Chapter Forty-Three
Carly had just polished off her fifth or sixth drink and was on her way to the kitchen to grab another, Liz took this opportunity to talk with her, the older woman's niceties were bothering her.
"Hey Carly hang on, I need a refill too." Liz said, jumping up and following her.
The other women were still occupied, Robin was dishing on Dr. Drake and had the other women in the house glued to their spots.
Carly slowed down allowing Liz to catch up to her, once they were in the kitchen Carly poured some tequila into her glass, but seemed to veto the mix to go with it. With questions in her eyes she looked at Liz.
"Carly, I know you and I have never really stated whether we are friends now or not, but I had to say you are acting beyond mature tonight, what with Robin and Brenda being here. What's up?" Liz asked, clearly perplexed.
"You wouldn't believe me even if I told you." Carly said with a shrug of her shoulders.
"Try me!" Liz exclaimed, hoping to get Carly to open up, once and for all. She was marrying her best friend tomorrow, and it would be nice to let bygones be just that, bygones.
Carly looked at her warily, almost sizing her up, then spoke, "We may never be best friends, but the past few months have been nice, I don't have many 'Girl' friends, which I suppose you can guess why, but ever since you and I buried the hatchet so to speak, I have found that it is rather nice having other women to talk to and spend time with. And while I have had issues with both Brenda, Robin and Emily, I realized tonight that I was being vindictive and petty, now don't bother calling a shrink to have my head examined, but you guys all made me feel welcome, even if I didn't deserve it."
Liz was about to speak to break the silence when Carly continued, "You put your dislike for me aside because you love Jason and as loathe as I was to admit it before, he loves you too, you make him happy, I can't ask for more than that, my best friend has finally found something worth living for, he was a shell before, now he laughs and smiles on a regular basis, even Brenda noticed the changes. So I guess I am saying I am just happy that you bothered to care enough to include me in yours and Jason's life.
"Carly, how very grown up of you. The reason I could never stand you was because you always had what I wanted, a relationship that went deeper than friends with Jason. It drove me nuts because every piece of my heart and soul wanted him, but I was so afraid of what would happen if I gave myself over to him completely, so I ran." Liz said, a sad smile forming on her face.
"Wipe that woe is me frown off your face. Liz its always be you, I betrayed Jason and that ended whatever we might have had. When you came in the picture I thought you were going to take away the only person who ever stuck up for me, who believed in me. I wanted to hate you, but I envied the relationship you had with him, but I hated you each time you ran from him, back to Lucky, because I saw the pain it caused him when you always chose Lucky. You won, you have two of his children, you are becoming his wife, if that isn't a wake up call, then I don't know what is, besides, I finally found my prince and for once I am comfortable in my skin and with who I am." Carly said, clearly pleased at the shocked look on Liz's face.
"You still have a quick tongue." Liz said with a laugh. "So this new Carly who plays nice with others is all because you have finally found your happiness and are comfortable with what you have. I have to commend you on that. So what do you think, friends?"
"Well?!?" Carly said, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I suppose, but only so long as you promise, if I have problems I can still come over and get Jason's help and yours!"
"I think you have a deal, but no barging in, you knock and wait for the door to be answered, I don't need you walking in on something personal." Liz said with a smile.
Liz looked at the other woman, trying to gage what the other woman was feeling, giving it up as a lost cause, Liz wrapped her arms around Carly. "Thanks for being so mature about this."
"Yeah, Yeah… Just don't let it get around, but I think we need to get back to the party, I have tons of things I can dish about Sonny and Jason. I think we need to have a girls night at least once a week, think the others will be up for it, or do they totally hate me?" Carly asked almost shyly.
Liz was taken aback by the vulnerability in Carly's voice, so instead of joking with her she came right out and said, "Why don't you suggest it when we get back."
The two women headed back out to the living room, both surprised by the outcome of the conversation, but pleasantly pleased.
"Hey ladies, I was just talking to Elizabeth and we were thinking that the seven of us should get together weekly for a girls night, what do you think?" Carly asked.
The cheers and shouts were rather unintelligible, but the gist was had, a weekly girls night was just the thing they wanted.
All the while, Liz was secretly planning on how to get Brenda and Sonny officially hooked up, then there was Kelly and Lainey, they were single, but she felt she could rectify that problem, there were some good looking guards who were very single, perhaps if things went the right way…..
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"Sonny, I know you think we can handle this, but I think we need to let Mac do his job on this, I know egad, those words should not be coming from my mouth, but Liz requested I let the police handle this, she doesn't want to have her husband arrested the day of our wedding or sometime afterwards, so I kind of promised we would let the police handle it, so long as they don't butcher it." Jason said, preparing for a lecture from his friend and boss.
"I agree, things are quiet right now, and while I know we would both like to take our boots to the animal who dared hurt Elizabeth, I also understand that if we let the police do their job, then we are preventing ourselves the headache of having to deal with all the fallout. But if things go wrong, I hope you know we will be taking over." Sonny said.
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Sam and Lucky sat on the couch in the little apartment they had made as their own when they had first tried to take Cameron. Now they sat, not talking or enjoying in the other activities that they so enjoyed when in each other's company, but it wasn't a foreboding silence.
"So!" Lucky said, "what's our next move?"
"I don't have a clue, I just know I can't be stressed out, so if my staying here is going to be a problem, say so now." Sam said, with a silent prayer that he would allow her to stay, she felt safe there and she wanted a chance to explore what she and Lucky meant to one another.
It was different from what she felt with Jason, with him it had been, at least for her, power, passion, danger and controversy. With Lucky, it was more calm and desire just snuck up on her, she felt pretty and desirable when near him, but she also felt safe, like she could be herself without worrying about what he would say.
Perhaps they had a chance at happiness, she hadn't allowed herself to believe it before, but this child offered her possibilities at a future, and while she still wanted Jason, the reality check she had received when he walked out was finally enough to set her thinking on something that was worthwhile.
Could she and Lucky share happiness, it was a good possibility, and for once she went into the relationship or lack thereof with her eyes open and her heart ready. Was this what everyone was talking about, finally becoming an adult, and taking responsibility for your actions, because for once, she felt like she could stand on her own, no matter the outcome.
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The rest of the night passed in a blur, but come morning the two households that were needed for the wedding, were up and in full swing headache or not.
Liz paced back and forth in the living room, trying to remember where she had left her veil and then another thought struck and she couldn't for the life of her remember who was bring what for the something old, new, borrowed and blue. But when she was just about to breakdown Emily was by her side, assuring her everything would be fine. Except she saw the tears that were in her friends eyes, not sure what to do or say, she wrapped her in her embrace.
"Liz, what is it?" Emily asked, hoping beyond hope that the bride didn't have cold feet. But like an idiot she asked, "You don't regret what you are doing today do you, you're not getting cold feet right?"
"Oh God, no. I was just overwhelmed and then I started thinking about how no one from my family was going to be at my last wedding, because whether brother likes it or not, from here on out, he is mine." Liz said playfully but in all seriousness, with a sigh she continued, "I was hoping my grandmother would come, I know sometimes we were never that close but I always hoped she would be there for me, how can she do this to me, turn her back, doesn't she understand she is missing out on knowing her grandsons."
"Liz, you have family there, all your friends love you dearly, you are like a sister to me and after today you will be, you have five other women who have come to depend upon you, we are a sisterhood, and as much as it pains me to say, Carly is apart of that, don't feel badly for Audrey's mistakes, it is her loss not yours." Emily said, slowly releasing her.
"You are so right, she brought this on herself, I will not feel sorry for those who do not see this marriage for what it is. And that is two people finally becoming whole." Liz said, quickly hugging Em before running upstairs.
When she got to her room, she grabbed the phone, dialing the familiar number, that was engraved upon her mind. "Hi, Sonny, do you have a moment?" Liz asked shyly.
"Sure, do you need to speak to Jason?" Sonny asked, a little shocked to hear Liz's voice so early, especially today. "Is something wrong?"
"No, nothing is wrong, I wanted to ask you something though and no, I don't need to speak to Jason, I will see him soon." Liz said, taking a deep breath before continuing.
"I-I, I kind of have a favor to ask you, and feel free to say no. But I was just thinking and I realized I hadn't asked anyone and now that the wedding is here and everything, well I just thought of it, so really if you don't want to, I understand." Liz said, rambling on an on. "So what do you say?"
"Umm, Liz, what was the question?" sonny asked, trying to keep his laughter at bay. The woman was amazing in times of great stress but a little question caused her this much trouble, it was just endearing.
"Oh, right, sorry I guess I kind of forgot that. Okay, so well, will you give me away to Jason, I know I should have probably asked my own father or brother or something, but they didn't even want to attend my wedding and I am really not all that close to them, so I figured that we have known one another for so long, so you would be the logical choice, and because you love Jason so much and you have been so kind to me…" Liz began babbling again.
"Liz, you can stop, I would be honored, I am sorry that your parents weren't around more, but it would be my pleasure, really." Sonny said, amazed at the small woman's ability to speak so fast, he had barely been able to keep up with it all, it just confirmed what he already knew, Jason and her were making the right choice, they were everything to one another.
"Oh Sonny, thank you, thank you so much, you don't know what this means to me, okay I am going to shut up now, I have to get ready for my wedding. But thank you again." Liz said and slowly returned the phone to its cradle.
When she turned around she was mortified that every one of her friends had heard her babbling away as if she were a prepubescent girl getting ready for her first date. As soon as her face started to fall, her friend broke down in laughter hanging on to one another just to stay standing, it was all Liz needed, she to broke down in a fit of laughter. This was going to be a long day, but she couldn't wait to get it started.
Once everyone had themselves under control, they all headed back down stairs. Declan was standing just this side of the door, a wary look of caution on his face. "The cars are all ready, if you ladies are ready, I will see to it that you are ready for your appointments at the Metro Court Spa.
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Jason had heard Sonny's end of the call, but couldn't grasp what exactly the call had been about. Although he was sure he had heard Liz, it didn't sound like her, not at least to his ears, because he had never heard her speak so quickly before, fast yes, but she was just flying from what he could hear.
Before Jason had a chance to ask, Sonny supplied him with an answer, "Yes it was Elizabeth, and while I can't explain half of what she said, the gist is, she wanted to know if I would walk her down the aisle and I said yes, so everything is good."
"Oh, I guess I can understand her asking you, seeing as none of her family is here and she really isn't all that close to anyone of the older male variety. Thanks for agreeing I am sure you made her day." Jason said, clapping Sonny on the back.
"No my friend, that is you. You are giving her what she has wanted, for what feels like an eon, you make sure you take good care of her, she's a keeper." Sonny said, all of a sudden feeling very brotherly to the young nurse.
"Not a problem, you have my promise." Jason said, retreating up the stairs to the bathroom in his room.
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I also want to thank all of you who have left feedback, it is truly inspiring and gives me a great boost of confidence to continue this tale of mine. So thank you from the bottom of my heart.
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Remember feedback feeds my muse, if you want more, please feed the muse. The more feedback, the quicker I am liable to write and post updates, for I do need to know if you want this story to continue...