A Fresh Start
Chapter Two Hundred Forty Five
Julie walks out of her office building with a group of ladies. She's talking to them until she looks up and sees Jacob leaning against her car. "We'll talk about this later." She says, looking at the girls she was with.
"Sure." They reply after they look towards her car. "We'll see you on Monday." They says, walking towards their cars as she walks towards hers.
"So, now you're staking out my car?" She asks, walking up to him.
He stands up as she walks up. "Well it seems like the only chance I have of getting you to talk to me."
"I've been busy." She says, unlocking her car and putting her stuff inside. "And I have a lot to do before I leave for Chicago."
"You're going to Chicago, this weekend."
"Yes, I've get a couple meetings at our home office Monday and the papers are ready to be signed for the condo."
"You're going to see your ex."
"Yes."
"And you won't talk to me about what happened the other night and why you've been ignoring my calls."
"I needed some time to think."
"About what, what happened and why won't you talk to me." He asks. She turns away but her reaches out to stop her and she pulls away.
"I will call you when I get back from Chicago. And I promise I will explain everything to you then."
"We can talk now!"
"Julie, is something wrong?" Her boss asks as he walks up.
"No, everything is fine. Jacob I will call you when I get back." She gets in her car as her boss turns to him. Jacob turns around and walks away.
As Cassie walks to her car, Harley answers her phone. "Hello." She sounds a little breathless.
"It's me." Cassie says. "Did I catch you at a bad time?" She asks, as Harley looks at Gus. He's softly kissing her shoulder.
"No, I'm spending some time with Gus. Is something wrong?"
"No, everything's fine. It's actually more than fine, but since you're with Gus maybe I should talk to you later."
"No, come on. It's alright." She says, moving slightly away from Gus. He moves with her.
"I just came from the hospital."
"Wait, you just came from the hospital. You said everything is fine. How can…?"
"I wasn't there for me. I went to see Blake after Holly called me."
"Holly called you about Blake. Is she okay? She's not dead?"
"She is not dead. She's actually much better than that. She's awake." Cassie says, getting into her car. For several moments there is silence and then Cassie asks. "Harley are you there? Did you hear me? Blake's awake."
"She's awake, like totally awake."
' "Yes, she's totally awake. I just left her hospital room and we were talking about Richard and Will. We didn't get too far into it before Holly returned, but I'm sure she's going to have a million questions, for both of us."
"Well, I've got only one question for her. Thanks for letting me know that she was awake. I have to go." Harley says, hanging up before Cassie can reply.
For several seconds, Cassie sits in her car, surprised at Harley's attitude. Reaching for the ignition she starts the car and backs out, heading home. "What did Cassie want?" Gus asks, looking at her.
"Nothing, that's important right now." She says turning to him. "Now where were we?" She asks, leaning in to kiss him.
"Are you hungry?" Jeffrey asks, as Sam moves closer to him.
"I'm pretty sure we can eat. You sort of wore us out." He leans over to kiss her before he reaches for his phone. "Who are you calling?"
"I thought I would call Company."
"No, I want something else." She says, snuggling in closer to him.
"You're cold." He says, reaching for the throw on the back of the couch. He spreads it over them. She pushes it off her. "Sam, you're cold."
"And if I get warm I'll go to sleep and we're hungry. So let's have something else."
"Like what? Do you want pizza?"
"No, actually I'm craving fried rice."
"Chinese!"
"Yes, I want some Chinese."
"Well, I'm sorry but the closest Chinese restaurant that's any good is in Oakdale. We could get dressed and…."
"No, pizza's fine." She says, moving her hand down his chest and settling at his hip.
"Don't start something we can't finish." He says, dialing the pizza place on 5th street. After a couple moments, they pick up. "Yes, I would like to place an order. I need two large pizzas, one hand tossed and the other thin crust. The hand tossed will be with everything but mushrooms. It's important there are no mushrooms! My wife is allergic. Alright, and the thin crust will be Canadian bacon."
She touches his arm and he looks down. "We want some cheesy bread too."
"And we'll have an order of your cheesy bread too." He says, as she leans up to kiss his chin. "Okay, I need my wallet." He says, looking at her. She reaches for his pants and pulls his wallet out. Holding it out, he says. "I need my debit card." Opening his wallet, she pulls the card out and hands it to him and then lies back down. He gives them the number. "Thank you." He says, hanging up the phone. "It'll be here in twenty minutes." He says, as she moves to sit up. "Where are you going?"
"The bathroom, someone is doing somersaults on my bladder. I'll be back." She says, hurrying around the couch. She almost doesn't make it to the bathroom in time. "Alright, you're going to have to settle down in there. I almost didn't make it in time." She says, rubbing her hand over her belly and she gets a good healthy kick. "I know we woke you up, but you don't have to beat up my bladder." She says, as she flushes the toilet. She's coming out of the bathroom, as Jeffrey walks down the stairs.
"Here, put this on." He says, handing her a thick robe. "You'll be warmer." He says, helping her with it.
"I'll be warm enough under the blanket with you." She says, slipping her hands under his robe. He sucks in a deep breath.
"You really are cold."
"Why?"
"You're hands are like ice."
"Oh, I'm sorry." She says, pulling them back.
"No." He says, pulling her to him and wrapping his arms around her. "I like being your heater." He says, as she leans up, kissing him. After a couple moments, he pulls back. "Did I hear you talking when you came out of the bathroom?"
"Yes, I was telling him that it was time to settle down. I almost didn't make the bathroom.
He lays his hand on her stomach, and gets another healthy kick. "Shhh, little man, let your Mom rest."
She leans up and kisses him. "I love you Jeffrey O'Neill."
"I love you Beca O'Neill." He says, releasing her and taking her hand. "I'm going to build us a fire." He says, leading her over to the couch. She sits down, tucking her feet under her robe while she watches him start a fire.
He's almost finished when someone knocks. "I'll get it." She says, getting up.
"Check before you open the door." He says, as she nods
She checks and then opens the door. The delivery boy is on the other side. "I have two large pizzas and an order of cheesy bread." The boy says.
"Yes, thank you." She says, sitting the pizzas down she reaches for her purse and pulls out some cash for a tip, giving it to him.
"Thank you ma'am." The boy says, smiling.
"You're welcome and thank you." Sam says, closing the door behind her and locking it. She reaches for the pizzas as she turns around.
Jeffrey is in the kitchen when she turns around. She reaches for the table by the door as he looks up. "What's wrong?" He asks, rushing over to her
"It's a cramp." She says, holding onto the table.
When he reaches her, he picks her up and carries her to the couch. "Is it the baby? Are you in labor? Should we go to Cedars?" He asks, laying her down on the couch.
"Calm down. I'm fine and the baby's fine. It's same cramps that Ava had."
"Are you sure? How can you be sure?"
"I'm a doctor and I'm not having any other symptoms of early labor. I'm fine."
"Are you sure, we should go to Cedars." He says, moving to get up.
She reaches out to stop him. "J, I promise its fine. In fact, it's already letting up. It's my body's way of getting ready for the baby. I'm fine." She says, leaning up and kissing him.
He pulls back and looks at her. "You're sure, you're alright?"
"I'm positive. Now can I have my pizza and cheesy bread?"
"Yes ma'am." He says, leaning in to kiss her again. She reaches up and wraps her arm around his neck and when he tries to pull away she tightens her hold, slipping her tongue between his lips. At first he resists, but she insists, laying back as she pulls him with her. "Beca, baby." He mumbles, finally pulling away. "We need to eat."
"I'm hungry for something else." She says, moving in to kiss him again.
He's close to giving in, when he pulls back. "After we eat, you can have me all night long, I promise." He says, pulling away from her. In her eyes are hot blue flames when he looks at her. "Don't look at me like that."
"Like what?" She asks softly.
"Like you want to eat me instead of the pizza."
"Maybe I do." She says, as he moves to get up. She sits up as he walks over to the pizza and picks them up. He takes them over to the coffee table. Sitting them down, he walks past her and she slips her hand inside his robe, brushing his lower thigh, close to his right knee. Fire crashes through him from her touch and he looks down as she looks up. "We could eat after…."
"We'll eat now. What do you want to drink?" He asks, reaching for her hand. "And do you want a plate?" He asks, walking stiffly towards the kitchen. She laughs softly.
"I don't think we need plates. And I'll take a Sprite." She says. He opens the refrigerator door, getting her a Sprite and him a Coke.
He walks back to the couch. He sits down beside her. He can feel her watching him. "Here" He says, handing her the cheesy bread.
She reaches for it, making sure her fingers brush his. He swallows and then opens one of the pizza boxes. Pulling a piece out, he takes a bite while she watches him. "Am I making you uncomfortable?" She asks, teasing him.
"No." He says, glancing at her. She has a piece of bread in her hand.
He watches her take a bite, chew it up and then swallow. "Do you want some?" She asks, sitting just right so that he could see the swell of her breasts between the folds of the robe.
"I'm sorry, what?" He asks, shaking his head.
"I asked if you want some." She holds up the bag of bread.
"Ah, umm, no." He mumbles, taking a bite of pizza.
For the next several minutes, they both eat though they are both aware of the other. Finally he puts the pizza down and reaches for her cheesy bread. Sitting it on the table, he reaches for her, pulling her to him as he kisses her neck. She swallows and then moans softly. "J." She can feel his erection pressing against her thigh.
"I never realized eating pizza could be so damn sexy." He mumbles, teasing her lower lip with his tongue, nipping gently until she opens her mouth.
"I don't think it was the pizza." She says, slipping her hands between them and freeing his robe.
He pulls away and looks at her, watching her while she moves her hands down his chest, resting them at his hips. "It wasn't the pizza." He leans in and kisses her neck, nipping gently.
"It wasn't?"
"No, it's the way you look sitting there, patiently waiting for me to give in." He says, pulling back. "You knew I would eventually." He looks into her eyes.
"I wasn't trying to manipulate…."
"I know." He says, kissing her again as he reaches for her belt, working it free. Brushing it back, he pulls back and looks at her. "I will never tire of looking at you. You are the most beautiful woman I know. I love each and everything about you."
"I love you too." She says, reaching up to run her fingers down his face.
He nips at her finger tips before he takes one into her mouth, gently sucking on it while he watches her. Fire rushes over her, filling her body with an intense desire and desperate need sweeps through her. Slipping his hand between her thighs, he gently touches her. "J!" She cries out, grasping him to her. He leans in, teasing her breasts while he plays her, like he plays his guitar, stroking the music, singing in her veins. "Yes." She moans, arching her hips. He slips a couple fingers inside her, moving with her
"Go, baby." He whispers, teasing her nipples with his tongue.
A surging wave of release screams through her, filling her with incredible ecstasy, its several moments before she returns to reality. He moves up to kiss her, but she stops him, pushing him back. She moves into his arms. Straddling him and as they kiss, he wraps his arms around her. She pulls away after a few moments, looking into his eyes. He sucks in a deep breath seeing the look in her eyes. "Do I have permission to eat now?" She asks as he releases her, settling back into the couch
Brushing his robe open, she looks down. Watching him react to the desire burning him up inside. Leaning in, she kisses him softly for a moment before she moves away. Making her way down his body, teasing him, kissing him and nipping at his six pack as he sucks in a deep breath. He likes her teasing him, but he also desperately wants her to do exactly want she asked to do. When she reaches his navel, she stops, teasing him. Jolts of desire surge through him, fueling the need and stoking the flames higher. "Beca, baby please!" He groans, reaching to bury his fingers in her hair.
She looks up, smiling as she watches him. Reading how close he is to losing control. Pulling one hand free, he slowly moves it down her cheek. He slowly runs his thumb of her lower lip. She opens her mouth, taking it inside. She sucks gently, nipping at the tip of his finger. Images of her doing the same thing to another part of his body flash through his mind and she reads everything in his eyes. Releasing his finger, she moves off him, kneeling between his legs. She leans forward, letting him feel the warmth of her breath wash over him.
Flicking her tongue over him, she teases him for a moment before she takes him fully into her mouth, tasting him, as he reaches for her. Burying his fingers in her hair, he holds on as he lets his head fall back. He closes his eyes, savoring the warmth of her mouth, the gentle teasing of her tongue as she caresses him. After a several moments, he feels his control snap. Reaching for her chin, he touches her gently until she looks up. Reading the desperate need in his eyes, she offers one last caress before she pulls away, moving into his arms.
She settles over him. Lifting her hips, she reaches down and guides him into her. Sinking lower and taking him deeper. They both fight their bodies demand for satisfaction. Reaching up, he pulls her into a long sweet wet kiss. He doesn't pull away until she moves against him, rocking her hips. Wrapping his arms around her, he guides her as her pace picks up. After several moments, he moves deeper into the couch and then lifts his hips, thrusting into her. "Jeffrey!" She cries, feeling her body spinning out of control.
He holds onto her, moving with her, thrusting deep, over and over and over again. The tension snaps out of the blue, their release surging through each of them simultaneously. "Beca!" He groans. Leaning in, she kisses him, swallowing his cry
Wrapping his arms around her, he holds her to him. Sweet aftershocks flutter through her, caressing him. Feeling those tiny shocks of desire slowly brings him back to reality. Holding onto her, he lifts his hips, thrusting into her. "Oh! J!" She moans, savoring the feel of him growing inside her. He holds her closes, as he lays her down on the couch. Leaning over her, he thrusts deep, surging into her over and over and over again. It's a matter of minutes before their release surges through them again. Collapsing into her waiting arms, he sucks in a deep breath as he laughs softly. "What?" She mumbles.
"I didn't realize eating pizza could be so sexy." He says, taking another deep breath, holding it for a moment before he slowly releases it.
"I think it was more than the pizza." She says, turning and kissing his jaw
Pulling back, he looks down and asks. "Are you okay? I wasn't too rough."
"You're never rough, darlin." She says, leaning up to kiss him
He pulls back after a couple seconds. "This didn't hurt the baby. You're not cramp…"
"I'm fine, J." She says, reaching up to caress his face. He lays down beside her. She snuggles in close to him as he pulls the throw over them. Several minutes later, he looks down and smiles, watching her sleep for a moment before he closes his eyes and falls asleep too.
Richard is in the living room when Cassie comes in. She puts her purse down beside the door and then hangs up her coat as he walks into the kitchen. "Is everything alright?" He asks, as she turns around
"Everything is fine. Blake's awake." She says, walking over to him.
"She's awake, like totally awake?" He asks after he leans in to kiss her.
"Yes. We talked while Holly went home for the kids. She knows you're alive and that I'm pregnant, but that's as far as we got before Holly returned."
"Did you call Harley?"
"Yes, after I left the hospital." Cassie says, walking into the living room. He follows her.
"What's wrong?" He asks, sitting down beside her on the couch.
"I don't know. I sort of got a weird vibe from Harley when I told her that Blake was awake."
"What sort of vibe?"
"It was like she's angry about it. I told her we didn't get to talk much and that Blake will likely have a lot of questions for both of us and she said she only had one question for her and then she said she had to go and she hung up."
"Did you call her back?"
"No, she was spending some time with Gus."
"Maybe she was focused on him and wasn't really paying attention to what you were saying about Blake."
"I don't know, but I don't think that's the reason she was upset. Where are the boys?"
"They're both in bed." He says, as she glances at the clock.
"Oh, I didn't realize the time. Do you have anything else you need to take care of?"
"No, I've already spoken with Kevin. I didn't have anything from work." He says, standing up. He helps her up.
"What did Kevin say?"
"We went over numbers for the early polls. And how they're tied to the events I went to this weekend. We talked about the events later this week." He says, as they walk towards the stairs.
"Are you going to be able to make Rj's game?"
"I'll be there for most of it. I know he wants me there for the whole game and I will try to stay as long as I possibly can."
"Alright." She says, as they walk into their bedroom. 'I'm going to take a quick shower."
"Okay." He says, walking over to the closet. He returns a few moments later. Pulling back the covers on the bed, he lies down and waits for her. Twenty minutes later, she comes out of the bathroom, flipping the light off as she comes out and carrying her dirty clothes. She walks over to the closet and puts them away before she comes to bed.
Lying down beside him, she asks. "Did Kevin have anything else to say?"
"Oh yes, the deputy mayor is making his announcement tomorrow."
"You knew that was coming." She says, settling in beside him.
For a few moments, he holds her. Gently running his fingers through her hair. She sighs softly and he looks down. She's asleep, he watches her for a little bit before he reaches for the lamp and turns it off. Settling in, he closes his eyes and goes to sleep.
Shortly before six, Sam rolls over. Slowly waking up, Jeffrey is beside her. "When did we come to bed?"
"I carried you up here around one, I think." He says, reaching to brush her hair back from her cheek.
"I didn't mean to fall asleep."
"We were both exhausted, but you more than me."
"I'm okay with Jeremiah being arrested."
"I know you are. That wasn't what I was talking about. You didn't sleep well the night before and you confronted him about your father, and then I sort of freaked out on you."
"You didn't freak out on me. You were worried about me and I understand that. We're both in unfamiliar territory here."
"But you don't need me accusing you of things that aren't true."
"You didn't do that."
"I accused you of basically running away from me in Russia."
"No, you told me what you were feeling then and maybe a little bit about your fears now. And I can admit that maybe I was a little afraid of that next step when we were in Russia. And maybe that's why I wasn't afraid when you asked me this time to marry you. I had already lost you once. I wasn't about to lose you again."
"You were afraid to marry me because of the baby."
"I was worried that you would feel like you had to marry me because of the baby, not because you actually loved me."
"I know we discussed this then but I wanted to marry you. The baby made the decision come a little faster than it did before, but I wanted to be your husband then and I want to be your husband now. Nothing will change that, not even your brother."
"Then we have nothing to worry about." She says, moving over to him.
Lifting his arm, he lays it across her shoulders as she lays her head on his chest. "We have nothing to worry about with us, but we still have to worry about your brother. Until he's taken care of, he's a threat to all three of us."
"I know." She says, bending her head to kiss his chest. "I want to pretend for a little longer that he's not a problem."
"His arrest makes it a little easier to relax, but he can still send one of his men after you."
"He can send them after all of us. So we keep Julien and we keep the door locked and alarm on."
"What are you doing today?"
"I've got patients this morning and then sometime today I will need to go by the hospital to see about Blake and check on her test results."
"That's still amazing that she's awake. She just suddenly woke up."
"I think you coming to see her helped it along?"
"Me, coming to see her, I didn't go and see her."
"You were with me, remember. I think she could hear you when we were there and I think by hearing how happy you were with me and the baby, she decided to come back. It was that and the fact that she stopped pretending that Ross was with her."
"How do you know that?" He asks, looking at her.
"She told me stuff right after she woke up and she asked about you, me and the baby. I think she may have stayed in the coma for so long because she didn't want to lose Ross again. It was that and that she didn't want to face Springfield after the investigation broke about the website. What are you doing today?"
"I am going into City Hall."
"He could still come after you and you dismissed your protection detail."
"I may have dismissed them, but I'm sure Frank ordered them to stay with me. And I'm not going to hide away. If your brother wants to come at us, let him." He says, leaning over to kiss her.
"There's something else we have to do today?"
"What's that?"
"My appointment with Dr. Sedgwick. It's at three."
"I'll be there and then we'll go see Blake. And then after that, let's go over to the loft. I haven't seen Ava in a while."
"That's fine." She says, moving away from him.
"Where are you going?"
"I need to go to the bathroom and it's almost six thirty."
"Go to the bathroom, but we have time." He says, releasing her. She gets out of bed while he watches her.
Lana was in the office when Julie walks in. "Hey girl, how are you doing?"
"I'm good. How are you and family?" Julie asks, as they hug.
"We're all doing great. How's small town life?" Lana asks, stepping back
"We're all settling in. I feel free now." Julie says, as they sit down at the conference table.
"But something is bothering you." Lana says, looking at her.
"It's too complicated to get into right now."
"We'll go to lunch after the meeting and we'll talk then." Lana says, as the rest of the group walk into the room.
Four hours later, the meeting wraps up and they leave for lunch. After they get to their table and the waitress has their order, Lana asks. "So what's on your mind?"
"I guess I should start at the beginning. I never told you about what happened with Matt." Julie says, taking a drink. She puts the glass down and looks at Lana. "About a year before I came to work, I lived in Oakdale with my husband Matt and our kids. We were happy, incredibly happy and then one afternoon he was involved in a serious car accident. The accident left him brain dead. About a week after his accident, two men from a government agency approached me and asked if I would turn Matt's body over to them. They would pay for his service and at the time we didn't have the money to cover the service and Matt didn't have life insurance either, so I accepted their offer. They took possession of his body and I tried to move on. I married Marciano and we moved to Chicago."
"How did you meet Marciano? I never asked you that?"
"He worked with Matt. Matt brought him around a few times and he seemed like a nice man. I was mostly numb when we were dating and I forced myself to believe that I felt something for him, more than I actually did. But anyway, we moved to Chicago. Fast-forward five years, I left Marciano and I moved back home. Shortly before the hearing, two men came to my mom's house. They were with the same agency that approached me about taking Matt's body. And they had some very shocking things to tell me."
"What?"
"That Matt had a twin brother, that his accident was arranged by a woman looking to kill Matt's brother. Matt was mistaken for him by the man she hired to kill his brother. Matt's father was actually a prince, as was his brother until the truth came out about his brother's paternity and their half-brother was found and restored to the throne."
"So, you were actually married to a prince."
"No. Matt would never have been prince. The only reason his brother was, was because their father made a deal with Matt's mom. She took Matt, he took Richard and they never saw each other again. And neither one told the other about his brother."
"So, neither one knew about each other."
"That's correct. Matt grew up thinking he was an only child. Richard grew up in a palace, raised thinking he was the rightful heir to the throne. His other half-brother tried to take the throne from him and succeeded after the truth about Richard's paternity came out and Richard advised the people to disband the monarchy for democracy."
"Wait, are you talking about Prince Richard Winslow of San Cristobel!"
"Yes, the one and same. He's Matt's twin brother. Their mother was the mistress of Richard's father. When she became pregnant, so did their father's wife. When it came time for delivery, he told his wife that their baby had died and to preserve the monarchy forced her to accept Richard as the heir to the throne. That all brought about the failed coup attempt by Matt and Richard's half-brother Edmund, if you remember." Julie says, as Lana nods.
"So what does that have to do with Matt's death?" Lana asks, as their waitress brings their food.
After she leaves, Julie says. "Apparently, after the men that approached me about taking Matt's body, took it to Springfield, switched his body with Richard and then shipped Richard to DC for the agency to care for. Richard's life had apparently been threatened during the last months that he lived in San Cristobel. This agency was brought in, to provide protection for him and to help find the people making the threats. This agency also didn't believe they had found everyone involved by the time that Richard's other half-brother was put on the throne and Richard moved to Springfield with his family. That was several weeks before both accidents."
"You said there was a woman that ordered all this?"
"Yes, Richard's half-brother's former wife. When the monarchy was re-established, Richard's brother divorced her and sent her back to Iowa. She blamed Richard's wife Cassie. She wanted to hurt her like Richard's half-brother had hurt her, so she found someone to stage an accident. That man found Matt first and he caused Matt's accident, and then about a week later, he staged another accident involving Richard."
"Okay, so I don't understand what the issue is?
"Those men that contacted me this summer were doing so at Richard's request. Richard is alive. He's been alive in a coma in a DC hospital controlled by the agency those men were from. Richard asked them to contact me when he found out about Matt being his brother and about our family."
"So, what's the problem?"
Julie looks at her and then looks away. "Richard wants to be a part of our lives. He wants to know the kids and I guess me too."
"I still don't understand what the problem is?"
"He is the reason Matt is dead. Everything that happened was because of Richard and the life he lead on San Cristobel and the decisions that were made there. He's the reason Matt is dead."
"No, he's a victim, just like Matt."
"He brought all on himself?"
"How can you say that? He had nothing to do with the deal made by their parents. He was raised a prince and then found out that he wasn't actually the prince and he could've hidden that fact but he didn't. He told the truth and he gave his opinion on what San Cristobel should do for their future, based mostly on the fact that his brother Edmund had under cut and under minded him for years. And when the country was set to choose, Edmund staged a coup, took over the government, hunted him and Cassie down like common criminals, and when they tried to escape the island, something happened and he held Cassie against her will, locked in a tower without food or water for days, forcing Richard to come back to island to stage his death so that Edmund would release Cassie. Richard took the island back and elections were held and he was elected President only to find out that his other half-brother and the rightful heir to the throne was actually alive and working for him.
This was all after they lost their child, due to an accident that Edmund caused. They then adopted a baby from an American woman looking to come back to the States because her husband, which she had only known for a week when she married him had left her alone and pregnant. She swore the father wanted nothing to do with the baby. When actually the father had no idea the baby existed until Richard's right hand man told him that Richard and Cassie were about to christen his child as their son. Fast forward several months, the woman shows up again demanding to be a part of the baby's life.
She threatens to take Richard and Cassie to court to get custody again unless Richard's brother is returned to the throne, forcing them to put it to the people to vote on reinstating the monarchy or continuing with democracy. And after all that, she thought she would be the next Princess of San Cristobel, but she didn't get that. Richard's brother had her deported back to the US and because she didn't get what she wanted. She decided to go after Cassie and hurt her. None of the things that happened in San Cristobel were Richard's fault."
"How do you know about all this?"
"Because it was all on the new again this summer, after the truth came out about the adoption of their son Will. They actually adopted their own son from the American woman. While Cassie was in the hospital because of the accident, Edmund sent a message to Cassie's doctor, demanding that he induce Cassie's baby. Her doctor refused, but because Edmund threatened to throw him in jail if he didn't cooperate her doctor left a syringe out and Edmund's men gave her the drugs that forced her into labor. She delivered a baby boy but was told the baby had died, due to the accident Edmund caused when they tried to leave the island. That same accident temporarily blinded Cassie's sister."
"Matt was killed because he was mistaken for Richard." Julie says, as the waitress brings their check and takes their plates away.
"And again that was not because of Richard. He had no idea that the American woman…."
"Her name was Camille."
"Alright, he had no idea that Camille was going to cone after them. And even if he did, he had no idea that he had a twin brother. He was never told about his father's affair with their mother."
"And you believe that?"
"Given the fact that Prince George lied about his own son dying at birth then yes, I believe that Prince George never told Richard that he had brother or who his true mother was. Richard had no idea he wasn't the heir until he began looking into an engraving that Cassie brought to his attention. I think that's what brought everything to light about his paternity and the fact that he wasn't the true prince. There was some sort of engraving that explained everything that happened in the weeks after Richard was born. That's how he found out the truth. Everyone else was dead."
"If everyone was dead, how did he find out the truth?"
"Because of the cup, and he followed the clues left by Princess Charlotte. That led him to a secret grave on the palace grounds I believe and in that grave was a letter, written by Princess Charlotte and witnesses by her servants."
"And the letter could've been forged..."
"By whom, Richard, why would he do that? He was prince and no one questioned his right to the throne. Why are you insisting that this is all Richard's fault?" Lana asks, watching her.
"I don't think I can face seeing him. He looks exactly like Matt and it hurts too much to know that Matt is dead and his brother gets to go on, raising his family, living his life. His wife is pregnant. Cassie's pregnant and Matt is dead."
"None of that is Richard's fault. He deserves to know about his brother's life and his brother's kids. And he deserves to be happy and to live his life. He was robbed of five years and from what I've heard on the news in those five years, he lost an adoptive daughter, his son and granddaughter."
"So he's lost some things. Matt is dead and he's not coming back."
"And you want to punish him for that. You want to punish someone for taking Matt away from you. I understand that, but Richard doesn't deserve it and your kids deserve to know their uncle."
"He's already met the kids."
"You let him meet the kids but you don't want anything to do with him."
"I didn't do it. My mom did."
"Well she's right."
"She went behind my back and took my kids to see him knowing how I felt and you think she was right?"
"Yes, I do." Lana says, leaning towards her. "Listen, I know you're hurting because Matt is gone. You married Marciano right after that and now you're divorced. But did you consider that maybe Richard could help you heal. You would have a part of Matt again. It might not be the same relationship as you had with Matt, because he's married and everything. But I honestly believe he's a good man and he will take care of you as well as help you with the kids."
"You think I should stop fighting this."
"Yes, I do. How do the kids feel about him?"
"I don't know. I haven't talked to them about it."
"What does this new guy you're seeing say?"
"I haven't talked to him either. I told him I would explain everything that's going on when I got back from this trip." Julie says, reaching for the check."
"I got it." Lana says, taking the check and slipping her credit card inside. She sets it aside as she says. "You haven't told him anything about this?"
"I told him that I was Matt's widow. He doesn't know anything about this stuff with Richard."
"You're dating him and you haven't told him anything about Richard, why not?"
"We're not seriously dating. And I need time to think things out."
Lana looks at her for a moment and then sighs. "What are you really afraid of?"
"I gave my life to Matt and he was taken away in an instant. I felt so helpless, sitting in that hospital room and him lying there, praying he would come back to me and then they told me he was gone and never coming back. And the accident, it made no sense, how it happened. And now I know, that woman wanted Richard to suffer and I want him to suffer. I want him to know what it's like to not know."
"Do you really think that's going to hurt him? He doesn't know Matt. He has nothing to miss from knowing him. He'll regret not knowing, but it's not going to hurt him like it hurts you. You have all the memories, all the times you spent with Matt. What does Richard have, knowledge, that's it. He has a full life with his kids and his wife and their new baby."
"So, why does he need to know Matt?"
"It's a part of his history that he doesn't know about. He's not trying to take anything away from you. Telling him about Matt and letting him get to know your kids may help you to heal. You'll realize that keeping Matt all to yourself is slowly killing his memory because you won't let anyone share the feelings and love that you felt for him. You can't hide him away like a priceless treasure locked in a safe. You want to hold onto Matt, let Richard know his brother and nephew and niece. He deserves to know them." Lana says, getting their waitress attention. She comes over and takes the check, returning a few moments later. Lana signs the check and then hands it back to her.
"We need to go back." Julie says, getting up.
"Just think about what I said." Lana says, reaching out to stop her from leaving.
"I will."