Chapter XVII
The whole room was quiet, as they looked at the photographs. When Sami had been putting it together, she had not noticed much about the one picture, just trying to fit it in where she thought it would look best. Which happened to be the center.
Chandler Loring was the first to say it aloud, "you could be Harris here, at that age.."her arm had been linked with Harris all evening and for her to remark on the resemblance would maybe have meant nothing except she looked close enough to see the tattoo on the neck of the pictured Sean Brady, and the one that matched exactly on the neck of Harris. Now everyone in the room knew there was something odd going on here.
Seans face had gone white as he looked at Harris, thinking about a pregnant Elena. She knew how much the insignia had meant to him when he was working with Stefano. If Stefano had managed to rescue the infant, the tattoo would always be a message to him. This man was too young though, his son would be at least 50 years old, there was no way…
"Yes, Mr. Brady, the tattoo is the one you think it is, this was a family tattoo given to all boys of age thirteen, per the instructions of a guardian that let his father be adopted by the prison guards family. ". EJ saw no reason not to let the truth be known. He motioned for Harris to come closer, and move his collar down a bit more. The tattoo was a clover leaf, entwined with a snake.
"Harris's adopted parents died in an accident fifteen years ago. I think you should meet your grandson now, though, don't you?"
Everyone in the room had read Samanthas book, thinking it was both fact and fiction, but now they were all seeing the true blending of two family dynasties in Sean and Harris. Sean threw up his hands, and admitted that he had loved the woman so long ago that Sami brought back to life in her book. He then asked for all to understand what a foolish young man he had been, and for them to understand what had been at stake with Samanthas writing of the book.
It had been the Samantha and EJ wedding that they had all seen as the blending of bloods they had all opposed, but in truth, it had begun decades before. Brady and DiMera, a Romeo and Juliet story begun decades ago, and bearing fruit in the form of Harris McMurty.
Harris was very uncomfortable at the unveiling, and Sami was dumbstruck at what her simple attempts at reconciling a families history had brought about. Caroline though, was her usual accepting self, rushing up to Harris to hug and welcome him warmly to her family. Sean also found himself drawn, for he was not just looking at a long lost grand son, there was a another link here..this was his own sons flesh and blood..a link to Elena and a love that lived on in his memories. His tears were genuine as he hugged Harris to him, in a welcoming gesture. Harris was still stiff, but memories of his own began to surface, as he remembered he had had a loving father and mother. When he lost them, Stefano had been his anchor, and had seen that he had a good upbringing.
Samantha of course, remembered all those times she just knew she had known Harris somewhere before, and now knew it was the days she spent as a youngster going through all the photos in the trunks.
"Harris, I guess we are cousins? Or something, Salem genealogy is always a little tricky" Eric and Sami were both laughing at this strange development!
"But EJ, why didn't you say something before? You must have known this?" Roman was not one to give up his suspicions easily.
Smoothly, EJ covered, "Until I saw the pictures Samantha was using, I had no idea myself..once I saw, I made some investigations myself, and uncovered all the information I have given here tonight" EJ smiled back knowing Roman could not prove otherwise.
"However, whatever..this is wonderful, isn't it Sean and Caroline?" Marlena was stepping up to also welcome Harris as a member of the family.
Chandler reached up to Harris to give him a kiss on his cheek. She was beginning to know him well enough to sense that he was pleased to have found some family to have as his own for this Christmas Eve.! His faint smile, as he linked his arm with hers again was the clue he gave her that she was mattering to him more and more.
EJ and Sami checked in on the babies after the guests had gone. It had been an evening of surprises, all of them good. Nanny told them to just go rest, and not to worry if the babies stirred, she would take good care of them.
The door to the bedroom had not even shut when EJ was pulling Sami against him with need and passion. Clothes flew all around the room as he threw her down on the bed, making her giggle in response. "Why EJ, what has you so worked up?..Kate chasing you around the desk again?"
"Not funny!..I want you, don't make me lose the feeling" He laughed.
"Umm, well, you know what they say?'
He groaned at her touch.."no, what do they say"
"Well, you know, good girls let you,but……."
"Oh God!!, yes!! what? what?" he had to have the answer..
"Bad girls help you!" and she was helping all she could!
"I love my bad girl!"
Chapter XVIII
Christmas morning started with Sami having Harris drive her to Mass, then a short stop at Wills grave.
This was not a trip she loved making, sometimes because she would find a memento left by Lucas or Kate, but the main reason is the grave was not where she felt closest to Will. The little closet space where his things remained was where she felt him the most. And truth now was, it was more and more a little harder to conjure him up there either. He was not lost in her mind, but was now occupying a corner that faded a bit each day. It had become a journey of pain fading away. Each day, she had found herself thinking about him less, but it made her mad at herself, as if she had no right to not feel the same amount of grief and pain. If she had been given to going to counselors, and she was not, she would have known it was a normal process of grief.
This graveyard trip was more a gesture of respect to his memory, than a reliving of it. She dropped a bouquet, and said the Lords Prayer..but her personal visits with him were reserved for his closet away from all eyes except sometimes Jess and Just.
The rest of the day was spent with EJ and the twins. They opened the gifts, ate dinner, then walked outside in the snow, delighting the kids when they made snow angels and came up drenched in white stuff.
Harris had the afternoon and night off, and was in town with Chandler. They shared a bottle of champagne, and an early night to bed.
Tippin, Lorene, and Nanny had been given the week off, to visit their own families. So it was a quiet house that the little family rattled around in until New Years.
Chandler was rising from the bed, Harris was sleeping soundly, a small snore escaping from his lips. Her note pad was on her night stand, and she had been jotted down some items that needed clarification from Sami. That was when Harris began to mumble in his sleep.."EJ, it's all our fault..all our fault.." The reporter in her could not help writing the words down. What fault? What did he mean.?
"Will shouldn't be dead, it's all our fault..God forgive us EJ..God forgive me.." Harris was now thrashing and she went to him to wake him up gently.
"Hey, big guys like you should not have nightmares, it makes the rest of us feel really superior!"she crawled in next to him, surprised to find him actually shaking.
"Want to talk about it, I did hear a part, maybe if you let it out, you can get some sleep and so can I!" her arms went around him to give him her warmth. He gave a quiet moments reflection, then felt he could carry this burden no longer.
"It was an accident Chan, I swear it, but we may have drove him to it. I try not to think that, but I cannot help it sometimes. When I watch Sami at the gravesite, I thank God she doesn't make me go with her too often." He held her tighter, the words straining as he continued to tell the whole of the story he dreamt of so many nights.
"Why hasn't EJ told Sami this" Chandler sounded horrified.
"EJ is not like all of us, he can put things away in his mind and not look at them" Harris knew this about EJ, but still did not understand it.
"He is not all bad, but he can use people for what he wants, and not mind the consequences at all. He never meant for Will to be hurt, but there is no way in hell he would risk losing Sami by telling the truth. He is afraid she could never forgive him".
"Harris, you are also a DiMera, more so than EJ, why does it bother you then? You didn't do anymore than him..less, since it was his idea to let Will know all these things?"
"I guess blood will tell, since I am also a Brady! They seem to be the softer side," Harris smiled at her, kissed her and began making love to her, both to quiet her questions and to quiet the ache that was still gnawing at him eating a guilty hole in his heart.
. Chapter XVIV
"Kate, Kate.." Tony was shaking a deeply sleeping Kate awake. She was on her side, a small trail of drool leaking from her mouth. It had been a five martini night, and she was emerging shakily from the alcohol fog she had been dwelling in since Lucas's condition had been diagnosed.
"Mmm, Tony, darling" she reached for him, but he maneuvered away in slight disgust. The smell of the stale alcohol breath she carried was distasteful. It was becoming a chore to carry on the charade of attraction to her now. He only hoped it did not have to continue much longer. His unspoken rejection registered in her conscious, and she let her normal haughty pride take over. Reaching for her robe, she donned it as she went into the bathroom. He refused to let her demean him that way, and he pushed his way in, she ignored him as she stepped into the shower.
"Let me join you, at least the smell is better this way..we have to talk." Tony had stripped and pushed the curtain aside.
"I need you to straighten up, the meeting is in two days, and you need to be up for it. This is of the utmost importance!"
"I have to meet with Lucas's doctors this morning, so leave me the hell alone". She turned away from him to lather her hair.
"You have such a beautiful back Kate, no wonder lying on it made you so much money", Tony's insult was softened as he used the washcloth to stroke her. Then he grabbed her hair to pull her head back and ignored her gasp of pain!
"Go ahead, meet his doctors, then get your rear into your office and keep tabs on what EJ is up to." His voice was low, menacing and conveyed all the deadlieness he meant it to. She knew she would obey.
"Belle! Belle! Harris is here to pick you up." John was calling up for the fifth time, bug meanwhile he was helping Harris carry out the luggage and baby accoutrements. They were traveling light as they planned on spending a lot of time shopping, but a baby just naturally increased the supply line needs! Harris looked at all of it, mentally tallying what he could manage to leave, just as he had done with Mrs. Wells load. He had already taken her, the babies, Nanny Bea and Trey to the plane. Upon arrival in L.A. they had a stretch limo waiting.
Marlena cried a bit, but John waved them off with glee, before turning to his wife and saying wickedly "how about we go back up and show 'em how much we don't miss 'em?"
EJ was at the plane, seeing that all was organized. He helped with bringing Belles luggage on, then gave the instructions for every ones comfort to the crew. Belle watched him interact so lovingly with his family, and felt a pang in her heart for Claire. She missed her Daddy, even as young as she was. Belle missed Shawn, and knew she always would. It seemed that bridge was burnt though. To Claire, though, Philip was Daddy! Philip did visit once in a while with Claire, but he was so busy with his new company that he found less and less time to spend with Claire. All Belle could think of when she saw EJ and the twins was how lucky they were to have a father in their lives that put them first no matter what. Why couldn't Claire have that? She deserved it after all she had gone through. EJ seemed to read her thoughts, as he turned to pick up Claire and twirl her above his head. "Hey sweetie!..Watch out for Mommy and Auntie Sami, ok, all of you take good care of them! Don't let them get in any trouble!" Belle was grateful to see Claire included in his attention. At last, all were buckled safely, the luggage stored, and Harris was getting his last minute instructions from EJ.
"They are to be in your sight at all times. I have hired others to guard the hotel rooms of the children when Sami and Belle are out, you just keep tabs on the two of them!"
"Boss, do you have the meeting arrangements handled though? You have the tricky part..and is Nico ready?"Harris was trying not to show how concerned he was about this, the timing could not have been worse for Sami's meetings in Hollywood. He had tried to dissuade EJ from keeping the timetable with Tony, but EJ also had deadlines he had to meet.
EJ assured Harris it was covered. Then he kissed Samantha goodbye, told her he would miss her, then let the crew close the door as he left. He stood at the tarmac of the gateway, watching as the plane taxied away for take off. His future was on the plane, his present waiting for him, and a dynasty to be won or lost depending on him the next two days.
The plane ride was uneventful, the kids all slept most of the way. Trey used the time to put together several looks that he thought would be good on Belle and Sami. Nanny was using her time to nap, as she knew the time change would wreak havoc on the babies schedules. Sami and Belle laughed, talked, and generally enjoyed this very rare time together. Eric was flying out a little later, and they were all going to just enjoy this once in a lifetime family reunion! Harris kept checking his watch, worried about everything as always!
An entourage of this size always attracted attention. Sami's celebrity did precede her, and a few paparazzi waited at the hotel entrance as the party checked in. Harris was mindful of his duties, though, and no one came too close. He met up with the security guards that were to handle things, and saw that they knew what was to be expected.
Sami and Belle admired each others looks after Trey had finished. Belle was looking very hot in a low slung jean outfit, complete with white high heeled boots. A white see through blouse, with matching camisole set off her blonde good looks in a sexy but sophisticated way. Sami was dressed in a cherry red strapless dress that made the most of her coloring, and voluptuous body. Harris looked at the both of them, hoping against hope.."Well, Belle, Trey, Eric..you guys wanta go out?"
"This is Hollywood, look at us, look at you! Damn right we want to go out!"
Harris grimaced. This was gonna be a bumpy night!
Chapter XIX
It was nearing one a.m. when they all made their way into the club that was being talked about as the hottest one in Hollywood. It had taken a Five hundred dollar tip to get the bouncer to let them in, as well as being vouched for by Cameron Diaz who loved all of Sami's books. Sami autographed one for her, and shrugged at the looks she got from her party.
"Sami! Look, there is Carrie..omigod!" Belle pointed to the in line, and at the blonde about twentieth in a line that was moving no where. She was with another girl, and both looked as if they knew they were not getting in this night.
"Harris, take care of that" Sami wanted to know what Carrie was doing here! Roman had said Austin and her were split and that Carrie was still running High Style from California now. Harris brought the pair over, and Belle, Eric and Carrie were ecstatically greeting each other! Then Carrie saw Sami.
"Well, Carrie, this is a surprise. We heard you were back at High Style". Sami was being uncharacteristically gracious, but many things had changed about Sami the past couple of years. "Won't you and your friend join us..?" Carrie would have said no, but Crystal, her friend was so overjoyed at finally getting into "The Cine" she was salivating!
Harris led them all to the table he had managed to procure with a little heavy persuasion. Carrie sat, glaring at Sami. There were still scores to settle. OK thought Sami, maybe it is time to have this out. The first round of tequila shooters came out a draw.
"Still have a bit of that pregnancy weight hanging about I see!" Carrie drew first blood.
"Yes, when you can get pregnant it does hang around a bit, but when you can't, it doesn't matter anyway does it? Like to see a picture of the kids?" Sami hit an artery.
Eric sat in between them, Harris backed away a bit. Carrie downed the second shooter, taking the lime in one squeeze. Belle smiled an awkward smile.
Crystal looked from one sister to the other, totally uncomprehending what was going on.
"Did you know we bought the apartment building that you and Austin made love to on the night he asked me to marry him? Yep, and bulldozed it down! No door with any initials on it anymore, so if you come back to town there will be no unhappy or unholy memories!" Sami slammed her second shot glass down!
"Oh, and no one is sending you notes anymore either advising you to tell the truth, which is something you could never do anyway..well, maybe if you can hide it behind a bookcover?" number three and Carrie was still going strong.
"Bookcovers that reach the bestseller lists…now Highstyle, kind of equates with no style..I mean without Austin propping this company up, I hear it would of gone belly up again..now what will happen? He can't keep pumping money into it..tell ya what, I'll just buy your little sweat shop and let you work there for me..howdja like that.." Sami did a double on that one, putting glass three and four next to Carries. The waiter was now looking for cover.
"You bitch!"
"You witch!"
And they flew at each other. Harris and Eric jumped for them, but they both rolled away, under tables, in between dancing legs..it was a free for all that had the photogs in the club blazing away with cameras. Harris finally got an arm around Samis waist, and Eric had Carries arms pinned when the flashbulbs finally got the attention of Sami.
"Get those cameras off her, Harris, do something!" Sami was now protective of Carries privacy. This was her sister damnit, and nothing Sami did should reflect on her! Harris took Carrie under his coat, shielding her torn dress and exposed chest from the photographers as Sami and the rest followed them out of the club to the Limousine.
"Wow! This was so much fun! Thank you Sami,!" Crystal had been having the time of her life. Everyone in the club was coming up to her to ask who the fighting chicks were, and slipping her phone numbers and invites to after hour parties..she was in! Harris hailed a cab for her, poured Carrie and Sami into the Limo, threw a few wads of cash at the photogs who now had broken cameras, got Eric, Trey, and Belle pushed inside, then motioned for the driver to hit it!
There would be no keeping this out of the papers Harris knew. He just hoped he had a chance to explain it all to EJ before he read it himself. .
Carrie wiped a smudge of lipstick from her cheek. Sami tried to recoup the hair do she started out with, but found she could not raise her arm without her dress falling down in front completely.
"Slut" Carrie smiled the insult at her.
"Yeah, well who got you out of Austins bed this time, Carrie-poo?"
" I would have to say..honestly..he bored me out of it himself!"Carrie hunched her shoulders in a spasm of laughter.
"I coulda warned ya!" Sami was giggling!
Belle and Eric found themselves grinning in spite of themselves, and Harris was coughing into his handkerchief to hide his own amusement.
"Stay with us tonight, lets catch up, all of us!" Sami issued the invitation, but a catch in her voice let Carrie know it was heartfelt.
"Sounds like a plan"
Chapter XX
A groan escaped Sami as the light from the window passed over her face. She rolled over to get away, but it followed her making her face squinch up. The headache was also pounding away as the small hand reached up to pull on her hair. "Claire, sweetie, mommy's over there.." she was going to try to get a few more sleep minutes, but Claire was insistent. She had mastered the art of climbing out of her crib, and was aiming for some company!
The two other cribs in the room had awake occupants, who were watching their clever cousin with undying admiration! "Do it again, Claire..she will wake up good if you do it again!" Jess was encouraging her cousins efforts.
"Take the bunny and hit her with it..that always works with Jess!" Justin was throwing the suggested weapon as he gurgled the instruction. Claire got the bunny and began to pound Auntie Sami with it, laughing at the way she tried to cover up from the onslaught!
"Claire, no! no!" Carrie had opened her eyes, and was bouncing from the other bed to gather her niece up before Sami pulled all the covers up over her head, which would have swept Claire off her little feet. By this time, Nanny had heard some of the commotion, and was heading in to gather up the brood for their breakfast. Belle also came to life about this time, and took Claire from Carrie. That left Carrie with empty arms, so she turned in the direction of the twins crib. A set of small chubby arms reached out for her, encased in a set of pink velour jimmies. Drawn, in spite of the jabs of pain in her heart, Carrie walked to Jessica and picked her up. Nanny had taken Justin already to change him, and Carrie walked over beside the changing table to help with Jess.
Eric rubbing his eyes, came in wearing a t-shirt and jam bottoms. As always, he was a light sleeper, so different from Sami who was still denying the approach of morning.
'Hey, come on, it's almost nine, you have to be at the meeting by 10:30, and Trey is waiting to dress you!"
For some reason, that penetrated Samis' conscious, and she knew she had to fly! She came out of the bed like a projectile, looking at the clock, and making a wail of protest as she remembered her stupidity last night! She knew the papers would be full of what happened, how was she going to face these studio executives a this meeting. This movie was so important, and now because she had lost control with Carrie it was going to be a big awful bloody mess!
"Carrie! Listen, you gotta help me out here!" Sami was pleading and hoping that last nights forgive and forget cry fest meant something real!
"What do you mean?" Carrie was thinking that she should be finding a way to make it to her own office, and with a set of clothes that were not half torn off of her.
Just then, Trey came waltzing in, carrying an armful of clothes. Carrie shrieked as she realized she was only wearing underwear and a strapless bra.
"It's just Trey, get a grip! Trey, find her something quick!" Sami was not even questioning what he handed her, just ran for the bathroom to shower and put it on! "Carrie, use the other bath, get ready, you have to come with me or I'm screwed!"
Trey turned to give a once over on Carrie.."Hmmm..yes, I have just the thing!" He rummaged around in his pile, then came up with a sarong type skirt, with a shirred off the shoulder blouse that managed to fit her, even though it was made for the shorter, more voluptuous Sami. Adding a set of feather earrings, and even fashion conscious Carrie was impressed with Treys sense of style.
"Great, I think I can make it to the office just in time!"
"No! you have to go to the studio with me! They will have seen what went on in the club last night, so you and I have to make nice with each other in front of them! We will say it was all just part of the publicity! Just re-enacting some of the books juicier stuff! Please, Carrie help me!"Sami was pulling on the second layer of her blouse and lacing it up the front.
Carrie was smiling, while thinking this whole thing over. Help Sami? What would Austin think? What would Kate think? This would be good! It would also be good for High Style, no publicity was bad after all, and Carrie was starting to develop some fine tuned business instincts! Yeah, she would do it!
"Belle, Eric, help Nanny with the kids, I have passes on the table for Disneyland! We will meet you there later! You have the Limo for the day, Harris will be with you too!"
Harris glared at that. "No, I will be with you, lock step. Look at the trouble you got into last night..I have to be right beside you, there is no argument! I will arrange for some security for Belle and Eric. Don't worry..but I am on you..EJ would have my neck if I let you loose on your own!"
"Harris..I would feel better if you were helping with the kids! Think of them in those lines at Disneyland! You could make it so much more fun for them..you wanta go to Disneyland too don't ya? Carrie and I are gonna be on a studio, with guards at the gate! Send one of the other security people with us! It will be ok, and Eric, Eric can come with us too and take some shots! ."Sami was turning on all the charm faucets with this last salvo. "We will go directly to Disneyland and call you to meet us at the gate. Let the babies have some fun..you too!"
This had not been part of the drill with EJ. It had always been assumed that Sami would go to the studio to meet with Mildred and the executives. Belle and the rest would stay back at the hotel suite until they returned. What happened?
Carrie was a wild card, and the melee the night before at the club was not part of his carefully planned agenda. Now he had two sets of people to guard. he made his decision. The most unprotected set of people would be the children. He pulled out his cell phone to let EJ know the arrangements.
"Harris, I am looking at a picture of my wife crawling out from under a pair of strange mans legs in a club..and it looks like she is heading for a blonde that looks to be Carrie with her talons unsheathed...please tell me I am hallucinating!"
"Boss, believe me, I tried to get all the pictures squelched, someone musta snuck one in on a camera phone..damn technology is sure screwing things up ya know?"
"Why were you out anyway..what about the kids?"
"The girls wanted to see Hollywood.."
"Harris, you know better!"
"Boss, please, it is getting worse now. Sami is insisting on taking Carrie with her to smooth things over with the studio..and she does not want me coming along. She wants Carrie and Eric to go..that leaves me to take Belle and everyone else to Disneyland!"
"Well then, Harris, looks like you are going to Disneyland!"
Chapter XXI
"Chelsea, has Kate come in yet?" EJ was looking at his watch, and the clock on the wall. Both looked to be correct, with a reading of 11:30.
"She just called, and she is on her way, I guess Lucas is still in observation at the hospital, so hang tight!" This was bad, Chelsea knew, Kate had been late every day for the past week, and EJ was starting to check up on her every day. It was getting impossible to cover!
The envelope in EJ's hands had been delivered by special courier an hour before. It was from the clinic in South Africa, and would now represent some glimmer of hope for Lucas. EJ smiled at the irony. He was responsible for giving him the disease, he would now present him with a possibility of survival, and the result would be an increase in the wealth of his medical research facilities. Lucas would become the poster boy for this treatment in the Western World. It had been researched on victims in South Africa, innocent people who had done nothing more than be born into a society that valued manhood over protection of women and children.
The concept of total synergy being played out here pleased EJ"s sense of fair play.
How many times had Lucas thrown Samantha to the proverbial wolves in their tortured history together, now he knew Lucas would love Sami enough to leave her alone.
Thinking to himself, EJ said aloud "Ok Lucas, after eliminating yours truly, you were promised that Samantha would be yours for the taking…that is why you agreed to work for Tony DiMera, but I don't think you would do that to her now, would you?. if she were free you would choose to leave her alone now! At least I am giving you credit that for once you would put her above yourself!" So now this was one pawn he had knocked off the chessboard belonging to Tony DiMera.
Kate presented herself in front of EJ, sitting on his desktop, and crossing her legs provocatively, she sorted her mail on his desk in a gesture of defiance.
"Nice to see you Kate, looking well..and Lucas?"
"Don't act smug EJ, Tony has already made the contacts and little Miss Kandi will soon be meeting up with her own comeuppance".
"Kate, violence towards women has never been what Tony is about, unless of course you want it!" EJ tilted Kates face towards him, and stroked the bluish bruise that lingered above her eyebrow, barely hidden by her hair. "You must be really exciting him now Kate, what does he have in mind for you next?"
"You will know soon enough!" she hissed.
"Kate, Kate, what about our great friendship?" EJ was thoroughly enjoying baiting her now. "And I had such news for Lucas!"
"What are you talking about" he had said the words that would get her attention. Lucas had been told if the experimental treatment was approved, he would be on the list.
"My clinic's treatment has shown great promise, and I think Lucas would be an ideal candidate, since the strain of virus he has is the one most seen in the clinic…isn't that a coincidence? Are you interested?" EJ crossed his arms, awaiting her reaction.
"You bastard! Kandi is not even infected is she? Just Lucas! How did you do that? Why? "
"My dear Kate, I think Tony can tell you what Lucas did to my wife…I know, I know, he was going to see she never came to any real harm..but tell me, how would you like it if young Chelsea out there were taken and buried alive? Terrified for her life1 What about Billie, would you like that to happen to her? It all can you know, it is not that hard to do. I can arrange many things. I have the power. But choosing to wield it is another matter. You are lucky I do not take that worthless whelp of yours and break every bone in his body! He is going to live a long miserable, and lonely life! But in the meantime, the experiment on him is going to enable others to live longer, in better health, and have somewhat normal lives. Just not him!"
"The treatment…"Kate was pleading…
"Yes Kate, he will get it..now about you and Tony DiMera..we need to talk now!"
Chapter XXII
Harris was busy at the gate, keeping the flock together. There was a double stroller, a single stroller, a Nanny with a double diaper bag, a snack bag, a change of clothing bag, three babies, one mommy, and a stylist who was feeling underused!
Trey looked at Belle, and sighed. Ok, maybe the sweatpants and t-shirt fit the bill at Disneyland. At least the kids all looked Trey-manifique! He had put Justin in one of his baby line outfits patterned after a Nascar driver outfit. Jess was in the dress version of the same speed suit, with matching flag patched panties. Claire was her usual gorgeous self, in a jean onesie that matched the ribbon in her hair. Jess gave her a thumbs out of mouth and up for her really put together look!
He had tried making a few suggestions to Harris, but Harris was always comfortable in his familiar faded levis, blue levi shirt, and jean jacket. Nanny was different, she took his suggestion for a comfortable slack set with gratitude. Well, Trey shrugged, this was not what he was here for, but even babies need style!
Claire had decided she had a favorite person in this entourage. Harris was her chosen one, and no one else would do. If Belle picked her up she struggled, Trey was not even given a chance, it was Harris or no one. So as she was carried into the Disneyland gates,it was on his shoulders, it was his knee that she sat upon in the train, and she was not to be put down under any circumstance. This was her Prince Charming. Belle was amazed. "You must remind her of Philip., she really misses him I think". She sounded wistful. "It is just so sad when I see how great EJ is with Jessica and Justin, and I want someone to be like that for Claire, all kids deserve that".
"Yes, they do, maam, everyone should have a dad..I miss mine every day!". Harris was smiling at Claire, as she had won him over easily. "Lets all go have some fun!"
The studio guards looked up Samis name as she pulled up to the gate. She was given directions and drove onto the lots. Eric was getting his gear ready, and Carrie was looking around in astonishment at the famous studio she was now inside of!
"You know, Harris is gonna be awful cranky when he finds out we ditched the security detail!"
"Fiddle, this is so silly, most of this is because EJ is worried about Tony back in Salem. We are not in Salem! Now come on, we are going to be late!"
Mildred came up to Sami, and kissed both cheeks. It is so good to see you child! You look wonderful, no worse for wear after the very exciting night you must have had last night! Wonderful reading….I was so happy to see you made the pages of Variety! Good work! And I have not even sent over your publicist yet! ..you must be Eric and Carrie..good to see you again..nice shot of you too! Loved it! Loved it!..Now lets go on in..we have to meet with Mr. Logan Hefsher, he is the one they have given your screenplay too..he is known to be a killer writer..come now, come along.."Mildred talked a mile a minute, as she herded them all into the office of the esteemed Mr. Hefsher.
His appearance was striking. He was a large man who filled the room both in the terms of his mammoth size, and the number of trophies and awards he had strewn everywhere. He did not stand as they came into the room, but motioned for his secretary to move some piles of magazines and papers off several chairs to give them all seating.
For some reason, Sami felt immediately uneasy. He did not even pause for introductions before launching into his take on her book. "Ok, poopsie, I just have a few suggestions to make..I think maybe we should change the love interest in this thing..I think this Catherine Robertson, now she is one sexy old broad huh?..she should be shagging the young Jason…that would play so much better..Make a great triangle.."
"Uh no, I mean besides being old enough to be his mother, she is his mother! ..we need to leave these things the way I wrote them Mr. Hefsher, the people in this book are characters that I know intimately..you cannot just come and rewrite them..trust me!"
Carrie joined in" My sister is right! The way she wrote this is the way it was lived, this is the story millions of people have bought and will buy movie tickets to see! To try and add a sexual story in that is so out of context will mean you fail Mr. Hefsher! The triangle is me, Austin, I mean Jason, and Sabrina. That is what has been written about!"
He looked at her through his horn rimmed glasses, as he used his handkerchief to wipe a spot off one of the lenses. "damn back splash" he muttered. "Well who should she shag then,,damn shame to waste her".
"Don't worry about that, you have three fourths of the book to get through" Mildred laughed.
The rest of the meeting was back in Sami's control. Executives came in met with her, and were impressed with her charm, and her business savvy. Even Logan saw things her way in the end. Her book and screen play were going to be cast within 6 months, and the movie itself would be out by the end of the next year. Talk was then of producing a night time soap series, things could not have gone better! Sami could not wait to tell EJ, but when she called, he was not in. Chelsea said he had left for the meeting with Tony DiMera and Kate. That was news. Samantha had not been told of any meeting. A cold chill ran up her spine, but she shrugged it off. Nothing was wrong. Life was perfect. And they were going to Disneyland!
Chapter XXIII
The Wells table at Chez Rouge was set for four. The dinner guests would be EJ Wells, Kate Roberts, Tony DiMera, and Philip Kirakis. Maggie had originally taken the reservation for five, but Lucas illness had changed things. She had visited him in the hospital that day, and her heart had broken at her nephews condition. She knew she should have kept closer tabs on him the past year. The loss of Will, and also the loss of Sami had hit Lucas so hard. As a sponsor, she should have recognized the signs of his relapse, but with all the stuff going on at the restaurant, it had been impossible. When the E Coli scare struck she had been so unprepared.
Mystic Communications had been on the story from almost the moment the first people had fallen ill. Her financial situation would have been dire, if EJ had not come to her rescue. He handled all the legal problems as part of his purchase offer. She knew she owed him a lot. It made her regret her part in the Lucas and Will ruination date debacle. Thank God EJ Wells did not hold grudges! She was being paid quite well to run the restaurant, and was allowed to manage as she saw fit. Business was back to normal, and EJ and his P.R. campaign had been a big reason for that. The man was a genius, was all Maggie could think. He had paid all the medical bills of the people affected, and had managed to give Salem University Hospital a boost by letting them try the experimental drug developed by Mythic Medical Research Foundations to treat the ones taken ill. It had been a miracle.
Tony had listened to Maggie relate this story with all the patience he could muster. All he could think as he listened to her was "are you sure you are not blonde under that red?" Of course EJ stopped the epidemic, he had started it! No one but him knew everything EJ was doing in Salem. It was not that he was upset about what EJ was doing..he was upset because he should be the one doing it! This was his town, his playground…Stefano had been cruel to give it over to EJ! EJ now resided in the mansion that should have been his, with the lovely Samantha who also rightfully belonged to him!
Tony remembered the picnic he had arranged for himself and Samantha. She of course had been playing him, and that made her seem twice as delightful now. Tony twirled the cognac to enhance the flavor as he sat at the bar waiting. Not long now as he looked at his watch, they were set to have dinner at eight, and within two hours after that, his power in this town would be cemented!
Philip bent down to his father to whisper in his ear."This is the last night you will be like this Dad, I swear it."
Dr. Soules looked at the dials, "It is all ready, so when the exchange takes place, I will bring your father up..he should be given a sleep sedative immediately though to lessen the shock of moving him about."
Philip got to his feet, then pulled the cell phone from his pocket. "Mom, it's me, yeah, I am on my way to dinner. I need you to come back to the hospital with me tonight, we have to make some other arrangements for Pop..Yeah, after dinner is fine. The meeting will be over in plenty of time I think".
Nico waited for Philip to leave before he made his call, "Yes..eet ees arranged..Kate weel be here for the exchange..Don't worry, ees under control!".
EJ pulled out the chair for Kate, then sat himself, smiling a greeting to Philip, then Tony. "I recommend the Veau a persillade! A wonderful veal..or the filet with the merlot crème sauce..he was being the ever gracious host. He pointed to the wine list, and whispered to the sommelier "bring three bottles of Grand Cru Batard Montreches" and Tony gave a most appreciative nod at his cousin.
"I appreciate your treating us to the best, since this may not be what you will want to do after this meeting.." the napkin was unfolded and placed on Tony's lap with a slight flourish as he spoke.
"This is just a preliminary meeting Tony, a chance for us to get to know each other. Stefano was always so proud of you, he always said if you only could learn to control the emotional side of your nature he would have given his soul to see you carrying on in his name!" EJ used the same time to give his napkin the same flare.
Philip decided it was time for his family to be brought into this conversation. "I want to know when my father will be released to me..or my part in this is done!" Kate glared at him in her best shut up son mode! He would ruin everything!
A toast was given, Tony said "To new opportunities"..but EJ wanted the toast to be "to passing the torch!"
Kate became the peacemaker, "to an opportunity to pass the torch!"
When the first course was presented, another bottle of wine was being opened. The sommelier poured another round. The food was delicious, but Kate was fidgeting, just pushing the food about on her plate. Tony looked at her with a command in his eyes. She picked up the fork and forced the food nervously to her mouth. EJ was aware of the difficulty she was having swallowing. Good, the coating on her glass was beginning to have an effect. By the time the main course was on the table, she seemed to be having trouble concentrating.
EJ took a forkful of the veal, and brought it to his mouth..delicious..but when he swallowed, he realized his mistake! The airway in his throat immediately closed up, his hands clutched at his neck. The smile on Tony's face, replicated in Kates quickly, and Philips showed him that he had been too arrogant and was now going to pay in a very big way. Before he lost consciousness, Samantha and his children were his last thoughts!
Chapter XXIV
Disneyland with three babies takes a lot of care and time was all Harris could think. You no sooner had one fed and changed, than something spilled on another one, and it started all over again! Trey kept flirting with a Mickey Mouse and all of them got that song in their heads and could not stop singing "It's a small world after all..la la la la la.." That is always a hazard of Disneyland!
Sami and Eric made it there, but Carrie decided it would be best if she spent some time at the company she was quickly running into the ground a second time. Sami put the notation into her blackberry to see about buying it from Austin. He was really no business man either, it was best he just managed the Zurich Mythic Operation…EJ would have to put someone else on this, and just let Carrie do the PR work which was her main talent.
Eric was so busy taking shots of the kids Sami had not had any time to talk to him. Justin had decided that Uncle Eric was pretty cool. Being a baby of very above average brain, he had figured out this relationship between his mom and this new guy really quick. "Jess, this guy is the same to mom as I am to you?"
"Oh, he is her private pest too?" Jess had enough from Justin today. He had dropped her Minnie Mouse ears, the pink ones, spilled lemonade on her pretty racing dress, and dropped a frozen chocolate banana on her side of the stroller where it melted and she sat in it, with a brown mess running down her leg. It had not been pretty!.
"Brother..twin brother..you know..born on the same day..like us..that's neat huh? Maybe when we grow up we will have twins too!"
"I think it would be best if I had both girls and you had both boys! You have been so mean today!"
"Hey, don't get mad, I would love to have a brother or sister..you guys are so lucky!" Claire was trying to stop trouble before it started!
"So Eric, when do you think you are gonna settle down and give us some more cousins?" Sami was cleaning up Jessica's leg as she decided to pry.
"May be quite awhile Sami..I am gay!"
"Eric, what do you mean" Belle was unbelieving.
"Gay. I.love other men..I like musicals. I talk to my plants..I cook gourmet..you know, all those things they say are gay..I am! And.I am a very happy gay man. And I even think I may be attracted to Trey! " Eric was biting on his chocolate covered banana the whole time, until he realized the picture it made after his statement. So he stopped.
"Well, it is not what I expected to hear as an answer, but Eric you know I will always love you, no matter what. Have you told Mom and Dad?"Sami was not judging her twin, but wanting to let him know he was her brother and that was all that would ever matter.
"Mom and John, of course, but since Dad and I are not close in any way at all, I just haven't had the time, or inclination to hit him with this. I think I will just let him figure it out on his own, ya know?".
"You could tell John, but not Dad?" Sami did not understand.
"Sami, face it, who was our real father growing up?" Eric was bringing Sami to a truth she had long disregarded. "Dad left us, and he left us when he had a choice not to. John would have kept us with him, with Mom and Carrie and Belle, but Dad would not allow it, then he leaves us high and dry. I can forgive him for doing it, but I can't forget. John has accepted what and who I am. I really do not think Dad will do that. Someday, I will just tell him, but as of now, it is better that I just live my life apart. I love you Sami, and I promise to be a part of their lives more than I was with Will., but Salem is not where I want to hang my hat, too many painful memories!"
Harris answered his cell phone and got news that he held onto for a moment. He looked at Samantha Wells, she was embracing her brother. He hoped Eric would stay strong for her as she would need him. He pulled out his hip flask and took a quick drink of liquid courage himself.
'We have to get back to Salem..Mrs. Wells, EJ is in the hospital..he is in some kind of coma..he may be dying!"
Chapter XXV
Sami looked at Harris as if she was lipreading his words. Carefully, she made him repeat, then again. It made no sense. EJ was in the prime of his life, he was not dying. Will was gone, surely God would not take EJ too..this was too ridiculous for words!
"Harris, don't say that, you must be wrong..mistaken..lying, I