Chapter 37- Cameron's Discovery
"Wow," Britt said. "You got Wiley a kitty?"
"I called her Bluey!" Wiley said excitedly.
Willow walked out of her room and watched as Wiley opened a cat carrier. A tiny, grey kitten sauntered out and rubbed up against Britt's leg, purring.
Nina shrugged. "Wiley really wanted a kitty."
Britt scooped up Bluey and rubbed her ears. "She's a very cute kitty, Wiley."
Willow came over and grabbed Nina's arm, ushering her to the hallway. "A word, please."
"Look at Bluey, Mommy!" Wiley grinned.
Willow smiled at him, then took Nina out to the hall. "Why did you get Wiley a cat?"
Nina's smile faded. "Oh, do you not like cats?"
"I don't know. They're fine. I've never had one before." She shook her head. "But that's not the issue. Why are you giving in to everything he wants?"
"I just want to make him happy. He deserves anything he wants."
"You're going to make him entitled like Charlotte if you spoil him like that!"
Nina chewed her bottom lip.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. But you should ask me before buying my son a cat. Now I'm going to have to care for it once we move out. Because if I take it away, then I'm the bad guy."
"Oh. Well, she can stay with me," Nina suggested. "She can still be Wiley's cat, but she'll live with me."
"I guess that would be okay. If you even want a cat."
"I do! Then all of you can come visit me so you can see her."
"Well, we'd still visit even without the cat…."
Nina smiled.
"But please…" Willow said. "I don't mind you buying the kids things, but can you tone it down a notch?"
Nina nodded. "Yes, whatever you want. I will do that."
The elevator doors opened and two men stepped out carrying a blue racecar bed.
"Are you Ms. Reeves?" one of the men asked.
"Uhhhh…." Nina glanced over at Willow.
Willow rolled her eyes and chuckled. "Yes, she's Ms. Reeves. That'll go in the first bedroom down the hall."
"And we'll be taking the old bed?" the man asked.
Nina smiled nervously. "Yes."
"Any more surprises?" Willow asked.
"Well…."
The elevator opened again. Another man stepped out carrying a large box with the picture of a baby swing on it.
"Ms. Reeves?"
"Yes."
Willow smiled. "Hey, that's actually great. Amelia could really use a baby swing."
Nina grinned.
GHGHGH
Emma had trouble focusing during Bio class. It was her first day back since the kidnapping and what was worse, Josslyn sat across from her. When the class finally finished, Emma grabbed Joss's arm before she could leave the room.
"What are you doing?" Joss asked.
Emma waited until the room cleared, including their professor, then she shut the door. "Why haven't you told Cameron everything?"
"Excuse me? How is this any of your business?"
"He is my friend and whenever someone hurts my friend, that makes it my business."
"If he's your friend, then just forget about this. It will hurt him if you tell him."
"You're the one that hurt him," Emma said. "I've given you long enough to tell him. But now, Cam's mom is home and so is your niece. Nothing is standing in the way of you telling him."
Josslyn shook her head. "You're something else, you know that?"
Emma glared at her. "If you don't tell him by the end of the day then I'm telling him. I'm seeing him tonight, so I will find out."
Josslyn clenched her jaw. "You're seeing Cameron?"
"We're just… friends," Emma said. "I mean what I said. You have the rest of the afternoon."
GHGHGH
Laura ended up staying a few nights at Elizabeth's house to help her and the kids get settled again. But Elizabeth was feeling much better and gaining her energy back, so after a few days, Laura went back home to Kevin but said she would still check in and bring a few meals to them.
Elizabeth was growing more and more worried about all of her boys. Cam wouldn't tell her much about the night saving Emma and Trina, and Aiden seemed traumatized. He wouldn't do much other than bake and homework. But he was even having trouble focusing on homework and got a failed quiz back. He was usually good at all of his courses, but his teacher contacted Elizabeth to tell him he was falling behind. And Elizabeth's coma couldn't be blamed because it was happening before that.
Jake seemed to be getting along the best, though Elizabeth was concerned about him too, only in a different way.
"Why do you want to see them?" Elizabeth asked.
"Because they care about us," Jake said. "And they helped you when you were in a coma."
Elizabeth cleared her throat. "But there's a lot I haven't told you about your grandparents…."
"But people change, right? Why can't you just give them a chance?"
"Because they've done nothing to give me reason to give them a chance."
"But they were there for all of us, including you, when you were in a coma," Jake said. "And Grandpa Jeff helped me with my chemistry assignment. I was really struggling with it."
"But I can help you with your science homework. I always have."
"I know that, but what I'm saying is he stepped up when you couldn't," Jake explained. "It wasn't your fault. It just is what it is. You were in a coma."
Elizabeth crossed her arms. "I don't want you to see them."
"This isn't fair! I like them."
Elizabeth sighed. "Let me think about it some more, okay?"
He nodded. "Okay."
GHGHGH
Britt stayed to help Nina set up the swing and even Wiley helped. His task was to hand them the right tools.
Willow was feeling dizzy again and went to lay down. She stared at the ceiling thinking about Sonny's phone call. She knew she couldn't keep this from Nina. But she really didn't want Nelle back in their lives. Would Nina resent her if she didn't say anything?
Willow sighed. Of course she would. And she'd find out through Sonny anyway. She couldn't keep this any longer.
She got up and reached the doorway.
Nina was pushing Amelia in the swing and Wiley was climbing all over Britt and playing with her face.
"Nina…." Willow said softly, the room spinning again.
Nina turned to her. "Are you okay? You're pale again."
"I—I need to talk to you." She grabbed onto the door, when she almost toppled over.
Nina made her way over to her and helped her onto the bed. They sat side by side on the edge.
"I think you need to sleep," Nina said.
Willow handed Nina her phone, then massaged her temples. "You need to call Ava."
"Ava?"
"She'll tell you," Willow said and started laying on her side. "But I'm not giving up Wiley. I won't…." She closed her eyes and fell asleep.
GHGHGH
Elizabeth ended up taking Aiden to Kelly's. She thought maybe some one-on-one time would do him some good, and maybe he'd open up to her a bit.
Aiden sipped on his hot chocolate.
"Is there anything bothering you, buddy?" Elizabeth asked. "Is there something going on at school?"
He shook his head.
"You know you can tell me anything, right? No matter what is going on. Is anyone picking on you at school again?"
"No."
She sighed and turned when the doors opened and Drew walked in with Scout.
Scout walked over to their table. "Hi Aiden. Hi Elizabeth."
Elizabeth smiled. "Hi Scout. Spending time with your dad?"
"Yeah, we're getting hot chocolate," Scout said. "Can we join you?"
Drew walked over and grinned at Elizabeth and Aiden.
"Would you like that, Aiden?" Elizabeth asked.
Aiden smiled and nodded.
Drew pulled up two chairs. "How are you feeling?"
"Much better," Elizabeth said. "Still tired at times, but I have more energy than I did."
"And how are you, Aiden?" Drew asked.
Aiden shrugged.
Drew rubbed his chin. "Hey, Scout and I are going to the Port Charles Chocolate Factory this weekend. You should join us."
Aiden's face lit up. "Do they teach you how to make chocolate?"
"They sure do," Drew said. "I bet they'll even send some home with us."
Elizabeth smiled. "I think that's a great idea."
GHGHGH
Dex knocked on Josslyn's dorm room, peeking over his shoulders to ensure no one saw him.
The door opened and Josslyn gasped. "What are you doing here?"
He charged forward and kissed her passionately, shutting the door behind him.
She gave in for a brief moment, then pushed him away. "You have a lot of nerve doing that after what you did to my family!"
"You want to blame someone?" Dex asked. "Then blame Michael. He hired me."
"You kidnapped my niece and held Willow at gunpoint!"
He licked his lips. "That was a mistake. I love you."
"You are sick. You are disgusting. You really think I'd take you back after all of that?"
He kissed her again. She started to pull back, but gave in. Soon they were ripping their clothes off each other.
GHGHGH
Nina stepped into her bedroom with Willow's phone, wondering why she needed to call Ava. She hadn't spoken to her since before the wedding, and only a couple of times when Willow was in the hospital. But why was Willow saying she wouldn't give up Wiley? Maybe it was just because she was feeling dizzy again.
She dialed Ava's number and pressed the phone to her ear.
"Hello?" Ava answered.
"Hi Ava, it's Nina. I'm on Willow's phone."
"Oh, thank goodness! I've been trying to get a hold of you since last night."
"Since last night?" Nina asked. "Is everything okay?"
"Are you sitting down?"
Nina rolled her eyes. "Why do I need to sit down? But I am sitting."
"Okay," Ava said. "I'm in Denver, Colorado and I found Nelle."
Nina sat up straighter. "You did? Is she okay?"
"She's not good, Nina. She's like a totally different person. Complete opposite. She has amnesia and can barely function."
"What? She can't function physically?"
"No, no. Physically she's fine," Ava explained. "It's mentally. The doctors have deemed her mentally incompetent. She can't live independently."
"I don't understand…."
"Can you come to Denver?" Ava asked. "The doctor can explain better than I can."
"But… but Willow and the kids."
"The doctor thinks we can bring her to Shadybrook. But he needs you to come. I'm sure you'll only be here for a day or two. Can you leave them that long?"
"I—I can ask Britt or Aunt Liesl to stay with them. I better go. I need to see Nelle."
GHGHGH
Cameron hadn't slept much the past few nights. Between thinking about the threats, about Emma, about Josslyn, he couldn't get his mind to shut down. He was getting along great with Emma but was certain she only wanted to be friends. And he had trouble shutting down his feelings for Josslyn. Did she really want to give them another shot? Was he wrong to shut her down?
He decided he would hear her out one more time. He wanted to give her a chance to explain more. So, he ended up knocking on her dorm room door.
She opened the door in her robe and Dex was in the corner with only his pants on.
