Author's Note: We all have something to be thankful for. I am thankful for my new betas and of course you my readers. Please review it helps: End Note
Chapter 18
Thankful
Paula and Mark are shopping for the Thanksgiving decorations for their party. It was agreed that since Christmas was going to be at Ivey Mansion Thanksgiving would be at their home in Pittsburg Texas. Janet had wanted to stay in Grandville at Angel's place until thanksgiving. It had been wonderful just having Mark home with her for a while. Paula finds a horn of plenty and holds it up like she going to blow in to it. Mark smirks at her and says the world wasn't ready for that. Paula touches her stomach this was one hell of a walk around this store she had been getting more and more twinges here lately. She was glad they were having the dinner catered. Next year she would cook but she was really tired and just didn't feel like expending all that energy this year. She was due in a few weeks and could hardly wait to see her baby girl.
Mark looks at her and ask was she okay saying she look flushed. "I'm fine let's get this stuff and go home I'm just a little tired." His eyes pierce hers silently asking was she really ok? Paula knew all too well where that look came from. She changes the topic. "So do you have the final head count?" Mark tells her a number two more than she had accounted for. "Oh I didn't think I forgot anyone who else is coming? He tells her Glenn has a woman he wants them to meet. "Well at least he won't be trying anything with Angel. I hope this girl is better suited for him than Carla. Do you know anything about her has he told you a name, or sent you a picture?" Mark frowns and says no and asks should he ask for a pic and see if he can find anything on the woman. "No I didn't meant it like that."
Angel, Janet, and Nikki sit at Deon's home waiting on Candy to emerge from her bedroom. Nikki had shown her the little music gallery she had helped Deon set up. They were on their way to the mall to shop for outfits for Thanksgiving. Candy walks out Angel's mouth drops open and quickly she closes it. Candy stands in the doorway her body seem to be poured into the super tight black pants suit complete with black heeled boots. Her hair was what had Angel questioning her friend silently with her eyes. Candy's light blonde hair now was adorned with dark blue tips.
The girls say cool dragging out the word. Candy meets Angel's gaze Angel had said nothing just stared at her. "Too much you hate it don't you? You can tell me I'm a big girl" Angel says she doesn't hate it she just had to get used to it. She asked had Deon seen it yet. "It was kind of his idea." Angel's eyes narrow. "Not like that he told me to do whatever I felt comfortable with so I did." They head to the mall in Angel's truck. Andrew trails them but there are other STOP team members following as well. Since April made a direct threat in involving Angel saying if there was no money sent her way by Chase by November she would capture Angel. That had Bobby sending more and more of his men to cover her every move, with the only one of them she trusted to lead it Andrew. He had proven his loyalty and had not asked her out anymore after her party.
Chase sits in one of his bullet proof cars with Bobby in Manhattan New York He'd been here for weeks now. After April took Paula from off of his ship at Angel's wedding he felt helpless and scared because it was too close to his daughter. If Angel had of went outside to get some fresh as Paula had she could have ended up inside the gift box and taken instead. He had hired security and combed the federal listing as much as he could and still there had been a mole. Checking his rearview mirror one more time he gets out of the car. Bobby tells him he didn't like this meeting. "I can't have that woman hurting my family you of all people should know I would do anything in my power to keep you all safe." Once again he was going to clean up one of Sophia's messes. He hated this area this was the place his marriage first started falling apart. He'd long since sold this building here and didn't give a shit what happened to it. Sentimental Chase William had been replaced with Chase Willie it was time this bitch knew who she was fucking with. All the polish, nice clothes, calm demeanor and college vocabulary in the world could not fully replace the man he once was.
He enters the building that used to bear his last name across the top it now sat as a multipurpose building with stores on the bottom floor the man he sold it to for a steal had done a good job of making it look cheap and out of place in this high priced business district. A woman greets him as he and Bobby step into the lobby of a charity office. The outer office was adorned with bullet proof glass. It looked like a bank in Grandville North not a Charity that raised millions with it's the squeaky intercom and the divider. Chase steps up to the glass and presses the button so the thin dark haired woman could hear him. "I'm Chase Ivey, I'm here to Speak with the woman in charge. She is expecting me." The woman looks up from her magazine with Personal Touch on the front and pops her gum at him, saying sure in that Brooklyn accent that she had either not lost yet or had no intention of losing. Chase could hardly believe this was going to work. He would see April and he would finish what she should not have ever started. His elation soon falls as a woman that was not April comes out and asked him to come on back. Bianca Blackwell was a lot of things but she was no April. He air kisses her cheek but stops before he leans back and asks her quietly "So Sweetheart you mind on telling me where your boss is?" He felt her tense. "Just keep smiling yes or no." He puts his hand under her chin directing her gaze to his. Her eyes cloud with something liking to desire.
"She's not here Chase she never comes to this office. If you have the money I will be glad to wire it to her." Blackwell gulps Chase was here to meet the Mother which meant he knew more than April gave him credit for. Sending her down to meet him was part of the plan because she used to flirt with him and he would flirt right back but he would never cheat on Sophia, who had been cheating with her own daughter's boyfriend up until she killed herself. The great Sophia had taken herself out of the race and left this nice rich older man for the taking. He had muscle with him the Native American looking man that stood not too far away was a cop you could see it in the cold glare he gave the place. Chase is touching her face, her breath is getting shallower. His lips get closer to her own she opens her mouth to receive his kiss. At the last possible minute just when she closes her eyes he says something that throws cold water on her flame.
He's within an inch of her lips she puckers her lips and closes her eyes. He leans in and harshly says. "Tell the bullshit to someone stupid enough to believe it. I speak to your boss or I start messing with her husband's investors. Ever heard of a takeover Sweetheart? My IT and Legal team will strip this building and her little side projects as well. Then I'll close her husband's bank for good. So when you saunter back up the elevator tell your boss what I said and don't ever forget before I was successful there is a darker part of me that you don't want to fuck with Goodbye Sweetheart for now." He taps her cheek with his index finger she opens her eyes disappointment and something else clouds her gaze. Chase walks back to the door waiting on the elevator to take him and Bobby back down to the bottom floor.
As they get into the car Bobby looks at the look on Chase's face. "So you're going to shut her down in business you know this is a front."
"Robert I'm not going to shut down some little charity in a depressed area to her this place means nothing. If I take her husband's capital away she'll have to provide for him. I wouldn't have to do this if your girlfriend had of found the bitch. I know she's up there and if I have to drag her ass out of there I will." Bobby gets defensive pointing out that his girlfriend found Paula. "I don't know if you realize something Robert but let me shed some light on the situation, I have tried to do this your way. I have tried to do this Harold's way, and the bitch keeps getting away. It's November and how close are you both in catching her. HER FUCKING THREAT WAS FOR THIS MONTH" Chase roars pounding the steering wheel with his fist.
Bobby watches his father "Chase maybe you are too close to this." They had hardly been home since the reception and finding Paula. Chase struck out on his own and Bobby didn't want him on his own so he signed up to leave the area with Chase. The first night he caught up with his dad he barley recognized him. He wasn't staying in D.C. in one the houses they kept for business, he had rented out a floor of a hotel here in Manhattan with a security detail that Bobby had to badge to get through. Bobby found that Chase was closer to the woman than he let on until today. But a building like that and the time it took for the woman to come down and talk to Chase would have given April escape time. "Chase go home I can't let you continue this one man militia, this shit never works. You're an older business man not Rambo it is November getting closer to the holidays…"
Chase turns in his seat and looks at his son. "Robert you're right it's getting closer to the holidays and a team of federal agents that I can half trust as it is, is near my family, tracking their movements and routines. I'm sure your guys know by now where each of my children will go even before they do. Save me a plate, but for right now I have to do this my way, I want you gone tomorrow. Go protect my girls" Bobby tries to object. Chase gets out of the car and walks away down the sidewalk.
Bobby waits until the traffic slackens up to get out on the passenger side. When he does he locks the door because Chase had left the keys in the ignition. When he rounds the car and heads down the street after Chase. Five blocks later and he still could not find his father. "FUCK" Bobby says as he turns around on the sidewalk, people that usually walked butt to butt were now giving him loads of personal space, as they seemed to rather walk into each other than break a 3 foot circle around him. He walks back to the bulletproof black Aston Martin. When he sees that Chase had even left his phone Bobby's nerves were on fire. This was bad this was beyond bad. Yes Chase was born in this state but a lot of shit had changed since he was a fucking child running around the streets of Queens, and not for the better. Bobby drives around the block a few times. He heads back to what Chase called headquarters the hotel. He badged his way up to the floor and thought if he could get to Chase this easily, who would stop someone else. With Chase's blackberry in hand Bobby walks to the room Chase was in. When he opens the door with the card Chase was gone and his laptop and other shit was gone to. Bobby walks to the safe in the room put in the passcode that Chase never failed to use and his heart sank the payoff was gone too. He was going to try to pay the woman off. Dropping his head to his chest he walks back out of the room that was why it was so easy for him to get up here. Bobby had to find his father this was dangerous for lots of reasons. Chase was letting emotion and old business mix and tear him up. It was like letting a bull into the china shop, and painting all the plates red.
April had just nearly escaped the clinic before the feds rushed her last location to retrieve target 2. She'd come here and thought she was beyond their reach, but Chase Ivey had just left here. Her secret weapon against him had not worked, he'd coolly turned down Blackwell and sent her back up the stairs with a promise that could ruin her. She had to be smarter than him, if he took over the charity she had as a cover, her money and her whole operation could come to a screeching halt. Blood roared in her ears as she rode in her limo. She was the Mother her underground had already taken a hit her inability to provide the family with a child when the woman was "due" had made the family impose their refund clause. She had two more clients in line for either of the children. She couldn't fail or Chase would not have to worry about stopping her, if she couldn't capture these two hot tickets her reputation would take a major hit.
Sophie felt good, she had just finished a case that pulled in three more companies into the Washington D.C. office, and had got word that the little punk that had been terrorizing Janet had fucked up and got caught red-handed. Christopher Price had been caught in a car with a minor on a back road near the fancy prep school. He'd drugged the girl and the owner of the roach coach had called it in when he saw the kid lead the drunk looking little girl to his car instead of back towards the school. Sophie calls Mark and shares that the kid had got picked up, and was now officially in the system, she neglected to tell him why because this wasn't her case and she really hated that another little girl had to suffer because of this puke film.
Two days ago she and Angel had a first meeting with the planner at Sheldon House. On their way to the meeting Angel had been animated, and just as excited as she. The planner charged in and as soon as she was introduced to Angel as the maid of honor, she started handing her list and telling her this was going to be the wedding of the year. Angel tells the woman that purple wasn't on the list of hues for the decorations. The planner tells her that that was 2012 this wedding was going to be the wedding of 2015. Angel says but Sophie's favorite color is purple. The woman put up her hand and tells Angel to stop talking and listen to her vision of the wedding of the year before she shared any more poisonous ideas. Angel opened her mouth to respond but then looks at her and Luke's mother and says nothing. Sophie sank her nails into her palms not to cuss the old bitch out. When she saw Angel's gaze drop to floor along with her excitement while the woman spouted line after rehearsed line about the wedding of the year. It sounded nothing like what Sophie had envisioned. Sophie didn't want Angel feeling pushed out of the planning. Angel had tried to distance herself from the entire wedding already, and Sophie wasn't having the planner give her sister and easy out. Mrs. Sheldon won major points when she fired the woman and said she would work with Angela to make this the wedding of Sophie and Luke's dreams screw the year. The minute the planner left after saying their wedding would be nothing without her. Angel sighed in relief and Mrs. Sheldon apologized to them both for the planner being so rude. As of now the wedding was going to be at Ivey Mansion and Mrs. Sheldon and Angel were planning it. Sophie had planned a huge wedding with all the bells and whistles with Julius, and got crushed she didn't want to repeat any of that shit.
Joshua sits in his office at the Davenport and in walks Jonathon after a brief knock. "How is everything going son?" Jonathon sits in the chair across from his son. Joshua didn't know where to start. He says that the club was doing great. "I see you are making good use of your time away from touring. Gloria and I are going to Mark's new home for Thanksgiving so I hear you have options this year so where will you and Angel be dining for Thanksgiving?"
Joshua smirks "We're not going to the Davenport's for Thanksgiving. Angel tries to hide it but she really doesn't like to be in Pyramid after dark. I didn't want to make any assumptions so I asked her where she wanted to go. She told me since she couldn't come this way last year around this time that she wanted to spend it with Sophie. She also admitted that my old house after dark still made her uneasy since April is still loose. I can't say I blame her." Jonathon asks how Angel has been doing since the passing of her friend. "She handled the Evie shit well Evie's parents called her and Angel helped them send her remains back to Finland. I asked Angel if she was okay and she said she was. She told me that sending Evie's remains along with a bereavement gift to Evie's parents kind of closed that chapter in her life. That girl put Angel through so much then to get her self offed. All they said was an explosive was used. The police have written it off as a murder / suicide and closed it out. I'm just glad it's over."
Patrick gazed out the window as he got closer to his home. His mom and pap had left him in jail but they promised he wouldn't spend the holidays locked up. His pap was now driving him away from county jail he had been in since Boy's wedding night. At first he was scared they wouldn't bail him out because he had failed to get Boy's woman. Boy was shorter than him and Patrick knew he had a good 20 pounds on him, but Boy had broken his nose and cracked two of his ribs. Patrick wasn't new to fighting he fought when he was in school, but his pap cheered him up saying that Boy was 7 years older than him and most big brothers gave their little brothers lumps. Pap wasn't mad at him no more that was what Patrick would say he was thankful for when mom pulled out the huge turkey this year.
James Smyth would get his payback and payoff. He'd used the last of the money they got from Boy's wife to bail out his other numbskull who was now sitting in the back seat looking out the window like a little kid. He'd taken away the element of surprise when he showed his face to Boy. James wasn't going to let this rest. Boy owed him an apology for kicking him out of his meet and greet, and getting him arrested and he owed him for swinging on him. Boy thought he could take his old man because he had got older. Boy was going to find out just because he got older that James had too, and he had got smarter. Boy had sent his ass to the ground in that garage. James didn't back down there was a new plan and it would work this time. Before Thanksgiving James would give his wife the life they deserved to be thankful for. His son was a fucking singing dancing fruit, and was making buckets of cash with songs with lyrics that gave him the middle finger. The girl was singing but James knew Boy wrote the hard rock song that was on their debut album. He'd stood in that audience and watched his son play and the woman sing. It looked like she was singing right at him with fist raised and glaring. Until the meet and greet when she didn't know who he was, until Boy ran off then came back for her.
Trent had been in contact with the Mother. He'd tried to call Luke a few times and had got voice mail. Trent knew he still had a shot since Luke had not blocked him. He'd seen the aftermath of the case Luke wasn't named in but had tried to save the little girl's life. He painted his friend as an arrogant, uncaring, social elitist, but Luke cared more than he did. If one of Trent's employees had dared called him he would have hung up. Now the killer was dead somewhere in Grandville South near Target one's home the place where Luke stayed on occasion. Luke sounded wrecked when he called that night and pissed when he got off the phone. He wondered did his friend snap and kill the killer, had Trent pushed Luke too hard. Sitting in his car outside Sheldon Medical Center he takes a breath and pushes it out slowly. He gets out and walks to the information desk. The receptionist in the hospital sends him to the office building across the street. Trent walks in the lush lobby of the doctor's offices. Scanning the listing that scrolled in order on the mounted IPad looking screen he spots Luke's suite number. Stepping to the screen he presses Luke's name and it says he's in with a patient. He walks into the waiting area and signs in for a meeting in a slot of 10 minutes.
Sophie heads towards Luke's office she'd wrapped up a few things near the Center and wanted to see if he had a few minutes, she'd texted him and he'd texted back that he was in with a patient but to come on down and he would see her after the visit was over. Luke's week was all booked up It was the week before a major holiday in Grandville so it seems most of all his patients was making sure they could gorge themselves on turkey and still be alive for Christmas. His office parking lot looked more like mall parking on Black Friday. "Shit move asshole" Sophie says as she advances in front of a SUV and snags a parking space in her sleek sports car. Where would Luke and she land for Thanksgiving, Angel had asked her? Sophie knew where she wanted to be. Angel had left their mother's birthday party and had not come back to Texas until the March of the following year. Sophie had promised herself where ever her sister was she was going to celebrate the holidays with her.
Luke walks out with his last patient before he would take lunch. When he sees that he has a meeting scheduled he checks his log and pauses when he sees who has tabbed in a meeting for 10 minutes. He felt good today one of his youngest patient's had just had her checkup and was doing great after cracking her collarbone and her face in a gymnastics stunt gone wrong at school a few month ago. The 60 pound girl had missed the spring loaded mate altogether. After surgery and a lengthy recovery the girl was almost ready to go back to school. He told her mother to keep her out of gymnastics for another six months please. Now Trent wanted to talk. He had rejected more of Trent's calls since he'd hung up that night then he had ever. Sophie had said Trent compared them to each other and when he came up short he'd tried to drag Luke under with him. Luke knew he couldn't avoid Trent forever but today he just didn't feel like having to defend himself for any success he had. Luke tries to undo the meeting but that option had timed out. Sighing he opens his office door and Trent walks inside. At the end of the their meeting of which Trent spoke most of it and apologized explaining about a relative he had recently had to take off life support. Luke forgave him, but told him he would not put up with too much more bullshit from him anymore. Trent swore he'd never do anything like that again. The morning after Passion's death Luke had called his father after Sophie had left his office. Lucas Sr. had said the same thing Sophie had, that Luke had done all he could and ripping himself to shreds wouldn't bring the girl back. His father told him that if he wanted to help within Chase's program to improve the care in the Grandville North area then he should. Luke was thankful for his father and his fiancé they saw in him what he sometimes overlooked in himself. As he is about to text Sophie after Trent leaves he hears something in the hall and runs back to his door.
Trent was waiting on the elevator to come back up so he could leave. Luke had forgave him if he wasn't doing this for another purpose, he would have left Luke alone but Luke was his only link to target one. After all this is over it is good that he will be able to leave the country because once his involvement comes out he'd have no one left here on his side. He'd thought of leaving the underground but they had video that could kill his above ground career. The elevator door opens and Target 1's sister Luke's soon to be wife stood there glaring at him. He steps towards the elevator as she is walking out.
At the sight of Trent, Sophie reaches in her purse and fingers the stung gun as he walks pass her into the now empty elevator car. "What the hell are you doing here?" Trent stops the doors from closing as he turns around and faces her telling her that she didn't need to worry that Luke was gracious enough to forgive him. "Why did you come here to his business? I heard about the shit you said you may have Luke fooled but I'll be watching you. I don't trust you."
Trent smiles at her. "Well, then we should both count ourselves as lucky, that my friend isn't as jaded as you or I. You can watch me all you like. I don't trust you either there is something you hide from the world and I aim to find out why my friend that can have any woman he wishes, would like to tie himself up in knots over you." They are both surprised as Luke comes running out of his office. Trent steps back and closes the elevator doors. He just hoped she didn't link anything together before he dropped this charade. He had his own problems and trust wasn't something he could afford right now. Although he did like the look in her eyes when he spoke about what Luke could have instead of her. There was a crack in her professional polish.
Luke reaches Sophie "Are you okay?" Sophie looked pissed and something else was riding in her light brown gaze. She closes her eyes and he sees when she refocuses on him. "Did he say something out of the way to you?" Luke says as he touches her cheek so she would unclench her jaw. Sophie says no she just didn't trust Trent. "He explained why he struck out at me that night. That day he had a hard decision to make and wasn't dealing with it well. I guess I just called at the wrong time I guess since I usually don't call him for consult it kind of rubbed him the wrong way." Sophie tells him what Trent said. So that explained the look, he would not let her dwell on this shit. He checks his phone against his schedule, and they had an hour and a half before his patient list consumed him for another 6 hours. "Hey let's not talk about him I'd like to talk about this new Chinese place you told me about, maybe a quick bite to eat, and a walk will do us both some good. I've been up to my ears in paperwork between patients today. She says sure. They head out and as they wait for their order Sophie asks him about where he wanted to go for Thanksgiving. "Where did you want to go, since I did remember to put myself on on-call block for Thanksgiving this year?" She smiles and says that's great since she just redid her schedule this morning. "Caught you, so who tipped you off that it's next week?" He says with mirth in his blue gaze they both were guilty of being workaholics.
Sophie ask "are you making fun of me Mr. 96 hours?" He says with a laugh that he would never." Sure you wouldn't. Angel brought it up last night asking me where I was spending Thanksgiving, I said with her and Joshua at Mark's place. She pointed out that you might have other plans so I figured I should ask. If your parents are having something we can go there for thanksgiving and do Christmas at Ivey Mansion. I at the very least want to spend one of the holidays with Angel this year." Sophie didn't get to spend the holidays with Angel last year after her mother's birthday party in August and Angel stayed away until she ran from Braden and came home in March of this year. Now that Sophie knew more of what was behind Angel not coming around because of Julius messing with her, and her fear that their mom's ranting and ravening would end with Angel getting blamed for trying to seduce Julius Angel apologized and left Sophia's party. Sophie knew the look on Angel's face, and wasn't surprised that Angel sent her and Chase cards and Gifts cards but didn't even tour near Texas for the rest of last year.
Luke saw the look cross her face. He also was present at Sophia's birthday party, Angel left shortly after Sophia started in on her about how cheap her gift was. Luke knew it was a lie but Angel took it to heart and left. The party was strained but he noticed after that party Angel went ghost on everyone. "Well, my parents don't do Thanksgiving here anymore. They meet up with a few friends at my dad's resort on an island he bought near St Vincent. So we'll get to hang with Angel and Joshua at Mark and Paula's this year. As for Christmas at your place that's fine. " The biggest smile claims her face eyes and all.
It was a week before thanksgiving and Michael had a multitude of reasons to be thankful. His health was holding up, he felt better than he had in years. He was also thankful that the family infighting had stopped, bridges were mending. He was going to be a grandfather his son was happy after such a troubled beginning. Bradley and he were on speaking terms. His baby girl Cass had kept to her word of being a better person not just for them but for herself as well. Sally had even returned back to her old self from her brief trip into stressed out insanity. He steps in the Davenport this was the first time he'd walked in here after selling it. When he first went to CO and left the club in the hands of his 22 year old son, he knew if anything Joshua could rely on Vash to help him. Looking around he noticed the personal touches his son had added. He walks to the bar as Joshua is restocking it. His son stops and turns when he sits down. "I don't know if I have told you this son but I'm very impressed with what you've done with the club." Joshua thanks him and asked did he want to see the new sound system that Jonathon helped him and Vash install. The excitement in his son's gaze was contagious. "That would be fine. I hear you and the others have decided to expand, whoever finally convinced that owner to sell deserves a round of applause." His son says with pride that his wife and Candy went next door and pointed out to the man that he would make more on his clothing if he moved closer to the mall and he bought a booth in the mall a few days after they spoke with him. "Joshua I came to ask were you planning to come by for the holiday I know that in the past you've come for Christmas but your mother wanted to see if you would…" He saw the answer in his son's body language before he can even finish his invitation.
Joshua stilled "Um Dad I wanted to talk to you about this, we aren't coming for thanksgiving. We are holding a Christmas dinner at the house and you guys are invited but as for going to Pyramid at night or just being there when night falls it's not something Angel feels safe doing after..." Joshua stops that train of thought he was such a dumb ass the night he was abducted. "The night we came back to get my things she was anxious and stressed and I just want her as calm and unstressed as possible right now. I hope you guys can understand." Michael said he would speak to Sally and maybe she and Cass could help with dinner on Christmas because he didn't want to stress out his new daughter, he just wanted to spend one of the holidays with his entire family. "Angel hasn't started putting together a menu yet, I'll ask her. I don't think she would mind the help but I don't want to assume."
Megan marches through the store Glenny sits in the shopping cart. Megan tickles him and he laughs squealing. She was feeling good no she couldn't have kids of her own but Glenny was her baby boy now. Logan and she had a long talk and he told her that he was taking Glenny to Mark's house for thanksgiving so he could visit with Janet. At first Megan was furious that Mark was having a holiday dinner and didn't invite her. It still stung but Logan pointed out that she had crossed the line when she first physically disciplined Janet, then blackmailed her into not saying anything. On some level she knew she was wrong especially when she would tell Janet not to say anything. That was the part unlike her aunt who had did this shit to them as kids. Her aunt had said tell you folks. Mark had told their mother and their aunt wasn't allowed around them anymore. Mark was taking the FastTrack school system of Houston to court. Something had happened to make Janet skip school. She'd been mad because of the action but even with harshly disciplining Janet she had not found the root of the odd behavior. She missed having Janet around after she's tried to stir up trouble Mark had blocked her number. She was pissed at Mark and had tried to put a wedge in between him and Janet then when that didn't seem to work she used an innocent picture as proof of Mark's cheating on his first wife. Megan knew that for that stunt she'd earned herself was a special place in hell. She imagined Nina would be standing with St. Peter barring the 12 gates of heaven. Sometimes she just didn't think things through. Logan even told her the day Mark dropped her off at the pit stop that she should let him cool off, but no she had to do it her way and fuck things up even worst. She walks into someone not paying attention. "Oh sorry Kincaid"
"No problem she's so cute is she yours?" Megan bristles and says Glenny is a boy and yes he is theirs. Homer Kincaid says "Oh I'm sorry I mean at that age you really can't tell or at least I can't." Glenny points at Kincaid's uniform and says polish man. Kincaid hadn't seen his nephew Logan in a few months now he had been busy with work. He looks at the little boy with the dark eyes and hair. "I'm a lot of things but polish isn't one of them" He chuckles as he pulls a sticker that said Children squad "how about a badge for our little policeman here." he eyes Megan and she nods with a smile. He puts the sticker on the kid's jacket and bends down so they are eye to eye. "You going to protect your momma" The kid leans away from him. He stands backup looking at Megan "Carol and I are having thanksgiving nothing big did you Jan and Jr want to come? I know Logan has been up to his ears with two back to back projects and his cement mixer going out has to be grinding him hard." Megan says she'll come he nods and walks off.
Sophie walks into her office she hadn't heard from her father in a few weeks since he called to tell her that he was hiring more security. She calls his phone. Sophie is surprised when Bobby answers the phone. "Hey where is dad? What the hell do you mean you don't know? I thought that was the reason you were going, to watch his back? " Bobby says he knows and tells her what happen the last day he saw Chase. "Robert if something happens to my daddy because you got caught up in your feelings…" He tells her of his search for Chase since he lost him that day and his feelings had nothing to do with it. "Did you know he was after that crazy bitch?" Bobby says no not until they almost had a meeting with her. "What can I do I have to do something I just can't sit back and hope everything is ok?" Bobby tells her there isn't much she could do unless she knows somewhere he may go. "Have you checked his old neighborhood in Queens?" He ask did she have an address or an area in Queens he could start because Chase wasn't in Manhattan anymore. "He wouldn't stay there long anyway that's where he first met my mother. She and her group always shopped in at the Manhattan Mall Chase owned a few stores there. I can't believe he would just up and disappear like this, are you sure you didn't say anything to him?" Bobby tells her what was said. Sophie open and email and types in address and things she remembered about their family trips. "Okay here are a few of the places he used to take us to that mall is massive. I've also included his old family home address. Bobby if he doesn't call or contact one of us soon I'm reporting his ass missing." He agrees if he couldn't catch up with their father soon or if Chase did not drop some kind of clue that he was ok, Bobby would push for a search his damn self.
They end the call and Bobby puts the first address into Chase car's GPS. "Come on car find your owner." Bobby now at least had a new place to search. He'd been hesitant about telling Sophie now that he had more options he was glad he'd answered Chase's phone.
In a small home in Queens Chase meets with a few men that he used to know. They had helped him track April to the office building. One of the men tells him that April had just went to Chicago via her driver. Chase wondered how the man came to this conclusion and the young man explained that the reason they knew where she was because someone one else was having her followed through their business. "Will my bid get denied because of what your other client wants?"
The leader of the Private Investigation Company spoke "Willie I'd never make you a promise that I couldn't keep." He waves his men out of the house so that he could speak to his childhood friend in private. "The fact that you think that I'm so out of the loop on you. That you can walk into my home in this track suit which by the way is still high end, and we're supposed to buy this I'm still me act is bullshit. Think of what I do for a living, you don't think I would check out my old friends and see what brings one I haven't talked to in over 30 years to my door? How is your son by the way?"
This man helped Chase secure the evidence he needed to get Robert away from his birth father after the man in a drunken rage killed Robert's mother. Chase sighs he really didn't want to piss off his old friend. At the end of the day Joey was very good at what he did. "Joey I…" Joey points to himself and says Joseph that Joey was his young a dumb name. "Fair enough my attire was not meant as trickery towards you. As for my son he's fine. When I first messaged you and you told me you still were in our old neighborhood I didn't want to draw loads of attention to my whereabouts. I will say this, if you're reporting on me to her don't ever let me catch you."
"Willie…" Chase raises a hand and says to just call him Chase on a sigh. "Okay, Chase If I was reporting on you to her she would have to have something really damaging on you to affect my loyalty. I know Trust isn't one of the things you do but hear me out man. I aim to find this girl for you and carry out phase two. I have a question, what makes this woman so important to you? Is she like the one that got away did she burn you or something why phase two?" Chase pulls the hood of his jogging suit down and motions for the sofa. Joseph nods. Besides the greying at his temples, age had left his friend alone. Chase had been the only kid to take up for him when they were kids. When Willie came looking for him after returning to the states with a case for his new business Joey made more money on that one case than he had all fiscal year that year. He wasn't dumb enough to believe his success after Willie's case was just on his own grit. A few of his other cases where for high power businessmen and women that ran in major circles and they had to get his name from someone. He'd bet his house that Willie had slipped his name into a few hands or pockets. Joey was discreet it troubled him that Willie was asking for something he never had. Phase two was not advertised for a reason. Chase began to talk and it all came together why Chase was out to get this bitch. Chase had texted him almost a month ago and wired his first payment asking Joey to find her. When Chase lost his chance to confront her days ago Chase pushed for a meeting and Joey invited him here that's the first time Chase asked for Phase two. Joey sits in front of Chase Willie and says. "Chase you were right to come to me. Go home, I'll call you when' it's complete."
Chase walks into his favorite bistro as a child. The food was just as he remembered he sits in his old table and remembers coming here with his father and Nana. Whenever he came close to this area he came here. Some people had a happy place in their head that they could escape to. Chase had this place. This was one of the only places he's brought Bobby, Sophie, even Angel and Joshua as children but could never share this part of him with Sophia. His wife never cared where he came from just where he was when she met him. He would try to tell her stories that he had shared with Sophie and Sophia would get this glazed expression on her face until as she once put it story time was over. She would tell him the past didn't matter. It did to him.
Bobby remembered an address to a bistro off the beaten trail that his father used to take him to on Sophie's list. He wondered if Chase would go there it was around lunchtime. After a quick u turn he parks Chase's car in the parking lot and gets out. The smell of the food hit him and he thought of sitting in the booth across from his new adoptive father with his feet barley touching the floor. Walking in he looks around and stops in mid step it was like looking at a gape in time. There sat his dad the only thing that was missing was him about 3 feet shorter sitting across from him. The hostess a woman in her late forties recognizes him even after all this time and asks him did he want his usual table. Bobby nods and walks over to his father's table. "I figured you had to eat some time might as well be here." Their food comes and they eat in silence. Chase stared at him for long stretches of time and then would direct his gaze back to his meal. He didn't look pissed, his hazel eyes were greyer when he was angry. After their meal and the plates are taken Bobby sits back when the check comes he out draws Chase and gives the woman his card. Chase tells him he didn't have to do that he knew Bobby was saving up for a new car that wasn't a government issued Hummer but 40 dollars wouldn't break him. "Don't worry about it dad." Sighing Bobby gets to his feet. "Are you coming your car is right outside?"
Chase sits back his son was not the little lanky kid he once was anymore. The veil of childhood had been removed from Robert when his son was there for him at Grandville Memorial. It was harder to wipe away the veil with his girls but Angela was married and about to have a child of her own and Sophie was now doing an exceptional job of running Ivey Enterprises. She also seemed to be moving towards her marriage with her eyes wide open, which was better than he could admit to doing himself. He'd charged into someone else's marriage and though guided by a lie he'd "saved" the woman that could manipulate him like a puppet master. It was time to go back to his Grandville home he'd did all he could and just hoped it was enough. "Let's go home"
They head to the car and Bobby hands him back his keys. They ride in silence back towards the highway with the heat blasting. Chase didn't miss winter in New York. Robert had put his blackberry on the dashboard and soon starts playing with his own phone shortly after they hit the highway. Even as an adult Robert wasn't a person that could sit and do nothing.
Bobby sat in the passenger seat and texted Sophie that he had found Chase.
Sophie: Good Brother Spook now bring him home
B Ivey: He's driving I'm just along for the ride.
Sophie: Where was he?
B Ivey: Don't know haven't asked just glad he let himself be found.
Sophie knew that her father could go ghost very well. He did it when her mother had hit him in his damn head and then he resurfaced like nothing had went on.
Sophie: True where did you find him?
B Ivey: Bistro his old hood in Queens, just sitting there like he was waiting for me. It was so surreal walking in there it was like a flashback. He says we're heading home so if we hit the right highway I'll keep you posted.
Sophie: Thanks Bro sorry about earlier I tend to be more of a bitch when I let my own worries get the better of me. He's my father and I worry about him.
B Ivey: I'd worry about you if you didn't. Sophie truth is I worry about when he does this shit too. I can't even begin to tell you how scared I was that I wouldn't find him before the clock in my head went off and I had to call in help to find him. The last time he went ghost on my ass he ended up in the hospital.
They soon wrap up their texting conversation and Bobby is soon left to his thoughts. The snow was coming down in buckets. The highway stretched in front of them but looked like a side street after a blizzard. The last time Bobby and Chase spoke his father walked off and stayed gone for three days. Bobby wasn't itching to have a repeat of the pass three days any time soon. Question after question swirled around in his head.
Chase knew Bobby was going to ask him something he saw it in his son's gaze before the words left his mouth but Chase wasn't ready for what was asked. Robert broke the silence and asked had he said something wrong three days ago. "No. you were right running around in this damn cold ass city was not my best idea. I don't know about you but I'm ready for some good ole fashion Texas warmth." Bobby asked where he went. "After coming so close to meeting with April and failing to do just that. I had to clear my head" Chase knew it wasn't the best answer and really didn't answer the question but some things his children no matter how old they got didn't need to know. Bobby asked him was he successful in getting himself back together. "I'm all right now."
It is Thanksgiving morning Luke and Sophie lay in Sophie's bed Dr. Kinky had awaken her to the sight of the top of his head as his pleasured her. After he'd got her all hot a bothered he made like he was going to get up and leave the room, she grabs him by the hair. That action just excited him even more almost unbearable pleasure exploded within her as he picks her up with her legs straddling him pining her hands above her head against the door. Each of his strokes sent her closer and closer to that precipice that she would careen over soon. What sent her over was his last action, he took her bottom lip between his teeth and bit down, not hard enough to break the skin but hard enough so that the small amount of sensation coupled with what he'd done and was doing sent her over. He soon follows after his own trimmers stop he carries her back to the bed laying her down before he dropped her. As they both lay panting and sated he whispers "Happy Thanksgiving."
Angel showers, puts on clothing, she looks at Joshua sleeping then quietly slips out of the room onto their balcony. One of the guards noticed her and waves she waves back and tucks her hand back in her hoodie. Last year she'd missed Thanksgiving altogether. She hadn't slept well since seeing the video. Last year before his birthday she and Braden had argued and she'd foolishly called him stupid she was the stupid one for not getting the fuck out of there believing he'd chilled out two hours later, he hadn't. His calm demeanor was a façade, he'd drugged her she didn't do drugs so the shit had her at the fringe of consciousness for an entire week. She couldn't tell anyone about the video the people that could answer her questions and give her some piece of mind would never see her the same. Earlier this month she'd powered up her old laptop looking for old Angelic Impression art to make Candy the promised band tees that she'd lost in the fire. She found a video logo thinking it was a misplaced concert file, she'd hit play. It was one thing to see still photos and have her mind try to piece shit together. It was much worse watching herself and hearing Braden talk to her unmoving body. The sound of footsteps breaks her reverie she quickly turns to see Joshua coming out onto the balcony.
"Hey Happy Thanksgiving babe." She says it back with a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. When she got up off the bed after putting on clothes he had awaken to the sight of her walking out into the cool morning air. He knew she just had a shower because Jasmine permeated the air in the room. He walks out on the balcony. She'd been super excited until about Monday of this week then she'd started withdrawing into herself. He'd find her out here or just sitting in her truck something was disturbing her sleep. Tuesday night she'd tossed and turned and put her earbuds in. He could hear the music when he was about to ask her what was wrong she'd finally fell asleep and he didn't want to wake her. Last night he'd walked in and she'd slammed her old laptop closed and shoved it under the bed. He went in the bathroom and he knew what he heard she laid facing the window crying. When he went to bed last night he felt her try her best to keep quiet, he asked what was wrong she said she was fine and soon got up saying she needed air and went on the balcony.
This morning he wasn't accepting "I'm fine" he really was starting to dislike that phrase. He hugs her to him as they stand in the light of the rising sun on their balcony. "Angel talk to me. I know something is bothering you." he recounts the changes in her behavior, Sunday she was excited about this being their first big holiday together as man and wife. By Monday night it was like something came and took away her good mood and wouldn't give it back. Angel tries to pull away he lessens his grip, but doesn't let go he had his arms around her middle where her arms were free she looks up at him. This wasn't about restraining her she knew if she tapped him he'd release her. When she firms her lips and breaks eyes contact looking down where their bodies touched he continues speaking. "Last night I heard you crying. In less than 24 hours your mood took a nosedive and still hasn't climbed in three days. I know in the past, and I'm guilty of this too. You get so used to having to deal by yourself. We're not alone anymore I know it's something that is tearing you up talk to me babe don't shut me out. Angel I'm starting to get worried about you this stress and not sleeping is going to make you sick." She mumbles her fear that he'd never see her the same. "Please don't worry about my reaction. It shreds me when you're hurting. Like you said Sunday, this is our first big holiday as man and wife. Baby I'm not only here for you I'm here with you, you're not alone just talk to me."
Angel taps his arm he lets her go. She had no idea her mood was so noticeable she thought she had been holding together. Monday night she'd been strung tighter than one of his guitar strings after seeing just a part of it. She wipes her eyes she felt exposed enough. If she was going to talk about this she would rather do it where only he could hear not out here on the balcony giving the security team a show. Swallowing hard she reaches for his hand still not looking him in the eye she asks "Can we go inside?" He says sure she heads back into their bedroom. He'd said she wasn't alone and he was right she had dealt with a lot of stuff on her own. It was hard to reach out. She'd tried the balloon exercise last night that Dr. Middlebrooks had taught her but the exhale was what got her. She drew in and emotion filled her balloon not calming thoughts. Her thoughts were like having tunnel vision. Throughout the week using fast forward she'd saw it all. It was fucking time stamped. Braden had posed her, and fucked her. The last picture she burned wasn't a prank. Braden fucked Alice her old keyboardist in their bed while she lay staring at them unable to move. Angel was so glad she didn't bring any of their old furniture back home to Texas with her. It pissed her off because she went to bat for Alice and called herself protecting her when Braden would threaten to hurt Alice. Angel would return to him. If it wasn't for Mark basically forbidding her to go meet up with the band she would have returned again. She was such a fucking idiot. Joshua closing the door to the balcony drags her out of her thoughts. Joshua sits on the bed she sits in her make up chair. Unshed tears stung her eyes her throat is tight as she began. "It's one thing to believe you're having a reoccurring nightmare. It's another to see some evidence that says it's not just your mind fucking with you. It's a whole different ball game to see and hear your dead ex tell you don't die or he'll put you out with the trash. I found… I found the video. I don't know if it's from my dad's company the Interactive logo isn't on the bottom. But the logo wasn't created until January of this year that happened last year within this week. There is like 120 hours of moving proof of how fucking stupid I was." She hugs herself as she recounts how she found it, and how she'd watched it with a morbid curiosity, how it was like she couldn't look away. "I would delete it but what if there is a copy, or what if what I have is the copy. The whole band was there at some point that week. Troy, Alice, Darren, Braden let them see me like that. There's even proof of April's story, around day two he spoke to my mother on the phone I was still out. "
She folds in on herself and cries. Joshua walks over and bends down in front of her hugging her rubbing her back. He tells her that Chase, or Bobby could tell her if it was an original and even what company it was from. She is speaking fast with panic in her tone. "No you can't say anything to anyone please promise me. I would never be able to look any of them in the eye again. The only person other than you that even knows that it wasn't just a bad dream is Candy. When Sophie asked where I was I couldn't remember anything at that time and I thought I worked right through it. Just another Thursday type thing and apologized. Please Joshua don't tell anyone."
Joshua speaks with a calm that he surly doesn't feel but she was near hyperventilating. "Angel calm down. I promise you I will not say anything to anyone. You know you can trust me I've never lied to you and I'm not going to start. Now please calm down." He didn't need her getting this worked up. She puts a hand up to her forehead and tells him the room is spinning. "Fuck, Babe please calm down." She leans on him shudders still ran through her as she tries to calm herself. She says she's going to lay down for a while. "Maybe that's for the best it's still early if you feel up to it later we can go tonight if not they'll just have to understand. I'd rather you lay down and rest than fall out somewhere." He lays with her and holds her in the way that she was the most comfortable. He talks to her as she drifts off back to sleep once he knows she's asleep he gets up and goes down stairs to the basement home gym.
He'd added a few pieces since he'd moved in. wrapping his hands he starts in on the weighted bag. Every strike harder than the last every kick just that much faster. He was fucking tired of ghost. Even from the grave Braden and her mother kept sinking there fucking claws into his wife. He needed to get his temper under control. His Angel didn't need his rage she needed him to be there for her. She was right because it was one thing to remember something that happened until someone sent you under. Seeing someone do shit to you with you unaware through someone else's eyes or the lenses of a camera. No wonder she'd been so wrecked. He moves to the center of the room and paces through one of the martial arts routines that usually cleared his head. The routine was just pissing him more, so he figured instead fighting a physical battle he could never win he would do something constructive. After a quick shower and checking on Angel who was still asleep. He head into JC's room to work on some more of the stuff Angel and Candy had bought but he hadn't put together.
A few hours later Angel wakes, looks around Joshua wasn't in the room. A train of thought stabs her as she quickly looks under the bed. Taking a breath he hadn't taken it, the laptop was still where she'd ditched it last night. Running her hands through her hair she felt guilty for thinking even for a second that her lover would take it or even worse watch it. When he suggested they give it to Chase or Bobby she doubted whether she should have said as much as she had, she knew he would probably get up he'd just got up when they spoke earlier this morning. She wonders where he is. She'd saw him tense when she told him. She was bad at reading most people, but not with Joshua. She gets up she wanted to go to dinner and be where she belonged, with her sister, her father and last but never least her husband, celebrating their first big holiday. JC poked her she smiles as she rubs her belly. "I'm going to find your dad. Not even out yet and already bossy." She heads into Joshua's music room he wasn't there. The door to JC's room was open walking down the hall she stands and watches as Joshua put together the cushioned rocking chair. "Wow it really looks like his room now."
When Angel speaks he looks up seeing the wistful way she admires the little furniture brings a smile to his own face. Getting up he walks to her hugging her. "I figured it was time. The only thing I'm missing are the pads and the sheet. I couldn't find them and I know when we went out you picked up the Spiderman ones." Joshua looks around he'd come in here to do something constructive with his time like put up the crib. Between YouTube and the instructions he finished the crib, the dresser, the changing table, and had just now finished the rocker. She shows him where she and Candy stored the crib sets until the dresser was set up and puts an Iron Man crib set on JC's bed. Joshua helps and asks "Babe did you still want to go to Mark's for dinner?"
"Yes this year is a year of so many first. Last year I didn't have a choice this year I do and I don't want to miss another holiday." They soon get dressed. Sophie sends Angel a text Message.
Sophie: Hey this is thanksgiving not just another Thursday see you downstairs in 20 minutes.
Angel: We're on are way down now. Is Janet and Nikki ready yet?
Sophie: Yup Luke I and the girls are all set. Candy just called the house and said Deon and she are on their way.
They all soon head towards Mark's house Janet and Nikki opt to ride with Angel and Joshua. Candy and Deon follow them in Deon's car and Sophie let Luke drive one of his toys as he called his Hummer.
Paula stands at the door letting everyone in she swears her big girl snuck and got taller. She accuses Nikki of stretching her daughter. Nikki looks over at Mark and says it's called genetics have you seen her father lately? Everyone laughs and starts messing with Mark. He mock glares at Nikki and calls her a smart ass. Paula tells them that Jonathon, Gloria, Chase, and Agent Hawk were already here. Robert walks out of the den and asks Paula to please just call him Bobby saying he wasn't officially on line tonight. Logan knocks on the door and walks in everyone freezes until Glenny comes in and Logan slowly closes the door.
Janet grabs Glenny and swings him around saying missed you he squeals in laughter if anyone else had grabbed him he would have be cringing and begging them not to fall him. When she puts Glenny down he runs to Paula she picks him up with Mark assisting her. Logan hugs Janet, he'd missed his niece living with them for long periods of time while Mark went on the road. He understood Mark's reason behind her not staying at the house but that didn't dull the ache of missing her. "I'd call you short stuff but you seem to be trying to get taller on me. I don't care how tall you get, until you can dunk on me your still short stuff. How the new school been going?" Janet beams and says Sophie placed her in the first pick so she would get to shadow an accountant at Ivey Enterprises faster than her instructor expected. Mark thanks Sophie. Sophie says all she did was look at the scores and intentionally did the pick by the student numbers so she wouldn't pick Janet out of favoritism and was very pleased that Janet ranked third in the country.
Outside Glenn pulls up with his date he saw Joshua's truck and knew Angel was here. He looks over at his girlfriend she was texting stops as if she feels him watching her. She looks up and at him. He'd wanted to bring her here so Mark could meet her. He hadn't listened last time and ended up with Carla and pushing Angel away. Katharine Cole had moved in across the cul-de-sac from his Dallas home. She jogged pass his yard everyday as a part of her regiment saying she had somewhat of a desk job but liked to stay fit. She was a traveling finical planner. When he told her he was bringing her here instead of to his parents' house she jokingly asked was this going to be the preliminary before the big event. If only she knew she was cute and smart but Glenn wasn't ready to trust his own instincts just yet.
If Glenn Jacobs wanted to introduce her to his play brother who was Kathy to stop him. He chuckles and asks for the 30th time was she sure she wasn't a fan. "Glenn the only wrestling I'm interested in can only be shown on the adult channels if you catch my meaning." She smirks at him and places her hand on his thigh. They get out of the car and head to the door. Kathy had done her research that didn't make her a fan. A girl had to make sure her guy wasn't a nut. Glenn worked for a multimillion dollar company as a performer. She'd toured with bands and saved them from themselves. They step in and her world briefly is shaken to its foundation. Standing with a clearly pregnant redhead stood Joshua Davenport her ex if he got in her way she bowl him over. It was ShowTime she was here now there was no turning back. Just like at the amusement park everyone stared at her. Moving her bangs out of her face she addresses Joshua "Hey Josh small world" She felt Glenn tense at her side.
Joshua felt two very power emotions one of them relief Glenn had someone so he wouldn't be trying to mess with Angel. The other was shock he really wasn't expecting to see Kathrine any time soon. "Hey" He says with a wave and wraps his arm back around Angel who leans back into him against his front. Glenn eyes him then introduce her to everyone else.
Candy walks over and wraps her arm around Deon's waist as she is reintroduced to Joshua's ex. Now Candy had seen this girl twice. She was starting to wonder what was up.
Deon says what everyone had to be thinking and he wanted to make sure Joshua's ex got a good dose of reality. "First Joshua Now Glenn whose next sure as hell won't be me."
Glenn pulls Kathy in to his side and whispers "A heads up would have been nice." Kathy tells him she didn't know Joshua would be here and did Glenn really want a list of everyone she ever dated. "I guess not." She hugs him and tells him she dated Joshua longtime ago.
Mark rolls his eyes and says "Anyway welcome to our home." Paula says since everyone was here now that dinner is served. After an uneventful dinner everyone starts going in to different places in the house. Janet, Nikki, and Glenny were in Janet's room with Pain and Panic. Mark and the guys were downstairs watching the football game. The girls were in the den. Paula gets up and excuses herself saying she had to start getting this mess cleansed up.
Angel, Sophie, and Gloria says their helping with cleanup. Paula tells them they didn't have to. Angel says it wasn't an offer they weren't going to up and leave her Janet and Mark with clean up she'd never done it to her and Sophie and she wasn't going to do it to them. Candy gets up and walks out on the back deck. She didn't trust Kathy and wasn't into believing in coincidence. Kathy walks out on the deck and sits with her legs crossed putting on another layer of lipstick. "Hey Kathy you know Joshua is happily married right?"
As Kathy is about to respond commotion inside the house draws their attention and Kathy beats her back in the house.
In the kitchen Paula stands at the sink washing dishes suddenly she feels wetness in her pants outfit. "Oh fuck, girls, I think my water just broke." Sophie asks are you sure? "Either that or I need a diaper."
Sophie runs out of the kitchen and collides with Kathy "Move she's going to have the kid." Kathy moves but goes into the kitchen as the guys are coming up the stairs. Sophie does an about face and heads back when she sees Luke heading towards the kitchen.
Katharine Cole steps in the kitchen telling Paula "Paula I've had a child before you're going to be fine." She instruct Paula to have a seat that just because her water broke doesn't mean she's ready to go to the hospital just yet. "I was in labor for a total of 26 hours you're fine."
Riding out a wave of pain Paula couldn't handle pain like this for an entire day she pants "Not helping." Luke wishing to keep Paula calm points out that everyone is different. As he gets in front of Kathy breaking the visual line between her and Paula, she takes the nonverbal cue to move back but gives him a dirty look. "Okay I think it's best if we get you to the hospital." Kathy says they should time her contractions. Luke had been noticing when the pain would hit and it seemed to be getting closer and closer. Just because he'd delivered a child outside of a medical institution before, didn't mean he wanted to do it again. Kathy asks Luke was he a real doctor because no real doctor would send someone to the hospital this early. Before he could respond. Sophie defends Luke, Glenn says something to Sophie, and within seconds all three starts yelling.
Mark sticks his middle and pointer fingers in his mouth and whistles drawing everyone's attention. "All of you shut up. Kathy we just met and I'm going to say this once unless you have an MD behind your name zip it. Glenn she was out of line that is not a green light for you to act like a damn ass." He sees Jaunt and Nikki poke their head around the corner "Janet grab the baby bag." Mark looks back at Kathy "Luke is my wife's doctor not you. If he says it's time to go it's time to go, end of discussion." Luke had saved Paula and Katie Jade's life after Paula was rescued and for that he'd earned Mark's trust which he admitted to himself wasn't easy. Janet comes running in the kitchen with the bag. "Thanks Baby girl." Mark and Jonathon help Paula to the car she gets in the back seat Janet didn't want to stay behind she hopped in the front seat with Mark as he pulls off. Luke had appointed her as time keeper while he was calling ahead to his center in Pittsburg Texas.
Car load by car load everyone leaves and heads to the hospital. Jonathon and Gloria are the last to leave Jonathon sets the alarm. Glenn stops following the convoy of family and STOP team members and pulls up in front of the hotel they were staying at. "Hey with everything going down tonight I don't think it's a good idea for you to go to the hospital. He was there for me when my son was born and I want to be there for him and see my niece."
Thinking quickly Kathy says "I wanted to be there for you and your sister. But I don't want to stress Paula out with my presence. I think I'll just go up run me a bath and go to sleep." She leans over and kisses him then gets out of the car. Before she reaches the hotel doors she turns and says "Hey I still want to see the baby take lots of pics" He says will do and pulls off. Kathy walks into the hotel and texts her boss that the address was a no go and to look up Dr. Lucas Sheldon to see what hospital they would be at. She paced the floor until she get a text message that stopped her in her tracks.
Joshua sits with Angel in the waiting room she'd asked and since he didn't know fearing that he was already a father he sent Kathy a text.
Josh D: Is it my kid?
Kathy Cole: Relax the kid would have been 8
Josh D: You said would have been what happen?
Kathy Cole: The kid wasn't mine, two years after you dumped me I was a surrogate mother for a famous couple can't tell you who. You may have knocked me down but an older guy knocked me up for his infertile wife. I bounced out a kid and paid for my education. Don't hold your breath for a thank you though. I would have traded that experience in a heartbeat if I thought I had a chance with you. Goodnight Josh.
Joshua deletes the thread Angel is sitting right next to him. "The baby isn't mine she had it two years after we dated." Angel's relived expression mirrored his own. Joshua had hoped that he once knew Katherine well enough to know she was the type that wouldn't hide something as important from him. He was glad he asked to clear any doubt that lingered.
Logan steps out and calls Megan he knew she was at his Uncle Homer's place for the holiday. "Hey Red how's everything over there?" She says she missed them but everything was going great. "That's great babe well you're going to be an auntie again real soon. Paula went into labor at the house. We're at the hospital now. I'll keep you posted. No Glenny is fine he's in the waiting room with Janet. No Red please there was enough shit at the house with Glenn's date. Yes he's dating some girl that lives near him. Katherine Cole she's a bean counter that travels with entertainers to keep them afloat." They finish their conversation he promises to send pictures.
Mark sat in the room with Paula holding her hand it was good they hadn't listened to Glenn's gal Paula was really having trouble and it was scaring the shit out of them. She wouldn't fully dilate and Luke had reservations about giving her anything to assist with the process because of her past. "I can't do this Mark" Paula pants through tears he tells her yes she can. She squeezes her eyes shut along with squeezing his hand. The nurse said she was having contractions strong enough to shoot the baby across the room. Luke said she may have to have a C-section. The decision in Mark's mind was made on one of her contractions when Paula starts shaking and her grip on his hand slackens. The shaking gets worse as another wave of pain hits and takes her breath. Her eyes where fluttering and she looked on the edge of consciousness. Alarms start going off what had him on his feet when she let go of his hand. Medical jargon swirls around Mark, as he catches pieces of what they are saying. He glares at Luke who tells him in a firm tone to please step just in the next room that he would be able to see but he needed Mark out of here. As he forces himself to comply and walks into the next room fear and emotion rips the words from his mouth with unshed tears in his eyes as he watches Paula. "COME on Paula a STAY WITH US PLAESE don't leave me."
Out in the waiting room. Angel rubs her stomach JC decided he wanted to stick his little foot in her ribs again. Joshua asks is she ok? "Your kickboxing son is at it again." Joshua smirks and rubs her belly. Glenn jumps to his feet and walks in the hall. All watch him storm out. She prayed Paula was okay. Glenn was staring at her whether he realized it or not his unyielding stare made her nervous which made JC become more active.
Glenn paces the hall his mind was all tied up in knots. He had really fucked his chances with Angel and though he respected her wish to move on. That still didn't take the sting out of seeing her with Band troll and knowing that the baby she carried wasn't and would never be his. He had to stop calling that boy band troll before he said it out loud. Finding out Kathrine had dated him didn't sit well with him either. His insecurity stabbed gaping holes in his thoughts. As the question that would not go away flared did Kathy still love Josh as she had called him after all this time? Getting pissed off all over again he walks further down the hall.
Mark briskly exits the viewing room and charges next door only to find the door locked. He hated hospitals something was wrong. He was about to kick the fucker in when the door opened and a nurse stepped out closing the door behind her asking him back into the observation room. "How is she?" He'd trusted Luke "What the fuck is going on in there." He bellows and the woman cringes and asked him to please calm down or she would have to call security. "You can try and I'll put them on their asses." Glenn comes running down the hall and grabs Mark. Mark flings Glenn off of him into the wall as he says "GET THE FUCK OFF OF ME."
Glenn picks himself up off the ground looks at the woman who has her finger hovering over her shirt com. Mark was about to get himself thrown in jail if he didn't cool it. He roars "you think getting yourself arrested is going help things? This isn't a script you go to jail you're in now calm the fuck down Callaway." Mark storms back into the viewing room and slams the door. Glenn reassures and begs and the nurse in the calmest voice he can muster. "He'll be fine please don't have him thrown from the facility." The woman nods and doesn't press her shirt com. "Is there anything I can tell him?" The nurse looks at the closed door of the viewing room and says in a hushed tone things aren't going well but she can't really say that because she isn't a doctor and she needed to get what she was sent for. Cold dread soaks Glenn's sprit as he steps out of the way he had no words. At the very least Paula had to make it through this, Glenn didn't think Mark could take a lost this great in size. Not after losing Nina. The nurse briskly walks in to another hallway. Glenn had to calm Mark down if there was even a slight chance he wanted his friend to be here not in jail. He walks into the room. Mark stays in his seat looking at the black screen as if he could will it to come back on if he stared at it hard enough. "Mark?"
"Not now Glenn" Mark stared straight ahead at the black screen of broken promises and rocked in his seat. He'd trusted Luke and didn't appreciate being closed out like this. The last image he had of his wife was of her feebly pushing at the mask they had on her face. Was it too much or not enough? A thought hit him how did the nurse know who he was and when he was at the door. Unless, he looks up at the camera in the room. Why in the fuck would Luke shut off the camera that would let him view what was going on. Getting up he walks to the door it's locked. He looks at Glenn. They both pull their phone which are dead. Mark starts beating on the door demanding to be let out and promising to kick Luke's ass. Glenn tells Mark what the nurse told him as he also tries to ram the door. Mark stopped beating on the door and starts trashing the room he throws a chair at the glass window that doesn't shatter just makes a gong sound.
Moments earlier once Mark leaves the room and Paula is on oxygen with a mild anesthetic. The pressure sensor for the in suite oxygen delivery system went off line. Paula is half conscious as she tries to push the mask off her face. "She's not getting any oxygen put it on manual and go get a portable in here now. One of the nurses, rush out of the room to go get the portable oxygen. He hears Mark yelling something but the door is closed. "She taking too long what's the reading on the in suite?" a nurse reads off a stream of numbers as she manually squeezes a bulb making the tube attached to Paula's mask move. Finally the woman returns Luke almost most bite his tongue in two, so he wouldn't ball her out for being so fucking slow. They set up the oxygen portable. He finally gets Paula stable enough to go ahead with the procedure. Katie Jade comes out but then he discovers why there were other problems there was a second baby but it is trapped at an odd angle. Luke frees the baby hands it off to the nurse but Paula would not be able to have children anymore. Katie was crying but the other child's small wail sounded more like saying the word it over and over again. After finishing, Luke turns around to see what the hell is going on when the door closes that's when he notices the other little girl isn't in the room. He asks the team where the other child is. One of the interns says that the nurse said the baby wasn't breathing. Luke knew that was a lie he'd held the little girl and nothing was blocking her airways she just hadn't been crying as loud as Katie. Both of their unique wails had been music to his ears. Now one of the children were not in this room. Mark must be losing it because he would have saw the woman take her. When he looks up at the camera and grabs the microphone to speak to Mark he notices for the first time that the record light wasn't on. "FUCK" was the running mantra in Luke's head as he ask how long had the camera system been off line. The nurses and other doctors of his team shrugged this was not a shrug moment. Paula weakly asks what's the matter. One of the nurses put Katie Jade near the bed and says nothing little momma. Luke walks to the door it's locked. "Nothing but Mark is going to rip my head off." Luke mumbles as he pulls his master key card and slides it through the access pad it beeped red. Panic starts to claw at him.
The nurse ducks into another hall on a lower floor and hands the child off to Kathrine, who wraps the baby girl in a blanket and walks out, gets in the car she'd rented under Glenn's name, and drives away. The nurse takes her lunch when Dr. Sheldon and Doctor Cartwright is paged she gets up from where she was having lunch with a workmate and says she's going to go do her rounds. Slipping into a bathroom she takes off the wig and contacts and tosses the stuff in the trash. Angela Davenport AKA target one and Sophie Ivey her sister walk in with two other women. Target one wasn't alone so there would be no double bonus today. The nurse quickly leaves the bathroom and powerwalks out of the center.