CHAPTER 17

Carly slept peacefully. While she could now breathe on her own, the breathing tube remained under her nose, just in case. Olivia had called Omar Naveen; he was on his way over. She'd then gone to the apartment, leaving her parents alone.

Her hand clasped in his, Bo marvelled how lovely Carly looked in spite the half healed bruises and cuts on her pale face. And to hear her voice after so long... right now, he felt like expressing his sheer happiness from the rooftops. It had brought back more buried memories and old feelings, he couldn't deny. Nor did he even want to. Touching her and being near her made him feel at peace for the first time in years.

The cell phone suddenly rang. Swearing under his breath, Bo pulled it out of his pocket.

It was Roman. 'How's it going over there?'

'Fine.' Bo glanced at Carly, relieved that the noise hadn't disturbed her. 'Carly's asleep.'

'Oh, I was hoping to say hi. Anyhow, Frankie's on his way over.'

'Finally! Where's he been?'

'Can you believe it, Zimbabwe on a three month safari. Boy's got more itchy feet than Livingstone.'

'Yeah, that's Frankie alright. Thanks for telling me.'

'I know you want to have some time over there but you'll have to come back the soonest. A new case's come up and we need you.'

Bo sighed, exasperated. 'Okay, okay... I'll be back in Salem in the next three days. Frankie can stay with Carly and Olivia meanwhile.'

'Uh, a little heads up before I forget.' Roman spoke slowly. 'Hope's moved back into the house, with Ciara.'

Bo felt a chill run through him. 'When?'

'The next morning, after you took off; Shawn Dee found her there and told me. Apparently, she's changed her mind about the divorce and really wants to have a word with you when you get back.'

Changed her mind, since when? Bo thought, stunned. She'd made it perfectly clear they could no longer live together, had filed despite his pleas; why now the sudden change of heart? What was her angle?

'Thanks for telling me, bro.'

'No problem. I'll see you then and give the little lady a kiss for me, will you?'

'Okay.' Bo hung up, feeling numb.

'Bo...?' Carly murmured.

'Oh, sorry for waking you. Here...' he propped up the pillows behind her head.

Carly peered at him. 'What's wrong?'

'Why'd you ask?' Bo asked, trying to make his tone sound light.

'You look... disturbed about something. Is anything the matter?'

Bo smiled down at her. 'Nothing's wrong, don't mind me. You need to get your rest.'

Carly sighed. 'I'm tired of drifting off to sleep every ten minutes... talk to me. Tell me... what's been going on with you.'

While Bo had expected this moment to come, he'd also hoped it would lead to a serious discussion about the future; a future he'd hoped she would share with him. But Hope's sudden move has ruined everything.

Carly looked at him intently. 'Bo,' she slightly squeezed his hand. 'Something is bothering you. You can't confide in an old friend?'

Bo forced himself to look nonchalant. 'I'm okay, really.' He kissed her palm. 'Just been worried about you, that's all. You're lucky to be alive.'

Carly shut her eyes and opened them again. 'I know Lawrence's dead and he can't hurt me or Olivia ever again but... it still sounds too good to be true, after being at his mercy all these years...'

'Carly, he's dead; dead and gone.' Bo said firmly. 'It seems strange at first because you've been shut away from the world for so long. It's over, 'kay?'

'Well, getting back to you... how've you been all these years?' her thumb traced the wedding band he still had on his finger. 'Tell me about your wife... what's she like? What's her name?'

Nice going, Brady, Bo was furious with himself. With everything that's been going on, he's completely forgotten to take the damn ring off; it meant nothing now.

He looked down at the Nile- green eyes looking up at him expectedly. This conversation wasn't going to turn out like he'd planned at all.

'Hope.'

'Another Hope?' Carly smiled. 'Well now...'

'Carly, you aren't the only one who came back from the dead,' Bo interrupted. He might as well get it over with. After taking a deep breath, he told her the whole story of Hope's sudden return and how they'd picked up from where they'd let off. Carly squeezed his hand when he came to the part of Zach's untimely death at the hands of a hit-and run-driver. Bo lost a son, she thought, like I lost Nicky.

'How old is she?' she asked, looking at the photo of Ciara he held in front of her when he was done.

'Five.'

'She's an angel. You must be so proud of her.'

'She's pretty precocious.' Bo smiled faintly. ' I guess Olivia was like that at that age.'

Carly chuckled quietly, then winced. 'Are you okay?'

'Just a twinge.' She lied. 'Yeah... she was. And it grew over the years.'

'I'm proud of what she did, Carly; proud of her. She's so much like you.'

'More like you...I reckon. After I got my memory back, I realised it was like having you with me the whole time. She was always so protective of me, would face Lawrence's wrath without flinching one bit. And I was always so scared he'd carry out his threat and kill her.'

She suddenly realised that they'd deviated from the subject of Hope. 'How did she react... about me and Olivia?'

How could he put it? 'She was... kind of taken aback but she's resigned to it.'

Carly frowned. 'Bo... have you two been having problems... because of us?'

'No, No!' Bo said vehemently. 'Whatever problems we have, it has nothing to do with you and Olivia.' Too late, he realised he'd said too much.

'Bo, what's been going on with you and Hope... what are you not telling me?' Carly's voice was quiet but unrelenting. 'Is... Your marriage in trouble?'

Bo nodded slowly, not looking at her. Carly's hand moved over his. 'Is it something...you two can work out?'

How he'd longed to say no; that this time it was impossible unlike the other times they'd fought and forgiven each other. He longed to tell Carly he wanted her back in his life; start from where they'd been cut. But he couldn't... not until he'd settled accounts with his soon- to- be ex-wife. If Hope thinks he'll let her get away with this ridiculous game of hers, she had another thing coming.

He kissed Carly's hand again. 'It's complicated right now, Carly... but it's not for you to worry about. What you need to do right now is get back on your feet... and come back home.'

Home, Carly thought, the most beautiful word she'd heard in years. Salem had been her haven after years of running and hiding from Lawrence; going back there was far more different because Lawrence was no longer alive to follow her there and hover around like a vengeful spectre.

'Is Salem still the same?'

'More shops... but yeah still the same.' Relived at the change of subject, Bo continued updating Carly until Olivia got back.

'Look at you two.' She kissed her mother, then Bo. 'How are you feeling, Ma?'

Carly smiled. 'Too early to say better, honey.'

'That reminds me, Frankie's on his way over. He just heard because he's been away on a long trip.'

'Oh, that's wonderful!' Olivia said. 'I can't wait to meet him.'

'How's he been?' Carly asked.

'Fine. He's been living and practicing law in D.C.' he looked at Olivia. 'I guess he'll be helping Naveen in handling your affairs.' Besides being the owner of the Alamain Conglomerate, Olivia was also the majority shareholder of The Cone Oil Company in Dallas.

Olivia shrugged. Any mention of her "inheritance-by- default", as she called it, only brought back the bitterness she still felt at her brother's untimely death.

'How long can you stay around?' she asked instead.
Bo exhaled, frustrated. 'Your Uncle Roman called me while you were gone. Seems like we've got us a big case and I have to see to It.'
'Oh...' Olivia looked very disappointed.
'You don't have to stay around... if Roman really needs you.' Carly intervened.
'I don't have to go right away,' Bo said quickly, already hating the idea of leaving her and Olivia so soon. Then he thought about Hope waiting for him at their house and his eyes narrowed with anger. The first thing he was going to do was sit her down and make her realize that their marriage was definitely over this time.
'I'll stay for two more days; Frankie will be here by then. Okay?'
Carly nodded and closed her eyes, feeling tired again. Olivia watched Bo as he stroked Carly's cheek; the look in his handsome brown eyes speaking volumes. But she was certain her father wasn't entirely sure of his feelings; for one thing it was too soon. And a lot of things have changed over the years; whatever feelings the two of them may have now may not be the same they had so many years ago. She prayed, for both their sakes, they wouldn't end up giving each other false hope; much as she would love them getting back together again.
Later as they were having lunch at an outdoor cafe, she decided to get an answer to the burning question. 'Dad. I want to ask you something... but feel free to tell me to bugger off if it's none of my business.'
'I'm listening, Kitten.' Bo encouraged.
Olivia asked slowly. 'Are you... have you fallen in love with Ma again?'