Chapter Thirty-Two

"Sonny, I know I shouldn't be asking you this, but, have you seen or heard from Sam?" Jason asked, perplexed that he had to resort to asking his friend, he had exhausted all other avenues earlier.

"I'm sorry Jason, I haven't, why?" Sonny enquired.

"We didn't part on good terms and I haven't spoken to her since before I found out about all her lies, for peace of mind, I need to speak to her." Jason answered, hoping his friend would not read more into his reasoning than there really was.

"I can have Johnny and Max look into it, see what they can find, but Jason, she is married to Lucky now…" Sonny said, but before he could continue, he heard the emptiness of the broken connection.

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Jason had thought he had tried everything to reach Sam, but he had forgotten that she and Lucky had married. Of course, he did have other things on his mind when Carly had told him that little tidbit of information.

But could he really call Lucky and hope for an answer to his questions. The man was not in his right mind, if he started digging around Lucky, Lucky might take it into his thinking that Jason was looking to do something other than talk with Sam.

No matter which way he turned the scenario, it looked like he was left looking for Sam on his own, he could call Sonny back, but that didn't feel right, so for now, he would let it go. Besides he should be enjoying the day, it wasn't very long now until he and Elizabeth would take their vows, pledging themselves to one another for eternity. Because when he looked to their future, he didn't just see until death do they part, he saw an eternity where they loved one another.

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Liz arrived home late, she hadn't planned on shoe shopping, but can you blame her, she was a woman after all, and what woman could pass up shoe shopping, especially when she was to wear an amazing dress, the right shoes just begged to be found.

Little did she know it was going to take so long, but then again, didn't time tend to fly when a person was shopping. So after arriving home an hour later than expected, Liz was rushing around. Checking to make sure the boys dress clothes were ready to be worn, then on second examination of Cameron's dress shirt and coat, she decided a pressing would be a smart move. As for little Alan, there wasn't much to worry about, he was happiest when he was in his carseat, so his clothes would end up rumpled anyway, besides she was sure people would be flocking to hold him, he was a handsome little man.

Isabella had left to get her hair done, a thank you from Jason and Elizabeth for all her help. Declan had gone with her to help in anyway he could. Of course, from Liz's point of view, it looked like he was just taking her advice and making a subtle advance on the woman who had stolen his heart completely with one look.

After the dinner, Isabella, Declan, Max and Milo would be escorting the boys back home, they were too young to stay up to late, so the nanny had offered to take the boys home with her. In actuality she hadn't expected to be invited to the party, but was secretly pleased, it meant she could dress up a little and perhaps grab the attention of one pleasantly pleasing bodyguard.

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Mac was beyond furious; he couldn't understand how one lone priest could cause such problems. Yes, there was the fact that he was a Ruiz and his brother Manny had made a career of evading police, but this was ridiculous. Cruz had been search for a few days now and had yet to uncover even a mediocre lead, it seemed like Mateo had disappeared. Mac wondered if Morgan or Corinthos had managed to find out the information that Mac was keeping close at hand, one way he hoped they had taken care of the problem, but another part of him wanted the law to deal with that animal.

"Cruz, do you have any leads on Mateo yet?" Mac asked his anger clear in his voice.

"I have been searching, but it seems he is eluding every effort I take. When I think I am getting closer, all I come to is another dead end. I don't know what to tell you Mac; perhaps we could put some more men on this." Detective Rodriguez said while looking dubiously at his boss.

"I know more men would be ideal, but do you really think letting more people in on this is wise. The more who know about it, the bigger the chance that there is going to be a leak and you and I both know Jason and Sonny have someone on the force, so if we involve the wrong people, this could turn into a litigation nightmare." Mac responded, making it clear as to why he was the Chief of police.

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Lucky came to the hospital with the intent of speaking to his Aunt, but when he entered the hospital and Epiphany saw him, he was yanked into a small cubical by the very loud and bossy nurse.

"I think you need to get upstairs and look after your wife, what are you trying to prove now Lucky, really. Be a man, just once, you may find you like the feeling." Epiphany said with vehemence in her voice.

"What do you mean, what has happened to Elizabeth now?" Lucky asked, as clueless as ever.

"You are dimwitted aren't you, your wife, Sam. You know as well as I do that you are no longer married to Liz and never will be again. Get your life together, that girl upstairs is going to need you, don't let another child's life fall to pieces because of you." Epiphany lectured, despising the little twerp in front of her.

"What in the world are you talking about? Sam can't have kids and as you very well know, Alan isn't mine." Lucky said in defense.

"Sam is indeed pregnant and that child may very well be yours, but it is going to be a rough pregnancy, and she may lose it, but you better step up and be there for her. Quit being a shame to the Spencer name." Epiphany said as she walked away. It was driving her batty, having to deal with the childishness of the young man.

Lucky stood rooted to the spot, unable to process what the nurse had said. He was going to be a father, wait a minute, oh lovely, once again there was a question of paternity and once again it was a debate between whether the child would be his or Jason's. Tell me this isn't karma trying to kick me in the butt, how could life continually be this unfair.

He didn't want to speak to Sam, but he would swallow the last of his feeble dignity for a child that may be his. Destiny would have to work his way, one of these days, wouldn't it?

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Sam lay in the meager darkness, trying to stay awake. Her dreams plagued her with horrible images, gracing her with a peek at what might be, then to turn suddenly and become nothing but horrifying. She vowed to the Gods of old and beseeched any entity to hear her pleas, to allow her to carry this child and finally be the mother she had always dreamed of being.

Now her abortion came back to haunt her, it now blended with her nightmares for this new child. She saw images in her minds eye of the child she had denied life, beseeching her to change her mind, pleading that she deserved to live. It was almost more than Sam could bear, she might have screamed, if light from the hall wouldn't have banished some of the gruesome images, but the sight of the man in the doorway stilled her heart. He looked angry, but beyond that, he looked like he was ready to weep.

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