A Fresh Start

Chapter Two Hundred Three

Jeffrey pulls up to the loft. Turning the car off, he glances in the rearview mirror and quickly realizes that if Sam's up, he's not going to be able to hide the fight with Josh. His jaw was already starting to swell and his lip was bleeding slightly. He glance up to the top floor of their building, hoping that their light wouldn't be on, it wasn't. "Maybe she's already gone to bed and I can put this off till the morning." He mutters, getting out of the car.

He locks it and then walks towards their building. He buzzes himself in and quietly climbs the stairs as he pulls his keys from his pocket. Unlocking the door as quietly as he can, he opens it, almost expecting Sam to be there waiting for him. She wasn't. He shuts the door quietly and then turns around. He glances at the kitchen as she calls. "J."

"Yes, it's me. I'll be there in a minute." He says, walking towards the bathroom.

"Okay." She calls back, reaching for the remote. She turns the TV off. About ten minutes pass and when he hasn't come out she calls again. "J, are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. I'll be there in a moment." He says, as he looks in the mirror. He had tried to cover up the busted lip as much as possible using some of Sam's makeup, but he wasn't sure how much he had covered it up or drawn attention to it. Reaching for some soap, he quickly washes his face before he opens the door.

Sam was coming out of the living room when he walks out of the bathroom. "I was coming... What happened?" She asks, staring at him.

"It's nothing."

"Nothing, you have a busted lip and if I'm not mistaken your jaw is swollen too."

"I'll be alright. It's a small cut and the jaw will heal."

"I know that. I want to know what happened. You were perfectly fine when you left. Where did you go and what were you doing?"

Sighing, he walks around her. "I went over to Jon's bar to talk to Lizzie."

"You went to Jon's bar to talk to Lizzie, about what?"

"I wanted to talk to her about some stock that she owns."

"Stock! And you had to do that at eleven o'clock at night."

"Yes."

"Why couldn't you wait till the morning? And what does that have to do with the busted lip and swollen jaw."

"No, it couldn't wait till morning. She would be sleeping in the morning."

"So what does that have to do with the busted lip and swollen jaw?"

"I went to see Lizzie and we were able to talk and then I left."

"And when you left you ran into the door and busted the lip and hit your jaw."

"No, I didn't run into the door."

"So what happened?" He looks at her. "Jeffrey O'Neill, what happened?"

He sighs again and then says. "I ran into Josh."

"Josh, what does he have to do with this?"

"I guess I'll start at the beginning. I didn't want to say anything about this until it was a done deal. I spoke with my broker a few weeks ago and I asked him to make some inquiries into a company that Billy and Josh used to own. It was actually started by my father. Billy and Josh lost ownership several years ago to Spaulding Enterprises. The reason I wanted to talk to Lizzie was because she owns a large portion of that companies stock and I wanted to see if she would sell her shares to me."

"You're trying to take over Spaulding?"

"No, no, I don't care about Spaulding. I only want to buy back my father's company. So tonight, I went to Jon's bar to talked with Lizzie. I told her what I wanted and to understand that I don't want Spaulding only Lewis Oil. She said she would have to talk with her own adviser and she would get back to me. After that, I left the bar. I didn't even know Josh was there until he walked up beside me and started in on me about cheating on you with Lizzie. I told him I wasn't and I tried to get him to leave and that he was drunk. I went to get in my car and he attacked me. He knocked me to the ground and we fought until Gus broke up the fight. He asked the usual questions. I told him what happened and Josh tried to make him believe that I was the one that started the fight, which made me even madder. I went after Josh and Gus had to break it up. He sent Josh home and told me to come home. After Josh left, Gus gave me a ticket for disturbing the peace and told me to avoid Josh."

"What did he give Josh?"

"I don't know. I didn't ask. I'm lucky he didn't arrest me."

"Why would he arrest you?"

"Because he saw me punch Josh the second time we fought. So he could've arrested me for assault."

"So, you went to Jon's bar to talk to Lizzie about some stocks. You ran into Josh. You got into a fight with him and Gus had break it up twice and then Gus gave you a ticket for disturbing the peace. Is that the jest of what happened?"

"Pretty much, yes."

"So, why didn't you tell where you were going and why you were going there?"

"I didn't want to say anything about the stocks until I had everything in place."

"Were you going to hide it from me?"

"No, I was going to tell you. I just didn't want to say anything until I had everything in place."

"Why?"

"I don't know. Maybe I thought you would be mad or that..."

"That what?"

"Maybe I thought Josh would think I was trying to buy his approval by getting back the company our father built."

"Josh is probably going to think that anyway. But I don't know why you would think I would be mad about you trying to buy back your father's company. I think it's very admirable. Why would Josh think your were there to cheat on me with Lizzie?"

"I don't know. Maybe he's convinced I'll cheat on you with anyone including Reva. I don't know what he's thinking. You know I would..."

"Of course I know you would never cheat on me. How much of this stock does Lizzie own?"

"A large percentage, maybe twenty to twenty five percent. I'm not sure."

"And how much do you need to get control of the company back?"

"Fifty one percent. I was going to get control of the company and then give it to Billy. I wasn't even going to tell Josh anything about it, since you're right. He will think I'm trying to buy my way in. I don't really know why I'm doing this."

"He was your father. A father you didn't know." She says, reaching up to gently caress his jaw. "Do you know why Josh was at the bar?"

"No, I didn't ask but it was obvious that he had been there for quite a while."

"Are you hurt anywhere else? You said he knocked you down. Are your ribs okay?"
"I'm fine and my ribs are fine."

"What are you going to do now?"
"Follow Gus's advice and avoid Josh."

"You shouldn't have to avoid your family..."

"I'm not going to avoid my family. I'm going to avoid Josh. I'll still see Reva, Billy, Cassie and Richard and everyone else in the family."

"Alright, are you ready for bed?"

"Yes." He says, getting up. He helps her up and they walk upstairs together.

Richard is in his office at the farm when his cell phone begins to ring. Pulling it form his pocket, he answers as he lays the file he was working on down. "Hello, Richard Winslow." He says.

"Richard, it's Maggie, Julie's Mom."

"Oh, hi. How are you?"

"I'm good. Listen, after you left the other night I decided to go through some of the boxes in my attic. I found some stuff that belonged to Matt and I thought maybe you would like to have them."

"Umm, I would definitely like to see some of Matt's things."

"This stuff mostly belonged to your mother. Julie has all of Matt's personal items."

"Oh, okay. Still I don't want to cause problems between you and your daughter."

"The stuff I found I'm not even sure she remember or is interested in keeping. It's all stuff that belonged to Matt's mom."

"Maybe you should find out from her if she would like to keep these things before you bring them to me or I come get them."

"You're his brother Richard, and her son. You deserve to know about their life. Julie is scared right not. That is why she's insisting that you have not part of her life.'

"That maybe so and she had valid reasons to be afraid, but I would feel better if I know for certain that she doesn't wan these items before you give them to me."

"If you want me to speak to her, I will. But I'm coming to Springfield today and I would be happy to drop these things off at your office."

"If you speak to her and she agrees to allowing me to have what you've found then I will gladly take them. But i"m not at my office today. I'm working from home."

"Go ahead and give me your address and I'll be sure to speak with Julie before I come to Springfield this afternoon."

"It's 1237 Fowler Rd, Springfield. It's the Jessup Farm and it's off rural route three. You have my cell phone number, if you have trouble finding it."

"If I have problems, I will call."

"Okay."

"Then I will talk with you later."

"Thank you." Richard says, just before they hang up.

Replacing the phone, Maggie looks a the boxes beside the door. "I know the reason you rejected Richard was because he reminds you of Matt and you don't want to face what happened to him. But Richard has the right to know his family." Maggie says, walking over to the boxes. She picks one up and turns for the door.

Cassie is in her office when Reva sticks her head in. "Hey sis, are you busy?"

"No, come on in. I'm going through my emails from Olivia."

"How is she doing?"

"She seems to be settling in, according to what my dad tells me in his emails. Olivia only reports about the project."

"She wasn't much to share her feelings with either of us."

"Have you seen or talked to Josh?'

"No, I've avoided Lewis and I haven't been to Cross Creek since I left."

"Don't you think maybe you should try to reach out to him?"

"I didn't do this, he did."

"I realize that. But I think both of you are letting other things distract you from the problem."

"The problem is he's jealous and he won't accept what's happened or trust me. And do you know something?"

Cassie looks at Reva before she sighs softly. "Harley kept the boys for us this weekend. When we went to pick them up yesterday, she happened to mention that she talked to Josh about a woman he wants her to investigate."

"He's investigating a woman, what woman and why?"

"I don't know who she is, but Harley said she didn't think they were involved."

"How do you know?"

"Because I asked her when she told me about the case. She also told me that she talked to him about you."

"What did she say?"

"She said that she told him that he needs to come talk with you. And I'm telling you the same thing. You guys will not work this out if you don't at least talk to each other I've at least learned that much with Richard."

"Are you and him..."

"Richard and I are fine. We spent the whole weekend together."

"What did he decide to do about his brother's wife?"

"I think for right now, he's going to let things lie. He went back to confront her again, but couldn't find her. We did find her mother instead."

"You found her mother. Did she talk to you?"

"Yes, they talked and he was able to see pictures of his mom and brother, as well as he nephews and niece."

"What did her mom say about the situation?"

"That Julie took Matt's death hard, just like I did. And that she didn't really face what happened."

"What was his mother like?"

"She was beautiful. Richard has her dimples and her eye color. And his brother, they look exactly alike. It really was unnerving. Seeing him and knowing that we were living within miles of each other. I mean I've gone to Oakdale thousands of times before we were married and after and we never saw him. You know how I reacted when Jeffrey showed up after the accident, imagine if I had found his brother."

"Given the circumstances you wouldn't have found his brother after the accident."

"You know what I mean."

"Yes, I do. And look at us. We lived within miles of each other and we never met until you came to Springfield. It is a little unsettling knowing that Richard had a twin living so close. I can't imagine what I would have done if I would have seen him after I left San Cristobel."

"And it's sad too. Think about how different their lives would have been if Prince George would have stood up for what he wanted."

"Richard's life would have been the same if Prince George would have been alive when Richard and I married."

"And he certainly wouldn't've married me if Prince George were alive when we got married."

"I would have married you with or without my father's approval." Richard says, walking in.

"Richard, hi." Reva says, as Cassie gets up.

"Hello, Reva." He replies, as Cassie walks around her desk to meet him.

They hug and kiss quickly before Cassie steps back. "I thought you were working from home?"

"I was. I mean I am. I thought I might persuade you to also work from home so I decided to come over here."

"You came over here to persuade me to work from home. Why not call?"

"I'm much more persuasive if I'm in person." Richard says, with a smile.

"Cassie, go on. I can handle the Beacon."

"I still have a few emails to check."

"You can check those at home. Go on and I'll handle things here."

"You have something to handle yourself."

"It's his move."

"Maybe you need to force his move."

"I know how to handle Josh. He expects me to chase after him."

"I know him to and maybe you should chase after him. He can wander, if you don't keep his attention."

If he wants to wander, that will be his choice. I didn't initiate this situation, he did. Now go home with your husband, relax and I will handle thins here."

"Alright, I'll go home with my husband, but you might want to see about yours." Cassie says, hugging Reva before they leave.

When they reach the lobby, Richard asks. "What was all the stuff about Josh about?"

"I told her about the case that Harley's working on. And I told her she might want to find out why he's having another woman investigated."

"Cassie, you realize what that can possibly do?"

"Get them talking to each other, which is more than they are doing now."

"Or it could cause a bigger problem. I love your sister, but being subtle is not one of Reva's character strength's, especially when she's jealous. I know first hand." He says, as they reach her car.

"What do you mean you know first hand?"

"I only mean that I remember how she was as Catherine and she can be quite blunt at very inopportune moments, especially when she was jealous. The point is, that telling her about this woman that Josh hired Harley to investigate might create more of an issue between them."

"At least its more than what they are doing right now. Both of them are too stubborn for their own good."

"You say that like you're not the same way."

"Hey." Cassie says, looking at him.

"I only meant that you can be as stubborn as your sister but it's more of a loving way then being bullheaded."

"Why do I not believe that's what you meant?" Cassie asks, as he leans in to kiss her.

"I love you, stubborn or not."

"Umm hmm, I'll see you at home."

"Okay." He says, smiling as he kisses her again. "I'll see you at home." He says, turning away.

She looks around the parking lot but doesn't see his car. "Wait, where's your car?"

"It's at the farm. I walked over."

"You walked over, why?"

"I wanted to think."

"You wanted to think. Get in and I'll drive us home and you can tell me what happened."

He looks at her and decides not to argue. Getting in, she backs out and leaves as she says. "So, what happened?"

"Julie's mom called. She found some things that belonged to my mom and she wanted to bring them to me."

"What did you tell her?"

"They were things she thought Julie had forgotten about."

"So is she bringing them to you?"

"I don't know. I told her to talk with Julie first. If she doesn't want them then she could bring to them to me."

"But you wanted to tell her to bring them without telling Julie."

"Yes, and I feel bad about it. That's why I walked over to the Beacon. I was hoping that if I wasn't home and in case she came by I wouldn't take them." He says, as they pull up to the farm.

"Well, I think you got your answer." Cassie says, looking at the front porch where to medium to large boxes sit. He looks out the window and then at Cassie. "I guess we have to take them inside." She says, putting her car in park.

"We could just put them in the barn and not open them." He says, as she looks at him. "Okay, let's go." he says, opening his door.

She follows him. Getting out of the car, they walk up to the house after she reaches him. "I guess Julie wanted you to have something that belonged to your mother and brother."

"I guess she did." He replies, as they walk up the steps to the door. Cassie holds the door for him. Closing it behind as he carries the last box into the house.

After Richard and Cassie leave, Reva checks with the front desk before she leaves. Josh is coming out of a meeting when she walks in to his office. "I'll have those bids in by tomorrow, Mr. Lewis." The man says, shaking Josh's hand.

"Thank you Miles." Josh replies, as they shake hands. Miles turns to go as Josh looks around. "Reva." He says, feeling his heart rate jump. "What are you doing here."

"I came to see you. What happened." She asks, nodding to his face. "Did you get in a fight? You're not fighting with..."

"In a manner of speaking, yes I got in a fight." He says, turning to go back into his office with Reva following him.

"With Bill... no let me guess, you and Jeffrey. What did you do this time?"

"Why do you assume that I did something? Did you even consider the possibility that he's the one that did this without provocation from me?" He asks, as she closes his office door and turns back around.

"No, because we both know he's smarter than that. He's not going to provoke a fight with you when he knows that you're looking for one."

"It's always me that's wrong and your precious saint Jeffrey is being unjustly attacked by big bad me."

"Those are your words not mind. So what happened/"

"I told you?"

"No, you didn't tell me, I guessed. So tell me exactly what happened and tell me the truth."

"I was at Jon's bar last night, just trying to relax when Jeffrey shows up. He talks with Lizzie for a moment and then they leave. They're gone for a while, so I got curious. I decided to find out why he's meeting Lizzie. So I stood out in the hallway by her office but I couldn't hear anything. When they were about to leave the office, I went to pay my bill and go home but then I changed my mind and decided to confront him."

"Confront him, about what?"

"I confronted him about meeting Lizzie at nearly midnight without his wife and to see if she knew the truth about her husband."

"You accused him of cheating on Sam, with Lizzie. She's young enough to be his daughter."

"Age has never mattered to him."

"He, they had no idea they were related. If they knew, do you honestly think he would have slept with his niece?"

"Who knows, look what he did to Olivia and Cassie."

"It was proven that he wasn't responsible for what happened to Olivia and Cassie has forgiven him for what happened in San Cristobel and so has Richard."

"You all refuse to see what he is."

"I'm actually seeing things quite clearly. And I don't like what I'm seeing. You are a judgmental hypocrite..."

"I'm a..."

"I always knew you judged me according to your escalated values of worth and morality. And it amazed me that you still loved me even though I didn't measure up. But now, I see that you're just cruel and unforgiving. No one can live up to your moral aptitude of right and wrong. She says, turning away but then turns back around. "Oh, by the way, the woman you're investigating. I hope she has enough sense to stay away from the world according to Joshua Lewis. I sure as hell didn't." She says, turning and walking over to his door.

"What are you... Wait, how did you know about that?" He asks, as she opens the door. "Reva." He says, as she walks out. He follows her quickly. "Reva." he says, grabbing her arm as she tries to leave the outer office. "How do you know about the investigation?" He asks, as she pulls her arm free. Wanda is at her desk and watching them.

"Harley kept Will and RJ this weekend. She told Cassie about it and Cassie told me about it." Reva says, looking at him with her arms crossed.

"I don't have to explain anything to you."

"No, I'm only your wife and my husband is investigating another woman for some unknown reason."

"Now, I'm your husband when for weeks you've acted like I don't exist."

"You haven't acted like you cared either. I didn't do this, you did. And for once, Joshua Lewis, I'm not going to come chasing after you." Reva says, opening the office door. "Have a good day, Wanda." She says, walking out.

Josh turns around. "Do you not have some work to do that doesn't involve you eavesdropping on a private conversation?"

"If it was a private conversation, why didn't you take back into your office." Wanda asks, as Josh goes for his office. "She's right you know."

"What?" He asks, turning back to her.

"This fight you're having with her, you started it and you need to fix it."

"Don't forget, Wanda. You're my assistant." Josh says, turning to go back into his office.

"And don't you forget that I've worked for your family for more than twenty years. I watched you grow up. You're acting the same way you acted when Billy showed up in Tulsa. Jeffrey is a good man and I'm not quite sure why you refuse to see that. Maybe you're jealous of him because he looks so much like Richard. Maybe you see HB in him and that terrifies you, I don't know. But whatever it is, you have to deal with it if you want to keep your wife and family together." Wanda says, before she goes back to work. Josh stands there for a moment before he goes into his office.

Cassie sits down next to Richard on the couch. They sit there for several minutes before she says. "We won't know what's in them unless we open them."

"I know." He says, glancing at her.

"She obviously wanted you to have this stuff or her mother wouldn't've brought it to you. Sighing, he reaches for the first box. Opening it, he reaches in and pulls out a framed picture. It's a picture of his mother with Prince George. For a moment, he stares at the picture before he shows it to Cassie. "Is that beach that's close to the country estate?" She asks, looking at him.

"Yes." Richard says, looking at the picture.

"They remind me of you and I." Cassie says, looking at the picture over his shoulder.

"Yes. He looks very happy and relaxed."

"And so different from the portraits at the palace."

"Let's see what else is in here." He says, putting the picture down.

Next he pulls out a photo album. This album is full of pictures of their mother as she was growing up. On the last page was the photo taken just a few months before the accident. Though there are wrinkles on her face and her hair is gray, you can still see the beauty behind the age. There is a kindness in her eyes. She has the same open acceptance in her eyes that Richard has. "I think I would have loved your mother." Cassie says, as Richard looks at her.

"Why?"

"Because I can see her in you."

Closing the album, they both begin taking things out. Cards and letters, notes she had written. When they get to the last of the items. Cassie pulls out a stack of envelopes. "What are those?" He asks, putting down the car he was looking at.

"I don't know." Cassie says, untying the ribbon around the envelop. She takes the first letter and opens it. For a moment, she holds her breath. "Oh my..." She whispers.

"What is it?" He asks, as he hands him the letter.

"My dearest,

I'm writing this letter from my new home in Chicago. If you didn't know the doctor released us a few hours after you left. I'm still finding it hard to know that I will never see Richard or you again, except through TV and magazines. I wish so much that things could be different. I know they can't and I know that you love me.

Matty is doing so good. He's putting on weight and growing. He's still confused about day and night so I'm getting very little sleep right now. I wonder how your wife is handling this stage. But then she probably has someone to take over for her. I need to go now. Matty is awake and he's hungry. Even being this little he reminds me so much of you. I shouldn't say this to you but I still love you.

I love you

Maddie

Slowly Richard refolds the letter. "Are you okay?" Cassie asks.

"I'm... She was in so much pain. She wanted to be with him. She missed him and me. How did she live with that?"

"I don't know. She wasn't necessarily living, I don't think. She lost the love of her life and her child. I think she found some peace with your brother but she always felt empty without you and your father." Cassie says, as there's knock at the door.

"I'll get it." Richard says, getting up.

Cassie starts to put things away as he goes into the kitchen. Opening the door, he's surprised to see William on the other side. "William, hi." He says, stepping back to let him in.

"Are you busy?"

"Umm, no, come in." He says, as William walks in. "When did you get here?"

"Last night." William replies, as Richard closes the door.

"Are you here for a visit or..."

"No, I'm here for good. We signed over control privately yesterday morning." William says, as they walk into the living room.

Cassie looks up when she hears William's voice. "William." She says, surprised.

"Cassie, it's good to see you again." He says, going over to her, leaning down, they hug.

"What are you doing in Springfield?"

"I'm living here now."

"They had the coronation." She says, as Richard sits down beside her again.

"No, we privately had the title signed over."

"So you're here permanently."

"Yes, what's all this?"

"It's just some stuff we were going through." Richard says, getting up to move the boxes.

"We're cleaning up a bit." Cassie says, putting the last of Richard's mother's things away. "So, how's Ava?"

"She's wonderful. She's at work and Emma's at school. We're staying at the Beacon until the loft is finished." He says, as Cassie nods.

"I'm guessing its rather unsettling not having anything to do." Richard says, sitting down next to Cassie again.

"It's a bit different."

"I remember how it felt when we first came back to Springfield. I felt lost without the palace schedule being handed to me every morning." Cassie says.

"I've gotten used to having someone on telling me where to go, what needed to be done and who to see." William says, sitting down beside them in one of the arm chairs.

"Do you have any idea what you're going to do now?" Richard asks.

"No."

"You don't have to decide right now though." Cassie says.

"I know, but I also know that Jeffrey is watching me."

"Jeffrey, what does he have to do with this?" Cassie asks.

"He was me when we first found Will. He knows everything that happened between William and Camille." Richard says.

"He knows that I left Camille and she was pregnant. He knows that I had no interest in being tied to one place or person. I certainly didn't want to be apart of Will's life. You had to practically force me." William says, looking at Cassie.

"I think you're worrying for no reason. Jeffrey saw how you were with Will after Edmund tried to use him to get me back. And you just got to town, you've got time to figure things out."

"I have absolutely know idea what I'm going to do now."

"I think you need to take a deep breath, stop worrying about Jeffrey. What ever he is, he's fair. He'll give you time to figure things out." Richard says, as the front door slams open.

"Mom." Will calls, running into the living room. "Uncle William." He cries when he sees him.

"Hey buddy." William says, catching him as he runs into his arms.

"You're here."

"Yes." William says, as RJ walks in.

"Hi, Uncle William." He says. "Mom, I'm starving." He says, looking at Cassie.

"Me too." Will says, crawling onto William's lap.

"Okay, I'll fix you a snack." Cassie says, getting up. "William do you want to say for dinner?"

"No, I need to get back to the Beacon. If the boys are home, then Ava and Emma are too." He says, putting Will down.

"Are you leaving?" Will asks, looking up.

"Yes, I need to go home."

"Back to San Cristobel."

"No, I live here now." William says, walking towards the door.

"When will I see you again?" Will asks, following him.

"I don't know, buddy."

"Tomorrow."

"I don't..."

"Will, you'll see your Uncle William soon. Now go wash your hands and put your school bag up." Richard says.

"Yes sir, I love you Uncle William." Will says, turning to William

"I love you too buddy." He replies, as Will turns and runs from the room.

"RJ, go wash your hand and put your school bag in your room." Richard says.

"Yes sir. See you later, Uncle William."

"I'll see you RJ." William replies, as he leaves.

"I'll walk you to the car." Richard says.

"Thank you. Cassie, it was good to see you." He says, as she comes over to him and they hug again. "We'll get together soon."

"That would be great." She says, stepping back as Richard opens the door and they walk out.

Slowly they walk off the porch and towards William's car. "I think you need to relax about figuring out what you have to do. Go home and enjoy being with Ava and Emma." Richard says, looking at him.

"I'll be fine. I'll see you later." William says, walking around his car.

"Call me if you need anything."

"I will." He says, opening his car door. He gets in as Richard steps back. Starting the car, he backs up and then turns around, leaving before Richard goes back into the house.

"Okay, Mr. Wilkes. If you fill that prescription and take it like I've directed, you should be good as new within a couple weeks." Sam says, walking towards the front office.

"Thank you, Dr. O'Neill." Mr. Wilkes says.

"You're welcome. Lori will take care of you from here." Sam says, as they walk up to the receptionists window.

"Dr. O'Neill, you have a call on line one."

"Thank you. I'll take it in my office." Sam says, turning for her office. Going inside, she closes the door and then walks over to her desk. Sitting down, she picks up the phone and pushes the button for line one. "Dr. O'Neill's office." She says.

"Sam, its Megan."

"Oh hi, how are you?"

"I'm good. How are you. How's Jeffrey?"

"We're fine."

"That's good. We went to court today?"

" What happened?"

"The judge granted the divorce. He ordered Patrick to pay child support and alimony for the the next twelve years or if I get married again, which I doubt will happen. The judge also gave me the house. Patrick has to vacate the house by next month."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm not sure. I don't really want the house after what happened, but its the only home the boys have known."

"So are you going to let him keep it?"

"Do you think I should."

"That has to be your decision."

"What about the boys? Will it hurt them to not go back?"

"I think they will be fine as long as they are with you and loved, which they will be. Are you sure you can't work things out with Patrick?"

"Not after what he did. He basically stood before a judge and told him a bunch of lies. We haven't even spoken to each other since that day in the parking lot, everything has gone through our lawyers."

"Parking lot, what parking lot?"

"The day after my lawyer filed to have the original court order deferred. I told you about it."

"No, you didn't."

"I'm sure I did, but anyway we went back to court after I spoke to Jeffrey and he recommended my lawyer. She filed to have the court reverse the previous decision. Patrick showed up at the hotel where I was staying and we got into an argument in the parking lot and some guy come to rescue or at least he tried to."

"What happened?"

"I set them both straight and then I went to my room."

"And you don't know who this guy was?"

"No, and I didn't want to know, then or now."

"You don't know anything about him."

"No, why do you care. He was just some guy. He wanted to play the hero."

"You know nothing about him."

"No. He might've been a cop. I don't know."

"And you weren't the least bit interested?"

"No, would you be interested if Jeffrey had done to you what Patrick had just done to me?"

"No, I guess I wouldn't. So what happens now?"

"I still have temporary custody of the boys. The divorce will be final within thirty days. But I think I'm going to let him keep the house. I've been thinking about moving."

"Moving, you're not moving back to Georgia."

"No, of course not. Neither one of us will ever go back there." Megan says, as someone knocks on Sam's door.

"Meg, I've got to go. I've got patients to see."

"Oh, okay."

"We'll talk about the move later."

"Sure, later."

"Thank for letting me know what is going on." Sam says, as there's another knock.

"You're welcome. We'll talk more later."

"I'll talk to you then." Sam replies, standing up. They hang up and she goes to answer the knock.

When Sam opens the door, she's surprised to find Reva on the other side. "Reva." She says, stepping back.

"Have you seen Jeffrey?' She asks, walking into the office.

"Umm, yes." Sam replies, closing the door.

"So you know about the fight."

"Yes, I know about the fight." Sam says, going to her desk.

"What do we do? This can't go on."

"I don't think we can do anything. Josh has to come around on his own."

"You don't know Josh. He won't come around unless he's forced to. What was Jeffrey doing at Jon's bar anyway?"
"He was taking care of some business with Lizzie." Sam says, sitting down at her desk. Reva sits down across from her.

"He was taking care of business after midnight."

"Yes, he felt that was the best time to talk to her."

"Well, we have to do something."

"What do you suggest we do?"

"I don't know. But if it continues like this it's going to come to a serious fight between them."

"Maybe that's what needs to happen. Josh obviously resents Jeffrey. Maybe that's the only way to work out his resentment."

"I don't even think Josh knows why he wants to keep Jeffrey out of the family. I'm tired of being alone and he will not listen to me."

"You don't think he's truly afraid of you and Jeffrey getting together."

"Maybe on some level he is. I think he's fighting this because he doesn't want to admit how truly human HB was."

"He worshiped HB."

"Yes, and he did the same thing to Billy that he's doing to Jeffrey. I don't think he want to accept the fact that HB was human and made a lot of mistakes in his life."

"But eventually he accepted Billy, and Billy is HB's illegitimate child."

"Yes, eventually."

"Then the same thing could happen again. We have to be patient and let him come to this on his own."

"How do I get him to realize that I'm not going to sleep with Jeffrey?"

"I think first would be to move back home."

"Isn't that sort of like me running back to him."

"No, it's showing him that you want to work things out. It might make him start thinking about what his doing. You don't have to sleep in the same bed with him, but you can at least be in the same house with him."

"So, I need to go home."

"Has staying at the Beacon worked?"

"No, last night proved that. Do you know anything about a woman he's investigating?"

"Umm, no. He was over here asking about one of my employee's a few days ago."

"He was asking about one of your employee's, why?"

" He didn't really say. I told him that she was at lunch. They she usually ate at Company and he left."

"Which employee was he asking about?"

" Umm, Jasmine. She works in the office."

"Can you show her to me?"

"Reva!"

"I only want to see who he is investigating. I won't say or do anything."

"Against my better judgment, I'll introduce her to you."

"Thank you." Reva says, as Sam gets up and Reva follows her. They leave the office.

Jasmine is with a patient when they walk up. When she's finished, Sam gets her attention and she walks over to them. "Jasmine, I wanted to introduce one of my..."

"Her patients... Reva Lewis." Reva says, holding out her hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Lewis."

"It's Mrs. Lewis." Reva says, correcting her.

"I'm sorry."

"Jasmine, why don't you take care of what you were working on." Sam says, sensing the tension between them.

"Yes ma'am." Jasmine replies, turning away.

"Okay, let's go Reva." Sam says, while she watches Jasmine. "Reva." Sam says, snapping her fingers in front of her face."

"Yes, I'm sorry." Reva says, looking at Sam.

"Was there anything else, otherwise I need to get back to my patients."

"Umm, no. Thank you for talking with me and introducing her."

"I'll talk to you soon and consider what I said about moving back home."

"Yes, we'll talk soon." Reva says, walking towards the door. Sam sighs softly while she watches Reva go. Jasmine watches both of them.