A Fresh Start

Chapter One Hundred Eighty Three

Through out the afternoon, William's questions about the reasons she was insisting that Emma stay with her weighed heavy on her mind. So after Emma got of the pool, Ava decides to go for a walk alone leaving Emma at the palace with William. She's walking along the beach and she reaches the rocks that Cassie climbed over when she had gone for her walk on the beach and met Richard. Climbing over them, she finds the small beach below the palace and sits down in the sand, pulling her knees up to her chest. She watches the water.

She lets her thoughts wonder over the last few years and her relationship with Olivia. If she was honest, she wasn't as close to Olivia as she was Jeffrey. And it wasn't that she was his little girl. They didn't have that traditional type of bond. She felt safe with him, where with Olivia in the back of her mind, she wondered if she would come after her again. She doesn't fully trust Olivia.

She also resents Olivia's interference in her decision not to marry William, simply because she was pregnant. She wants to live her own life. Jeffrey allows her to do that without making her feel like she was breaking some hidden rule of family conduct. He accepts her and her decisions about her own life. This is also one of the reasons she feels protective of him. He can protect himself, she knew that. But he was her daddy, and she hadn't had a father in her life since she was a young girl.

Olivia's plan to kidnap Jeffrey and then blame the kidnapping on Sam absolutely revolted Ava. And to be honest it revolted her more than Olivia's attempt to kill her. Maybe because she felt guilty about her part in Emma's poisoning. Olivia's interference in Jeffrey's happiness and her refusal to accept that he was moving on with Sam infuriates her, along with the anger she directed at Emma, because of Jeffrey's moving on. She knew that Olivia loved Emma and that she was thankful for her and she took good care of her except for the last few months. She resents the bargain that she made with the district attorney, even though a glimmer of her rational mind knew that the deal was made at Jeffrey's request on her and Emma's behalf.

She watches the waves come to shore and asks herself. "Did I bring Emma down here to punish Olivia?" The crash of the waves on shore is the only answer to the question she just thought. "Is taking Emma away from Olivia really helping or protecting her? And how will Olivia behave now that she can't see Jeffrey everyday?"

With those questions hanging in her mind, she looks around and realizing the tide is rising and she'll be cut off by water, she gets up and climbs back over the rocks to the main beach and heads back to the palace. William is coming out of one of the rooms in the palace when she walks up to him. "Hi." He says, putting his arm around her.

""Hi, how's Emma?"

"She's fine. She's in the nursery with the nanny. Your dad called while you were gone though."

"Did he say what he wanted?"

"No, only to tell you that he called."

"Did he sound upset?"

"No. Are you okay?"

"I've been thinking about what you said to me by the pool."

"Let's go out to the garden and we can talk."

"Don't you need to be in here?"

"No, if they need me they will come find me." He says, leading her towards the garden.

They walk over to a secluded corner and William sits down on a bench with Ava sitting down beside him. "You said you were thinking about what I said to you by the pool?"

"Yes, I think you're right. I didn't bring Emma down here solely because I was worried about how Olivia would treat her. That does concern me, but I wanted to punish Olivia too. I also realized that I feel closer to Jeffrey mostly because he didn't try to kill me and maybe I let that bias my decision to keep Emma from Olivia."

"Maybe you should talk with Olivia. You two might be able to work something out where Emma's concerned." William says, reaching up and brushing the side of her cheek.

Ava smiles as she looks at him and then leans over and softly kisses him before she pulls back and says. "I love you William Winslow."

"I know you do." He says, with a smile. "Do you want to talk to her now?"

"No, I think I've spent enough time thinking about my problems, lets go follow the results of the election and I'll call her after we have an idea of what you are facing. I didn't come down here to only keep Emma from Olivia. I also wanted to be with you while the fate of San Cristobel is decided."

"Alright, we'll go watch the vote." William says, standing up. Turning he helps her up and they walk back to the palace.

At precisely eleven am, the judge walks into the courtroom as the bailiff says. "All rise for the Honorable Brent Walker." Tom and Julie stand along with Mr. Banks.

"You may be seated." Judge Walker says, picking up and banging the gavel as he sits down. "Bailiff, can you read the case?"

"Yes your honor, we are here for the case of Julie Bertilla versus Marciano Bertilla. Mrs. Bertilla is petitioning the court for legal separation on the grounds of irreconcilable differences."

"Thank you, are all the…?" Judge Walker looks up and sees Tom and Julie at their table and then he looks to the other side of the room and finds only Mr. Banks at the table. "Mr. Banks, where is your client?"

"I'm sure he is on his way Sir."

"Have you spoken to him?"

"Not since last evening, Sir. And he assured me that he would be present today."

"So, he is aware that he is supposed to be here?"

"Yes, your honor."

"And he is aware what time their case was being heard?"

"Yes, your honor. If you will permit me a few moments Sir, maybe I could contact Mr. Bertilla and ascertain where his is."

"I'll give you ten minutes, Mr. Banks. At that time if your client isn't here or you can't answer when he will make an appearance we will precede."

"Yes, your honor." Mr. Banks says.

"We'll take a ten minute recess." Judge Walker says, picking up and banging the gavel against the bench. He gets up to leave as Mr. Banks leaves the courtroom.

"Is this a good thing?" Julie asks, turning to Tom.
"I don't know. It seems that he's not inclined to delay the proceedings so he might not listen to the counter complaint."

"And if he does decide to listen to the counter complaint?"

"Then we'll listen to their case and then go from there."

"Okay." Julie says, sitting back.

In the hallway, Mr. Banks pulls his cell phone out of his pocket and dials Marciano's number. The phone rings several times before it goes to his voicemail. "Mr. Bertilla, its Mr. Banks. I am calling because you are supposed to be at the Oakdale courthouse for the divorce hearing this morning. The judge has given me a ten minute recess to try and find out where you are, but I can't stall him until you get here. You must call me back to let me know you're on your way." Mr. Banks hangs up the phone and then walks towards the front of the building, hoping to run into Marciano. Sitting outside the courtroom is Jacob and he watches the whole thing.

When Mr. Banks reaches the front of the courthouse, he scans the parking lot and soon realizes that Marciano isn't in the parking lot or walking towards the building. He stands there for several minutes, waiting. Turning he walks towards the courtroom, he pulls his phone from his pocket and calls Marciano again. Again he leaves a message and then hangs up. He's walking back into the courtroom as Judge Walker walks in from his chamber. Both men sit down and Judge Walker picks up the gavel, raps the bench once and says. "This court is back in session. Mr. Banks were you able to ascertain where your client is."

Mr. Banks looks towards the back of the courtroom before he stands up slowly. "I'm sorry, but no your honor. I left a couple…."

"Then we shall proceed without the defendant. Let the record show that the defendant did not arrive for the proceedings and as such has no objections to…."

"Your honor, my client would like file a counter claim against his wife."

"He wants for file a counter claim, now?"

"Yes, your honor. He has recently found his wife consorting with a man here locally."

Tom stands up "Your honor, my client adamantly denies…." Judge Walker holds up his hand to silence Tom.

"Mr. Banks, your client wants to file a counter claim of adultery but doesn't feel aggrieved enough to appear in court this morning."

"Your honor, I'm sure there is a logical explanation as to why my client isn't here."

"Your honor, if you'll look over the complaint we've filed. Mr. Bertilla has resorted to intimidation and attempted kidnapping to keep Mrs. Bertilla from proceeding with this legal separation. As such, a formal restraining order was filed against him after the attempted kidnapping." Tom says, as Judge Walker looks over the paperwork with the case. "You'll also see your honor, that my office made several attempt to contact Mr. Bertilla about this case and none of them were returned."

"My client is a very busy man, your honor."

"Nonetheless, if he was truly interested in keeping his marriage intact he could have put forth the effort to work this out legally without resorting to violence and intimidation Mr. Banks. Mr. Hughes, do you have witnesses to the intimidation and attempted kidnapping?"

"Yes, your honor. A Dr. Jacob Westbrook was present at both incidents."

"Mr. Westbrook is the man my client believes his wife betrayed their marriage…."

"Jacob and I are only friends, your honor." Julie says.

"Let me speak for you." Tom says, turning to Julie. "Your honor, on both occasions Mr. Westbrook was an innocent bystander during Mr. Bertilla's attacks towards my client."

"Mr. Banks, do you have any evidence that Mrs. Bertilla betrayed her vows with this Dr. Westbrook?"

"We served Dr. Westbrook with a subpoena yesterday. He should be in the hall, your honor."

"Bailiff, could you see if Dr. Westbrook is in the hall?"

"Yes sir." The bailiff replies, walking towards the back of the court room. Opening the door to the hallway, he says. "Dr. Jacob Westbrook."

Jacob looks up and then stands up. "I'm here." He says, walking over to the bailiff.

"Follow me please." He says, turning back to the court room. "Dr. Westbrook is here, your honor." The bailiff says, stepping aside for Jacob to enter the court room. He glances at Julie before he looks at the judge.

"Dr. Westbrook, could you take the stand?"

"Yes your honor." Jacob replies, walking down the aisle and between the tables. He goes over to the witness stand and steps up as the bailiff reaches for the bible on the table and then walks over to him.

"Please place your left hand on the bible and raise your right hand." Jacob does as he's told. "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?" The bailiff says.
"I do." Jacob says, sitting down.

"Dr. Westbrook, do you know why you were called to testify here today?" Judge Walker asks.

"No, your honor."

"Do you know the plaintiff in this case, Mrs. Bertilla?"

"Yes, your honor. I've seen her around town a few times."

"It's been more than a few times." Mr. Banks says.

"I'm questioning this witness, Mr. Banks. Please refrain from making any future comments." Judge Walker says, looking at him.

"Yes, your honor."

"Dr. Westbrook, on the occasions that you saw Mrs. Bertilla around town, did you happen to witness any altercations between her and Mr. Bertilla?"

"Yes, your honor, a couple of times."

"Could you tell the court about those occasions?"

"The first time I saw them together was at the Lakeview. They were talking at the bar and then Mrs. Bertilla got up and left. I was watching them and I noticed Mr. Bertilla following her out. I got up and I followed them out of the bar…."

"Why were you watching them?"

"I notice Mrs. Bertilla sitting alone at one of the tables when I arrived at the Lakeview and I was intrigued. She's a very beautiful lady. I was about to get up and go over to her when a man showed up. I continued to watch them after he arrived because they seemed to be in a very heated conversation. And when Mrs. Bertilla got up to leave, Mr. Bertilla tried to keep her from leaving, maybe that's why I followed them out of the hotel…."

"Or maybe…." Judge Walker looks at Mr. Banks and he falls quiet after saying. "I'm sorry, your honor."

"Continue, Dr. Westbrook."

"I followed them out to the parking lot. And they were continuing to argue. Mr. Bertilla was trying to keep Mrs. Bertilla from leaving. That's when I approached them and asked if everything was okay."

"And what happened?"

"Mr. Bertilla became very confrontational, demanding how I knew his wife and things like that. I told him that I didn't know her. I was simply making sure that she was okay. He said she was and then tried to get Mrs. Bertilla to leave with him. But Mrs. Bertilla pulled free of his grip and left."

"When Mrs. Bertilla left, he turned to me and demanded again to know what I had to do with Mrs. Bertilla. I told her that I didn't have anything to do with her. And he demanded that I stay out of their business and then he warned me to stay away from his wife."

Mr. Banks starts to say something but Judge Walker says. "Mr. Banks one more outburst and I'll have you held in contempt of court. Dr. Westbrook, is that the only confrontation you witnessed between the plaintiff and the defendant?"

"No, your honor. A few weeks later I was at Al's Diner getting lunch. Mrs. Bertilla came in behind me and we were talking for a few moments and then she picked up her food and was leaving the diner while I ordered my lunch. I was waiting for my order when I heard her scream and I looked out the window and I saw Mr. Bertilla trying to force her into his car. I ran outside and I pulled him off her and we scuffled and then he jumped into his car and left. I tried to get Mrs. Bertilla to call the police but she refused and she left. I was worried for her safety so I went to the police station and I spoke with Mr. Hughes wife. She then spoke with her husband and he filed the restraining order against Mr. Bertilla."

"And how do you know this?"

"Because Mrs. Bertilla confronted me about interfering in her life and told me to stay out of it."

"Did you have any other contact with the participants in this case?"

"Not until a few weeks ago, I happened to stop by Mrs. Bertilla's place of work to ask her to lunch. I wanted to make up for interfering in her life. We went to have lunch and after we returned to her office, Mr. Bertilla was there waiting for her. She tried to get him to leave but he insisted that he had to talk to her. She told him if he didn't go and the police were called he could be arrested for violating the restraining order, but he didn't seem to care. I tried to tell him to leave but he became confrontational, demanding to know if she told me everything. I reminded him that I had witnessed him trying to kidnap her.

He told Mrs. Bertilla that he had been fired that day and that it was because of her that he had been because he missed a filing date for a deal his company was working on. Mrs. Bertilla sympathized with him. He promised her that he'd change but Mrs. Bertilla said she wasn't divorcing him because of that. That she had to divorce him because it was the right thing to do. That she didn't love him. He tried to tell her that he loved her, but she reminded him that he wanted to own her. After that he left and for a while I parked in the parking lot to make sure he didn't try to come and get her."

"What is your relationship with Mrs. Bertilla now?"

"We are friends?"

"Have you ever had any physical relations with Mrs. Bertilla?"

"No, of course not. She's very much aware that she's still married."

'Have you seen her besides the incidents you just told us about?"

"We've had dinner a few times, but we've always split the check."

"So, there is no physical or personal relationship between you and Mrs. Bertilla?"

"We're nothing more than friends your honor."

"Thank you, you may step down." Judge Walker says as Dr. Westbrook stands up.

"Your honor, I should be able to question the witness." Mr. Banks says.

"I believe I covered all of your questions for you. And since your client doesn't feel this hearing or his counter complaint is important enough to attend I will let this witnesses sworn statement stand for your counter complaint. Mr. Hughes, has the parties worked out settlement of personal property?"

"My client wants nothing but her personal possessions from their home in Chicago. She's willing to sale her part of their home to the defendant."

"Your honor, my client is recently unemployed. He can't afford to purchase the home from her."

"I'm ready to make my ruling. After hearing what I just heard, and the records presented with the plaintiffs original case I hereby rule that the legal separation will be granted for the plaintiff on the grounds of irreconcilable differences. The ruling will be finalized sixty days from today. Mr. Banks and Mr. Hughes, you need to get together with your clients to work out the matter of the home in Chicago. Mr. Banks, Mr. Bertilla is so ordered to turn over all of Mrs. Bertilla's personal items and those items pertaining to her children within the next two weeks. " Judge Walker says, as Tom and Mr. Banks nods. "Mr. Banks, I would also like say that I greatly dislike being used to manipulate a very trying and stressful situation. This counter complaint was nothing more than a stall tactic and if I could I would hold you and your client in contempt of court. As it is I can't, but I will warn you the next time you appear in my courtroom do not try such tactics again. Is that understood?"

"Yes, your honor." Mr. Banks replies.

"This court is dismissed. Mrs. Bertilla you are free to go."

"Thank you, your honor." Julie says, as Judge Walker bangs his gavel and stand ups.

"You won." Tom says, turning to her.

"Thank you. What happens now?'

"You're free to go just as Judge Walker said and in sixty days you'll receive the official documents. I'll contact Mr. Banks and we'll begin working out the matter of the house in Chicago and I'll arrange a time for you to pick up your personal property from the house in Chicago."

"Okay, can Marciano appeal?"

"I suppose he could try, but if Mr. Banks is any good, he'll discourage it. Judge Walker would likely be the appellate judge. So, you should be free in sixty days."

"Thank you. Tom." Julie says, reaching to hug him.

"You're welcome." He says, hugging her back.

'I'll see you later."

'I'll be in touch once I've spoken with Mr. Banks about the house. In the meantime, go home and enjoy your kids and your freedom."

"I will." Julie says, holding out her hand.

Tom takes it and they shake hands before Julie leaves the court room. Jacob is waiting for her when she walks out. "What happened?"

"The judge ruled in my favor. He chastised Mr. Banks for filing the last minute counter complaint and told them to work out the details about our house in Chicago. He ordered Marciano to return mine and the kid's personal belongings within the next two weeks."

"He didn't order alimony or child support?"

"My kids aren't Marciano's kids and I didn't want alimony from him."

"So, what are you going to do?"

"I don't know."

"Do you want to go get lunch?"

"That sounds good, I guess."

"Then let's go." Jacob says, turning for the front of the courthouse with Julie walking beside him.

William takes Ava upstairs and after checking on Emma they go to the sitting room just down from the nursery. William turns the TV on when they walk into the room, tuning into the local news channel. They both sit down on the couch. "…if the country chooses to go back to a democracy, do you think that His Highness will follow in his brother's footsteps and run for the presidency?"

"From every indication it looks as though he won't. So either way, if the country chooses democracy or to keep the monarchy, it'll be the first time in more than three hundred years that the country will not be ruled by a member of the Winslow family."

"Thank you, Michael. Again the early results show the country leaning towards keeping the monarchy with the polls showing nearly two thirds of the vote in. The polls will close at eight pm so if you haven't gone out and cast your vote, you still have time. We'll be right back after this short break."

"Three hundred years, your family has been ruling this island for more than three hundred years." Ava says, looking at him.

"Yes. We took the country over after the end of the last civil war when Spanish rebels attacked the capital, throwing over the current ruler. They dragged him from the palace and through the streets of the capital to Saint Raphael Square. They read the charges and killed him within an hour. That act brought four years of civil war until Lord Ramsey Winslow negotiated the end of the war and was named ruler."

"Are you sure you want to stop being prince?"

"Yes, I don't want it anymore. Actually I didn't want it in the first place. I wanted the country to continue with democracy and Richard to remain President. I've sometimes wondered if the last five years wouldn't have happened if Camille hadn't've threatened to take Richard and Cassie to court for Will, forcing the country to vote for democracy or a monarchy again."

"You've never told me what happened then. Why you decided to claim your right to throne?"

"I didn't at first. After I found out about being Prince George's and Princess Charlotte's first born son, I made an announcement stating that I didn't want the throne and giving my support to Richard and democracy. That wasn't in Colonel Dax's plan when he contacted Camille and arranged for them to adopt Will. We never proved it, but I believe that after I renounced my claim to the throne, Colonel Dax went to Camille and told her about Cassie's past. Cassie made some decisions before she married Richard that Dax didn't approve of."

"But he was Richard's advisor, right?"

"Yes, he was Richard's right hand man. He always said he lived to serve the crown and he hated the idea of democracy. And when Richard found out that he wasn't Charlotte's biological son, he was compelled to tell the country the truth and let them decide."

"How did Richard find out that he wasn't Prince George and Princess's Charlotte's son?"

Cassie was working on the Children's Museum project. She found a christening cup and asked Richard about it. He told her about how his nanny would always give him milk in the morning and how he never finished it because of the angel crying in the bottom of the cup."

"Angel was crying in the bottom of his cup?"

"It was engraved in the bottom of the cup, and around the rim was an inscription written in Latin and backwards. After Richard told Cassie the story about never finishing his milk, he asked Cassie if he could keep the cup. He translated the Latin and followed the path to the artisan that Princess Charlotte used to commission the cup. When that was over he found a letter, explaining what had happened the night I was born."

"So what happened?"

"Prince George told her that their son, me, had died in childbirth, but what had actually happened is he had me removed from the palace and taken to the other side of the island. I was given to my parents. I knew I was adopted, but I had no idea who my real parents were and to be honest I never really thought about them.

Anyway, after he told Princess Charlotte that I had died. He ordered her to take Richard and pretend that he was her son and accept him as heir to the throne."

"Why would he do that?"

"To bring stability to the country, he did it to save the monarchy. But like Princess Charlotte said, when he put the lie into place, it ruined the monarchy forever. So, Richard finds out that he's not Charlotte's son and he believes that I'm dead and buried in the informal garden. That leaves Edmund as the next one in line for the throne. Richard tells the country the truth and that he doesn't believe Edmund is fit to rule because of all the things he has done to Richard and Cassie while they were Prince and Princess's and even before that.

Edmund's is furious and that brings about all the chaos of Edmund's coup, his pursuit of Cassie and Richard all over the Capital, the accident that cause Cassie to go into premature labor, the kidnapping of Will from the hospital after his birth and Richard and Cassie being told he had died just like Prince George had told Princess Charlotte. Richard goes on TV, demanding that the people rise up against Edmund. He's arrested along with Cassie. She's deported but Phillip Spaulding helps her escape. She breaks Richard out of the palace dungeon and they are on the run until the night of Edmund's wedding to Beth. They almost escape but Edmund shows up at the rendezvous point with palace guards.

There is complete chaos, Richard and Cassie get separated. Richard shoots Edmund point blank in the chest. His friend Noah gets him out of the country but in the confusion, Cassie is left on the island and Edmund finds her, holds her prisoner until Richard comes back to the island, fakes his death and forces Edmund to release Cassie. He, Phillip and Noah overthrow Edmund, arrest him, but he escapes and they end up back in San Cristobel at first to keep stability until new elections could be arranged, but then Richard decides to run for President and he's elected.

He had a really hard time when he first became President. Edmund went after everyone that even pretended to be against him. He mismanaged everything and the country was in chaos. They were just starting to rebuild when the earthquake hit, completely destroying half of the capital and totally leveling some of the remote villages in the mountains. It was during the earthquake that Colonel Dax found out that I wasn't dead. The earthquake had forced my coffin up to the surface. When he saw it, he opened it."

"And when he realized there was no body in the casket, he realized there was a possibility that he could bring the monarchy back. Did he say anything to Richard?" Ava asks.

"No, he played along. Pretending to be Richard's right hand man. Cassie and Richard both were devastated with the loss of their baby. It was even more devastating when they found out that Cassie wouldn't ever be able to have children again. The scaring was too severe. Mrs. Mayhew…."

"Who was that?"

"She was one of the artisans that Princess Charlotte used to engrave Richard's christening cup. Through her, Dax convinced Richard to speak to Cassie about adoption. At first she rejected the idea."

"I can understand that." Ava says, as William nods.

"Anyway, Dax then convince Richard to manipulate Cassie into accepting the idea of adoption by manipulating the situation himself. He arranged for Mrs. Mayhew to come to the palace and speak to Richard. She brought it to Richard's attention about Camille and her situation. And she pushed Richard to convince Cassie to accept adopting Will.

Camille and I met the day she arrived on the island. That whole relationship was so fast. We met, we married and then I shipped out for a year with the merchant marines. I never called, wrote, nothing for that whole year. When I came back, I found out that Camille had divorced me. She was going back to the States. And that Richard and Cassie were about to christen my son, whom they had adopted from Camille without my consent. Dax told me all of this with an hour's time of the christening."

"He told you this, but he was supposed to be on their side."

"He wanted the monarchy back. He never wanted democracy that's why he brought Mrs. Mayhew in to the equation. That's why he met me at the Rusty Anchor the day of the christening and a few time after that when I found out that I was really the Prince of San Cristobel and refused to accept my right to the throne."

"But back to Will's christening, Cassie was terrified when I burst into the room, stopping the christening. She was terrified I would take Will away from her. But as I stood there, watching Will. Seeing Richard and Cassie with RJ and Tammy there, knowing the kind of man I had been and I had no plans to change my life I knew I couldn't take Will from them. So I let them keep him. It absolutely infuriated Dax, but I was doing what was right for my son, at least I thought I was. As it turns out I was doing what was right period.

Over the next few months, Cassie insisted that I stay and be a part of Will's life. She arranged for Richard to give me a job. She kept forcing me to be a part of Will's life and then we found out I was actually the heir to the throne, Richard's lost brother. I was shocked when I found out. I felt betrayed."

"How did you find out?" Ava asks, as the announcer comes back on.

"With less than ten minutes to go before the polls close. It looks like the voters are for keeping the Monarchy. There are still votes to be counted in the smaller townships in the mountains an long the southern coast but the latest results indicate that San Cristobel will continue to be a monarchy, but the House of Winslow will no longer be the rulers of San Cristobel. We'll be right back after these messages."

"It's almost over." Ava says, looking at William.

"Yes." He says quietly before he turns to her.