Scott changed Holly's diaper and tried to keep the smile on his face. Marissa's disapproval was still ringing in his ears.
She refused to be his lawyer. She gave him the names of other attorneys she trusted but couldn't hide her disappointment in his attitude towards Madison.
But Scott couldn't hide his doubts…
He tickled Holly under the chin making her laugh.
"What do you think I should do?" he asked. "Could you be happy with just me?"
Holly's giggle wasn't really answer.
Scott thought back to Madison's joy at seeing their baby for the first time. He also remembered how losing Sarah, her first child… had shattered her world. Could he really take it all away from her again? The trouble was the woman who was Holly's mother and the crazed lunatic who had tried to poison him felt like different people but he could no longer think of one without remembering the other.
Maybe he should give a Madison chance to get well…
Scott straightened up.
Maybe there shouldn't be a maybe. He was the good guy remember…
He should make an effort for Valentine's Day. Bring Holly to visit her mother as Dr Stanhope requested.
Maybe if he saw Madison with their child it would make the future clearer.
Scott sighed.
There was that word again…'Maybe'…
…
Erica pushed through the door to Krystal's bistro seeking out her best friend. Luckily she spotted Opal right away; behind the counter folding napkins.
"Opal!" Erica exclaimed hurrying forward.
"Howdy." said Opal grinning at her best gal-pal. "How is married life suiting you?"
"Very well." said Erica, smiling back, "But that isn't why I'm here."
"Why are you here?" Opal asked putting aside her work to give her friend her full focus.
"I wanted to ask a favour actually… a favour for Bianca."
"How is she? I haven't seen her since Christmas and that wonderfully romantic proposal..."
"She's recovering well; so much so that there is talk of letting her home in time for Valentine's Day."
"That is excellent news."
"Yes. So I thought I would help her celebrate. She asked Kendal and I to get her roses and a card for Marissa but she also expressed a regret that she couldn't take Marissa out for a meal… So I had the idea of bringing the meal to her… That's where you come in, I'm not much of a cook."
Opal put an arm around Erica's shoulder.
"Do you know, as wonderful an idea that is I think you are talking to the wrong person."
Erica felt herself being led towards the kitchen.
"What do you mean?"
Even as she spoke Krystal appeared through the door they had been heading to.
The two women paused and stared at each other.
Krystal smiled a confused smile.
"Erica, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"She would like to ask a favour," said Opal, "On behalf of your two daughters."
Erica looked sideway at her friend, annoyed that she was forcing her into a conversation with someone she had an uneasy truce with. She had agreed to be civil to Krystal for Bianca's sake but she still couldn't stand the woman.
"Of course." said Krystal, choosing to ignore the unhappy expression on Erica's face.
Opal pushed her gal-pal forward.
"Go on. It's for you own good." she said, before leaving the two woman alone.
"So what do you need Erica?" Krystal asked.
Erica swallowed her rage and instead focused on the reason for her visit.
"I want to give Bianca and Marissa a Valentine's treat and I need your help…"
…
David was stepping out of the operating room, watching as Bianca was wheeled away by the orderlies. The extraction of a sample of spinal fluid had gone without a hitch. His next stop was to lab to start the tests. He still hadn't found someone to help him with his research. Griffin had flat out refused and he dare not approach Frankie, he was already set against him before he'd offered to let Bianca home.
As he hurried down the corridor he spotted Maggie Stone walking towards him.
"There you are." she said.
He hadn't been expecting her but she had clearly been looking for him.
"Maggie, what can I do for you?" he asked.
"Well as I understand it, Bianca needs medical care at home. Marissa via Reese asked if I would be willing to help. I was just curious what that would involve."
"So you'd act as nurse?" David asked.
"It's a bit below my pay grade." admitted Maggie, "But I'd be glad of the excuse to stick around."
"Well," said David continuing down the corridor. "She's just had a spinal tap so she will need to be monitored for any sign of infection. There are dressings to be changed on her leg… Frankie will be visiting to work through her physiotherapy and adjusting her splint brace…"
"I know about that sort of thing." said Maggie. "Paediatric specialist, remember… I've had my hand in pretty much everything."
"I forget you've been a doctor… five years now."
"Nearer eight." corrected Maggie.
David stopped and for the first time he saw his distant cousin with new eyes.
"So you've done a spinal tap before?"
"One or two." said Maggie.
David nodded.
"Have you heard about my Orpheus serum?" he asked.
"Your miracle drug… If it can really do what I've heard you will have revolutionised medicine; the greatest breakthrough since penicillin!"
David smiled in a self-satisfied way.
"How would you like to help with my research?" He asked.
Maggie's eyes lit up.
"Really? I'm not sure what I could bring, though."
David patted her warmly on the back.
"Right now all I need is another pair of hands…"
…