comes back from the kitchen. She stops and sits down beside him when she hears that."
"Yes, and from what I can gather, I don't believe she's planning on coming back until Olivia leaves. I believe she's trying to punish Olivia for planning on kidnapping you. She's upset that she was given a suspended sentence."
"I got her the suspended sentence. I went to Chris and asked him to offer her the deal. I didn't want her or Emma see Olivia sent to prison for the rest of their lives."
"Does she know that?"
"I'm not sure. She might have talked to Chris. I haven't talked to her. I was going to call her after we finished eating."
"Well, there's not sense in calling her, because she's here and she's fairly adamant that she's not giving Emma back to Olivia."
"Alright, thank you for calling me."
"You're welcome. I need to go. She's in the bath right now, but I'm not sure how long she will be and I…."
"She would be upset that you called me. Thank you again for calling."
"You're welcome." William says, hanging up the phone
Jeffrey looks at Sam as he sits the phone down. "That was William, about Ava and Emma." Sam says as he looks up.
"Yes, she's in San Cristobel with Emma and from what William told me she's not planning on coming back to Springfield until after Olivia has to leave the state."
"She kidnapped Emma."
"No, she has custody of Emma, so she can take her anywhere she wants to take her. He's concerned and so am I in her plans to stay in San Cristobel until Olivia leaves the state. She's not going to give her back to Olivia."
"Did he say why she went down there?"
"It's obvious why she went down there. She knows he'll protect her. He also believes that she's trying to punish Olivia for planning on kidnapping me. She's upset that she was given a suspended sentence."
"Does she know that you were the one that got the sentence suspended?"
"He didn't know and I haven't talked to her. She might have spoken to Chris after the arraignment, but I don't know that she did. There's something else I need to do." Jeffrey says, reaching for her hand.
"What?"
"I need to go tell Olivia what's going on."
"Go tell her, why, why can't you call her?"
"I could, but I think I need to tell her in person. She is our daughter."
"She was planning on kidnapping you."
"I know what she was planning on doing, but she has to be told."
"Then I'm coming with you."
"No, you're not. I won't be in any danger." Jeffrey says, as she looks at him skeptically. "I'll meet her in a public place. She's at the Beacon, so I'll meet her in the lobby or Olivia's and I'll insist that James come with her."
"I don't like you going alone. I can at least go with…."
"I know you want to protect me, but Olivia would be a fool to try something now…."
"This world is full of fools."
"I have to tell her. I won't be alone with her." Jeffrey says, standing up with Sam following him.
"I can ride in the car with you. I won't go inside."
"I know you, you're not going to sit in the car and patiently wait while I talk to her. You know you won't." He says, as she opens her mouth.
"Alright, fine, but I want you to call me the moment you leave the Beacon hotel and you meet her in the lobby. She can easily empty Olivia's and insist that James come with her."
"I will and I'll call you as soon as I leave the Beacon." He says, leaning over to kiss her. "I'll be back." He says, walking over to the door, grabbing his keys as she follows him.
"Wait." She says, as he opens the door.
"Sam, I'm not being lead to my execution. I'll be fine." He says, as she slips her arms around him.
"Please be careful. If you feel like anything is wrong, promise you'll leave."
"I will, I promise. But she has nothing to gain by kidnapping me now. If something happens to me, she should realize that she will be the first suspect." He says, holding her. Releasing her, he steps back. "I'll call you as soon as I leave the hotel."
"As soon as you're in your car and pulling out of the parking lot, call me."
"I will." He says, as she steps back and he leaves.
Cassie is coming downstairs as Richard walks in. "Where did you go?"
"I have plans for us tonight." He says, walking over to her.
"You have plans for us tonight."
"Yes." He replies, turning her around and walking her back towards the stairs.
"Richard."
"I want you to go upstairs and I want you take a nice long bath, relax and then we're going out."
"You say that like we've been stuck in this cabin for days. We went to the falls a few days ago and then we went to the village across the lake."
"This is a special night."
"You're not going to tell me what it is, are you?"
"No, it's a surprise."
"Alright, how long do I have to get ready?"
"About three hours, we have to be there around seven." He says, as she starts up the stairs.
A couple hours later, he comes in as she's getting out of the bath. "I know, we've only got an hour to be there. I fell…."
"Its fine, Cassie." He says, laying a finger across her mouth. "I'm going to take a shower."
"I'll hurry."
"No, don't. We have time."
"You said we had to be there by seven."
"No, I said around seven. We've got time." He says, smiling at her.
"Why are you smiling at me like that?"
"I'm smiling because you're cute when you're flustered."
"Oh, be quiet." She says, pushing him gently towards the shower as he laughs.
He goes to take a shower, twenty minutes later he's walking into the bedroom with a towel wrapped around his waist, drying his hair. She comes out of the closet in a robe. "Do I need to wear something nice for this or not?"
"You can whatever makes you feel comfortable."
"That doesn't help."
"Alright, it doesn't have to be formal, jeans and a shirt will be fine."
"You just want to see me in the jeans again."
"I happen to think you'll look sexy in whatever you wear, but you do look incredible in the jeans." He says with a smile.
"For how much longer, in a few months I won't be able to fit into them."
"And you'll be as beautiful then as you are now."
"It's a wonder your eyes aren't brown as much bull that you're full of." Cassie says, as he laughs.
Going over to her, he kisses her and then leans back. "I'm not full of bull as you say. I remember how you looked when you were pregnant with Will and you were beautiful, even more beautiful because you were out of my reach at the time."
"I was never out of your reach."
"But we weren't on the same field either."
"Let's not rehash that time, there were a lot of things said and done that we both would take back if we could. Let's focus on tonight."
"Okay, but wear the jeans, please."
"You look so pitiful when you look like that."
"Does it work?"
"I'll wear the jeans if you'll wear just a plain t-shirt and jeans."
"Alright, I'll wear the t-shirt and jeans too." Richard says, imitating Dewayne's Texas drawl.
"Sorry, I don't have the black leather." Cassie says, using Stella's drawl.
"Umm, that's too bad. I would almost pick that over the jeans."
"Go get dressed while I do my makeup and dry and fix my hair." She says, pushing him towards the closet as he laughs. An hour later, they are pulling up to the marina. "I didn't know there was a marina."
"It's a small one, but it holds something special." He says, taking her hand and leading her down the pier.
As they approach one of the boats docked, she looks at him and then turns back to the boat in front of her, staring. "Is that… it's not… Is that the royal yacht?"
"I believe it is." He says, looking at her.
"How did you find it?"
"Umm, I found the marina a couple days ago and when I spotted the yacht coming into dock I spoke with the owner."
"You saw Danny?"
"No, Danny doesn't own the yacht anymore. He sold it to a man that lives in Chicago. They keep the yacht here for the summer and then dry dock it in the winter. He and his wife come up on the weekends until Labor Day or so. But since we've had unusually warm weather, they haven't dry docked it yet. I spoke with him and persuaded him to let us use the yacht for tonight."
"We're going to spend the night on here?"
"Yes, tomorrow we'll return to harbor and she'll be dry docked for the winter."
"I can't believe you found the royal yacht."
"I know. And I think he was more surprised about who I was. It took a while to convince him. But after telling him about the scratches on the wall in the lower stateroom, he was convinced. Do you want to go on board?"
"Yes, no wait; did this cost a lot of money?"
"Not too much, I think he was more interested in having me back on board. When he takes her out next summer he'll be able to tell all his friends that I was on board, the former prince of San Cristobel. Are you ready to go?"
"Yes." She says, staring at the yacht as he takes her hand and leads on board.
She looks around, surprised at how much really stayed the same. "They haven't changed anything?"
"No, not a lot. They fixed the scratches in the lower state room."
"So, there are no more marks of yours and Edmund's heights."
"No, they're gone, but that's okay. Those times for me and Edmund were over a long time ago." She reaches out to caress his face.
"Come on, let's explore." She says, reaching for his hand.
He smiles, taking her hand he leads the way through the main cabin. They are on the upper deck when a man in a Captain's uniform walks up to them. "Sir, ma'am." He says, nodding to them.
"Yes, Captain Miller. This is my wife Cassie Winslow."
"How do you do, ma'am?"
"Very well, thank you." Cassie replies, as the man turns back to Richard.
"I wanted to let you know Sir that we are ready to sail whenever you're ready."
"Thank you, we're going to go below deck so go ahead and take us out."
"Yes sir."
"And Captain, could you have the kitchen bring our dinner up to the top deck? We will be eating out there."
"Yes Sir."
"Thank you."
The man leaves as Cassie turns to him. "It comes naturally to you."
"What?"
"Giving orders, just now you sounded so much like you did when we were at the palace, telling Colonel Dax and Natalie what to do. Telling the servants where to go, it's like second nature to you."
"I miss it sometimes, but then I think about all the other things that went with it. The constant scrutiny, pleasing the title holders while trying to do what was best for the country, the politics, Edmund, and I'm glad that I'm here with you and the boys."
"But you miss being the one that makes the decisions." She says, looking at him. "You know I just thought of something. You're an American citizen now, because you married me. You couldn't run for President but maybe you should consider running for Mayor or a house or senate office, maybe even Governor."
"Cassie, that part of my life is over."
"Why, politics and leading people are a part of you, it's engrained in you to lead. You know you miss it."
"And you want to go back to boring dignitaries and dinners and the press and never having enough time to be together."
"That would be a part of our lives, but it would be on a smaller scale. I think you would make a great Governor."
"The people of this state don't even know me."
"You're the former Prince of San Cristobel, people know who you are."
"What party would I run under? What would my campaign be about? Where would I get the money to run a campaign? I've never campaigned…."
"You did in San Cristobel."
"That was against Peter Vereland and he withdrew from the race. It wasn't a mandated win. I was the only option and I suspect that if he had stayed in the race and I won it would have been…."
"Because the people of San Cristobel knew you were the right man for the job."
"No, I was someone they knew. I was sort of a safety net."
"You were more than that. I think you should do it."
"Why are you bringing this up? Jeffrey's mayor anyway."
"Okay, so you don't have to run for mayor. You could run for a house or senate seat. We've got a couple of house members and Senators that have been in office for a while, quite a while and maybe it's time for some new blood. And if you wanted you might think about the Governor's office…."
"Cassie, I'm not even in office and you have me in the Governor's office."
"Alright, fine we'll talk about something else, but I think it's something you should think about doing."
"That's only because you think I'm invincible."
"You are invincible." She says. "Let's go look at the state rooms."
"Maybe we'll find a tiara and scepter waiting for us." He says, taking her hand and leading her downstairs."
Jeffrey walks into the Beacon. He wasn't sure what to do. Looking around the lobby he was hoping to find James available and if not him then Olivia. When he doesn't see them, he walks over to the front desk. The clerk looks up and says. "Mr. Mayor, welcome to the Beacon."
"Thank you, do you know if Olivia is in her room?"
"I'm not sure, Sir. Do you want me to call her?"
"Would you mind? I need to speak with her."
"Of course." The clerk says, picking up the phone and dialing Olivia's room. After the fourth ring, she hangs up. "I'm sorry, but she's not in her room.
"Could you try Mr. Marshall's room?"
"Of course." The clerk says again and then dials James room. After the third ring, James picks up.
"James Marshall."
"Mr. Marshall, this is Shelley at the front desk Sir."
"Yes."
"The mayor is here and he's looking for Olivia."
"Jeffrey is here?" He asks, looking at Olivia.
"Yes sir, he says that he needs to speak with her."
"Could I speak to him?" Jeffrey asks, holding out his hand.
"Mr. Marshall, he would like to speak to you." The clerk says.
"Put him on." James says.
The clerk hands him the phone to him and he takes it. "Mr. Marshall, I'm sorry to disturb you but I was wondering if you have seen Olivia?"
"I have."
"I need to speak to her. It's very important."
"She was ordered to have no contact with you by the judge. If she's with you, she will be in violation of the deal she made with the prosecution and will be sent to prison."
"If we are seen together, I'm sure that I can persuade the judge not to send her to prison. It's important that I talk to her. It's about Ava."
"Hold on, let me talk to her." James says, taking the phone away from his ear. "It's Jeffrey. He wants to talk to you. He says it's important that it's about Ava."
"He wants to talk to me about Ava?"
"That's what he says."
"What about the judge's orders?"
"He says that he's confident that he can keep the judge from sending you to prison if you're seen together."
"Do you think I should see him?"
"It's up to you."
Olivia looks at him for a moment before she says. "He might have some idea of where she's at, since we haven't been able to find her or Emma."
"So, you want to see him?"
"Yes, I'll see him. I need to speak to him anyway. It might not matter much, but I want to apologize for what I tried to do."
"Alright." James says, putting the phone back to his ear. "She will see you. You can come up to my room."
"I think it would be better if you both came down here." Jeffrey says.
"Maybe you're right. We'll see you in a few moments."
"Thank you." Jeffrey says, handing the phone back to the clerk. He turns away and walks over to the lounge area across from the front desk. Less than five minutes later, James and Olivia walk up to him. He stands up. "Mr. Marshall, Olivia." He says.
"You wanted to see me?" Olivia says, as Jeffrey sits back down and they sit down across from him.
"Yes, I just received a call from William."
"I thought you wanted to talk to me about Ava."
"I do, he called because Ava is down there. She flew down there this afternoon."
"I'm sure she needs a break. I've put her through…."
"It's more than a break. She's taken Emma with her."
"She took Emma and left the country. She kidnapped her."
"No, she didn't kidnap her."
"That's my daughter and she took her out of the country without my permission. I would say that's kidnapping."
"You signed over full custody to her. According to the law, she is Emma's guardian. She can leave the country with her if she chooses."
"I can't get her back."
"I don't know. William says that she seems set to stay in San Cristobel until you leave Springfield."
'Until I leave, she's not going to let me have her back? Can she do that?"
"She has custody. You signed it over to her. I know you did that because you thought you would be going to prison and you didn't want Emma being raised by the Spaulding's, but you have to consider what you've put her through."
"She's doing this because I planned on kidnapping you?"
"I'm sure that's part of it, but you've done more than that to her."
"She's decided to keep Emma because I went after her and tried to kill her after Emma's accident. And I'm sure she's thinking about some of the stuff I've done to Emma." Olivia says, looking up. She sees the look on Jeffrey's face. "I never physically hurt her, but I took my anger out on her, punishing her for what was going on between you and me."
"She was completely innocent in this."
"I know that, don't you think I don't know that. I'm not going to get her back." Olivia says, looking at James.
"We don't know that." James says, looking at Jeffrey.
"She might be convinced to bring Emma back to you, but if she's like her father, she'll be hard to convince, especially if she believes that what she's doing is right and what's best for Emma. I don't believe Ava is using Emma to get back at you. She's been hurt. And she very angry at you. I won't deny that, but I don't think she'll use Emma that way."
"She would if she's anything like her mother." Olivia says. "In this situation and in the past, I would use Emma that way."
"I think the best thing for us to do, is for me to talk to her. If she's confronted by you, she might dig her heels in, as Sam says and that will get us no where. William said that the judge gave you a month before you have to leave."
"Yes, if I'm not gone within a month then I will have broken the conditions of the suspended sentence and I'll be arrested and sent to prison."
"Alright, let me talk to Ava. Let me see what I can do. But you might want to prepare yourself to leave Springfield without Emma being with you, if I can't convince Ava to give her back to you."
"We've already started making preparations for me to leave." Olivia says.
Jeffrey nods. "I'll be in touch when I've spoken to Ava." He says, standing up. "I'm curious where are you planning on going?"
Olivia looks at James and then says. "We were discussing me leaving the country."
"You're going to England."
"We're discussing it."
"Alright, I might be able to convince Ava that Emma would be safe with you."
"She would be."
"I'm going to go. I'll try to reach Ava when I get back to the loft. I'll be in touch as soon as I talk with her."
"Jeffrey." Olivia says, standing up. "I just want to say that I'm sorry. I know what I did was wrong and I'm not really sure how I let it go so far, but I am sorry. And I'm sorry about planning on framing Sam for it. Could you tell her that for me?"
"Sure, I will tell her. I'll be in touch." Jeffrey says, nodding to James before he turns to leave.
As soon as he leaves the hotel he pulls his phone from his pocket and dials the number for the loft. The first ring doesn't even finish before he hears. "J."
"Yes, it's me. I've just left Olivia and James in the lobby of the Beacon."
"Everything went okay. She didn't try to do anything to you."
"No, I'm going to my car now. I'll be home in about fifteen to twenty minutes."
"Okay, I'll talk to you then. I love you."
"I love you too." He says, smiling as he opens the door to his SUV and gets in. Putting his seatbelt on, he starts the car and then backs out, leaving the parking lot a few seconds later.