A Fresh Start
Chapter One Hundred Ninety Two
Cassie walks back into the house with Richard following behind her. "I was right. You weren't going to say anything to me about Sarah."
Sighing, Cassie turns to him. "I thought it was best that we not worry when we don't have proof of a problem."
"Cassie, she wanted to humiliate you in front of everyone."
"I know what she wanted. And I know that she was very upset when James took my side in this, but I can't afford to worry about a possible problem. He only told me to let me know what was happening."
"And don't you think that's a little strange. And if he wasn't worried, why did he say anything at all?"
"He's like you. He wants to be prepared." She says, going over to him and wrapping her arms around him. "Now are you going to relax and not worry about this?"
"Cassie…."
"I promise when we have something to worry about, I'll be concerned. And I'll rely on you completely to protect us."
"Oh, stop teasing me." He says, as she leans up to kiss him. He steps back a moment later and says. "You told him you love him."
"Well, I do love him, he's my father. Do you think I shouldn't have told him that?"
"No, if that's the way you feel then that's what you should have told him. Do you think this is going to work out for Olivia and him?"
"I don't know, but I hope it does and I hope if it doesn't that Olivia doesn't… well that she doesn't be Olivia."
"I think she's learned her lesson with Jeffrey. I don't think she'll hurt your father."
"I hope you're right." Cassie says, releasing him.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going upstairs to straighten up the boys rooms."
"Why don't you take a nap and let the boys straighten up their rooms when they get home from school."
"Because I know what they'll do and I want it done properly, besides I can do it faster if I do it myself."
"That maybe true but how are they going to learn if you do it for them."
"They're learning responsibility with the horses."
"And you haven't sit down since we got home, so I want you to come over here, and sit down for a while and when the boys get home I will supervise them straightening their rooms. I promise it will be done perfectly."
"Alright, I stop for a moment."
"Good. I'm going to go in my office, if you need me."
"Okay." Cassie says, sitting down on the couch.
Jeffrey and Sam walk into the new baby store on Main Street. They are walking around the store when a young girl walks up to them. "May I help you?" She asks.
"We're just looking." Jeffrey says, as Sam walks over to a crib.
"Are you buying for someone in particular?" The girl asks.
"We're looking for ourselves." Jeffrey says.
"Wow, Mr. Mayor. You're a little old to be having kids." The girl says, as Sam laughs. "I'm sorry… I…."
"It's okay." Sam says, looking at Jeffrey. "He is old to be…." Jeffrey reaches for her but she steps out of the way, laughing.
"Is there anything in particular you are looking for?" The girl asks.
"Actually, we need everything." Sam says, looking around.
"We have some beautiful cribs over here."
"I sort of like this layout."
"You are not putting stuffed animals and girl stuff in my son's room." Jeffrey says, as he looks at the stuff Sam's looking at.
"Little boys play with stuffed animal. You didn't have a favorite teddy when you were going up."
"No, I didn't. I never played with dolls and stuffed animals."
"So what did you play with?"
"I played with balls, and cars and action figures. Do you have any kind of that stuff for cribs?"
"It's for the nursery, not his bed room. It needs to bright and airy, and stimulating."
"Balls and cars and action figures can be stimulating."
"Maybe, if we want him to grow up being a Neanderthal." Sam says, as Jeffrey looks at her.
"I don't want him going up to be soft."
"I happen to like his father's soft side." Sam says, as she turns to the girl. "Do you have something more like what he wants?"
"Well there is this group over here. It's a bit more boyish." The girl says, walking over to another setup.
It's a dark cherry wood crib done in all primary colors of reds, blues and yellows. "This would work." Jeffrey says, looking at Sam.
"I suppose it could work, if we keep the wall color neutral."
"I was going to say we can paint the nursery a light blue."
"Jeffrey, first we don't know for sure that we're having a boy and second what happens when we have another child. If we paint the nursery a neutral color then we won't have to change it again. It will be less work for us, and I'm not too crazy about the cherry wood. Do you have this in a lighter wood finish?"
"Umm, yes ma'am. It comes in oak and maple."
"One of those two colors would go well with the cradle we have."
"So, do you like this but you want oak or maple furniture?" Jeffrey asks, looking at Sam.
"I do like this. I think the primary colors are neutral enough that we won't have to change it and the oak or maple furniture will make it less of a boy's room and more of a nursery."
"Alright, we'll have this one." Jeffrey says, looking at the girl.
"Yes sir, do you want this now?"
"We'll pay for it now but we'll need to have it delivered later."
"Yes sir. If you'll follow me, I'll process this for you." The girl says, leading the way to the cash register.
William, Ava and Emma have dinner at one of the restaurants in the harbor and after dinner they send Emma back to the palace. "Let's go." William says, taking Ava's hand.
They start towards the beach and when they reach it they take their shoes off before they start walking back towards the palace. They walk for a while, enjoying the evening. A soft breeze comes from the ocean as the moon starts to rise and the stars come out. They are about half way between the resort and the palace when William asks. "Do you want to stop and rest?"
"Sure." Ava replies.
He walks over to a stand of palm trees. He helps her to sit down before he sits down beside her. Turning her head, she looks over at him and smiles. "What are you thinking?"
For a moment, he doesn't smile back or answer, as he feels warmth spread through out his body. He can't quite put into words what he is thinking. Instead he leans over, kissing her. It takes a couple seconds, but soon she's returning the kiss. Reaching up she puts one hand on his cheek while bracing her body with the other, as he is doing.
He moves closer to her, forcing her to move back until she is beneath him in the warm sand with him leaning over her. Their eyes meet for a couple of seconds before he slowly ran his fingers along the outline of her profile. "Do you know how beautiful you are?" He asks, his fingers resting on her lips as he looks up.
"You make me feel beautiful." Ava whispers, smiling up at him.
"I want you to know what it feels like to be one mans complete and total world. I don't think I could live if you were not here with me."
"You would find someone else."
"No, I wouldn't. You are what I've looked for all my life. You are what I want."
"You are what I want." Ava says softly, reaching up, she pulls him down until he is lying on top of her
Wrapping her arms around him she holds him tightly. She can feel the warmth of his breath against her cheek, the steady thump of his heart beneath her cheek. Turning her head, she finds his mouth, pressing hers against his, kissing him. Reaching around him she slowly begins to tug on his shirt. She needs to feel his body beneath her fingers, the feel of his smooth skin beneath her hands. When the shirt comes loose, she slips her hand underneath and smiles when she feels him sigh softly. Breaking the kiss, she looks up at him.
Moving to kneel between her legs, he stares at her for a couple seconds before he reaches for the top button of her blouse. Slowly he works the first button open revealing a small stretch of skin. Scooting back, she sits up in front of him smiling at his surprised expression she reaches for the top button of his shirt. For the next few seconds each of them concentrate on unbuttoning the others shirt, revealing a thin line of skin to each of them.
When she unbuttons the last button, she looks up. Watching him for a couple seconds before she leans in and kisses the center of his chest, reaching for her he holds her there, breathing deeply, he feels such an intense storm of desire rush his body that he has to fight for control.
Breaking the kiss, she leans back against the sand and looking back at him her eyes challenging him. He answers by, leaning over her and gently running his tongue around the outer shell of her ear. He smiles when he feels her take a breath and hold it for a couple seconds before releasing it. He nibbles until he feels her reach for him, wrapping her arms around his neck as she tries to pull him closer to her. Letting go, he moves to the other side.
Sighing, she reaches up burying her fingers in his hair at the back of his neck she holds him there, feeling the heat rush through her body. Reaching down, she slowly unbuttons the cuffs of his shirt before her hands move to his waist. She pulls against him, after a few seconds he can't ignore her desperation. Leaning back, he looks down at her and watching her before he asks. "What do you want?"
"I want to feel you."
She watches as he shrugs out of the shirt. She feels the cool breeze caress her body where he has been sitting. Standing he reaches for his belt, slowly pulling it open until it hangs at his waist. Reaching down, he opens his pants, carefully unzipping them while holding her gaze.
She reaches up and tugs on his pants until they fall at his feet and he is only wearing his boxers. Kicking his shoes off, he steps out of the pants and kicks them out of the way before he reaches for his boxers tugging until he is standing before her with nothing on. He hears her breath catch and smiles.
Dropping down to the sand he brushes her shirt aside, laying gentle kisses along her collar bone and upper chest as she sits up. She needs to feel the heat of his body against hers. Reaching out, he helps her slip her arms out of the shirt, tossing it over by his pants before he wraps his arms around her. Reaching up, he unhooks her bra and then sitting back watching as the straps fall from her arms and she shrugs out of it.
Lying back down, she watches him while he caresses her body with his eyes. Reaching up she pushes her breasts up, caressing them until his hand fall to her waist. Arching her back, she waits as he slowly unbuttons and unzips her jeans. Looking at her, he tugs on them, pulling them down until she is able to kick them off. Sitting back, he watches her try to control the passion burning through her, smiling he leans over and whispers in her ear. "I know what you want?" he says, before he sits back again
Looking up at him, she smiles. "You want it too." She replies, her hand slipping between his thighs.
The moment she touches him, he feels like he will never be able to wait. Leisurely she caresses him while he reaches down his hands slipping inside her panties. He caresses her as she's caressing him giving to each other for several seconds. He looks up at her as she arches her back, pulling on her panties until they follow the path of her jeans.
When they are both free, he leans over her, kissing her as he moves to lie against hers. He, bit by bit, kisses his way across her neck, nibbling until he reaches her breast. Her nipples are hard with desire as his lips closes around them. Gently sucking, his hand closes around the other, caressing it.
Reaching up, she buries her hands in his hair, holding him tightly against her body as her back arches. Releasing her, he moves up as she opens herself to him. He smiles when he feels her sigh the moment his body touches hers. Breaking the kiss he leans back and listens to the rhythm of her breathing as she struggles to catch her breath. Shivering he whispers. "Are you ready?"
"What do you think?"
"I think I have to find out." He replies his hand slipping between her thighs.
"William." She cries, when he touches her.
Opening her body to him more, she watches as he moves into position. The moment she feels him, her hands falls to his waist pulling him against her until they are totally and fully connected. "Ava." He sighs as he feels her body surround his, holding him tightly.
Slowly he thrusts, pushing against her, working to make her loose control while he fights his bodies own needs. Arching her back, she pulls him against her, holding him as tightly as she can. She responds to every movement he makes, every caress he delivers.
They both feel the moment when neither one can hold on. Leaning down, he catches her mouth pressing against her as she cries out, releasing the tension that's been building inside her. Breaking the kiss, he cries out. "Ava." as the tension inside him flows through him, filling them both with pleasure.
Collapsing beside her, he lays and arm across her waist pulling her against him as he nuzzles her neck. After several minutes, he reaches for their clothes, handing Ava's hers. They dress quickly and return to the palace. After putting Emma to bed they take a quick shower and crawl into bed.
Lying on his side, he moves in close to her putting one arm across her waist and pulling her back against him. Kissing her lightly on the shoulder he whispered "I love you."
And as Ava drifts off to sleep she whispers "I love you too. But you know I'm surprised a prince would make love on a public beach."
"There are a lot of things princes would do, if they could." William says, kissing her shoulder.
"Are you going to show me some of those?" She asks, turning to face.
"I will, but right now, I think we both need to go to sleep."
"I'll go to sleep, if you promise to show me every one of those things you would do as a prince."
"I promise I'll show you." William says, smiling as he leans in to kiss her. "Now close your eyes and go to sleep." Kissing him quickly, she settles back against him.
Richard walks in from putting the boys to sleep as Cassie comes out of the shower. "Did you save me any hot water?" She looks at him and smiles "I'll be out in a few minutes. He says walking into the bathroom as Cassie goes to the closet to put her dirty clothes away. She goes back into the bedroom. Pulling the covers back, she gets in and then lies back against the pillows.
He comes out about five minutes later, towel wrapped around his waist, another drying his hair. "Did you leave your clothes?" She asks. He stops and then turns back around. He comes back out with his dirty clothes, taking them into the closet he comes out in pajama bottoms. Getting into bed, he settles back against the pillows. She turns to him. "Thank you for making the boys straighten their rooms."
"I told you I would."
"Maybe I should let them do it more."
"It would certainly lighten some of the stuff you have to do around here."
"I guess it would. You know we haven't discussed the doctor's appointment. I wasn't prepared for her to give me all those tests."
"She's only being thorough."
"I know this is going to be a risky pregnancy. And I know that I have to be careful about what I do and how I eat, but I feel like we're going to be okay." She says, as he reaches for her and she moves over to him.
"Maybe you're right, but until this baby comes, we're going to do everything Dr. Sedgwick tells us to do. You know before you came to the office today, I placed a phone call…."
"I'm sure you did." Cassie says, smiling.
"No, this wasn't just a phone call. I called my brother's widow."
"Why didn't you tell me before now?" Cassie asks, moving to sit up. Richard pulls her back to him. "I don't know. We've been busy tonight with your father leaving, the boys. I just didn't tell you."
"Did you think I was going to be mad, because I'm not? I know you have to see them. I want you…."
"No, I didn't think you would be mad."
"What did she say?"
"We talked for only a few moments. She told me a little bit about her and Matt. That was my brother's name. Matthew Anthony Winslow."
"Did he know about, you?"
"No, I don't think so. My mom didn't talk much about how we came about and who his father was. She agreed to meet with me?"
"She did, when?"
"Friday, one o'clock, in Oakdale at the Lakeview. She's meeting me there. She said that it would be okay if you came with too."
"Do you want me to go?"
"Cassie, I'm never going to hide anything from you. I know I've done it in the past, but not anymore. That's why I'm telling you this now. So, if you want to go with me, I definitely want you to go with me."
"Okay." She says, lying back down beside him.
"She told me some stuff about my mom too?" He says, idly running his fingers through the hair on her shoulder.
"She did."
"Yes, she was from southern Illinois and she moved to Oakdale when my brother was in High School. That's how they met. They had three kids."
"How old are they?"
"They're thirteen, ten and eight."
"So they were ten, five and three when the accident happened. Did she tell you their names?"
"No, and I didn't think to ask her. But I did tell her about the boys and Tammy."
"What did you tell her?"
"Only that we have two boys and that we had Tammy but she was killed about a year ago. She remembered the news reports after I told her that Tammy was killed after a car hit her. And then I asked her about meeting me."
"So, you're going to see her this Friday."
"Yes."
"Are you okay, seeing her?"
"I'm sort of excited, nervous. Here's a woman that's a direct link to my father's other life. She knew my mother. She was married to my brother. A man I never even knew existed. Oh, and she told me my mother's name."
"What was it?"
"Maddie, it was short for Madeline."
"Madeline, it's a pretty name. Princess Madeline. I think it has a good ring to it."
"She never would have been princess."
"Because she was a commoner, I was a commoner, so was Reva."
"It was a different time when my father and mother met. There was absolutely no way that my father would ever have married her. My grandfather would never have stood for it."
"So, they never could have been together. Do you think we would have been together if your father was still alive?"
"Yes."
"But you just said that…."
"Palace protocol be damned, there was absolutely no way I was going to live my life without you." He says, turning his head and softly kissing her temple.
"Maybe we should consider naming our little girl after your mother."
"I thought we settled on her name."
"We did, but we didn't know you mom's name then. It might be a nice way to remember her."
"We can do that, but I like the names we picked out."
"It's alright if you don't want to change the names." Cassie says, stifling a yawn.
"I think it's time we went to sleep."
"Alright." Cassie says, moving to her other side and getting comfortable before Richard lays his arm over her waist, pulling her back against him.
Reva is at Company eating when Josh walks in. He sees her at the bar, but he doesn't go over to her, instead he goes over to a table and sits down. Buzz is at the bar with Reva and notices Josh and the unmistakable distance between him and Reva. "So, what's going on?" Buzz asks, refilling Reva's drink.
"What's going on with what?" Reva asks, looking up.
"What's going on with you and Josh?" Buzz asks, nodding towards Josh. Reva turns and sees him sitting at the table and she turns back around. She starts to eat again. "Reva."
"We're taking a bit of a break." Reva says, picking up a French fry.
"You're taking a break, from what?"
"If you must know, we're taking a break from each other."
"What happened, what did you do?"
"Why do you assume I did anything?"
"Reva, that's usually the way it is with you two. You go off half cocked and Josh has to come to your rescue and it causes a big issue for both of you."
"Well, this time I didn't go off half cocked. He did, actually he was fully cocked."
"What happened?"
"You saw the report on WSPR about Jeffrey being HB's son."
"Yes."
"Well, Josh isn't accepting this fact."
"What do you mean he's not accepting this fact?"
"He knew several years ago that HB possibly had another son but he never said a word to any of us."
"How did you find out about all this?"
"Josh has always been unforgiving of Jeffrey. Right after Sam came to town, I went to Lewis to have lunch with Josh. We were having a bit of a rough time and I wanted to take a moment for us. He refused, saying he had too much work to do, so I went to lunch with Billy instead. When we came back from lunch, I went to see Josh to see if he would be home for dinner and I overheard him ordering one of Lewis's attorney's not to tell Billy and I about a file he had destroyed.
After the attorney left, I confronted him about it and we fought. The argument was loud enough to get Billy's attention and he came to see what was going on. He and Billy then got into an argument and Josh left. After that, Billy decided to find out what Josh was up to so he did some investigating and he found a file from a private detective that suggested that HB had another son in Chicago.
The report didn't give us a location for the man but it did give us a name. This is when we found out that Josh knew all along that HB had another son and hadn't told us and he ordered us not to go any further with the investigation. And he continued to order us to let it go every time we mentioned the file or finding HB's son."
"But you being Reva Shayne, you ignored him."
"Yes, he never would give us a solid reason why he didn't want to find this man. Anyway, after we confronted Josh, Billy went to Harley to try to find the detective. But before she called back, I realized there was a way for us to find out for sure if Jeffrey was HB's son."
"How was that?"
"When HB died, Marah had a locket, inside the locket were pictures of HB and Hawk and behind HB's picture was a locket of HB's hair. So I went to Jeffrey and I asked him for a sample of DNA and we ran a DNA test on the two samples. It confirmed the report we found from the detective. Jeffrey is HB's son. We confronted Josh again, well I confronted Josh. And I explained what I had done. He demanded that I not tell Jeffrey and he was going to destroy the results of the DNA test, but I stopped him. I then went to Jeffrey and I told him the results."
"That doesn't explain why you and Josh are not talking."
"We're not talking because Josh didn't want Jeffrey told. I told him anyway and he's mad at me."
Buzz looks at her. "There's more to this. Why didn't Josh want Jeffrey told?" Reva looks down at her plate. "Reva."
"Alright, Josh seems to believe that if Jeffrey knew he was HB's son, I would leave him for Jeffrey."
"What, that's absolutely ridiculous."
"I've told him that. I've told him that it'll never happen, but he won't listen to me. He's totally convinced I'm going to leave him for Jeffrey, now that I know he's a Lewis. And when I went to tell Jeffrey the truth, Josh followed me. He found me hugging Jeffrey good-bye and he punched him."
"What is he basing this on?"
"He's basing it on the fact that I was married to both HB and Billy. And since I've been with all of the Lewis men, well except for Jeffrey I'm bound to be with Jeffrey as well simply because he's a Lewis."
"And you've told him that's never going to happen."
"Yes, in a thousand and one different ways. There is absolutely no way I will ever be involved with Jeffrey O'Neill. For one reason, I love my husband. Secondly, Jeffrey's married to one of my good friends, Sam. He's totally and completely in love with her. They're about to have child together…."
"You were about to have HB's child and you slept with me." Josh says, standing behind Reva and Buzz. Reva turns around and looks at him. "I don't appreciate you telling the whole town our personal business."
"Oh, come off yourself Josh. I haven't told the whole town. I was talking to Buzz."
"Whose is also one of your ex's?"
"So, I'm going to be condemned for every man I've been involved with. What about you Josh. You haven't been the pillar of fidelity to me either." Reva says, looking at him.
"Both of you need to step back before you both say something that can't be taken back." Buzz says. "Josh, I asked Reva what was going on when you didn't come over here when you walked in. She didn't want to tell me, but I insisted."
"You may have insisted, but she didn't have to tell you."
"You both need to sit down and talk this out." Buzz says, walking around the bar. "Before it's too late, and you both do or say something that can't be taken back. I've got customers to take care of." Buzz says, walking away from them.
"Do you enjoy being so damn judgmental and superior?"
"You didn't have to tell him. Have you seen Jeffrey?"
Reva looks at him, putting some money on the bar as she stands up. "No I haven't, but if I had, it would be within my right to do so as he is my brother-in-law. And if I had, it doesn't mean that we're going to meet up at the Springfield Inn, for a little extra on the side." She says, grabbing her purse and walking out the door.