CHAPTER 14

Olivia held her own beautifully, like Bo knew she would. Victor stared at her hard as Bo made the introductions standing behind her, his hands on her shoulders like a sentinel; Shawn Douglas, Justin and Phillip watching with bated breath. Victor had then smiled at her- a warm genuine smile that astonished them all- before moving forward, arms outstretched. 'Well, aren't you going to give your old grandfather a hug?'
Olivia, showing no sign of awe or intimidation obeyed him, kissing him on both cheeks like she normally did, with naturalness that obviously pleased Victor very much; he held her tightly against him before looking her over.
'You're even more beautiful than I imagined you'd be.' he said, holding her hands.
'Ma's actually the beautiful one. But then again, you should know- being her ex-husband and all.'
Victor however didn't look ruffled, at least, not outwardly. He chuckled instead, stroked her hair and patting her shoulder. 'Can't argue with that. And I hope Carly's doing better?'
'According to her doctors, thank you.'
Victor slipped his arm around her shoulders. 'That's good to know. In the meantime, you and I must use this time to get to know each other better.'
Olivia pointed at a painting on the wall. 'Isn't that a Monet?' she asked, using the excuse of examining it to move away from his touch. Phillip moved to her side as Victor began explaining the painting's details.
'I love this kid,' Justin whispered to Bo, chuckling quietly.
'Looks like you have nothing to worry about, Dad.' Shawn Douglas remarked.
'When Victor Kiriakis is concerned, there's plenty to worry about; I'm not letting my guard down for a second, at least until I know what his intentions are.'
Justin hesitated but decided not to tell Bo about Victor's suggestion of a therapist for Olivia; it would ruin the whole evening if he lost his temper with Victor and create a scene.
Henderson entered and announced that dinner was served. Taking Olivia's arm, Victor led the way to the dining room.

'Well, sir? What do think?' Nurse Ophelia Marceau asked as Dr. Simpson examined Carly Manning again. Carly was still whispering Bo's name. 'Don't you think it's about time we called the Princesse?'

Before he could reply, Carly's eyes fluttered, and then slowly opened for the first time in weeks. Blinking, she tried to focus on the elderly man looking down at her.

'Dr. Manning?' Dr. Simpson said. 'Can you hear me, Dr. Manning?'

Carly tried to nod but already her eyes were closing again.

'Dr. Manning,' Dr. Simpson called again, taking the unbandaged hand. 'Dr. Manning... if you can hear me, squeeze my hand.'

He waited until he felt a slight pressure against his. Carly's eyes opened again slowly. 'Bo...' she said again, groggily then closed her eyes.

'Ophelia, place a call to Commissioner Brady, no- to Miss Alamain.' Olivia had told him long ago never to address her by her title. 'Call her but don't tell her anything, hand the phone over to me once you get through.'

'Yes, docteur.'

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All through dinner, Victor dominated the conversation- his usual habit. Olivia however subtly refused to permit Bo and Shawn Douglas from being excluded in the discussion, neither did she sugar coat her answers to his questions, she was respectful yet frank.

Just like her mother, Victor thought as he watched her chatting with Justin who was seated on her right; Phillip, seated opposite, hanging on to her every word. Under the refined ladylike demeanour lay the bold spitfire- not to mention the rebel her father was, judging from the tattoo up her arm and back; which he hated, why anyone would choose to mar their skin was beyond him. Justin said she was an equal balance, but Victor disagreed- while she may have her mother's staggering good looks but there was more Bo in her than Carly. Rebellious and not the least bit in awe of him, and like Bo, she was going to be a hard nut to crack. But Victor prided himself charming and persuasive when need be; sooner or later she would thaw and they'll be very close. Just why he was so drawn to her, considering who her mother was puzzled him greatly. Or maybe it was because she would have been his child, if Bo hadn't stolen Carly from him. In a way, he now had the last laugh- Bo and Carly had no choice but to share Olivia with him since she has Kiriakis blood in her; whether they liked it or not.

'So, my dear,' he said as Henderson poured wine in their glasses, except Olivia's who was already nursing a glass of Perrier. 'What are your future plans?'

'I've hardly thought about that since my arrival,' Olivia replied. 'Like I told Dad, everything depends on Ma. She may decide to move anywhere once she's back on her feet.'

'Salem's her home,' Bo insisted, more to convince himself than Olivia. 'And yours too, for that matter.'

'Bo's right,' said Phillip, anxious to be in her good graces for once. 'She belongs here. She can even work at Salem University hospital again. Or, St. Mary's.'

'Well, far be it from me to speak for her, I don't see her living here again.' Olivia saw the look on Bo's face but continued. 'I mean, a lot of things have changed, haven't they? Personally, I'd love to live here, but I'm going with whatever Ma decides.'

Bo inwardly vowed to talk Carly from moving elsewhere; he was not going to lose her again nor have their daughter live so far away from him.

Carly could go to the ends of the earth if it made her happy but at the same time Victor wasn't prepared to lose his granddaughter for anything. If I have to send her dozens of flowers to persuade her move back to Salem, I'll bite the bullet and do it, he thought to himself with angry resignation.

'I think she would want to move back here,' he said aloud. 'Justin convinced her to leave Tahiti and settle here in the first place and she has more than enough friends here.'

Olivia gave him a look that said "except you" but said nothing. Instead she went on. 'But if she chooses to stay here, well I suppose I'll finish school, and then move on to college.'

'Where do you have in mind- Princeton, Oxford...? Harvard?'

'There's nothing wrong with Salem University, is there, Victor?' Bo's voice was cold.

'I wouldn't know, considering you never went there. And considering Olivia's background and what she's been through, she does needs to broaden her horizons- much as I'd hate her going to school so far away.'

Justin, Shawn Douglas and Phillip inwardly groaned. Olivia glared at Victor, her Nile-green eyes glinting dangerously. She opened her mouth to say exactly what she thought of him, putting down her father like that, when her cell phone rang in her purse.

'Excuse me...' she pressed the answer button. 'Hello?'

The phone however made a noise and went off. 'Damn it, I forgot to charge it! And it was the hospital.' She rose. 'May I use your phone in the study, please?'

'Of course, of course. Henderson...'

The butler, who was hovering at the door, led Olivia out.

'Victor, you don't get to decide anything pertaining to Olivia's life; her education, whom she dates, what clothes she chooses to wear- am I reaching you loud and clear?' Bo snarled as soon as his daughter was out of earshot.

'Dad, calm down...' Shawn Douglas began.

'I was only trying to help her out; I mean surely you realise the sky's the limit now that she's no longer cooped up in that fortress...'

'It doesn't make it any of your business. It's mine and her mother's and I'll thank you to remember that.'

'My, aren't we possessive. You suddenly find out you and that tramp have a child and your protective streak is on full power.' Victor hadn't meant to call Carly that but when provoked he couldn't control the words that came from his mouth.

Justin blocked Bo's move towards Victor. 'Now, Bo.' He warned. Bo's brown eyes were burning with fury at the insult on Carly. Olivia was wrong; not all things have changed.

'How dare you talk about Carly like that, she's my mother too, you know!' Shawn Douglas exclaimed in angry disbelief. Phillip stared at Victor, stunned.

'Save your breath, Shawn D, I knew I was going to regret bringing your sister here. But I'm going to make sure she doesn't set a foot in this house after tonight; not after I tell her how you rate her mother, Victor!'

Before Victor could give a suitable retort, Olivia came back, her cheeks wet with tears. Bo and Shawn Douglas hurried to her.

'Olivia, honey, what's happened?' Bo took her by the shoulders, heart racing with abject fear. 'Is Carly any worse?'

Olivia shook her head. 'No...,' she replied in a croaky voice. 'She's out of the coma, Ma's awake... she's awake!' she burst into tears, burying her head against Bo's chest.

Justin laughed with joy and Phillip smiled as Bo, Olivia and Shawn Douglas held each other in a tight group hug; laughing and crying, Victor watching them impassively.

'I'm so happy for you, very happy.' Justin hugged her and Phillip kissed her and shook Bo's hand.

'It's really true?'

Olivia nodded, brushing back her tears with her hands. 'Dr. Simpson said she was drifting in and out of consciousness at first, then she started saying your name and then mine. We have to fly out there tonight!'

'Yeah, sure. We'll make a quick stop at the house, call Jeff at the inn.' Bo turned to Shawn Douglas. 'You stay and explain things to the family. I'll call as soon as we get there.'

Hiding his disappointment, Shawn Douglas nodded and hugged his sister. 'Have a safe trip and tell Carly I love her.'

Olivia nodded and kissed him hurriedly before Bo dragged her out of the room. Shawn Douglas went upstairs to break the news to Ciara. In the excitement, Victor had been ignored completely. Phillip however hadn't forgotten entirely.

'You just had to say that about Carly, when her daughter's a guest at your house? What if she'd been in the room?'

'Shut up, Phillip.' Victor barked.

'Don't you tell him to shut up!' Justin was angry in turn. 'If Bo cuts Olivia from your life, it's because you deserve it! How do you hope to forge a relationship with her if you persist in hating her mother? Carly left you, big deal- and it's only because you manipulated her in marrying you!'

'No one put a gun to her head!' Victor snapped, old hurt back in full force. 'I treated her with love and respect unlike that son of mine who treated her like dirt under his feet all the time!'

'Bo was... forget it , this is not going anywhere.' Justin shook his head in exasperation. 'But I'll say this. Either put aside your wounded pride and welcome Carly back here or lose a chance at being a part of Olivia's life completely and have her hate you instead. Ponder on that Victor, because when that happens, don't expect either of us to talk to Bo on your behalf.'

He stalked out with Phillip at his heels as the old man raised his chin in outward condescension. Inwardly, his mind was already working furiously.

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'Will Olivia come back soon?' Ciara asked anxiously.

'It will take a while, doodle bug. You know she has to be with her Mummy till she's strong enough to come home.' Shawn Douglas explained. 'Carly's been sick for a very long time.'

Ciara nodded then frowned. 'How did Olivia's Mummy get so sick in the first place?'

Before he could reply, Hope entered the room. 'Oh, hi Mum.' Shawn Douglas rose to kiss her.

'Mummy, you're back!' Ciara scrambled up and Hope hugged her.

'Yes, honey... oh, what's that you got there?' Hope asked, indicating the doll Ciara was clutching against her chest. Ciara held it up proudly.

'Her name's Annabelle... Olivia gave her to me, isn't she beautiful, Mummy?'

So, Carly Manning's daughter has won over Ciara, Hope thought, hiding her chagrin. 'That's nice of her , sweetie.' She turned to Shawn Douglas, who was watching her rather warily. 'Henderson said your father and Olivia left in a hurry.'

'Yeah. Olivia got a call from Paris- Carly's finally come out of the coma.' Shawn Douglas replied. 'She and Dad are flying out tonight.'

It was as if something hard had punched Hope Brady in the chest. The woman who'd replaced her was now awake and in a few hours, she and Bo were going to be reunited. Try as she might in thinking over what Maggie and Abe had told her, Hope couldn't shake off the feeling of resentment she had for Olivia Alamain and Carly Manning. In a short time, Bo was so devoted to the girl in a very short time and all because her mother happened to be Carly. So she'd taken forever to get pregnant like everyone said- big deal- the way he'd handled his grief for her was what really bothered her. For his ex-fiancée's name to be unspoken for more than a decade was simply too much... deep, deep down he was still in love with her, has never stopped her no matter how hard he tried denying it.

'Uh, that's nice.' She managed to say. 'I'm glad for her.' but inwardly her mind was working furiously. What If Abe was right? What if she was making a mistake in ending her marriage after all. Bo would be free to be with Carly if he wanted. Suddenly, right there and then she made her decision.