Brenda Returns – Chapter 3
Sonny's coffee shop (later that day)
"Yeah, Jason, I need to have a quick meeting, do you think you can make it by the office today?" Sonny asks as he leans over his desk in his office.
"Today?" Jason asks. He rubs his eyebrow. "I don't know. I promised someone I'd do something for them."
"What? Who? Elizabeth?"
"A friend."
Sonny sits back in his chair. "Well, tell Carly that I need you here, today. She can get her husband to help her with whatever it is."
"It's not Carly."
"Okay, then who is it? Because this is important."
"It doesn't matter who it is, I just can't make it today. I'll be in first thing tomorrow morning."
Sonny looks up at the doorway just as Kate walks in. "Tomorrow might be too late. I'll just have Max help me. Whoever this is, it better be important."
"It's for Brenda."
Sonny blinks a few times and looks away from Kate. "Brenda? What…what can you do for her all the way from Italy…or wherever she is? Can't she get someone who's a little closer to help her?"
"She's not in Italy, Sonny. She's here….in Port Charles."
Sonny doesn't say anything.
"You still there?" Jason asks.
"Yeah, I'm still here." Sonny throws down the pen he was holding. "Thanks for letting me know. I'll see you tomorrow morning."
Sonny hangs up the phone.
Kate sits on the edge of his desk. "You okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Sonny gets up from his chair and walks over to her. She watches him but doesn't move. He pulls her into a hug.
"Sonny? You're scaring me now."
Confused by this action, she wraps her arms around him to give him comfort. He pulls back, but stays close to her.
"You look beautiful today," he says, rubbing strands of her hair between his fingers.
"Thank you."
He leans in to kiss her but they stop when someone at the door clears their throat. They both look over and see Brenda standing at the door.
"Sorry to interrupt," Brenda says.
Sonny pulls away from Kate.
"Have you ever heard of knocking?" Kate asks.
Brenda's eyebrow raises. "The door was open…nothing to knock on."
"Well….may we help you?" Kate asks, annoyed.
"Uh, Kate…." Sonny starts.
"No Sonny, this is just rude."
"Kate…it's okay, really," he smiles.
Kate notices the way Brenda and Sonny are looking at each other.
"You don't look surprised to see me," Brenda says.
"I just talked to Jason, he mentioned you were in town."
Brenda nods and then holds out her hand to Kate.
"You must be Kate Howard. I'm Brenda Barrett."
Kate glances at Sonny before shaking Brenda's hand.
"Brenda," she nods, "it's nice to finally meet you. You don't know how hard I tried to get you for a photo shoot for our magazine."
"Really? I'm sorry that never worked out."
Kate nods and there's awkward silence.
"Uh, Kate. Why don't I meet you at the restaurant for lunch?" Sonny asks.
Kate tries not to look hurt. "Oh all right." She looks over at Brenda. "It was nice to meet you."
"You too."
"I'll see you later," Kate says to Sonny. She gives him a quick kiss.
"Bye," Sonny says.
Kate shuts the door as she leaves.
Sonny smiles at Brenda and looks her up and down. "You look good. How have you been?"
Brenda looks around the room. "I've been good. How about you? What's all this about?" she asks, sweeping her arm around.
Sonny offers her a chair and then sits down himself as she sits. "I do run a coffee business, you know?"
Brenda nods and smiles. "Riiiggghtttt. I'm sure that keeps the cops from asking questions."
Sonny shrugs. "I do what I can. How long are you in town for?"
"Just a few days. I had some business to take care of in New York and wanted to see Robin."
"Then what are you doing here?" he asks, rubbing his chin.
"Okay….and I wanted to see other friends, too."
Sonny nods. "Have you seen Jax yet?"
She shifts around nervously. "Why does everyone keep asking me that? No, I don't plan on seeing Jax."
He shrugs. "Well, you were going to marry him…..more than once, I might add. I mean, he stood you up at the altar, not the other way around."
"Yeah, well, so did you," she answers quickly.
"Touché."
"Did it kill you to see Carly marrying Jax?"
Sonny contemplates his answer. "I wasn't very happy about it, at first. But, believe it or not, Jax and I have made our peace."
Brenda's eyebrows raise. "Really? Wow. Something I could never get you two to do."
"Things change when there are children involved. We get along for Michael and Morgan's sake."
Brenda gets a far look in her eyes.
"Brenda?" Sonny asks.
Brenda's attention snaps back. "Hmm? Yeah, that's great."
"Everything okay? Jason mentioned he was taking care of something for you."
"Oh that," Brenda waves it off. "Yeah. He's just helping me out with something."
"You sure? Because, if you ever need anything, I'll help you any way I can, you know that?"
Brenda smiles softly. "I know that. But it's okay. I should probably go," she says, looking at her watch. "I promised Robin I'd meet her for lunch."
Sonny and Brenda both stand up. He walks around the desk and pulls Brenda into a hug.
"I'm glad you came by to see me," Sonny tells her.
"I am too, actually. I wasn't sure if I was going to. But I'm glad I did," she says smiling at him.