CHAPTER 12

'No... No... I can't possibly eat another bite!' Olivia protested with a smile.

'Caroline was right, you do need fattening up. Now, try one of my doughnuts darling, I made them especially for you.'

Alice's warm voice was impossible to resist. Olivia meekly took one. 'It's the most delicious thing I've ever tasted,' she said after swallowing, nodding in approval.

Alice chuckled, stroking Olivia's cheek.

'Play you cards right, kiddo and maybe Gram will give you the recipe.' Shawn Douglas grinned, helping himself to one as well.

'Now, Shawn Douglas, you know I'd give your sister the recipe in a heartbeat,' Alice scolded, swatting him on the shoulder.

'I would actually appreciate it Mrs Horton, I'm a terrible cook.'

'We'll soon rectify that and I've already told you to call me Alice.'

'Sorry... Alice, of course.'

Alice Horton beamed at Olivia, whom she'd fallen in love with the moment she'd shown up with Shawn Douglas. Bo had been unable to stay as he was called away on an emergency at the station so she had the two young people to herself. Like everyone else, she clearly saw Bo and Carly's traits in her and from the bottom of her heart, thanked God for blessing them with a child at long last.

She thought about Hope and her face clouded a little. Maggie had told her about how childish and aggressive Hope had acted after she'd explained the whole Bo and Carly story and how she seemed resentful towards Olivia. That granddaughter of hers was proving to be a walking contradiction; first she leaves Bo and files for a divorce against the family's advice. Then she hears about Bo's former fiancé and then plays the jilted wife. I'll have a few strong words with that granddaughter of mine; Alice thought to herself. The trouble was that Hope had not only been spoilt by her father, but by everyone else as well and it more or less contributed to Hope's annoying habit of always playing the victim. Bo unconsciously had added his share to the habit by constantly blaming himself for the problems in their marriage, long before Ciara was born. She knew how sad he'd been when Hope had moved out with Ciara although he'd gone out of his way to hide it, like he always did. But, according to Caroline- he was now all smiles and contentment since he'd met his long lost daughter; he and Carly's long awaited child of their love.

She also thought about Carly and how she and Tom had cried the day she'd supposedly died. Tom had said the hospital had lost not only a fine physician but a young woman who'd been like yet another granddaughter to both of them. Carly was selfless, always driven to help at anything, be it people or the environment. Alice still remembered how she'd organised protest rallies against JENCON Oil when its drilling practices threatened most of the small businesses in Salem and how she'd rescued Shawn Douglas from the oil well. From the moment she'd met the beautiful young intern, Alice knew she was perfect for Bo, who'd been nursing his broken heart following Hope's supposed death when Carly had first arrived in Salem. She'd subtly but relentlessly pushed them together and the relationship had appeared one sided at first until Bo had confessed he loved her. She'd been the one who'd urged him to stop Carly from marrying Victor Kiriakis on the rebound and scolded him soundly when he'd failed. How thrilled she and Tom had been when Bo and finally gotten together; it had warmed their hearts to see how Bo was so very happy again. And Carly... so loving and compassionate and not the least threatened by the memory of Hope. She and Tom had invited Bo, Carly and Shawn Douglas over for Christmas dinner and in Horton tradition had hung Christmas ornaments bearing each name of the family on the tree...

'Where's the other one? Shawn Douglas piped up after handing Bo's ball to him.

'What other one?' asked Alice.

'My Mum's ornament.' Shawn Douglas replied innocently- not noticing the room had gone silent.

'We'd... we'd thought we wouldn't put it up this year.' Alice said, looking towards Carly's direction.

'Why not?' the little boy persisted.

Tom cleared his throat. 'Well, Shawn- we weren't sure it would be appropriate...'

'Dr. Horton,' Carly gently interrupted, 'Please, I know you're only thinking of me but it's really alright.' She moved to Bo's side and he slipped his arm round her.

'Hope will always be a part of your lives and I think it's very important that Shawn Douglas remembers his mother.'

Alice saw the looks on Tom, Mickey and Maggie's faces at Carly's genuine unselfish gesture and inwardly thanked God once again that Bo finally found his way to this lovely young woman. Obviously moved as well, Bo kissed Carly on the forehead.

'Thank you, Carly.'

After Bo and Shawn Douglas hung up the ornaments bearing their names on the tree, Carly knelt beside Shawn Douglas, Hope's ornament in her hand.

'I think...' Carly said solemnly, 'that your mother loves you very much and she'll be very happy that you remembered her today.'

The ornament was placed between his and Bo's.

'Gram, is something wrong? You look like you're miles away or something.' Shawn Douglas said, bringing her back to the present.

Alice smiled. 'Nothing, dear. Well...' she patted Olivia's hand, 'I was just thinking about your mother, I'm so thrilled that she's been alive all this time. And you've probably heard this more than once, but Carly's a fighter. You'll have her back before you know it.'

Olivia nodded. 'I know she is. And I thank you.' She glanced at her brother.

'I just hope it would be quite soon enough. I'm beginning to get a tad skittish. Maybe I'll just fly back to Paris tomorrow.'

Alice and Shawn Douglas were immediately up in arms.

'You JUST got here!' Shawn Douglas exclaimed.

'Dear, the doctors will tell you if there was any change.'

Olivia bit her lip. 'I just can't help but worry. I mean, until now- we've only had each other... I don't like being so far away from her and it's been seven weeks now. I can't shake the feeling that Dr. Simpson knows something he's not telling me.'

'Will you stop with the negative attitude? Carly will wake up anytime soon- I believe it, so does Dad. Stop worrying, sis.' Shawn Douglas rubbed her arm. 'She's going to get better, you'll see.'

'That's right, Olivia and no more of this talk about going back to Paris- not when we're just having you with us. I for one plan on teaching you how to cook and bake. Then when Carly finally comes home, we'll take turns in fattening her up.'

Olivia and Shawn Douglas laughed heartily. Olivia smiled at Alice, thinking what a wonderful, warm hearted old lady she was and it was clear why her father loved her very much. He'd not only told her how Alice had helped him with his relationship with Ma when they were just starting but also his relationship with Hope; how she'd encouraged him to kidnap Hope during her wedding with a man her father had arranged for her and tell her his feelings once and for all. Olivia felt she could tell her anything and Alice wouldn't judge but give sound advice instead.

Ciara Brady was only five years old, yet surprisingly sharp and observant for her age; those two traits had proved instrumental in putting Dean Hartman, the disgruntled and money hungry police officer who had kidnapped her, away for a very long time. She however couldn't understand why she and Mummy no longer lived with Daddy since her return home but with Grandpa Kiriakis, Uncle Justin and Uncle Phillip at his very big house instead. Though she got a lot of attention from the three men and the servants and she got to play in the swimming pool and run round the gardens, she badly missed her own house, the backyard and her Daddy's presence. She didn't ask questions, preferring to observe and listen- and she'd come to the conclusion that whatever the cause of her parents' discord, things weren't going to be the same again.
It was Bo's turn to pick her up from school that day but rather than take her to the Kiriakis mansion, he'd taken her to the park, bought her favourite ice-cream and then told her about Carly and Olivia. He told it as simply as he could; how he and Carly were engaged to be married when her mother had disappeared and thought to be dead, then Carly too had been thought dead but in actual fact had been kidnapped, along with her sister. Ciara sat up straight on hearing that part and listened in silence to her father's story. When he was done, Ciara stared at him, wide eyed.
'She's here now?'
'Yes. And she's longing to meet you.'
'What about her Mummy? Is she here too?'
'No, Little One- Olivia's Mum is very sick right now; she's in a hospital in France. She needs very special care, which is why she's not in the hospital here.' Bo squeezed Ciara's small hand. 'I'm glad you understand what I've told you, honey. Because it's really important to me that you and Olivia become very close as sisters are supposed to be.'
For her part, Ciara was excited at having a sister, having had only a brother she was lucky to see only on Thanksgiving and Christmas and hoped Olivia wouldn't eventually move away as well.
'When can I meet her?' she asked Bo enthusiastically.
'She's coming over to Grandpa's tonight with me and Shawn Dee and it would mean a lot to me if you two are friends. You think you can do that for me, honey?'
As far as she was concerned, Ciara has just received an unexpected wonderful present, she didn't have to do anything for his sake- she was already more than anxious to meet her big sister. She also decided to ask her grandfather about her once she got back to the mansion.
Bo was relieved his younger daughter had taken the news very well. He'd cleverly yet guiltily played the kidnapped card since it would be something Ciara would be able to relate to and at least give her a common ground with Olivia and bond with her. The next person to handle now was Hope. She had to realize that Olivia was a major part of his life now and he wasn't about to tolerate any hostility towards her. When he'd gotten to the station that morning, Hope was waiting in his office with a stream of profuse apologies and he'd noted they'd only been for their previous fight and not for yelling at his daughter. He would only accept her apology, he'd informed her, if she would apologize to Olivia as well, when she arrived at the mansion that evening. Hope had only stared at him then walked away, slamming the door behind her. What sort of scenario was Carly going to come home to after she recovered? Her attitude towards Olivia was bad enough; Carly was going to be a totally different story.