One Temple Court
BUZZ!
Felicia answered the call and Anna's face appeared on the display. "Anna?"
"I'll make it short. I just wanted to wish you good luck with dinner," said Anna.
"Thanks! I'm expecting world war three."
"How's Frisco doing?"
"Doing anything to distract himself from thinking about tonight. It's almost funny," said Felicia. "Bobbie's here. Just waiting for Maxie."
"She's probably waiting until the last possible second to make an appearance."
"Like father, like daughter."
"He does want this. It was all he could talk about on the way back here," said Anna.
DING! DONG! DING!
"There's Maxie."
"Good luck." Anna's image disappeared.
They remained on light-hearted topics through the soup and appetizer but Felicia could imagine storm clouds brewing over the dining room table. Every cloud was darkening and flashing with the occasional tiny lightning bolt.
Bobbie said, "I'm loving living here. Everything is so convenient."
Maxie bubbled, "More stores are waiting for space on the second floor mezzanine to finish refurbishment. I wish Dia was here to help convince the construction crews to hurry things up. Aunt Tif is charming but men turn into agreeable lap dogs around Dia. It's hilarious to watch."
"When are Mac and Dia expected back?" asked Bobbie.
"They'll be here in time for Valentine's Day next week," said Felicia. "Then it's full on wedding preparations."
"Oh, my god! I'm so behind on that," said Maxie.
"What's there to do? Have a dress, a tux and somewhere to get married. You're done," said Frisco.
Three pairs of feminine eyes targeted him but he was oblivious to them.
"As long as the groom shows up you got it made," added Frisco.
"This is the wedding of the year. Coverage is going to be global print and TV. Designers are ready to kill each other to be the one to make Dia's dress. The guest list is a Who's Who of fashion. The seating chart for the reception is impossible!" said Maxie.
Felicia suppressed a smile. "Maxie, I'm sure that it won't be that bad."
"It's going to be table after table of diva supermodels and designers! Do you know I'm already getting emails with INSTRUCTIONS for some of them. From what kind of bottled water they like, the kinds of cars they want to use, the rooms they have to have," said Maxie. "And I have to work with CARLY at the Metro Court Hotel for the rooms. I'm doing all the work and she's going to get the credit. I know it. It's a waking nightmare!"
Bobbie laughed. "Maxie, why don't you let me take over the room arrangements at the Court. I'm sure I'll have better luck dealing with Carly."
"WIll you?" asked Maxie hopefully.
"Sure."
"Thank you. Thank you. What a relief!" said Maxie. "This is the best advertisement she could get for the Court but Carly won't make one concession. I don't know how she could be your daughter, Bobbie. Carly is just so … so difficult."
Frisco choked on his food, "Daughter?"
"It's a long story, Frisco," said Bobbie. "I became pregnant when I was a teen. I gave up the baby for adoption. Decades later, Carly came to town."
"And her reign of misery began," said Maxie. "Poor Uncle Tony!"
Frisco's head snapped up and he tensed, "What about Tony?"
"Maxie, don't," warned Bobbie.
"Carly? She's the one who broke up your marriage? Your own daughter, Bobbie?" asked Frisco anger rising.
"I didn't know who she was and-" began Bobbie.
"She knew exactly what she was doing," said Maxie.
Bobbie glared at Maxie. "You are not being tactful."
"I don't have to be. We're all family here," said Maxie. "RealDad might as well know the good, the bad and the Carly if he's here to stay."
"I'm here to stay. Don't have any doubts on that," said Frisco.
"Words aren't very convincing," retorted Maxie.
Felicia folded her napkin and literally and figuratively threw it on the table. Her days of mediating the conflict between her husband and daughter were over. They were both here and they would have to deal with each other on their own. Across the table from her, Bobbie shrugged also resigned to witnessing the fallout.
"I agree," said Frisco. He thought over his words before saying to his daughter, "I don't expect you to welcome me with open arms. You haven't. I understand. I'd be feeling the same in your position. I understand your anger towards me. I just want-"
"You're here for Mom not for me," interrupted Maxie.
"No, I'm not."
"Yes, you are. She gave you an ultimatum to be here or not."
"Will … will you let me finish please."
Maxie sat back in her chair and crossed her arms.
"You're spoiling for a fight and I'm not here to engage in one. Let me tell you something, Maxie. I'm not expecting a lot. I can't. I haven't earned the right to expect more from you. We're practically strangers," said Frisco. "But we are family. And that's why I'm here - for family."
"Just words to me," murmured Maxie.
"You're not making this easy."
"Nope."
"This … mess we're in is not because of you, of me or of your mother. We're at this place in our lives and relationships because of the decisions we've all made but mostly because of decisions I've made. There is no undoing them but I do regret some." Frisco looked at Felicia. "And others I would do the same all over again every time. I have no regrets about being with your mom or for having had you and Georgie. And I … hurt when I think about Georgie and Tony. I couldn't be there for them when they needed me most. That shame and anger I will live with forever."
"Well, I don't need you. You can go away again tonight and I won't miss you," said Maxie.
"I'm not going away. Not this time," said Frisco. In a gentler tone he said, "I'm not here asking for forgiveness. I haven't forgiven myself and probably never will. I am here asking for … for a chance to get to know you and for you to get to know me. All I'm after is an end to hostilities."
"For Mom's sake. I knew it all along."
"For all of our sakes!" roared Frisco. "Jesus, what's it going to take to get through to you?! You won't even try to listen!"
"I will if there's something worth listening to!" shot Maxie back at her father. "I don't expect you to last a month before you're off on another mission to make anywhere but here a safer better place."
"I've retired from the WSB. All our things are being shipped here. Our friends and family are all here. Leaving? I don't think so," said Frisco.
"Excuse me if I don't believe you."
"The first skirmish is over. Bobbie, can you help me with the entree?" asked Felicia getting to her feet.
"You're entitled to your opinion," said Frisco. "I'll just have to prove to you how wrong you are. Fine with me. I'm going to stay civil. Can we expect the same from you? Or are you going to be a petulant child about it?"
"What?"
"I heard how you treated your mother at Georgie's funeral. I won't stand for that sort of behavior. You have a problem with me, let me know right now. That's the adult way of handling things."
"How dare you!" said Maxie. "I had to grow up fast once my parents left and stayed away!"
"Oh, wait. Skirmish number two." Felicia and Bobbie sat back down again.
"Do you even care how much you hurt her? Ambushing her in public like that at the worst time and place? It was supposed to be about Georgie but you made it about yourself. How selfish and immature," said Frisco.
"Everything I said then was true. I'm not taking a word back."
"Yeah, true for you but did you bother to listen to Felicia? To feel her grief? No, you didn't."
"What grief?" asked Maxie with full sarcastic intent and tone.
"She was trying to be strong for you and for Mac! For a change, she wanted to carry the load so you didn't have to. You never gave her a chance. You practically ran her out of town and then wrote her off from your life."
"You're saying that this is MY fault?"
"No. It was the effect, the consequences of your decision, Maxie. Do you know why we've stayed away all this time?" asked Frisco. "It's not really because we wanted to. It's because your mother, who loves you more than life itself, couldn't bear the thought of hurting you more."
"Mom?" asked Maxie weakly looking from one parent to another.
Felicia looked down on her hands.
"She was a basket case when she came back from the funeral. She stopped me from coming back here and giving you a good telling off," said Frisco.
"Frisco, please, not now," said Felicia. "It's over and in the past."
"She thinks we went off on adventures and never paid attention to her," said Frisco. "Well, we did. You don't think Mac and Bobbie let us know the things happening in your life? They did and we are incredibly grateful for that. But after everything that has happened to our family, your mother's most important wish was for you and Georgie to lead as normal and stable a life as possible. Believe me, your lives were normal compared to what Robin has had to deal with since she was six!"
"But she had her parents around and I didn't. I needed you in my life even just one of you."
"That's not the message you were sending out, Maxie," said Frisco.
Bobbie stood behind Maxie's chair. She leaned over and put hand on each of Maxie's shoulders. "We need to stop beating up on each other because that just hurts all of us. I know how much you're hurting, sweetheart. Don't you want to it to stop?"
"I … I can't forget how I felt or how I feel now," said Maxie.
"No one is asking you to," said Felicia.
Bobbie continued, "You better than most people know about … second chances. Each one of us here has made many bad decisions. You'd have to live two lifetimes to catch up to my track record. But do you know what kept me going? Why I'm still hanging in there?"
"What?" asked Maxie.
"The people that loved me despite the things I did or said. They didn't give up on me," said Bobbie. "And I didn't give up on them. It has to work both ways."
"I know that you'll never see me as your real father. Mac earned that and I don't want to take his place in your life. Never," said Frisco. "I just want to get to know you. I want the chance to earn the right to … to exist on the edges of your life - to celebrate milestones with you, to be a friend when you need one."
"I've asked you to think about it for a few weeks. Tonight, can you tell you us, can you decide if it's something you want to do for real?" asked Felicia.
Maxie was quiet. She looked at all of them then said, "I'll try. I'll do my best if you will."
"You got it!" said Frisco with a smile.
"Thank you, sweetheart," said Felicia.
"I better not regret this," said Maxie. "Um, you're not going to try to join the PCPD again are you?"
"No. Why? Is there a vacancy?" asked Frisco.
"Mac's resigned and I think Sam is acting chief. The post of commissioner hasn't been filled," said Bobbie.
"Sam? Samantha Wells?"
"Captain Wells," put in Felicia.
Frisco grinned. "Good for her. They should ask Anna or Robert to be commissioner."
"The city council has ruled them out," said Bobbie. "I think you should throw your hat in."
"It's not for me, Bobbie. I'm convinced that Robert was always so grouchy because of the job. It's impossible to please everyone but that's what's expected."
"How about some marketing and sales? Become a broker or an agent for this place," said Felicia.
Both Maxie and Frisco said loudly, "No!"
"Wouldn't Uncle Robert have a place for you at his security firm?" asked Maxie.
"He does but he has a rule. Anyone coming off active service duty has to decompress for at least six months before he hires him or her," said Frisco. "It allows the person to settle into civilian life. It's a hard adjustment for some people."
"Decompress?" asked Bobbie.
"It's basically to unlearn a lot of spy behavior habits," said Felicia. "Once a spy, always a spy but you don't have to live your day to day life as one. Too much paranoia and hyper-suspicious senses do not translate to normal living."
"Maybe Mac will open an Outback nightclub again. You could be the nightly entertainment," said Bobbie.
"I don't sing in public anymore. Give me a few days to think about it. I want to visit Georgie and Tony's graves tomorrow and maybe walk around the city. See what's changed and what hasn't," said Frisco. "Felicia and I have fantasized about opening our own detective agency. That might be an option."
"Maybe Spinelli can use some help," said Bobbie.
"Who's Spinelli?" asked Frisco.
"Maxie's boyfriend."
A flash of annoyance showed on Frisco's face. "Honey, we should have this … this boy over for dinner."
"He's not allowed into the residential parts of the building," said Maxie.
"Excuse me?"
"Spinelli is on the blacklist because he worked for Lorenzo Alcazar and now Jason Morgan," said Maxie.
"You're dating a criminal?"
"No! I broke up with him but he won't believe it. He worships the ground I walk on and follows me around. He's not allowed at the Villa either."
"But he's still a member of organized crime, Maxie."
"Only for the computer stuff not the … the other things," said Maxie.
"Do you know how much money is laundered through global banking systems using computers every day? Hundreds of millions," said Frisco. "Organized crime is very high tech these days. And the old families are getting more sophisticated, too. They're involved in selling weapons, white slavery, boutique drugs, organ harvesting and even counterfeit products. Less people get their hands dirty but it's still a very violent world. Good thinking to break it off with him."
"And being a spy isn't violent?" asked Maxie.
"Our job can be violent but we don't live our lives in a violent manner. Anyone in organized crime has to build their lives around the violence. It can happen anywhere."
"The worst part is that nothing positive ever comes out of it," said Felicia. "No one's life is saved only ruined. No corrupt leader is put out of power."
"Spy work always seemed to me to be a lot of fun," said Bobbie. "That's the way it was with Robert and Luke against the Cassadines."
Frisco chuckled. "Why do you think it's addictive? Because it can be a heck of a lot of fun when the adrenalin is coursing through your body and death is staring you in the face. No drug can beat that feeling. It makes you feel so alive and your desire to survive to fight another day is never higher. It's the ultimate rush."