CHAPTER 19

Despite the years apart from them, it seemed only yesterday Carly had seen Bo's family last; chatting, arguing or having coffee with them at the Brady Pub. Kayla and Kimberly waving at her had hardly aged; Kayla still wore her hair short but Kimberly's own was now red and she looked thinner but her sweet smile was the same.
'See Carly,' Kayla dragged a lovely brunette girl into view. 'This is Stephanie, can you believe it; and...' smoothing the head of the gurgling baby in Stephanie's arms. 'This is Joey.' Stephanie grinned and waved as well.
Sami appeared next, also holding a baby. What a beautiful woman she's become, thought Carly smiling.
Though she was smiling, Sami's eyes were red and damp. 'Hi Carly. God... I still can't over what happened to you... but I'm so, so happy you're recovering and coming home!' she sniffed. 'I never forgot you, none of us did, you've always been here,' pointing to her heart, 'always. This is my baby girl Sydney...' A teenage boy on her right smiled shyly. 'This is my son, Will and...' the camera turned to a boy and a girl on the arms of a very handsome Hispanic in a leather jacket, 'Johnny and Allie... and this is my fiancé, Rafe. I hope you and Olivia will make it in time for the wedding. Okay?'
Marlena and John came into view, arm round each other. Carly had been very shocked at what Bo had told her about them; unable to believe Marlena had actually betrayed Roman. But it's long been water over the bridge and their daughter Belle was now married to Shawn Douglas. And Carly's experience has taught her that Fate sometimes played dirty, cruel tricks. Who was she to judge?
'Hi, old friend. 'Marlena smiled warmly. 'If I say this is a miracle, I'd be putting it mildly. We are so happy and excited and eternally grateful, to have you back. We have so much to catch up on... so much to talk about. And I second Sami... you've always been here.' pressing her hand against her chest.
John's ebony black hair now had streaks of grey but he's aged well. 'Can't wait to have you back in Salem, honey. Especially, since there's someone here who wants to be acquainted with his godmother.' The camera moved to a tall handsome young man grinning. Brady... Carly whispered. Where's the little baby boy I carried in my arms gone? He looks so much like John.
Brady's arm was round the shoulders of a dark eyed Hispanic girl who Carly guessed was related to Sami's young man. 'Hi, Aunt Carly... just want you to know I can't wait to meet my Mum's closest friend, I know you have a lot to share about her. And just so you know, Olivia and I are the best of friends already. Olivia, come back soon, hear? I miss our fights already.'
'Fights?' Carly turned to Olivia who was sitting beside her bed.
'Arm wrestling.' Olivia explained, giggling. At the pub after lunch, Shawn Douglas and Brady began to arm wrestle and after winning, Brady had dared anyone to challenge him. Olivia's slim but firm fingers had gripped his hand and amidst loud encouragements from Arianna and the female customers present, she'd won, much to his disbelief. Bo and Shawn Douglas had teased him unmercifully.
Marlena explained that Carrie had moved away with her husband Austin Reed (Carly wasn't surprised, remembering the devoted young man Carrie dated) but she sends her warmest regards and love and hoped to see her when she and Austin came over for Christmas.
'Hey little girl,' Roman came to view, his slow precise way of speaking still the same. 'Get better soon and come home, you hear? We've all missed you around here.' He grinned. Handsome, just like Bo.
Ciara appeared next. 'Hi, Aunt Carly!' she squealed. 'Look at what I made for you!' she held up her drawing. 'I hope you'll like it and...' she added shyly. 'I hope we'll be good friends.'
We are already, dear. Carly said silently. The drawing was already being framed.
Her heart lurched as Shawn Douglas came into view. How like Bo he looked. His dark eyes looked at the camera. 'There are so many things I want to say Carly, but the main thing is, I love you very much and I'm so happy right now.' He rubbed his eyes. 'But until I actually see you and hold you, I'll be convinced this isn't all a wonderful dream.' He blew her a kiss. 'Get better soon.'
Then Caroline, seated at a table. Caroline's eyes were wet with tears. 'More than ever I wish Shawn was here... I know he would have been so grateful to Him for bringing you back to us after all these years. After Roman told us everything, I lit a candle of Thanksgiving for you.' She brushed back a tear, sniffing. 'You've always been in my heart, Carly and I want you know how proud we are of Olivia. She's so much like you and Bo in spirit; she's a wonderful gift to us- thank you, thank you for the lovely person she is now. And we're going to have a wonderful get together when you come home, okay honey?'
Carly brushed back the tears from her own eyes.
Finally, the camera man, Steve, pointed the camera to himself. If she's been shocked at John and Marlena's relationship and Hope's return, it hadn't compared to Steve's own sudden return from the dead. Nick Corelli had been the main suspect of Steve's supposed murder and Carly had had to literally stop Bo from beating him to death.
'You got that, doc? So, the soonest you get back, the soonest we can all have a reunion blast.' He laughed. 'Peace out now.'
Olivia laughed as the CD ended. 'He's a character, isn't he?'
'Like your father, in some ways.' Carly gingerly made herself more comfortable on the bed. Her room was filled with bouquets of flowers, Get Well cards and presents from the family, including a hand knitted afghan from Alice Horton, three boxes of Sno Balls from Maggie and Mickey and some best sellers and a large stuffed Panda from Justin and Philip. But the biggest surprise were the things sent by Victor; baskets of 'Sterling Silver' Roses and exotic fruit, four packs of expensive bath oils, lotions, scented soaps and perfume, silk kimonos and several heart shaped pink and red balloons. They'd arrived before the Brady/Horton gifts; astonishing Olivia very much, while Bo had made a disgusted noise but no comment.
It's been five days since he'd gone and she missed him terribly but knew as the Commissioner of Police, he had to do his duty. She remembered the warm look in his eyes as he kissed her goodbye, his lips brushing her cheeks. 'I'll see you soon, Princess.' He whispered, the use of her old nickname sending a rush of memories and feelings through her.
But the euphoria hadn't lasted long. Reality had struck hard as she remembered who he was now married to. Hope Williams Brady, his first love.
That and Jennifer's visit.
She arrived a day after Frankie. Her darling brother had wept unashamedly in her arms for several minutes, kissing her and hugging Olivia tightly, saying over and over how proud he was of her for defending her mother and vowing vengeance against Vivian. From the look in Olivia's eyes as he spoke, Carly had the feeling it was exactly what her daughter was planning. Much as she was relieved to be finally free of Lawrence, she'd been distressed that Olivia had been forced to take a life and she couldn't allow Frankie to go to jail for a worthless woman like Vivian Alamain. So, she'd quietly but firmly quelled her brother and daughter's dark thoughts. Vivian's day of reckoning, she said, would come but not through them and made them promise, no, swear never not to so much as think of that woman again.
Omar Naveen had later shown up with flowers and Get Well cards from the servants at the estate and was immediately introduced to Frankie. He approved the idea of him helping with Olivia's affairs, with sincere enthusiasm. He would oversee the Alamainia based companies and factories; Frankie would handle the London and Leeds based ones and represent Olivia at Cone Oil board meetings, until she was of age. Which also meant Frankie would move to London to head the Alamain Conglomerate Head Office; something he didn't mind a bit as Olivia offered him her house at Belgrave Square during the duration of his stay in England. Frankie was very sad when he heard about Nicky.
'Poor lad,' he said, 'and I never exactly got the chance to meet him.'
While he was at the cafe, rubbing minds with Naveen, Jennifer had shown up, with flowers and a few packages.
'Jennifer!' Carly said, her eyes lit with joy. Sobbing, Jennifer dropped what she was carrying and hugged her hard. 'Oh God! I still can't believe it's really you!' she cried, rubbing Carly's arms. 'I just couldn't believe it when Maggie told me, she told me everything you went through; thank God he's rotting in hell where he belongs.' Wiping her eyes, she looked at Olivia before moving to her. 'You must be Olivia.' she smiled, warmth and affection in her voice.
'Pleased to finally meet you at last, Mrs. Deveraux.' Olivia as Jennifer hugged her close.
'None of that! It's Jennifer, okay honey?'
Olivia laughed, nodding. 'Of course.' She turned to her mother. 'I'll just leave you both alone to catch up.' Carly nodded.
'I'm so happy for you, Carly. I know how badly you wanted a baby with Bo.' Jennifer said after the door closed behind Olivia. 'She's so beautiful! And from what I heard... very brave.'
Carly sighed. 'Yet in a twist of fate, Bo never got to see her born or her first few years. All we planned gone to dust because of that woman...'
'Bo has the rest of his life, getting to know her,' Jennifer pointed out. 'Olivia's still young; at least he'll watch her grow, see her graduate high school, college, walk her down the aisle...'
Carly chuckled. 'You're right, as always, old friend.' Jennifer squeezed her hand. 'It's so good to see you again. How's Jack? And Abby?'
'They're great. Jack says a big hi, he couldn't get off work. We have a little boy now... Jack Jnr.' She pulled out a pocket album from her purse and showed Carly photos of the family.
'Abby, all grown up... she looks so much like you. And little Jack's so adorable.' Carly said. 'Families grown since I've been gone. And you live in London now?'
Jennifer nodded, putting the album away. 'But we do go to Salem for Christmas, mostly to be with Gram.' She looked at Carly intently. 'And you? What are your plans?'
' What else, go back to Salem and pick up the pieces.' replied Carly. 'Olivia will have to start school sooner or later and I... well I guess practice medicine again when I'm strong enough to work.'
'I'm sure you and Bo had a lot to talk about, huh?'
Carly smiled. 'I couldn't believe it was actually him right there in front of me, he hasn't changed much.' A touch of grey at the temples but that was it, he was still the devastatingly handsome, charismatic man she remembered, protective and kind and solicitous. Whom she still loved very much.
Jennifer's wary tone broke her warm thoughts. 'Of course he must have told you about Hope.'
'He did. And that they'd been having problems.' Carly watched her. 'But of course, you know that already.'
Jennifer nodded, her expression tense. ' Yeah, but then again, it's not the first time.'
'Really?' Carly was surprised. Bo hadn't mentioned that.
'They've had rough patches during the years; many of them,' Jennifer said in a rush, 'but somehow they've always managed to find their way back to each other. This one's just yet another rough patch and they'll get through it, like they usually do.'
Carly nodded, thinking of how Bo had sounded when he'd admitted to her about the strain between him and Hope. She'd felt sad for him. 'Well, I hope things work out between them again, for Bo's sake. After all , they do have Ciara to consider.'
Jennifer nodded again. 'I hope so too. And I'm glad you think that way as well.'
Carly frowned,. 'What do you mean by that?'
'I mean... considering you still love Bo... I assumed...'
'You think I'm going to make a move on Bo? That's why you took the trouble to say what you said about him and Hope… to warn me off?' Hurt and anger was evident in her voice.
'No! No!' Jennifer exclaimed, looking distressed. 'Of course not, I would never do that to you!'
Carly slowly pulled her hand away.
'Carly, please!' Jennifer begged. 'I didn't say it to hurt you, you know I love you like a sister, have always loved you. I just don't want you to get hurt...'
'Jennifer,' Carly interrupted quietly. 'I'm a grown woman... and realistic. I'm aware a lot has happened since I've been gone; a lot's changed. I'm glad Bo was able to move on with his life, with someone he'd loved before. My coming back from the dead will not change that. If I decided to move back to Salem, it's only because of Olivia; I will not deprive Bo of his daughter for anything. Rest assured that I won't be marking my territory and upset your cousin.'
Jennifer bit her lip. 'I'm sorry Carly, please forgive me for the way it sounded...'
'Just stop it.'

Carly sighed, rubbing her head as Olivia bustled about the room, straightening things. Bo was no longer hers, the only thing that linked them now was their daughter. What had hurt was Jennifer's assumption that she would come between him and Hope, reclaim the stolen years by force. But Jennifer went on to insist it wasn't the case; explaining about Billie's break up with Bo.
Carly had liked Billie Reed but always nursed the suspicion that Billie had a crush on Bo. But it hadn't stopped her from being friendly towards her, especially after Billie had pulled her out of her wrecked car a few seconds before it had burst into flames. If Bo had chosen Hope over Billie; he would have been forced to make a difficult decision if it had been her instead of Billie. She cringed at the thought. It would have broken her heart, but she would never have stood in his way- she would have left Salem with Olivia instead.
Carly Manning wasn't going to live in the past, in spite her love for Bo. If Bo had been so sweet around her when he'd arrived with Olivia, it was because they'd been caught up in the emotional moment of being reunited after years of lies- she was after all, the mother of his long lost daughter. She'll undergo the rest of her treatment and go back to Salem and gather up the pieces like she said. Under no circumstances must he ever suspect she still loved him, probably more than ever before. If she was going to avoid being hurt, she had to protect herself.
'Honey?'
Olivia looked up. 'Yes, Ma?'
'Don't you think it's time we started looking for a house?'