Brenda Returns – Chapter 10
"I can only imagine what you think of me," Brenda says.
She and Elizabeth are sitting outside on the porch. Jason is inside with the kids, watching a movie.
"I'm a mother, too, Brenda. I would do anything for my kids."
Brenda nods.
"But you'd tell the father and have him tested." Brenda looks down at her clasped fingers.
"If it meant making sure my child gets better, then yes."
"She's lived her whole life without a father figure. I just think that it might upset her right now, or confuse her," Brenda says, shifting so she's facing Elizabeth. "She can't take any stress."
"Or maybe she'd be thrilled," Elizabeth shrugs. "And if he matched, then that's the quickest way for her to get healthy, right?"
"Maybe."
"You don't have to tell me…but after seeing her this evening and knowing Jason's opinion…I'm going to take a good guess that her father is Jax."
Brenda looks up at her and doesn't say anything.
"Did you know that I carried a baby for he and his wife?"
Brenda's eyes get bigger. "Carly?"
Elizabeth bites her lower lip and tries not to laugh out loud. "No, not Carly. Courtney…Sonny's sister."
"Right, I remember her. She was with Jason before I left…"
Elizabeth rolls her eyes. "Right. Anyway, Courtney couldn't have children so I agreed to be a surrogate. I was married to Lucky at the time and we desperately needed the money…"
"And Lucky was okay with this?" Brenda asks.
"Ehhh, well, yes and no. Well, not really but I did it anyway. But the point is, I got to see how much Jax cared about becoming a father."
"He can just get so controlling, sometimes. Hope has been in a very open, casual environment." Brenda stands up and looks out over the yard. "I don't want to put any pressure on her…I could just see him dictating which pre-school she'd go to because it had the best….whatever."
Elizabeth has a confused look on her face. "So, that's the only reason why you're keeping him from his daughter?"
Brenda's shoulders slouch and she shakes her head. "No. It's just another excuse I've made for myself."
She turns back around to face Elizabeth and leans against the banister.
"I honestly don't even know how it started. The only thing I can remember when I found out for sure that I was pregnant was how much I wanted to hurt him because he hurt me," she says softly.
Elizabeth bows her head and slightly nods.
"I'm just so scared how he's going to react at this point. I mean, I've kept it from him for 5 years."
Elizabeth nods. "I know what you're going through, in a way. I kept the fact that Jason was Jake's father from him for a few months. I mean, it's not years but I understand your fear. But trust me, once he gets over that initial shock and he calms down, I think things will work out."
"What if he wants to try to get custody of her?" she asks, her voice shaking.
"Jason will get you a good lawyer," Elizabeth says, standing up and taking a step closer to Brenda.
"I can't keep relying on your husband," Brenda smiles, shaking her head.
"I'm used to sharing him," Elizabeth says, smiling softly. She reaches over for Brenda's hand. "If there's anything we can do to help, just let us know."
"Thank you," Brenda whispers.
"We better go inside. It's too quiet in there," Elizabeth laughs.
Jason looks up as the women come into the house.
"Hey," he whispers since he has 3 sleeping children lying across his lap.
"Oh my God, this is so precious," Brenda whispers, touching her neck. "I wish the heads of the Five Families could see this," she teases.
Elizabeth nudges Brenda as Jason rolls his eyes.
Brenda picks up Hope, who nestles against her shoulder. Elizabeth picks up Jake who doesn't stir at all and Jason stands up, lifting up Cameron as he does.
"Thanks for dinner. Thank Maria, too. It was wonderful," Elizabeth says softly.
"You're welcome. I'm glad you guys came out. I think the kids had fun," Brenda nods.
"I do, too," Jason agrees.
They show themselves out as Brenda takes Hope upstairs.
~*~
A few days later, the board is presented with Hope's case.
"Any reason why the family wants to remain anonymous?" Nikolas Cassadine asks as he reviews the case.
Robin stands in the front of the room. "I didn't ask. They requested it and I didn't need to know why."
"Maybe it's a mob baby," Edward Quartermaine mumbles.
"Edward," Dr. Monica Quartermaine says and shakes her head. "It doesn't matter who it is. Dr. Scorpio, do you feel the patient is old enough to try something this strong? This says that the child isn't even five."
"I'm actually going to cut down on the dosage. I've consulted with the pharmaceutical company and they've recommended the dosage that would be safe for the child's size, gender and age."
"Jax, you haven't said anything," Nikolas says, glancing over at Jax.
"What happens if the child doesn't get this treatment or it doesn't work?" he asks.
"We'll need to find a bone marrow donor. Most likely from a close relative."
"Why hasn't the family tried that already?" he asks.
"Well, I believe the child's mother has been tested and she wasn't a match. An operation is the last resort."
"Is it too dangerous?"
"Any operation can be dangerous, Jax. This child has been through a lot of treatments and a lot of tests and if I can cure him…or her with medicine, then that's what I'm going to try to do first."
Jax slowly nods and puts the file down. "I trust your judgment, Dr. Scorpio."
"Me too," Nikolas says.
"Then let's vote," Edward chimes in.
~*~
Robin quickly walks over to the nurses station where Elizabeth is signing off on charts.
"Can you do me a huge favor?" she asks Elizabeth.
"Sure, what's up?" Elizabeth asks, setting a chart down.
"Can you go pick up Hope for me?" she says softly, looking around while she asks.
Elizabeth gets a confused look on her face. "Okay, but…."
"Robin," Jax says as he approaches the nurses station. "Hi Elizabeth."
Elizabeth straightens up. "Hi, Jax."
"Robin, I'd really appreciate it if you'd keep the board up to speed on the patient's response to the drug treatment. Would that be possible?"
"Sure, I don't see why not."
Jax smiles and nods. "Great. Bye."
Both Robin and Elizabeth say bye to Jax and wait to continue to talk until he's on the elevator.
"So, the board approved the drug treatment?" Elizabeth asks.
Robin nods. "But I promised Brenda I'd try to help her keep her….."
"Her secret," Elizabeth volunteers.
"Right. The board doesn't even know if the patient is a little boy or girl, they just know it's a four year old child."
"Does Brenda know?"
Robin shakes her head. "Not yet. I'm getting ready to call her now."
"Okay, I'm on my way," Elizabeth says as she heads around the nurses station to the locker room.
~*~
"I love that song you sang to me in the car," Elizabeth tells Hope as they get off the elevator at the hospital.
They start to walk down the hallway together when Elizabeth almost walks into Carly, who is looking down at her purse and has tears in her eyes.
"Oh sorry," Carly says before looking up and seeing that it's Elizabeth. She then rolls her eyes. "Or maybe not."
"That's okay, Carly," Elizabeth says in a cheery voice, trying to keep up appearances for Hope's sake.
"You're a pretty little girl," Carly tells Hope.
"Thank you," Hope says. She shifts her doll in her arms.
"Carly, are you okay?" Elizabeth asks, genuinely concerned because Carly's tears fall faster after the little girl looks up at her.
"Yeah. I'm fine. Nothing to concern yourself over. You have a child with the man you love."
Without another word, Carly leaves them. Elizabeth takes a deep breath and squeezes Hope's hand.
"Come on, let's go see Dr. Robin."