Abigail turned around and met the slightly wary look in Chad DiMera's eyes as he looked down at her. What was he doing back in Salem? She thought he was still in Boston recovering from the injuries he got when he took a bullet meant for EJ. This was the first time she had seen or spoken to him since their breakup. Distantly, she heard Gabby and T saying hello in an effort to fill the awkward silence between her and Chad. She finally came out of her daze to paste a smile on her face and belatedly add her voice to that of Gabby and T's.
"Hi, Chad," she greeted him as he reached down and gave her a loose hug.
"Hi, Abby," he replied with a little less wariness in his gaze.
He most likely had been expecting a different reaction from her, considering the way they had last parted. Honestly, that whole scene at the hospital was something that she hadn't talked about in months. Not since, her whole mind had been taken over with thoughts of someone else.
"I didn't know you were back in town," she told him as a sudden thought flashed through her mind. Did EJ know that Chad was back? And if he did, why hadn't he said anything to her? Granted, they hadn't really gotten a chance to do a lot of talking earlier, but, still, this was important enough for him to tell her if he had known. Suddenly, she felt guilty as she remembered what they had been doing together this afternoon, not once, but twice. Truthfully, if she hadn't needed to meet Gabby and T, it would very well have turned into another bout of lovemaking. She had no right to feel guilty regarding Chad. They weren't together any more, but deep down she knew he would be hurt and disgusted if he knew what she had done with his older brother. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear Chad, at first, until he laid a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Abby?" he queried as he looked down at her. "Did you hear me?"
"Umm, sorry, I didn't hear you," she responded. "I guess I'm just surprised to see you."
"Yeah, no one knows I'm back yet, except you guys," he replied.
"It's a surprise for Will and Sonny and I guess, EJ will be surprised, too," Chad added as he continued to watch her. He was aware of how badly he had behaved and how much his actions had hurt her. Besides Will and Sonny's wedding, that was the other reason he was back in town because he wanted to make it up to her. He missed her and their friendship, as well as their relationship. He would be lucky if he could regain the former and beyond lucky, if he could get the latter back.
"So is it okay if I help you guys with the bachelor party?" he asked as he went on to explain that T had filled him in when he called earlier about the bachelor party committee meeting.
"Yeah, sure! Great!" she said with a slight nod of her head and a flash of guilt in her eyes.
Now, that was weird. Chad couldn't see any reason for that emotion in Abby's eyes. What did she have to be guilty about? He was the one that had lied to her, pretending to have a brain tumor just so he could get her for himself. Knowing Abigail, she probably felt bad for her reaction towards him when she first saw him. He knew she wouldn't willingly be unkind to anyone, unless they had done something to her, her family or friends. It was probably nothing, anyway. He was just a little sensitive because he hadn't known what to expect from her. At least, she hadn't given him the cold shoulder and was being kind so that was a good sign.
Abigail followed the others to a table and, laughingly, began planning the bachelor party. T was at a loss of what they should do since the usual entertainment, female strippers, would not be needed at this particular bachelor party. Everybody had a laugh at his downcast expression and until Gabby chimed in that there were always male strippers, which brought another round of laughter. Before they knew it, all four of them had managed to plan the perfect bachelor party. With that out of the way, talk turned to what had been going on since Chad had been gone. They filled him in on everything he had missed while he, in turn, told them about his life in Boston. He was happy that Nick was gone and not causing trouble for his friends anymore. Abigail noticed the slightly flustered reaction Chad's statement elicited from Gabby. Vaguely, she thought that there was still more to the story about what had happened between Nick and Gabby than what EJ had told her, but she wanted to believe him so much when he said there was nothing else to tell.
During this whole time, Abigail was aware of Chad's gaze constantly resting on her. Irrationally, she thought that he could see everything that had been going on between her and EJ written on her face. He knew, but she reminded herself that he could not possibly know anything, having just come back to Salem. It was the guilt, she finally decided, that had her thinking everyone could look at her and know what she had done. She didn't care, though, she realized with a jolt of shock. She didn't. She couldn't care, not if it meant being with EJ. Nothing else mattered when they were together, not her family and not his, either. What was happening to her? Who was she now? Caught up again in her own world, Abby failed to notice that Gabby and T were saying their goodbyes. T was still on shift and had to get back to work and Gabby had to go home to Arianna. Rising from the table, she said her goodbyes also, only to have Chad follow her out the door.
"I wanted to ask if everything is okay between us," he began. "I know how badly I hurt you, Abby, and I'm hoping you can forgive me."
"You did hurt me, but I've moved past it," she told him. "Besides, I'm the last one to judge. Look, I'll see you around, okay," and with that she headed to the door, leaving him there, still watching as she went out the door.
EJ stared at his father in mute shock. What did he mean by that last comment? But he knew, just looking at that wicked glint in his father's eyes, he knew exactly what Stefano meant. Still he tried to bluff his way out of the situation.
"Why would I be meeting with Abigail Devereaux, Father?" EJ asked. "Other than Chad and William, there would be nothing for us to meet about."
"Elvis, Elvis, when will you learn that I know everything that goes on with my children. Everything!" Stefano gently reminded him.
"I've known for awhile what you've been up to with Abigail, but I've said nothing," Stefano added as he continued to watch him.
"You bastard, you've been spying on me," EJ said venomously as he poured himself a glass of Scotch. His hands were shaking so badly that he was amazed that he managed to pour the drink without spilling it.
"Okay, Father. What do you want for your silence?" he asked as he faced Stefano, drink in hand. EJ knew that there would be a price to pay for his father keeping his affair a secret. If any of this came out, his whole world would implode. Samantha would go ballistic and come after him and Abigail. At the thought of that, he felt a dart of fear in his heart. Not for him. He could handle Samantha, but Abigail wasn't prepared for the type of damage that she could do. He didn't want anything to happen to her so he would do whatever his father asked to keep his world safe and Abigail, too.
Stefano watched him as he thought of how much he wanted to say to his son. He didn't like who he had become lately. Ever since he had debased himself in order to save Samantha from certain execution for shooting that policeman, he had been worried about EJ. He knew his part in the whole degradation of his son and he didn't gloss it over. However, he would never have had any leverage over EJ if it wasn't for his love for Samanatha. She had turned EJ into some complacent lackey. Oh, he still could be ruthless, if necessary, but he had handed over control to Samantha and seemed perfectly willing to be her lapdog. Until Abigail Deveraux. At first, he didn't know what to make of this relationship. He knew it had started, as most things usually do with EJ, as a clean-up effort for what Samantha, Kate and Gabriella had done to Nick Fallon. Oh yes, he knew all about that debacle, but that was a secret best kept to himself, for now. It was so unlike his son to cheat on Samantha. EJ had been in love with her since they met and no one else had been able to remove the hold she had over him. It always ended up being Samantha. So, of course, he would sit up and take notice that EJ, after finally achieving his goal of uniting him, Samantha and their kids forever, would cheat and with someone like Abigail Deveraux. She was everything Samantha was not: smart, kind, innocent, young, thoughtful. From what he his spies had told him, she was also no pushover. She could be a spitfire. Maybe, that was the draw for EJ, the combination of innocence and fire. Whatever it was, he saw this girl as his chance, at long last, to end Samantha's reign over his son's life. He had to be sure not to tip his hand, though. Not until he was ready to make his move. Life, after all, was like a game of chess and you had to be strategic enough to make the right moves.
"What do I want for my silence?" Stefano asked as he pretended to consider the matter.
"I've been having trouble with la bella Katerina and I'd like your help getting her to view me in a better light," Stefano said with a wink and a broad smile on his face.
"Done, Father, as long as you promise that what you know stays between us, " EJ reluctantly said, faced with no other alternative for now.
"Excellent, excellent!" Stefano replied as he chucked EJ under the chin before leaving the room.
At the door, he paused and with another chuckle said, "Ahh, I almost forgot to tell you. Your brother is back in town."
With that last statement, EJ poured himself another drink before going to look broodingly out the french door windows. His father knew all about him and Abigail and would be quiet, for now, and now, this latest blindside, Chad was back. He had to call Abigail and let her know about Chad. He would keep his father's knowledge of their affair to himself for now. He didn't want her to worry about that, but, more importantly, he didn't want to let her go just yet. And he would have had to let her go if he told her Stefano knew their secret. She would be skittish and go back to avoiding him again. That was a scenario that he would not let happen ever again if he had anything to say about it. With that in mind, he pulled out his phone and called her, leaving a message when it went to voice mail.
"Abigail, sweetheart, it's me. Call me when you get this message," he said before hanging up and turning around at the slight click of the study doors.
EJ spun around to see Samantha entering the study. With quick dart of fear, he wondered if she had heard the message he just left for Abigail, but, in the next instant, realized that she was too preoccupied with her phone conversation. He sat in the chair by his desk and watched as she dropped her briefcase and bag on the couch and waved her hand in the air frustratedly. What now? Because with Samantha, there was always a fire to put out. It could be something simple or a major crisis, as what had happened with the cover-up of Nick Fallon's murder, but it was always something. Life with her had never been peaceful or uneventful. As he watched her, he thought about Abigail and the stark differences in their personalities. Those two were like night and day. Not to say that Abigail wasn't passionate or feisty, she was, but she was also calm and not impulsive like Samantha. Life with her wouldn't be drama-filled, but it wouldn't be boring either. No! He reigned his thoughts in and redirected them from the dangerous path they were on. His life was with Samantha and their kids and this thing with Abigail, when it eventually burned itself out, would be over. He refused to acknowledge why the thought of that bothered him.
"I don't care if you need to work all night and day,"Sami yelled into the phone. "Just get it done."
EJ raised his eyebrows as he heard her say, "Money is no object."
Hmm, interesting! He wondered what new drama was about to enfold in their lives now. He didn't have to long to wait to find out, as she hung up the phone and sat down in his lap. She toyed with the buttons on his shirt and looked up at him, pleadingly.
"So I may or not have told Adrienne today that we were having an engagement party for Will and Sonny tomorrow night," she said.
"You did what,?" he asked her as his head began to throb.
"Well, she kept going on about this and that and she made me so angry that I just blurted it out without thinking."
"You never do," he stated as he lifted her off his lap and rose out of the chair.
Of course, that was the reason for her remark about money being no object. Of course, it wasn't. It wasn't her money that she was spending, but his and his family's, that she claimed to hate so much. It never stopped her, though, from availing herself of all this family had to offer. Yet another difference between her and Abigail. Abigail wouldn't be that hypocritical. EJ sighed as he thought about this party. There was to much going on right now, with his father knowing about Abigail, Chad being back and still needing to talk to Abigail about the two of them. He didn't have time for this party, but it was for William and Samantha would badger him to death if he said no.
"Sure. Why not? Have your party, my dear, but I don't know if the citizens of Salem will step one foot in this house," he told her as he strode out the door.
Sami thought that had gone rather well and wondered at how easy it had been, but she was too caught up in her mad preparations for this party to think about it now. Besides, he knew her and she always got what she wanted in the end. Sinking down on the couch, she opened up her laptop and sent a group email to everyone who she wanted to invite. EJ's easy capitulation long forgotten as she thought about the look on Adrienne's face when she told her about the party. Sour lemons! That was it, her expression would look like sour lemons, she thought.