Chaper thirteen!

Brooke was looking for Ridge. She couldn't find him in his office, so she asked Pam if she knew anything. Pam replied Ridge hadn't shown up at all today. Presumably, he was at the hospital again. Brooke sighed, now that the situation with Rick was settled for now, she wanted to sort out the conflict with Ridge. After all, it wasn't bearable, he was still living with Taylor and the kids. There was no way she could tolerate that any longer. She went back to her office and called him. However, she only ended up on his voicemail.

"Hi Ridge! It's me, call me back as soon as you get this! See you later!"

Brooke began her work but kept staring impatiently at her phone. The morning passed without Ridge answering. She tried it several more times, but each time, she only reached his voicemail. Finally, she didn't want to wait any longer. She decided to look for him.

She first drove to the hospital. But there she only met Bridget. She told her Steffy had been temporarily released this morning until the surgery. Ridge and Taylor had picked her up together and then gone home with her. So Brooke's next ride took her to the Belair mansion. But no matter how hard she knocked and rang the doorbell, no one answered. Apparently, no one was at home. Brooke looked around the driveway and discovered Ridge's car was not there. Brooke seriously wondered where everyone had gone. They certainly weren't at the hospital.

Ridge and Taylor, along with Thomas, had picked Steffy up from the hospital in the morning. The doctors had explained to them they wanted to wait a few more days with the surgery. According to their tests, Phoebe was recovering more and more. Each day, the results got better and each day she continued to recover was a win and promised greater chances for the surgery. True, Taylor and Ridge would have preferred that the doctors operate right away because they could hardly stand this waiting any longer. But they understood the arguments. The doctors had instructed Steffy to take it easy over the next few days and to pay special attention to her health.

As soon as the family was back among themselves, Thomas turned to his parents.

"So what are we going to do today? How about we go on a family trip? I mean, the four of us, a little distraction would certainly do us good!"

"Oh yes, that sounds wonderful! Can we do that?" begged Steffy too.

The two siblings winked secretly at each other. They hoped their parents might grow closer on this occasion. Taylor and Ridge glanced at each other, uncertain. Both were not sure whether this was really a good idea. However, they didn't want to disappoint their kids either.

"What do you guys have in mind?" asked Taylor finally. Steffy glanced out the window.

"What do you guys say about going to our beach house? After all this time here at the hospital, I really need some sun, fresh air and the ocean!"

"Oh yeah, that's a great idea! The weather is perfect for it today. We can all relax and unwind a bit!"

Taylor looked questioningly at Ridge. The latter hesitated at first, but he couldn't resist his children's pleading look.

"All right, fine by me. In fact, that doesn't sound too bad!"

Taylor and Ridge, however, both wanted to check on Phoebe first. Behind their parents' backs, Thomas and Steffy secretly high-fived each other and made victorious signs.

While their parents went to see Phoebe, the two wanted to wait for their parents in the car. They made themselves comfortable and Steffy turned the radio on.

"Well, that was a piece of cake! I didn't expect Mom and Dad to agree so quickly!" Thomas nodded at her.

"That just means they secretly want it too. Even though Dad is still officially engaged to Brooke, he's obviously enjoying his time with Mom and us. Now, he just needs to realize that he could have this for the rest of his life. And Mom can still act so cool. I'm sure she enjoys every day she gets to spend with Dad!"

"In any case, we can't let anything go wrong today. This is our chance. We can't let it go to waste!"

Suddenly, they heard the ringing of a phone. Thomas went after the ring and finally found his father's phone in the glove compartment.

"Oh no! Not now!" He turned to Steffy. "It's Brooke! What are we going to do?"

"Don't answer it!" retorted Steffy.

After a while, the phone went silent. But a beep announced Ridge had received a message. She had obviously left something on his voicemail. Steffy watched Thomas tamper with his father's phone.

"What are you doing?"

"Simple, I'm just making sure Brooke can talk to Dad's voicemail for the rest of the day! She's bound to call him again and if she reaches him, our trip may be in jeopardy! I'm not going to let that woman screw up our plan!"

Steffy looked skeptically at Thomas.

"Don't you think that's a little bit over the top! Besides, what if Dad finds out about this? If he catches on that we're behind this, we're in big trouble!"

"Now relax! Dad won't find out. I've blocked Brooke's number, so it goes straight to his voicemail and I've turned off the notification feature. We just have to wait for an opportunity tonight and undo everything. Please, just keep your mouth shut! It's all about having one day to ourselves as a family without Brooke interfering. That's what you want too!"

Steffy finally relented.

"Yes, of course! You're right and who knows what Brooke even wants from him. I'm sure she has another reason to complain and they'd end up fighting anyway. Dad really doesn't need that right now!"

"See, at the end, we are doing him a favor!"

Thomas put the phone back in the glove compartment. Steffy grinned at him.

"I hate to admit it, but you're a genius!"

"Oh, thanks! You can tell me that more often!"

"Hey, don't get used to it!" Thomas looked in the rearview mirror.

"Watch out, Mom and Dad are coming! Take it easy!"

Both were trying hard to put on their most innocent faces. Taylor and Ridge had been in Phoebe's room briefly. It meant a lot to them to be able to hold her hand and feel that she was still alive. With the doctors' proposition, they had regained their confidence. Before they continued on to the beach, they took a detour home.

Taylor was busy in the kitchen when Ridge joined her.

"Are you ready?"

"Yeah, in a minute! I'm just packing up the refreshments. But you can take the picnic basket out to the car already."

Ridge lifted the basket and groaned under its weight.

"What did you pack in there? I thought we are only going to the beach house for one day, not a month."

Taylor sparkled at him mockingly.

"You underestimate Thomas and Steffy's appetites. Besides, sea air makes you hungry, and you'd want a crumb left over for yourself, wouldn't you?"

"Well, if you say so!"

Ridge was about to leave the kitchen, but Taylor held him back.

"Um, Ridge..." She stepped towards him. "I wanted to tell you. I really appreciate you wanting to spend this day with me and the kids. I believe it means a lot to Thomas and Steffy to have a reasonably carefree day again. But I want you to know...so um...I don't want you to feel forced to do this. So if you think it's inappropriate...I can go with Steffy and Thomas by myself."

Ridge put the basket back down and gave Taylor a hug.

"Hey, I'm looking forward to this day as much as you and the kids. For me, it's just as important to get out of here and get some distance from all the worries. I really enjoy doing this. Right now, I love being with you guys the most, anyway. Besides, we vowed to get through this situation together, didn't we?" Taylor nodded in relief.

"Yes, we did and I'm very happy that we stick together so well in difficult situations!"

"Yeah, I think so, too! I could never handle this situation without you and the kids!"

The two embraced each other. Just then, Thomas and Steffy appeared in the doorway. Seeing their parents in a tight embrace, they blinked conspiratorially at each other. They did not want to disturb this intimate moment. So they waited until their parents finally let go of each other before stepping into the kitchen.

"Hey, are you guys ready? We want to go!" urged Thomas impatiently. Steffy stared amusedly at the huge picnic basket.

"Mom, how many people are you going to feed with that? Do you have any more kids we don't know about?"

Her father and brother grinned, Taylor just gave her daughter a stern look.

"You'll thank me later!"

Finally, they all headed to the car and stowed the luggage. Ridge did hesitate for a moment. He reached for his phone.

"Maybe I should call Brooke and let her know what we're up to."

Thomas and Steffy stared at each other, startled. Then Steffy stammered out.

"Do you really think that's a good idea, Dad? She's going to object to you spending the day with us at the beach anyway. You know her! This will just end in another argument!"

Hastily, Thomas added.

"Besides, if she wanted to speak with you, she would have called you. Did she?" Ridge looked at his phone

"No, she didn't! Maybe you guys are right and this whole thing isn't a good idea. Well then, let's go!"

He put the phone back in his pocket. Thomas and Steffy breathed a sigh of relief. There was an almost boisterous mood on the ride. Taylor had turned on the radio and everyone was singing along.

After her fruitless search, Brooke returned home. She was just stepping into the living room when Rick approached her.

"Hey Honey, did you turn in the protocol to Lt. Baker?"

"Yeah Mom, I did but..."

"No but! Rick, we agreed not to say another word about this!"

"It's okay Mom!" Rick gave her a concerned look. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah...no...it's just...I can't find Ridge!"

"Isn't he at the hospital with Phoebe and Steffy?"

"No, he's not! Steffy was discharged this morning and Bridget told me Taylor and Ridge picked her up together, then stopped by Phoebe briefly and left again. No one's home either and he hasn't shown up at the office either!"

Rick raised his eyebrows meaningfully.

"Where do you suppose he is?"

"I have no idea, I've looked everywhere for him. But there was no sign and he hasn't been answering his phone all day. All I ever get is his stupid voicemail!"

"Oha, that doesn't sound good! I think Ridge is being pretty selfish. Lately, he doesn't care at all about how you're doing!"

"Please, Rick, let it go. It's not that simple now. I just hope he's not spending the day with Taylor and the kids playing happy family!"