Chapter 11

Bo couldn't sleep at all. First Melanie's hostility, his anguish over Carly's new relationship, Hope's unexplainable sullenness then this weird dream again; the second time he'd had it. Who was Gwyneth? And why did she look so much like Zach? The same eyes, mouth, nose... and something about the cold look she'd given him reminded him of someone.

Rubbing his face with his hands, Bo got out bed and slipped on a robe. After checking on Ciara and tucking the blankets more securely over her, he went downstairs and made himself some cold cereal. As he picked at the Honey Loops; a half forgotten memory came to mind...

'I never even had cold cereal till I left home,' Carly admitted, munching her way through a bowl of corn flakes.

Grinning over his cup of coffee he teased, 'oh that's right, you had poached eggs and hollandaise for breakfast, right?'

'Right.' She replied with her mouth full. 'If I'd known how good this was, I would've given up my hollandaise in a second, believe me.'

He chuckled, shaking his head. Carly's lady-like refinement and classical beauty clearly spelled aristocrat, but her down to earthiness and independent spirit sometimes made him forget that. 'You know, I can't picture it.'

'What?'

'You, living on some huge estate. That whole life.'

She shrugged. 'Yeah well... I try not to think about it that much.' Abruptly she got up to put the now empty bowl in the sink.

'I bet your father wouldn't let me within three miles of you.'

'Well my father probably wouldn't know unless one of the servants told him.' was the dry reply as she sipped her coffee.

'Well if he had seen us what would he have done; let's see... haul me in the dungeon, feed me to the hounds...?'

'The only thing my father cared about was making sure I married money and position, that's all.' Despite the light tone, he could still detect the faint bitterness she still harboured towards Henri Von Leuschner for betrothing her to Larry. Suddenly he thought about how things would've been if Carly had been his first love; he knew he would've fought tooth and nail to get her out of that estate that had been more of a prison than a home to her and Frankie; far away from their hateful, ambitious parents.

'Well, I guess you showed him, didn't you?'

She smiled in agreement. 'And I haven't looked back. And I won't.'

He reached out, taking her into his arms. 'There's too much for us to look forward to; so there's no point in wasting time looking back, okay?'

Green eyes solemn but loving she nodded, lifting up her face for his heartfelt kiss.

Dropping the spoon into the bowl, Bo pushed it away, appetite gone. He didn't want to dwell on memories, he wanted Carly. And he had to set the wheels in motion if he wanted to convince her he was really serious. First thing in the morning he was going to talk to her even if he had to lock them both in the hospital supply room until she listened to him, or better yet, go to her apartment. Then he was going to ask Hope for a divorce; he'll be blunt and straight for love, especially for a woman like Carly, was always worth it. Tony Delfino be damned.

::::::::::::::::::::::

'Good morning,' Carly greeted Tony as he entered the kitchen. 'Feeling better?'

While saying goodnight to him last night, she'd noticed he looked pale and rubbing his forehead. Diagnosing a migraine, she'd insisted he spent the night instead of driving back with a throbbing head. After giving him some pills, he'd shared her bed; lying spooned against her. They were yet to actually make love and while Carly wondered when she would be ready to give herself to him completely, she had to admit that the mere intimacy of sleeping beside him had been nice.

But he's not Bo... the inner voice kept reminding her for half the night. He can never be like Bo, your true love.

Go to hell, she'd told the voice. I deserve to be a man's one and only, not another man's "other woman"!

'Much better.' Tony smiled, lifting his chin to kiss her. 'Of course I would be, thanks to my own personal doctor.'

' I couldn't let you drive with a migraine.' She touched his head again. 'You aren't burning up. Do you normally get them?'

'No, that's the weird thing; I never even get sick.' He shrugged, stroking her hair. 'What are we making over here?'

'Pancakes, and I have to warn you; it's the only thing I know how to make besides omelettes.' She said, turning back to attend to them.

Tony wrapped his arms round her from behind. 'Don't worry about it, I'm sure it will come out great.' He wanted to say he would make breakfast for her every morning but didn't want to break his promise about taking it one day at a time. Carly was the first and only woman he wanted to marry and he wasn't going to scare her away by saying something stupid. And she was so relaxed and comfortable around him now, he could see her accepting to be his wife when the time was right.

'Adrienne's a nice lady.' He commented.

'She's the greatest, it's thanks to her that I moved here in the first place.' Carly placed the hot pancakes on a plate.

'Hmm. But that husband of hers, what's with him and the questions? I felt like I was on trial or something.'

'Justin's a lawyer.'

'Oh, that's explains it. I should've smelt "lawyer" on him with that attitude of his. I know he's your friend babe, but I got to tell you, I didn't like him.'

'You don't have to spare my feelings because he's not my friend.' Carly turned to him. 'Justin's a hundred per cent jerk and Hope's No. 1 fan. So criticise away.'

'Was he ever mean to you?' Tony asked, opening the fridge and taking out a bottle of Evian water.

Carly thought of Justin's unsympathetic and unfair way towards her since her return. One unforgivable remark from his mouth had earned him a slap; the only reason he'd defended her during the accidental shooting was to prevent Hope and Bo from getting back together while she languished in prison. He had changed drastically, just like most of her so called friends and family.

'We just aren't like we used to be.' She said now, setting breakfast on a tray. 'He feels like everyone feels about me.'

'But his wife doesn't, neither does that kid you introduced me to, Brady.'

'No they don't and I'm very lucky to have them. And you of course.' She grinned.

'Yeah... me.' Tony kissed her cheek. 'Don't you ever forget that.'

After breakfast, Carly walked with him downstairs, hand in hand.

'So, when do you have to go back to New York?' she asked him.

'Monday, I'm afraid. But you should know that I'll be commuting from now on; if that's fine by you.'

'I'm fine with it.' Carly nodded.

'By the way, and I'm taking a risk here, I want to introduce you to Gianni and my Uncle Vito.'

'You've told them about me already?'

'Why not, you're my girl.' He slipped his arms round her. 'Maybe when you get a few days off you could fly over to New York and meet them. What do you say?'

Carly hesitated. 'Tony... would your son want you involved with a woman with a chequered past like mine?'

'You were more of the victim, Carly; so stop talking like that.' He urged gruffly. 'Come on... don't think about it anymore. And I really want my family to meet you.'

Move on all the way, Carly told herself firmly. New man, new acquaintances. 'I would like to meet them too. I'll check my schedule.'

'Great.' Tony smiled down at her. 'By the way I owe you for the fantastic pancakes.'

'Oh?'

Carly yelped as Tony bent her tango style and kissed her thoroughly.

'You're a nut!' she giggled helplessly as he raised her back up again.

''Course I'm a nut, because I'm deliriously in love with you.' Tony kept his arms tight round her waist. 'Deliriously, hopelessly, deeply in love with you.'

Carly submitted to another kiss, wrapping her arms round his neck. And several yards away in his car, Bo saw the whole thing; his heart heavy with sheer devastation. Painfully, he forced himself to watch Carly touch Tony's face and wave goodbye as he rolled away in his car.

Carly stood there for a while, a thoughtful look on her face before going back inside. Bo pressed his hand against his mouth, eyes welling up.

You need to force yourself to realise that Mum has no room for you in her life anymore. She has Tony...

'No...' he whispered, tears running down fast. 'No, princess, no!'

While he'd spent a sleepless night thinking about her, Carly had allowed Tony into her bed; they'd made love, he'd spent the night with her.

Get it through your head Bo, it's over.

Tony touching Carly, kissing all over her, the image was too unbearable. Bo gritted his teeth, utterly miserable. His ultimate punishment; after all hadn't he done it to her; taking Hope back into his house and bed, refusing to think about her at all.

Carly meant what she said, she wanted nothing to do with him; and how. At first he'd thought she was dating Delfino just to punish him but she's really moved on. It was truly over between them. And he was doomed to spend the rest of his life living a lie.

Brushing his eyes with his fist, he started the engine and drove off.

:::::::::::

'Jennifer told me what happened between you two, don't you think you were too hard on her Carly?' Daniel reproached her.

Carly looked at him. 'No Daniel, I wasn't. After everything I had to put with, I definitely wasn't. Would you like me to pour out the injustice I got from you as well because I will if you still want to advocate for your girlfriend.'

'What's got into you lately?' Daniel demanded. 'Why are you so...'

'Hateful? Assertive? Truthful?' Carly asked mercilessly. 'Maybe all of a sudden I've decided not to let some things slide anymore. Maybe I've decided to stop letting people think I'm responsible for everything that happened in the past; like you for instance, thinking that I willingly gave our daughter away and living the good life... with a monster!'

Daniel winced. He regretted the whole thing but he was yet to actually apologise to her. He touched her shoulder but she slapped it away angrily. Obviously bottled anger pouring out.

'I was a jerk, I didn't know and I'm sorry. I'm sorry Carly; I really am.' He said quietly.

'You can't let it all go away by just saying "sorry".' Carly said coldly. 'You were the one who was hateful and I let you make me think that I did something so terrible. I was all alone, Daniel! Alone! So don't you interfere with the situation between Jennifer and me because you don't understand at all, neither do you know me.'

'It's not just because I'm dating Jennifer; I know for a fact she loves you very much.' Daniel persisted. 'She never meant to hurt you; you can't hold her being Hope's cousin against her.'

'Like I said, you don't understand the situation and I'm going to ask you again, mind your own business.'

'Come on...'

'I said, mind your own damn business!' Carly shouted at him, startling him. 'Back off Daniel Jonas, I mean it.'

Daniel stared bewilderedly as Carly walked away, her heels clicking angrily. There was something hard about Carly these days despite appearing to be back to her old self and apparently happy with her new boyfriend. All of a sudden she was lashing out at her detractors, not that he blamed her but Jennifer didn't deserve it. She'd cried and cried in his arms as she narrated what Carly had said and he'd promised to talk to her. But Carly obviously wasn't sorry about it and refused to listen.

'Dad?' Melanie touched his arm.

'You scared me.'

'Sorry. What's the matter?'

'Carly's been very aggressive towards Jennifer lately; I tried talking to her but she more or less bit my head off.'

'Jennifer deserved whatever she got from Mum.' Melanie said, her face suddenly hard.

'Mel!' Daniel snapped angrily.

'She thought Mum had a problem with you dating! She wasn't there for Mum, no one was!' Melanie said angrily.

'What the hell are you talking about?'

Melanie hesitated then decided to tell her father the truth. 'Let's go to your office.'

Daniel listened in silence to his daughter's narrative. 'Oh my God...' he whispered, his voice shaking.

'You now understand. Mum's so sad and angry about the baby, about Bo, about everyone judging her, the only person she's forgiven is me and I don't even deserve it.' Melanie wiped her tears. 'And if she's mad at Jennifer, it's because...'

'Because she feels she sided with Hope and she did.' Daniel finished the sentence. 'Finally everything makes sense... poor Carly. Adrienne knows all about this, doesn't she?'

'Yes, and Uncle Frankie of course. She's trying to put it past her but I guess some part of her still hurts.' Melanie shrugged. 'That's why I hope Tony will help her heal.'

Daniel nodded. 'My God... I can't even imagine her in so much pain, first with Lawrence and then this. And to think I actually accused her of giving you away and shielding Chloe and Phillip...'

More tears poured down Melanie's cheeks. 'I just can't bear thinking about it!' she sobbed, burying her head against Daniel's chest as he slipped his arms round her. 'She's always thinking about everyone except herself and she suffered so much without us knowing...'

Daniel held her tight. 'It's okay Mel. It's okay. What we can do for her is keep showing that we do care.'

Melanie groped in her pocket for a hanky. 'You can't tell her that I told you this. And you can't tell Jennifer, you can't.'

'I won't.' Daniel promised, vowing to think of ways to make it up to Carly properly.

:::::::::::::::

Tony pointed at the long stemmed yellow roses and the florist began wrapping them.

'Tony Delfino?' Tony turned to view the woman who'd just called him.

'We haven't been formally introduced, I'm Vivian Alamain.'

'I know who you are. What can I do for you, Ms Alamain?' Tony asked coolly.

'It's more like what I can do for you. Like warning you about the company you keep. You are aware that you're dating a cold blooded murderer?'

'What the hell are you talking about?'

'Your precious girlfriend...' Vivian drew out the words ever so spitefully, 'killed my nephew and got scot-free. She ran back here and wrecked a very happy marriage; luckily Bo Brady came back to his senses. You seem like a very brilliant man, I think it's best I warn you.'

Tony looked at her for a long minute. 'Thanks for the warning. And now let me return the favour. Don't you ever come to up me and talk trash about Carly; ever again. Don't you dare pull a stunt like the one you did at the restaurant again. And don't you ever let me see you anywhere near Carly, or her kid. If I hear you so much as whispered to her; I'll come after you. I'm from the streets and I know how to take care of vicious old bitches who lock innocent women in caskets.'

Vivian raised her chin defiantly.

'It's too bad Carly killed your nephew, because I would've like to get my hands on him first; make him suffer like he made her suffer.' Tony went on coldly, 'and show that son of a bitch that there are men out there who would fight for women like Carly. She's a Lady, as opposed to you.'

'Look here...' Vivian snarled.

'I don't have a problem knocking down barracudas, which is what I'm going to do in a few minutes if you don't get out of my face in the next five seconds. One.' Tony began counted, his black eyes dangerous.

'Fine!' Vivian hissed, infuriated. 'So much for trying to help you.'

'Two.' Tony's voice rose a little higher.

Vivian turned her heel and left, shaking with rage. Carly has clearly found herself another starry eyed fool!

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Bo managed to get through the day despite the image of Carly sharing a morning after kiss with Tony roaming through his head; quietly helping Ciara with her homework and having dinner with her and Hope. Hope kept glancing at him but made no comment. After Ciara was long asleep that night, she reached out to him tentatively and without a word, Bo turned to kiss her and she clung to him desperately as he made love to her. Or rather tried to, because it was over before it even begun. Hope winced at the bitterness on his face as he rolled off her, lying on his back. She stroked his chest with a finger but he abruptly turned away, his back to her. Fighting back tears, she turned her back to him as well; two miserable people staying on their side of the bed for the rest of the night.