David and Ryan glared at one another. The hatred and contempt for the other man was written all over the faces.
"Get one thing straight David your brother was declared dead years ago. Ending Greenlee's marriage to him. Greenlee married me as much as you might hate it she loves me and married me. She's my wife." Ryan's eyes narrowed as he slowly fought David's accusation.
"And what do you suppose it will mean when that death certificate is nullified Ryan? No dead guy no dissolution of marriage. Your marriage will be more of a sham it was the first time you were married." David gloated.
Ryan wanted more than anything to knock the smug look off of David's face. His hatred for the man grew exponentially every time he was around the man. "Greenlee's my wife. He was gone for so long. She deserved to move on. We're happy, we love each other. No matter how much you hate it we love each other and our love has survived more than most people could handle. She won't leave me. She hated me after I left her for just a few months how do you think she feels knowing he left her for 9 years." His voice shook as he spoke; he knew he was grasping at straws. Greenlee had never looked at him the way she looked at Leo.
A sly grin washed over David's face, "You abandoned your pregnant wife Ryan. Leaving her to believe you died the same was as her first husband died. You watched her grieve. How Greenlee ever forgave you for that amazes me. As far as why Leo was gone you don't know why he was gone so long now do you Lavery?"
"You know don't you Hayward? You know where he's been don't you? You kept him hidden didn't you?"
David laughed, "Haven't we been over this before? Let me say this again for you. Maybe if I say it slower it will get through your thick head. I did not save my brother Ryan. I don't know where my brother has been." David said the last lines slowly emphasizing on each word.
"I don't know how many different ways I can tell you that Ryan. Leo told you he wasn't with me. I told you he wasn't one of my patients."
"Right…your secret Orpheus Patients. You sure enjoyed sitting there playing God with people didn't you? Knowing you had this secret that no one else was a part of. Thank God Roger was the last of your mystery patients David. Maybe now we can get past all the pain you cause."
"Right…Roger…." David started coyly a mischievous grin on his face. "That's right Roger was the last of my patients wasn't he Ryan…." David laughed.
Ryan stared at the other man dumbfounded by the endless exposition that David offered. "What are you saying David?"
David turned away from the overgrown ape standing before him rolling his eyes. As if he would tell the likes of a Lavery about things he would never understand. David poured himself another glass of scotch before turning back to the blank expression on Ryan's face.
"Look Lavery we're done here. I suggest you go home and wait for Greenlee to come to her senses and drop you for the real love of her life."
Ryan shook his head, "No way Hayward, I'm not leaving without an answer. Are there more people hidden away?" Ryan stared at the man waiting for an answer growing more and more irritated with the silence coming from David.
Stuck at an impasse knowing he would get no response from the doctor Ryan finally turned to leave the home he had never been invited to.
Greenlee stared down at the newspaper clipping in her hands. She remembered the day that photo had appeared on the cover of newspapers in Pine Valley as well as in New York City. Four women smiled back at her. She marveled at how young and happy they appeared to be. Underneath the pasted on smiles were four women who set out to defy the odds. Together they had created more than just a company it had become a sanctuary to hide from grief, pain, and loneliness. In Fusion they found more than just success they had found each other.
"This was the night we launched Fusion. No one thought we could pull it off but, after that night no one could ignore us." She remembered. "Who would have thought after the Roger fiasco Simon and I would have worked together let alone become friends again. And Kendall? God I hated her here but somehow we became family." Greenlee rubbed her finger over the worn paper that had been folded and unfolded a countless number of times. The picture brought her back to those first days creating Fusion when they had been unstoppable. Now well now they weren't the Fusion Four anymore. Mia had long left Pine Valley for to run the San Francisco office. She had left Fusion a few years ago to pursue a new dream. Greenlee hadn't heard from her in years. Now looking at the tall woman with the soft girls and fair skin smiling back at her she couldn't believe how much she missed her.
Simone had been killed without Greenlee there. Greenlee regretted never getting to say goodbye to her friend. A single tear streaked down her face a she thought about Simone. They had been friends for so long she had taken for granted that the woman, with the infectious laugh and the innate ability to get into trouble, would always be there. Kendall was the only one left besides herself. Fusion was still a success but it never felt the same without Mia and Simone.
"Where did you get his Leo?" He had told her he was in France but the newspaper was in English how had he gotten this. Who was the mysterious woman that had found him?
Marissa felt her arm being tugged by the dark haired woman in front of her. When they had woken up that morning Marissa wanted nothing more than to just go back to sleep. He was still alive in her dreams. She watched him run around the park with his sisters, their laughter filling up the field. If it wasn't for Bianca she would have given in to the grief.
Bianca had forced her to get out of bed, to take a shower, to eat breakfast, to live. Marissa knew one day she would wake up and the pain in her heart wouldn't hurt as bad…but that day seemed so far off. Now he found herself being dragged through the park towards a old wooden building.
"Bianca! Where are we going!" Marissa called out hoping to slow the girl.
Bianca reluctantly stopped bringing Marissa next to her, "Now if I told you that, it would ruin the surprise, now wouldn't it?" She gave her a innocent grin that said she was up to something.
"Come on Binx I'm tired. Can't this wait for another day!" Marissa pleaded.
"Nope. Come on 'Rissa!" Bianca grabbed her hand again pulling the woman along with her. The quickly approached the old worn down building. Bianca had spent a lot of time there during her teenage years. There was something always special about this place she wanted to share this place with Marissa.
"I am not going in there Binx. That place looks like it could fall over any second." Marissa backed away from the old boat house. She had seen this place many times but never imagined going in there, she'd probably fall in the lake.
"Nah, it's just a little old that's all. Do you trust me?" Bianca smiled at her again.
The second Bianca showed off that beautiful smile Marissa knew she had been beat. She had never been able to say no to that face. Today was no different. "OF course I trust you Binx. With my life." Marissa relented.
Bianca turned and excitedly ran up the small set of stairs leading to the back entrance to the boat house. She couldn't wait to tell Marissa about why this place was so special. As she entered the boat house she stopped dead in her tracks causing Marissa to run right in to her.
"What is it Binx?" The red head asked confused.
Bianca noticed Greenlee and Leo sitting in the boat house. Neither of them noticed the intruders. She couldn't help but notice the serious looks on their faces. "He must be telling her about what happened" Bianca thought to herself.
Marissa watched confused as Bianca quickly turned around and ushered her out of the boat house. "What's going on Bianca?"
"We'll come back another time baby. The boat house was occupied. When I bring you here it's just going to be me and you." Bianca hoped Marissa wouldn't ask more questions.
Worry washed over Marissa as she wondered what Bianca was hiding. "Who was there Binx?" she couldn't hold back the nervous sound to her voice. Marissa imagined JR sitting in the boat house waiting for them…holding a gun.
"No one 'Rissa." Bianca lied. She noticed the look of fear in Marissa's eyes instantly knowing being coy was the last thing the woman needed right then. "It's just Greenlee and Leo."
"Really? It's not JR?" Marissa asked letting out a deep breath that she held in as her stomach untwisted itself.
"Really. I didn't mean to scare you baby. I just wanted to give Greenlee and Leo some privacy."
"Why I'm sure they wouldn't mind if we said Hi. Leo loves you Binx and I wouldn't mind getting to know my uncle."
"Not today 'Rissa. Whatever they're talking about it looked pretty serious. Besides your surprise will be here soon."
"I told you I don't like surprises Binx. Just tell me what you have planned." Marissa pulled the taller woman towards her. She lifted herself on the tips of her toes and started kissing Bianca's neck knowing the woman wouldn't last long.
"Oh…that's….not…fair…..'Rissa…" Bianca's eyes closed on their own as she felt her body giving into the other woman. "You don't play fair do you?"
"You know I don't!" Marissa laughed.
Bianca came to her senses as she heard Marissa's laugh. It was the first time she had heard the woman laugh in ages. She missed that laugh.
"Ok enough hanky panky woman. Stop trying to seduce me." Bianca fought to not given into her girlfriend.
"Is it working?" Marissa asked seductively.
Bianca quickly pulled away from the woman's embrace. "Nope!" she laughed as she ran away from the women knowing full well Marissa was gaining the upper hand.
"HEY!" Marissa yelled after her. She chased Bianca across the park. She saw Bianca duck behind a park bench. Marissa slowed her run to a slow jog as she formulated a plan in her mind.
It was unseasonable warm in Pine Valley but somehow the snow hadn't melted away yet. Marissa quietly grabbed a handful of snow into her hand. She took the long way to where she had seen Bianca hide hoping to surprise the woman. Marissa crept slowly towards the bench, trying to stay as quiet as possible.
With the bench in sight she ran around the side of it ready to hurl the snowball at the unprepared woman. "AH!" She screamed stopping mid scream as she found an empty space where she had seen Bianca hide.
Marissa stood up looking around at the empty park. Where had Bianca hidden? Where else was there to hide? She turned her body 360 degree's trying to figure out where Bianca was when she was suddenly hit in the face with a sloppy snow ball.
Bianca's laughter screamed out as the woman popped up from behind another bench. "Looking for me?" Bianca asked excitedly.
"You…you…you're going to pay for that little girl!" Marissa wiped the snow from her face unable to hold back a smile.
Bianca stood back laughing at Marissa, "Oh honey I dare you to try." The laughter stopped as Marissa lunged for the woman again and Bianca had to turn and run away.
She darted across the field trying to get away from the wrath of Marissa. Half way across the field she felt the arms wrap around her stomach, she knew she had lost. Her body fell quickly to the snow covered grass, Marissa's body quickly covering her own.
Marissa pinned Bianca to the ground as the dark haired woman tired to fight for control unable to once Marissa began running her fingers across Bianca's sides.
"Stop….please…'Rissa…" Bianca laughed so hard as she tried to piece together a complete sentence. Which was impossible as Marissa knew exactly where Binx was ticklish.
"Say Uncle…Say Uncle…" Marissa's green eyes were filled with happiness.
"Uncle! Uncle!" Bianca screamed "You win!"
"And what's my prize?" she looked into the brown eyes under her.
"Me!" Bianca pulled Marissa closer to her their lips meeting.
"MOMMY!" Gabby's young voice called out to the town women tangled up in one another.
Leo took the newspaper clipping from Greenlee. Remembering the day he found it in Maman's cupboard. There had been a stack of papers and what looked like a scrapbook hidden deep within the cupboard. He began to tell her what happened after he found the clippings.
Leo stared down at the four women in the picture in his hand. He didn't know why but there was something familiar about them something comforting in there smiles.
"Simone Torres, Mia Saunders, Greenlee du Pres, and Kendall Hart. The women behind the hottest new cosmetics company" read the description under the picture.
All four women were breath takenly beautiful but it was the petite blonde woman in the middle that caught his attention. His heart skipped a beat as he stared into the deep brown eyes. He didn't know how long he stared at that picture wondering who this woman was and why Manan had a picture from an American newspaper.
He had long stopped trying to remember his past and had accepted the man he was now. He had woken up with no identity but now he was Rennie Leonce Marie-Louis.
But, now as he looked at that woman he fought hard to try and remember his life before coming to stay with Maman. His eyes closed with the image of her burned into his mind. He could see her standing in front of him smiling. He concentrated on her harder and harder trying to remember who Greenlee Du Pres was. Suddenly he heard a scream in the back of his head. He had heard that scream once before, when he woke up in this strange place. What did this beautiful woman have to do with that heart wrenching scream?
His eyes quickly opened as the sound of a car pulling up interrupted his thoughts. The sound of Maman walking up the small home became louder as she approached the door. As she stuck the key in the door he quickly folded the paper and hid it in the couch. He rushed over to the pile of papers hidden in the cupboard grabbing the paper at the top. He turned to her as she called out to him.
"Rennie! I'm back!" Her cheerful voice rang out.
He stood frozen in the middle of the room as he waited for her. He wanted to know about the women who had been on the cover of the paper's she had hidden away from him.
"Rennie? What are you doing in here?" She entered the rooming stopping as she saw him standing there with a paper in his hand.
"I'm sorry Maman…I saw the papers. Who are these women? Why do you have newspapers clippings of them?" He held up the paper to her. The same picture of Greenlee, Simone, Mia, and Kendall covered the front page as the newspaper announced the Cambias Takeover of Fusion.
"She looks so familiar Maman like I should remember her." Leo pointed to the pretty blonde with the French last name. "Is she your daughter Maman? Did she hurt you?" He knew she had lost a son maybe this woman she hid away from him was another person that had abandoned her.
"No mon fils (my son) she is not my daughter. Please…" She guided him to the other room asking him to sit and wait for her to return. She came back moments later with a stack of newspapers under her arm.
"This woman is Greenlee du Pres. She lives in America. I do not know her nor have we ever met." She began in her soft French accent.
"Why then Maman do you have newspapers with her?" his curiosity growing.
Silently she thumbed through the papers before finding the one she was looking for. She handed it to the boy next to her motioning for him to read it.
"PROTEUS DRUG LORD AND SON DEAD!" he read the headline stretched across the newspaper. Under the headline it read; "Vanessa Courtland and Leo du Pres killed after falling 100ft over Millers Falls"
He turned back to Maman, "Who are these people?"
She sat silently only encouraging him to keep looking. He flipped the paper over and was looking in to a face that matched his own.
He let out a loud gasp as he looked into the same brown eyes he saw each morning in the mirror. "Maman! Is this me! Was this Greenlee my wife?" He asked as he realized the similar last names. As his mind grasped around the ramifications of the young man being him he started spitting out question after question at her, never giving her time to answer.
"Rennie! Rennie please slow down." She placed a hand on his shoulder trying to steady the young man.
"What's going on Maman! Did you know who I was this whole time! Why wouldn't you tell me! I….I trusted you…I loved you!" he was hurt as he thought of this kind woman betraying him.
"Rennie please let me explain everything to you. Dr. Marius, the doctor that took care of you after I found you, brought me that paper. When I saw that picture I knew that was you…it had to be. It was the same brown eyes. The same michevious grin. I did not want to tell you son until I knew the truth.
I began to learn everything I could about this Leo du Pres. I could not tell you until I knew everything. This woman…" She pointed to the picture of Greenlee, "Was Leo's wife. He died to save her. I could not call her and tell her that you were of her dead husband. Can you imagine the pain she would feel if I was wrong. I had to be sure."
He nodded as he looked down at Greenlee's sad brown eyes.
"She took his death so hard Rennie. They loved each other very much. Leo died on October 17, 2002. She watched him die. When I read how difficult his death was for her I so badly wanted you to be him. To give her back her love the way I never got my own love back. But Rennie when I learned the date of his death I knew…I knew you were not him. Mi amor I found you in that ditch in September. How could you be in my home and fall off a cliff at the same time?"
"How do I know you are not lying?" He knew his words would hurt but, he had no memory of who he was or his life before. Maybe she was sent to keep him from this Greenlee.
She hung her head hurt by his mistrust. "I would never lie to you Rennie. I love you as if you were my own son. But I can give you Dr. Marius' number he will tell you when I called him."
Greenlee sat quietly clinging to every word from Leo's mouth. Wondering how he went from being Rennie to being her Leo. She began to have doubts as to his true identity. Was he really her Leo or was he an imposter coming her to fool her.
"Mommy…Mommy….Mommy…"Gabby screamed out at her mommy as she ran across the field before flinging herself into Bianca's welcoming arms.
Marissa opened her own up for Miranda as the little girl gave her a tight embrace. "What are you girls doing here?" she asked excited to see them.
"This is your surprise…" Bianca whispered.
"This is the best surprise ever!" Marissa pulled both girls into her arms as the fell to the ground giggling.
"We brought lunch!" Gabby screamed excitedly.
Marissa laughed having Gabby and Mimo around made the days hurt less. There was nothing more precious the sound of a child's laughter.
The small family went over to the picnic benches and enjoyed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches which Miranda had proudly announced she made. The girls small voices filled both the park and Marissa's heart with laughter.
As they finished lunch Marissa noticed the pair of feet walking towards them the person was hidden by a bouquet of blue and green balloon. "What the…?" she looked around at her girls as the smiled excitedly.
"UNCLE ZACH! AUNT KENDALL!" Miranda yelled out to the balloons.
"Hi guys!" Kendall greeted them from behind the balloons. "Did you have a good lunch?" she squatted down in front of Gabby taking a napkin and whipping grape jelly from the child's cheek.
"Aw uh!" Gabby answered shaking her head, "And we found Mommy and 'Rissa playing in the snow!"
Bianca blushed as the child ratted them out and Kendall gave her an approving look and winked at the two women.
"Playing In the snow uh?" Zach teased them, "What were we playing?"
"They were wrestling!" Gabby answered as her voice carried the two women's face turned bright read as they imagined the thoughts in Kendall and Zach's head.
"It was just a friendly snowball fight." Bianca quickly covered.
"Yeah one that I won!" Marissa jested as they all laughed. "So what's up with all the balloons Zach? Or should I call you balloon boy?"
"I doubt these balloons could carry me away." He joked back. "Why don't you ask your daughters…"
Marissa turned to MImo and Gabby wondering what was going on.
"Gabby was sad she didn't get to say goodbye to AJ." The seven year old answered.
"Mommy says AJ is up in heaven! I want to send AJ pictures in heaven!" Gabby's innocent voice explained.
Bianca explained then explained the girls idea to draw pictures and write letters to AJ and use the balloons to deliver them to AJ in heaven.
Marissa felt a tear stream down her face…she was so lucky to have people around her who loved her and her son so much. She picked Gabby up and placed her in her lap, "I think that's a great idea honey!"
For the next hour they all sat on the bench drawing pictures and writing letters to AJ. They told him how much they missed him and couldn't wait to see him again one day. They put the papers in envelopes that were then tied to balloon. With a letter or picture attached to each balloon Zach and Kendall watched on as the small family walked out to the middle of the field.
The each took turns releasing to balloons into the heavens. When there was only one balloon left in Gabby's hand she held her arms up to Marissa.
Gabby and her Mommy 'Rissa looked up to the heaven's as they released the last blue balloon. "Bye AJ! I love you!" Gabby whispered before wrapping her arms around Marissa's neck.
After Leo explained how he had come into possession of the newspaper article with her picture on it he had grown silent again. He knew what she was thinking now. He had come to Pine Valley the first time to take her money. He would have done that had he not fallen head over heels in love with her.
"So who are you? Are you really Leo or are you Rennie?" she finally asked as she fought back the sadness that was threatening to take over as she realized this man may not be the same man she fell in love with.
"I trusted Maman. She took care of me, she loved me." He explained. "But I was still drawn to that picture and the woman with the sad eyes.
I never gave Maman that picture back…never. Every night when she thought I was sleeping I would stare at that picture of you. I memorized your smile…your dimples…the sadness in your eyes.
I woke up to those eyes every morning. I wanted Maman to tell me I really was Leo du Pres just so I could come to America and see happiness in your eyes.
Maman was right Dr. Marius confirmed I had been in Paris when Leo du Pres had been killed. I had no reason to not believe this man he was a doctor after all. But still I was drawn to you. I dreamed about you every night Greens."
Hearing him call her Greens was like a knife being plunged into her heart. Did he deserve to call her that? If he wasn't really Leo than he shouldn't call her that. If he was Leo and he knew who she was and still stayed away from her not trying to find her when he saw who he might be, could she forgive him.
"Leo…Rennie….whoever the hell you are please stop….I can't listen anymore…" her heart was breaking all over again. Whether he was Rennie or Leo learning the truth was hurting her more than she anticipated.
She tried to run away from him but was stopped by his strong arms wrapping around her waist. "You can't leave…You need to hear this. I know this hurts you Greenlee. I wish it didn't but you need to know everything."
She looked into his pleading eyes. There was something there that despite her doubts trusted those eyes. Those eyes were the eyes she had fallen in love with…the eyes that she drank in each morning and mourned every day.
"I dreamed of you every day." He started again. "I had such vivid dreams of you and I at a Boathouse just like this. Dancing with each other. Holding each other after swimming in this lake. They felt so real. Most nights the dreams were nightmares. I could hear a woman's screams in my mind over and over again all night.
With every dream or nightmare I saw more and more. Things I couldn't explain places I couldn't remember going to. Skating through a park, being stuck in an elevator, getting drunk in a cellar, using an axe on someone's computer.
One morning I woke up and it had all come back to me. These weren't dreams of a woman I wished I knew. They were memories of me and you baby. I remembered our wedding here at the boathouse…"
Leo lay in bed staring at her picuture. He had just woken up to the most wonderful dream of her. She was standing in the middle of a boathouse in the most beautiful wedding dress he'd ever seen. They were surrounded by flowers and candles.
'When I fell in love you with you I fell in love with life. You make me laugh till I cry, and then when I'm crying, somehow you make me laugh. You keep me on my toes and you make my life an adventure. So I'm looking forward to a lifetime of laughter and tears and the unexpected. And the love. And the man. I want a lifetime with you, Leo du Pres."
He shot up in bed. Maman had been wrong. Maybe she didn't know what month it was when she found him. He wasn't Rennie Leonce Marie-Louis he was Leo du Pres. Husband of Greenlee Smythe du Pres, brother of David Hayward and Trey Kenyon. His mother was Vanessa Courtland.
His heart skipped beats as he thought of his life with Greenlee. The emptiness he had felt in his heart suddenly made sense. He needed her…probably as bad as she needed her.
He climbed out of the bed still clutching the newspaper clipping. He had to tell Maman what he remembered. He wanted to take her to America to meet Greenlee. Greenlee would love his Maman she saved him for her.
The house was still dark as the morning sun was slowly rising. The floor boards whined as he ran down the hall to her room. He flung the door open…he looked down at the woman lying in the bed and suddenly felt sick to his stomach.
He saw who she was for the first time….his Maman was….Vanessa Courtland….his mother….