CHAPTER TEN
Liam Robertson sat at the dining table with a newspaper in his hand, circling ads after ads with a red marker.
"Okay, thank you so much!" Liam said his goodbyes before hanging up. "This job is not going to work."
He had not broken the news to Ernest and Tamela about him leaving The LT. The entire situation was just difficult to explain. And then there is Sonny Kiriakis, who was out to make his life miserable. He wondered whether he should even tell them about him.
"Should I tell them about who I actually am?" Liam questioned. The thought of Ernest and Tamela's reactions made him shudder.
"I can't deal with this right now." Liam stood up from his chair and went into his son's room.
"Hey D!" Liam lifted his son up. "How about we change your diapers and go out for a little while?"
"Well, first of all I'm flattered that you will even choose our church as one of your non-profit organizations." Pastor Ernest Barrino laughed.
"Well the pleasure is ours!" Sonny Kiriakis replied with a smile. "Titan Industries is keen on giving back to the community! We have seen the many works Woodhaven Baptist Church has done for the community and we are moved by your dedication and passion to help the poor and the needy."
"We are just doing the work of the Lord." Ernest said humbly. "All credit goes to our Lord Jesus Christ!"
"Regardless, we would love for Titan to become a corporate partner of the church! Our company believes in giving back to the community as well!" Sonny took out some documents out of his suitcase. "We are willing to be your sponsor and because we feel moved by your contributions, we are going to throw in another 20 grand into this contract!"
Ernest put on his reading glasses and picked up the document. He skimmed through the details of the page.
"I can assure you we are not trying anything! We are entirely sincere in making you a non-profit partner of Titan!" Sonny affirmed.
Ernest put down the document and placed his elbows on his desk. "Mr Kiriakis, I…"
"Please, call me Sonny…" Sonny dispensed the formality.
"Sonny," Ernest addressed, "What you and your company are doing is very kind. But even though we are church, we still run an organization here. We have a church session that takes charge of all financial matters, a board of elders to make doctrinal decisions as well as deacons to assist in the process." He explained.
"Sure!" Sonny stood up from his chair. "Take as much time as you need, there is a lot to consider. The only thing we want in return is your support, and your trust in Titan Industries."
Upon shaking hands, Ernest's cellphone rang.
"Hello?" Ernest greeted, "Liam, my boy! What's up?"
Sonny Kiriakis squinted his eyes when he heard the name.
"Emoni finally got Zeke to come home for dinner?" Ernest asked surprisingly, "Wow! That's great news! I will be back for dinner tonight!"
"He must be really close to them." Sonny thought to himself.
"Isn't this a beautiful day D?" Liam said, pushing the stroller in the park. "After all that raining these past few weeks, I'm finally glad that the sun has come shining through!"
After everything he had been through, Liam thought he could really use the fresh air. Dealing with his past, leaving Salem, tackling Dorcas and confronting Sonny. He needed the fresh air to help clear his mind.
He sat on the park bench overlooking a lake. He looked down at the stroller, facing a laughing Devon.
"You know D, I think I'm very tired." He lamented. "Losing your mother was just devastating but with all the other stuff going on, and all that mess in Salem." He sighed, "I wouldn't have made it through if it weren't for you! From here on out, it will be you and me against this world. You're all I have left. So I will do everything within my power to protect you from any harm that comes our way." He gave quick peck on Devon's forehead.
"Tonight, I have made your favourite Zeke!" Tamela enticed, "We have cornbread, pork chops with gravy and to top it all off, I've made his favourite apple pie for dessert!"
"Tamela, I may cook for a living but there's no denying that you're the best cook in the world!" Liam complimented.
"This is called soul food. Li, you made a living out of cooking for bougie white folks in that hotel but in this household, we black. And we make soul food! And why we call it soul food? Because my mother taught me to cook the same way she and her mother did. With her heart and soul!"
"Never been said better Mama!" Emoni clapped loudly and Zeke laughed.
Seeing everyone in a good mood, Ernest decided to bring up the topic. "You know, I've just gotten the strangest offer this afternoon."
"What offer?" Emoni asked.
"A man came to the church today and tells us he wants to be a corporate partner of the church." Ernest informed.
Liam squinted his eyes. "A corporate partner?"
"Yeah! He said their company wants to sponsor our church." Ernest said.
"Really? That's weird." Zeke remarked. "What company is he from?"
"This shipping company called Titan Industries." Ernest said before taking a bite of his pork chop.
Tamela suddenly heard incessant coughing from the man beside her.
"Gosh Liam are you okay?" Tamela quickly hit his back a few times. "You always eat so quickly! That's why you end up choking!"
Liam gently pulled away from Tamela, taking a few seconds to recompose himself. "I'm sorry, Ernest. Did you just say Titan Industries?"
"Yeah." Ernest nodded.
"As in the shipping company Titan Industries?" Liam repeated the question.
"Yeah. You know the company?" Ernest asked.
"What did you tell them?" Liam interrogated.
"We talked about the various ministries in our church and he said he wants to donate to the church." Ernest informed.
"Don't do anything!" Liam stood up, completely mortified.
"Li, what's wrong?" Zeke asked worriedly.
"Ernest, Titan Industries is not a good organization." Liam told him sternly. "There is a ton of skeletons in that company. Don't do anything with them!"
"Liam, why are you getting so worked up?" Ernest wondered. "You know I need to discuss these kinds of huge decisions with the board of elders and deacons!"
"Titan Industries? Don't you remember that I used to work for them at their hotel in Salem?" Liam reminded.
"Oh yeah!" Flashes of Liam talking about the restaurant came to Tamela's mind. "The hotel you worked for is Hotel Titan."
"Anyway, Titan is not a good organization." Liam repeated.
"Why? What happened?" Ernest asked.
"You just need to know that they aren't good people." Liam's voice intensified. "Promise me you won't accept anything from them."
"Li, why are you…" Ernest opened his mouth.
"Just promise me!" Liam cut him off. "They are no good!"
"I can't believe this is happening!" Liam groaned, pushing the stroller along the corridors of the building he lived in.
"Someone's out late!" He heard a voice from across him. Liam looked up and saw Sonny Kiriakis leaning on the front door of his apartment.
"Oh hell no…" Liam exhaled through his nose. "I can't do this now." He pushed the stroller slowly towards the apartment. He took the keys out of his pocket.
"Do you mind?" Liam asked with an annoyed tone.
Sonny stepped aside for Liam to unlock the door to his apartment. Liam pushed the stroller into the apartment and Sonny followed inside. Liam rolled his eyes when he saw Sonny making himself comfortable, sitting on the couch.
"Listen, it has been a long day for me. I have been job-hunting these past few days." Liam exhaled through his nose. He didn't even have the energy to rail at Sonny for the stunt he pulled on his father-in-law. "Please leave."
"Is that any way to speak to your husband?" Sonny pretended to look offended.
Liam shuddered at the word, 'husband'. He felt goosebumps all over.
"Your husband came all the way to New York to see you, shouldn't you show him some basic form of hospitality?" Sonny asked nonchalantly.
"Please leave." Liam pleaded tiredly, "I truly do not have the energy to fight with you today."
"You know," Sonny stood up and took a few steps forward, "if you return with me to Salem, you won't ever need to find a job. You can just live a comfortable life while I support you!"
"And why the hell would you support me?" Liam snorted. "You don't even like me!"
"Sure, the love we once had I now gone." Sonny stood up and take a few steps forward. "But that doesn't change the fact that you are Ari's father after all." He placed his hand on Liam's lower back and pulled him close, pressing their bodies together. "I can support you while you stay at home and be a good housewife." He whispered in the blonde's ear, causing the latter to tremble.
Liam quickly shoved the brunette aside. "Please leave, I have job interviews first thing in the morning. I need to sleep. So would you please go?"
"Fine, I will see you around!" Sonny turned around, heading for the entrance.
"Wait, there's one more thing." Liam stopped him.
Sonny turned around, for some reason he thought a saw a glimmer of hope.
"I know you went to the church to talk to Ernest." Liam informed. "He's not going to take the deal. So just pack your bags and leave New York."
Sonny let out a small giggle. "Pastor Ernest Barrino has found quite a protector in you." He walked towards Liam once more. "I heard from people in church that you're the prodigal white son of the Barrino family."
"And?" Liam was getting more impatient, he was dying to take a shower.
"So I'm wondering, if Pastor Ernest Barrino finds out that the son he took in five years ago was actually gay."
Liam clenched his teeth, his hands started to tremble.
"Not only was he gay," Sonny shook his head slyly. "He was married to another man. And during the course of that marriage, he cheated on his husband. Not once, but twice."
Liam clenched his fist.
"Gee," Sonny looked up at the ceiling, "I wonder how the pastor would react when he finds out that he let his daughter marry a homosexual."
In a fit of anger, Liam charged towards Sonny and pushed him out of the door.
"Stay away from the church! And stay away from my family!" He shouted before slamming the door.
Liam stared at his reflection in the bathroom. Uncertainty was written all over his face.
"No, the Will Horton in the past would run and hide. Remember, you are now a different person. You have to be honest and upright." The blonde asserted. "You have to do what's necessary! Even if it isn't for you, you need to do this for Ernest and Tamela! You have to do this for Devon. They are his grandparents!"
"Why have you gathered both of us here today?" Tamela Barrino took a seat on the couch.
"I have something really important to tell you." He placed the mugs of coffee on the table in front of them.
"You seem really serious, what's wrong?" Ernest asked worriedly.
"Well…" Liam sighed. "There's something that I've been keeping from you guys."
The black man squinted his eyes.
"You see, this secret that I have been keeping," Liam took in another deep breath "it has been bothering me for months now. I wanted to take this secret to the grave but a lot has happened lately and I think that I need to be honest with you."
"What's the matter Li?" Tamela adjusted herself on the couch, eyes still fixed on the blonde.
"I wanted to keep this secret, because I was afraid if I told you, it might destroy our family." Liam confessed. "I was afraid if I told you this, you may not want to have anything to do with me again. Telling this is probably the hardest thing I've had ever done."
"Li, whatever it is you can tell us!" Tamela reassured him.
Liam took in another deep breath.
"Ok here goes." Liam exhaled through his nose. "I have found out who I really am."
"What do you mean?" Ernest seek clarification.
"I have gotten my memory back. I know who I really am now." Liam rephrased.
"Wow! That's great news!" Tamela smiled. "I mean this is great news!" Noticing Liam's reaction, her smile faded away.
"But you don't seem to happy about it." Ernest realized. "What's wrong?"
"Well… remember when you guys visited Salem and everyone in town was going crazy about how I look like a man called Will Horton?" Liam refreshed their memory.
"Oh yeah!" Ernest nodded his head. "But then you said his body was found."
"Well, it turns out that no one else saw the body after his parents left the morgue." He started to explain. "It was then the body was stolen by a man named Chad DiMera."
Ernest and Tamela nodded their heads, listening intently.
"Chad then called up some…" Liam tried to think of a word. "some quack doctor, whom revived the man."
"Then what happened to that man?" Tamela leaned in.
"When the man woke up, Chad DiMera, the guy whom stole him away from the morgue." Liam reminded. "realized that he lost his memory." He exhaled through his nose nervously. "So Chad told him that he was rescued from a restaurant fire. He gave that man 800 grand, an apartment and an admission letter into culinary school and sent him on the first flight to New York."
When Ernest and Tamela finished hearing the last sentence, everything fell into place. Liam told them the story multiple times of how he landed in New York. He even shared it with the church.
"So you're saying…" Tamela trailed off.
Liam closed his eyes for a second before opening them again,
"Yes," Liam nodded, "I've found out that I'm Will Horton."
Ernest and Tamela slowly leaned back in appalment with their eyes widened.
No one made a sound for the next minute.
Tamela picked up the mug on the table, took a sip of her coffee and placed it back on the table.
"Is that all?" Tamela broke the silence.
"No, that's not all." Liam shook his head. "This is also the reason I don't want you to work with Titan."
"Why? What does Titan have to do with all this?" Ernest could not understand.
"Well," Liam curled his hand into a fist to stop it from trembling. "The man from Titan who came to visit you the other day, his name is Sonny Kiriakis, right?"
"Yes," Ernest confirmed. "Wait a minute, how did you know that?"
"I was married to the man." Liam finally declared.
It was at that moment, the couple finally understood why Liam was so hesitant in disclosing this information to them.
"He told me if I refuse to return to Salem with him, he will tell you guys everything." Liam informed.
He saw a frown on Ernest's face. "Please say something."
"I have to go." The pastor stood up from the couch. "Come on honey! I have to get back to church soon."
Tamela stood up and trailed behind as the couple left the apartment.
Liam closed his eyes in distress.
"Breathe Liam. Breathe." He told himself. "Father in Heaven, please help me."
A/N: Ok, so how do you guys feel about this chapter? I'm really trying to fast forward back to the Salem part of this story. You know where the story first started off in the first chapter! So tell me if I'm fast-forwarding too much or if it's too underdeveloped.
And as always REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! :D